21 Of The Best Romance Movies and Romantic Comedies On Netflix Right Now
Siriol Dafydd
Entertainment Writer | Urban List, Sydney
Whether you’re on an actual date night, having a girls' night in, or enjoying a solo date with your duvet and a tub of ice cream (defo no judgement — been there), it’s always good to have a list of go-to movie options handy.
In the mood for a gloriously predictable rom-com? Or maybe you’d prefer a full-on romance movie that’s as depressing as it is romantic? Either way, we’ve got you covered. And, to make things easier for you, we’ve split everything into two categories so you can find the exact vibe you want for your cosy night in.
So, to bring you that dose of romance from the comfort of your sofa, here are all of the best rom-coms and best romantic movies to watch on Netflix right now.
Best Romantic Comedies on Netflix:
People We Meet on Vacation
Based on Emily Henry’s best-selling novel and starring Emily Bader and Tom Blyth, this easy-watching rom-com follows lifelong besties who take annual holidays together, despite being polar opposites. It’s your classic friends-to-lovers story told over a decade. And, as with all the best romantic comedies, there are plenty of ups and downs and romantic complications. This is certainly not a high-brow film that will change your life, but if you want a cosy movie that doesn’t make your brain or your heart work too hard, you’re good to go.
27 Dresses
This noughties classic is Katherine Heigl at her rom-com peak. If you’ve miraculously never seen this movie, the story follows a woman who is constantly going above and beyond with bridesmaid duties for other women while neglecting her own love life and hiding her secret and undying love for her boss. But as the aforementioned boss hastily gets engaged to her spoiled little sister, things start to unravel. With the equally talented and swoon-worthy James Marsden playing opposite Heigl as a potential love interest, you really can’t go wrong with this one.
Just Like Heaven
Having a tough week and feeling a little lonely? Some vintage Mark Ruffalo and Reese Witherspoon should cheer you up. This 2005 romantic comedy follows a sceptical man who moves into a new apartment only to discover the ghost of the previous tenant still living there. We won’t say any more because we take spoilers very seriously (even when the movie’s already been out for over 20 years)... but suffice it to say that it’s a warm, sweet, and harmless movie that will make you smile.
Irish Wish
Starring Lindsay Lohan, Irish Wish is about a woman who travels to Ireland to be a bridesmaid at the wedding of the man she’s secretly in love with. And, as she accidentally declares her greatest want in life on an ancient wishing chair (as you do), she wakes up in an alternate reality where she is the one getting married. If you like rom-coms that don’t take themselves too seriously, you’ll probably enjoy this one.
Mr & Mrs Smith
While it made plenty of headlines at its time of release for bringing us Brangelina (and igniting a decades-long ‘poor Jen’ narrative), Mr & Mrs Smith holds up as a decent movie in its own right. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt play husband and wife who are secretly concealing their secret identities as spies from each other, while also trying to save their marriage. So it’s not your classic rom-com… but more of an action-comedy-romance kind of vibe. There’s plenty of intrigue, epic fight scenes, and oodles of chemistry between the two leads (which, in hindsight, is unsurprising).
Warm Bodies
If you’re looking for a romantic comedy that’s a bit different – OK, really different – look no further than Warm Bodies. Part love story, part zombie apocalypse, this 2013 film follows the unlikely romance between Julie and a zombie named R. It’s clever, sweet and endearing. In fact, it’s surprisingly lovely to watch someone undead fall in love.
Always Be My Maybe
This movie flew under a lot of people’s radars for a while, but it’s definitely worth adding to your rom-com watch list. Starring Randall Park and Ali Wong, Always Be My Maybe explores a childhood friendship that dissolves after a brief fling. It’s your classic will-they-won’t-they, but with a bit of extra character depth and backstories for good measure. It also has a great cameo by Keanu Reeves, which is reason alone to watch this movie.
