The 200 Best Romantic Comedies of All Time

Critics Consensus: Offering a wonderfully witty script, spotless direction from George Cukor, and typically excellent lead performances, The Philadelphia Story is an unqualified classic.

Synopsis: This classic romantic comedy focuses on Tracy Lord (Katharine Hepburn), a Philadelphia socialite who has split from her husband, C.K. Dexter Haven (Cary Grant), due... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, James Stewart, Ruth Hussey

Directed By: George Cukor

Critics Consensus: Anchored by stellar performances from Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell, His Girl Friday is possibly the definitive screwball romantic comedy.

Synopsis: When hard-charging New York newspaper editor Walter Burns discovers that his ex-wife, investigative reporter Hildy Johnson, has gotten engaged to milquetoast insurance agent Bruce Baldwin,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Cary Grant, Rosalind Russell, Ralph Bellamy, Gene Lockhart

Directed By: Howard Hawks

Critics Consensus: Deftly directed by Ernst Lubitsch from a smart, funny script by Samson Raphaelson, The Shop Around the Corner is a romantic comedy in the finest sense of the term.

Synopsis: Alfred Kralik and Klara Novak are employees at Matuschek and Company, a general store in Budapest. Klara and Alfred are constantly at odds with each... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Margaret Sullavan, James Stewart, Frank Morgan, Joseph Schildkraut

Directed By: Ernst Lubitsch

Critics Consensus: A career highlight for Preston Sturges, The Lady Eve benefits from Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda's sparkling chemistry -- and a script that inspired countless battle-of-the-sexes comedies.

Synopsis: It's no accident when wealthy Charles falls for Jean. Jean is a con artist with her sights set on Charles' fortune. Matters complicate when Jean... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Barbara Stanwyck, Henry Fonda, Charles Coburn, Eugene Pallette

Directed By: Preston Sturges

Critics Consensus: Capturing its stars and director at their finest, It Happened One Night remains unsurpassed by the countless romantic comedies it has inspired.

Synopsis: In Frank Capra's acclaimed romantic comedy, spoiled heiress Ellie Andrews impetuously marries the scheming King Westley, leading her tycoon father to spirit her away on... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Claudette Colbert, Clark Gable, Walter Connolly, Roscoe Karns

Directed By: Frank Capra

Critics Consensus: Blockbuster dramatist James L. Brooks delivers with Broadcast News, fully entertaining with deft, deep characterization.

Synopsis: Intelligent satire of American television news. A highly strung news producer finds herself strangely attracted to a vapid anchorman even through she loathes everything he... View Full Synopsis

Starring: William Hurt, Albert Brooks, Holly Hunter, Robert Prosky

Directed By: James L. Brooks

Critics Consensus: Refreshingly sweet and undeniably funny, Big is a showcase for Tom Hanks, who dives into his role and infuses it with charm and surprising poignancy.

Synopsis: At a carnival, young Josh Baskin wishes he were big, only to wake up the next morning and discover his wish came true. But the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tom Hanks, Elizabeth Perkins, Robert Loggia, John Heard

Directed By: Penny Marshall

Critics Consensus: One of the definitive Generation X movies, Say Anything... is equally funny and heartfelt -- and it established John Cusack as an icon for left-of-center types everywhere.

Synopsis: In a charming, critically acclaimed tale of first love, Lloyd (John Cusack), an eternal optimist, seeks to capture the heart of Diane (Ione Skye), an... View Full Synopsis

Starring: John Cusack, Ione Skye, John Mahoney, Lili Taylor

Directed By: Cameron Crowe

Critics Consensus: With Defending Your Life, writer-director-star Albert Brooks softens his trademark caustic humor -- and proves he's every bit as funny when he's tugging heartstrings.

Synopsis: Daniel Miller (Albert Brooks) isn't having a good week. For starters, he died after he got hit by a bus. Then he discovers that in... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Albert Brooks, Meryl Streep, Rip Torn, Lee Grant

Directed By: Albert Brooks

Critics Consensus: Funny, heartfelt, and intelligent, The Big Sick uses its appealing leads and cross-cultural themes to prove the standard romcom formula still has some fresh angles left to explore.

Synopsis: Kumail is a Pakistani comic, who meets an American graduate student named Emily at one of his stand-up shows. As their relationship blossoms, he soon... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Holly Hunter, Ray Romano

Directed By: Michael Showalter

Critics Consensus: Good news, rom-com fans: Anyone looking for a smart, funny, and heartwarming new addition to the canon can find it waiting on Rye Lane.

Synopsis: Yas (Vivian Oparah) and Dom (David Jonsson), two twenty-somethings both reeling from bad break-ups, connect over the course of an eventful day in South London... View Full Synopsis

Starring: David Jonsson, Vivian Oparah, Charlie Knight, Simon Manyonda

Directed By: Raine Allen Miller

Critics Consensus: With Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant at their effervescent best, Bringing Up Baby is a seamlessly assembled comedy with enduring appeal.

Synopsis: Harried paleontologist David Huxley (Cary Grant) has to make a good impression on society matron Mrs. Random (May Robson), who is considering donating one million... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, Charlie Ruggles, May Robson

Directed By: Howard Hawks

Critics Consensus: Filled with poignant performances and devastating humor, Annie Hall represents a quantum leap for Woody Allen and remains an American classic.

Synopsis: Comedian Alvy Singer (Woody Allen) examines the rise and fall of his relationship with struggling nightclub singer Annie Hall (Diane Keaton). Speaking directly to the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Tony Roberts, Carol Kane

Directed By: Woody Allen

Critics Consensus: Kevin Costner is at his funniest and most charismatic in Bull Durham, a film that's as wise about relationships as it is about minor league baseball.

Synopsis: In Durham, N.C., the Bulls minor league baseball team has one asset no other can claim: a poetry-loving groupie named Annie Savoy (Susan Sarandon). As... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins, Trey Wilson

Directed By: Ron Shelton

Critics Consensus: Charming, thoughtful, and often funny, Sideways is a decidedly mature road trip comedy full of excellent performances.

Synopsis: Struggling writer and wine enthusiast Miles (Paul Giamatti) takes his engaged friend, Jack (Thomas Haden Church), on a trip to wine country for a last... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen, Sandra Oh

Directed By: Alexander Payne

Critics Consensus: Warm, funny, and quietly profound, Appropriate Behavior serves as a thoroughly compelling calling card for writer, director, and star Desiree Akhavan.

Synopsis: A secretly bisexual Brooklynite from a traditional Persian family struggles with her identity and the disintegration of her relationship with her girlfriend.

Starring: Desiree Akhavan, Rebecca Henderson, Scott Adsit, Halley Feiffer

Directed By: Desiree Akhavan

Critics Consensus: For viewers in search of an uncommonly smart, tender, and funny coming-of-age story, The Half of It has everything.

Synopsis: A shy, introverted student helps the school jock woo a girl whom, secretly, they both want.

Starring: Leah Lewis, Daniel Diemer, Alexxis Lemire, Enrique Murciano

Directed By: Alice Wu

Critics Consensus: A delightfully postmodern fairy tale, The Princess Bride is a deft, intelligent mix of swashbuckling, romance, and comedy that takes an age-old damsel-in-distress story and makes it fresh.

Synopsis: A fairy tale adventure about a beautiful young woman and her one true love. He must find her after a long separation and save her.... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, Chris Sarandon

Directed By: Rob Reiner

Critics Consensus: To All the Boys I've Loved Before plays by the teen rom-com rules, but relatable characters and a thoroughly charming cast more than make up for a lack of surprises.

Synopsis: A teenage girl's love letters are exposed and wreak havoc on her life.

Starring: Lana Condor, John Corbett, Noah Centineo, Emilija Baranac

Directed By: Susan Johnson

Critics Consensus: A dark teen comedy with an explosive twist, Spontaneous reaffirms Katherine Langford as a rising star -- and marks debuting director Brian Duffield as a filmmaker to watch.

Synopsis: When students in their high school inexplicably start to explode, seniors Mara and Dylan struggle to survive in a world where each moment may be... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Katherine Langford, Charlie Plummer, Yvonne Orji, Hayley Law

Directed By: Brian Duffield

Critics Consensus: The Worst Person in the World concludes Joachim Trier's Oslo Trilogy with a romantic comedy that delightfully subverts the genre's well-worn tropes.

Synopsis: The Worst Person in the World is a modern dramedy about the quest for love and meaning in contemporary Oslo. It chronicles four years in... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Anders Danielsen Lie, Maria Grazia Di Meo, Renate Reinsve, Herbert Nordrum

Directed By: Joachim Trier

Critics Consensus: Rudy Mancuso's use of magical realism elevates Música, infusing its familiar narrative framework with a bracingly personal touch.

Synopsis: Based on writer, director and star Rudy Mancuso, Música is a coming-of-age love story that follows an aspiring creator with synesthesia, who must come to... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Rudy Mancuso, Camila Mendes, J.B. Smoove, Francesca Reale

Directed By: Rudy Mancuso

Critics Consensus: A deceptively dark thriller that's also loaded with laughs, Hit Man is an outstanding showcase for leading man Glen Powell -- and one of the most purely entertaining films of Richard Linklater's career.

Synopsis: Oscar-nominated director Richard Linklater's sunlit neo-noir stars Glen Powell as strait-laced professor Gary Johnson, who moonlights as a fake hit man for the New Orleans... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Glen Powell, Adria Arjona, Austin Amelio, Retta

Directed By: Richard Linklater

Critics Consensus: With a thought-provoking concept brought to humorous life by a pair of well-matched leads, I'm Your Man is an AI rom-com whose intelligence is anything but artificial.

Synopsis: In order to obtain funds for her research, Alma (Maren Eggert) is persuaded to participate in an extraordinary study. For three weeks she is required... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Dan Stevens, Maren Eggert, Sandra Hüller, Hans Löw

Directed By: Maria Schrader

Critics Consensus: One of the best underdog romance movies ever, with an ending that will light up any heart.

