If you've already seen "Meet Sally," "Crazy, Stupid, Love," and "Notting Hill" more times than you can count, you're looking for the best romantic comedy you haven't seen yet this Valentine's Day (or any day of the year, no judgment here) Maybe
The classics of the genre have earned their place for a reason, but if you look beyond the familiar favorites, you'll find a treasure trove of films that blend romance and comedy in smart, fresh ways So if you're looking for a rom-com you've (probably) never seen before that you can watch on the best streaming services, you've come to the right place
Below you'll find seven movies that will make you feel warm and fuzzy (though be warned, one of these movies might make you sob) All of the films on this list went under the radar when they were released for one reason or another
The "boy meets girl" setting of "The Rye" is very generic From the wonderfully witty script to the utterly charming performances of the two leads (David Johnson and Vivian Opara), there is much to love here At a quick and easy 82 minutes, "The Rye" can easily be seen on a date after work
"Rye Lane" follows a tumultuous day in the life of two 20-somethings, Dom (Yeonsong) and Yas (Opara), who get to know each other after a chance encounter in the bathroom of an art exhibition in South London Both have recently experienced a bitter breakup, but they find solace in each other and are able to find a way to be together again in the midst of their As you can guess, romantic sparks fly
Streaming on Hulu
One of Daniel Radcliffe's first projects after "Harry Potter" was the little-screened romantic comedy "What If? (Also known as "The F Word" in some regions) The "F-word" in the title refers to "friend," because the film is about two friends who could be something more than that
Radcliffe plays Wallace, a medical school dropout who meets Chantry (Zoe Kazan) at a party hosted by his best friend Alan (Adam Driver) Wallace's excitement at meeting Chantry (Zoe Kazan), who seems like the perfect partner, quickly turns sour when he learns that Chantry already has a boyfriend of several years, Ben (Rafe Spall) Despite this happening, the two become very close, but this puts Wallace in the very awkward position of falling in love with a girl who assures him that they are "just friends"
Distributed by Paramount Plus with Showtime
In "The Guernsey Literary Potato Pie Society," a historical drama with the energy and lightness of a romantic comedy, Lily James plays Juliet Ashton
After exchanging letters with one of its members, the dreamy Dorsey Adams (Michiel Uysman), Juliette decides she wants to write a book about the society and heads to Guernsey to meet her new pen pal Naturally, her American fiancé (Glen Powell) is not too happy about it, and upon arriving on the island, Juliet finds herself drawn to the picturesque place and its many strange inhabitants
Streaming on Netflix
The romantic comedy starring Rashida Jones and Andy Samberg is a very easy sell Both Jones and Samberg are in fine form, delivering their lighthearted one-liners with ease, but they also perfectly handle the gentler, more heartfelt moments necessary for a good rom-com
As you might expect, the film focuses on the changing dynamic between Celeste (Jones) and Jesse (Samberg) They are former high school sweethearts who married young and are now divorced But the two are determined to make sure this is not a bitter breakup and that they remain close friends afterwards It's all going according to plan until Jesse starts a new relationship, but Celeste finds that moving forward is harder than she imagined
Streaming in Max
In Man Up, a British romantic comedy centered on a case of mistaken identity, Nancy (Lake Bell) and Jack (Simon Pegg), two single women unlucky in love, spend a night together after a blind date gone wrong Their meeting was never meant to happen, but then they embark on a chaotic adventure around London, getting to know each other and maybe, just maybe, realizing that they are perfect for each other, as long as the truth doesn't ruin the vibe
"Man Up" is another successful romantic comedy thanks to the effortless chemistry between the two protagonists Bell and Pegg are repulsive to each other and, although a bit awkward, their delightful interplay is a real treat It's a theme often addressed in the genre, but "Man Up" handles it with grace
Streaming on Man Up [If you can't stand the idea of Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan singing their feelings for each other for 95 minutes, feel free to skip this one But you'll be missing out on a spectacular big-screen musical adaptation based on the hit play of the same name by Jason Robert Brown
Both Kendrick and Jordan are excellent vocalists, and the musical score is very memorable ("Ohio Summer" is a personal favorite) Additionally, the nonlinear narrative structure makes the exploration of this five-year relationship all the more interesting (and heartbreaking) In the film, Jamie (Jordan) and Cathy (Kendrick) go from a young couple in love to a couple on the brink of a bitter breakup Jamie's point of view is told linearly, while Cathy's is portrayed in reverse This makes "The Last Five Years" stand out from other contemporary musicals dealing with similar subject matter
Streaming on Amazon Freevee
Based on the 2012 novel of the same name by Jesse Andrews (who also wrote the screenplay for the film), "Me and Earl and the Dying Girl" is somewhat more heavily weighted toward comedy than romance, but it is a very engaging film that will capture your There is no doubt about it Bring tissues, because you'll be emotionally invested
This indie film follows Greg (Thomas Mann), a socially awkward teenager who spends his spare time making truly awful home movies with his best friend Earl (RJ Cyler) Forced by his overbearing parents (Connie Britton and Nick Offerman) to date classmate Rachel (Olivia Cookie), who has just been diagnosed with leukemia, Greg forms an unbreakable bond with the three of them and faces an uncertain future But don't worry, Rachel won't be the last to die
Rent/Buy on Amazon
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