The 26 Best Romantic Comedies On Netflix: May 2017

This list will be updated monthly to reflect the new romantic comedies added to Netflix with the newest additions at the top, so you'll always have a new movie to look forward to.

Spring has well and truly sprung, and while love may not have yet blossomed, fear not. For fans of flowers and frolics, we have all the perfect romantic comedies to get you through May. Whether you are single and independent or happy in love, Netflix has you covered with sweet treats and blooming romances.

26. 'Forrest Gump' (1994)

Starring: Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Sally Field

Director: Robert Zemeckis

Synopsis: Forrest Gump is a simple man with a low IQ, taught by his mother (Sally Field) that you can accomplish anything if you try hard enough. Joining the Vietnam war, jogging across America, and influencing some of the biggest events of the 20th century, this country yokel's heart only belongs to his childhood sweetheart.

Although it is wildly different than Winston Groom's novel of the same name, Forrest Gump went on to be a classic of the '90s with equal measures of comedy and tragedy. Featuring possibly the greatest Tom Hanks role ever, Forrest Gump proves that anyone can love anyone in this heart-warming tale of running and romance.

IMDb rating: 8.8/10

Starring: Juliette Binoche, Johnny Depp

Director: Lasse Hallström

Synopsis: Young mother Vianne (Binoche) comes to the fictional French town of Lansquenet-sous-Tannes. With her daughter in tow, Vianne soon realizes that this repressed little place needs some livening up. As an accomplished chocolatier, she opens her own shop during lent and changes everyone's lives for the better.

Although it takes the town a while to warm to Vianne's charms, one man falls for her from the first bite, and Johnny Depp's Traveller Roux attempts to change her stubborn ways. More than just a charming trip to rural France, Chocolat is the charming rom-com that will just melt in your mouth!

IMDb rating: 8.8/10

24. 'Midnight In Paris' (2011)

Starring: Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams

Director: Woody Allen

Synopsis: Owen Wilson plays the romantic screenwriter who realizes that all is not well in his relationship with a materialistic Rachel McAdams. Wilson's Gil is intent on living his dream in Paris, while McAdams is content with sun and schmoozing in Malibu.

Turning into a time-traveling flick, Gil's visit to Paris also transports him to the 1920s at the stroke of midnight. He meets the likes of Juan Belmonte and Ernest Hemingway, who give the ailing writer the pep talk he needs. A modern take on Tom's Midnight Garden, Gil soon comes to love the '20s era more than his modern life, but can he repair his relationship and still live happily ever after? With Woody Allen's typical whimsy, both McAdams and Wilson are on form in this nostalgic nod to Paris.

IMDb rating: 7.7/10

23. 'Superbad' (2007)

Starring: Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Seth Rogen, Emma Stone

Director: Greg Mottola

Synopsis: While it may not seem like your standard rom-com, let's not forget that Apatow's comedy cavalcade is all about Michael Cera trying to get some with Emma Stone. The coming of age teen comedy is the quest of hapless high school nobodys trying to secure "cool guy" status by buying booze while underage. Upheld with superb gags like the "period" scene and the invention of McLovin, Superbad is a who's who of laughing talent.

IMDb rating: 6.2/10

Starring: Hayley Mills, Brian Keith, Maureen O'Hara

Director: David Swift

Synopsis: Featuring a young Hayley Mills (twice), the classic tale of separated twins comes alive in pure Disney technicolor. A fuzzy family film which tells the story of two girls, Susan and Sharon, who meet at summer camp, only to realize they are part of the same broken up family. It is up to the twins to pull apart their parent's current relationships and push them back together anyway they can. Expect pranks, dodgy haircuts, and all the whimsy of a '60s rom-com. The original easily outshines the three television sequels, and don't even get us started on the Lohan remake.

IMDb rating: 6.4/10

Starring: Jennifer Aniston, Jay Mohr, Kevin Bacon

Director: Glenn Gordon Caron

Synopsis: Kate (Aniston) is a struggling advertiser in New York City. Her boss constantly passes on her promotion because he says she "isn't stable enough." Co-worker Darcy invents a story that Kate is actually engaged to virile videographer Nick (Mohr) who she met at a friend's wedding, and the two carry out their pretend relationship. It isn't long before the whole charade starts to come down, but will Kate and Nick develop feelings for each other?

IMDb rating: 5.5/10

20. 'Adventureland' (2009)

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Kristen Stewart, Jesse Eisenberg

Director: Greg Mottola

Synopsis: College grad James Brennan (Eisenberg) is forced to take a summer job at a local amusement park, where he instantly falls for co-worker Emily (Stewart). James starts life at Adventureland as the awkward virgin until Emily befriends him. Through the run-down park and cast of wacky colleagues the two develop a bond over the summer, but can their romance last longer?

IMDb rating: 6.8/10

19. 'Grease' (1978)

Starring: Olivia Newton-John, John Travolta

Director: Randal Kleiser

Synopsis: The ultimate high school sing song, Grease is the musical masterpiece that brought Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta together in lyrical bliss. New girl Sandy (Newton-John) transfers to Rydell high school, struggling to fit in with the punky Pink Ladies. The T-Birds are the gang of tough guys, and lead by Danny Zuko (Travolta), who sets his sights on Sandy. Together in Travolta's fixer-upper car Greased Lightning, the pair are on a road to romance. Everyone everywhere knows at least one of the songs from this '70s classic.

