With another Valentine’s Day having come and gone, I, much like Rihanna, have got love on the brain. After completing my annual viewing of the 2010 star-studded classic “Valentine’s Day,” I was itching for another lighthearted yet meaningful movie with that perfect balance of romance and comedy.
I scrolled for what felt like hours through the endless rows of Amazon Prime, Netflix, Hulu and more, hunting for my next rom-com watch. Of course, there are the classics—“When Harry Met Sally,” “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days,” “10 Things I Hate About You,” etc.—but I wanted something more modern. It seems that we have found ourselves in somewhat of a rom-com drought. However, there is hope for us yet. After days of extensive research poring over my Letterboxd reviews, I have compiled a list of the 10 best rom-coms from the past decade that you should add to your watch list this Valentine’s season.
Starting off strong, I want to take it all the way back to 2018 with the Netflix original “Set It Up.” In my “professional” opinion, this is the best modern rom-com. The movie follows Harper (Zoey Deutch) and Charlie (Glen Powell), two overworked assistants, as they try to set their bosses up with each other in an attempt to regain a work-life balance. As the two of them work together to play Cyrano, they might just find love with one another. With the classic journalist-in-the-big-city protagonist, a couple with undeniable chemistry and the perfect balance between intimate and laugh-out-loud moments, this is one rom-com that you should definitely add to your watch list.
Next up, we have “Juliet, Naked,” also from 2018. The film follows Annie (Rose Byrne), an English museum curator who, by chance, meets her boyfriend’s idol, American rock star Tucker Crowe (Ethan Hawke). Although at the surface, the film might seem to be lacking in the “com” factor, “Juliet, Naked” is quietly funny in a way that is reminiscent of movies like “Dan in Real Life” and “Begin Again.” It also has that classic rock-star-meets-regular-girl dynamic for fans of “Notting Hill” and “Music and Lyrics.” Plus, who does not love Ethan Hawke and Rose Byrne?
Moving on to 2019 and the Christmas season, I recommend taking a trip to Laurel, Illinois, for “Let It Snow.” This movie follows a group of teens on Christmas Eve during a major snowstorm. There is a rock star/regular girl storyline, a secret lesbian relationship, a friends-to-lovers will they/won’t they, and somehow, every plotline leads to Waffle Town, the town’s local breakfast spot. I am a sucker for a holiday ensemble cast movie, and this one truly has something for everyone.
My fourth recommendation, and first of the 2020s, is “The Half of It,” which follows Ellie (Leah Lewis) as she ghostwrites love letters for her neighbor Paul (Daniel Diemer). However, there is a twist: Ellie and Paul are in love with the same girl. With its more serious tone, I would place this movie into a category with modern rom-coms like “Eternity” and “Materialists,” both of which I also recommend. It is a beautiful representation of all different kinds of love, whether that be queer love, platonic love or familial love.
Jumping ahead two years, I implore you to watch “Look Both Ways.” For fans of “Sliding Doors” or anyone who saw “Superman” and thought, Gee, David Corenswet sure would be great in a rom-com: This is the movie for you. It follows Natalie (Lili Reinhart) on two possible paths of her life after taking a pregnancy test in the bathroom at a college party. What I love the most about this movie is that neither path is the “right” one—in both storylines, Natalie creates a life for herself full of love, success and happiness. I also believe that Reinhart is a highly underrated actress.
Up next, I have a bit of a controversial pick with 2023’s “Anyone But You.” I know what you are thinking: But Annie, didn’t this movie get terrible reviews? Yes, dear reader, it did. However, I encourage you to look past Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell’s corny press tour romance and give this movie a chance. It follows mortal enemies Bea and Ben, who reunite against their will at a destination wedding. Leading up to the festivities, they attempt to convince their friends and family that they are dating in an effort to make their respective exes jealous. I am a lover of Shakespeare adaptations, and although it does not quite reach the greatness of “She’s The Man”—because, let us be honest, few movies do—this is a fun and fairly faithful version of “Much Ado About Nothing.”
Next on my list, and also from 2023, I would like to bring “Love at First Sight” to the table. Based on the novel “The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight” by Jennifer E. Smith, this movie tells the tale of Hadley (Haley Lu Richardson) and Oliver (Ben Hardy), who meet on a flight to London and keep finding each other by chance over the next 24 hours. Basically, take “Serendipity,” cut out the frustrating seven-year gap, get Jameela Jamil to narrate, and boom: perfect rom-com. In all seriousness, this movie has a unique plot, two charming leads and—as someone who read this novel three times in seventh grade—is a faithful book adaptation. I download it on Netflix every time I fly on a plane, and I urge you to try the same.
My next pick, “The Fall Guy,” is one that some people might not consider a rom-com. However, I saw this movie three times in theaters and have seen it seven times in total since it was released to Peacock in 2024, so I feel comfortable knighting it with rom-com status. The film follows stuntman Colt (Ryan Gosling) as he attempts to solve the mystery of the missing action star Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and save the directorial debut of his ex-flame, Jodi (Emily Blunt), hopefully winning back her love in the process. I would recommend it to anyone who is a fan of action-oriented rom-coms like “Romancing the Stone.” It is hilarious, has a great soundtrack and—in my educated opinion—is the best that Ryan Gosling has ever looked.
Also released in 2024, I suggest you watch “Sweethearts,” which follows Jamie (Kiernan Shipka) and Ben (Nico Hiraga) in their efforts to end their respective high school relationships over their first Thanksgiving break home from college. I think Thanksgiving is an untapped genre, and it was about time we had a film to join “Planes, Trains and Automobiles.” Perfect for fans of the 2025 TV show “Overcompensating,” this movie is charming and hilarious with a surprising yet satisfying end.
Last, but most certainly not least, we have “People We Meet on Vacation,” which was released about a month ago. It tells the story of unlikely friends Poppy (Emily Bader) and Alex (Tom Blyth) reuniting at a wedding after a falling-out. We see scenes of their friendship over the years through flashbacks of the annual summer trip they take together, slowly discovering what went wrong between them and whether they can mend their relationship. Adapted from Emily Henry’s book of the same name, this movie captures the essence of classic rom-coms with a bubbly main character, a fun soundtrack and a wedding setting. This movie is a quality pick for your Valentine’s season.