20 Best Rom Coms Of The Last 5 Years

Summary Recent rom-coms feature more diverse casts and tackle serious themes while still delivering swoon-worthy romance.

Modern rom-com characters live fantastical lives but also deal with real-life challenges like work struggles and rejection.

The best recent rom-coms offer a breath of fresh air with original stories and creative setups that flip traditional romance conventions.

Few genres make audiences feel as good as a romantic comedy, and the best rom-coms of the last 5 years offer a variety of stories that deftly bring as many swoons as they do laughs. The genre remains as popular as ever, and the best romantic comedies that have come out in the last five years have told some of the most original stories so far. The rom-coms of today feature more diverse casts and often flip traditional romance conventions.

While romantic comedies are known for their tropes, some modern and recent rom-coms are trying different and creative setups while their characters are more representative of Millennials, Gen Z, and younger audiences. Modern rom-com characters still live fantastical lives filled with meet-cutes and deus ex machina moments while also reckoning with more serious themes like not being successful at work, being rejected, and being single after a long relationship. The best recent rom-coms are a breath of fresh air in the genre.

Related 10 Of The Best Rom-Coms From The Past 10 Years Rom-coms never go out of fashion, and here are some of the best romantic comedies of the last 10 years.

20 No Hard Feelings (2023)

Starring Jennifer Lawrence & Andrew Barth Feldman

No Hard Feelings Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available Director Gene Stupnitsky Release Date June 23, 2023 Writers John Phillips , Gene Stupnitsky Cast Jennifer Lawrence , Andrew Barth Feldman , Natalie Morales , Matthew Broderick , Laura Benanti Runtime 103 Mins

Jennifer Lawrence stars in the romantic comedy No Hard Feelings, a movie that came out in 2023 and was one of her raunchiest, yet funny movie turns. The film had a chance to cause controversy, as Lawrence played a young woman who agrees to help a teenager lose his virginity when his parents offer her a new car in exchange for the deed.

While an older woman seducing a teen could have been a terrible idea, the movie remains a sweet story, albeit with some highly raunchy scenes throughout. Lawrence was all in on this role and showed a different side to her already incredible acting talents. The movie also had some fun supporting characters, with the boy's parents played by Matthew Broderick and Laura Benanti.

Jennifer Lawrence earned a Golden Globes nomination for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical and the movie also earned a Critics Choice Awards nomination for Best Comedy. On top of that, No Hard Feelings has gone on to become a hit on Netflix.

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19 Somebody I Used To Know (2023)

Starring Alison Brie & Jay Ellis

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buy Not available Not available Not available Director Dave Franco Release Date February 10, 2023 Writers Dave Franco , Alison Brie Cast Alison Brie , Jay Ellis , Kiersey Clemons , Julie Hagerty , Haley Joel Osment , Amy Sedaris , Danny Pudi Runtime 106 minutes

Somebody I Used To Know is a Dave Franco-directed movie that arrived in 2023 with Alison Brie starring as the showrunner of a reality TV series called Dessert Island. When she learns her show was canceled, she decides to take a break from TV and visits her mom in Washington, where she runs into her ex-boyfriend.

This was actor Dave Franco's second directorial effort following The Rental (2020).

As expected in a rom-com, they hook up again, and then she learns after they sleep together that he is about to get married and his mother, unaware of what happened, asks Ally to video the wedding. This seems a perfect setup for a romantic comedy with a lot of uncomfortable situations and is similar to classics like My Best Friend's Wedding.

However, this ends up surpassing the familiar storylines and is a movie with some nice depth and characters realizing what they are supposed to be doing in life, while not cheating with a fake happily ever after ending for Ally in the end. It has some interesting things to say for a comedy and was a surprising film, yet one that was mostly overlooked.

