The 20 best romantic comedy movies on Netflix

There are so many different ways you can fall in love, and romantic comedies serve to remind us of that. Maybe you're dreaming of an unexpected romance, like in Something's Gotta Give or The Holiday. You could also be looking for love stories with strong female leads, such as The Incredible Jessica James or Someone Great. Whatever kind of love story you're in the mood for, you'll find your perfect match on our list of the best romantic comedies currently streaming on Netflix, as of February 2024.

01of 20

13 Going on 30 (2004)

Jennifer Garner in '13 Going on 30'. COLUMBIA/EVERETT

Oh, to be 30 and flirty and thriving. That's what gawky 13-year-old Jenna (Christa B. Allen) wishes for her life in this beloved rom-com favorite, not knowing that her wish is about to come true with a little help from magic wishing dust. She awakens in the body of her 30-year-old self (Jennifer Garner), now a fashion magazine editor, but, as she soon discovers, her path to thriving led to some collateral damage along the way — namely, her best friend and secret admirer Matty (Mark Ruffalo), to whom she stopped speaking. As Jenna gradually falls in love with Matty, she also goes on a journey of self-discovery and figures out her priorities in life. What could have been a standard wish-fulfillment teen comedy soars with Garner as the lead. As EW's critic wrote, "She cuts out all traces of adult consciousness, of irony and flirtation and manipulation, reducing herself to a keen, goggle-eyed earnestness that’s utterly beguiling." —Kevin Jacobsen

Where to watch 13 Going on 30: Netflix

EW grade: N/A (read the review)

Director: Gary Winick

Cast: Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo, Judy Greer, Andy Serkis

Related content: How the 13 Going on 30 team made 'Thriller' into an epic rom-com moment

02of 20

Alex Strangelove (2018)

Daniel Doheny and Antonio Marziale in 'Alex Strangelove'. NETFLIX

A coming-of-age rom-com that sees a popular teen wrestle with his sexuality may sound like a familiar narrative, but Alex Strangelove adds its own spin. Alex Truelove (Daniel Doheny) lives in an especially progressive and supportive environment for a high school tale, nearly void of the common prejudices against queerness. Still, Alex doesn't know what — or who — he wants, and he has to learn about himself before he can know for sure. Many LGBTQ+ rom-coms tend to focus on protagonists that are working against societal biases, but Alex Strangelove offers a more joyful take on the queer experience. EW's critic praised the film's underlying theme beneath its (occasionally cringey) twist and turns, writing, "It's hard to fault the bigger message here: that we all deserve the right to be true to who we are, even if it takes a few hard turns — and some collateral emotional damage — to get there." —Angela Andaloro

Where to watch Alex Strangelove: Netflix

EW grade: B (read the review)

Director: Craig Johnson

Cast: Daniel Doheny, Antonio Marziale, Madeline Weinstein, Joanna Adler, William Ragsdale, Daniel Zolghadri

Related content: Alex Strangelove trailer: Love, Simon gets a little Superbad in Netflix comedy

03of 20

Along for the Ride (2022)

Belmont Cameli and Emma Pasarow in 'Along for the Ride'. EMILY V. ARAGONES/NETFLIX

Based on the novel by Sarah Dessen, night owl Auden (Emma Pasarow) displeases her type-A mom (Andie MacDowell) by going to stay with her absentee dad (Dermot Mulroney), his wife (Kate Bosworth), and their newborn over the summer before college. Now on a mission to taste all the teenage experiences she's missed out on, Auden soon makes her first real group of girlfriends and roams the beach town in the wee hours of the morning. Doing so brings her to meet another night-type, Eli (Belmont Cameli), who has a repressed past of his own. Sofia Alvarez is no stranger to teen rom-coms, given that she adapted To All the Boys I've Loved Before into the hit Netflix film franchise. Now, she's made her feature-length directorial debut with Along for the Ride, having collaborated with Dessen, queen of the beach read, on this quintessential summer romance film. "I have always really loved those nostalgic summertime movies that I grew up watching, and I think I immediately saw the potential for this movie to be one of those," Alvarez told EW. "I really wanted it to be the kind of summer movie where you smell the sunscreen through the screen…or it has a soundtrack that everyone is singing in their cars this summer when they're driving to the beach." Spoiler alert: This movie (and its soundtrack by Beach House) achieves all of that and more. —A.A.

