- 5 weeks ago
Grab the popcorn and get ready to fall in love all over again! Join us as we count down our picks for the most enduring romantic comedy films from the 1990s to the mid-2000s, considered the golden age of the genre. Which of these timeless classics made your heart skip a beat? Let us know in the comments below!
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00I got a real great compliment for you, and it's true.
00:04I'm so afraid you're about to say something awful.
00:08Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today, we're counting down our picks for the most enduring romantic comedy films from the
00:141990s to the mid-2000s, considered the golden age of the genre.
00:19Just shut up. You had me at hello.
00:25Number 20, Garden State.
00:27The world had fallen in love with Zach Braff on Scrubs when he made his debut as a writer-director.
00:32Garden State became the model for indie dramedies about a lonely loser coming home under tragic circumstances.
00:38Among the tropes is a hyper-eccentric love interest to serve the male protagonist's development.
00:43What are you listening to?
00:45The Shins. You know them?
00:48No.
00:50You gotta hear this one song, and it'll change your life, I swear.
00:52The manic-pixie-dreamgirl archetype has not held up, but the chemistry between Braff and Natalie Portman sure has.
00:59So too has Braff's playful, poignant craftsmanship and a Grammy-winning soundtrack.
01:04The only little boy to do.
01:08Garden State's gross of over $30 million on a budget under $3 million confirmed that even the indie crowd can
01:15be smitten with a quirky rom-com.
01:17It also provided a cult classic to resonate with anyone who's ever felt lost.
01:22Number 19, The Wedding Singer.
01:24Adam Sandler may be an icon of raunchy comedy, but The Wedding Singer showcased his chops with romantic comedy.
01:30The movie's title character, Robbie, still works some bizarre gigs alongside catering waitress Julia, played by the delightful Drew Barrymore.
01:47It's a slice-of-life love story that manages to blend outrageous slapstick and unpretentious sweetness.
01:53The soundtrack is an equally winning mix of new-wave nostalgia gems.
01:57Above all, the movie is carried by Barrymore and Sandler's pitch-perfect chemistry,
02:01which was enough to later earn 50 First Dates a dedicated following in spite of mixed reviews.
02:06At least critics and audiences could agree that The Wedding Singer hits all the right notes to be a timeless
02:12crowd-pleaser.
02:13I wanna cry with you.
02:21Number 18, Love Actually.
02:24It's the weeks before Christmas, and all through London, every heart is stirring.
02:29A wholesome holiday rom-com goes epic as Love Actually mingles all manner of love stories,
02:34from a prime minister crushing on a staffer, to a widower handling his son's first love.
02:39General wisdom is that, in the end, there isn't just one person for each of us.
02:45It was for Kate and Leah.
02:48It was for you.
02:49Long-time screenwriter and first-time director Richard Curtis actually isn't that wholesome in his irreverent yet hilarious humor.
02:56This initially divided some critics, but from $250 million in box office receipts came major award buzz.
03:04Bill Nighy even won a BAFTA for his legendary portrayal of cynical rock star Billy Mac.
03:09You know I love Christmas, I always will.
03:14My mind's made up the way that I feel.
03:19Love Actually ultimately weaves a tapestry of togetherness that feels warm in any season.
03:24Of course, many fans consider it to be mandatory December viewing.
03:31You think your family's a lot?
03:33Meet the Portocolises.
03:34Nia Vardalos' one-woman show My Big Fat Greek Wedding inflates its cast for a film version,
03:40about a courtship complicated by cultural quirks.
03:42Last night, Vicky Pavlopoulos saw you sucking the lips off his head in the Denny's parking lot.
03:48Well, she told her ma, who told my ma, who told your ma.
03:52Let me put it this way, you're busted.
03:54The writer and actress drew on personal experiences to tell this multi-layered, multi-generational Cinderella story on a budget
04:01of just $5 million.
04:04With word of mouth leading to over $350 million at the box office and Golden Globe nominations,
04:09it became one of the biggest indie film successes of the 2000s.
04:13Then came two sequels and a TV show that were decidedly less successful, especially from a critical standpoint.
04:20That doesn't take away from My Big Fat Greek Wedding as an event we can all relate to.
