The 10 Best Romantic Comedies and Where to Watch Them Today

From magical meet-cutes to grand gestures, the best romantic comedies bring laughter, tears, and a renewed belief in love. Here are the top 10 most popular classics since 1990. These are timeless stories that still make your heart skip a beat, with famous dialogues and information about where you can watch them.

Part 1. Top 10 Best Romantic Comedies Everybody Still Loves To This Date

1. Pretty Woman (1990)

The first one and one of the best romantic comedies is Pretty Woman. It is a modern Cinderella story that became a cultural phenomenon. It turned Julia Roberts into America's sweetheart and made shopping on Rodeo Drive a romantic comedy rite of passage.

The story follows Vivian, a sex worker who crosses paths with wealthy businessman Edward. Their first encounter is memorable:

"Work it. Work it, baby".
"Hey, sugar. Looking for a date?"
"No, I want to find Beverly Hills. Can you give me directions?"
"Sure".
"Going to be in town until Sunday. Spend the week with me".
"Going to treat you so nice, you'll never want to let me go".

Their relationship begins with a business arrangement but grows into something transformative. One iconic moment unfolds when Vivian, dressed for shopping on Rodeo Drive, is dismissed by a sales associate:

"I don't think we have anything for you. You're obviously in the wrong place".

Later, she returns with Edward:

"We are going to be spending an obscene amount of money in here, so we'll need a lot more help sucking up to us, because that's what we really like. You understand?"
"Sir, if I may say so, you're in the right store and the right city for that matter".

Beneath the glitz and glamour is a story of transformation and self-worth, with Richard Gere's icy businessman slowly softening into a romantic lead.

One of the film's most famous unscripted moments comes when Edward snaps a jewelry case closed as Vivian reaches for a necklace, prompting Roberts's famous laugh. Director Garry Marshall told Gere to do it at the last second to catch her off guard. The red dress scene and the playful sing-along in the bathroom redefined what a romantic comedy could be.

Interestingly, the movie began as a much darker script called $3,000, where the couple did not get a fairy tale ending.

Where to Watch: Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango at Home.

2. Sleepless in Seattle (1993)

This beloved romantic comedy begins with a heartfelt moment on a late-night radio show. A young boy calls in and explains that his father needs a new partner. The host encourages the father to speak:

"Tell me what was so special about your wife".
"Well, Dr. Marsha Fieldstone, it was like magic".
"Magic sleep".

The caller's voice sparks curiosity and attraction:

"Most attractive man ever laid ears on." Funny as well.
"The guy could be a crackhead".
"Actually, he sounded nice".

Sleepless in Seattle delivers romance without its leads meeting face-to-face until the end. Only Nora Ephron could pull this off, taking a bold risk by keeping Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan apart until the final scene.

"Where's Baltimore?"
"It's right there".

The film is anchored by grief, hope, and the magic of destiny. It goes beyond a standard romantic comedy, showing that true love can find its way even through late-night radio waves. Julia Roberts was first offered this role, but she turned it down and later admitted she was "nuts" for passing.

During production, Hanks lived on the Seattle houseboat featured in the film. The location attracted so many tourists that the owners eventually posted signs reading, "No trespassing. Go away. Meg Ryan signs".

The Empire State Building ending remains pure movie magic:

"Are you Annie?"
"Yes".
"You're Annie?"
"This is my dad. His name's Sam".
"Sam".

Where to Watch: Apple TV, Prime Video, Fandango at Home.

3. Notting Hill (1999)

In this flipped fairy tale, Hollywood royalty falls for a humble bookshop owner. In Notting Hill, Hugh Grant plays the role of a shy bookseller, and Julia Roberts, on the other hand, delivers the performance of charm and vulnerability as the world's most famous actress. Even a global icon can have insecurities, and this film captures that truth perfectly.

The combination of a London setting, dry British humor, and an unforgettable soundtrack makes Notting Hill a gold standard in the best romantic comedies genre.

One of the most iconic moments is Anna's heartfelt line to William:

"I'm just a girl standing in front of a boy".

The film also created a real-life tourist destination: that blue front door. Fans knocked so often that the homeowner eventually had to paint it black for privacy.

Hugh Grant's portrayal of the bashful bookshop owner and Roberts's performance as a glamorous yet relatable actress create a fantasy made real. This one that still resonates decades later.

