The 42 Best Romantic Comedies of All Time – Vanity Fair

The 42 Best Romantic Comedies of All Time

We take stock of the best rom-coms ever—from How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days to My Best Friend’s Wedding to three Nora Ephron classics.

By Vanity Fair, May 7, 2025

Reports of the death of the romantic comedy have been greatly exaggerated. Sure, the always endangered genre has lost some of its luster since its heyday in the 1990s. But even now, audiences are still hungry for witty banter, unexpected meet-cutes, and a happy ending. Streaming platforms like Netflix and Max have released scores of rom-coms; Anyone But You made bank at the box office in 2023; Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy recently made our critic’s list of the best movies of 2025 so far.

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But what are the best romantic comedies of all time—the films that rank as the paragon of the genre? A group of Vanity Fair’s writers and editors compiled a list of their own top 10 rom-coms. Then—after some number-crunching and establishing what met our unimpeachable rom-com standards (extra points for a running-through-the-airport or musical serenade scene)—we landed on 42 films that ultimately made the list.

It’s comprised of undeniable classics like Notting Hill and 10 Things I Hate About You, underrated gems like Never Been Kissed and 2025’s The Wedding Banquet, and, yes, even a few debatable picks. (Wait… Is Anora a romantic comedy?)

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While each entry on the list may not be exactly your cup of tea, they all fit the American Film Institute’s broad definition of what it takes to be a romantic comedy. Rom-coms are, by definition, “a genre in which the development of a romance leads to comic situations.” So grab your popcorn and take a gander at Vanity Fair’s 42 favorite romantic comedies of all time.

42. Red, White, and Royal Blue (2023)

The ’90s had My Date With the President’s Daughter, and the 2020s has My Date With the President’s Son. Based on the 2019 novel of the same name by Casey McQuiston, Red, White, and Royal Blue follows the unlikely romance between Alex Claremont-Diaz (Taylor Zakhar Perez) and Prince Henry (Nicholas Galitzine). The fact that they’re both guys isn’t the only thing that makes their courtship difficult: Alex is the aforementioned president’s son, and Henry happens to be third in line for the British throne. Their international affair may quite literally affect international affairs. Directed by Tony winner Matthew López, Red, White and Royal Blue is both a queer romance and a White House romp. Galitzine and Perez are charming as the two lovebirds, discovering their sexuality on a very public stage. The film also features a daffy performance from Uma Thurman as a very Southern president of the United States. — Chris Murphy

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41. But I’m a Cheerleader (1999)

Julia Roberts wasn’t the only redheaded rom-com actress of the ’90s. There was also Natasha Lyonne, delivering a wonderful performance in the campy and fun lesbian rom-com But I’m a Cheerleader. In the film by Jamie Babbit, Lyonne stars as Megan, a closeted cheerleader sent to conversion-therapy camp by her parents. While this may not sound like the best setting for a romantic comedy, she meets a host of other closeted teens there—including the edgy and cool Graham (Clea DuVall), who captures her heart. But I’m A Cheerleader also boasts a hilarious performance by none other than RuPaul, playing a counselor at the conversion-therapy camp who may be struggling with many of the same issues his campers are. For anyone looking for truly comic yet surprisingly sincere exploration of queerness with a happy ending, But I’m a Cheerleader is the girl for you. — Chris Murphy

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