10 Best Rom-Coms To Watch During The Holiday Season

Some of the most popular and well-received holiday films center around finding love. With the holiday season upon us, there are many ways to be festive. However, one of the best traditions is to stay in and enjoy a holiday movie, whether that be with friends, family, or on one’s own. These films not only bring a sense of excitement to the season but also carry important messages about love and romance.

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For example, classic films like When Harry Met Sally, voted the sixth-best rom-com of all time, are still beloved by audiences for their well-written characters and relatable storylines. Other, more whimsical love stories like those portrayed by the Love Actually cast, are quintessential favorites for their romantic depictions of dating and love during the holiday season. The best holiday romantic comedies use the holiday season to teach viewers more about romance’s messiness, excitement, and magic.

10 The Shop Around The Corner (1940)

Directed By Ernst Lubitsch

The Shop Around the Corner - Poster

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The Shop Around the Corner ComedyDramaRomance

The Shop Around the Corner, directed by Ernst Lubitsch, follows the lives of two employees at a Budapest gift shop who unknowingly become pen pals and fall in love through their anonymous letters. Starring James Stewart and Margaret Sullavan, this 1940 romantic comedy offers a charming exploration of mistaken identities and blossoming affection against the backdrop of an elegantly depicted pre-war Budapest.

Director Ernst Lubitsch Release Date January 12, 1940 Writers Samson Raphaelson , Miklós László , Ben Hecht Cast Margaret Sullavan , James Stewart , Frank Morgan , Joseph Schildkraut , Sara Haden , Felix Bressart , William Tracy , Inez Courtney Runtime 99 Minutes

The Shop Around the Corner is one of the first classic holiday romantic comedies and is a hidden gem that is still worth watching today. Set in Budapest, this simple 1940s film tells the story of two workers in a gift shop who have fallen in love with each other through exchanging anonymous letters. However, in real life, the pair don’t get along while working together in their shop, and chaos ensues when the truth comes out.

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The Shop Around the Corner
was later adapted into the popular Broadway musical of a different name,
She Loves Me,
and the hit film,
You’ve Got Mail.

This film, although dated in certain ways, is still resonant today for its well-crafted enemies to lovers’ romance, a trope that many audiences love. The two leads, Margaret Sullivan’s Klara and James Stewart’s Alfred, are likable in their own ways, despite having distinctly unique personalities that cause their initial clash. By the end, their romance is only able to flourish because they put aside their egos and give each other a second chance, which allows them to see they are more similar than originally thought, all in time for the start of the holiday season in Budapest.

9 When Harry Met Sally (1989)

Directed By Rob Reiner

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9/10 When Harry Met Sally RComedyDramaRomance

Written by Nora Ephron and directed by Rob Reiner, When Harry Met Sally chronicles the life and relationship of Harry Burns and Sally Allbright, who meet just after college on a road trip to New York City and begin a decade-long relationship that slowly evolves from friendship to true love. Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan star as Harry and Sally, with a further cast that includes Carrie Fisher and Bruno Kirby. 

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*Availability in US Director Rob Reiner Release Date July 21, 1989 Writers Nora Ephron Cast Bruno Kirby , Meg Ryan , Carrie Fisher , Steven Ford , Billy Crystal Runtime 95 minutes
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Another film about the bumpiness and unexpectedness of romance is Rob Reiner’s famous romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally. This popular film follows the unlikely friendship between the uptight and traditional Sally (Meg Ryan) and Harry (Billy Crystal), a self-proclaimed womanizer. Through the years, these friends teach each other about navigating love, relationships, and intimacy. Although this film doesn’t center around a specific holiday, its main events play out against the backdrop of the holiday season.

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The film is a classic for many reasons, but mainly because of its well-written dialogue, realistic interpretation of relationships, and lovable characters. Complete with Harry Conick Jr.’s famous jazz soundtrack, the atmosphere of New York City in the fall and winter only makes it better to watch during the holiday season. Though their journey is far from perfect, the chemistry between the leads is hard to deny, and it is easy to root for Harry and Sally. In When Harry Met Sally‘s ending, their long-awaited romance is sealed with a picture-perfect kiss just as they ring in the new year.

8 While You Were Sleeping (1995)

Directed By Jon Turteltaub

While You Were Sleeping

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8/10 While You Were Sleeping PGComedyDramaRomance

While You Were Sleeping is a romantic comedy-drama that stars Sandra Bullock as Lucy, a lonely Chicago Transit Authority worker who falls for a commuter, played by Peter Gallagher. After saving him from an oncoming train, she is mistaken for his fiancée while he is in a coma. The film explores themes of mistaken identity, family dynamics, and unexpected love. Bill Pullman co-stars as the man’s brother.

