What's not to love about a rom-com? Sure, most of them might have a fairly predictable ending (and middle... and opening...) but that's part of the joy! Romantic comedies aren't necessarily supposed to amaze viewers with the wild twists, they are meant to simply be enjoyable and uplifting - and if that means that the main character always ends up in love, so be it.
For fans of the genre, Netflix is a cornucopia of entertaining options - but for those who have already watched all the streamable classics, these lesser-known offerings are some of the best that the streaming service has to offer. You may just be surprised by how good some of them are, even if you have never heard of them.
When We First Met
When We First Met has a fairly common premise - a boy meets a girl at a party, and decides that she is the girl of his dreams. Of course, things go wrong, and she ends up falling for someone else... what's a lovestruck boy to do? Well, in this case, he finds a magical photobooth that allows him to travel back in time to that magical night and try it all again. While this may seem trite, the ending is a refreshing surprise, and turns the typical 'pined after her for years' trope on its head.
Someone Great
Technically, this would be less of a rom-com than an end-of-rom com, as it starts with a major breakup. However, it's definitely not a sad film! Instead, this wild ride through a girlfriends' night out to comfort their newly-dumped bestie is hilarious and surprisingly touching. This is the perfect film to watch if you are suffering from heartbreak, though, as it has a truly heartwarming message.
Falling Inn Love
For something a little cheesier and more like the classic rom coms we all know and love, check out the sweetness that is Falling Inn Love. This is everything that a rom com set up should be - starting with the young woman who loses her job and her boyfriend... and immediately wins a run down inn in New Zealand. What's a girl to do but fly out there and do some restoration? Of course, that means hiring a sexy local contractor... and everyone knows how this will end, but that doesn't mean it's not fun to watch!
Sleeping With Other People
Starring Alison Brie and Jason Sudeikis, this isn't your typical rom-com, even if it has a lot of the same elements. Sleeping With Other People starts with two college students who end up losing their virginity to one another on a particularly random night, and (of course) they meet up years later.
However, love isn't in the air, as they have decided that they have sex addiction and commitment issues, and so decide to just be friends. And like every pair in a rom com who makes this decision at the start, we all know it's not going to last - but the journey is the fun part!
Set It Up
Set It Up is a more recent rom-com, and one that definitely has the formula down. It starts when the assistants of two high-powered executives meet... and after a couple of conversations, decide that their bosses would probably be much nicer to them if they got together. What follows is a fun romp through the attempts at setting them up, the problems that causes, and of course, the eventual realization that the assistants themselves were falling in love the whole time.
The Incredible Jessica James
Another perfect option for anyone looking for a little cheer after a recent breakup, The Incredible Jessica James sees the titular Jessica exploring her post-breakup world. After meeting a man who has also recently suffered heartbreak, the two decide to help each other through it. And, you guessed it, they have their ups and downs on the road to their own relationship. On the surface it may seem like yet another rom com classic formula, but it's the incredible wit and writing that really makes this, as well as bringing the rom com into a Tinder world.
How Do You Know
This cute rom com is all about a woman with too many options - and how do you know when the right man is the right man? In many ways, it's a fairly formulaic romantic comedy, but it's the cast that really makes it.
Starring Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd, Owen Wilson, and Jack Nicholson, this movie is stacked with incredible names. This is the kind of cast that is worth watching in anything, and for a rom-com fan, this is the perfect (if predictable) showcase for such big names.
Tall Girl
While most rom coms are about characters in their 20s (and usually in ridiculously nice apartments in the city), there are plenty for teen fans of the genre, and Tall Girl is a great choice. As the title suggests, it revolves around a high school student who is over six feet tall, and who isn't exactly thrilled about her height. As usual, there's the boy she's known forever and the attractive new student - and it becomes the perfect watch for teens who fear that their appearance might get in the way of their love life.
Stuck In Love
Unlike many others on this list, Stuck in Love is not quite as straightforward as you might expect. Centered on a family - divorced parents and teenaged kids - this film explores all kinds of loves, lusts, and romantic drama for all ages. It may not be as sweet or as laugh out loud funny as some other rom coms, but it is a little more realistic... and it stars Kristen Bell, Jennifer Connelly, and Greg Kinnear.
Obvious Child
Abortion may seem like too heavy a subject for a rom-com, but Obvious Child proves that it knows how to tackle something so potentially problematic with real tact and wit. The film centers on a young comedian who finds herself pregnant after her boyfriend breaks up with her and she has a one night stand. She decides to get an abortion, and of course, all of the usual rom com high jinks are going on at the same time. The film is impressively funny, sensitive, and sweet, and definitely worth a watch.