Where to Watch: Apple TV, Prime Video, Fandango at Home.

4. Love Actually (2023)

Some love stories are simple, and others are beautifully messy. Love Actually gives both.

With 9 interconnected tales of romance, heartbreak, and awkward office parties, it is a holiday staple that captures the chaos and warmth of love in all its forms. From Hugh Grant's Dancing Prime Minister:

"Turn it up. Turn it loud. Feel the bass. Feel the crowd. Speed it up".

Hugh Grant fought against doing the now-iconic Downing Street dance scene, calling it the most excruciating thing ever devised. The movie is full of iconic moments, and the reminder that love is actually all around.

Keira Knightley was only 17 years old during the filming of Love Actually, just five years older than the child actor who played Sam.

"Love is everywhere. It's not particularly dignified, of course. If you look for it, you'll find that love actually is all around".

"Difference between like and love. Because I like my Sketchers, but I love my Prada backpack".

Where to Watch: Apple TV, Prime Video, ROW8, Fandango at Home.

5. 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

A Shakespeare-inspired teen comedy that launched a thousand crushes, 10 Things I Hate About You reimagines The Taming of the Shrew with razor-sharp wit, a killer '90s soundtrack, and breakout performances from Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles. "Heinous witch" is the term used most often when recommended.

Ledger's "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" serenade is legendary. Filming at Tacoma's picturesque Stadium High added an extra Shakespearean touch. Heath Ledger's stadium serenade took just one take because the school had a strict schedule with real classes about to start.

But the real heart of the film lies in its message: love someone not despite their flaws, but because of them. The most popular dialogue in the movie was when Julia expressed that she hates his lies, when he makes him laugh, if he's not around, and yes, when she hates the fact that she can't hate him.

One interesting bit is thatJulia Stiles actually dated Joseph Gordon-Levitt, not Ledger, proving Cameron may have won in real life after all.

Where to Watch: Apple TV, Prime Video, Disney+, Fandango at Home, Hulu.

6. The Proposal (2009)

Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds. Oh yes, please. At its heart, The Proposal is about letting down your walls to let love in.

The movie is a fast-talking, fish-out-of-water comedy where a green card marriage leads to real love with plenty of laughs.

"I need you around this weekend. You have a problem with that?"
"It's my grandmother's 90th birthday, so I was going to go home... it's fine, I'll cancel it".
"Is that your family?"
"Yes".
"They tell you to quit every single day. Margaret Tate's office".
"Your visa application is denied. You're being deported".
"I'm from Canada".
"Pardon the interruption. Gentlemen, there's something you should know. We're getting married".
"Who is getting married?"
"You and I. You and I are getting married. Can't find a love like ours".
"No".

Betty White absolutely steals the show. It is a story about hearts opening up, and how sometimes pretending to be in love makes you realize you already are. The chemistry shines on screen. They were already close friends, so close that Bullock convinced Reynolds to strip down first for the infamous nude crash scene to keep the set relaxed.

The Alaska town is pure movie magic. The real surprise is that the entire film was shot in Summer Green, Massachusetts, using fake snow and CGI effects. You'd never know just by watching it.

Where to Watch: Apple TV, fuboTV, Prime Video, Disney+, Sling TV, Fandango at Home, Hulu.

7. 13 Going on 30 (2004)

13 Going on 30 is part romantic comedy, part wish-fulfillment fantasy, and completely delightful. Jennifer Garner brings infectious charm as a 13-year-old trapped in a 30-year-old's body, rediscovering friendship, self-worth, and true love. It is funny, nostalgic, and proves that sometimes the right person was there all along.

Jennifer Garner's bubbly performance almost lost its leading man.

During the Thriller sequence, Mark Ruffalo tried to quit after seeing the choreographed dance, convinced he would embarrass himself. Garner talked him back into staying, and their on-set practice sessions turned into the genuine goofy chemistry seen on screen.

"It's me, Jenna".
"Why are you here?"
"Yesterday was my 13th birthday, and today I woke up and I'm this..".

Where to Watch: Apple TV, Prime Video, Sling TV, Fandango at Home, Hulu.

8. Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)

Meet Bridget.

"Why is it there are so many unmarried women in their 30s these days?"

