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The Best Romantic Comedies of All Time

The rom-com canon, measured: every romantic comedy in our library ranked by composite score across 20+ lists, awards and polls.

The romantic comedy is Hollywood's great machine for talking about sex without saying so: Lubitsch built its European wit, Capra's It Happened One Night swept the 1935 Oscars and fixed the template — sparring equals, enforced proximity, capitulation — and Cukor, McCarey and Hawks ran the screwball decade that followed. Wilder's The Apartment darkened it, Annie Hall made it neurotic and modern, and the form still supplies the canon a steady line from Amélie to its streaming-era revivals.

Annie Hall (1977) leads with a composite score of 5.55. Top 100 of 338 films in our library.

Masters of the genre

  1. 1
    Annie Hall1977 · Woody Allen · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    5.55

    Oscar Best Picture winner 1977 · BAFTA Best Film winner 1978 · Siskel's annual top 10 1977 #1

  2. 2
    The Apartment1960 · Billy Wilder · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    4.38

    Oscar Best Picture winner 1960 · BAFTA Best Film winner 1961 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #54

  3. 3
    Singin' in the Rain1952 · Gene Kelly, Stanley Donen · United States · comedy, romance, musical
    4.30

    Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #10 · AFI 100 (2007) #5 · Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #52

  4. 4
    The Graduate1967 · Mike Nichols · United States · comedy, drama, romance
    3.92

    BAFTA Best Film winner 1969 · AFI 100 (1998) #7 · AFI 100 (2007) #17

  5. 5
    Shakespeare in Love1998 · John Madden · United Kingdom / United States · comedy, romance, drama
    3.77

    Oscar Best Picture winner 1998 · BAFTA Best Film winner 1999 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1999 #1

  6. 6
    It's a Wonderful Life1946 · Frank Capra · United States · comedy, romance, fantasy
    3.52

    AFI 100 (2007) #20 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1946 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #133

  7. 7
    Some Like It Hot1959 · Billy Wilder · United States · comedy, romance, crime
    3.47

    Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #38 · Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #62 · AFI 100 (2007) #22

  8. 8
    Forrest Gump1994 · Robert Zemeckis · United States · comedy, drama, romance
    3.45

    Oscar Best Picture winner 1994 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1995 #4 · AFI 100 (2007) #76

  9. 9
    City Lights1931 · Charlie Chaplin · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    3.40

    Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #36 · AFI 100 (2007) #11 · Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #52

  10. 10
    Network1976 · Sidney Lumet · United States · comedy, drama, romance
    3.39

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1977 #2 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1976 · AFI 100 (2007) #64

  11. 11
    It Happened One Night1934 · Frank Capra · United States · comedy, romance
    3.27

    Oscar Best Picture winner 1934 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1934 #5 · AFI 100 (2007) #46

  12. 12
    Modern Times1936 · Charlie Chaplin · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    2.97

    Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #72 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #78 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1938 #4

  13. 13
    Lost in Translation2003 · Sofia Coppola · United States / Japan · comedy, romance, drama
    2.95

    Film Comment year-end poll 2003 #1 · Sarris's annual top 10 2003 #1 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2003

  14. 14
    Going My Way1944 · Leo McCarey · United States · comedy, drama, romance
    2.89

    Oscar Best Picture winner 1944 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1946 #1 · National Film Registry (inducted 2004)

  15. 15
    A Room with a View1986 · James Ivory · United Kingdom · comedy, romance, drama
    2.81

    BAFTA Best Film winner 1987 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1986 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1987 #6

  16. 16
    Manhattan1979 · Woody Allen · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    2.77

    BAFTA Best Film winner 1980 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1980 #5 · Sarris's annual top 10 1979 #2

  17. 17
    My Fair Lady1964 · George Cukor · United States · musical, romance, drama
    2.76

    Oscar Best Picture winner 1964 · BAFTA Best Film winner 1966 · AFI 100 (1998) #91

  18. 18
    Tootsie1982 · Sydney Pollack · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    2.74

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 1982 · AFI 100 (2007) #69 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1983 #8

  19. 19
    Terms of Endearment1983 · James L. Brooks · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    2.73

    Oscar Best Picture winner 1983 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1984 #4 · Ebert's annual top 10 1983 #2

  20. 20
    Amélie2001 · Jean-Pierre Jeunet · France / Germany · comedy, romance, drama
    2.58

    César Best Film winner 2002 · TIFF People's Choice winner 2001 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2001 #6