Synopsis: A hapless but resilient tramp (Charlie Chaplin) falls in love with a blind flower girl (Virginia Cherrill) on the tough city streets. Upon learning that... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Charlie Chaplin, Virginia Cherrill, Harry Myers, Hank Mann

Directed By: Charlie Chaplin

Critics Consensus: With Greta Garbo proving her comedy chops in the twilight of her career, Ninotchka is a can't-miss classic.

Synopsis: A no-nonsense diplomat of the Soviet Union, Nina Ivanovna Ninotchka Yakushova (Greta Garbo) arrives in Paris to ensure the sale of jewels seized during the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Greta Garbo, Melvyn Douglas, Ina Claire, Sig Ruman

Directed By: Ernst Lubitsch

Critics Consensus: With Audrey Hepburn luminous in her American debut, Roman Holiday is as funny as it is beautiful, and sets the standard for the modern romantic comedy.

Synopsis: Overwhelmed by her suffocating schedule, touring European princess Ann takes off for a night while in Rome. When a sedative she took from her doctor... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Gregory Peck, Audrey Hepburn, Eddie Albert, Tullio Carminati

Directed By: William Wyler

Critics Consensus: Ivan Reitman's refreshingly earnest political comedy benefits from an understated, charming script and a breezy performance by Kevin Kline.

Synopsis: Shifty White House chief of staff Bob Alexander hatches a scheme to use a double for the president at a public photo opportunity. Small business... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Kevin Kline, Sigourney Weaver, Frank Langella, Ben Kingsley

Directed By: Ivan Reitman

Critics Consensus: A crowd-pleasing tribute to the magic of silent cinema, The Artist is a clever, joyous film with delightful performances and visual style to spare.

Synopsis: In the 1920s, actor George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) is a bona fide matinée idol with many adoring fans. While working on his latest film, George... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jean Dujardin, Bérénice Bejo, John Goodman, James Cromwell

Directed By: Michel Hazanavicius

Critics Consensus: Wryly charming, impeccably acted, and ultimately quite bittersweet, Enough Said is a grown-up movie in the best possible way.

Synopsis: Eva (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), a divorced single parent, seems generally happy but dreads her daughter's departure for college. Unexpectedly, Eva begins a romance with Albert (James... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, James Gandolfini, Catherine Keener, Toni Collette

Directed By: Nicole Holofcener

Critics Consensus: With its humorous script and its stars' immense charm, Sabrina remains a resonant romantic gem.

Synopsis: Chauffeur's daughter Sabrina (Audrey Hepburn) returns home from two years in Paris a beautiful young woman, and immediately catches the attention of David (William Holden),... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn, William Holden, Walter Hampden

Directed By: Billy Wilder

Critics Consensus: Some Like It Hot: A spry, quick-witted farce that never drags.

Synopsis: After witnessing a Mafia murder, slick saxophone player Joe (Tony Curtis) and his long-suffering buddy, Jerry (Jack Lemmon), improvise a quick plan to escape from... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, Marilyn Monroe, George Raft

Directed By: Billy Wilder

Critics Consensus: Smart, sweet, and inventive, Groundhog Day highlights Murray's dramatic gifts while still leaving plenty of room for laughs.

Synopsis: Phil (Bill Murray), a weatherman, is out to cover the annual emergence of the groundhog from its hole. He gets caught in a blizzard that... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, Chris Elliott, Stephen Tobolowsky

Directed By: Harold Ramis

Critics Consensus: Strong performances, assured direction, and a refreshingly original concept make Palm Springs a rom-com that's easy to fall in love with.

Synopsis: Stuck in a time loop, two wedding guests develop a budding romance while living the same day over and over again.

Starring: Andy Samberg, Cristin Milioti, J.K. Simmons, Meredith Hagner

Directed By: Max Barbakow

Critics Consensus: Brought to life by a tremendously talented cast, the breezily entertaining Fire Island proves there are still fresh ways to update Austen.

Synopsis: Set in the iconic Pines, Andrew Ahn's "Fire Island" is an unapologetic, modern-day rom-com showcasing a diverse, multicultural examination of queerness and romance. Inspired by... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Joel Kim Booster, Bowen Yang, Margaret Cho, Conrad Ricamora

Directed By: Andrew Ahn

Critics Consensus: Director Billy Wilder's customary cynicism is leavened here by tender humor, romance, and genuine pathos.

Synopsis: Insurance worker C.C. Baxter (Jack Lemmon) lends his Upper West Side apartment to company bosses to use for extramarital affairs. When his manager Mr. Sheldrake... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Fred MacMurray, Ray Walston

Directed By: Billy Wilder

Critics Consensus: One of the brightest, funniest comedies of the year, Juno's smart script and direction are matched by assured performances in a coming-of-age story with a 21st century twist.

Synopsis: When precocious teen Juno MacGuff becomes pregnant, she chooses a failed rock star and his wife to adopt her unborn child. Complications occur when Mark,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Elliot Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman

Directed By: Jason Reitman

Critics Consensus: One of Woody Allen's early classics, Manhattan combines modern, bittersweet humor and timeless romanticism with unerring grace.

Synopsis: Director Woody Allen's love letter to New York City stars Allen as frustrated television writer Isaac Davis, a twice-divorced malcontent facing middle age alone after... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Mariel Hemingway, Michael Murphy

Directed By: Woody Allen

Critics Consensus: A smart re-imagining of fairy tale tropes that's sure to delight children and adults, Enchanted features witty dialogue, sharp animation, and a star turn by Amy Adams.

Synopsis: Banished by an evil queen, Princess Giselle (Amy Adams) from a fairy-tale world lands in modern Manhattan, where music, magic and "happily ever after" are... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden, Timothy Spall

Directed By: Kevin Lima

Critics Consensus: It may not boast the depth of his classic films, but the sweetly sentimental Midnight in Paris is funny and charming enough to satisfy Woody Allen fans.

Synopsis: Gil Pender is a screenwriter and aspiring novelist. Vacationing in Paris with his fiancée, he has taken to touring the city alone. On one such... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Marion Cotillard, Michael Sheen

Directed By: Woody Allen

Critics Consensus: Worthwhile as both a well-acted ensemble piece and as a smart, warm statement on family values, The Kids Are All Right is remarkable.

Synopsis: Lesbian couple Jules (Julianne Moore) and Nic (Annette Bening) have been together for almost 20 years and have two teenage offspring named Joni and Laser,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Julianne Moore, Annette Bening, Mark Ruffalo, Mia Wasikowska

Directed By: Lisa Cholodenko

Critics Consensus: Endlessly witty, visually rapturous, and sweetly romantic, Shakespeare in Love is a delightful romantic comedy that succeeds on nearly every level.

Synopsis: "Shakespeare in Love" is a romantic comedy for the 1990s set in the 1590s. It imaginatively unfolds the witty, sexy and timeless tale behind the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Joseph Fiennes, Gwyneth Paltrow, Geoffrey Rush, Judi Dench

Directed By: John Madden

Critics Consensus: Hugh Grant ably snatches up the bouquet of leading man status with Four Weddings and a Funeral, a sparkling romantic comedy given real charm by its chummy ensemble and Richard Curtis' sharp-witted screenplay.

Synopsis: Lovable Englishman Charles and his group of friends seem to be unlucky in love. When Charles meets a beautiful American named Carrie at a wedding,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Hugh Grant, Andie MacDowell, Kristin Scott Thomas, Simon Callow

Directed By: Mike Newell

Critics Consensus: Hairspray is an energetic, wholly entertaining musical romp; a fun Summer movie with plenty of heart. Its contagious songs will make you want to get up and start dancing.

Synopsis: In the 1960s Baltimore, dance-loving teen Tracy Turnblad auditions for a spot on "The Corny Collins Show" and wins. She becomes an overnight celebrity, a... View Full Synopsis

Starring: John Travolta, Nikki Blonsky, Amanda Bynes, Christopher Walken

Directed By: Adam Shankman

Critics Consensus: Silver Linings Playbook walks a tricky thematic tightrope, but David O. Russell's sensitive direction and some sharp work from a talented cast gives it true balance.

Synopsis: After losing his job and wife, and spending time in a mental institution, Pat Solatano winds up living with his parents. He wants to rebuild... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver

Directed By: David O. Russell

Critics Consensus: Love, Simon hits its coming-of-age beats more deftly than many entries in this well-traveled genre -- and represents an overdue, if not entirely successful, milestone of inclusion.

Synopsis: Everyone deserves a great love story, but for 17-year-old Simon Spier, it's a little more complicated. He hasn't told his family or friends that he's... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Nick Robinson, Josh Duhamel, Jennifer Garner, Tony Hale

Directed By: Greg Berlanti

Critics Consensus: An uproariously funny confluence of top-shelf talent, The Heartbreak Kid finds bittersweet humor in attitudes toward love and marriage in early '70s America.

Synopsis: Soon after Lenny (Charles Grodin) marries Lila (Jeannie Berlin), the needy and unrefined side of her personality begins to emerge, and he becomes increasingly uncertain... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Charles Grodin, Cybill Shepherd, Jeannie Berlin, Eddie Albert

Directed By: Elaine May

Critics Consensus: With a terrific cast and a surfeit of visual razzle dazzle, Crazy Rich Asians takes a satisfying step forward for screen representation while deftly drawing inspiration from the classic -- and still effective -- rom-com formula.

Synopsis: Rachel Chu is happy to accompany her longtime boyfriend, Nick, to his best friend's wedding in Singapore. She's also surprised to learn that Nick's family... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh, Gemma Chan

Directed By: Jon M. Chu

Critics Consensus: The deft hand of director Stephen Frears and strong performances by the ensemble cast combine to tell an entertaining story with a rock-solid soundtrack.

Synopsis: Rob Gordon (John Cusack) is the owner of a failing record store in Chicago, where he sells music the old-fashioned way -- on vinyl. Although... View Full Synopsis

Starring: John Cusack, Iben Hjejle, Todd Louiso, Jack Black

Directed By: Stephen Frears

Critics Consensus: Smart, tender, and funny in equal measure, Hannah and Her Sisters is one of Woody Allen's finest films.