Bridget supposes it doesn't help that underneath their clothes, their entire bodies are covered in scales. Thirty-two, single, slightly clumsy, and hilariously relatable, she redefined the rom-com for the 2000s with a mix of self-deprecating humor, British charm, and emotional honesty.

Renee Zellweger's performance as Bridget is pitch-perfect, and she successfully captured the messy reality of dating, dieting, and dodging awkward moments. Add in a love triangle between Colin Firth and Hugh Grant, and it becomes a modern classic that is both timeless and very much of its time.

Where to Watch: Apple TV, Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

9. Stranger Than Fiction (2006)

What if a life had a narrator who was planning to kill the main character off? Will Ferrell dials it down in this smart, offbeat love story about fate, free will, and falling for a baker who makes cookies that could start a religion. It's weird, it's warm, and it sneaks up with emotional depth. Maggie Gyllenhaal and Ferrell's chemistry is quietly spectacular.

The script spent five years on Hollywood's blacklist of most-loved unproduced screenplays before finally getting greenlit, proving good stories sometimes need their own happy ending.

"Get tax man".
"Everyone hates me".
"Well, that sounds like a comedy".
"Have you written anything new today?"

He knows that events have been set in motion that would lead to his imminent death.

"What?"
"Why? Hello. Come on. This woman, Karen Eiffel, one of my favorite authors".
"That's her. That's the voice. She's the narrator".
"Karen Eiffel. My name's Harold Crick. I believe you are writing a story about me".
"Is this a joke?"
"To speak to Karen Eiffel. I'm one of her characters".
"I'm sorry".
"I'm in her new book and she's going to kill me".

Will Ferrell learned to play guitar for real just to serenade Maggie Gyllenhaal with "Whole Wide World." Director Marc Forster filmed his first take; he nailed it, and that's the version in the movie.

"We go the whole world just to find out".
"Will you marry me?"
"I will marry you. I will be what?"

Where to Watch: Tubi, Pluto TV, Apple TV, Peacock, The Roku Channel, Amazon Prime Video, Fandango at Home.

10. Moonstruck (1987)

Moonstruck is probably at the top of the list for many people when it comes to best romantic comedies, and is at its most operatic.

Cher won an Oscar for playing Loretta, a no-nonsense Brooklyn bookkeeper who finds herself engaged to one brother and madly in love with the other, played by a gloriously unhinged Nicolas Cage.

"Yeah, I had it done. I said I'd put in the..".

Loud, messy, and deeply Italian-American, it is full of passion, superstition, and family dinners that turn into shouting matches. Beneath all the drama lies a beautiful truth.

"I'm confused".
"Look, it's Cosmo's moon".
"Why do men chase women?"
"Nerves. I don't want to talk about it".
"That moon. That crazy moon".
"Now you don't. I love you".

During production, Cage shattered two front teeth eating an extra-crispy Italian cookie and kept filming anyway, saying the pain made the romance feel real.

Where to Watch: MGM+, Apple TV, fuboTV, Prime Video, Disney+, Sling TV, Fandango at Home, The Roku Channel.

Part 2. Enhance the Old Romantic Comedy Movie with HitPaw Online AI Video Enhancer

The rom-com classics of all time are usually the old movies, and when you watch them on streaming platforms, the quality might not be that good. However, there's a solution now. You can enhance the quality of these best romantic comedies, if you have downloaded them on your PC, with just a click using HitPaw Online AI Video Enhancer.

Here's how:

• Step 1.Go to the HitPaw Online AI Video Enhancer page and click Start Free Now to upload your movie.

  

• Step 2.In the left menu, choose an AI model to enhance the quality of your favorite romantic comedy movie. Every AI model, as shown by its name, can do its thing. For example, you can use the Color Enhancement model to enrich the colors in the movie.

  

• Step 3.Finally, select a custom resolution to upscale the movie, click Preview to compare before and after results, and download.

  

Part 3. FAQs of Best Romantic Comedies

Conclusion on Best Romantic Comedies

There you have it, fellas! These best romantic comedies will surely blow you away with correctly timed dialogue delivery in them. You now also know where you can watch them legally, and if you have saved any of these movies on your PC, you can now enhance their quality with HitPaw Online AI Video Enhancer. Try it out, and you'll love the outcome.