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18 Red, White, And Royal Blue (2023)

Starring Taylor Zakhar Perez & Nicholas Galitzine

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buy Not available Not available Not available Director Matthew Lopez Release Date August 11, 2023 Studio(s) Amazon Studios , Berlanti-Schechter Films Distributor(s) Prime Video Writers Matthew Lopez , Ted Malawer Cast Taylor Zakhar Perez , Nicholas Galitzine , Uma Thurman , Stephen Fry , Sarah Shahi , Ellie Bamber Runtime 121 Minutes Expand

Red, White & Royal Blue is a Prime Video original romantic comedy that features an LGBTQ+ love story between the United States President's son and Prince Phillip, Duke of Cambridge. As with many rom-coms, the two men do not start off on good terms, and neither likes the other after an early embarrassing incident.

However, their parents force them to act like friends for better relations between the countries, neither leader realizing that the sons would end up falling in love. The movie received mostly positive reviews from critics, sitting at 76% on Rotten Tomatoes, and it offers up a more inclusive romantic experience for viewers at home.

It also received praise at the end of the year, with the GLAAD Media Awards naming it the Queer Fan Favorite of the year, while also nominating it for Outstanding Film - Streaming of TV. It also received a nomination at the Producers Guild of America Awards for Outstanding Producer of Streamed or Televised Motion Pictures. The film was such a success that Prime has greenlit a sequel.

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17 I Want You Back (2022)

Starring Charlie Day & Jenny Slate

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buy Not available Not available Not available Director Jason Orley Release Date February 11, 2022 Studio(s) Amazon Studios Distributor(s) Amazon Studios Writers Isaac Aptaker , Elizabeth Berger Cast Scott Eastwood , Mason Gooding , Gina Rodriguez , Manny Jacinto , Jenny Slate , Charlie Day Runtime 111minutes Expand

I Want You Back is a more irreverent romantic comedy starring Charlie Day (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) and Jenny Slate (Parks and Recreation). With the two comedic television actors leading the way, the movie tells the story of two people who were just dumped by their romantic partners.

They become friends and try to help each other navigate their new lives after the breakups. However, they then decide they will help each other try to win back their exes, who have already moved on. However, as expected in movies of this type, the two end up falling for each other along the way.

Critics loved the movie, and it sits at a nice 86% on Rotten Tomatoes. The cast received praise for their performances and it is a rom-com that not only delivers the laughs and romance but also has a great story as well about learning to move on in life, even if it is not what the couple expected along the way.

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16 Ghosted (2023)

Starring Chris Evans & Ana De Armas

Ghosted is a movie that has some big-time stars behind it and some successful directors helming the project. Chris Evans plays against type as a hapless romantic who heads to London to find a woman he had a one-night stand with after a date. However, when he arrives, a criminal abducts him and his former date has to save him. This is Oscar-nominated actress Ana de Armas (Blonde), who is a highly-trained secret agent.

Ghosted is an Apple TV+ original movie.

Seeing the former Captain America needing to be saved constantly made this worth the watch. The Apple TV+ original movie was written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, the team who wrote Deadpool and Deapool 2 and was directed by Dexter Fletcher, who previously directed the Oscar-nominated Rocketman.

While critics hated the movie (with a 25% rating on Rotten Tomatoes), the audience score was much higher. That makes this is a crowd-friendly movie and a rom-com worth the watch for anyone just looking to have a good time.

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15 The Perfect Find (2023)

Starring Gabrielle Union & Keith Powers

The Perfect Find Release Date June 23, 2023 Director Numa Perrier Cast Gabrielle Union , Keith Powers , Gina Torres , La La Anthony , Aisha Hinds , Janet Hubert Writers Leigh Davenport Distributor(s) Netflix

Available to stream on Netflix

One of the best recent rom-coms, The Perfect Find is a Netflix original movie that arrived on the streaming service in 2023. Though it’s inspired by a novel of the same name by Tia Williams, fans of the book will find several differences in the movie.

In a cast stacked with talent, Gabrielle Union leads as Jenna, a woman who is just getting out of a decade-long relationship. After starting a new job, Jenna finds herself drawn to a much younger man (Keith Powers).

