Want the full magazine experience? Scroll down to flip through the pages of this article in our digital Winter 2026 issue! Or see this article in print — get the collectible issue on Blurb.
It’s hard to deny it—even though some may try—everyone loves a good romantic comedy! They’re feel-good, good-vibes-only movies that combine a great love story with plenty of laughs. If you’re single, they offer a little hope; if you’re attached, they make the perfect date-night pick. Romantic comedies appeal to all genders and have something for saps and stiffs alike! Here’s our curated list of StarShine’s picks, along with some of our fave stars’ choices.
1. The Fall Guy (2024)
💜Staff Pick: Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt star in this action-comedy with a heavy romantic undertone that my husband and I both absolutely love!
2. 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
💜Staff Pick: With a great ensemble cast of ’90s stars like Julia Stiles, Heath Ledger, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, this film is the perfect nostalgic flick to watch alone, with friends, or with your significant other.
⭐Star Pick: Leanna Firestone, music artist – “The first romantic comedy I really fell in love with was “10 Things I Hate About You”. I think I spent the entire summer watching that movie like once a week when I was 15, and I remember my mom walking in and breaking the news to me that Heath Ledger had died (8 years earlier, but still) … I sobbed. I think this movie really struck a chord with me because I grew up in an area where I felt very different from the people, and specifically, the boys in my immediate periphery. I really doubted that I would ever find someone who would see me, and I felt hope watching Kat and Patrick fall into not only love but also a deep understanding of each other.”
3. Crazy Rich Asians (1999)
💜Staff Pick: With beautiful Singapore as the backdrop, Crazy Rich Asians explores interclass relationships with lots of laughs and heart.
⭐Star Pick: Bekka Dowland, country singer -“Valentine’s Day — the movie with Taylor Lautner, Taylor Swift, and Emma Roberts. It’s so funny to me. I know it’s ironic because I hate Valentine’s Day, but the movie is just silly.”
4. 50 First Dates (2004)
💜Staff Pick: With a unique storyline, Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore are adorable to watch in this hilarious and sentimental movie.
⭐Star Pick: Natalie Jane, pop star – “50 First Dates. You can’t go wrong. Any Adam Sandler movie — you can’t go wrong.”
⭐Star Pick: Amanda McCarthy, music artist –“My favorite romantic comedy has to be Adam Sandler’s 50 First Dates. While I love the humor, I also think many couples could learn a lot from this movie. For those who aren’t familiar, his love gets amnesia and he has to work to make her fall in love with him again, but each day he wakes up and she doesn’t remember him. Love is a choice that needs to be made every day to retain longevity and remain sustainable. By treating every day like the beginning, you can hang on to the magic that led to your love in the first place. Me and my husband reminisce on the past at least once a week it feels like, but it always brings me back to that young 20 something falling in love with her best friend.”
5. The Proposal (2009)
💜Staff Pick: Who doesn’t love the fake-relationship trope? Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock do it well—with comedic help from the iconic Betty White.
⭐Star Pick: Samora Smallwood, actor –“My favorite classics are: Notting Hill, My Best Friend’s Wedding, Some Like It Hot, and Love & Basketball. More comedic choices are The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Think Like a Man. A more recent fave is Silver Linings Playbook.
6. Always Be My Maybe (2019)
💜Staff Pick: Randall Park and Ali Wong stole our hearts with this romantic hit from Netflix!
⭐Star Pick: Maisy Kay – “It’s between Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Bridesmaids for me, but Forgetting Sarah Marshall may win just for the pure quotability of the movie. My friends and I are always referencing it, and The Muppets musical is iconic.”
7. Just Go With It (2011)
💜Staff Pick: If you want to laugh hard while rooting for Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston to finally realize their feelings for each other, this one’s a must-watch.
⭐Star Pick: Max Parker, actor/singer – “My favorite romantic comedy would have to be The Holiday! Even though it’s a holiday-themed movie, my family watches it every year, and it’s now a tradition. Every time we watch it, there’s always something new we notice that we hadn’t seen before, for example, Jack Black’s hand discreetly playing along to a piano in the film score during his breakup scene! The score itself by Hans Zimmer is incredible in all facets – sound, tempo, joyful melody, euphoric crescendos! And the cast is as talented as it can get — the core four: Cameron Diaz, Jack Black, Jude Law, and Kate Winslet. Fun fact: the script was written specifically for them to play their respective characters, which makes so much sense to me now. It’s just really a well-done film that has become a romantic classic.”
⭐Star Pick: Sarah Cleveland, actor – “The Holiday gets me every single time. I watch it every Christmas Eve. It started off being the film I watched with my husband after the kids went to bed, but as the girls have gotten older, they now watch it with us. I fell in love with this film at a time when I came into my husband’s and daughter’s life. He was a single dad, and I fell for both of them equally, and we became the three musketeers just like Jude Law and his girls. Not to mention Jack Black is just absolutely adorable, and I adore Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet! The icing on the cake is that there is the added beauty of the whole film industry in the movie, which is my passion. So, what is not to love here?!”
8. To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018)
💜Staff Pick: While definitely on the teen-romance side of things, this movie deserves a spot on this list nonetheless. Featuring yet another fake-relationship trope, it helped launch a new generation of rom-com fans.
9. Barefoot in the Park (1967)
💜Staff Pick: This was one of my mother’s favorite movies—and one I wish more people knew about. Robert Redford and Jane Fonda are adorable in this rom-com about a newly married couple that proves grumpy-sunshine can absolutely work.
⭐Star Pick: Caryn Dixon, music artist – “When Harry Met Sally… it’s a total classic. I love the sharp humor and the wit between the characters. Plus, it’s my boyfriend’s favorite too, so it’s something we get to enjoy together.”
10. How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days (2003)
💜Staff Pick: A classic early-2000s rom-com starring Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey, filled with memorable dating chaos and shenanigans.
⭐Star Pick: Nicole Huff, music artist/actor – “There’s so many! I love Made in Manhattan. I’m a huge Jennifer Lopez fan. I also love How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.”
Want the full magazine experience? Flip through the Winter 2026 issue below!
Want a collectible print issue? Get it from our Blurb Bookstore!
Sandy Lo is an author, blogger, journalist, and digital strategist. Her personal story is inspiring. Sandy started StarShine Magazine, an online publication in 2001, at the age of 18. She wrote her first novel in 2009, “Lost In You,” followed by the “Dream Catchers” Series. She was the first person ever to professionally interview Taylor Swift and has received personal endorsements for her books from members of boy bands Backstreet Boys and 98 Degrees.
Discover more from StarShine Magazine
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.