Synopsis: Three successive family Thanksgiving dinners mark time for Hannah (Mia Farrow), her younger sisters Lee (Barbara Hershey) and Holly (Dianne Wiest) and the men in... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Woody Allen, Mia Farrow, Michael Caine, Carrie Fisher

Directed By: Woody Allen

Critics Consensus: A charming romantic comedy with political bite, Rob Reiner's The American President features strong lead performances and some poignant observations of politics and media in the 1990s.

Synopsis: With the end of his first term in sight, widowed U.S. President Andrew Shepherd (Michael Douglas) knows that overwhelming public support will guarantee his re-election.... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Michael Douglas, Annette Bening, Martin Sheen, Michael J. Fox

Directed By: Rob Reiner

Critics Consensus: A romantic comedy that doubles as a love letter to the titular city, L.A. Story is Steve Martin at his silly, sweetly soulful best.

Synopsis: Harris K. Telemacher (Steve Martin) has the easiest job in the world: he's a TV weatherman in Los Angeles, where the weather is so predictable... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Steve Martin, Victoria Tennant, Richard E. Grant, Marilu Henner

Directed By: Mick Jackson

Critics Consensus: A perfectly light, warmly funny romantic comedy that's kept afloat by Ron Howard's unobtrusive direction and charming performances from Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah.

Synopsis: A young boy saved from drowning by a beautiful mermaid, falls in love with her 20 years later when she returns to seek him out.... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tom Hanks, Daryl Hannah, John Candy, Eugene Levy

Directed By: Ron Howard

Critics Consensus: A naturalistic depiction of teenage life, Show Me Love has a charming, authentic feel.

Synopsis: Teens Elin (Alexandra Dahlström) and Agnes (Rebecca Liljeberg) are schoolmates. Elin is upbeat and popular, while Agnes is morose and friendless. And both girls are... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Alexandra Dahlström, Rebecca Liljeberg, Erica Carlson, Mathias Rust

Directed By: Lukas Moodysson

Critics Consensus: Licorice Pizza finds Paul Thomas Anderson shifting into a surprisingly comfortable gear -- and getting potentially star-making performances out of his fresh-faced leads.

Synopsis: LICORICE PIZZA is the story of Alana Kane and Gary Valentine growing up, running around and falling in love in the San Fernando Valley, 1973.... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Alana Haim, Cooper Hoffman, Sean Penn, Tom Waits

Directed By: Paul Thomas Anderson

Critics Consensus: Tackling a sensitive subject with maturity, honesty, and wit, Obvious Child serves as a deeply promising debut for writer-director Gillian Robespierre.

Synopsis: An immature, newly unemployed comic (Jenny Slate) must navigate the murky waters of adulthood after her fling with a graduate student (Jake Lacy) results in... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jenny Slate, Jake Lacy, Gaby Hoffmann, Gabe Liedman

Directed By: Gillian Robespierre

Critics Consensus: Kenneth Branagh's love for the material is contagious in this exuberant adaptation.

Synopsis: In this Shakespearean farce, Hero (Kate Beckinsale) and her groom-to-be, Claudio (Robert Sean Leonard), team up with Claudio's commanding officer, Don Pedro (Denzel Washington), the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson, Denzel Washington, Keanu Reeves

Directed By: Kenneth Branagh

Critics Consensus: The feel-good Amelie is a lively, fanciful charmer, showcasing Audrey Tautou as its delightful heroine.

Synopsis: "Amélie" is a fanciful comedy about a young woman who discretely orchestrates the lives of the people around her, creating a world exclusively of her... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Audrey Tautou, Mathieu Kassovitz, Rufus, Yolande Moreau

Directed By: Jean-Pierre Jeunet

Critics Consensus: Knocked Up is a hilarious, poignant and refreshing look at the rigors of courtship and child-rearing, with a sometimes raunchy, yet savvy script that is ably acted and directed.

Synopsis: Rising journalist Alison Scott (Katherine Heigl) hits a serious bump in the road after a one-night stand with irresponsible slacker Ben Stone (Seth Rogen) results... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Seth Rogen, Katherine Heigl, Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann

Directed By: Judd Apatow

Critics Consensus: A marriage of genuine characters, gross out gags, and pathos, Bridesmaids is a female-driven comedy that refuses to be boxed in as Kristen Wiig emerges as a real star.

Synopsis: Annie (Kristen Wiig) is a single woman whose own life is a mess, but when she learns that her lifelong best friend, Lillian (Maya Rudolph),... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Ellie Kemper

Directed By: Paul Feig

Critics Consensus: Led by energetic performances from Nicolas Cage and Cher, Moonstruck is an exuberantly funny tribute to love and one of the decade's most appealing comedies.

Synopsis: No sooner does Italian-American widow Loretta (Cher) accept a marriage proposal from her doltish boyfriend, Johnny (Danny Aiello), than she finds herself falling for his... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Cher, Nicolas Cage, Vincent Gardenia, Olympia Dukakis

Directed By: Norman Jewison

Critics Consensus: Rob Reiner's touching, funny film set a new standard for romantic comedies, and he was ably abetted by the sharp interplay between Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan.

Synopsis: In 1977, college graduates Harry Burns (Billy Crystal) and Sally Albright (Meg Ryan) share a contentious car ride from Chicago to New York, during which... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher, Bruno Kirby

Directed By: Rob Reiner

Critics Consensus: Sweet, smart, and quirky, Waitress hits the right, bittersweet notes through this romantic comedy through its witty script and a superb performance by Keri Russell.

Synopsis: Jenna (Keri Russell) works in a diner in a small Southern town and is a genius at creating luscious desserts, but her marriage to an... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Keri Russell, Nathan Fillion, Cheryl Hines, Adrienne Shelly

Directed By: Adrienne Shelly

Critics Consensus: Barbra Streisand was never more likable than in this energetic, often hilarious screwball farce from director Peter Bogdanovich.

Synopsis: Two researchers have come to San Francisco to compete for a research grant in music. The man seems a bit distracted, and that was before... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Barbra Streisand, Ryan O'Neal, Madeline Kahn, Kenneth Mars

Directed By: Peter Bogdanovich

Critics Consensus: Bros marks a step forward in rom-com representation -- and just as importantly, it's a whole bunch of fun to watch.

Synopsis: Universal Pictures proudly presents the first romantic comedy from a major studio about two gay men maybe, possibly, probably, stumbling towards love. Maybe. They're both... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Billy Eichner, Luke Macfarlane, TS Madison, Monica Raymund

Directed By: Nicholas Stoller

Critics Consensus: Plus One reinvigorates the rom-com with an entertaining outing elevated by well-matched leads and a story that embraces and transcends genre clichés.

Synopsis: Longtime single friends agree to be each other's plus one at every wedding they are invited to.

Starring: Maya Erskine, Jack Quaid, Ed Begley Jr., Finn Wittrock

Directed By: Jeff Chan, Andrew Rhymer

Critics Consensus: Funny, stylish, and ringing with adolescent truth, Submarine marks Richard Ayoade as a talent to watch.

Synopsis: Oliver (Craig Roberts) is a Welsh teen who has some things on his mind. First is losing his virginity before his 16th birthday. He sets... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Craig Roberts, Yasmin Paige, Noah Taylor, Paddy Considine

Directed By: Richard Ayoade

Critics Consensus: It contains some ugly anachronisms, but Blake Edwards is at his funniest in this iconic classic, and Audrey Hepburn absolutely lights up the screen.

Synopsis: Based on Truman Capote's novel, this is the story of a young woman in New York City who meets a young man when he moves... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard, Patricia Neal, Buddy Ebsen

Directed By: Blake Edwards

Critics Consensus: As emotionally rich as it is eye-catching, Strictly Ballroom uses its infectious energy as the fuel for a modern dance classic with all the right moves.

Synopsis: A top ballroom dancer pairs with a plain, left-footed local girl when his maverick style earns him the disdain of his more conventionally-minded colleagues. Together,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Paul Mercurio, Tara Morice, Bill Hunter, Barry Otto

Directed By: Baz Luhrmann

Critics Consensus: A charming tale of a love affair that overcomes cultural taboos.

Synopsis: Wil is a lesbian, but she does not dare tell her widowed mother, Hwei-lan, or her very traditional grandparents. She's shocked, however, to find out... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Michelle Krusiec, Joan Chen, Lynn Chen, Jessica Hecht

Directed By: Alice Wu

Critics Consensus: Though its sweetness borders on sappiness, Roxanne is an unabashedly romantic comedy that remains one of Steve Martin's funniest films.

Synopsis: In this modern take on Edmond Rostand's classic play "Cyrano de Bergerac," C. D. Bales (Steve Martin) is the witty, intelligent and brave fire chief... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Steve Martin, Daryl Hannah, Rick Rossovich, Shelley Duvall

Directed By: Fred Schepisi

Critics Consensus: This modest, unpretentious character study astutely captures the emotional states of the 20-something slacker.

Synopsis: After graduating from college, Marnie (Kate Dollenmayer) is living in Boston. Looking for temporary work while trying to figure out what it is she wants... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Kate Dollenmayer, Christian Rudder, Myles Paige, Jennifer L. Schaper

Directed By: Andrew Bujalski

Critics Consensus: Delpy proves not only to be an adept actress, but makes her mark as a writer and director in this thought-provoking comedy that breaks the romantic comedy mold.

Synopsis: A European vacation was intended to repair the tattered relationship between American Jack (Adam Goldberg) and French native Marion (Julie Delpy). But, by the time... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Julie Delpy, Adam Goldberg, Daniel Brühl, Albert Delpy

Directed By: Julie Delpy

Critics Consensus: Unlike many romantic comedies, the charming Italian for Beginners feels natural and genuinely heart-warming.

Synopsis: Italian for Beginners follows the stories of six insecure singles whose lives interweave one dreary Copenhagen winter. Soon after arriving in a small grey suburb,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Anders W. Berthelsen, Anette Støvelbæk, Peter Gantzler, Lars Kaalund

Directed By: Lone Scherfig

Critics Consensus: Although Chasing Amy's depiction of queer sexuality is frustratingly clumsy, it handles an array of thorny themes with a mixture of sensitivity, raw honesty, and writer-director Kevin Smith's signature raunchy humor.