IMDb rating: 7.2/10

Starring: Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard, Mickey Rooney and Patricia Neal

Director: Blake Edwards

Synopsis: Based on the Truman Capote novel, this movie sees Holly Golightly (Hepburn) take on Manhattan. Watch the chicest call girl in New York find love, money, friendship and peace with her past. Arguably one of the most stylish films of all time. Extra trivia: Moon River was specifically written for Audrey to sing in this movie.

IMDb rating: 7.8/10

17. 'Practical Magic' (1998)

Starring: Nicole Kidman, Sandra Bullock and Stockard Channing

Director: Griffin Dunne

Synopsis: Two modern day witches (Bullock and Kidman) are plagued by their family curse which means every man they fall in love with dies. The two must work together with the help of their zany aunts to break the curse and save the men they love. Magic, love, murder and a fantastic cast, what's not to love?

IMDb rating: 6.1/10

16. 'Sliding Doors' (1998)

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

Director: Peter Howitt

Synopsis: The movie sees Helen (Paltrow, with one hell of an English accent) showing two possibilities of her life story depending on whether she makes it through those 'sliding doors.' A perfect movie for anyone who's ever wondered how their fate could be changed. There's infidelity, new love, questionable 90's hair and an Elton John soundtrack. The London Underground has never been so eventful.

IMDb rating: 6.8/10

15. '40 Days and 40 Nights' (2002)

Starring: Josh Harnett, Shannyn Sossamon and Adam Trese

Director: Michael Lehmann

Synopsis: After an intense break-up, Matt (Harnett) finds himself having 'intimacy' issues. Naturally, to solve this he takes a trip to his local, friendly Priest where he decides to resolve his issues by abstaining for '40 days and 40 nights', that is until he meets Erica (Sossamon). Let's not forget the infamous herbaceous orgasm. I knew women like it when a man brings her flowers, but they take it to the next level.

IMDb rating: 5.6/10

14. '50 First Dates' (2004)

Starring: Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore, Rob Schneider, Sean Astin

Director: Peter Segal

Synopsis: Set to the picturesque backdrop of Hawaii, 50 First Dates takes on Groundhog Day with medical complications. Henry roth (Sandler) is used to his no-strings lifestyle until he goes on a magical date with Barrymore's Lucy. There is a catch though - Lucy suffers from short-term memory loss and can't remember the day before. This doesn't stop Henry, who is determined that the couple will fall in love again, each and every day.

IMDb rating: 6.8/10

13. '13 Going on 30' (2004)

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

Director: Gary Winick

Synopsis: Like a modernized female version of Big, Garner plays 13-year-old Jenna who has her birthday party ruined. Wishing her life away, Jenna wakes to find herself age 30 and living her wildest fantasy as a successful magazine editor with a knock-out boyfriend. Jenna goes to look for Matt (Ruffalo), the boy who ruined her party to find out what is going on. Check out Ruffalo's sweet dance moves in this one!

IMDb rating: 6.1/10

12. 'Portrait Of A Serial Monogamist' (2015)

Starring: Grace Lynn Kung, Robin Duke and Carolyn Taylor

Director: John Mitchell and Christina Zeilder

Synopsis: After a traumatic rejection in her childhood, Eve (Kung) pushes away anyone who tires to get close before they can hurt her, even her long term girlfriend, Robyn (Taylor). But was it the right thing to do and is it too late to change her mind? A rarely seen gay relationship at the centre of a romantic movie, definitely worth a watch.

IMDb rating: 4.6/10

11. 'Pleasantville' (1998)

Starring: Tobey McGuire, Reese Witherspoon, William H.Macy, Joan Allen and Jeff Daniels

Director: Gary Ross

Synopsis: When two 90s teenager siblings (McGuire and Witherspoon) are sucked into a 1950s TV show, they turn the residents of Pleasantville's lives upside down. A simple town in black and white, with all American values becomes awash with color as they are introduced to lust, curiosity, art and pleasure. Hands down, this movie wins best euphemism for masturbation, burn baby burn!

IMDb rating: 7.5/10

10. '10 Things I Hate About You' (1999)

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

Director: Gil Junger

Synopsis: William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew retold in a high school setting, 10 Things I Hate About You contains a golden performance from the late Heath Ledger. New student Cameron (Gordon-Levitt) is smitten with hot girl Bianca. Her father has a strict dating rule that Bianca can only date if her "shrew" sister Kat has one too. Cameron attempts to set up Kat with bad-boy/jerk Patrick (Ledger). The title revolves around a poem that Kat writes about her time with Patrick. Equally tragic and hilarious, 10 Things leaves you feeling all fuzzy inside.

IMDb rating: 7.2/10

9. 'Love Actually' (2003)

Starring: EVERYONE, literally everyone: Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, Laura Linney, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Bill Nighy, Keira Knightley, January Jones, Andrew Lincoln, Liam Neeson, Chiwetel Ejiofor - I could go on.

