By Lea Jacobson and Carina Cho
There’s nothing quite like a good rom-com to lift your spirits, make you laugh, and even shed a few happy tears. Whether you’re looking for a classic love story, swoon-worthy grand gestures, or the perfect blend of comedy and romance, there’s a romcom out there for you. We’ve compiled a list of rom coms and a playlist filled with songs from their iconic tracklists that will have you feeling like you have a love like the movies. So whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day with a special someone, your best friends, or just yourself, cozy up and let these rom-coms remind you why love–whether it’s romantic, platonic, or self-love—is worth celebrating!
- How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
You’re So Vain- Carly Simon
A journalist looking for a good story and an overly confident advertising executive looking for a promotion collide in this heartwarming rom-com. Andi Anderson, the journalist, bets she can get rid of any guy she’s dating in 10 days, but Benjamin Berry bets his promotion on the fact that he can get any girl to fall in love with him in 10 days. What could go wrong or right in 10 days? Watch this movie to find out!
- To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before
I Like Me Better- Lauv
To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before focuses on Lara Jean’s world turning upside down when secret love letters she’s written to all her past crushes are mysteriously sent out. It captures that 2018 feeling as Lara Jean is caught in an unexpected romance with Peter Kavinsky, one of the most popular boys in school. To save face and avoid dealing with her real feelings for her sister’s boyfriend, Josh, she and Peter agree to a fake romance. But over time, this pretend romance starts to feel more real than either of them expected. But Lara Jean doesn’t just deal with tribulations in the romance department, this story is also about self-discovery, family, and growing up. If you’re looking for a heartwarming film that will have you giggling and kicking your feelings, this romcom perfectly captures the magic and awkwardness of high school love.
- Anyone But You
Unwritten- Natasha Bedingfield
Chances are you’ve probably heard the lyrics of Unwritten on your TikTok for you page, with countless amounts of people declaring the movie “Anyone But You” as saving the rom-com genre. If you’re looking for a more modern rom-com that takes the classic enemies-to-lovers trope with undeniable tension, this is right up your alley. Starring Sydney Sweeney as Bea and Glen Powell as Ben, this film follows two seemingly perfect-for-each-other strangers whose first encounter ends in disaster. They unexpectedly reunite with one another at a destination wedding in Australia, where they decide to fake a relationship in order to avoid the pressure of nosy family and friends. This movie is filled with witty banter and electric chemistry, bringing back the humor and playfulness of a classic 2000s romcom, and it’s bound to make you nostalgic for that old type of love.
- A Cinderella Story
This Will Be An Everlasting Love- Natalia Cole
Hear You Me- Jimmy Eat World
A Cinderella Story is a modern take on one of our favorite love stories. It follows Sam Montgomery, your average high school student, except instead of just studying and trying to get into Princeton, she’s also trying to keep her evil stepmother happy. Austin Ames is the star of the football team, your typical popular jock. What ties these two together? They happen to be in a secret email relationship, but neither of them knows who the other person is. They make a plan to meet at their school’s Halloween Dance, and while Austin reveals who he is, Sam has to go before she can do the same. While Austin searches for his true love, Sam grapples with revealing her true identity to him. They have their whole lives to figure out, but first, they need to figure out if they can be their true self with each other and if they will have their fairytale ending.
- 10 Things I Hate About You
Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You- Frankie Valli
I Want You To Want Me- Letter to Cleo
Kat Stratford is smart, witty and not everyone’s cup of tea because of her fiery personality. Her younger sister Bianca who is her complete opposite, wants to date but unfortunately isn’t allowed to do so until her sister dates too. In order for Bianca to secure her new boyfriend, she has to pull a few strings to get someone to woo Kat which is where charming and chaos-inducing Patrick Verona comes in. As Patrick works on convincing Kat to fall in love with him he realizes he might have caught feelings for her too. This movie has all the perfect rom-com factors, from a big romantic gesture to the teen love montage, and is the perfect movie to watch this February.
- Valentine’s Day
Today was a Fairytale- Taylor Swift
I’m Into Something Good- the bird and the bee
If you’re looking for a good movie to watch this Valentine’s Day, the movie Valentine’s Day might just be the perfect one! This movie focuses on multiple interconnected love stories all taking place on February 14th. With a star-studded cast, the characters experience first dates, new crushes, long-term commitments, and the rehashing of old connections, and you’ll hopefully find at least one character you resonate with! This movie is the perfect balance of rom and com, and it’s bound to make you laugh and remind you of how connected we all are and how life has a funny way of working things out.