Synopsis: Holden and Banky are best friends and authors of a popular comic book. Holden falls in love with Alyssa, who happens to be a lesbian.... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ben Affleck, Joey Lauren Adams, Jason Lee, Dwight Ewell

Directed By: Kevin Smith

Critics Consensus: Writer-director Nancy Meyers takes the winning formula of the 1961 original and gives it an amiable modern spin, while young star Lindsay Lohan shines in her breakout role.

Synopsis: Twins Annie and Hallie are strangers until happenstance unites them. The preteen girls' divorced parents, Nick and Elizabeth are living on opposite sides of the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Lindsay Lohan, Dennis Quaid, Natasha Richardson, Elaine Hendrix

Directed By: Nancy Meyers

Critics Consensus: With a stellar cast playing well-rounded characters, I Want You Back is the rare rom-com that delivers its romance as capably as its comedy.

Synopsis: Peter (Charlie Day) and Emma (Jenny Slate) are total strangers, but when they meet, one thing instantly bonds them: they were both unexpectedly dumped by... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Charlie Day, Jenny Slate, Scott Eastwood, Manny Jacinto

Directed By: Jason Orley

Critics Consensus: Other adaptations may do a better job of consistently capturing the spirit of the classic source material, but Jane Austen fans should still find a solid match in this Emma.

Synopsis: Beautiful, smart and wealthy, Emma Woodhouse navigates her way through misguided matches, romantic missteps and the challenges of growing up -- all to finally realize... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Johnny Flynn, Bill Nighy, Mia Goth

Directed By: Autumn de Wilde

Critics Consensus: Delivering a quirky spin on familiar twentysomething tropes -- with a cannily-placed soundtrack -- Garden State has enough charm to mark a winning debut for first-time director Zach Braff.

Synopsis: After many years away, television bit part actor Andrew Largeman returns to his small hometown in New Jersey to attend his mother's funeral. There he... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Zach Braff, Ian Holm, Ron Leibman, Method Man

Directed By: Zach Braff

Critics Consensus: Lighthearted to a fault, Much Ado About Nothing's giddy energy and intimate charm make for an entertaining romantic comedy -- and a Shakespearean adaptation that's hard to resist.

Synopsis: After a successful campaign against his rebellious brother, Don John (Sean Maher), Don Pedro (Reed Diamond) visits the governor of Messina. With him are Benedick... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Amy Acker, Alexis Denisof, Nathan Fillion, Fran Kranz

Directed By: Joss Whedon

Critics Consensus: Wearing its twee heart on its sleeve, Beginners explores the depths of modern, multi-generational romance with wit and depth.

Synopsis: After his mother dies, Oliver (Ewan McGregor) is stunned when his father, Hal (Christopher Plummer), recently diagnosed with terminal cancer, comes out of the closet.... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ewan McGregor, Christopher Plummer, Mélanie Laurent, Goran Visnjic

Directed By: Mike Mills

Critics Consensus: Paris Je T'aime is uneven, but there are more than enough delightful moments in this omnibus tribute to the City of Lights to tip the scale in its favor.

Synopsis: A collection has 18 vignettes set in Paris. In "Bastille," a man (Sergio Castellitto) considers leaving his wife (Miranda Richardson) for his mistress (Leonor Watling).... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Steve Buscemi, Nick Nolte, Juliette Binoche, Bob Hoskins

Directed By: Bruno Podalydès, Gurinder Chadha, Gus Van Sant, Joel Coen

Critics Consensus: James L. Brooks and Jack Nicholson, doing what they do best, combine smart dialogue and flawless acting to squeeze fresh entertainment value out of the romantic-comedy genre.

Synopsis: Melvin Udall (Jack Nicholson) is an obsessive-compulsive writer of romantic fiction who's rude to everyone he meets, including his gay neighbor Simon (Greg Kinnear), but... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt, Greg Kinnear, Cuba Gooding Jr.

Directed By: James L. Brooks

Critics Consensus: Hal Ashby's comedy is too dark and twisted for some, and occasionally oversteps its bounds, but there's no denying the film's warm humor and big heart.

Synopsis: Cult classic pairs Cort as a dead-pan disillusioned 20-year-old obsessed with suicide and a lovable Gordon as a fun-loving 80-year-old eccentric. They meet at a... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Bud Cort, Ruth Gordon, Cyril Cusack, Vivian Pickles

Directed By: Hal Ashby

Critics Consensus: A clever, offbeat romantic comedy, 500 Days of Summer is refreshingly honest and utterly charming.

Synopsis: Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), greeting-card writer and hopeless romantic, is caught completely off-guard when his girlfriend, Summer (Zooey Deschanel), suddenly dumps him. He reflects on their... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel, Geoffrey Arend, Chloë Grace Moretz

Directed By: Marc Webb

Critics Consensus: As smart, funny, and trenchant as writer-director-star Chris Rock's best standup work, Top Five is a career highlight for its creator -- and one of the comedy standouts of 2014.

Synopsis: Though he began in stand-up comedy, Andre Allen (Chris Rock) hit the big-time as the star of a trilogy of action-comedies about a talking bear.... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Chris Rock, Rosario Dawson, Kevin Hart, Gabrielle Union

Directed By: Chris Rock

Critics Consensus: Steve Carell's first star turn scores big with a tender treatment of its titular underdog, using raunchy but realistically funny comedy to connect with adult audiences.

Synopsis: Three dysfunctional co-workers embark on a mission to help their newfound friend lose his sexual innocence.

Starring: Steve Carell, Catherine Keener, Paul Rudd, Romany Malco

Directed By: Judd Apatow

Critics Consensus: Randall Park's directorial debut has humor and heart, giving star Justin H. Min a swoonworthy starring vehicle with few Shortcomings.

Synopsis: Ben, a struggling filmmaker, lives in Berkeley, California, with his girlfriend, Miko, who works for a local Asian American film festival. When he's not managing... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Justin H. Min, Sherry Cola, Ally Maki, Debby Ryan

Directed By: Randall Park

Critics Consensus: Superbly acted and satisfyingly engaging, Your Sister's Sister subverts rom-com conventions with sensitive direction, an unconventional screenplay, and a big heart.

Synopsis: A man (Mark Duplass) falls into bed with his best friend's (Emily Blunt) sister (Rosemarie DeWitt), leading to an unexpected love triangle when his friend... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Emily Blunt, Rosemarie DeWitt, Mark Duplass, Mike Birbiglia

Directed By: Lynn Shelton

Critics Consensus: Brevity is the soul of wit, eh? This adaptation gets to the nitty gritty of Wilde's stage piece and plays on eternal human foibles.

Synopsis: Sir Robert Chiltern (Jeremy Northam) is a respected government official and a loving husband. His friend, Lord Arthur Goring (Rupert Everett), is a notorious womanizer... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Rupert Everett, Julianne Moore, Jeremy Northam, Cate Blanchett

Directed By: Oliver Parker

Critics Consensus: Anchored by dazzling performances from Tom Cruise, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Renée Zellweger, as well as Cameron Crowe's tender direction, Jerry Maguire meshes romance and sports with panache.

Synopsis: When slick sports agent Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise) has a crisis of conscience, he pens a heartfelt company-wide memo that promptly gets him fired. Desperate... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tom Cruise, Cuba Gooding Jr., Renée Zellweger, Kelly Preston

Directed By: Cameron Crowe

Critics Consensus: Emma marks an auspicious debut for writer-director Douglas McGrath, making the most of its Jane Austen source material -- and a charming performance from Gwyneth Paltrow.

Synopsis: In this adaptation of Jane Austen's classic novel, pretty socialite Emma Woodhouse (Gwyneth Paltrow) entertains herself by playing matchmaker for those around her. Her latest... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeremy Northam, Toni Collette, Greta Scacchi

Directed By: Douglas McGrath

Critics Consensus: Trainwreck drags commitment out of all but the most rom-com-phobic filmgoers with sharp humor, relatable characters, and hilarious work from Amy Schumer.

Synopsis: Ever since her father drilled into her head that monogamy isn't realistic, magazine writer Amy has made promiscuity her credo. As much as she enjoys... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Amy Schumer, Bill Hader, Brie Larson, Colin Quinn

Directed By: Judd Apatow

Critics Consensus: A rom-com with the right ingredients, Notting Hill proves there's nothing like a love story well told -- especially when Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts are your leads.

Synopsis: William Thacker is a London bookstore owner whose humdrum existence is thrown into romantic turmoil when famous American actress Anna Scott appears in his shop.... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Julia Roberts, Hugh Grant, Hugh Bonneville, Emma Chambers

Directed By: Roger Michell

Critics Consensus: With ample laughs and sharp performances, Forgetting Sarah Marshall finds just the right mix of romantic and raunchy comedy.

Synopsis: Struggling musician Peter Bretter is better-known as the boyfriend of TV star Sarah Marshall. After she unceremoniously dumps him, he feels lost and alone but... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis, Russell Brand

Directed By: Nicholas Stoller

Critics Consensus: There's Something About Mary proves that unrelentingly, unabashedly puerile humor doesn't necessarily come at the expense of a film's heart.

Synopsis: Ted's dream prom date with Mary never happens due to an embarrassing injury at her home. Years later, Ted hires Pat Healy to track down... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Cameron Diaz, Matt Dillon, Ben Stiller, Lee Evans

Directed By: Robert Farrelly, Peter Farrelly

Critics Consensus: A trite but refreshing and comical spin on nature of love.

Synopsis: Jessica (Jennifer Westfeldt) is at the end of her emotional rope. She happens upon an intriguing personal ad, whose only drawback is that it's in... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jennifer Westfeldt, Heather Juergensen, Scott Cohen, Tovah Feldshuh

Directed By: Charles Herman-Wurmfeld

Critics Consensus: A buoyant corporate Cinderella story, Working Girl has the right cast, right story, and right director to make it all come together.

Synopsis: Savvy New York City receptionist Tess McGill (Melanie Griffith) gives her conniving boss, Katharine Parker (Sigourney Weaver), an excellent business tip, but Katharine simply steals... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Melanie Griffith, Harrison Ford, Sigourney Weaver, Alec Baldwin

Directed By: Mike Nichols

Critics Consensus: Cold Comfort Farm sends up high-minded classics with a wit and impressive restraint that rivals its inspirations.

