Top 10 Rom-Coms for People Who Hate Rom-Coms
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VOICE OVER: Phoebe de Jeu
WRITTEN BY: Lindsey Clouse
We all need some rom coms to trick our significant others into watching! Welcome to MsMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the romantic movies that don't follow the old-school rom-com formula. Our countdown includes movies "The Lobster", "Bros", "Set It Up" and more!
Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the romantic movies that don’t follow the old-school rom-com formula. Which rom-com made you believe in love? Let us know in the comments below.
#10: “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” (2008)
Many people’s number one complaint about rom-coms is that a lot of them just aren’t that funny. This movie does not have that problem. Producer Judd Apatow and director Nicholas Stoller are well-versed in comedy, and they know how to get plenty of laughs out of awkward situations. With a cast full of talented comedic actors, this story about moving on from a bad breakup puts the hilarity front and center. Although Peter’s budding romance with Rachel is an important element, the movie avoids getting sappy and instead keeps the jokes coming. No wonder it was a hit with critics and audiences alike.
#9: “Set It Up” (2018)
This Netflix comedy proves that you can follow all the standard rom-com tropes and still make a genuinely funny and entertaining movie. Charlie and Harper are both assistants to demanding, workaholic bosses. When they meet one evening by chance, they realize that they could each get more time away from work if their employers started dating each other. The two devise a plan to set up their bosses, and of course, plenty of hijinks and shenanigans follow. This is a rom-com, so you already know that Charlie and Harper are also going to fall for each other along the way. Since both characters are genuinely likable and have great chemistry, you’ll actually find yourself rooting for the romance.
#8: “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” (2004)
After a painful breakup, have you ever wished you could just forget about your ex? Joel and Clementine decide to do exactly that, undergoing a neurological procedure that erases all memories of each other from their brains. Joel is forced to relive those memories as they disappear, and along the way he rediscovers what drew him to Clem in the first place. Like most of Charlie Kaufman’s movies, this one is a smart, complex dive into human nature and the idea that nothing – including romance – is ever as simple as it looks from the outside.
#7: “Harold and Maude” (1971)
Big age gaps are pretty common in on-screen romances, but usually the male partner is the older one. This movie flips that trope on its head and runs with it. Harold is young, depressed, and can’t stop thinking about death, while Maude is nearly eighty and determined to get the most out of life. After they meet at a stranger’s funeral, Harold finds himself irresistibly drawn to Maude’s uninhibited personality and sense of humor. The absolutely deadpan comedy combined with some truly poignant moments make this movie a bit of an emotional roller coaster. Harold’s family reacts to his relationship with Maude about how you’d expect. But the ultimate lesson of this film is never let other people dictate how you should live your life.
#6: “Bros” (2022)
In some ways, this is a pretty typical rom-com. The two leads meet, and at first it seems like they couldn’t be more different. But as they get to know each other, they discover that they actually have a lot in common, and they start to fall in love. However, “Bros” isn’t just a rom-com with a gay couple swapped out for the usual straight couple. It’s a serious look at the unique struggles that people in LGBTQ+ relationships face and the difficulty of dealing with internalized homophobia. It’s also totally hilarious. “Bros” takes the old-fashioned Hollywood formula and uses it to tell a story about romance in the twenty-first century.
#5: “Amélie” (2001)
This whimsical French film straddles the line between romance and fantasy, and does both brilliantly. The introverted Amélie likes to do good deeds for other people from behind the scenes, but she’s too shy to pursue a relationship for herself. Instead, she retreats into her vivid imagination, devising complicated schemes to interact with her love interest without actually talking to him. Featuring gorgeous cinematography, a beautiful score, and a delightful cast of quirky characters, “Amélie” is a true feel-good movie and a celebration of all the simple joys in life.
#4: “As Good as It Gets” (1997)
Melvin is a terrible person. He’s rude, demanding, and hilariously insulting to everyone, and only a waitress named Carol can put up with his behavior. However, an unusual set of circumstances forces him to start opening up to those around him. He first bonds with his neighbor’s dog, then with the neighbor himself. Finally, romance begins to blossom between Melvin and Carol, though to call it a rocky relationship would be an understatement. This movie is unquestionably one of the funniest on our list, with Jack Nicholson at his comedic best. Melvin is totally unfiltered, and nearly every line out of his mouth makes us laugh out loud.
#3: “The Lobster” (2015)
The premise of this movie is simple: single people have 45 days to find a relationship, or they’ll be transformed into the animal of their choice. Of course, most of the characters spend more time trying to game the system than they do actually looking for love. Featuring plenty of director Yorgos Lanthimos’ trademark absurdist humor, “The Lobster” is as much satire and social commentary as it is rom-com. The most ridiculous situations are played totally seriously, and the actors’ deadpan delivery of every line makes for a brilliant black comedy.
#2: “Groundhog Day” (1993)
It’s such a beloved classic that a lot of people don’t even think of it as a rom-com. Although it’s definitely a comedy with a romance at its center, “Groundhog Day” tosses every rom-com trope out the window. There’s no meet-cute, no love triangle, just a weatherman stuck in a time loop until he can improve himself enough to win over Andie MacDowell. Obviously, it’s all-time great comedian Bill Murray who makes this movie work. When Phil discovers that his actions have no lasting consequences, he does what most of us would do in that situation: he goes a little crazy. His non-stop antics combined with the heartwarming message at the movie’s core are the reason this one is so universally loved.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
“Grosse Pointe Blank” (1997)
Even Hired Hitmen Deserve a Chance at Love
“High Fidelity” (2000)
There’s a Reason John Cusack Is One of the Great Rom-Com Kings
“Young Adult” (2011)
This Movie Leans Hard into the Awkward and Painful Parts of Romance
“The Philadelphia Story” (1940)
A Star-Studded Screwball Comedy That’s One of the Original Classics of the Genre
“The Apartment” (1960)
This Best Picture Winner Is Just as Funny Now as the Day It Was Released
#1: “When Harry Met Sally…” (1989)
If this movie doesn’t make you appreciate rom-coms, nothing will. “When Harry Met Sally…” follows the two leads through a series of meetups over the course of twelve years. Initially they don’t actually like each other much, but eventually they bond over shared heartbreaks and life troubles. This might sound like the old enemies-to-lovers cliche, but the relationship in this movie is much more grounded in reality. Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal are both so charming and effortlessly funny, they’re guaranteed to win you over. It also features what might be the most iconic line in rom-com history, delivered by director Rob Reiner’s mom.