  21. 21
    The Gold Rush1925 · Charlie Chaplin · United States · silent, comedy, romance
    2.55

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1926 #1 · AFI 100 (2007) #58 · AFI 100 (1998) #74

  22. 22
    The Artist2011 · Michel Hazanavicius · France / Belgium · comedy, romance, drama
    2.35

    Oscar Best Picture winner 2011 · BAFTA Best Film winner 2012 · César Best Film winner 2012

  23. 23
    The Purple Rose of Cairo1985 · Woody Allen · United States · comedy, romance, fantasy
    2.32

    BAFTA Best Film winner 1986 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1986 #2 · TIME All-TIME 100

  24. 24
    Sideways2004 · Alexander Payne · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    2.23

    Film Comment year-end poll 2004 #1 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2004 · Sarris's annual top 10 2004 #2

  25. 25
    Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore1974 · Martin Scorsese · United States · romance, drama, comedy
    2.19

    BAFTA Best Film winner 1976 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1975 #3 · Ebert's annual top 10 1975 #3

  26. 26
    Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind2004 · Michel Gondry · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    2.13

    Film Comment year-end poll 2004 #2 · Sight & Sound 2022 directors' poll #93 · Rolling Stone 100 Best of the 21st Century #17

  27. 27
    Hannah and Her Sisters1986 · Woody Allen · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    2.11

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1987 #3 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1986 · Sarris's annual top 10 1986 #2

  28. 28
    Four Weddings and a Funeral1994 · Mike Newell · United Kingdom · comedy, romance, drama
    2.10

    BAFTA Best Film winner 1995 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1994 · BFI Top 100 British films #23

  29. 29
    American Graffiti1973 · George Lucas · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    2.03

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 1973 · AFI 100 (2007) #62 · AFI 100 (1998) #77

  30. 30
    Gigi1958 · Vincente Minnelli, Charles Walters · United States · comedy, romance, musical
    2.00

    Oscar Best Picture winner 1958 · National Film Registry (inducted 1991) · NYT Best 1,000 Movies

  31. 31
    You Can't Take It With You1938 · Frank Capra · United States · comedy, romance
    1.93

    Oscar Best Picture winner 1938 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1939 #4

  32. 32
    The Philadelphia Story1940 · George Cukor · United States · comedy, romance
    1.82

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 1940 · AFI 100 (2007) #44 · AFI 100 (1998) #51

  33. 33
    My Sons1991 · Yōji Yamada · Japan · comedy, romance
    1.75

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (Japanese) 1991 #1 · Japan Academy Prize winner 1992

  34. 34
    The Awful Truth1937 · Leo McCarey · United States · comedy, romance
    1.69

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 1937 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1938 #8 · TIME All-TIME 100

  35. 35
    The Knack ...and How to Get It1965 · Richard Lester · United Kingdom · comedy, romance
    1.61

    Palme d'Or winner 1965 · Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies

  36. 36
    His Girl Friday1940 · Howard Hawks · United States · comedy, drama, romance
    1.61

    Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #129 · TIME All-TIME 100 · Empire 500 (2008) #58

  37. 37
    WALL-E2008 · Andrew Stanton · United States · comedy, romance, sci-fi
    1.55

    Film Comment year-end poll 2008 #5 · Rolling Stone 100 Best of the 21st Century #47 · National Film Registry (inducted 2021)

  38. 38
    Prizzi's Honor1985 · John Huston · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    1.55

    Sarris's annual top 10 1985 #1 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1985 · Ebert's annual top 10 1985 #4

  39. 39
    Bringing Up Baby1938 · Howard Hawks · United States · comedy, romance
    1.53

    Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #108 · AFI 100 (2007) #88 · AFI 100 (1998) #97

  40. 40
    Broadcast News1987 · James L. Brooks · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    1.51

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 1987 · National Film Registry (inducted 2018) · Siskel's annual top 10 1987 #5

  41. 41
    The General1926 · Buster Keaton, Clyde Bruckman · United States · comedy, romance, war
    1.51

    AFI 100 (2007) #18 · Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #95 · National Film Registry (inducted 1989)

  42. 42
    Two Cents Worth of Hope1952 · Renato Castellani · Italy · drama, comedy, romance
    1.50

    Palme d'Or winner 1952

  43. 43
    Sullivan's Travels1942 · Preston Sturges · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    1.49

    Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #243 · AFI 100 (2007) #61 · National Film Registry (inducted 1990)

  44. 44
    Ninotchka1939 · Ernst Lubitsch · United States · comedy, romance
    1.47

