10 Rom Coms Where The Guy Falls First | ScreenRant
Romantic comedies might not always be major movie theater box office hits, but they do have a way of being successful in their own right. This is especially true now that the genre has begun to be more diverse in all areas of production, in front of and behind the camera.
Asking romantic comedy fans what makes them love the genre will lead to hundreds of answers. The tropes, the happily ever afters, the wild romantic gestures. All of those are great, but nothing truly beats watching two people fall in love -- especially when one of them falls first. There are tons of rom coms where the guy falls first to satisfy every rom-com fans' heart.
10 How To Be Single (2016)
Stream on HBO Max
How To Be Single is one of the best anthology rom-coms, following the lives of several characters as they navigate relationships in their young lives while living in the city. One of the most underrated stories in the movie is the relationship between hopeless romantic Lucy (Alison Brie) and anti-love bar owner Tom (Anders Holm).
The two couldn't be more opposite and yet they form a friendship after Lucy starts frequenting the bar to use its free wifi. Soon, anti-love Tom begins to have feelings for Lucy which is the last thing he ever expected. Watching him pine for her as she gets into other relationships is heartbreaking and wonderful at the same time.
9 Palm Springs (2020)
Stream on Hulu
One of 2020's biggest romantic comedies was Palm Springs which is also one of the best time loop movies ever. Nyles (Andy Samberg) has been stuck in a time loop for a long time and after a post-wedding hook-up gone wrong, Sarah (Cristin Millioti) ends up stuck with him.
As the two try to make sense of their new reality and get out, Nyles falls more and more in love with Sarah. In fact, he's been in love with her long before she got stuck in the time loop, which he reveals in an argument.
8 Pitch Perfect (2012)
Rent on AppleTV
While Pitch Perfect might be considered more of a musical comedy than a rom-com, the truth is it has all the qualities of rom-com. At the center of the movie's love story is Becca (Anna Kendrick), a rebellious college freshman, and Jesse (Skylar Astin), a fellow freshman.
There's no denying that Jesse experiences love at first sight when he sees Becca moving into her dorm on the first day of school. Jesse continues to pursue Becca, first as a friend, as they work together and eventually become rivals in the acapella world. And while Becca is the one who makes the grand romantic gesture, it's Jesse who falls for her first.
7 Set It Up (2018)
Stream on Netflix
Set It Up is arguably one of Netflix's most underrated romantic comedies of all time. While there are two love stories at the center of this movie about two assistants setting up their overbearing bosses, it's the love story involving the assistants that is the best.
Harper (Zoey Deutch) and Charlie (Glen Powell) may not get off on the right foot, but that doesn't start a friendship from blossoming. And the more scheming they do together, the more Charlie realizes how amazing Harper is.
6 The Royal Treatment (2022)
Stream on Netflix
The Royal Treatment follows Isabella (Laua Marano), a struggling hairstylist who gets roped into styling the royal wedding of Prince Thomas (Mena Massoud). Like all good rom-coms, this one is extremely cliche playing into the enemies-to-lovers trope.
However, it's Prince Thomas who falls hopelessly in love despite the fact he's supposed to marry someone else. Prince Thomas is immediately infatuated with Isabella and learns to love her more when he witnesses her explore parts of his kingdom he hasn't even ventured to himself. It's her giant heart that has him questioning his entire life and ultimately pulling off a cute grand gesture in the end.
5 To All The Boys I've Loved Before (2018)
Stream on Netflix
Based on the best-selling teen novel of the same name, To All The Boys I've Loved Before is credited for reigniting the teen rom-com genre, especially for Netflix.
Fake dating always leads to someone getting real feelings and in this case, it's Peter (Noah Centineo) that falls first. Some might argue that he's always had a crush on Lara Jean (Lana Condor) which is why he's the one who comes up with the fake dating plot in the first place. Whether it's driving her and her sister home or making sure he packs all her favorite snacks, Peter definitely fell first.
4 What If (2013)
Stream on Amazon Prime Video
After a series of disastrous relationships, Wallace (Dan Radcliffe) decides to give up on love altogether. However, his plans are quickly thwarted when he meets and bonds with Chantry (Zoe Kazan). The only problem is, Chantry is in a committed relationship.
It's obvious that Wallace is the one to fall first in What If considering Chantry is in a relationship but that doesn't make it any less entertaining. He pines for her so hard and it's gut-wrenching to watch Chantry carry on with her relationship when the right boyfriend is right in front of her.
3 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
Stream on Disney+
10 Things I Hate About You saved the '90s teen rom-com genre from being utterly disappointing. Loosely based on a Shakespeare play, the movie centers on Kat (Julia Stiles), an abrasive teenager, who becomes a pawn in her sister's scheme to be allowed to date.
While Patrick (Heath Ledger) is paid to go out with Kat initially, there's no denying that he starts to fall for her first. Kat is so blinded by her past terrible relationship that she doesn't see how great Patrick is, but he definitely sees her. Though he should have ended the payment earlier, all is forgiven between these two because their love is just too cute.
2 50 First Dates (2004)
Rent on AppleTV
50 First Dates is one of Adam Sandler's best romantic comedies and certainly one of the best between him and Drew Barrymore. The movie centers on Henry (Sandler), a playboy marine biologist, who falls for Lucy (Barrymore), a local who experiences short-term memory loss.
Even without Lucy's memory issues, it's clear that Henry is the one that fell first and fell hard. He immediately seeks her out the next day after meeting her and isn't even afraid when he learns the truth. It's adorable to watch how patient he is with Lucy as she learns to fall in love with him each day.
1 500 Days Of Summer (2009)
Stream on Amazon Prime Video and Hulu
5oo Days of Summer is one of the most divisive romantic comedies out there, with many claiming it's not even a romantic comedy. The cult classic centers on Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who is head over heels in love with Summer (Zooey Deschanel).
While the movie is a textbook example as to what's wrong with the "manic pixie dream girl" character, the truth is it is a rom-com where the guy falls first. In fact, Tom falls so hard when Summer breaks up with him he doesn't know what to do with his life.