04:35Number 16, The 40-Year-Old Virgin.
04:38Whoever equates rom-coms with chick flicks has gone a long time without ever seeing The 40-Year-Old Virgin.
04:54Andy Stitzer's awkwardly late debut to the dating scene is full of shockingly lowbrow gags with high returns on laughs.
05:02But it's his connection with a charming single mother that teaches him about true milestones in maturity.
05:07The raunchy romp's unlikely death solidified it as an instant hit with critics and audiences.
05:12While announcing Steve Carell as a natural leading man.
05:15I think I'm falling for you.
05:18I don't know, I kind of see this going somewhere.
05:22It doesn't matter too.
05:23Writer-director Judd Apatow's edgy, character-driven style would lend itself to more winningly warped romances like 2007's Knocked Up.
05:32Of course, you never forget your first time falling for the lewd geniuses behind The 40-Year-Old Virgin.
05:38Number 15, 13 Going on 30.
05:40Be careful with those birthday wishes, especially if you get a hold of magic dust.
05:45I want to be 30.
05:4630 and flirty and thriving.
05:5130 and flirty and thriving.
05:54This transports 13-year-old Jenna Rink into the body of her 30-year-old self.
05:5813 Going on 30 brings together audiences of all ages with a message about overcoming both petty insecurities and adult
06:06cynicism.
06:06Love interest Mark Ruffalo anchors that emotional core.
06:10But Jennifer Garner stands alone in nailing heart, physical comedy, and that thriller dance scene.
06:25This turned the action and drama star into a rom-com mainstay, while inspiring musical and TV adaptations.
06:32The ageless 13 going on 30 can certainly still bring a smile to our inner child.
06:38Number 14, There's Something About Mary.
06:41The Farrelly brothers push the boundaries of taste in the most charming way in There's Something About Mary.
06:46And Ben Stiller pushes the boundaries of chemistry with Cameron Diaz when Ted Stroman gets another shot at his high
06:52school crush.
07:00He first has to get through an assortment of eccentric suitors and chaotic situations.
07:06This unlikely blockbuster confirmed that romance audiences don't just have a stomach for crude comedy, but an appetite for it.
07:13The lack of naivety also fostered an unexpectedly thoughtful critique of male fantasy,
07:18enriching the breakout performance that landed Diaz a Golden Globe nomination.
07:22How could you have some guy you don't even know spy on me?
07:27What were you trying to do?
07:30Trick me into feeling something for you?
07:33Mature in more ways than just immature humor, There's Something About Mary has plenty to keep us laughing.
07:39Number 13, Groundhog Day.
07:41I thought you hated this town.
07:44Well, it's beginning to grow on me.
07:45Does it ever seem like lonely days run together?
07:48That's literally the case for bitter weatherman Phil Connors when he gets stuck in a small-town time loop on
07:53Groundhog Day.
07:54Do you ever have deja vu, Mrs. Lancaster?
07:56I don't think so, but I could check with the kitchen.
07:58Initially using the situation to his advantage, he gradually becomes a person who's truly able to give and receive love.
08:05While the premise is fantastical, the story feels incredibly grounded.
08:10The sublimely plotted script plays out to such perfection on-screen that it's hard not to feel hopeful by the
08:16end of the movie.
08:17And the journey is filled with laughs, making its existential and romantic themes feel fun.
08:23That's true.
08:24We could do whatever we want.
08:32We definitely wouldn't complain if we were trapped in a time loop where Groundhog Day was always on.
08:38Number 12, 10 Things I Hate About You.
08:41Whoever said teen movies weren't elevated?
08:43The closed-off Kat Stratford's younger sister Bianca can only date if she does.
08:47But she's a mutant!
08:49What if she never dates?
08:50Then you'll never date.
08:51Oh, I like that.
08:51So the rebellious Patrick Verona gets compensated to woo Kat, and naturally, it evolves into something real.
08:58Based on the taming of the shrew, 10 Things I Hate About You seamlessly blends Shakespeare and 90s teen pop
09:04culture.
09:05And the enthralling narrative is beautifully complemented by the casting.
09:09Julia Stiles makes Kat a believable and real heroine, while Heath Ledger irresistibly embodies Patrick's allure.