Though they experience a lot of bumps as they get to know one another, including the fact that Jenna works for her mother (Gina Torres), they work well together. Even more than the romance aspect of the story, both characters find a way to follow their career aspirations while falling for one another.

14 To All The Boys: Always And Forever (2021)

Starring Lana Condor & Noah Centineo

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To All the Boys: Always and Forever Release Date February 12, 2021 Director Michael Fimognari Cast Lana Condor , John Corbett , Sarayu Blue , Lisa Durupt , Noah Centineo , Molly Grace , Henry Thomas , Trezzo Mahoro , Emilija Baranac , Rish Shah , Anna Cathcart , Linda Ko , Ross Butler , Madeleine Arthur , Janel Parrish , Kayla Deorksen Writers Katie Lovejoy Distributor(s) Netflix Expand

Available to stream on Netflix

To All The Boys: Always And Forever is the final chapter in Jenny Han’s To All The Boys trilogy on Netflix. It follows Lara Jean Covey (Lana Condor) as she struggles to pick a university to attend after her dreams of going to the same school as Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo) are shattered.

Though Lara Jean has already learned so many lessons in love from the first two movies, this time around, she learns that she can’t put what she wants in life on hold for love, even if that makes her relationship harder.

While Lara Jean and Peter mostly have a fairy tale romance, the final chapter of their story allows for a grounded approach to the two of them going to different universities after spending the last two years of high school together.

13 Crush (2022)

Starring Rowan Blanchard & Auli'i Cravalho

Crush Release Date April 29, 2022 Director Sammi Cohen Cast Rowan Blanchard , Auli'i Cravalho , Isabella Ferreira

Available to stream on Hulu

Another high school rom-com, 2022's Crush is a Hulu original. Unlike Netflix, Hulu doesn’t have a ton of recent romantic comedies made just for the platform, and Crush is certainly unique. It’s got a sarcastic sense of humor that plays up some teen comedy tropes while subverting others.

The love triangle at the center of the story, after all, concerns three young women. Roman Blanchard stars in Crush as Paige, a teenager who joins the track team to get close to her crush (Isabella Ferriera). While training, however, she ends up growing closer to her crush’s sister, AJ (Auli’i Cravalho).

The two sisters are co-captains of the track team, which means Paige ends up in the orbit of both of them, only further confusing her feelings. What makes the movie work is that Blanchard has fantastic chemistry with both leading ladies alongside her.

12 Palm Springs (2020)

Starring Andy Samberg & Akiva Schaffer

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Palm Springs Release Date July 10, 2020 Director Max Barbakow Cast Dale Dickey , Jena Friedman , Camila Mendes , Cristin Milioti , Meredith Hagner , Conner O'Malley , Tyler Hoechlin , Chris Pang , June Squibb , Andy Samberg , Tongayi Chirisa , Brian Duffy , J. K. Simmons , Peter Gallagher , Jacqueline Obradors Writers Andy Siara Distributor(s) Hulu Expand

Available to stream on Hulu

Ever since Groundhog Day premiered in 1993, science fiction projects have been fascinated by the idea of a time loop. While most time loop movies provide a morality tale in which the protagonist has to learn their lesson and aren’t necessarily romantic comedies, Palm Springs makes the science fiction concept into the perfect circumstance for a romantic comedy.

After Sarah (Cristin Milioti) hooks up with Nyles (Andy Samberg) at her sister’s wedding, she finds herself pulled into a vortex that causes her to repeat the day. While Sarah is new to the time loop, Nyles is not.

He’s repeated the day so many times he’s developed a more laid-back attitude toward the loop, enjoying himself and doing things he wouldn’t necessarily do in his everyday life. Sarah, on the other hand, is determined to find a way to end it. It’s their differences that make them so fun to watch together.

11 Single All The Way (2021)

Starring Michael Urie & Philemon Chambers

Single All The Way Release Date December 2, 2021 Director Michael Mayer Cast Jennifer Coolidge , Jennifer Robertson , Barry Bostwick , Luke Macfarlane , Philemon Chambers , Kathy Najimy , Michael Urie Writers Chad Hodge

Available to stream on Netflix

Holiday romances are incredibly common. Hallmark has a lock on them when it comes to tearjerkers, but this Netflix original rom-com is both sweet and hilarious. It features some tried and true romantic comedy tropes like fake dating and friends-to-lovers and is easily one of the best holiday romantic comedies of the last five years.

