No movie genre is more misunderstood than romantic comedy. Frequently derided and dismissed as ‘chick flicks’, romcoms are, in truth, more broadly relatable than any other category of film. Who hasn’t been in love, in one form or another? And honestly, what’s funnier than the things humans do while under love’s spell? But the best romantic comedies don’t have to be straight-ahead farces to qualify – although, to be fair, many of them are. Some are sophisticated, drilling deep into the complexities of interpersonal relationships. Others are dark and cynical, because, well, love often sucks. Others are light and airy, or borderline fantastical. Love contains multitudes, and so do romantic comedies, and we considered it all when putting together this list of the best romcoms of all time. Written by Dave Calhoun, Cath Clarke, Tom Huddleston, Kate Lloyd, Andy Kryza, Phil de Semlyen, Alim Kheraj & Matthew Singer Recommended: 😍 The 100 best romantic films of all-time By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. 🙌 Awesome, you're subscribed! Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon!
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‘When life hands you lemons, just say, “Fuck the lemons,” and bail.’
Judd Apatow got credited with ‘reinventing’ the romcom in the mid-aughts, so it’s a bit ironic that the Apatow-related vehicle that’s aged the best is the most orthodox-feeling. (Apatow produced, while Nicholas Stoller directed.) Jason Segel plays a lovable schlub who blows his improbable relationship with a hot TV star (Kristen Bell), only to half-accidentally woo the hot concierge (Mila Kunis) at the Hawaiian resort he retreats to post-breakup. So it’s not exactly believable, but it succeeds because of the perfect casting - Russell Brand, in particular, is so good as Segel’s dipshit cock-rocker foil he got his own spinoff, the underrated Get Him to the Greek - and because the screenplay, written by Segel, balances warmth and raunch more deftly than any other comedy of the era.
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