09:15We can't take our eyes off his serenade.
09:18Can't take my eyes off of you.
09:27To top it all off, the film flawlessly tees up its climax, ensuring audiences will bawl at every rewatch.
09:34But mostly I hate the way I don't hate you.
09:37Not even close.
09:38Not even a little bit.
09:40Not even at all.
09:41Simply put, it's a masterpiece.
09:43Number 11, Legally Blonde.
09:45Sorority fashionista Elle Woods heads to Harvard Law to prove that she's not just blonde stereotypes.
09:51And to hopefully win back her ex-boyfriend.
09:54Legally Blonde is smart about engaging those and other stereotypes to reel in hilarious fish-out-of-water hijinks.
10:00Exercise gives you endorphins.
10:02Endorphins make you happy.
10:04Happy people just don't shoot their husbands.
10:08They just don't.
10:09The movie saw Golden Globe nominee Reese Witherspoon graduate to the title of America's Sweetheart.
10:15It's also been cited by many women as an influence in their decision to pursue legal and filmmaking careers.
10:21And with further inspiration of a massive multimedia franchise, Legally Blonde proves to be as fabulously empowering as ever.
10:27So I would just like to raise a glass to all of you.
10:30My friends, my world.
10:33I'm so lucky to have this life.
10:35I wouldn't change a thing.
10:37Number 10, My Best Friend's Wedding.
10:39We know etiquette dictates that you shouldn't try to ruin your best friend's wedding.
10:43I'm a busy girl.
10:44I've got exactly four days to break up a wedding, steal the bride's fella, and I haven't one clue how
10:50to do it.
10:50In Julia Roberts' defense, though, her character Julianne thinks Michael is her soulmate.
10:55If you're thinking this sounds like a classic, man realizes he's with the wrong woman story, think again.
11:00Forgive me for screwing up your plans.
11:02I'm just sure glad I'm hearing about this now before it's too late.
11:05What is that supposed to do?
11:06What am I supposed to do?
11:07My Best Friend's Wedding flips the traditional rom-com on its head, with Julianne resorting to hijinks usually reserved for
11:13villains.
11:14Yet the character is downright captivating under Roberts, who makes her multifaceted and interesting to watch.
11:20The resulting flick is amazingly compelling and imaginative.
11:23It'll undoubtedly keep you guessing and remind you the value of friendship, all while melting your heart in unexpected ways.
11:30I woke up and I see that the world is just as it should be.
11:37Plus, the soundtrack is epic.
11:39Trust us, it's a must-see affair.
11:42And all through my coffee break time, I said a little prayer for you.
11:51Even dashing and rich crushes come with baggage, such as being in a coma.
11:55There's certainly a twisted humor to a lonely woman pretending to be the fiancé of a man in that condition,
12:01only to develop feelings for his brother.
12:03While You Were Sleeping struggled to get made because of that problematic premise, but critics and audiences ultimately fell for
12:09its quirks and heart.
12:10The real secret weapon, of course, is Sandra Bullock's versatile breakout performance as the main lead.
12:16I just wanted you to know that you've become a really good friend.
12:26Her Golden Globe nomination and the film's massive box office success awakened an iconic career across all genres.
12:33But when it comes to rom-com classics, While You Were Sleeping is not to be slept on.
12:38I need to ask you a question.
12:41Get down on your knee.
12:43It's more romantic.
12:45He's proposing let him do it.
12:48I am letting him do it.
12:50Number 8.
12:51Pretty Woman.
12:52Fasten your seatbelt.
12:54I am taking you for the ride of your life.
12:56Picture this.
12:56An escort spends six days and six nights with a rich tycoon.
13:00And sparks fly.
13:01It's an ill-advised premise that Pretty Woman turns into pure magic.
13:05Julia Roberts' Vivian Ward and Richard Gere's Edward Lewis feel nuanced, allowing us to believe in their inter-class love
13:12story.
13:13And you are my employee.
13:14You don't own me.
13:15I decide, okay?
13:15I say who.
13:17I say when.
13:17I say who.
13:18She is anything but a damsel in distress.
13:21And their time together helps him become a better person.
