Top 10 Most Underrated Romantic Comedies of the 2010s

In “The Big Sick”, Kumail struggles with reconciling his relationship with Emily and his relationship with his parents. The stakes grow even higher when she falls gravely ill, and for a long time it seems these two won’t be able to make it work. Many rom-coms feel like happy-go-lucky modern fairytales. But this film goes deeper, incorporating serious themes and nuanced dynamics. Not only does it go against many cinematic standards and traditions, it’s also about Kumail going against cultural and religious expectations. Plus, the story is somewhat biographical, drawing on husband and wife duo Emily V. Gordon and Kumail Nanjiani's actual relationship. How meta is that? We love it, and wish more people were singing its praises!

Many rom-coms culminate in a happy ending, but this one leaves things up in the air. Husband and wife Michael and Mary are planning to leave each other for their lovers — until they start to reconnect. Just when you think everything is going to work out, their partners throw a wrench into the works. A more predictable film might end with Mary and Michael running back to each other in the rain, or something equally as dramatic. Yet this one ends with them apart, clearly still caring about each other. That ending exemplifies the overall strength of the movie, because you never really know what’s coming. It might be why it isn’t as popular as other, similar works. It’s also why it deserves to be.

This underrated flick is actually a pretty typical rom-com in many ways. So maybe some folks read the synopsis and didn’t think it was worth checking out? Yet when you do watch, you realize it’s anything but basic. Two friends make a deal to accompany each other to various weddings in a bid to avoid going solo. As you probably guessed, they end up falling for each other, though things get complicated. On the surface, “Plus One” may seem to just follow the usual rules, and while it does in some ways, it goes against the grain, too. The result is an exciting, well-written, humorous movie that keeps you engaged in the plot and rooting for the characters.

Based on its title, one might expect this overlooked pick to be another take on Shakespeare’s tragic romance, “Romeo and Juliet.” But it’s actually an adaptation of a Nick Hornby novel, all about a woman, the musician she falls for, and their tumultuous journey. However, there is a lot of love and a lot of tragedy at play, all of which is expertly handled. Actors Ethan Hawke and Rose Byrne show such a masterful transition between the comedic bits and the dramatic ones that you almost don’t even recognize them. The emotional beats practically spin on a dime, almost going beyond the rom-com genre in the process. If you ask us, the movie should be on everyone’s must-watch list. We definitely recommend it.

Talk about an out of the box release. We don’t know if that’s why it flew under the radar, but it’s a great movie. Not only does it transcend the norms of traditional romantic comedies, it’s also more than a standard, raunchy Seth Rogen comedy. As Fred Flarsky and Charlotte Field, Rogen and Charlize Theron seem like an unlikely pairing, but they’re actually quite a dynamic duo. They run into each other after years when Fred is at an event that Charlotte, who’s Secretary of State and looking to become President, is attending. The film pokes fun at political bureaucracy, turns traditional rom-com tropes upside down, and seamlessly transitions into discussing serious political and social issues. What more could you want?

You’ve heard of anti-heroes in movies. “What If” is kind of the anti-rom-com, calling out so many tropes that usually saturate the genre. For example, it counters the idea that it’s somehow okay to cheat as long as the person you’re cheating with is actually your one true love. And yes, our two main characters, Wallace and Chantry, go from friends to lovers and end up living happily ever after. But they also challenge the trope that men and women can’t be platonic. After all, they do develop a genuine friendship before things turn romantic. The concept and execution are super meta without being too on the nose. So we don’t understand why “What If” has been largely forgotten in the years since its release.

A big misunderstanding, best friends falling in love, an attempted marriage objection — “Love, Rosie” sounds like the perfect romantic comedy. But for some reason it doesn’t get enough recognition, with its Rotten Tomatoes rating sitting at an abysmal 32%. Lily Collins and Sam Claflin as Rosie and Alex respectively have such amazing chemistry it practically jumps off the screen. They keep you so invested in the characters and their story. It’s saddening, frustrating, and yet somehow still hopeful to watch as they keep just missing chances to be together throughout the years. In a way, it’s also kind of like a romantic thriller with all the building anticipation. Like we said, it’s practically perfect.

A guy traveling through time to perfect his love life might seem like a basic, goofy romp. But “About Time” is so much more than that. Tim learns that he’s able to travel through time, and initially uses the power to fix issues he’s been having with women. But it soon gets far more profound, with themes of family and love being explored in powerful ways. While many time travel movies have problems following their own rules, this one arguably utilizes them — and their consequences — pretty well. Filled with romance, drama, time travel, sci-fi, the emotional tale practically transcends genres. It should be up there in peoples’ minds as one of the best movies of the 2010s — it’s about time we make that happen.

If you don’t know Ruby Sparks, we’re here to tell you it’s beyond time to meet her! Desperate author Calvin somehow makes his heroine Ruby come to life — literally. Oh, and whatever he writes about her comes true. Naturally, things go awry, and he keeps trying to change her to suit his needs. The clever premise is carried out with care. Indeed, the fantastical film provides honest commentary about trying to change the person you love, versus accepting them as they are. On top of that, Zoe Kazan’s screenplay is intelligent, while her acting makes the titular character feel like a fleshed out person. She and the whole team need to be given way more credit for what they accomplished!

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

Chris Evans Nails His Directorial Debut

Each Member of This Ensemble Cast Nails Their Role, & the Result Is Epic

The Bard Himself Would Be Proud

Figuring Out Who You’re Meant to be with Is Hard, but This Flick Makes the Journey Entertaining

A Fun Tale About an Interesting Tradition

There are several moving pieces to every good rom-com. “Safety Not Guaranteed” brings them all together with the help of several characters, namely Kenneth and Darius, whose lives change when they meet. Yet when speaking about rom-coms, it’s not one you often hear mentioned. Perhaps that’s because it moves between genres, but it deserves far more mainstream praise. After all, it’s funny in all the right places, dramatic in all the right places, and enigmatic in all the right places. Plus, the layered love story is beautifully parsed out over time (there’s a time travel element). In other words, it pretty much has everything one could hope to find in such a film, but it’s so funny and subtle it never feels cliché.