Ranking The Top Three Rom Coms From Each Year Of The 2020s So Far

I’ve been guilty of romanticizing the rom coms of the past. We had the great John Hughes era of teen rom coms in the ’80s, the classically formulaic (in the best way) rom coms of the ’90s, and of course the romantic comedy renaissance of the 00’s. Then it felt like we kind of lost momentum. Well, I’m happy to report that, for the past few years, we’ve had some real bangers. Things are looking up, you love bugs. If you’re looking for recent romantic comedies from the 2020s that are actually amazing, congrats! I have the top three rom coms from each year so far, ranked. (And where you can stream them.) You’re welcome!

The Best Rom Coms of 2020

1. Palm Springs (Hulu)

Nyles and Sarah are stuck in a timeloop reliving her sister’s wedding over and over. Do they stay in the loop so they can spend time together forever, or do they find a way to escape? It’s Groundhog Day, but on a cute little Palm Springs vacation. (And I continue to love basically every time loop movie I come across.)

2. Emma (FreeVee)

Even if you’re not a fan of Regency-era romance, there’s no mistaking how good this version of Jane Austen’s classic is. Anya Taylor-Joy kills it as the titular busybody who insists she can help her friend find love. It’s 2 hours long but goes by so fast you’ll wish you could have more.

3. Happiest Season (Hulu)

Gone are the days when made-for-streaming Christmas movies were only about The Straights. Happiest Season is a Hulu original about a woman asking her girlfriend to her family home for Christmas, only to pose as her roommate since she’s not out to her family. There’s some solid acting in this one.

The Best Rom Coms of 2021

1. Love Hard (Netflix)

Natalie travels to surprise the guy she’s been talking to online for Christmas. Unfortunately, Josh has been cat-fishing her with pictures of a guy he went to school with. Quite the surprise, right? It may sound cheesy, but this holiday gem is actually way better than you’d expect, largely thanks to Jimmy O. Yang.

2. Single All The Way (Netflix)

Because we’re clearly not done with made-for-streaming holiday movies, here’s another great choice from 2021. Peter and Nick are just friends, so why are both of them feeling a little weird when Peter’s mom tries to set him up with a local when they both come to visit for the holidays? So cute.

3. The Hating Game (Hulu)

Based on the wildly popular enemies-to-lovers romance novel, The Hating Game finds two dueling executive assistants as they try to prove which one is better at their job. If you love the enemies trope, this is your go-to for the genre.

The Best Rom Coms of 2022

1. The Lost City (Paramount+)

After being abducted by a wild-eyed Daniel Radcliffe, romance novelist Loretta Sage is now on a remote island trying to help a madman find a lost treasure. Hopefully her cover model can come save her. Too bad he has literally no skills for the task. Colorful, shiny, and big-budget, this is the kind of rom com we’ve been hoping to get for years–and it lives up to the task.

2. Fire Island (Hulu)

It’s the annual trip to Fire Island, but this group of gays is crushed when they learn it’s the last summer in their favorite vacation house. How will the group survive–especially when potential wet-blanket Will sets his sights on Noah? It’s a modern retelling of Pride & Prejudice mixed with sunshine, partying, and queer love. What’s not to like?

3. Bros (Starz)

Take the classic big-budget rom com and replace the two main characters with a gay couple. That’s what they did with Bros and I’m happy to report that it worked. Bobby is the classic irreverent, ironic New Yorker while Aaron is the “wait, is he even gay?” type who loves sports and beer and…other straight things. They’re opposites, but sometimes that’s a good thing.

The Best Rom Coms of 2023

1. Happiness for Beginners (Netflix)

Welcome to the movie I’ve watched the most out of any on this list. Four times? Five? I’ve lost count. It follows Helen, freshly divorced, as she goes on a month-long beginners hiking trip through the wilderness. It’s a small group so wonderfully cast (including her brother’s best friend who, what a coincidence, signed up for the trip, too) that you wish you were on the trip with them.

2. Red, White & Royal Blue (Prime Video)

Based on the book by Casey McQuiston, we get a look at what might happen if the son of the President of the United States falls in love with the Prince of England. It turns out it’s sweet, sexy, and silly–all things you want in a good rom com. (And I was OBSESSED with this when it came out.)

3. Anyone But You (Netflix)

Another classic romantic comedy for the list, this enemies-to-lovers is another clever adaptation, this time of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. After their hate for each other threatens to ruin an upcoming wedding, friends and family try to trick enemies Ben and Bea to fall in love with each other. Does it work?  You’ll just have to see the chemistry between Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney and decide for yourself.

The Best Rom Coms of 2024 (So Far)

1. The Fall Guy (Peacock starting 8/30/24)

What happens when a stuntman and a director fall for each other? Well, in the case of this action rom com, it’s a lot of explosions and chase scenes. Equal parts love and fighting, The Fall Guy will be the romantic comedy you likely watch annually just for the fun of it. (And because of Ryan Gosling.)

2. Lisa Frankenstein (Prime Video)

You might not have been expecting a horror comedy on this list, but Lisa Frankenstein deserves her place. See, Lisa has fallen for the zombie version of a pianist that she likes to visit at the cemetery. Just girly things, right? So she figures, why not date him?

3. The Idea of You (Prime Video)

If you ever fantasized about falling in love with a boy band member who quite a bit younger than you, here’s your fan fiction-style movie. Based on a novel, it follows a mom accidentally bumping into a singer when she takes her daughter to Coachella. Oops, we have sexual tension now!