Where to watch Along for the Ride: Netflix

Director: Sofia Alvarez

Cast: Emma Pasarow, Belmont Cameli, Kate Bosworth, Dermot Mulroney, Andie MacDowell

Related content: Behind the scenes of the epic food fight in Along for the Ride

04of 20

Always Be My Maybe (2019)

Ali Wong and Randall Park in 'Always Be My Maybe'. ED ARAQUEL/NETFLIX

Who says you can't go home again? Ali Wong shines in this romantic comedy about childhood best friends who cross paths as adults after an awkward teenage romance ended badly. Fast forward 16 years, and life has taken celebrity chef Sasha Tran (Wong) and unsuccessful musician Marcus Kim (Randall Park) to some very different places. Much has changed, but their chemistry sure hasn't as the two come face-to-face with their many differences on the road to reconciliation. Costars Wong and Park are also co-writers for the film, and, given the hilarity of Wong's Netflix stand-up specials, it's no wonder Always Be My Maybe was an instant hit. The central lovebirds have a lot of healing to do from their complicated youths before they can live happily ever after, but the laughter makes it that much sweeter. Throw in a disastrous double date featuring Keanu Reeves playing, well, Keanu Reeves, and you've got yourself a chaotic love triangle unlike any you've seen before. EW's critic highlighted the film's graceful lack of tokenism as well: "Always Be My Maybe … joins a burgeoning if still too-small club of mainstream movies centered without any special pomp or circumstance on Asian American characters." Seriously, what's not to love? —A.A.

Where to watch Always Be My Maybe: Netflix

EW grade: B (read the review)

Director: Nahnatchka Khan

Cast: Ali Wong, Randall Park, James Saito, Michelle Buteau, Vivian Bang, Daniel Dae Kim, Keanu Reeves

Related content: Ali Wong reunites with 'ex-boyfriend' Keanu Reeves at standup show: 'It's never gonna work'

05of 20

The Half of It (2020)

Leah Lewis and Alexxis Lemire in 'The Half of It'. KC BAILEY/NETFLIX

In a modern retelling of the classic French play Cyrano de Bergerac, Ellie (Leah Lewis) starts ghostwriting love letters for a jock, Paul (Daniel Diemer), in exchange for some much-needed cash. But as she continues to correspond with Paul's dream girl, Aster (Alexxis Lemire), Ellie finds they have a lot in common and wonders if she's actually her better half. Though the romantic tension between the unknowing Aster and the unfortunate Ellie pushes the film forward, the true heart of this story is the blossoming friendship between Ellie and Paul. He may not be able to write to save his life, but Paul speaks up where it counts, causing an intimate and (somewhat) overlapping love triangle between teens who are just trying to learn what life is all about. The characters' bond is rooted in Lewis and Diemer's genuine affection, too. "Daniel is like my brother now," Lewis told EW. "His belief in me as Daniel definitely translated onscreen where Ellie finds the courage to perform because of Paul's belief in [her]." —A.A.

Where to watch The Half of It: Netflix

EW grade: B (read the review)

Director: Alice Wu

Cast: Leah Lewis, Daniel Diemer, Alexxis Lemire, Enrique Murciano, Wolfgang Novogratz, Catherine Curtin, Becky Ann Baker, Collin Chou

Related content: Decoding the cultural references in The Half of It

06of 20

The Holiday (2006)

Jude Law and Cameron Diaz in 'The Holiday'. EVERETT COLLECTION

Christmas and Nancy Meyers is a match made in cinematic heaven. This dreamy romantic comedy centers on Amanda (Cameron Diaz) and Iris (Kate Winslet) as a pair of women struggling with their love lives — one American movie-marketing business owner, one British society columnist — who subsequently agree to swap houses for a holiday to escape their problems. Amanda has a meet-cute with Iris' book editor brother Graham (a dashing Jude Law) while Iris hits it off with film composer Miles (Jack Black, cast refreshingly against-type). Christmas can be a time of reflection, and this film is all about taking stock of your life and finding a way forward, even if it means escaping into a different world for a bit. "Everyone has that fantasy of 'What if I lived here? How would my life be different?'" Meyers told EW in 2006. While undoubtedly rooted in fairy tale rom-com tropes than grounded realism, we wouldn't want The Holiday any other way. —K.J.

