Love is a splendored thing, full of joy, silliness, and slapstick. Or at least that’s true of romantic comedies, in which lovers might begin as side-eying friends, business rivals, or strangers destined to swoon.
Yet there’s much more to this genre mash-up than simply jokes and love. You might find jubilant musical numbers, kooky characters, bouncy banter, luxurious settings, and even a madcap murderer!
Whatever you seek from a rom-com, we’ve got you covered with a top-tier selection plucked from quirky to cute to cackle-inducing takes on happily ever after. And there’s no need to swipe right! Just hit play.
Here are the best rom-coms now streaming on Max.
10. Just Like Heaven
From Mark Waters, the director of Mean Girls. comes a boy-meets-girl comedy with a Ghost Dad premise. In this romantic comedy, Reese Witherspoon stars as an E.R. doctor too fixated on work to consider her personal life until a car crash seems to have ended it.
As a disembodied spirit, she haunts her old apartment as the unwelcome roommate of its handsome and bewildered new resident (Mark Ruffalo). At first, the two are a couple at odds, but despite their differences and life status, they fall in love.
Deeply sweet and silly with a side of supernatural slapstick, Just Like Heaven is a delight. And yes, despite its seemingly grim premise, it has a happy ending.
9. Knocked Up
A perfect synthesis of romantic comedy and bro humor, Knocked Up broke the mold for modern rom-coms when it debuted in 2007. It’s raunchy, clever, and occasionally deeply unromantic a welcome dose of reality in a field crowded with swooning, grand gestures, and musical numbers.
Written and directed by Judd Apatow, Knocked Up features Katherine Heigl as Alison, a dedicated entertainment reporter who doesn’t have much time for a personal life. Celebrating a promotion, she has a one-night stand with the deeply mediocre and incredibly underemployed Ben (Seth Rogen).
Weeks later, she discovers she’s pregnant and decides to not only raise the child but to include Ben her complete opposite in the process.
8. My Big Fat Greek Wedding
The sleeper movie hit has 30-year-old Toula (Nia Vardalos) meeting the handsome Ian Miller (John Corbett) one day while waiting tables at her family’s Chicago restaurant. The pair reconnects after Toula begins working for a travel agency, and it’s not long before Ian puts a ring on her finger.
Unfortunately for Toula, before the wedding can happen, Ian must get the approval of her giant, overbearing Greek family.
7. Shiva Baby
Worlds collide in this 2020 cringe comedy that’s been widely hailed by critics. When a Jewish college student (Rachel Sennott) dutifully attends a shiva alongside her parents, she’s prepared to field questions about her unimpressive job prospects and lack of a boyfriend.
However, she’s not ready for her secret sugar daddy (Danny Deferrari) to show up, much less with his beautiful blonde wife (Dianna Agron) and their rosy-cheeked baby.
6. Legally Blonde
What can we possibly say about this truly perfect movie that hasn’t already been said? Based on the novel by Amanda Brown and adapted for the screen by Karen McCullah and Kirsten Smith, Legally Blonde is bright, bubbly, and seriously smart just like its main character, Elle Woods.
Reese Witherspoon is iconic as the blonde bombshell who gets into Harvard Law School to woo back her old boyfriend, only to learn that loving herself gives her much more satisfaction. Luke Wilson is a perfect supportive new flame, and Jennifer Coolidge is peak Jennifer Coolidge as Elle’s BFF Paulette.
5. Starstruck
Matafeo is almost criminally charming as Jessie, a listless New Zealander living in London without much direction in her life. After a fun New Year’s Eve hook-up, she realizes she just slept with one of the biggest action stars in the world, Tom Kapoor (Nikesh Patel).
It’s a delightful romantic comedy series with big laughs and a lot of heart. The cast here is oozing charm, and Matafeo’s skillful writing never misses a beat.
4. Date Night
Date Night kicks off with Steve Carell and Tina Fey as a bored married couple worried they’re becoming simply roommates, not lovers. They go out for a date night to add a little spice to their lives, but when they are mistaken for members of a criminal organization, their night on the town becomes a night of fleeing for their lives.
That’s a little more spice than they bargained for! Silly, exciting, and surprisingly heartfelt, Date Night is a fun and energetic romantic comedy adventure with a top-notch cast.
3. Uptown Girls
Look, we’re not going to pretend this movie doesn’t have problems, but Brittany Murphy is enchanting as Molly Gunn, the free-spirited daughter of a deceased rock god who suddenly finds herself out of money and living in the real world for the first time in her life.
She gets a job as the nanny for the dramatic and difficult 8-year-old Ray, played by a scene-stealing Dakota Fanning. The two misfits push and prod the other into healing each other’s wounds.
All the while, aspiring singer Neal (played by ’00s hottie Jesse Spencer) is looking for a way into Molly’s heart. Ignore the haters! Yes, it’s fluffy. Yes, it’s simple. But Uptown Girls is also a fun and cozy charm-fest.
2. A Star Is Born
It’s a tale as old as time. While this is the fourth iteration of A Star Is Born previous films were released in 1937, 1954, and 1976, respectively Bradley Cooper proved why the story of doomed romance is, in fact, timeless.
The director/co-writer/producer also stars as Jackson Maine, a washed-up country singer who falls in love with a budding singer-songwriter, Ally (Lady Gaga). Their romance is tested when Ally’s meteoric rise to fame eclipses his, while he also struggles with alcohol dependency and substance abuse.
1. Am I OK?
A coming out and coming-of-middle-age movie co-directed by comics and real-life spouses Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allynne, Am I Ok? is the queer millennial movie you didn’t know you needed.
Dakota Johnson stars as Lucy, a woman stuck in career and romantic limbo, who is forced out of her everyday mundanity by a new understanding of her sexuality and her best friend’s upcoming international move.
A comedy about love both platonic and romantic the movie was filmed during the pandemic and premiered at Sundance, but has since found a home on Max, and a fan base amongst movie lovers who enjoy authentic comedies about late bloomers finding love and themselves.
