Long day? Long week? What better way to unwind than by laughing at the trials in love of other people? The magic of romantic comedies ensures your own love life (and regular life) will always look sane in comparison to the craziness of Hollywood. Rom-coms have been raking in major box office returns and creating generations of adoring fans for almost a century, and it’s one of the best fallback genres there is when you just can’t figure out what you want to watch. Of course, if you’re a Hulu subscriber, you’ve got a whole lot of rom-coms to choose from. To help you wade through the murky waters of love, we’ve put together this roundup of the best rom-coms on Hulu this month.
Need more rom-coms this weekend? Check out our roundups of the best rom-coms on Amazon Prime Video and the best romantic comedies on Netflix.
The Birdcage (1996)
A different idea of what the romantic comedy can be, this remake of the French La Cage aux Folles is a comedy about what romance is and how it’s perceived. Engaged couple Val Goldman (Dan Futterman) and Barbara Keeley (Calista Flockhart) introduce their in-laws for the first time, but they’re walking on eggshells. That’s because Val’s father Armand (Robin Williams) is a gay Miami drag club owner in a relationship with the club’s star attraction, Albert (Nathan Lane). Barbara’s father is a controversial Republican Senator who isn’t exactly a hit with the gay community. But, for his son, Armand is willing to play the straight man.
Rotten Tomatoes: 81%
Stars: Robin Williams, Nathan Lane, Gene Hackman
Director: Mike Nichols
Rating: R
Runtime: 119 minutes
Watch on Hulu
Something’s Gotta Give (2003)
Aging womanizer Harry Sanborn (Jack Nicholson) and his young girlfriend, Marin (Amanda Peet), arrive at her family’s beach house in the Hamptons for a relaxing weekend away. Unfortunately, Marin’s mother Erica (Diane Keaton) also plans to stay for the weekend. Unsurprisingly, Erica hates Harry and his relationship with her much younger daughter. But when Harry has a heart attack and is prescribed bed rest at the Hamptons home, Erica is suddenly in charge of Harry. And the two have surprising chemistry.
Rotten Tomatoes: 72%
Stars: Jack Nicholson, Diane Keaton, Keanu Reeves
Director: Nancy Meyers
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 125 minutes
Watch on Hulu
2 Days in Paris (2007)
The writing-directing debut of actress Julie Delpy, 2 Days in Paris follows Marion (Julie Delpy) and Jack (Adam Goldberg), a struggling international couple that embarks on a European vacation to try and piece their romance back together. But after arriving in Paris to pick up Marion’s cat, they decide to stay for two nights in the famous city. As the pair begins encountering a number of Marion’s French-speaking ex-lovers, Jack begins to question his girlfriend’s fidelity, further fraying the weather-worn strings keeping him and Marion together. A beautiful breakout from Delpy featuring amazing characters, graceful camerawork, and an emotional score (composed by Delpy), 2 Days in Paris is hard to forget.
Rotten Tomatoes: 88%
Stars: Julie Delpy, Adam Goldberg, Daniel Brühl
Director: Julie Delpy
Rating: R
Runtime: 95 minutes
Watch on Hulu
Happiest Season (2020)
Abby (Kristen Stewart) and Harper (Mackenzie Davis) a lesbian couple, are planning on spending the holidays with Harper’s right-leaning parents. Embarking on their yuletide trip, Abby has a surprise up her own sleeve in the form of a marriage proposal to her longtime girlfriend. Terms of endearment are prematurely shelved, though, when Abby discovers that Harper hasn’t officially come out to her mother and father. A loving rom-com and a new holiday classic with a glossy sheen, Happiest Season isn’t breathtakingly original, but its sincere story and earnest performances from Stewart and Davis help to elevate the film above other rom-com streaming fodder.
Rotten Tomatoes: 83%
Stars: Kristen Stewart, Mackenzie Davis, Mary Steenburgen, Dan Levy
Director: Clea DuVall
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 102 minutes
Watch on Hulu
Plus One (2019)
Alice Mori (Maya Erskine) and Ben King (Jack Quaid) are friends in their late 20s and both unwed. Forced to watch everyone in their social circle get married, the duo makes a pact: For every wedding that they’re both invited to, they’ll act as each other’s “plus ones.” Leaning heavily on the onscreen chemistry between Erskine and Quaid, Plus One was released a year before Palm Springs (also featured in this roundup), a rom-com with a similar premise, albeit laced with surreal antics. Plus One goes for a more grounded approach, delivering low-key laughs instead of show-stopping set pieces, a narrative choice that works remarkably well.
Rotten Tomatoes: 88%
Stars: Maya Erskine, Jack Quaid, Ed Begley Jr.
Director: Jeff Chan, Andrew Rhymer
Rating: NR
Runtime: 96 minutes
Watch on Hulu
50 First Dates (2004)
Henry Roth (Adam Sandler) is the island heartthrob of Oahu. A marine veterinarian by trade, the animal doctor spends his off time launching into fling after fling with the women that roll through his Hawaiian paradise. When Henry’s boat breaks down, he docks at the Hukilau Café, where he meets Lucy (Drew Barrymore). The pair share a flirty exchange over breakfast, leading Lucy to request a second date. But when Henry returns the next morning, she no longer remembers him. It turns out Lucy has a certain kind of amnesia that forces her to relive the same day over and over, unable to process new memories. Henry is smitten, though, and will do whatever it takes to get close to Lucy, whether she remembers his goofy mug or not. An endearing rom-com with iconic Sandler slapstick woven throughout, 50 First Dates is on Hulu all month.