Where to watch The Holiday: Netflix

EW grade: N/A (read the review)

Director: Nancy Meyers

Cast: Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Jack Black, Eli Wallach

Related content: The conversation: Kate Winslet and Nancy Meyers

07of 20

The Incredible Jessica James (2017)

Chris O'Dowd and Jessica Williams in 'The Incredible Jessica James'. NETFLIX

Jessica Williams (2 Dope Queens, Shrinking) is a relatable force to be reckoned with in her debut lead role. As the uber-confident Jessica James, she's trying to find out what's next in both her work life and her love life, with New York City as the backdrop. However, a blind date throws a wrench in all her plans as she finds herself unexpectedly falling for Boone (Chris O'Dowd) though she's still not quite over her ex, Damon (LaKeith Stanfield). While the love story at the center of The Incredible Jessica James may seem a little trope-y and basic at times, the protagonist is anything but that. Jessica is a joyful, empowered character who faces her mistakes head-on without beating herself up about them. EW's critic celebrated the rom-com for its not-so-delicate balance, writing, "Even when the film falls into indie clichés, Williams keeps things moving with her cleverness and charisma, whether she's chastising man-spreaders on the subway or introducing an as-yet-unborn baby to the fight to dismantle the patriarchy." —A.A.

Where to watch The Incredible Jessica James: Netflix

EW grade: B+ (read the review)

Director: James C. Strouse

Cast: Jessica Williams, Chris O'Dowd, Noël Wells, LaKeith Stanfield, Megan Ketch, Zabryna Guevara

Related content: Jessica Williams on her Incredible rom-com role — a woman who kicks ass and isn't defined by romance

08of 20

It's Complicated (2009)

Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin in 'It's Complicated'. MELINDA SUE GORDON/UNIVERSAL

Rom-com master Nancy Meyers delivered yet another look at middle-aged love entanglements with this lighthearted romp. Meryl Streep stars as Jane, an accomplished bakery owner who reconnects with her ex-husband of 10 years, Jake (Alec Baldwin), and conducts a secret affair without their children knowing. Meanwhile, Jane is also romancing an architect, Adam (Steve Martin), leading to a love triangle that makes things — yes — complicated.  While EW's critic quipped that the film is a "paean to the fairy-tale luck of middle-aged women wealthy enough to maintain a delightful standard of living after a divorce," the fantasy of a Nancy Meyers film is part of the fun, especially at a time when few romantic comedies about mature adults were (are) even getting made. —K.J.

Where to watch It's Complicated: Netflix

EW grade: B– (read the review)

Director: Nancy Meyers

Cast: Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, Steve Martin, John Krasinski

Related content: Q&A with the stars of It's Complicated

09of 20

Long Shot (2019)

Seth Rogen and Charlize Theron in 'Long Shot'. 

PHILIPPE BOSSE/LIONSGATE/COURTESY EVERETT COLLECTION

Girl babysits boy; boy crushes on girl; girl grows up to become Secretary of State; boy becomes an out-of-work journalist; boy and girl reunite when she hires him on as her speechwriter. While not the most conventional setup, so much of the appeal of Long Shot is in seeing Seth Rogen and Charlize Theron bounce off each other. As EW's critic wrote, "Rogen and Theron's chemistry is as fizzy as a Red Bull-and-Champagne cocktail." Even in its raunchier elements, there’s also a poignant story at the film’s core, on the struggles of finding love while in the public eye and staying true to your values. —K.J.

Where to watch Long Shot: Netflix

EW grade: B (read the review)

Director: Jonathan Levine

Cast: Seth Rogen, Charlize Theron, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Andy Serkis, June Diane Raphael, Bob Odenkirk, Alexander Skarsgård

Related content: Long Shot's Charlize Theron and Seth Rogen found love in a hopeless place: politics

10of 20

The Lovebirds (2020)

Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani in 'The Lovebirds'. SKIP BOLEN/NETFLIX

The relationship between Leilani (Issa Rae) and Jibran (Kumail Nanjiani) is on its last legs and fading fast when the struggling couple is invited to a dinner party. On their way there, a chance encounter with a criminal changes the course of their night — and their separation. If they want to make it out alive and clear their names, the two will have to work together, but not without throwing a few passive-aggressive jabs at each other in the process. The Lovebirds gives viewers a different kind of second-chance romance. It's light on the romance and heavy on the antics, making it an honest portrayal of all that can make or break a relationship — romantic or not. Still, the chemistry between Rae and Nanjiani eliminates any question of their potential as a couple. They bicker in that comfortable, weathered way that shows strain, but that edge may be just what they need to see their situation to the other side. And confronting it all is just as challenging as solving the murder they witnessed. EW's critic noted, "What feels freshest, maybe, is the mere fact of two leads of color taking on all the tropes of the genre and making it feel as modern as they do." —A.A.