Director: Richard Curtis

Synopsis: It's the run up to Christmas and we see eight very different love stories unfold. Highly quotable and more British than a cup of tea and a cucumber sandwich. It's now law in the UK to watch this every Christmas, lest ye be thrown into the tower.

IMDb rating: 7.7/10

8. 'The Seven Year Itch' (1955)

Starring: Marilyn Monroe, Tom Ewell and Evelyn Keyes

Director: Billy Wilder

Synopsis: Married man, Richard (Ewell) is left alone in sweltering NYC when his wife and son go away for the summer. He becomes infatuated with all the young women in the city, convinced his wife too must be playing away and complete obsessed by the young blonde upstairs (Monroe). Go retro with this absolute classic, watch as Monroe flirts her way through the film and enjoy the legendary white halter- neck billowing up.

IMDb rating: 7.2/10

7. 'Clueless' (1995)

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

Director: Amy Heckerling

Synopsis: The ultimate coming of age comedy, Clueless is unbelievably based off the Jane Austen novel Emma. Silverstone plays Cherilyn "Cher" Horowitz, the popular socialite who is top of the chain. When new girl Tai (Murphy) moves to the school, Cher and her friends give her an ugly duckling makeover to make her popular. Cher soon realizes that she wants a man of her own, but will have to undergo a spiritual makeover to find to woman beneath her social standing.

IMDb rating: 6.8/10

6. 'Someone Like You' (2001)

Starring: Ashley Judd, Hugh Jackman, Greg Kinnear and Marisa Tomei

Director: Tony Goldwyn

Synopsis: Released in 2001 a.k.a year of the rom-com. Jane (Judd) falls for her perfect guy (Kinnear) and everything seems perfect, that is until he breaks her heart. Jane finds herself homeless and heartbroken. She moves in with work colleague and womanizer, Eddie (Jackman) only to find, maybe she's been looking for love in all the wrong places.

IMDb rating: 6.1/10

5. 'Serendipity '(2001)

Starring: Kate Beckinsale, John Cusack, Jeremy Piven, Eugene Levy and Bridget Moynahan

Director: Peter Chelsom

Synopsis: Fate had them meet, but can it bring them back together? After a chance meeting on Christmas Eve in New York, British Sara (Beckinsale) and Jonathan (Cusack) spark a connection that even after ten years and other partners can't be shifted. What is it about cinema and cross-Atlantic accents falling in love?

IMDb rating: 6.9/10

4. 'Coming To America' (1988)

Starring: Eddie Murphy, James Earl Jones, Arsenio Hall, Madge Sinclair

Director: John Landis

Synopsis: Prince Akeem (Murphy) has grown tired of his privileged life and he wants to marry for love not duty. He leaves his parents (Earl Jones and Sinclair) in Africa to find his soulmate on the mean streets of New York City. Akeem has no idea how to integrate himself into American society, cue hilarious mishaps and an endearing love story. Bonus: Earl Jones and Sinclair voiced Mufasa and Sarabi in The Lion King together, six years later.

IMDb rating: 7/10

3. 'Amélie' (2001)

Starring: Audrey Tautou, Mathieu Kassovitz, Jamel Debbouze and Rufus

Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet

Synopsis: For this whimsical French classic, you'll have to put subtitles on. Amélie (Tautou) is a young, odd but romantic Parisian who seeks to go out into the city and improve other people's lives, and along the way she finds love. A completely darling film that will have you booking flights to Paris quicker than you can say 'J'adore'.

IMDb rating: 8.4/10

2. 'Shakespeare In Love' (1998)

Starring: Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Fiennes, Geoffrey Rush, Colin Firth, Imelda Staunton, Rupert Everett, Judi Dench, Simon Callow, Tom Wilkinson and Ben Affleck

Director: John Madden

Synopsis: An all star cast feature in this period rom-com. Arguably historically incorrect, but we love it anyway. A young woman, Viola (Paltrow) is down hearted with her position and longs for romance and poetry. William Shakespeare (Fiennes) has lost his muse and is struggling to write. His chance meeting of Viola dressed as a man brings him the love and the inspiration he needs. Their love acts as the inspiration for Romeo and Juliet. Their love is that of star-crossed lovers and they cannot be together, but they'll separate only after the curtain falls. Shakespearean gender bending, mistaken identities and the declaration of love through sonnets, bliss. Judi Dench famously won her Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role as Queen Elizabeth in this film, with only eight minutes screen time.

IMDb rating: 7.2/10

1. 'Maid In Manhattan' (2002)

Starring: Jennifer Lopez, Ralph Fiennes, Natasha Richardson and Stanley Tucci

Director: Wayne Wang

Synopsis: It's your classic Cinderella story. Marisa (Lopez) is a single parent who works as a maid in luxury hotel. When found messing around in socialite Caroline's (Richardson) suite, she is mistaken by politician Christopher (Fiennes) to be a guest. He becomes quickly infatuated with her and does all that he can to find her again. There's even the perfect fairytale ball scene, but it's still weird seeing Voldemort lose it over JLo.

IMDb rating: 5.1/10