Rotten Tomatoes: 45%
Stars: Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore, Rob Schneider
Director: Peter Segal
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 96 minutes
Watch on Hulu
Young Adult (2011)
Young Adult stars Charlize Theron as young adult fiction writer Mavis Gary. Fueled by resentment, alcohol, and an unfulfilling career, Mavis leaves Minneapolis to return to her hometown of Mercury, Minnesota. Her intention: To steal her old high school sweetheart, Buddy (Patrick Wilson), from his married life. Mavis and her narcissistic tendencies are in for a rough ride though when a former classmate named Matt (Patton Oswalt) begins to infiltrate Mavis’ selfish plans for a glory-days homecoming. Powered by a rich lead performance by Theron and a biting script by Diablo Cody, Young Adult is a lesser-remarked-upon Jason Reitman flick but a worthy one all the same.
Rotten Tomatoes: 80%
Stars: Charlize Theron, Patton Oswalt, Patrick Wilson
Director: Jason Reitman
Rating: R
Runtime: 94 minutes
Watch on Hulu
Palm Springs (2020)
It’s November 9th, and Nyles (Andy Samberg) is heading to the wedding of friends Tala and Abe — again and again and again. It turns out that after entering a strange vortex in a desert cave, Nyles is stuck in an unbreakable time loop. The situation becomes more complicated once Sarah (Cristin Milioti), the maid of honor and sister of the bride, enters the portal with him, thereby cursing herself to the same vacuum. Oh, and let’s not forget that Nyles is being hunted by a man named Roy (J.K. Simmons). Taking the rom-com genre by storm, Palm Springs dishes out violence and hearty humor in all the right doses. It’s one you don’t want to miss. And miss. And miss.
Rotten Tomatoes: 94%
Stars: Andy Samberg, Cristin Milioti, J.K. Simmons
Director: Max Barbakow
Rating: R
Runtime: 90 minutes
Watch on Hulu
What Men Want (2019)
A light adaptation of the early 2000s film What Women Want, What Men Want follows sports agent Ali Davis (Taraji P. Henson). Frustrated after being passed over for a major promotion, Ali turns to a psychic named Sister (Erykah Badu). The mystic gives Ali a mysterious elixir that suddenly gives her the ability to hear what men are thinking. Hijinks and hardships ensue as Ali uses her newfound gift for the betterment of her own life. But when will her magical abilities go too far? Taraji P. Henson has unbelievable chops as Ali, leading an excellent cast of top-notch performers. While the film doesn’t take the rom-com to mighty new heights, it’s still a worthy watch for your weekend.
Rotten Tomatoes: 42%
Stars: Taraji P. Henson, Tracy Morgan, Aldis Hodge
Director: Adam Shankman
Rating: R
Runtime: 117 minutes
Watch on Hulu
Date Night (2010)
When Phil and Claire Foster (Steve Carrell and Tina Fey) decide to spice up their mundane date-night routine, Phil chooses a hot and popular Manhattan restaurant for him and his spouse. The only issue is they didn’t call ahead, and there are no more tables. No worries. Phil, ignoring Claire’s protests, takes the table of a no-show couple known as the Tripplehorns. While dining, Phil and Claire are approached by Collins (Common) and Armstrong (Jimmi Simpson), two mob enforcers that believe the Fosters are the Tripplehorns and that they’ve stolen from their boss, Joe Miletto (Ray Liotta). What follows is an action odyssey, buoyed by two incredible comedic performances from Carrell and Fey.
Rotten Tomatoes: 66%
Stars: Steve Carrell, Tina Fey, Mark Wahlberg
Director: Shawn Levy
Rating: R
Runtime: 102 minutes
Watch on Hulu
The Terminal (2004)
It hasn’t been the greatest day for Viktor Navorski (Tom Hanks). The European tourist arrives at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City, only to be confined to the terminal. It turns out that Viktor’s home country of Krakozhia has entered into civil war. With his nation divided, Viktor is prohibited by U.S. Customs from entering the United States or returning home, stranding the traveler at JFK. Taking up residence at a gate, Viktor begins making friends with airline employees and other travelers, chief among them being Amelia (Catherine Zeta-Jones), a flight attendant. Viktor quickly falls for Amelia, but Dixon (Stanley Tucci), the acting airport customs director, is hellbent on getting Viktor out of the terminal. Steven Spielberg’s post-9/11 rom-com is delightful, funny, and an excellent vehicle for the undeniable talent that is Tom Hanks.
Rotten Tomatoes: 61%
Stars: Tom Hanks, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Stanley Tucci
Director: Steven Spielberg
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 128 minutes
Watch on Hulu
Editors’ Recommendations
Above article first published by . We curated and re-published.