The conversation surrounding the supposed death of the romantic comedy is never-ending. From some suggesting Gen Z is romance-averse to film studios no longer willing to take risks at the box office, the genre has become synonymous with modern film discourse. But there was a time when the genre was booming, which ushered in a decade of iconic rom-coms that still withstand the test of time. The ‘90s were a decade filled with hope, and the romantic films of the time period mirrored a world in which anything seemed possible.
I grew up on ’90s rom-coms, and just when I thought they had disappeared entirely, the film industry started to shift. It can feel like an overwhelming task to find something actually worthwhile to watch in this day and age. So here are seven new movies that bring back the familiar charm and charisma of the iconic ‘90s rom-com.
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Finding Emily (2026)
Courtesy of Universal
Released just this past month, Finding Emily feels like the perfect antidote to a genre attempting to reinvent itself. The film follows Owen (Spike Fearn), who, on a night out, gets a phone number with a missing digit from a girl named Emily. While trying to track her down, he enlists the help of a psychology student, also named Emily (Angourie Rice), who agrees to help in the hope that she can use him as a case study for her thesis. An examination of modern dating culture, the film is fresh while still staying true to its rom-com roots, proving that although this genre isn’t new, it can still produce rejuvenating cinema.
Cha Cha Real Smooth (2022)
Courtesy of Apple
Like many of the best rom-coms of the decade, Cha Cha Real Smooth is much too underrated. The film follows Andrew (Cooper Raiff), a recent college graduate working as a party host for bar and bat mitzvahs. One night when he’s working, he meets single mother Domino (Dakota Johnson), who is navigating raising her autistic daughter. As their relationship grows deeper, the film becomes an exploration of coming-of-age in your twenties, and how none of us have it all figured out, no matter our age. As the director and lead actor in the film, Raiff proved himself as one of the most interesting up-and-coming voices in cinema.
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Rye Lane (2023)
Courtesy of SearchLight Pictures
Like many of the great famed rom-coms, one of the most underrated of the last decade is set in London, England. Rye Lane follows Dom (David Jonsson) and Yas (Vivian Oparah), two strangers attempting to heal from their respective recent breakups. The two spend a whole day together, setting out on an adventure that has the power to shape the rest of both of their lives. The chemistry between Jonsson and Oparah is vibrant and such a joy to watch, as the two slowly begin to realize that perhaps their former relationships were leading them to each other. Filled with witty humor and a gorgeous color palette, this film deserves to be talked about and celebrated more.
Hit Man (2023)
Netflix
While Glen Powell is probably best known for his hit film Anyone But You, Hit Man is where the fun is actually at. Loosely based on a true story, Powell plays Gary Johnson, a professor of psychology and philosophy who also works for the New Orleans Police Department to help with sting operations. When an undercover detective who portrays fake airmen to prevent murder-for-hire schemes is suspended, Gary is ushered into the role, which he takes to like a duck to water. His life becomes even more complicated when he falls for one of his would-be clients, Madison (Adria Arjona), who tries to get him to kill her abusive husband. One part rom-com and one part thriller, the film is unique, sexy, and one of the freshest films of the 2020s.
Related: Glen Powell Reveals the Surprisingly Hardest Part of Making ‘Chad Powers’ (Exclusive)
Good Luck to You, Leo Grande (2022)
Courtesy of Searchlight
Rom-coms don’t often focus on older women, but Good Luck to You, Leo Grande boldly set its eyes on Susan Robinson (Emma Thompson) to lead the film. Feeling unfulfilled in her sex life, she hires sex worker Connor (Daryl McCormack) and asks him to help her cross items off a list of various things she would like to try. Unfolding over the course of several intimate meetings between the two, the film tells the story of two strangers whose chance encounter allows them to fulfill a part of their lives that they thought was lost. While the film is quaint, it is a testament to how rom-coms don’t need a big budget to be successful.
Palm Springs (2020)
Courtesy of Hulu
Movies with time loops are always a thrill, but add romance to the mix and you’ve got a surefire hit. After the success of Groundhog Day in the 1990s, Palm Springs was destined for greatness. When Sarah (Cristin Milioti) hooks up with Nyles (Andy Samberg) at her sister’s wedding, she’s trapped in a time loop, which Nyles already has experience with. After repeating the day so many times, Nyles couldn’t care less about figuring out how to stop it, even though Sarah is determined to find a way out. Untraditional, fresh and featuring fantastic chemistry from Milioti and Samberg, the film is one that every hopeless romantic should watch.
Materialists (2025)
Like the best rom-coms of the 90s, Materialists is a film as focused on the inferiority of its characters as it is on romance. Following successful matchmaker Lucy (Dakota Johnson), the film focuses on her as she navigates a messy but realistic love triangle with wealthy businessman Harry (Pedro Pascal) and her ex-boyfriend John (Chris Evans). The drama at the center of the film doesn’t necessarily stem from the fact that these three people are intertwined with one another, but instead on their respective flaws and desires. Still, fans of the romance genre will find a lot to love here, whether it be Pascal’s yearning facial expressions, or Johnson’s quick-witted line delivery.
Related: Reese Witherspoon Celebrates 24 Years of Beloved Rom-Com That She Calls a ‘Huge Moment’ in Her Career
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