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 1939 · TIME All-TIME 100 · National Film Registry (inducted 1990)

  45. 45
    La Ronde1950 · Max Ophüls · France · drama, comedy, romance
    1.47

    BAFTA Best Film winner 1952 · Sarris's annual top 10 1969 #5 · Criterion Collection spine #443

  46. 46
    Groundhog Day1993 · Harold Ramis · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    1.45

    National Film Registry (inducted 2006) · Kehr's annual top 10 1993 #5 · Empire 500 (2008) #259

  47. 47
    Silver Linings Playbook2012 · David O. Russell · United States · drama, comedy, romance
    1.44

    TIFF People's Choice winner 2012 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2012 · Film Comment year-end poll 2012 #18

  48. 48
    Moonstruck1987 · Norman Jewison · United States · comedy, romance
    1.39

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 1987 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1988 #10 · Ebert's annual top 10 1987 #5

  49. 49
    Roman Holiday1953 · William Wyler · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    1.39

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 1953 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1954 #6 · National Film Registry (inducted 1999)

  50. 50
    Trouble in Paradise1932 · Ernst Lubitsch · United States · comedy, romance, crime
    1.36

    Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #136 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1933 #9 · National Film Registry (inducted 1991)

  51. 51
    The Princess Bride1987 · Rob Reiner · United States / Australia · comedy, romance, fantasy
    1.35

    TIFF People's Choice winner 1987 · National Film Registry (inducted 2016) · Empire 500 (2008) #122

  52. 52
    Midnight in Paris2011 · Woody Allen · United States / Spain · comedy, romance, fantasy
    1.34

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 2011 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2012 #5 · Film Comment year-end poll 2011 #18

  53. 53
    Daisies1966 · Věra Chytilová, Rudolf Jaroš · Czechoslovakia · comedy, drama, romance
    1.34

    Sight & Sound 2022 critics' poll #28 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1967 #7 · Criterion Collection spine #1157

  54. 54
    Swing Time1936 · George Stevens · United States · musical, comedy, romance
    1.26

    AFI 100 (2007) #90 · TIME All-TIME 100 · National Film Registry (inducted 2004)

  55. 55
    Ruggles of Red Gap1935 · Leo McCarey · United States · comedy, romance
    1.26

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 1935 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1936 #9 · National Film Registry (inducted 2014)

  56. 56
    Picnic1955 · Joshua Logan · United States · romance, comedy, drama
    1.25

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1956 #3 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1955 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1956 #9

  57. 57
    Same Old Song1997 · Alain Resnais · France / United Kingdom / Switzerland · comedy, romance, musical
    1.25

    César Best Film winner 1998 · Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1997 #6 · Sarris's annual top 10 1999 #10

  58. 58
    The Wedding Banquet1993 · Ang Lee · United States / Taiwan, China · comedy, romance, drama
    1.23

    Berlin Golden Bear winner 1993 · National Film Registry (inducted 2023)

  59. 59
    The Quiet Man1952 · John Ford · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    1.20

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 1952 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1953 #6 · National Film Registry (inducted 2013)

  60. 60
    Monsoon Wedding2001 · Mira Nair · India / Italy / France · comedy, romance, drama
    1.16

    Venice Golden Lion winner 2001 · Criterion Collection spine #489

  61. 61
    101979 · Blake Edwards · United States · comedy, romance
    1.14

    Kehr's annual top 10 1979 #1 · Sarris's annual top 10 1979 #4 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies

  62. 62
    Safety Last!1923 · Fred C. Newmeyer, Sam Taylor · United States · comedy, romance, silent
    1.13

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1924 #3 · National Film Registry (inducted 1994) · Criterion Collection spine #662

  63. 63
    Autumn Tale1998 · Éric Rohmer · France · comedy, romance, drama
    1.13

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1998 #3 · Kehr's annual top 10 1999 #2 · Sarris's annual top 10 1999 #2

  64. 64
    The Lady Eve1941 · Preston Sturges · United States · comedy, crime, romance
    1.13

    TIME All-TIME 100 · National Film Registry (inducted 1994) · Empire 500 (2008) #359

  65. 65
    Juno2007 · Jason Reitman · United States · drama, comedy, romance
    1.12

    Ebert's annual top 10 2007 #1 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 2007 · Empire 500 (2008) #463

  66. 66
    Mr. Deeds Goes to Town1936 · Frank Capra · United States · comedy, drama, romance
    1.12

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1936 #3 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1936 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies

