This Is the Best Romantic Comedy of All Time, According to Critics
Isabella Wilson
Updated on February 22, 2026
There's nothing that heals the soul quite like a great romantic comedy. They make us laugh, they make us cry, and they give us unreasonable expectations for a fairy tale ending, which we accept as part of the bargain. If you're in need of a movie to snuggle up with—whether with your sweetheart or by your lonesome—you can always count on a rom-com. That's why we turned to the reviews to determine the best romantic comedies ever made. At least, according to the critics.
We headed to Rotten Tomatoes, which keeps an updated list of the best reviewed romantic comedies of all time. The site uses an algorithm for their rankings that rates some critics' positive reviews as more significant than others', so the movies here aren't just ranked by overall percentage. Some of these movies are heavier on the laughs, while others will have you swooning, but you really can't go wrong with any of the films on the list. Read on to see if your favorite rom-com made the cut, and for more of the greatest movies ever made, discover The Best Movie That Came Out the Year You Graduated, According to Critics.
50 Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 91 percent
49 L.A. Story (1991)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 94 percent
And if you're looking for something spookier, This Is the Best Horror Film of 2020, According to Critics.
48 Trouble in Paradise (1932)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 92 percent
47 High Fidelity (2000)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 91 percent
And for more movies that will make you laugh, check out The Best Comedies of All Time, According to Critics.
46 Moonstruck (1987)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 94 percent
45 The Wedding Banquet (1993)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 96 percent
44 Born Yesterday (1950)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 97 percent
And to see how the critics felt about more classic fare, check out our Ranking of Every Alfred Hitchcock Movie, From Worst Reviewed to Best.
43 Stolen Kisses (1968)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 96 percent
42 About a Boy (2002)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 93 percent
And for great movies you can watch with your kids, these are The Best Family Movies of All Time, According to Critics.
41 Appropriate Behavior (2015)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 97 percent
40 Knocked Up (2007)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 90 percent
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39 Bridesmaids (2011)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 90 percent
38 Enchanted (2007)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 93 percent
37 Dave (1993)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 95 percent
36 The Kids Are All Right (2010)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 92 percent
35 The Awful Truth (1937)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 93 percent
34 Shakespeare in Love (1998)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 92 percent
33 Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 96 percent
32 Manhattan (1979)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 96 percent
31 Juno (2007)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 94 percent
30 Say Anything… (1989)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 98 percent
29 Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 92 percent
28 Play It Again, Sam (1972)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 97 percent
27 Love, Simon (2018)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 91 percent
26 Ninotchka (1939)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 97 percent
25 Cyrano de Bergerac (1990)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 100 percent
24 The Apartment (1960)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 93 percent
23 Broadcast News (1987)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 98 percent
22 Enough Said (2013)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 95 percent
21 Bull Durham (1988)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 97 percent
20 Some Like It Hot (1959)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 95 percent
19 Groundhog Day (1993)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 96 percent
18 Indiscreet (1958)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 100 percent
17 Bringing Up Baby (1938)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 93 percent
16 Desk Set (1957)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 100 percent
15 The Princess Bride (1987)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 97 percent
14 My Man Godfrey (1936)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 97 percent
13 Adam's Rib (1949)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 96 percent
12 The Shop Around the Corner (1940)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 100 percent
11 Holiday (1938)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 100 percent
10 City Lights (1931)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 98 percent
9 The Artist (2011)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 95 percent
8 Annie Hall (1977)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 98 percent
7 His Girl Friday (1940)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 98 percent
6 The Lady Eve (1941)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 100 percent
5 Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 91 percent
4 Roman Holiday (1953)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 97 percent
3 The Philadelphia Story (1940)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 100 percent
2 The Big Sick (2017)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 98 percent
1 It Happened One Night (1934)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 98 percent
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