The Holiday
Starring Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jude Law and Jack Black, this classic is near the top of most people’s go-to holiday movies. But who said you had to wait until Christmas time to enjoy a holiday rom-com? If you’ve never seen it, the story follows two women who escape from their lives by arranging a home exchange between Surrey, England and Los Angeles over Christmas and New Year. And, while they’re in each other’s respective homes, they enjoy a wonderful romantic dalliance on either side of the Atlantic. We’ll leave it there so you can grab your favourite wine and start streaming right this minute.
Set It Up
Set It Up takes all the familiar rom-com tropes you know and love and gives them a millennial spin. Zoey Deutch and Glen Powell have undeniable chemistry as two wildly overworked assistants who hatch a plan to set up their demanding bosses (played by Taye Diggs and Lucy Liu) in the hope of clawing back some work-life balance. Naturally, their plan spirals into something far more complicated—and romantic—than expected. With sharp, self-aware dialogue, a soundtrack packed with feel-good hits, and plenty of nods to modern workplace burnout, this is an easy-watch rom-com that still manages to feel clever.
The Wrong Paris
Let’s be honest—cheesy Netflix Original rom-coms are one of life’s great pleasures, and The Wrong Paris is a prime example. Dawn thinks she’s signing up for a dreamy dating show set in Paris, France… only to discover she’s landed in Paris, Texas instead. She has an exit plan ready to go—until sparks fly with the cowboy bachelor she’s been paired with. It’s got everything you would think it has, judging by the title and premise: Eiffel Tower replicas, cowboy boots, a bucking bull, and a whole lot of fish-out-of-water romance. It’s silly, predictable, and exactly the kind of movie you put on when you need some low-brow comfort and don’t want to think too hard.
Fool’s Gold
Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey teaming up again after How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days? Say less. Fool’s Gold follows an estranged married couple whose sense of adventure—and unresolved chemistry—is reignited when a new clue surfaces about a long-lost Spanish treasure they both want. Cue tropical locations, salty banter, and just enough action to keep things moving between flirtatious bickering and second-chance romance. It’s glossy, escapist fun with serious holiday energy—and proof that sometimes all you need to change your mood is a sun-soaked adventure rom-com.
Airplane Mode
Full disclosure - this one has more cheese than a Sunday hangover toastie. But, along with said cheese, it also has all the ingredients for a lighthearted rom-com that doesn’t take itself too seriously. The story follows Ana, a social media influencer who is exiled to her grandfather’s remote farm to detox from digital life after she crashes her car while filming a video. In a world with no phone reception and oh-so-much manual labour, Ana is forced to trade her ring light for a wrench and rediscover her true self—along with a spark for a handsome, down-to-earth local. Cheesy, predictable, and full of beautiful Brazilian actors, what more could you want?
To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before
This Netflix OG is one of the most binged movies ever for a reason: it’s the ultimate modern teen rom-com. When secret love letters are mysteriously mailed to each of her five childhood crushes, shy Lara Jean finds her usually quiet existence turned upside down. To save face, she strikes a "fake dating" pact with the school’s most popular jock, Peter Kavinsky, setting off a sweet, sincere, and visually stunning tribute to 80s romance filled with witty banter and awkward "meet-cutes." It’s a total comfort watch that perfectly captures the hilariously terrifying thrill of a first real crush.
The Kissing Booth
If you like your romance with a side of high-energy drama and summer vibes, this is for you. Elle Evans' mundane high school experience takes a wild turn when she volunteers to run the kissing booth at the school carnival… and ends up locking lips with her best mate’s incredibly hot (and strictly off-limits) big brother, Noah. What follows is a secret, "forbidden" love affair that forces Elle to choose between her lifelong best friend and her new crush. It’s a loud, fun, and unashamedly cheesy rom-com that leans into classic tropes like the "bad boy" transformation and the "secret romance." Plus, it’s a full-blown trilogy (with all three available on Netflix), so you can settle in for a long-haul binge.
