If we’re being totally honest, the best romantic comedies aren’t just about the chuckles they get out of viewers. While they come packed with unforgettable banter and meet-cutes, they’re also about the emotional truths they reveal — the vulnerability, personal growth, and yearning that comes with love. Sure, the laughs hook viewers in, but often,it’s the reliability and messy moments that make them linger.
FromLove & Other DrugstoThe Apartment, these are theromantic comedies that could pass as intense and maybe tragic dramas. They make audiences laugh and think, sneaking in real emotions and honest heartbreak that stick with audiences and remind us that love is not simple and that drama is an essential part of getting a happy ending because, hopefully, it’ll all be worth the pain.
10’Love & Other Drugs' (2010)
Directed by Edward Zwick
Directed byEdward ZwickandstarringJake GyllenhaalandAnne Hathaway,Love & Other Drugsappears to be a typical romantic comedy: it tells the story of a boy who meets a girl, sparks fly, and witty banter ensues. Jamie is a charming pharmaceutical salesman, while Maggie is a free spirit battling early-onset Parkinson’s.
But don’t let the laughs and flirtation fool you: about halfway through,the movie takes a hard turn into drama, delving into the realities of chronic illness and what it means to love someone when the future is uncertain. Anchored by two amazing performances at its center,Love & Other Drugsshifts from a raunchy comedy to heartfelt drama in an interesting way. By the end, audiences are not merely rooting for Jamie and Maggie to get together, but also incredibly moved by their struggle to be there for each other in the face of adversity.
Love & Other Drugs
9’Crazy, Stupid, Love.' (2011)
Directed by Glenn Ficarra, John Requa
Crazy, Stupid, Loveis the perfect romantic comedy for those who enjoy intertwined narratives and unexpected twists.Glen FicarraandJohn Requa’s movie followsSteve Carell’s middle-aged Cal Weaver, whose wife (Julianne Moore) asks for a divorce, triggering a midlife crisis. Enter smooth-talking Jacob Palmer (Ryan Gosling), who gives him a makeover and masterclass in wooing women. Meanwhile, Cal’s son (Jonah Bobo) is nursing his own heartbreak, and Hannah (Emma Stone) is trying to navigate life.
Sure,Crazy, Stupid, Loveis packed with tons of laughs and charming romantic comedy moments. However,the film’s secret weapon— aside from its ensemble cast — isthe drama it encompasses. Beneath its witty dialogue lies a surprisingly grounded story about love and self-discovery in all its messy and unpredictable forms, whether that be in Cal’s self-discovery journey as he navigates heartbreak and identity, orJacob’s unexpected vulnerabilityin the face of true connection.
Crazy, Stupid, Love
8’La La Land' (2016)
Directed by Damien Chazelle
Also starring Gosling and Stone,La La Landhas become one ofDamien Chazelle’s most beloved features so far, and it’s not difficult to see why. The romantic comedy musical follows a jazz pianist and an aspiring actress who meet and fall deeply in love, only to head their separate ways to chase their dreams.
Beneath itstechnicolor-ish surface,La La Landisa drama that tackles the tough choices that come with ambitionand the sacrifices that love sometimes demands. At its core,the film’s heart lies in itsunflinching, at times heartbreaking honesty. As Mia and Sebastian’s careers begin to take off, their relationship is put to the test by distance, misunderstanding, and the realization that sometimes love isn’t enough.
La La Land
7’Silver Linings Playbook' (2012)
Directed by David O. Russel
Those who thinkSilver Linings Playbookis just another feel-good rom-com will likely be surprised to find out that it’s far more layered and emotionally raw than the genre typically suggests. StarringBradley CooperandJennifer Lawrencein critically acclaimed performances, the story follows a man with bipolar disorder fresh out of a psychiatric hospital, and a widow dealing with grief and emotional decline. Pat is determined to win back his ex-wife, and Tiffany offers to help him — if he’ll join her in a dance competition.
While packed with sharp humor,Silver Linings Playbookis more of a drama disguised as a romantic comedy. It uses its wit to soften but not to completely dilute its portrayal ofmental health, grief, and the struggles of recovery. While some argue that the movie’s happy ending feels a bit flawed, considering the heavy themes it tackles,Silver Linings Playbook’s charm arguably lies in its messiness and self-awareness.
Silver Linings Playbook
6’Punch-Drunk Love' (2002)
Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
Punch-Drunk Loveis not just another romantic comedy.Paul Thomas Anderson’s film is not afraid to embrace its quirks and charm viewers with its offbeat narrative and unexpectedly tender core. The filmstarsAdam Sandleras Barry Egan, a small-business owner with social anxiety, who stumbles into a romance with his sister’s co-worker Lena (Emily Watson).