In Single All The Way, Peter (Michael Urie) goes home for the holidays, convincing his best friend Nick (Philemon Chambers) to pretend to be his boyfriend after his most recent relationship ends.

His mother (Kathy Najimy), however, sets him up on a blind date, and the two find that maybe there are real feelings underneath the relationship they were going to pretend to have. The movie, which came out in 2021, won the GLAAD Media Awards honor for Outstanding TV Movie and also earned Joel S. Rice a Producers Guild of America Award.

Related 10 Rom-Coms That Will Make You Believe In Love Again, Ranked Least To Most Sappy Romantic comedies can be sappy, and a lot of people like them just for that reason. Here are 10 great rom-coms, ranked from least to most sappy.

10 Emma (2020)

Starring Anya Taylor-Joy & Johnny Flynn

Emma Release Date February 21, 2020 Director Autumn de Wilde Cast Bill Nighy , Gemma Whelan , Rupert Graves , Mia Goth , Amber Anderson , Tanya Reynolds , Callum Turner , Chloe Pirrie , Josh O'Connor , Anya Taylor-Joy , Johnny Flynn , Miranda Hart , Suzy Bloom Writers Eleanor Catton Distributor(s) Focus Features , Universal Pictures

Available to stream on Peacock

Though Pride and Prejudice might be the best known, many other Jane Austen novels have been adapted for the screen, including Emma. The 2020 adaptation of Emma starring Anya Taylor-Joy is visually stunning with fantastic cinematography and costumes. It doesn’t deviate much from the source material, but that isn’t a bad thing.

Emma (Anya Taylor-Joy) is the daughter of a wealthy man who enjoys matchmaking. She frequently finds herself making mistakes as she meddles in the love lives of those she cares about, almost realizing too late that she’s in love with the same man a dear friend loves.

While Emma is a charming heroine, there’s no denying that she can be spoiled and selfish, making her more than the archetypal woman at the center of a love story. Taylor-Joy earned a Golden Globes nomination and the movie received several nominations for costuming from different organizations.

9 Happiest Season (2020)

Starring Kristen Stewart & Mackenzie Davis

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Happiest Season Release Date November 26, 2020 Director Clea DuVall Cast Victor Garber , Mackenzie Davis , Dan Levy , Mary Holland , Aubrey Plaza , Kristen Stewart Alison Brie , Mary Steenburgen Writers Clea DuVall , Mary Holland Distributor(s) Hulu

Available to stream on Hulu

The best romantic comedies in the last five years have included quite a few during the holiday season. Happiest Season is one such Christmas rom-com, detailing a relationship that finds itself having to overcome a very big hurdle during the holidays: one of the women hasn’t yet come out to her family as they go home for Christmas.

Abby (Kristen Stewart) plans on proposing to Harper (Mackenzie Davis) over the holidays, but when she’s invited to spend the holidays with Harper’s family is when Harper drops the bomb on her.

Though Abby agrees not to tell her family the nature of their relationship, she finds herself feeling more and more out of place and considers breaking up with Harper if Harper isn’t ready to build a future with her. The movie details the many differences in coming out stories, and it does it with a cast of characters that feel very real instead of like stereotypes.

8 The Personal History Of David Copperfield (2019)

Starring Dev Patel & Rosalind Eleazar

Available to stream on Hulu

Dev Patel stars as David Copperfield in this delightful reimagining of Charles Dickens' classic novel "David Copperfield" which is a bright and hilarious version of the story. The movie follows Copperfield from his childhood days as an orphan into his adulthood as he blossoms into a successful writer with fantastical imagery throughout the movie. The loose adaptation of the classic Dickens work has all the hallmarks of a solid rom-com.