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*Availability in US Director Jon Turteltaub Release Date April 21, 1995 Cast Sandra Bullock , Bill Pullman , Peter Gallagher , Peter Boyle , Jack Warden , Glynis Johns Runtime 103 minutes Writers Daniel G. Sullivan , Fredric LeBow

While You Were Sleeping is another underrated holiday romantic comedy and is one of Sandra Bullock’s best movies. In this quirky film, a lonely ticket booth operator, Lucy (Bullock), accidentally finds herself engaged to Peter (Peter Gallagher), a man who is in a coma, after she rescues him, and his family mistakes her for his fiancée. Because Peter is her longtime crush, she decides to take the opportunity and lies. This amusing love story takes place in Chicago during the holidays.

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Besides its perfect snowy setting, While You Were Sleeping is highly entertaining with its complex web of lies and love triangles. Though Lucy goes along with the lie because she is lonely, she quickly faces the consequences of her actions, especially when she falls in actual love with Peter’s brother, Jack (Bill Pullman), complicating things. This plays out hilariously onscreen and is sure to entertain audiences. In the end, While You Were Sleeping teaches audiences that love cannot be forced, but rather, comes in the unlikeliest of places.

7 Elf (2003)

Directed By Jon Favreau

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10/10 Elf PGFamilyComedyFantasy

2003 Christmas comedy classic Elf follows Buddy (Will Ferrell), a human raised among Santa’s elves at the North Pole, when he sets off to New York to find his biological father (James Caan). After learning that children’s book publish Walter Hobbs is his father, Buddy works to immerse himself in human culture – including getting a job in a department store, where he meets and falls in love with fellow “elf” Jovie (Zooey Deschanel). However, when Santa’s sleigh crashes and Christmas is threatened, only Buddy can help save the holidays. 

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*Availability in US Director Jon Favreau Release Date November 7, 2003 Cast Will Ferrell , Zooey Deschanel , James Caan , Mary Steenburgen , Edward Asner , Bob Newhart , Daniel Tay Runtime 97 minutes Writers David Berenbaum
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Elf’s reputation speaks for itself and is arguably one of the most touching Christmas classics. Indeed, it is hard not to fall in love with Will Ferrell’s ridiculous but endearing portrayal of Buddy the elf, the human elf who navigates reconnecting with his estranged and grumpy father in New York City and adapting to life outside the North Pole. There are many important plot points in Elf, but one of the aspects of the film that makes it so charming is Buddy’s growing romance with Jovie (Zooey Deschanel), one of his co-workers at the Christmas department in the fictional department store.

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Buddy and Jovie’s relationship, although unrealistic, reminds viewers of the childlike innocence of falling in love for the first time and following one’s heart. For example, Buddy’s attempt at asking Jovie on a date, although awkward and poorly worded, is adorable to watch as a viewer. In the end, both Buddy and Jovie help each other to embrace their unique passions and personalities.

6 Love Actually (2003)

Directed By Richard Curtis

Love Actually Movie Poster

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7.7/10 Love Actually RComedyDramaHolidayRomance

The 2003 romantic comedy Love Actually follows various couples as they explore their relationships throughout the Christmas season. With a star-studded cast composed of Bill Nighy, Colin Firth, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Keira Knightley, Hugh Grant, Laura Linney, Liam Neeson, Rowan Atkinson, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Martin Freeman, and Martine McCutcheon, Love Actually has since become a Christmas staple for rom-com lovers.

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*Availability in US Director Richard Curtis Release Date November 14, 2003 Cast Colin Firth , Emma Thompson , Liam Neeson , Keira Knightley , Chiwetel Ejiofor , Laura Linney , Alan Rickman , Hugh Grant , Bill Nighy , Andrew Lincoln Runtime 135 minutes Writers Richard Curtis

Another beloved holiday romantic comedy is Love Actually, the anthology film that became an instant Christmas classic. Love Actually is a celebration of love that follows the lives of several Londoners who navigate romance during the holidays. By the end of Love Actually, each of their dramatic stories is intertwined in a fascinating web. The film boasts a star-studded cast, including performances from British names like Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant, Keira Knightley, and many more.

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Love Actually follows the love lives of several couples around the Christmas season, and their best quotes can be both humorous and heartfelt.

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Against the backdrop of snowy London during the holiday season, audiences witness heartwarming love stories like Aurelia (Lucia Monitz) and Jamie (Colin Firth), a writer and his housekeeper who fall in love despite a language barrier. Though some of the stories in Love Actually may seem far-fetched, it teaches audiences to be bold and honest when it comes to matters of the heart. At the end of the day, each character is rewarded for their bravery, whether they end up single or as a couple by Christmas.

5 The Holiday (2006)

Directed By Nancy Meyers

the holiday

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9.3/10 The Holiday pg-13RomanceComedy

The Holiday is a 2006 rom-com starring Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, and Jack Black. Directed and written by Nancy Meyers, The Holiday tells the story of two women who arrange a home swap to take a break from the stress of their recent breakups. But things take a turn when they both fall in love with local men.

Director Nancy Meyers Release Date December 14, 2006 Writers Nancy Meyers Cast Cameron Diaz , Jude Law , Jack Black , Kate Winslet Runtime 138 Minutes

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The Holiday is another Christmas movie set partially in the U.K. This is one of Nancy Meyers’ best films, about two women, type A businesswoman, Amanda Woods (Cameron Diaz) and an overly emotional journalist, Iris (Kate Winslet), who decide to swap houses for Christmas to escape their prospective romance troubles. However, both women find unexpected love in Los Angeles and Surrey.