Synopsis: In this adaptation of the satirical British novel, Flora Poste, a plucky London society girl orphaned at age 19, finds a new home with some... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Sheila Burrell, Eileen Atkins, Ian McKellen

Directed By: John Schlesinger

Critics Consensus: A sharp and deceptively layered comedy that's further fueled by the odd couple chemistry of its leads, this Long Shot largely hits its marks.

Synopsis: Fred Flarsky is a gifted and free-spirited journalist who has a knack for getting into trouble. Charlotte Field is one of the most influential women... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Charlize Theron, Seth Rogen, June Diane Raphael, O'Shea Jackson Jr.

Directed By: Jonathan Levine

Critics Consensus: A jolly good time with heartfelt performances and more than enough holiday cheer, all you'll want for Christmas is Happiest Season.

Synopsis: This romantic comedy is about longtime lesbian couple Abby (Kristen Stewart) and Harper (Mackenzie Davis), who made plans to go home to the latter's family... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Kristen Stewart, Mackenzie Davis, Mary Steenburgen, Victor Garber

Directed By: Clea Duvall

Critics Consensus: Miranda July's debut feature is a charmingly offbeat and observant film about people looking for love.

Synopsis: Single dad Richard (John Hawkes) meets Christine (Miranda July), a starving artist who moonlights as a cabbie. They awkwardly attempt to start a romance, but... View Full Synopsis

Starring: John Hawkes, Miranda July, Miles Thompson, Brandon Ratcliff

Directed By: Miranda July

Critics Consensus: Priceless is a light, farcical rom-com that features sharp performances from Audrey Tautou and Gad Elmaleh.

Synopsis: Irène (Audrey Tautou) loves nice things and loves to have wealthy men pay for them. One night, she mistakes Jean (Gad Elmaleh), a poor bartender,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Audrey Tautou, Gad Elmaleh, Marie-Christine Adam, Vernon Dobtcheff

Directed By: Pierre Salvadori

Critics Consensus: A high-concept high school reunion movie with an adroitly cast John Cusack and armed with a script of incisive wit.

Synopsis: After assassin Martin Blank has trouble focusing on his work, resulting in a failed assignment, he returns to his hometown, Grosse Pointe, Mich., for his... View Full Synopsis

Starring: John Cusack, Minnie Driver, Dan Aykroyd, Alan Arkin

Directed By: George Armitage

Critics Consensus: Lars and the Real Girl could've so easily been a one-joke movie. But the talented cast, a great script, and direction never condescends to its character or the audience.

Synopsis: Extremely shy Lars (Ryan Gosling) finds it impossible to make friends or socialize. His brother (Paul Schneider) and sister-in-law (Emily Mortimer) worry about him, so... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ryan Gosling, Paul Schneider, Emily Mortimer, Patricia Clarkson

Directed By: Craig Gillespie

Critics Consensus: A funny and clever reshaping of Emma, Clueless offers a soft satire that pokes as much fun at teen films as it does at the Beverly Hills glitterati.

Synopsis: Shallow, rich and socially successful Cher (Alicia Silverstone) is at the top of her Beverly Hills high school's pecking scale. Seeing herself as a matchmaker,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Alicia Silverstone, Stacey Dash, Brittany Murphy, Paul Rudd

Directed By: Amy Heckerling

Critics Consensus: The Idea of You offers a welcome reminder that Anne Hathaway remains a thoroughly delightful rom-com lead -- and reaffirms that few filmmakers understand the genre better than Michael Showalter.

Synopsis: Based on the acclaimed, contemporary love story of the same name, The Idea of You centers on Solène (Anne Hathaway), a 40-year-old single mom who... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Anne Hathaway, Nicholas Galitzine, Ella Rubin, Annie Mumolo

Directed By: Michael Showalter

Critics Consensus: While You Were Sleeping is built wholly from familiar ingredients, but assembled with such skill -- and with such a charming performance from Sandra Bullock -- that it gives formula a good name.

Synopsis: Lonely transit worker Lucy Eleanor Moderatz pulls her longtime crush, Peter, from the path of an oncoming train. At the hospital, doctors report that he's... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Sandra Bullock, Bill Pullman, Peter Gallagher, Peter Boyle

Directed By: Jon Turteltaub

Critics Consensus: Heartfelt and quirky, though at times broad, Muriel's Wedding mixes awkward comedy, oddball Australian characters, and a nostalgia-heavy soundtrack.

Synopsis: Socially awkward Muriel Heslop (Toni Collette) wants nothing more than to get married. Unfortunately, due to her oppressive politician father (Bill Hunter), Muriel has never... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Toni Collette, Bill Hunter, Rachel Griffiths, Jeanie Drynan

Directed By: P.J. Hogan

Critics Consensus: Significantly more mature than the teen raunch comedies that defined the era, Sixteen Candles is shot with compassion and clear respect for its characters and their hang-ups.

Synopsis: With the occasion all but overshadowed by her sister's upcoming wedding, angst-ridden Samantha (Molly Ringwald) faces her 16th birthday with typical adolescent dread. Samantha pines... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, Michael Schoeffling, Paul Dooley

Directed By: John Hughes

Critics Consensus: A small-scale delight fueled by Amy Irving's irresistible charm, Crossing Delancey celebrates love with contagious optimism.

Synopsis: Thirty-something Isabelle "Izzy" Grossman (Amy Irving) spends her time going from her tiny, solitary West Side apartment to that of her grandmother (Reizl Bozyk) on... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Amy Irving, Reizl Bozyk, Peter Riegert, Jeroen Krabbé

Directed By: Joan Micklin Silver

Critics Consensus: A beguiling tragicomedy, Vicky Cristina Barcelona charms with beautiful views of the Spanish city and a marvelously well-matched cast.

Synopsis: Americans Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) arrive in Spain for a summer vacation at a friend's (Patricia Clarkson) Barcelona home. Visiting an art... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Javier Bardem, Patricia Clarkson, Penélope Cruz, Kevin Dunn

Directed By: Woody Allen

Critics Consensus: Zellweger's Bridget Jones is a sympathetic, likable, funny character, giving this romantic comedy a lot of charm.

Synopsis: At the start of the New Year, 32-year-old Bridget (Renée Zellweger) decides it's time to take control of her life -- and start keeping a... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Renée Zellweger, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Gemma Jones

Directed By: Sharon Maguire

Critics Consensus: Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again doubles down on just about everything fans loved about the original -- and my my, how can fans resist it?

Synopsis: In 1979 young Donna, Tanya and Rosie graduate from Oxford University -- leaving Donna free to embark on a series of adventures throughout Europe. On... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Amanda Seyfried, Lily James, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth

Directed By: Ol Parker

Critics Consensus: Thanks to fine performances from Lake Bell and Simon Pegg, Man Up largely strikes the deceptively difficult balance between romance and comedy.

Synopsis: When a man (Simon Pegg) mistakes her for his blind date, a woman (Lake Bell) decides to play along to see what happens.

Starring: Simon Pegg, Lake Bell, Ophelia Lovibond, Olivia Williams

Directed By: Ben Palmer

Critics Consensus: The Lost City doesn't sparkle quite as brightly as some classic treasure-hunting capers, but its stars' screwball chemistry make this movie well worth romancing.

Synopsis: Reclusive author Loretta Sage writes about exotic places in her popular adventure novels that feature a handsome cover model named Alan. While on tour promoting... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, Daniel Radcliffe, Da'Vine Joy Randolph

Directed By: Adam Nee, Aaron Nee

Critics Consensus: It never lives up to the first part of its title, but Crazy, Stupid, Love's unabashed sweetness -- and its terrifically talented cast -- more than make up for its flaws.

Synopsis: Cal Weaver (Steve Carell) is living the American dream. He has a good job, a beautiful house, great children and a beautiful wife, named Emily... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone

Directed By: Glenn Ficarra, John Requa

Critics Consensus: Odd, touching, and unique, Punch-Drunk Love is also delightfully funny, utilizing Adam Sandler's comic persona to explore the life of a lonely guy who finds love.

Synopsis: Although susceptible to violent outbursts, bathroom supply business owner Barry Egan (Adam Sandler) is a timid and shy man by disposition, leading a lonely, uneventful... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Adam Sandler, Emily Watson, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Luis Guzmán

Directed By: Paul Thomas Anderson

Critics Consensus: Cleverly written and wonderfully acted, Ruby Sparks overcomes its occasional lags in pace with an abundance of charm and wit.

Synopsis: Young author Calvin Weir-Fields (Paul Dano), once a literary darling, is having trouble composing his next novel. Following a therapist's advice, Calvin pulls out an... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Paul Dano, Zoe Kazan, Antonio Banderas, Annette Bening

Directed By: Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris

Critics Consensus: Pleasantly easygoing and consistently funny, Chinese Puzzle offers a suitably endearing conclusion to Cédric Klapisch's Trilogy of Xavier.

Synopsis: A 40-year-old divorced father of two cannot cope with his children moving to New York with their mother, so he moves there to be close... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Romain Duris, Audrey Tautou, Cécile de France, Kelly Reilly

Directed By: Cédric Klapisch

Critics Consensus: Smart, funny, and engagingly scruffy, Singles is a clear-eyed look at modern romance that doubles as a credible grunge-era time capsule.

Synopsis: In Seattle during the era of grunge music, the lives and relationships of a group of young people, all living in the same apartment building,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Bridget Fonda, Matt Dillon, Campbell Scott, Kyra Sedgwick

Directed By: Cameron Crowe

Critics Consensus: An authentic portrayal of homosexuality in high school, Get Real is an engaging dramedy that doesn't sermonize its audience nor trivialize its characters.

Synopsis: Steven (Ben Silverstone) spends his school days longing for all-star athlete John (Brad Gorton). But John has a gorgeous girlfriend, and Steven is still in... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ben Silverstone, Brad Gorton, Charlotte Brittain, Stacy Hart

Directed By: Simon Shore

Critics Consensus: Bridget Jones's Baby might be late on arrival, but fans of the series should still find its third installment a bouncing bundle of joy.