Where to watch The Lovebirds: Netflix

EW grade: B (read the review)

Director: Michael Showalter

Cast: Kumail Nanjiani, Issa Rae, Paul Sparks, Anna Camp, Kyle Bornheimer

Related content: Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani try to solve a murder — and might break up — in The Lovebirds first trailer

11of 20

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018)

Julie Walters, Pierce Brosnan, Amanda Seyfried, and Christine Baranski in 'Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again'. JONATHAN PRIME/UNIVERSAL PICTURES

Sequels to movie musicals don't just happen. This is one of many reasons why Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again is kind of a miracle, transporting us back to the idyllic (and sadly, fictional) Greek isle of Kalokairi. Operating as both a prequel and sequel to 2008's Mamma Mia!, the film gives us the origin story of Meryl Streep's Donna, played in her youth by Lily James, as she developed romantic connections with Sam, Harry, and Bill. Parallel to these flashbacks is Donna's daughter Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) in the present day, hoping to reopen the Hotel Bella Donna in honor of her mother. Packed with ABBA hits just like the first movie, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again is a rollicking good time, as long as you give yourself over to the fantasy of it all. —K.J.

Where to watch Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again: Netflix

EW grade: B (read the review)

Director: Ol Parker

Cast: Christine Baranski, Pierce Brosnan, Dominic Cooper, Colin Firth, Andy García, Lily James, Amanda Seyfried, Stellan Skarsgård, Julie Walters, Cher, Meryl Streep

Related content: We ranked every musical number in the Mamma Mia! movies

12of 20

My Best Friend's Wedding (1997)

Rupert Everett and Julia Roberts in 'My Best Friend's Wedding'. EVERETT COLLECTION

This iconically '90s romantic comedy allows Julia Roberts, then America's sweetheart, to go a little sour. The A-lister stars as Jules, a food critic who is horrified to learn that her longtime best friend Michael (Dermot Mulroney) is marrying someone else, having secretly harbored feelings for him. She resolves to sabotage his wedding, but after attempting to enact her plan, she finds that it will be much more difficult than she anticipated. Such behavior from the film's protagonist might be unpleasant in different hands, but this is Roberts in peak movie star mode, reveling in her character's meddling behavior with that million-dollar smile. As director P.J. Hogan told EW years later, "When I see the film, it's still got a snap to it. When it's funny, it's really funny, and the actors all glow." —K.J.

Where to watch My Best Friend's Wedding: Netflix

EW grade: C+ (read the review)

Director: P.J. Hogan

Cast: Julia Roberts, Dermot Mulroney, Cameron Diaz, Rupert Everett, Philip Bosco

Related content: Here's who was almost cast in My Best Friend's Wedding

13of 20

Set It Up (2018)

Zoey Deutch and Glen Powell in 'Set It Up'. NETFLIX

Overworked assistants Charlie (Glen Powell) and Harper (Zoey Deutch) have a corporate meet-cute in their shared office building when they bond over their demanding, miserable bosses: venture capitalist Rick Otis (Taye Diggs) and sports media maven Kirsten Stevens (Lucy Liu). Desperate to make their jobs (and lives) easier, Charlie and Harper hatch a plan to merge their superiors into a happy power couple. But playing matchmaker might be way above their pay grade. A romantic comedy in the same vein as The Devil Wears Prada (2006), this film has its fair share of gaslighting, but the twist is its good intentions. Charlie and Harper feel genuine admiration for their successful bosses, and though their motives are self-serving, it's all in the name of love, right? What follows is a satisfying take on the feel-good genre, complete with meditations on work lives, love lives, and everything in between. EW's critic hailed Set It Up as the "gold standard for the frothy summer rom-com," and she was right on the money. —A.A.

Where to watch Set It Up: Netflix

EW grade: B (read the review)

Director: Claire Scanlon

Cast: Zoey Deutch, Glen Powell, Taye Diggs, Lucy Liu

Related content: How Lucy Liu became the charming boss-from-hell in the Netflix rom-com Set It Up

14of 20

She's All That (1999)

Freddie Prinze Jr. and Rachael Leigh Cook in 'She's All That'. 