Beneath its absurdist humor and vibrant visuals,Punch-Drunk Loveoffers a surprisinglytender drama about loneliness and the struggle to connect. Although Barry’s outbursts of rage are played for laughs, largely thanks to Sandler’s delivery, they’re achingly real, and that’s exactly where the film’s heart beats. So, for viewers who are looking for a rom-com that’s not afraid to get weird and break their hearts, Anderson’s movie is definitely worth a watch.
Punch-Drunk Love
5’About Time' (2013)
Directed by Richard Curtis
AlthoughAbout Timemay sound like your typical romantic comedy at first, it goes beyond the genre’s clichés by incorporating other intriguing elements. The story follows Tim Lake (Domhnall Gleeson) after he discovers that all the men in his family can travel back in time. He uses his time-traveling powers not just to woo the lovely Mary (Rachel McAdams), but to fix every awkward moment in his life, until he learns that even time travel can’t solve everything.
Thisromantic comedy with a sci-fi twistcharms with its quirky British humor and a star-studded cast, which also includesBill Nighyas Tim’s father. Additionally, the chemistry between the two leads is almost effortless. Still, what truly elevatesthe film is howAbout Timequietly transforms intoa heartfelt dramanot only about love but alsoabout family, loss, and growing up. It’s the kind of rom-com not afraid to delve into unexplored territories, making audiences laugh, cry, and reminding them that life’s most precious moments can’t always be replayed.
About Time
4’Beginners' (2010)
Directed by Mike Mills
This sweet and offbeat rom-com directed byMike Millsfollows a grieving man named Oliver (Ewan McGregor). As Oliver processes the passing of his dad — who came out as gay at age 75 and lived openly for the first time before his passing — he meets Anna (Mélanie Laurent), a French actress with emotional baggage, and begins a tentative and tender romance.
LikeAbout Time,Beginnersprovides a light and whimsical narrative that isequal parts raw and humane. The story at its center is less about grand romantic gestures, as frequently seen in the genre, and more about the quiet and messy behind-the-scenes of healing and learning to let people in. Instead of sugarcoating or simplifying life’s complexities, Mills' film isa love letter to learning to love life and yourself, even when the path is uncertain.
3'500 Days of Summer' (2009)
Directed by Mark Webb
Despite being often labeled as a romantic comedy,Mark Webb’s meditation on how love doesn’t always work out more often than not feels like a drama.500 Days of Summerfollows Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), an aspiring architect and hopeless romantic, as he falls for Summer (Zooey Deschanel), the woman who turns his world upside down as their relationship evolves from a meet-cute to breakup and beyond.
500 Days of Summerhas all the hallmarks of a classic rom-com. Still, beneath the laughs and the clever structure liesan honest drama about expectations, idealization, and the dissonance between fantasy and realityin contemporary relationships. Told through a non-linear lens, the movie cleverly deconstructs the notion of “the perfect partner,” examining how we often project our desires onto others. Whether it’s the expectation versus reality scene or Tom’s gradual unraveling, this must-see romantic comedy is far deeper than some may initially think.
500 Days of Summer
2’Harold and Maude' (1971)
Directed by Hal Ashby
Harold and Maudeis anything but conventional (the fact that it’s labeled as a romantic comedy is somewhat confusing to some). Directed byHal Ashby, the 1971 movie follows a death-obsessed young man (Bud Cort) and a free-spirited septuagenarian (Ruth Gordon) as they meet at funerals, steal cars, and fall into an unlikely relationship that defies every societal rule.
WhileHarold and Maudeis, at its core, a black comedy packed with eccentric humor and unforgettable moments, its heart lies in itscelebration of nonconformity and a message that it’s never too late to livelife “to the fullest.” Despite a strange May-December “romance” that raises questions — making it an undeniably controversial entry in the genre — the divisiveHarold and Maudeis beloved for its originality and heart.
Harold and Maude
1’The Apartment' (1960)
Directed by Billy Wilder
Directed by the iconicBilly Wilder,The ApartmentstarsJack Lemmonas C.C. “Bud Baxter,” a lonely insurance clerk, withShirley MacLaineas Fran Kubelik, an elevator operator for whom he catches feelings. Claiming five Oscars, including Best Picture, this masterclass of filmmaking does a wonderful job of balancing humor with real emotion.
WhileThe Apartment’s humor is sharp and the setting vibrant, it is certainlya drama in how it tackles loneliness, moral compromise, and the quiet desperationof those trying to get ahead in a cutthroat business world — Fran’s attempt is proof. Like some other entries on the list, what makes this essential old Hollywood rom-com special is its refusal to soften life’s most complicated aspects. Furthermore, Wilder’s direction and the amazing performances help further elevate the film.