13:24So I find myself in unfamiliar territory.
13:29I want to help you.
13:31The movie is also full of special moments, like that iconic shopping spree, that make for an endlessly entertaining time.
13:38Ultimately, what makes Pretty Woman so pretty is the honesty and tenderness that allow the fairytale ending to feel authentic.
13:45It's one of the decade-defining films of the 90s for a reason.
13:49Number 7.
13:50Bridget Jones' Diary.
13:51What do you get when you put Renee Zellweger, Colin Firth, and Hugh Grant in a movie together?
13:56The answer is rom-com gold.
13:59Bridget Jones is a messy, flawed, and deeply relatable woman who's trying to figure out life.
14:04With Us and her diary along for the ride, she dates her skirt-chasing boss Daniel Cleaver and starts falling
14:10for family friend Mark Darcy.
14:12The banter, rivalry, and questionable blue soup are impossible to resist.
14:17It's, um, blue.
14:20Blue?
14:21No, but blue is good.
14:23If you ask me, there isn't enough food.
14:25And the studio couldn't help but turn this international blockbuster into a film franchise.
14:30Watching Bridget learn her worth across two decades is deeply satisfying.
14:34You once said that you like me just as I am, and I just wanted to say, likewise.
14:42But with particularly keen humor and heart, the original Bridget Jones' Diary is almost too endearing for words.
14:48Well, I realized I've forgotten to, um, kiss you goodbye, do you mind?
14:55Number 6.
14:56You've Got Mail.
14:57No writer-director served the chemistry between Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan like Nora Ephron.
15:02Where Sleepless in Seattle manages a beautiful love story without having the leads consistently interact,
15:08You've Got Mail tackles communication in the internet age.
15:11Dear friend, I like to start my notes to you as if we're already in the middle of a conversation.
15:16I pretend that we're the oldest and dearest friends as opposed to what we actually are, people who don't know
15:22each other's names.
15:23Hanks and Ryan play a pair of bookstore rivals who don't realize that they're one another's anonymous confidant in an
15:29online chat room.
15:30This enemies-to-lovers trope is effectively used thanks to a steady pace that allows viewers to embrace the deceptively
15:37deep themes.
15:38Ryan's performance alone earned many accolades, while her and Hanks' third double billing earned over $250 million at the box
15:46office.
15:46I know this is probably a little late to be asking, but...
15:51Are you married?
15:52Technology may have changed, but there aren't many reads as cozy as curling up with You've Got Mail.
15:57Number 5. Clueless.
16:00Come for the fashion, but stay for the surprisingly heartfelt story of Cher Horowitz,
16:05who finds romance in an unexpected person while meddling in other people's love lives.
16:09Oh my god.
16:13I love Josh.
16:15Taking inspiration from Jane Austen's Emma, this flick delightfully blends genres,
16:19bringing the best of the teen movie and romantic comedy together, and it's a match made in heaven.
16:24It succeeds on all fronts, with its lovingly strong-willed protagonist,
16:29humorous take on classic tropes, and gripping twists and turns.
16:33Yeah, do you have a number of a cab company?
16:35Which one?
16:36I don't know which one. What do you have out here?
16:38We have a valley cab.
16:39Hand it over.
16:40Give me the phone.
16:41That's saying nothing of the star-studded cast, notably featuring Alicia Silverstone,
16:46the late Brittany Murphy, and Paul Rudd.
16:48As if that wasn't enough, the movie's quotability is off the charts.
16:52Ugh, as if!
16:54All the pieces of this puzzle fit seamlessly together,
16:56and the final product is anything but clueless.
17:00And in conclusion, may I please remind you that it does not say RSVP on the Statue of Liberty.
17:07Number 4. Notting Hill.
17:09Who hasn't dreamt of meeting a celebrity and actually falling in love?
17:12When actress Anna Scott ends up in Will Thacker's corner of the world,
17:16that fantasy becomes his reality.
17:18What follows is an emotional road that repeatedly tears the pair apart before leading them back to each other.
17:24Every time anyone writes anything about me, they'll dig up these photos.
17:29Newspapers last forever.
17:31I'll regret this forever.
17:33Of course, Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant's chemistry as the lead duo is unparalleled.