Synopsis: Breaking up with Mark Darcy (Colin Firth) leaves Bridget Jones (Renée Zellweger) over 40 and single again. Feeling that she has everything under control, Jones... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Renée Zellweger, Colin Firth, Patrick Dempsey, Emma Thompson

Directed By: Sharon Maguire

Critics Consensus: Its characters' time-loop journey is a little bumpy and fairly familiar, but heartfelt charm and likeable leads make A Map of Tiny Perfect Things worth following.

Synopsis: The film tells the story of quick-witted teen Mark, contentedly living the same day in an endless loop whose world is turned upside-down when he... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Kathryn Newton, Kyle Allen, Jermaine Harris, Anna Mikami

Directed By: Ian Samuels

Critics Consensus: Though it sometimes feels like a television sitcom, My Big Fat Greek Wedding is good-hearted, lovable, and delightfully eccentric, with a sharp script and lead performance from Nia Vardalos.

Synopsis: Everyone in the Portokalos family worries about Toula (Nia Vardalos). Still unmarried at 30 years old, she works at Dancing Zorba's, the Greek restaurant owned... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Nia Vardalos, John Corbett, Michael Constantine, Lainie Kazan

Directed By: Joel Zwick

Critics Consensus: With a pair of likable leads and a story that subverts rom-com expectations, The Valet is a rare remake worth celebrating.

Synopsis: In "The Valet," world famous movie star, Olivia (Samara Weaving) faces a PR disaster when a paparazzi snaps a photo of her with her married... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Eugenio Derbez, Samara Weaving, Max Greenfield, Betsy Brandt

Directed By: Richard Wong

Critics Consensus: This multicultural comedy captures the chaos and excitement of being young.

Synopsis: Xavier (Romain Duris) is a French university student who moves to Barcelona, Spain, to learn Spanish in order to score a desirable job. Residing in... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Romain Duris, Judith Godrèche, Audrey Tautou, Kelly Reilly

Directed By: Cédric Klapisch

Critics Consensus: Molly Ringwald gives an outstanding performance in this sweet, intelligent teen comedy that takes an ancient premise and injects it with insight and wit.

Synopsis: Andie is an outcast at her Chicago high school, hanging out either with her older boss, who owns the record store where she works. When... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Molly Ringwald, Jon Cryer, Andrew McCarthy, Annie Potts

Directed By: Howard Deutch

Critics Consensus: Amusing and endearing, Red, White & Royal Blue is a cheerfully formulaic rom-com that embraces inclusion without falling back on stereotypes.

Synopsis: Alex Claremont-Diaz (Taylor Zakhar Perez), the son of the President of the United States (Uma Thurman), and Britain's Prince Henry (Nicholas Galitzine) have a lot... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Uma Thurman, Nicholas Galitzine, Sarah Shahi, Ellie Bamber

Directed By: Matthew Lopez

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: Benny (Aidan Quinn), who cares for his mentally disturbed sister, Joon (Mary Stuart Masterson), also welcomes the eccentric Sam (Johnny Depp) into his home at... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Johnny Depp, Mary Stuart Masterson, Aidan Quinn, Julianne Moore

Directed By: Jeremiah S. Chechik

Critics Consensus: Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist combines a pair of charming leads, a classic New York backdrop, and a sweet soundtrack.

Synopsis: Nick (Michael Cera) cannot stop obsessing over his ex-girlfriend, Tris (Alexis Dziena), until Tris' friend Norah (Kat Dennings) suddenly shows interest in him at a... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Michael Cera, Kat Dennings, Alexis Dziena, Ari Graynor

Directed By: Peter Sollett

Critics Consensus: Wedding Crashers is both raunchy and sweet, and features top-notch comic performances from Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson.

Synopsis: Jeremy (Vince Vaughn) and John (Owen Wilson) are divorce mediators who spend their free time crashing wedding receptions. For the irrepressible duo, there are few... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Owen Wilson, Vince Vaughn, Christopher Walken, Rachel McAdams

Directed By: David Dobkin

Critics Consensus: Sleepless in Seattle is a cute classic with a very light touch and real chemistry between the two leads -- even when spending an entire movie apart.

Synopsis: After the death of his wife, Sam Baldwin (Tom Hanks) moves to Seattle with his son, Jonah (Ross Malinger). When Jonah calls in to a... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Bill Pullman, Ross Malinger

Directed By: Nora Ephron

Critics Consensus: Thanks to a charming performance from Julia Roberts and a subversive spin on the genre, My Best Friend's Wedding is a refreshingly entertaining romantic comedy.

Synopsis: Childhood friends Julianne Potter (Julia Roberts) and Michael O'Neal (Dermot Mulroney) had a deal to marry each other if they were still single by age... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Julia Roberts, Dermot Mulroney, Cameron Diaz, Rupert Everett

Directed By: P.J. Hogan

Critics Consensus: A fun, whimsical tale about an office drone trying to save his life from his narrator, Stranger Than Fiction features a subdued performances from Will Ferrell that contributes mightily to its quirky, mind-bending affect.

Synopsis: A mentally unstable IRS auditor (Will Ferrell) hears an author's (Emma Thompson) voice in his head and discovers that he is the ill-fated protagonist of... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Will Ferrell, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Dustin Hoffman, Queen Latifah

Directed By: Marc Forster

Critics Consensus: The cheerfully frothy Populaire may lack substance, but its visual appeal -- and director Roinsard's confident evocation of 1950s filmmaking tropes -- help carry the day.

Synopsis: An insurance agent (Déborah François) and his new secretary (Romain Duris) become locked in the grip of romance and competition as they train together for... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Romain Duris, Déborah François, Bérénice Bejo, Shaun Benson

Directed By: Régis Roinsard

Critics Consensus: With a clever script and charismatic leads, Definitely, Maybe is a refreshing entry into the romantic comedy genre.

Synopsis: Will Hayes (Ryan Reynolds), a thirtysomething Manhattanite, is in the middle of divorce proceedings when his young daughter (Abigail Breslin) asks him about his life... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Rachel Weisz

Directed By: Adam Brooks

Critics Consensus: While it doesn't subvert the genre as incisively as it thinks it does, Celeste and Jesse Forever is a shrewd rom-com that benefits from its likable cast and trumpets the arrival of Rashida Jones as a bona fide big screen talent.

Synopsis: Longtime sweethearts Celeste (Rashida Jones) and Jesse (Andy Samberg) married young, but are now drifting apart. Celeste is an ambitious business owner, while Jesse has... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Rashida Jones, Andy Samberg, Chris Messina, Ari Graynor

Directed By: Lee Toland Krieger

Critics Consensus: Love and hope soar in Cyrano De Bergerac, an immensely entertaining romance featuring Gerard Depardieu as his peak.

Synopsis: Soldier and poet Cyrano de Bergerac (Gérard Depardieu) is in love with Roxane (Anne Brochet), but he's too ashamed to admit it because of his... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Gérard Depardieu, Anne Brochet, Vincent Perez, Jacques Weber

Directed By: Jean-Paul Rappeneau

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: Johnny (Cary Grant) seems like a solid match for Julia (Doris Nolan), the socialite daughter of Edward Seton (Henry Kolker). Assured that Johnny is a... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, Doris Nolan, Lew Ayres

Directed By: George Cukor

Critics Consensus: Desk Set reunites one of cinema's most well-loved pairings for a solidly crafted romantic comedy that charmingly encapsulates their timeless appeal.

Synopsis: Bunny Watson (Katharine Hepburn) is a library reference clerk stuck in a dead-end relationship with a boring television executive (Gig Young). Her life is thrown... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Gig Young, Joan Blondell

Directed By: Walter Lang

Critics Consensus: Indiscreet spins rom-com gold out of a premise just sturdy enough to set the stage for typically delightful work from its wonderfully well-matched leads.

Synopsis: Famous theater actress Anna Kalman (Ingrid Bergman) has resigned herself to her single life, believing that she has missed her chance at meeting a husband.... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman, Cecil Parker, Phyllis Calvert

Directed By: Stanley Donen

Critics Consensus: Marrying screwball romance with political satire, Born Yesterday is a substantive romp with a ferociously smart performance by Judy Holliday as an uncouth bombshell.

Synopsis: Brassy blonde moll Billie Dawn (Judy Holliday) hits Washington, D.C., with her unscrupulous millionaire sugar daddy, Harry Brock (Broderick Crawford), and his sleazy lawyer, Jim... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Judy Holliday, William Holden, Broderick Crawford, Howard St. John

Directed By: George Cukor

Critics Consensus: A class satire in a class of its own, My Man Godfrey's screwball comedy is as sharp as the social commentary is biting.

Synopsis: Fifth Avenue socialite Irene Bullock needs a forgotten man to win a scavenger hunt, and no one fits that description more than Godfrey Park, who... View Full Synopsis

Starring: William Powell, Carole Lombard, Alice Brady, Eugene Pallette

Directed By: Gregory La Cava

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: Overanxious film critic Allan (Woody Allen) sinks into a depression after his wife leaves him. Concerned, his married friends Dick (Tony Roberts) and Linda (Diane... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Tony Roberts, Jerry Lacy

Directed By: Herbert Ross

Critics Consensus: Stolen Kisses is a fine feature follow-up to The 400 Blows, transforming Antoine Doinel into a sympathetic, silly, and romantic figure that carries to the series' end.

Synopsis: The third in a series of films featuring François Truffaut's alter-ego, Antoine Doinel (Jean-Pierre Léaud), the story resumes with Antoine being discharged from military service.... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jean-Pierre Léaud, Delphine Seyrig, Michaël Lonsdale, Claude Jade

Directed By: François Truffaut

Critics Consensus: Ang Lee's funny and ultimately poignant comedy of manners, The Wedding Banquet reveals the filmmaker's skill across genres.

Synopsis: Wai-Tung (Bowen Yang) and his boyfriend (Kelly Marie Tran) live happily as a gay couple in New York City. Wai-Tung has not been open about... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Bowen Yang, Lily Gladstone, Kelly Marie Tran, Han Gi-chan

Directed By: Andrew Ahn

Critics Consensus: Matched by Garson Kanin's witty, sophisticated screenplay, George Cukor, Spencer Tracy, and Katherine Hepburn are all in top form in the classic comedy Adam's Rib.

