Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
The right romantic comedy can be nothing short of magical; one little flick can ease your troubles, make you believe in love again, and even evoke a few cathartic tears. Amazon Prime Video understands the enduring power of the rom-com and stocks their catalogue accordingly. Beloved classics, little-known gems, and surprising pairings round out what is truly a unique selection to satisfy your streaming pleasures.
If you harbor nostalgia for the Nora Ephron hits of the 90s, you’ll be happy to know that the Tom Hanks–Meg Ryan team-up is alive and well on the platform with You’ve Got Mail, and you don’t have to stop there – Ryan continues her rom-com reign opposite Tim Robbins in the bizarrely funny I.Q., also available to stream. Lovers of the modern rom-com will find solace in What If, a fresh, crass, compelling take on the “what if friends were more?” premise starring Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe, opposite The Big Sick‘s Zoe Kazan.
Tired of typical happy endings? No worries. The delightfully weird, entirely unique The One I Love is also ready to jump into your queue. Whichever way the winds of love take you, you’re bound to be surprised and swept off your feet by these titles. Here are the 10 best rom-coms currently available to stream on Prime Video.
'You've Got Mail'
This enduringly charming romantic comedy from Nora Ephron pairs Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan together for a third time and puts a fresh twist on Ernst Lubitsch’s classic The Shop Around the Corner. Kathleen (Ryan) owns a quaint bookshop that becomes threatened when Joe Fox (Hanks) opens a Barnes & Noble-esque mega-store across the street. While these two rivals openly express disdain for one another, they unwittingly fall in love under guise of email pseudonyms – and well, the rest is history.
'What If'
This welcome breath of fresh air tackles the age-old ‘guy falls for girl with a boyfriend’ premise in a delightfully charming manner with the help of a millennial dream cast (Daniel Radcliffe, Zoe Kazan, and Adam Driver) and a hilariously crass script. It’s a wonderful departure from Radcliffe’s franchise days, and Kazan once again proves herself a force to bear witness to (don’t forget her face – you’ll be seeing it everywhere soon!). What If strikes the rare, perfect balance between endearingly sweet and completely foul.
'Breakfast at Tiffany's'
There are few romances more iconic than Breakfast at Tiffany’s, the classic 1961 adaptation of Truman Capote’s beloved novel. Audrey Hepburn stars as Holly Golightly, perhaps her best-known role, a young Manhattan socialite who takes an interest in a new neighbor who notices she’s not all glitz-and-glam and might want more out of life than she lets on. Full of ever-quotable lines and some of the most memorable scenes of the genre, Breakfast at Tiffany‘s is essential viewing.
'I.Q.'
Okay, so a love story involving Albert Einstein might not sound entirely appealing, but hear me out. Meg Ryan stars as Catherine Boyd, niece of the infamous genius and a talented mathematician herself. Auto mechanic Edward Walters (Tim Robbins) falls head over heels for her, but there’s just one problem – she’s already engaged to a total jerk – and so the love story begins. It’s sweet to its core and hard not to smile throughout – you’ll thank me later.
'Hello, My Name Is Doris'
Hello, My Name is Doris is not a conventional rom-com by any means, but it’s got a lot of heart and doesn’t shy away from showing us just how complicated love can be. This off-beat indie love story follows Doris Miller (Sally Field) as she falls for the new guy in her office, who happens to be half her age (Max Greenfield). As with all things in life, love ain’t easy, and Doris learns this as she discovers a lot about herself along the way. You’ll cringe, cry, and crack up at the whole thing – it’s truly one-of-a-kind.
'The One I Love'
The less you know going into The One I Love, the better. Starring Elisabeth Moss and Mark Duplass, this twisty, brilliant romantic comedy digs deeper than many ever dare to. Moss and Duplass star as a struggling couple who take a trip to try to solve their troubles – but they get a a whole lot more than they bargain for. Skip the trailer, if you can help it – it’s way more fun if you’re clueless.
'Nowhere Girl'
What’s the difference between being crazy in love and just crazy? It’s certainly a fine line, and Nowhere Girl isn’t afraid to explore what really happens after you get your heart broken. This surprisingly smart, emotional character study paints a portrait of a man who puts himself out there after a breakup – only to shock his loved ones by seemingly having created an imaginary girlfriend.
'Priceless'
Amélie‘s Audrey Tatou stars in this refreshing French romantic comedy that sees her take on a much less sympathetic role than we’re used to watching her in. Tatou is Irène, a gold digger of sorts who unwittingly seduces a meek bartender who she believes to be a wealthy suitor. When she discovers his true identity, she bails, but that doesn’t stop him from wanting to win her back. This endearing flick’s depiction of a woman who learns there’s more value in love than money is memorable, charming, and nothing short of delightful.
'Take Me Home'
It’s likely you’ve never seen anything quite like Take Me Home, and once you have, you’ll wonder how you went so long without it. The remarkable little film follows Thom, a broke New York City cab driver (operating illegally) who winds up giving a ride to Claire, a successful businesswoman whose marriage is falling apart. When she finds out her father is in the hospital, she enlists Thom to drive her to California, and the two evidently learn a lot about change, love, and each other on this unexpectedly life-altering road trip. (A bonus? The leads are played by real life married couple Sam and Amber Jaeger, and the two wrote and directed it together).
'Greenfingers'
This peculiar, very British romantic crime comedy (based on a true story!) gifts us with Clive Owen in his prime (well, let’s be honest, he’s still in it) as a prison inmate who discovers he has a green thumb. His talent is soon noticed by a renowned gardening guru (Helen Mirren) who pushes him to enter a national gardening competition, but naturally, there’s a catch – he falls in love with her daughter. Heartwarming, funny, and so far-fetched it’s hard to believe, Greenfingers will touch you in unexpected ways.