The diverse cast has great chemistry, from Hugh Laurie as Mr. Dick to Rosalind Eleazar as Agnes Wickfield. The portrayal of the relationship between Agnes Wickfield and David Copperfield in particular makes this movie one of the best recent rom-coms.

The Personal History Of David Copperfield was hugely popular in the UK, earning 11 British Independent Film Awards nominations, and winning for Best Supporting Actor (Hugh Laurie), Best Screenplay, Best Casting, Best Costume Design, and Best production Design.

7 The Lovebirds (2020)

Starring Kumail Nanjiani & Issa Rae

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The Lovebirds Director Michael Showalter Cast Kelly Murtagh , Anna Camp , Joe Chrest , Moses Storm , Paul Sparks , Andrene Ward-Hammond , Kumail Nanjiani , Kyle Bornheimer , Issa Rae , Jaren Mitchell Writers Martin Gero , Brendan Gall , Aaron Abrams Distributor(s) Netflix

Available to stream on Netflix

The Lovebirds is a Netflix rom-com starring Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani as a couple who started strong with their relationship, but the two find that their relationship is stale after years of being together. They're about to go to a friend's party when they decide to separate, only to have a man claiming to be law enforcement jump in their car and kill a man.

The action throws Leilani (Rae) and Jibran (Nanjiani) into a night where they have to fight for their survival while also reckoning with their relationship falling apart or finding a way to fall back into love with each other. This was not a movie made for awards but was made to entertain audiences, and that is what it did.

With a 66% critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it was still one of the top-streamed movies for Netflix upon its release. Nanjiani and Rae were great leads, with perfect chemistry, and both very funny throughout the movie.

6 What Men Want (2019)

Starring Taraji P. Henson & Aldis Hodge

What Men Want Release Date February 8, 2019 Director Adam Shankman Cast Pete Davidson , Max Greenfield , Wendi McLendon-Covey , Taraji P. Henson , Brian Bosworth , Tracy Morgan , Aldis Hodge , Richard Roundtree , Tamala Jones , Kellan Lutz Writers Chris Spain , Peter Huyck , Jon Zack , Alex Gregory , Jas Waters , Tina Gordon Chism Distributor(s) Paramount Pictures

Available to stream on Apple TV+

2019 rom-com What Men Want is a reboot of the early 2000s film What Women Want, only this time it follows a successful sports agent named Ali, played by Empire's Taraji P. Henson, after she starts to hear men's thoughts due to a potion from a shaman. Not only does this potion reveal the sexism and racism of Ali's workplace, but it allows her to get a leg up on her career.

The film is a fun ride, and it uses the telepathy trick very well. Henson is a great leading lady — her strong-willed determination and softness make her instantly likable. With a great supporting cast that includes Tracy Morgan, Erykah Badu, Max Greenfield, and Richard Roundtree, What Men Want is a solid update on a classic and easily one of the best romantic comedies in the last five years.

Related 10 Most Wholesome '90s Rom-Com Couples First, they hate each other! Then, they love each other! Out of all the couples from 1990s rom-com movies, which are the most wholesome?

5 Long Shot (2019)

Starring Seth Rogen & Charlize Theron

Available to stream on Netflix

Long Shot features Knocked Up alum Seth Rogen and Charlize Theron. Theron plays Charlotte Field, the U.S. Secretary of State, who decides to throw her hat in the ring for president after learning the current man in the White House has no plans to run for a second term.

She needs a speechwriter, so she hires a man named Fred Flarksy (Rogen) whom she used to babysit, and romance ensues. Rogen and Theron have great chemistry as they navigate this interesting take on a rom-com, which plays with conventional standards by making Theron's character the oldest of the pair. The movie received surprisingly positive reviews from critics for a rom-com, sitting at 81% on Rotten Tomatoes.

It helps that the idea of Seth Rogen and Charlize Theron hooking up makes more sense in this setting than Rogen's turn in Knocked Up, and that is because this takes the woman more seriously and allows things to happen organically.

