Top 10 Rom-Coms You've Never Heard Of

Queen Latifa makes a loveable leading lady in “Just Wright,” a sports rom-com about a physical therapist and an NBA player. Latifa plays Leslie, who is down-to-earth and unlucky in love. But she still finds herself falling for her celebrity client, despite the fact that he’s already enamored with her friend. The movie is standard romantic comedy fare but it hits all the right notes. Queen Latifa’s star quality lifts the material and brings some added spark. The leads are a winning combo and the romance is a bit of a slow burn, allowing the chemistry to build.

In recent years, competition movies have almost become a genre of their own. We’ve had sports movies, dance movies, and even chess movies. This one is about competitive typing - with a side order of romance. Set in 1950’s France, “Populaire” follows a small-town girl who discovers she is a gifted typist. Her skills catch the eye of her charismatic boss. He enters her for an international speed typing competition in Paris and declares himself her trainer. Hijinks and romance ensue. The movie puts a French spin on the Hollywood rom-coms of the 1950s. The candy-colored color palette is a feast for the eyes and the costumes are to die for.

It’s always good value seeing stars in early roles and “Overnight Delivery” gives us two for the price of one. Paul Rudd and Reese Witherspoon are sparky together as Wyatt and Ivy, a college student and a stripper, who meet while he drowns his sorrows at her place of work. Wyatt believes his girlfriend is cheating on him and Ivy persuades him to send her some revenge photos of the two of them together. But once the package has driven away, he immediately regrets his decision. The result is an adventure across the country to retrieve the mis-sent parcel. It may have gone straight to video back in 1998, but there are plenty of laughs to be had in this madcap road trip movie.

There aren’t a lot of LGBTQ+ rom-coms out there and this one deserves more love. Piper Perabo stars as Matthew Goode’s bride-to-be. He seems like the perfect guy, but on her wedding day, she meets Lena Headey’s Luce. Suddenly, things don’t seem so simple anymore. The movie handles the central love triangle sensitively and treats its characters with respect. The critics found it unoriginal, but they kind of missed the point. It’s just a little romantic movie that finds a place for sapphic love in a genre where lesbians have been excluded for too long.

A year before Hugh Jackman made his name as Wolverine in “X-Men,” he cut his teeth in an Aussie rom-com called “Paperback Hero.” Jackman plays Jack Willis, a truck driver who writes romance novels on the side. His alter ego - Ruby Vale - is a closely kept secret. But when his books start to take off, he enlists his tomboyish best friend to play the role of author for the cameras. It’s part road movie, part friends-to-lovers romance, and all a lot of fun. The outback setting and quirky cast of side characters make for an enjoyable ride.

“Sleeping with Other People” follows Jason Sudeikis and Alison Brie, as two ex-lovers who reunite years after a one-night stand. Like “What If” and “When Harry Met Sally…,” it explores the idea of a man and woman attempting to be ‘just friends’ without sex getting in the way. Although the movie does its best to subvert the romantic comedy form, it often falls back into old patterns. But the two leads have great chemistry and it’s easy to get invested in their ‘will they/won’t they’ relationship. There’s a lot of fun back and forth dialogue and some great set pieces too.

The title of this culture-clash holiday movie refers to the day following Christmas in the U.K. It focuses on a British author living in the U.S., who brings his American fiancee home for the Christmas period. There, she meets his eccentric British-Caribbean family for the first time. She also has to contend with his ex, who just happens to be an international pop star, portrayed by Leigh-Anne Pinnock. The U.K. loves a Christmas rom-com, but “Boxing Day” is more than just a “Love, Actually” ripoff. Inspired by the real-life of leading man and writer/director Aml Ameen, the movie is a loving celebration of Black-British culture, with a charismatic cast and a catchy soundtrack.

In this fun French flick, “Amélie’s” Audrey Tautou plays Irène - a gold digger living it up on the Riviera. But just when she’s about to bag the rich man she’s been waiting for, a drunken liaison with a waiter puts her back to square one. Gad Elmaleh portrays the hapless Jean, whose attempts to win Irene for himself lead him down some unexpected paths. In essence, “Priceless” is a modern-day screwball comedy with a touch of “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” The two leads are messy but likable, with great onscreen chemistry. The twists and turns will keep you laughing right up until the satisfying denouement.

Since “Mamma Mia!” burst onto our screens back in 2008, the juke-box musical has flourished. One of our favorites is “Sunshine on Leith” a modern-day Scottish love story set to the songs of “The Proclaimers.” You may not be familiar with the folk-rock duo’s whole back catalog, but you’ll be singing along by the end of the movie. The story follows two soldiers recently returned from war. Ally is dating Davy’s sister, Liz, and sets him up on a date with her English work colleague. The narrative touches on the struggles faced by young people trying to find their place in the world. It’s also great to see a rom-com starring blue-collar characters. But mostly, it’s about the romance and those feel-good songs.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“Home Again” (2017)
Reese Witherspoon’s Suburban Mom Has a Fling with a Younger Man

“Austenland” (2013)
Kerri Russell Travels to England for an Immersive Jane Austen Experience

“Eagle vs Shark” (2007)
Two Awkward Misfits Fall in Love in New Zealand

“Playing By Heart” (1998)
An Ensemble Rom-Com with a Star-Studded Cast

“Big Eden” (2001)
A New Yorker Returns to His Small Town & Falls for the Guy Who Owns the General Store

From “About A Boy” and “Fever Pitch” to “High Fidelity,” Nick Hornby novels are proven rom-com fodder. This overlooked 2018 movie has that same classic feel. But instead of casting the flawed but loveable man-child as the protagonist, “Juliet, Naked” instead focuses on the long-suffering girlfriend. Rose Byrne brings her usual charm to the role of Annie, while Ethan Hawke co-stars as Tucker, a washed-up musician who Annie’s boyfriend is obsessed with. When she writes a snarky online review about Tucker’s latest album, the man himself gets in touch to tell her she was right. They embark on a friendship with the potential for something more, but are there too many obstacles in their way? Funny and sweet, it’s the perfect rom-com combo.