  67. 67
    Top Hat1935 · Mark Sandrich · United States · comedy, romance, musical
    1.09

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 1935 · National Film Registry (inducted 1990) · NYT Best 1,000 Movies

  68. 68
    The African Queen1951 · John Huston · United States / United Kingdom · drama, comedy, romance
    1.08

    AFI 100 (1998) #17 · AFI 100 (2007) #65 · National Film Registry (inducted 1994)

  69. 69
    Punch-Drunk Love2002 · Paul Thomas Anderson · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    1.08

    Film Comment year-end poll 2002 #8 · Rolling Stone 100 Best of the 21st Century #78 · Kehr's annual top 10 2002 #4

  70. 70
    Her2013 · Spike Jonze · United States · sci-fi, drama, comedy
    1.05

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 2013 · Rolling Stone 100 Best of the 21st Century #67 · Film Comment year-end poll 2013 #17

  71. 71
    Radio Days1987 · Woody Allen · United States · comedy, drama, romance
    1.03

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1987 #7 · Empire 500 (2008) #304 · Siskel's annual top 10 1987 #6

  72. 72
    Right Now, Wrong Then2015 · Hong Sang-soo · South Korea · drama, comedy, romance
    1.02

    Locarno Golden Leopard winner 2015 · Film Comment year-end poll 2016 #12

  73. 73
    Seven Brides for Seven Brothers1954 · Stanley Donen · United States · comedy, romance, musical
    1.01

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 1954 · National Film Registry (inducted 2004) · Empire 500 (2008) #464

  74. 74
    Funny Girl1968 · William Wyler · United States · comedy, romance, musical
    1.00

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 1968 · National Film Registry (inducted 2016) · NYT Best 1,000 Movies

  75. 75
    Carnival in Flanders1935 · Jacques Feyder · France / Germany · comedy, romance
    1.00

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1937 #1

  76. 76
    In Good Company2004 · Paul Weitz, Lawrence Pressman · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    1.00

    Berlin Golden Bear winner 2005

  77. 77
    Two for the Road1967 · Stanley Donen · United Kingdom / United States · comedy, romance, drama
    0.99

    San Sebastián Golden Shell winner 1967 · Ebert's annual top 10 1967 #14 · Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies

  78. 78
    Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?1957 · Frank Tashlin · United States · comedy, romance
    0.97

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1957 #2 · National Film Registry (inducted 2000) · Rosenbaum's Essential Cinema

  79. 79
    The Goodbye Girl1977 · Herbert Ross · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    0.95

    Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1978 #3 · Oscar Best Picture nominee 1977

  80. 80
    The Shop Around the Corner1940 · Ernst Lubitsch · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    0.94

    TIME All-TIME 100 · National Film Registry (inducted 1999) · Empire 500 (2008) #384

  81. 81
    A Woman Is a Woman1961 · Jean-Luc Godard · France / Italy · comedy, romance, musical
    0.94

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1961 #2 · Criterion Collection spine #238 · Sarris's annual top 10 1964 #10

  82. 82
    Inherent Vice2014 · Paul Thomas Anderson · United States · crime, comedy, drama
    0.94

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 2015 #7 · Film Comment year-end poll 2014 #9 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 2015 #9

  83. 83
    As Good as It Gets1997 · James L. Brooks · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    0.93

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 1997 · Empire 500 (2008) #140 · Siskel's annual top 10 1997 #10

  84. 84
    Stolen Kisses1968 · François Truffaut · France · comedy, romance, drama
    0.92

    Cahiers du Cinéma annual top 10 1968 #8 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies · Sarris's annual top 10 1969 #7

  85. 85
    Say Anything...1989 · Cameron Crowe · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    0.91

    Kehr's annual top 10 1989 #2 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies · Siskel's annual top 10 1989 #9

  86. 86
    Guess Who's Coming to Dinner1967 · Stanley Kramer · United States · comedy, drama, romance
    0.90

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 1967 · AFI 100 (1998) #99 · National Film Registry (inducted 2017)

  87. 87
    Risky Business1983 · Paul Brickman · United States · comedy, drama, romance
    0.89

    NYT Best 1,000 Movies · Criterion Collection spine #1227 · Kehr's annual top 10 1983 #8

  88. 88
    Born Yesterday1950 · George Cukor · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    0.84

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 1950 · National Film Registry (inducted 2012) · NYT Best 1,000 Movies

  89. 89
    Up in the Air2009 · Jason Reitman · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    0.81