4 Isn't It Romantic (2019)

Starring Rebel Wilson & Adam Devine

Adam DeVine, Rebel Wilson, and Priyanka Chopra in Isn't It Romantic

Isn't It Romantic Release Date February 14, 2019 Director Todd Strauss-Schulson Cast Sawandi Wilson , Priyanka Chopra , Betty Gilpin , Rebel Wilson , Adam Devine , Liam Hemsworth Writers Katie Silberman , Dana Fox , Erin Cardillo

Available to stream on Peacock.

The best recent rom-coms are very much aware that they're romantic comedies. Isn't It Romantic was groundbreaking as one of the few movies to feature a plus-size woman as the main love interest. In the film, Rebel Wilson plays Natalie, an architect who wakes up in a stereotypical romantic comedy after being knocked unconscious.

She's always hated rom-coms but realizes the only way out is through. Soon she begins a relationship with a wealthy man named Blake (played by Chris Hemsworth) and her best friend Josh (Adam Devine) begins dating a yoga instructor named Isabella (Priyanka Chopra).

Not only does the film put the stuffy conventions of rom-coms on display, but it also leads with an important lesson for any viewer. The movie received mixed to positive reviews, with it both mocking and following traditional genre conventions, but what makes it work is that it is a satire that still has a feel-good ending.

3 The Half Of It (2020)

Starring Leah Lewis & Daniel Diemer

The Half of It Release Date May 1, 2020 Cast Leah Lewis Distributor(s) Netflix

Available to stream on NetflixThe Half Of It follows loner Ellie Chu (Leah Lewis). She writes term papers and book reports for money. One day, she's approached by football player Paul (Daniel Diemer) who asks Ellie for help writing love letters to a girl at their school named Aster (Alexxis Lemire).

Ellie, who is in love with Aster herself, initially refuses but eventually agrees. She and Paul become friends despite both caring for Aster. The unconventional friendship between Ellie and Paul is what gives this film its hook, and the love triangle will leave viewers wondering who should end up with whom.

Loosely based on Cyrano de Bergerac (the same play that was remade as the Steve Martin movie Roxanne), the movie received almost universal acclaim, sitting at 97% on Rotten Tomatoes. It was nominated for Best Screenplay at the 36th Independent Spirit Awards and for Outstanding Film-Limited Release at the GLAAD Media Awards.

2 Last Christmas (2019)

Starring Henry Golding & Emilia Clarke

Available to rent through Apple TV, Google Play, and Vudu

Director Paul Feig's romantic flick, Last Christmas follows a down-on-her-luck Kate (played by Game of Thrones' Emilia Clarke) who meets a man named Tom (Henry Golding). Though Kate thinks Tom is too good to be true and mocks his generous nature, she begins to take part in his activities, such as volunteering for a homeless shelter.

Having Tom in her life inspires Kate to strive for her dreams of being a singer, and generally get her life together. The film shows how one person can truly have an impact on another, and how helping others can build a person up.

Clark and Golding were praised for their chemistry, and the film received generally good reviews. The movie is based on the George Michael WHAM! song of the same name and has Michaels's music playing throughout. It is also a romantic tragedy, but one with a satisfying ending.

1 Always Be My Maybe (2019)

Starring Randall Park & Ali Wong

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Available to stream on NetflixAnother Netflix original rom-com, 2019's Always Be My Maybe follows childhood friends Sasha and Marcus as they reconnect after Sasha returns to San Francisco to open a new restaurant. Though they argue initially, the pair end up spending time together as Marcus takes Sasha to different places of their childhood.

This film is one of the few rom-coms to feature a mostly Asian cast — leads Sasha and Marcus are played by comedian Ali Wong and Fresh Of The Boat's Randall Park, respectively. It also features a hilarious cameo from Keanu Reeves and has Hawaii 5-0's Daniel Dae Kim in a supporting role.

Always Be My Maybe proves how far romantic comedies have come in the last few years. It's easily the best romantic comedy in the last five years and one of Netflix's best original romantic comedy movies.