Best Romance Movies on Netflix:
PS I Love You
Starring Hilary Swank and Gerard Butler, this poignant romantic drama is about a woman grieving and struggling after the death of her husband. But, as she receives a series of pre-written letters from her husband after his death, he gradually guides her through her grief and towards a new life. Basically, imagine The Notebook from beyond the grave with grief instead of alzheimers. It’s a sentimental tear-jerker for sure, but it’s also balanced with plenty of humour, mostly provided by Kathy Bates and Lisa Kudrow, who play the mother and best friend.
Our Souls at Night
Jane Fonda and Robert Redford team up for the fourth time in this quiet and meditative drama about loneliness, ageing, and late-in-life chances at love. The story follows a widow who proposes that she and her long-time neighbour (also widowed) spend nights together in bed, platonically, just to talk and keep each other company. It’s minimalist, tender, intimate, and melancholy. If you prefer grand gestures and high-stakes romance, this isn’t for you, but if you like high-quality romantic movies with excellent performances and realistic characters, give this one a go.
Lady Chatterley's Lover
When the book that inspired this movie first came out, it wreaked absolute chaos on account of very, very explicit sex descriptions and its use of four-letter words that were illegal to print at the time. The story follows the life of a woman who marries a very wealthy man, only to feel trapped once he returns from the First World War with injuries that leave him unable to walk. And, when she falls for the gamekeeper on their family estate, their secret trysts lead her to a sensual and sexual awakening. Basically, it’s 50 Shades of Grey in the 1920s. Watch it now and enjoy.
Heart Shot
Straight out of Netflix’s Emerging Filmmaker Initiative, Heart Shot is a 19-minute queer drama-meets-action short film. Directed by Marielle Woods (also known for Cobra Kai and Westworld), it follows two high schoolers from very different worlds who are deeply in love. Sam is a track star about to head off to college, while Nikki is a girl with a dark past she’s desperate to leave behind. Their tender plans for the future are violently interrupted when a group of dangerous figures from Nikki’s previous life track her down, forcing the couple into a brutal fight for survival. It’s a genre-bending "one last night" story that proves love can be a battlefield, quite literally.
Malcolm & Marie
Zendaya and John David Washington star in this achingly romantic drama in which a filmmaker and his girlfriend return home following a movie premiere as he awaits what’s sure to be imminent critical and financial success. But the evening suddenly takes a turn as revelations about their relationships begin to surface, testing the strength of their love. Shot in black and white on 35mm film and with voyeuristic cinematography, it’s a highly stylised film that combines golden age Hollywood glamour with intense claustrophobia and emotional drama. Definitely not a pick-me-up rom-com, but worth a watch if you’re in the mood for something deep with critically acclaimed performances.
The Last Letter From Your Lover
This is one of those movies that tells two interwoven stories across different time periods. In a nutshell, Ellie is an ambitious journalist who discovers a trove of secret love letters from 1965 and becomes determined to solve the mystery of the forbidden affair at their centre. And, as she works with an endearing archivist to track down more letters, she uncovers the affair between the wife of a wealthy industrialist and the financial journalist assigned to cover him, all while a love story of her own begins to unfold. It’s sentimental, bittersweet, and escapist — enjoy.
Irreplaceable You
Irreplaceable You is the heartwarming, romantic story of Abbie and Sam. They’re best friends since childhood and engaged to be married, but their lives come crashing down when Abbie receives a terminal cancer diagnosis. Faced with an uncertain timeline, Abbie begins a touching yet humorous search for a new love to take care of Sam. Along the way, Abbie makes unlikely friendships with Myron (Christopher Walken), Kate (Kate McKinnon) and Mitch (Steve Coogan), who all share the common experience of living while dying. Don’t let the cast of top-notch comedians fool you, this one’s a real tear-jerker.
Image Credit: Netflix
Urban List Best Of has our highest stamp of approval—curated lists of the very best recommendations for you to eat, do, see, buy or book, carefully chosen by our Editors.
80 Of The Best Shows On Netflix Australia Right Now (June 2026)
107 Of The Best Movies On Netflix Australia To Stream Tonight (June 2026)
