Romantic comedy is seen as one of cinema's most reliable genres. With heartwarming hits that can often be counted on to evoke feelings of wholesomeness, rom-coms have made studios millions over the years while continuing to follow the feel-good formula.
Rom-coms didn't stay at the forefront of films without a little reinvention though. As the genre grew in popularity, so did the topics explored within it. Whether they became more adult or simply combined with other genres, some romantic comedies switched things up and became classics as a result. Others stuck to the script and, much like the love stories within the films, didn't always work out.
10 Reinvented: When Harry Met Sally Set A New Gold Standard For The Rom-Com
Rob Reiner's all-time classic rom-com, When Harry Met Sally, not only marked a high point and lit a fire under the genre for the decade that came after, but it also expanded upon ideas previous films had only shown glimpses of.
Love and sex between friends form the backbone of 1989's When Harry Met Sally. Writer Nora Ephron's effortlessly believable dialogue shines as always, and thanks to the electric chemistry between leads Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan, When Harry Met Sally set a new gold standard for romantic comedies. The 1990s brimmed with imitations as a result.
9 Didn't: You've Got Mail Was More Of The Same From Nora Ephron
After Nora Ephron cemented herself as the queen of writing romantic comedies, she set out to dominate the genre as a director. Ephron directed and co-wrote 1993's Sleepless in Seattle. With help from Tom Hanks and rom-com stalwart Meg Ryan, Ephron crafted another huge hit.
The trio's next team-up was for 1998's You've Got Mail. Though the film didn't break new ground for the romantic comedy genre, it doubles as a showcase of the finest talents, tropes, and ideas that worked within it. It also features what is arguably the most poorly-aged opening credit sequence of the era.
8 Reinvented: The Princess Bride Added Magic And Fantasy To The Genre To Stunning Effect
Before When Harry Met Sally, Rob Reiner had already put his name in the hat as one of cinema's most talented directors. With The Princess Bride, Reiner combined rom-com with epic fantasy, and the result is one of the best feel-good movies of the 1980s.
Audiences found themselves desperately holding back tears upon hearing Peter Falk's heartstring-tugging closing line. Few movies, if any, that came after managed to captured such magic, but The Princess Bride opened the gates and dropped the drawbridge for wilder, more outrageous romantic comedies.
7 Didn't: How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days Was Another Dud From An Unfortunately Typecast Star
Long before fans and critics dubbed Matthew McConaughey's career resurgence, "The McConaissance," the American actor was firmly typecast as a hunky rom-com lead. In hindsight, these roles seem to greatly restrict McConaughey's talents as an actor, instead favoring to make him simply likable and good-looking with little variety.
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days is one of the offenders. A predictable story can't help but hinder the interesting concept and warm chemistry between McConaughey and Kate Hudson. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days offered little new to the genre and is best remembered for being one of those films that Matthew McConaughey made before he showed off his dramatic chops.
6 Reinvented: Romancing The Stone Took Romance And Comedy To The Jungle
By combining the romantic comedy genre with action-adventure, Robert Zemeckis created a fantastic and unique addition to the rom-com roster with 1984's Romancing the Stone. A cynic may see the picture as an Indiana Jones clone, yet the majority of critics that compared the film to Raiders of the Lost Ark did so with compliments.
Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner star as classic unexpected lovers. Their backdrop is the jungle and the film's comic relief is courtesy of the always reliable Danny DeVito. Consequently, Romancing the Stone stands as one of the very best adventures of the '80s.
5 Didn't: Last Christmas Failed To Leave A Lasting Impression
After stealing the hearts of Game of Thrones fans as everyone's favorite Khaleesi, Emilia Clarke looked set for a major career at the top of Tinseltown. While she hasn't managed to strike gold with any Hollywood hits so far, 2019's Last Christmas seemed like a safe bet to further cement the English actor's stardom.
Sadly, the musical masterpieces of George Michael aren't enough to save Last Christmas from its tiresome plot and predictable twist ending. Clarke's performance is understandably a highlight, but the film ended up being snowed under by the far better holiday rom-coms of Christmases past.
4 Reinvented: Bridget Jones's Diary Put The Brit-Chick-Flick On A Unavoidable Billboard
The fact that the character of Bridget Jones is hailed as a British cultural icon – despite the actress who played her (Renee Zellweger) hailing from Texas – is a testament to the overwhelming popularity and success of the 2001 movie. Bridget Jones's Diary is essentially Pride and Prejudice for a modern audience.
Renee Zellwegger received an Academy Award nomination for her performance as the charming and endearing Bridget Jones. Backed up by Hugh Grant and Colin Firth, she managed to create one of the most relatable women to ever step into the genre.
3 Didn't: License To Wed Had Nothing New To Say About Marriage
Before John Krasinski showed off his immense talents as both an actor and a director in 2018's A Quiet Place, he was, of course, a hugely popular paper salesman in The Office. A Quiet Place was a monster hit, but Krasinski's earlier attempts to escape the shadow of Jim Halpert weren't quite as successful.
2007's License to Wed is far from fondly remembered. A flat romantic comedy featuring a rare misfire of a performance from the late, great Robin Williams, License to Wed has very little going for it. However, for fans of The Office, appearances from Angela Kinsey and Brian Baumgartner may make it worth their time.
2 Reinvented: 500 Days Of Summer Offered Up A More Realistic Look At Romance
With a tightly woven, non-linear story and powerhouse performances from the always charismatic duo of Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel, 500 Days of Summer defies the expectations that typically come with big-screen love stories. 500 Days of Summer is a fantastic blend of a coming-of-age drama and a rom-com.
Gordon-Levitt's hopeless romantic has a refreshingly downbeat end result to his journey. 500 Days of Summer earned multiple awards and drew favorable comparisons to classic rom-coms such as Annie Hall. Even with that said, Marc Webb's film is still a remarkably unique addition to the genre.
1 Didn't: Maid In Manhattan Wasn't Made To Be Memorable
Even with a story from the great John Hughes (credited with pseudonym this time around) and the talents of Jennifer Lopez and Ralph Fiennes as its two leads, Maid in Manhattan failed to resonate with audiences. It's often looked upon as one of the worst chick-flicks ever made.
Fiennes and Lopez have zero chemistry on screen, and the film's plot sticks all too closely to the predictable fairy tale tropes of Cinderella. Maid in Manhattan didn't dare to do something new, but it didn't manage to perfect the tried and tested formula either.