- HSM 3 (just gonna focus specifically on HSM as a series)
You Are The Music in Me- HSM Cast
Can I Have This Dance- HSM Cast
High School Musical a Disney Channel Original, but it’s more than that—it’s truly a cultural phenomenon. It encapsulates a feel-good musical with iconic romances and an unforgettable soundtrack following two high schoolers from two different worlds. Troy, a basketball player, and Gabriella, a shy but brilliant student, discover a shared love for singing and ‘break the status quo’ as they audition for the school musical. As their love for musical theatre blossoms, so does their friendship and eventual romance. Beyond the iconic singing and dance numbers, this movie is about breaking stereotypes, following your passion, and embracing who you truly are. Filled with nostalgia, this movie would be perfect for a rewatch, cause let’s be honest, who hasn’t seen this movie to brighten your Valentine’s Day weekend.
- Mamma Mia
Honey Honey- ABBA
Take a Chance on Me- ABBA
Take a chance on Mamma Mia, a fun, upbeat movie musical. Sophie is about to have the beautiful white wedding she’s always dreamed of. The only missing piece is her father to walk her down the aisle. When three possible Dads show up, chaos erupts, and her Mother, Donn, is forced to navigate her past and face the music. With an entire ABBA soundtrack, the music is phenomenal, and the plot includes both comedic and heartwarming moments. The plot focuses on Sophie’s love life, but as the movie progresses and Donna comes face to face with her past boyfriends, the opportunity to rekindle her love life arises. Although a rom-com, this movie embraces all types of love, whether it’s Sophie and Donna’s mother-daughter relationship or Donna and her best friends, better known as the Dynamites. As Valentine’s Day approaches, we should cherish not only romantic love but platonic love too.
- When Harry Met Sally
It Had To Be You- Frank Sinatra
When you think of “classic” rom-coms, “When Harry Met Sally” is one of the many movies that come to mind. This is the epitome of the friends-to-lovers trope as it follows two strangers, Harry and Sally, who meet by chance as they move to New York City and, over the years, develop a deep friendship. It asks the question, can me and women truly be friends? Over the next twelve years in their journey in New York City, their paths continue to cross, and they form a friendship filled with witty banter, emotional confessions, and iconic moments. As they learn and grow, they’re forced to question if friendship alone is enough or if love has been there the whole time. This film captures the complexities of the blurred lines between love and friendshi,p and if you’re looking for an iconic, timeless rom-com that defines the genre as a whole, this is the movie for you.
- 13 Going on 30
I Wanna Dance With Somebody-Whitney Houston
Imagine, after a humiliating 13th birthday party, you wish you could fast forward to adulthood and the next morning waking up as your 30-year-old self living a glamorous life in New York City, everything you’ve ever dreamed of. It sounds perfect right, but unfortunately not that easy. This movie follows Jenna as she lives through this situation and realizes that her perfect idea of growing up might not be as perfect as she imagined, especially when she realizes that her childhood best friend, Matt, is no longer in her life. This movie captures what it’s like to discover what truly matters as Jenna goes through a journey to reconnect with Matt, their friendship and bond deepening as the story goes on. Her moments with Matt are filled with bittersweet longing and undeniable chemistry, and as their romance grows, we learn about their unspoken connection and how it stays even with age. But beyond love, this film captures the magic and innocence of childhood dreams and how sometimes what we need is right in front of us the whole time.
Honorable Mentions because you can never have too many rom-coms!
- Notting Hill: Gimme Some Lovin- The Spencer Davis Group
- Enchanted: So Close- Jon McLaughlin
- 27 Dresses: Lady West- Jamie Scott
- She’s the Man: Love is All Around- Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
- Friends with Benefits: Closing Time- Semisonic
- You’ve Got Mail: Dreams- The Cranberries
- Princess Diaries 2: Breakaway- Kelly Clarkson
- 50 First Days: Friday I’m in Love- The Cure
- She’s All That: Kiss Me- Sixpence None The Richer
- Ella Enchanted: Don’t Go Breaking My Heart- Elton John, Kiki Dee
- Hannah Montana Movie: Crazier- Taylor Swift