Synopsis: A courtroom rivalry finds its way into the household when prosecuting lawyer Adam Bonner (Spencer Tracy) faces off against his wife, Amanda (Katharine Hepburn), who... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Judy Holliday, Tom Ewell

Directed By: George Cukor

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: As Spain sits on the precipice of civil war in 1930, Fernando (Jorge Sanz) opts to go AWOL from the army. He soon happens upon... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Fernando Fernán Gómez, Jorge Sanz, Penélope Cruz, Miriam Díaz-Aroca

Directed By: Fernando Trueba

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: Playboy songwriter Brad Allen's (Rock Hudson) succession of romances annoys his neighbor, interior designer Jan Morrow (Doris Day), who shares a telephone party line with... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Rock Hudson, Doris Day, Tony Randall, Thelma Ritter

Directed By: Michael Gordon

Critics Consensus: Lighthearted and sweet, The Purple Rose of Cairo stands as one of Woody Allen's more inventive -- and enchantingly whimsical -- pictures.

Synopsis: Unhappily married Depression-era waitress Cecilia (Mia Farrow) earns the money while her inattentive husband, Monk (Danny Aiello), blows their meager income on getting drunk and... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Mia Farrow, Jeff Daniels, Danny Aiello, Dianne Wiest

Directed By: Woody Allen

Critics Consensus: Great comic direction by Leo McCarrey and memorable onscreen chemistry from stars Cary Grant and Irene Dunne make this screwball comedy a charmer.

Synopsis: Jerry (Cary Grant) and Lucy (Irene Dunne) are a married couple who doubt each other's fidelity: Jerry suspects Lucy and her music teacher (Alexander D'Arcy)... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Irene Dunne, Cary Grant, Ralph Bellamy, Alex D'Arcy

Directed By: Leo McCarey

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: Thief Gaston Monescu (Herbert Marshall) and pickpocket Lily (Miriam Hopkins) are partners in crime and love. Working for perfume company executive Mariette Colet (Kay Francis),... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Miriam Hopkins, Kay Francis, Herbert Marshall, Charlie Ruggles

Directed By: Ernst Lubitsch

Critics Consensus: An artfully assembled cast, lovely set design, and direction solidly in service of the source material make The Importance of Being Earnest an adaptation that works.

Synopsis: Algernon Moncrieff (Michael Denison) is surprised to discover that his affluent friend -- whom he knows as Ernest -- is actually named Jack Worthing (Michael... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Michael Redgrave, Michael Denison, Edith Evans, Richard Wattis

Directed By: Anthony Asquith

Critics Consensus: Dudley Moore brings a boozy charm to Arthur, a coming of age tale for a wayward millionaire that deploys energetic cast chemistry and spiffy humor to jovial effect.

Synopsis: Wealthy New York City playboy Arthur Bach (Dudley Moore) is perpetually drunk and completely rudderless. Dutifully supported by his sharp-tongued and quick-witted butler, Hobson (John... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Dudley Moore, John Gielgud, Liza Minnelli, Geraldine Fitzgerald

Directed By: Steve Gordon

Critics Consensus: Though its final outcome is predictable, The Sure Thing is a charming, smartly written, and mature teen comedy featuring a breakout role for John Cusack.

Synopsis: Gib (John Cusack), a college freshman, keeps striking out with women. When he learns that a beautiful Californian (Nicollette Sheridan) wants to have a tryst... View Full Synopsis

Starring: John Cusack, Daphne Zuniga, Nicollette Sheridan, Anthony Edwards

Directed By: Rob Reiner

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: A chocolate maker falls in love with a gifted worker.

Starring: Benoît Poelvoorde, Isabelle Carré, Lorella Cravotta, Lise Lamétrie

Directed By: Jean-Pierre Améris

Critics Consensus: Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy take competition to a romantic-comic highpoint in this elegantly directed sports comedy by George Cukor.

Synopsis: Pat Pemberton, a college athletics instructor, enters a number of golf matches against female professionals; she holds her own until her condescending fiancé, Collier Weld,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Aldo Ray, William Ching

Directed By: George Cukor

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: In the midst of a summer heat wave, New Yorker Richard Sherman (Tom Ewell) ships his wife, Helen (Evelyn Keyes), and their son off to... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Marilyn Monroe, Tom Ewell, Evelyn Keyes, Sonny Tufts

Directed By: Billy Wilder

Critics Consensus: With engaging performances from its two leads, Valley Girl is a goofy yet amiable film that both subverts and celebrates the cheerful superficiality of teen comedies.

Synopsis: Lovely teen Julie Richman (Deborah Foreman) is steeped in the excessive, pink-clad culture of the San Fernando Valley, complete with her narcissistic boyfriend, Tommy (Michael... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Deborah Foreman, Frederic Forrest, E.G. Daily

Directed By: Martha Coolidge

Critics Consensus: In the first romantic comedy pairing of Tracy and Hepburn, the stars' chemistry is off to a working start and the film's sparkling comedy smooths out any rough patches.

Synopsis: Tess Harding (Katharine Hepburn) is a progressively-minded political journalist. Sam Craig (Spencer Tracy) is a sports writer with very traditional values. The only thing the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Katharine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, Fay Bainter, Reginald Owen

Directed By: George Stevens

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: A small-town man (Kévin Azaïs) falls in love with an apocalyptic-minded woman (Adèle Haenel) and joins her at boot camp to learn survivalist skills. View Full Synopsis

Starring: Adèle Haenel, Kévin Azaïs, Antoine Laurent, Brigitte Roüan

Directed By: Thomas Cailley

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: After a woman fails to show up for their date, an artist (Terence Nance) ponders the divide between romantic and platonic love, and why his... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Terence Nance, Namik Minter, Talibah Lateefah Newman, Alisa Becher

Directed By: Terence Nance

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: Schatze Page, Loco Dempsey and Pola Debevoise (Lauren Bacall, Betty Grable, Marilyn Monroe) are three women on a mission: They all want to marry a... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Marilyn Monroe, Lauren Bacall, Betty Grable, David Wayne

Directed By: Jean Negulesco

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: French private investigator Claude Chavasse discovers his client's wife has been having an affair with an American playboy, Frank Flannagan. When the client decides to... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Audrey Hepburn, Gary Cooper, Maurice Chevalier, Van Doude

Directed By: Billy Wilder

Critics Consensus: A time capsule assembled with honesty and sensitivity, Edge of Seventeen overcomes youthful fumbles to capture a time of life -- and an era.

Synopsis: Set in 1984 in Sandusky, Ohio, it follows the coming-out of a naive 17-year-old at exactly the moment when gender-bending pop stars like Boy George... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Chris Stafford, Tina Holmes, Andersen Gabrych, Stephanie McVay

Directed By: David Moreton

Critics Consensus: Mighty Aphrodite may not stand with Woody Allen's finest work, but it's brought to vivid life by a thoroughly winsome performance from Mira Sorvino.

Synopsis: When Lenny (Woody Allen) and his wife, Amanda (Helena Bonham Carter), adopt a baby, Lenny realizes that his son is a genius and becomes obsessed... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Woody Allen, Helena Bonham Carter, Mira Sorvino, Michael Rapaport

Directed By: Woody Allen

Critics Consensus: By portraying its love story as nothing less than conventional, Trick avoids genre tropes to create a simple, effective romance.

Synopsis: It's lust at first sight when Gabriel (Christian Campbell), a songwriter with Broadway ambitions, runs into Mark (John Paul Pitoc), a hot go-go dancer at... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Christian Campbell, J.P. Pitoc, Tori Spelling, Steve Hayes

Directed By: Jim Fall

Critics Consensus: Little Manhattan is a sweet story of young love that provides an enlightening if pragmatic view on love and courtship.

Synopsis: Gabe (Josh Hutcherson), a sixth grader, is partnered with Rosemary (Charlie Ray) in his karate class. Though he's known her a long time, Rosemary suddenly... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Josh Hutcherson, Bradley Whitford, Cynthia Nixon, Charlie Ray

Directed By: Mark Levin

Critics Consensus: Better Off Dead is an anarchic mix of black humor and surreal comedy, anchored by John Cusack's winsome, charming performance.

Synopsis: Lane Meyer (John Cusack) is a teen with a peculiar family and a bizarre fixation with his girlfriend, Beth (Amanda Wyss). When Beth dumps Lane,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: John Cusack, Diane Franklin, David Ogden Stiers, Kim Darby

Directed By: Savage Steve Holland

Critics Consensus: Director Trevor Nunn makes some questionable choices, but his stellar cast -- which includes Helena Bonham-Carter, Ben Kingsley, and Nigel Hawthorne -- more than rises to the material.

Synopsis: A shipwreck separates Viola (Imogen Stubbs) from her twin brother, Sebastian (Steven Mackintosh). Believing him to be dead, Viola disguises herself as a boy and... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Helena Bonham Carter, Richard E. Grant, Nigel Hawthorne, Ben Kingsley

Directed By: Trevor Nunn

Critics Consensus: Its narrative framework may be familiar, but What If transcends its derivative elements with sharp dialogue and the effervescent chemistry of stars Daniel Radcliffe and Zoe Kazan.

Synopsis: A medical-school dropout tries to hide his attraction to his new friend, a bubbly artist who already has a boyfriend.

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Zoe Kazan, Megan Park, Adam Driver

Directed By: Michael Dowse

Critics Consensus: Breezy and predictable, Tin Cup is a likeable sports comedy that benefits greatly from Kevin Costner's amiable lead performance.

Synopsis: Roy McAvoy was a golf pro with a bright future, but his rebellious nature and bad attitude cost him everything. Now working as a golf... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Kevin Costner, Rene Russo, Cheech Marin, Linda Hart

Directed By: Ron Shelton

Critics Consensus: Eddie Murphy was in full control at this point, starkly evident in Coming to America's John Landis' coasting direction.