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 2009 · Film Comment year-end poll 2009 #28 · Ebert's annual top 10 2009 #9

  90. 90
    Hairspray1988 · John Waters · United States · comedy, romance, musical
    0.78

    National Film Registry (inducted 2022) · Empire 500 (2008) #444 · Criterion Collection spine #1315

  91. 91
    Here Comes Mr. Jordan1941 · Alexander Hall · United States · comedy, romance, fantasy
    0.78

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 1941 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies · Criterion Collection spine #819

  92. 92
    Trust1990 · Hal Hartley · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    0.78

    Sarris's annual top 10 1991 #1 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies · Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies

  93. 93
    Moonrise Kingdom2012 · Wes Anderson · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    0.77

    Film Comment year-end poll 2012 #3 · Criterion Collection spine #776 · Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies

  94. 94
    Working Girl1988 · Mike Nichols · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    0.77

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 1988 · NYT Best 1,000 Movies · Siskel's annual top 10 1988 #9

  95. 95
    A New Leaf1971 · Elaine May · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    0.76

    Siskel's annual top 10 1971 #2 · National Film Registry (inducted 2019) · Edgar Wright's 1,000 favorite movies

  96. 96
    Charade1963 · Stanley Donen · United States · comedy, romance, thriller
    0.76

    TIME All-TIME 100 · National Film Registry (inducted 2022) · Criterion Collection spine #57

  97. 97
    The Smiling Lieutenant1931 · Ernst Lubitsch · United States · comedy, romance, musical
    0.75

    Oscar Best Picture nominee 1931 · Kinema Junpo Best Ten (International) 1931 #9

  98. 98
    Man About Town1947 · René Clair · France / United States · drama, comedy, romance
    0.75

    Locarno Golden Leopard winner 1947

  99. 99
    Johnny Suede1991 · Tom DiCillo · United States · comedy, romance, musical
    0.75

    Locarno Golden Leopard winner 1991

  100. 100
    Other People's Money1991 · Norman Jewison · United States · comedy, romance, drama
    0.75

    César Best Film winner 1979

Nobody searches for "the best romantic comedy film" — they type "best rom coms," and the casualness is the whole problem the genre has always had. This is the form audiences adore and critics condescend to, the one every year-end list treats as dessert. Our library ranks 338 of them by composite score anyway, and the result is a useful corrective: the rom-com canon, measured rather than dismissed, turns out to be one of cinema's deepest benches.

The screwball spine

The genre's mechanics were fixed in the 1930s. Screwball comedy emerged, by Wikipedia's account, partly as a workaround to the Hays Code's clampdown on anything explicit — sex sublimated into speed, insult and slammed doors. It Happened One Night (1934) sits at #120 on our list, Frank Capra fixing the template every later entry borrows: two sparring equals, forced into proximity, resisting until resistance becomes indistinguishable from surrender. Leo McCarey's The Awful Truth (1937, #499) and George Cukor's The Philadelphia Story (1940, #448) refined the same engine — the second still cited as a pinnacle of the style — while the "meet cute," the engineered collision that throws two strangers together, hardened into the one convention no rom-com since has managed to retire.

What actually holds up

Reputation and our score mostly agree at the top, and where they diverge it is instructive. Woody Allen's Annie Hall (1977) leads the page at #14 with a score of 5.55 — not merely the highest rom-com in the library but one that clears the screwball classics by a wide margin, which reads as a verdict on the neurotic, self-interrogating turn it gave the form. Billy Wilder's The Apartment (1960) follows at #36, the film that let the genre carry real melancholy, and his Some Like It Hot (1959) lands at #97. The gap between Annie Hall's 5.55 and the 1930s founders below 3.50 is the argument the numbers make: audiences and juries have rewarded the rom-com most when it stopped pretending love was simple.

How to read our list

The order is our composite score across 20+ lists, awards and polls — never any single outside ranking, and never chronology or box office. Membership works differently from ordering: a film joins this page when its Wikidata genre tags include "romantic comedy," and only then is it re-ranked by score. The tag decides who appears; it has no say in where they land. That mechanism explains the page's odd guests — Forrest Gump (1994, #100) and Network (1976, #106) surface because their genre metadata happens to carry a romantic-comedy label, not because anyone would file them here by instinct. It also lets the list stretch honestly past Hollywood, to Jean-Pierre Jeunet's Amélie (2001, #223) and the streaming-era revival the form is enjoying now — proof the best rom coms were never as disposable as the search box makes them sound.