MIRAMAX/COURTESY EVERETT COLLECTION

Few films in the teen rom-com genre are tied so thoroughly to a specific place and time than 1999's She's All That. A modern-day retelling of the classic Pygmalion story, The film centers on Zack (Freddie Prinze Jr.), a popular high-schooler who is jilted by his now-ex-girlfriend and proceeds to accept a challenge to find an awkward girl to turn into a prom queen in six weeks. He chooses Laney (Rachael Leigh Cook), an unpopular art student who is initially uninterested before gradually softening to him. Naturally, the ruse is eventually found out, which throws their relationship into turmoil. Featuring a charming breakout performance from Cook and a great teen idol turn from Prinze, She's All That is a reliable nostalgia hit for millennials longing for that period when Hollywood couldn't get enough of classic literature in the skin of frothy teen romantic comedies. —K.J.

Where to watch She's All That: Netflix

EW grade: B– (read the review)

Director: Robert Iscove

Cast: Freddie Prinze Jr., Rachael Leigh Cook, Matthew Lillard, Paul Walker, Jodi Lyn O'Keefe, Kevin Pollak, Kieran Culkin

Related content: How 'Kiss Me' became the theme song to She's All That

15of 20

Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper in 'Silver Linings Playbook'. 

WEINSTEIN COMPANY/COURTESY EVERETT COLLECTION

This romantic comedy/drama was the first of multiple onscreen team-ups for stars Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence, with both delivering some of the best performances of their careers. Cooper plays Pat, a former teacher recently released from a psychiatric hospital where he was treated for bipolar disorder. Still upset over his divorce, he goes about trying to get his ex-wife back, but he soon finds kinship with Lawrence's Tiffany, a young widow with her own mental health struggles. Tiffany convinces Pat to be her partner in a dance competition, and their training process leads to unexpected feelings between them. A hit both critically and commercially, Silver Linings Playbook soars on the chemistry of its stars, earning Lawrence an Oscar for her charmingly frank performance. —K.J.

Where to watch Silver Linings Playbook: Netflix

EW grade: A (read the review)

Director: David O. Russell

Cast: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver, Chris Tucker

Related content: Inside the big gamble (and triumph) of Silver Linings Playbook

16of 20

Sixteen Candles (1984)

Michael Schoeffling and Molly Ringwald in 'Sixteen Candles'. 

UNIVERSAL/COURTESY EVERETT COLLECTION

The perils of being an awkward teenage girl are represented quite accurately in this coming-of-age comedy by the master of the genre, John Hughes. Molly Ringwald, in a breakout performance, plays Sam, a sophomore dealing with the stress of high school on top of her family forgetting about her 16th birthday. Her crush on popular senior Jake Ryan (Michael Schoeffling) feels increasingly hopeless, considering he’s in a committed relationship with his girlfriend, Caroline. Plenty of classic '80s teen comedy shenanigans ensue, including one unforgettable party. While some elements haven’t aged well, such as the stereotypical depiction of foreign exchange student Long Duk Dong (Gedde Watanabe), Sixteen Candles is a fascinating snapshot of '80s teenage life, with a true star-is-born performance in Ringwald at its center. —K.J.

Where to watch Sixteen Candles: Netflix

Director: John Hughes

Cast: Molly Ringwald, Michael Schoeffling, Anthony Michael Hall, Haviland Morris, Gedde Watanabe, Paul Dooley, Carlin Glynn, Blanche Baker, Justin Henry

Related content: The 30 best teenage romance movies on Netflix

17of 20

Someone Great (2019)

DeWanda Wise, Gina Rodriguez, and Brittany Snow in 'Someone Great'. NETFLIX

This charming directorial debut by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson proves that break-up movies can make for great rom-coms. Jenny (Gina Rodriguez) lands her dream job at Rolling Stone, but it costs her her longtime boyfriend (LaKeith Stanfield). Desperate for a last hurrah in New York City before her big move, the new bachelorette rallies friends Blair (Brittany Snow) and Erin (DeWanda Wise) to help send her off, though it proves to be anything but a clean break. The misadventures of their big night out inspire each woman to reflect on whether they've been choosing their relationships over themselves. The result is an empowering, modern spin on what's expected from the genre, placing sisterhood and self-love at the center stage. Ever the rom-com expert, EW's critic heralded Something Great as "… a newer breed of movie: the scrappy female-POV in which the love story at the center is as much about friendship or the face in the mirror as it is about any one man." —A.A.

