Summary

  • HBO Max’s Romantic Comedies offer an intriguing mix of romance and humor, proving the continued popularity of the genre.
  • Despite the dominance of the action movie, laugh-out-loud romance movies still have a huge audience driven by lovable performances.
  • The best rom-coms on HBO Max are well-known classics and influential releases that push genre boundaries.


Romantic Comedies are the easiest movies for viewers to watch in their own homes The best romcoms on HBO Max prove it. The charm of romantic comedies has remained consistent over the years, presenting audiences with an intriguing blend of romance and humor. The popularity of the genre may have relegated the big-budget to the 2010s film landscape, but since then the rom-com renaissance has seen releases such as A ghost image and No hard feelings, and even Pixar’s Elemental was essentially a romantic comedy.

While high-octane action flicks may dominate channel bundles, there’s still a huge audience for laugh-out-loud romances driven by lovable shows. In today’s technology-driven cinema age, romantic comedies are a testament to the human spirit’s endless need for laughter and love. As streaming platforms compete to deliver the best content, the best rom-coms on HBO Max are the most recognizable classics and the most influential releases that took the genre to places audiences didn’t know romantic comedies could go. The best rom-com videos on HBO Max are some of the best releases in the genre.

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10 Date Night (2010)

The couple’s attempts to liven up the evening go awry

Date night

Publication date
April 8, 2010

Manager
Shawn Levy

Execution time
88 minutes

Steve Carell and Tina Fey bring to life Phil and Claire Foster, an ordinary couple whose lives are turned upside down on a boring date night. The couple gets into a case of mistaken identity involving corrupt police officers and mafia bosses. While most rom-com posts are about the beginning of a relationship, Date night interestingly focuses on the married couple’s less exciting years, but it’s no less a romantic comedy.

The 2010 film follows a couple as they rekindle their passion and love for each other. Date night Is a great action-oriented romantic comedy also because the movie is full of high-octane car chases and shootouts.

9 Just Wright (2010)

A therapist falls for an NBA superstar client

Only Wright follows a physical therapist (Queen Latifah) who falls in love with an NBA star patient (Common). The film did not receive a positive reception when it was first released, with only a 47% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite this, Only Wright is such a crowd pleaser and full of humor and heart.

With a layered narrative that’s as much about professional integrity and personal growth as it is about love, the film offers a refreshing take on the rom-com genre. Only Wright is one of the most underrated films of the 2010s, as Latifah and Common have undeniable chemistry and perfect comedic timing.

8 My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)

A sleeper hit about a woman introducing her fiance to her culture

A big, fat Greek wedding is a delightful study of clashing cultures, as the phenomenal 2002 hit explores love between two seemingly incompatible worlds. There is comedy in the cultural misunderstandings as the film follows Toula who marries a non-Greek man and her family struggles to accept her into their family.

The movie was a sleeper hit because it never had a shockingly great weekend in theaters, but word of mouth, the film managed to stay in theaters for months. As a result, it was a box office hit, spawned two sequels, and may even have one My Big Fat Greek Wedding 4 at some point.

7 Kate & Leopold

A duke from the 19th century and a modern woman fall in love

While many rom-coms try to keep things relatively grounded and focus on humor and relationships rather than big premises, some can pull off both. Kate & Leopold Is the rare rom-com with time travel Hugh Jackman plays a 19th-century English duke who is forced to retreat to modern-day New York, where he falls in love with a career woman (Meg Ryan).

Jackman has fun fishing out of water with the character, while Ryan is the kind of rom-com veteran who can handle the premise and still create an effective love story. The result is a charming and more unique rom-com than your typical fare.

6 Shipwreck (2015)

A woman fights her opponent from Monagam when she meets her ideal match

A train accident

Publication date
July 17, 2015

Execution time
125 minutes

Judd Apatow is a filmmaker who has found a knack for letting lesser-known comedic stars shine in the lead roles, as well as finding heart in hilarious R-rated material. Apatow does both as a director A train accident written by and starring Amy Schumer. She plays a woman whose father convinced her at an early age that monogamy doesn’t work and that she prefers casual relationships. This lifestyle is put to the test when she meets a charming doctor (Bill Hader) who is pursuing a real relationship.

Schumer is hilarious in a role that allows her to embrace the kind of vulgar and self-deprecating humor seen in her stand-up comedy, but also the woman of the emotional performance tries to change her views on love. The film also has an incredible supporting cast, including Brie Larson, Tilda Swinton, John Cena and Lebron James playing fictional versions of themselves.