17:37Moreover, each scene is intentionally crafted,
17:41with the cinematography elevating the spellbinding screenplay to transport us into the character's universe.
17:46We'd also be remiss not to mention the fact that the film features one of the most poignant and touching
17:51lines in rom-com history.
17:52I'm also just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.
18:02What can we say? We're completely defenseless against the charisma that flows out of Notting Hill.
18:07Anna, how long are you intending to stay here in Britain?
18:19Indefinitely.
18:20Number 3. As Good As It Gets.
18:22It would take extraordinary writing to turn the intimidating Jack Nicholson into a romantic lead.
18:28Against all odds, he becomes one, as misanthropic writer Melvin Udall moved to address his mental health
18:34by a struggling single mother and the artist next door.
18:37As Good As It Gets flirts with two and a half hours to make their growth feel authentic.
18:41Why did you do this for me?
18:47So you'd come back to work and wait on me.
18:50Do you have some idea how strange that sounds?
18:53Writer-director James L. Brooks keeps the process breezy with sharp humor,
18:57then punctuates it with perfect emotion.
18:59This refreshingly adult rom-com scored over $300 million in seven Oscar nominations,
19:05with wins for Nicholson and Helen Hunt.
19:07Nicholson was also able to expand into more wholesome projects like the Diane Keaton hit Something's Gotta Give.
19:13But for quotable quirkiness and sincere heart, As Good As It Gets is fittingly titled.
19:18I think most people miss that about you.
19:21And I watch them wondering how they can watch you bring their food and clear their tables
19:26and never get that they just met the greatest woman alive.
19:31Number 2. Four Weddings and a Funeral.
19:33You want to come up for a nightcap?
19:38You sure?
19:39Oh yes, I think we can risk it. I'm pretty sure I can assist you. You're not that cute.
19:44People get married, and someone dies.
19:47But that's an oversimplification of everything Four Weddings and a Funeral accomplishes.
19:51It's the timeless tale of a tight-knit group's search for happiness.
19:54Time.
19:55Honestly?
19:56Yes, time!
19:57It's about 10 to 9.
19:58Oh!
20:03Hugh Grant's Charles finds it with Andy McDowell's Carrie, but their forever does not come easy.
20:08This rom-com is brimming with important lessons about life, love, and loss.
20:13Yet it communicates them through gentle, funny writing, a cohesive structure, and first-rate direction.
20:20Plus, the ensemble of accomplished actors serve up superb wit.
20:23The astonishing success of this mixture led to box office success, a cult following, and an American TV adaptation in
20:302019.
20:31Basically, you're saying marriage is just a way of getting out of an embarrassing pause in conversation.
20:35The definitive icebreaker.
20:37Of course, after so many anniversaries, the original gang still has us reaching for the tissues.
20:43I was standing there in the church, and for the first time in my whole life, I realized I totally
20:50and utterly loved one person.
20:56Before we continue, check out this single from Current, EDM Transformed.
21:02Check out the full track and album below.
21:12Number 1.
21:14Jerry Maguire.
21:15I love you.
21:17You?
21:20Complete me.
21:21From high schoolers in Say Anything and the Seattle grunge scene in Singles, Cameron Crowe can find love and laughter
21:28in unusual subjects.
21:30Jerry Maguire brings that flair to the sports management hustle, which the title character navigates along with a more low
21:36-key love story.
21:37To be playing such a dense plot at a fast pace, Crowe delivers one iconic quote after another.
21:43That's it, brother, but you got to yell that shit.
21:45Show me the money.
21:46I need to feel you, Jerry.
21:47Show me the money.
21:49Jerry, you better yell.
21:50Show me the money.
21:52Cuba Gooding Jr. alone had enough as NFL star Rod Tidwell to land an Academy Award, but audiences really showed
21:59the money,
21:59in the hundreds of millions, to the beautiful chemistry between Renée Zellweger and Golden Globe winner Tom Cruise.
22:06Jerry Maguire really is the complete romantic comedy, exemplifying how the genre can mingle heartfelt fun with great storytelling.
22:13What are some other rom-com classics that continue to steal your hearts?
22:17Share your cinematic love story in the comments.
Comments