Where to watch Someone Great: Netflix

EW grade: B (read the review)

Director: Jennifer Kaytin Robinson

Cast: Gina Rodriguez, Brittany Snow, DeWanda Wise, LaKeith Stanfield, Peter Vack

Related content: Why Jennifer Kaytin Robinson wanted to break female stereotypes in Someone Great

18of 20

Something's Gotta Give (2003)

Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton in 'Something's Gotta Give'. COLUMBIA/EVERETT

The star-studded cast of this Nancy Meyers rom-com compares to no other. Meyers wrote the part of womanizing Harry Sanborn for Jack Nicholson, and it shows. His comedic, wildly irresponsible persona meets its match with Diane Keaton as the successful and stern writer Erica Barry. The only problem? He's dating her daughter, Marin (Amanda Peet)…at least, until a health emergency pulls Dr. Julian Mercer (Keanu Reeves) into the mix, turning this love triangle into a dizzying square. Unlikely romances are at the heart of this film, which follows Harry and Erica as they explore dating, both within their generation and outside of it. It's an unusual take on what romance looks like as we age and grow, a premise that won over Reeves, who was at the height of his Matrix fame when he took on this project. He told EW that he knew the film was unique right away, saying, "It's one of the best romantic comedy scripts — or any script — I've read in a long time. It's smart and personal and relevant and funny." And who are we to question Keanu? —A.A.

Where to watch Something's Gotta Give: Netflix

EW grade: N/A (read the review)

Director: Nancy Meyers

Cast: Jack Nicholson, Diane Keaton, Keanu Reeves, Frances McDormand, Amanda Peet, Jon Favreau

Related content: Diane Keaton and Keanu Reeves give us the Something's Gotta Give ending we deserved at Oscars

19of 20

This Is 40 (2012)

Leslie Mann and Paul Rudd in 'This Is 40'. 

EVERETT COLLECTION

This Is 40 is what happens after happily ever after. Taking a more realistic (sometimes uncomfortably so) approach to relationships, writer-director Judd Apatow helmed this spinoff sequel to 2007's Knocked Up, with Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann reprising their roles as married couple Pete and Debbie. The film depicts the various stresses put on their relationship, from their workplace struggles to parenting issues, while still loving each other in their own ways. The emotional honesty of This Is 40 may be more intense than your average rom-com — and it isn't for everyone — but there is a refreshing quality to the film in showing how love between two people can withstand mounting obstacles stacked against them. As EW's critic put it, "This Is 40 isn't always hilarious, but it's ticklishly honest and droll about all the things being a parent can do to a relationship. And why it's still worth it." —K.J.

Where to watch This Is 40: Netflix

EW grade: N/A (read the review)

Director: Judd Apatow

Cast: Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, John Lithgow, Megan Fox, Albert Brooks

Related content: The feature films of Judd Apatow, ranked

20of 20

To All the Boys I've Loved Before (2018)

Noah Centineo and Lana Condor in 'To All the Boys I've Loved Before'. NETFLIX

One of the better teen rom-coms for the modern age, To All the Boys I've Loved Before was a smashing success for Netflix upon its 2018 release. Lana Condor plays Lara Jean Covey, a high schooler who secretly pens love letters to crushes but never sends them. Her younger sister finds them stashed away and decides to mail them herself, leading to a fair share of awkward situations. To prevent her current crush from initiating yet another cringey confrontation, she impulsively kisses one of her former crushes (Noah Centineo), which proves to be the catalyst for an ever-evolving relationship. To All the Boys I've Loved Before was very well-received, with EW's critic calling it "breezy and charming." Netflix released two sequels to the film: To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You in 2020 and To All the Boys: Always and Forever in 2021, though the original remains the series' best entry. —K.J.

Where to watch To All the Boys I've Loved Before: Netflix

EW grade: B (read the review)

Director: Susan Johnson

Cast: Lana Condor, Noah Centineo, Janel Parrish, Anna Cathcart, Andrew Bachelor, Trezzo Mahoro, Madeleine Arthur, Emilija Baranac, Israel Broussard, John Corbett