Romantic comedies are undoubtedly one of the quintessential go-to movie genres, and thankfully, there are enough rom-coms available to appease all styles and tastes. The only element that makes a balanced mix of romance and laughter better is a good dose of unexpected plot twists.
Though love stories never go as smoothly as one would like, some rom-coms are able to up the ante through a series of unforeseen events, making the spark of love either much sweeter or incredibly bitter. Whether viewers are hopeless romantics or cynical about the notion of true love, a good rom-com can worm its way into anyone's heart.
10 Love Actually Highlights The Complexity Of Love
The ensemble cast of Love Actually proves that love is anything but straightforward, especially at one of the most romantic times of the year. The various storylines the 2003 rom-com weaves are perfect examples of how layered and multifaceted relationships are.
However, as the plots develop, both the characters and viewers are surprised by the number of layers and twists encountered while peeling them away. Love Actually isn't simple or expected. Where some pairs make up, others break up, and some refreshingly opt for self-love.
9 Shop Around The Corner Is Classic Enemies Turned To Lovers
There's something enchanting about having a secret admirer to exchange handwritten letters with. However, Shop Around The Corner proves how sharing too much isn't always the best idea – especially when anyone could read the letters being sent.
In the film, this is proved true when the perfect pen pals are coworkers who butt heads on a daily basis. Unbeknownst to the characters of Mr. Kralik and Klara Novak, not only are they unaware of each other's romantic intentions, but they even go so far as to offer each other romantic advice, which might just unintentionally backfire.
8 Palm Springs Puts Romance On Loop
The multiple plot twists in Palm Springs are embedded into the story itself. Still, the biggest of them all is making one half of this rom-com couple unaware there's any relationship to begin with. Relationships are challenging enough on a regular day-to-day basis, but it's even worse when that day happens on repeat for eternity.
Palm Springs is a chance encounter that starts off sweet and turns sour, only to loop back into the surprising and shocking. Though the idea of being with one's romantic partner every day might seem alluring, it's helpful to make sure both parties are doing so by choice, not by supernatural force.
7 Harold and Maude Demonstrates An Unusual Type Of Love
Couples with age gaps aren't unusual or rare; however, Harold and Maude's relationship is one that goes well beyond generations. This 1971 romantic comedy delves into what love looks like beyond stereotypes when young 19-year-old Harold falls in love with 79-year-old Maude, who happens to share his fascination with death.
The pair's relationship blossoms against all odds, but the plot twist hits twice when both Harold and the audience discover that not only is Maude a Holocaust survivor but is also planning her own exit from the world, much to Harold's despair.
6 Midnight In Paris' Romance Is Vintage Yet Modern
It's not unheard of for writers to pursue inspiration on a Parisian evening, as seen in Woody Allen's Midnight In Paris. However, it is unheard of when the author suddenly finds himself love-torn between his fiancé in 2010 and Pablo Picasso's lover in the 1920s.
This time-traveling romantic comedy combines the volatile flair and thinking of the golden age with the inconsistent emotional standards of the 21st century, creating an unexpected series of events. Midnight in Paris both exemplifies how romance is indeed alive and well but is simultaneously gone with the times.
5 Yesterday Adds Unexpected Characters To The Line-Up
The key elements to Yesterday are The Beatles, love, and a parallel universe, which is the perfect setup for a film full of unpredictable turns. This 2019 rom-com proves how romance exists in any version of reality; however, the songs everyone knows and loves – those used to amplify that romance – may come into existence a little differently and later than expected.
Among the multitude of surprises, the story subtracts Paul McCartney and adds Ed Sheeran to the line-up, but much to protagonist Jack Malik's shock and the audience's, John Lennon happens to be alive and well, albeit slightly bitter and confused.
4 500 Days of Summer Is Both Hopeful And Hopeless
A boy-meets-girl love story can go one of two ways, and in the case of 500 Days of Summer, it goes both. Whether a true believer or cynic regarding matters of the heart, this catchy rom-com is valid for either point of view. This 2009 sweetheart staple has everything a romantic comedy could ask for, from cute catchphrases to endearing flirting, and even whole musical numbers.
However, what isn't usually on the roster is the way the seemingly storybook romance suddenly pivots into emotional wreckage, then pivots in a whole new direction again. In essence, the story comes full circle in terms of love between two people; it's just not the circle audiences expected to see at the beginning of the film.
3 The Philadelphia Story Is An Unpredictable Tale of Cat-And-Mouse
The Philadelphia Story is the classic love triangle gone terribly wrong, but not in the way one would imagine. Just when the audience starts to choose sides and thinks they have the characters' intentions figured out, the plot takes a turn. This 1940s rom-com is the perfect juxtaposition of sarcasm, sass, and unexpected sentiment shifts.
The back-and-forth charming banter between the characters of Tracy Lord, C.K. Dexter, and Macaulay Connor leave the audience questioning whose feelings are real, whose are for show, and who's actually going to end up with whom. However, they soon discover that no one actually ends up with anybody. The theme of this romantic comedy is one of self-love and respect.
2 Definitely, Maybe Keeps Audiences Guessing
The best part about Definitely, Maybe is the way it establishes a guessing game from the get-go, which it plays out until the very end. The fact the characters in the film and the audience are left to put the pieces together makes for a rom-com that keeps the storyline alive without getting overly sappy.
Through a detailed yet unrevealing recount of his three greatest loves, Will Hayes keeps his daughter, Maya, and viewers thinking "maybe" when it comes to working out who her mother is in the story, only to unravel into an unexpected two-part ending.
1 Crazy, Stupid, Love Is The Tangled Story No Family Expects
Balancing family, work and romance is a difficult task in and of itself; however, when these overlap, stressful situations are sure to unfold. Crazy, Stupid, Love just happens to bring the three together in a manner a little too close for comfort for most audiences. Like many good rom-coms, the story centers around a love triangle of sorts, but there are two catches: there's more than one triangle and none of the characters are even remotely aware of their existence.
Crazy, Stupid, Love is a romantic comedy that, above anything else, highlights the complexity of human relationships and self-esteem. Underlying the messed-up web of connections between all the characters is a lesson in honesty towards oneself and others.