5 Wedding Crashers (2005)

Wedding Crashers break their own rules when one of them falls in love

Hoe guests

Publication date
July 15, 2005

Manager
David Dobkin

Execution time
119 minutes

Hoe guests is another R-rated rom-com that mixes cute moments with lots of fun vulgar humor. Vince Vaughn and Own Wilson star as two best friends who have perfected the art of sneaking into guests’ weddings, enjoying free food and booze, and picking up women. However, things get complicated when Wilson’s character breaks one of the central rules and falls in love with a girl (Rachel McAdams).

The real relationship in the story is between the two male leads, and Wilson and Vaughn show incredible chemistry together. However, The romance between Wilson and McAdams is surprisingly sweet The unexpected romance that develops between Vaughn and Isla Fisher’s character gets a lot of laughs. The film also has a strong supporting cast that includes cameos by Bradley Cooper, Christopher Walken and Will Ferrell.

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4 Knocked Up (2007)

A one-night stand leads to pregnancy

Spout

Publication date
June 1, 2007

Execution time
129 minutes

Spout is about an unexpected pregnancy after a one-night stand, setting the stage for a very authentic and realistic romantic comedy compared to the lavish countless vacation-based rom-coms. Instead of a tall, dark, handsome, rich businessman, Alison (Katherine Heigl) has a no-holds-barred one-night stand with a deadbeat stoner (Seth Rogen).

The film strikes a balance between comedic elements, such as the debate over baby names, and the darker reality of unexpected parenthood. 2007 publication combines humor with real-life challengesand as a result Spout is Judd Apatow’s best film and one of HBO Max’s best rom-coms.

3 The Lobster (2015)

Dark Rom-Com from The Need For Love

lobster

Publication date
October 16, 2015

Manager
Yorgos Lanthimos

Execution time
1h59min

Yargos Lanthimos is getting a lot of buzz for his Oscar nomination Poor thingsbut many people were first introduced to the filmmaker’s unique work with the dark and quirky romantic comedy Lobster. Movie is is set in a world where romantic partnership is a mandatory part of society and follows Colin Farrell’s lonely protagonist who takes part in a dating program and experiences severe punishments for those who fail to find a partner.

The film presents one strange and funny idea after another, leading to an exploration of a rebel group living outside of society who refuse to conform to romance. However, this is where Farrell’s character meets and falls in love with a woman (Rachel Weisz). It’s a weird, hilarious and strangely charming love story that everything leads to Lobsteran ending that raises intriguing questions about love.

2 Up in the Air (2009)

A man who is constantly traveling has to learn to settle down

In the air

Publication date
December 23, 2009

Manager
Jason Reitman
Throw
Starring Anna Kendrick, George Clooney, JK Simmons, Vera Farmiga, Jason Bateman, Zach Galifianakis

Execution time
109 minutes

George Clooney stars in the comedy In the air as a man whose work allows him to constantly be in the way and never form real relationships. The film follows Ryan Bingham (Clooney) as he embarks on one last road trip with a new company “downsizer” (Anna Kendrick) before facing a grounded life in the office. While on the road, he strikes up a casual relationship with a fellow traveler (Vera Farmiga).

Three leads are exceptional, all deserve Oscar nominations for their performances. Clooney’s lead is particularly interesting as he has to settle down and find someone he might finally want to do it with. The surprising way the film handles this relationship is what makes it stand out as a unique rom-com story.

1 Some Like It Hot (1959)

Two musicians go running dressed as female artists

Some like it hot

Publication date
March 15, 1959

Manager
Billy Wilder
Throw
Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, George Raft, Pat O’Brien, Joe E. Brown

Execution time
121 minutes

Some like it hot Is a timeless comedic masterpiece, not only for its humor, but also for its commentary on gender and society. The film follows two musicians on the run from the mob who decide to disguise themselves as women and join an all-female traveling band. Then they fall in love with Sugar (Marilyn Monroe), the band’s singer.

The film is endlessly funny as the two musicians try to seduce Sugar while still keeping their female aliases. The complexity of the double deception as the musicians take on more disguises such as fake millionaires leads to comedic brilliance and is undoubtedly one The best romcoms on HBO Max. It also contains one of the greatest final lines in movie history, ending things with a huge laugh.

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