Synopsis: Prince Akeem (Eddie Murphy) is the prince of a wealthy African country and wants for nothing, except a wife who will love him in spite... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, John Amos, James Earl Jones

Directed By: John Landis

Critics Consensus: Though it occasionally stumbles into sitcom territory, Something's Gotta Give is mostly a smart, funny romantic comedy, with sharp performances from Jack Nicholson, Diane Keaton, and Keanu Reeves.

Synopsis: When aging womanizer Harry Sanborn (Jack Nicholson) and his young girlfriend, Marin (Amanda Peet), arrive at her family's beach house in the Hamptons, they find... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jack Nicholson, Diane Keaton, Keanu Reeves, Frances McDormand

Directed By: Nancy Meyers

Critics Consensus: Like its predecessor L'Auberge Espagnole, Russian Dolls is charmingly breezy and light.

Synopsis: A struggling writer (Romain Duris) becomes involved with two women while juggling assignments in Paris.

Starring: Romain Duris, Audrey Tautou, Cécile de France, Kelly Reilly

Directed By: Cédric Klapisch

Critics Consensus: It's decidedly uneven -- and surprisingly sappy for an early Adam Sandler comedy -- but The Wedding Singer is also sweet, funny, and beguiling.

Synopsis: Set in 1985, Adam Sandler plays a nice guy with a broken heart who's stuck in one of the most romantic jobs in the world,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore, Christine Taylor, Allen Covert

Directed By: Frank Coraci

Critics Consensus: While it's hard not to wish it had a little more bite, Liberal Arts ultimately succeeds as a good-natured -- and surprisingly clever -- look at the addictive pull of nostalgia for our youth.

Synopsis: A New York college adviser (Josh Radnor) becomes involved with a student (Elizabeth Olsen) when he returns to his alma mater in Ohio for a... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Josh Radnor, Elizabeth Olsen, Richard Jenkins, Allison Janney

Directed By: Josh Radnor

Critics Consensus: Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger add strong performances to an unexpectedly clever script, elevating 10 Things (slightly) above typical teen fare.

Synopsis: Kat Stratford is beautiful, smart and quite abrasive to most of her fellow teens, meaning that she doesn't attract many boys. Unfortunately for her younger... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik

Directed By: Gil Junger

Critics Consensus: The Best Man Holiday manages honest laughs out of broad humor, and affects convincing drama from a deeply conventional plot.

Synopsis: Nearly 15 years after they were last together as a group, college friends Lance (Morris Chestnut), Harper (Taye Diggs), Candace (Regina Hall), Quentin (Terrence Howard),... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Morris Chestnut, Taye Diggs, Regina Hall, Terrence Howard

Directed By: Malcolm D. Lee

Critics Consensus: Beautifully filmed and unabashedly sincere, About Time finds director Richard Curtis at his most sentimental.

Synopsis: When Tim Lake (Domhnall Gleeson) is 21, his father (Bill Nighy) tells him a secret: The men in their family can travel through time. Although... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams, Bill Nighy, Tom Hollander

Directed By: Richard Curtis

Critics Consensus: Lovely and diffuse, Sleep isn't as immediately absorbing as Gondry's previous work, but its messy beauty is its own reward.

Synopsis: Soon after the death of his father, a distraught young man begins a job as a graphic designer, but has little chance to create. His... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Gael García Bernal, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Alain Chabat, Miou-Miou

Directed By: Michel Gondry

Critics Consensus: Great chemistry between the leads made this a warm and charming delight.

Synopsis: Struggling boutique bookseller Kathleen Kelly hates Joe Fox, the owner of a corporate Foxbooks chain store that just moved in across the street. When they... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Parker Posey, Greg Kinnear

Directed By: Nora Ephron

Critics Consensus: Jeffrey offends as readily as it amuses, but an outstanding performance from Patrick Stewart keeps it from going completely off the rails.

Synopsis: Jeffrey (Steven Weber), a gay man living in New York City with an overwhelming fear of contracting AIDS, concludes that being celibate is the only... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Steven Weber, Michael T. Weiss, Irma St. Paule, Patrick Stewart

Directed By: Christopher Ashley

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: When Johnny (Al Pacino) is released from prison following a forgery charge, he quickly lands a job as a short-order cook at a New York... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Al Pacino, Michelle Pfeiffer, Héctor Elizondo, Nathan Lane

Directed By: Garry Marshall

Critics Consensus: The Life and Death of Peter Sellers struggles to truly capture its subject's singular genius, but remains a diverting tribute -- and a showcase for the talents of Geoffrey Rush.

Synopsis: A biographical film about Peter Sellers' turbulent rise from popular BBC radio performer to one of the world's most gifted comedic actors. Propelled by an... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Geoffrey Rush, Charlize Theron, Emily Watson, John Lithgow

Directed By: Stephen Hopkins

Critics Consensus: Despite Hitch's predictability, Will Smith and Kevin James win praise for their solid, warmhearted performances.

Synopsis: Dating coach Alex "Hitch" Hitchens (Will Smith) mentors a bumbling client, Albert (Kevin James), who hopes to win the heart of the glamorous Allegra Cole... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Will Smith, Eva Mendes, Kevin James, Amber Valletta

Directed By: Andy Tennant

Critics Consensus: While definitely on the fluffier side of French comedy, Heartbreaker benefits from never taking itself too seriously -- and from the performance of the ever-charming Romain Duris.

Synopsis: Alex (Romain Duris) is a successful entrepreneur in a business he himself pioneered: Hire him, and he'll seduce any woman you want into falling in... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Romain Duris, Vanessa Paradis, Julie Ferrier, François Damiens

Directed By: Pascal Chaumeil

Critics Consensus: Baby Boom struggles to impart its feminist ideals, but Diane Keaton's winsome leading work helps keep things breezily entertaining.

Synopsis: J.C. Wiatt is a New York City businesswoman who is married to her job and has a relationship with Steven, a successful investment broker. J.C.'s... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Diane Keaton, Harold Ramis, Sam Shepard, Sam Wanamaker

Directed By: Charles Shyer

Critics Consensus: Faultless production and shining performances display the Bard's talent propitiously.

Synopsis: This version of the renowned comedic play finds the world of humans intersecting with the realm of magic. The lovely Hermia (Anna Friel) is to... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Kevin Kline, Michelle Pfeiffer, Rupert Everett, Stanley Tucci

Directed By: Michael Hoffman

Critics Consensus: Built on a set of quirks and charms that are as noticeable as they are interchangeable, Away We Go is a sweet but uneven road trip.

Synopsis: As they await the birth of their baby, a couple (John Krasinski, Maya Rudolph) travel across America in search of the perfect place to raise... View Full Synopsis

Starring: John Krasinski, Maya Rudolph, Jeff Daniels, Carmen Ejogo

Directed By: Sam Mendes

Critics Consensus: Though predictable and possibly too sweet, Brown Sugar is charming, well-acted, and smarter than typical rom-com fare.

Synopsis: Sidney and Dre can attribute their friendship and the launch of their careers to one single childhood instant ... witnessing the birth of hip-hop on... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Taye Diggs, Sanaa Lathan, Yasiin Bey, Nicole Ari Parker

Directed By: Rick Famuyiwa

Critics Consensus: While not a home run, Fever Pitch has enough charm and on-screen chemistry between the two leads to make it a solid hit.

Synopsis: When Ben Wrightman (Jimmy Fallon), a young teacher, begins dating pretty businesswoman Lindsey Meeks (Drew Barrymore), the two don't seem to have a lot of... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Drew Barrymore, Jimmy Fallon, James B. Sikking, JoBeth Williams

Directed By: Robert Farrelly, Peter Farrelly

Critics Consensus: Zack and Miri Make a Porno is a modest success for Kevin Smith, due in large part to the charm of Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks.

Synopsis: Lifelong friends and now roommates, Zack (Seth Rogen) and Miri (Elizabeth Banks) are buried under a mountain of debt. When the electricity is turned off,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, Traci Lords, Jason Mewes

Directed By: Kevin Smith

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: A man's love for his pregnant wife, Corinne Jeffries (Cybill Shepherd), is interrupted when a car accident sends him to heaven. He is reincarnated, however,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Cybill Shepherd, Robert Downey Jr., Ryan O'Neal, Mary Stuart Masterson

Directed By: Emile Ardolino

Critics Consensus: Despite the gimmicky feel of the split narratives, the movie is watch-able due to the winning performances by the cast.

Synopsis: When Helen, a London ad executive, is fired from her job and rushes out to catch a train, two scenarios take place. In one, she... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Gwyneth Paltrow, John Hannah, John Lynch, Jeanne Tripplehorn

Directed By: Peter Howitt

Critics Consensus: Although the plot leaves a lot to be desired, 13 Going on 30 will tug at your inner teenager's heartstrings thanks in large part to a dazzling performance from Jennifer Garner.

Synopsis: A girl who's sick of the social strictures of junior high is transformed into a grownup overnight. In this feel-good fairy tale, teenager Jenna (Christa... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo, Judy Greer, Andy Serkis

Directed By: Gary Winick

Critics Consensus: Though Broken English eventually settles into basic rom-com territory, it's pleasant and good-natured, and Parker Posey is spellbinding throughout the movie.

Synopsis: Nora Wilder (Parker Posey), a single woman, is heading deep into the doldrums as a result of disappointments in her professional and personal lives. A... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Parker Posey, Melvil Poupaud, Drea de Matteo, Gena Rowlands

Directed By: Zoe R. Cassavetes

Critics Consensus: A sugary tale overstuffed with too many stories. Still, the cast charms.

Synopsis: Nine intertwined journeys examine the complexities of the one emotion that connects all individuals, love. Among these individuals is David, the handsome, newly elected British... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Hugh Grant, Laura Linney, Colin Firth, Alan Rickman

Directed By: Richard Curtis

Critics Consensus: Pretty Woman may be a yuppie fantasy, but the film's slick comedy, soundtrack, and casting can overcome misgivings.

Synopsis: A prostitute and a wealthy businessman fall for one another, forming an unlikely pair; while on a business trip in Los Angeles, Edward, who makes... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Richard Gere, Julia Roberts, Ralph Bellamy, Jason Alexander

Directed By: Garry Marshall