Throughout the decades, romantic comedy has remained one of the most popular movie genres. This type of film combines the sweetness of love with the jollity of humor, making for a fun and light-hearted watch. Out of the many rom-com movies out there, these five perfectly encapsulate the charm of the genre:
Roman Holiday, 1953: This movie is one of the earliest of its genre, featuring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck—two of the most iconic actors from Hollywood’s Golden Age. The movie follows a princess-in-disguise and a news reporter navigating the city of Rome and getting into trouble. The film is simple and sweet, and it unintentionally inspired a whole sub-genre of undercover-princess movies (The Princess Switch, Princess Undercover, Princess Protection Program, etc). Hepburn and Peck give an amazing performance, underscoring why they are remembered as great actors to this day.
The Princess Bride, 1987: This thrilling story possesses a fairytale-esque element that is hardly ever found in modern day stories. The plot centers around a beautiful maiden from the mid-16th century and her poor farmhand, whom she falls in love with. They hope to get married, but their plan is thwarted by money troubles, quick-sand, evil pirates, and an obnoxious prince in search of a wife. The story has the self-aware, slightly absurd style of comedy that dominated 1980s cinema.
Groundhog Day, 1993: This movie has a unique plot, with a protagonist who, to his horror, is cursed to relive the same unpleasant winter day over and over again. This fantastical concept creates a thought-provoking story about how to live your life to the fullest and find meaning in the mundane. Additionally, the loop in time gives the main romance ample time to play out—all within the span of one single day.
Clueless, 1995: This is one of the most beloved teen movies of the 1990s. The story itself is based on the classic 1815 romance novel Emma by Jane Austen, which follows a clever and somewhat arrogant young woman as she attempts to find love for herself and her friends (with varying rates of success). Clueless retains Austen’s clever commentary on the dynamics of female friendship, while simultaneously incorporating elements of 1990s culture.
13 going on 30, 2004: Like Groundhog Day, this story creatively toys with the concept of time: a discontented middle-school girl wishes to be an adult, then wakes up nearly twenty years in the future. She faces the grim reality of what her life will look like if she continues to choose popularity over genuine connection, and she grows to appreciate the kind young man who has loved her through it all. Not only is this story romantic, it also serves as a heartwarming tale of friendship.