The leading ladies may be extremely different (Amanda can’t cry and Iris can’t seem to stop crying) but are sympathetic and relatable for different reasons. It is hard not to smile while watching both women explore their new homes and embark on adventures. Both love stories are equally exciting, as Amanda falls in love with Iris’s handsome brother, played by Jude Law, and Iris, a colleague of Amanda’s, played by Jack Black. The film also highlights the beauty of platonic love, when Iris strikes up a friendship with her lonely older neighbor.

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4 Four Christmases (2008)

Directed By Seth Gordon

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Four Christmases

Four Christmases, directed by Seth Gordon, follows couple Brad and Kate as their holiday plans go awry when all flights are canceled. Forced to visit their four respective divorced parents, the pair navigates a series of chaotic and revealing family gatherings. Released in 2008, this film explores familial obligations.

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*Availability in US Director Seth Gordon Release Date November 26, 2008 Cast Vince Vaughn , Reese Witherspoon , Robert Duvall , Jon Favreau , Mary Steenburgen , Dwight Yoakam , Tim McGraw , Kristin Chenoweth , Jon Voight , Sissy Spacek Runtime 89 Minutes

Four Christmases is a chaotic comedy about the pains of family life during the holidays. The film revolves around a child-free, unmarried couple, Brad (Vince Vaughn) and Kate (Reese Witherspoon), who use the holidays as an opportunity to avoid their families and take a relaxing vacation. However, when the weather cancels their flights, the couple is forced to attend all four of their divorced parents’ Christmases. For those wanting a laugh, Four Christmases is sure to provide this.

Destination #

Family members

First Xmas

Brad’s father (Howard)

Second Xmas

Kate’s mother (Marilyn)

Third Xmas

Brad’s mother (Paula)

Fourth Xmas

Kate’s father (Creighton)

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Full of slapstick humor and ridiculous scenarios, each house brings a cast of quirky family members that Kate and Brad are forced to spend time with. However, as their day progresses, their relationship is put to the test as they begin to ponder the concept of a family on their own. In the end, Four Christmases teaches viewers the mark of a successful relationship is not running away from your problems, but embracing them as a dynamic in the partnership. The film also highlights the importance of accepting family for its flaws and complications.

3 Last Christmas (2019)

Directed By Paul Feig

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Last Christmas PG-13ComedyDramaRomance

Last Christmas is a romantic comedy movie that stars Emilia Clarke and Henry Golding. Kate is a young woman with a knack for bad decisions who can’t seem to get her life back on track. Working at a year-round Christmas store and hopping from couch to couch, everything seems like it’ll never get better. But when she meets Tom, a lovely fellow who seems too good to be true, her fortunes begin to change just in time for the holidays.

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*Availability in US Director Paul Feig Release Date November 8, 2019 Cast Patti LuPone , Emma Thompson , Rebecca Root , Lydia Leonard , Henry Golding , Ingrid Oliver , Emilia Clarke , Michelle Yeoh Runtime 103minutes Writers Bryony Kimmings , Emma Thompson , Greg Wise

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Last Christmas, one of the best Christmas movies of the last decade, is a whimsical romance. The recent film stars Emilia Clarke, who plays Kate, a burned-out young woman who works a dead-end job at a Christmas store in London. However, she begins to feel a renewed sense of hope when she meets Tom (Henry Golding), a mysterious man who she keeps running into. Though the film certainly has comedic elements, Last Christmas explores much deeper and darker topics.

Kate reveals she is struggling to adjust to life after having a freak accident last Christmas and receiving a heart transplant as a result. By the end of the film, Tom helps Kate embrace the realities of her new life, living with her transplant so that she can go after her goal of being a musician again. One of the best parts of this holiday story is the heartbreaking twist at the end that Tom is the ghost of the man whose heart Kate received in the transplant.

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2 Happiest Season (2020)

Directed By Clea DuVall

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Happiest Season PG-13RomanceComedy

Directed by Clea DuVall, Happiest Season follows Abby Holland and Harper Caldwell, a lesbian couple in New York City whose relationship is tested when they spend Christmas with Harper’s family. Wary of coming out to her conservative parents, Harper forces a very out Abby back into the closet for the visit, leading to both hilarious and disastrous consequences. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Kristen Stewart, Mackenzie Davis, Dan Levy, Alison Brie, Victor Garber, Mary Steenburgen, and Aubrey Plaza.

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*Availability in US Director Clea DuVall Release Date November 26, 2020 Cast Victor Garber , Mackenzie Davis , Dan Levy , Mary Holland , Aubrey Plaza , Kristen Stewart , Alison Brie , Mary Steenburgen Runtime 102minutes Writers Clea DuVall , Mary Holland

Happiest Season was an instant hit when it premiered as one of Netflix’s Christmas films in 2020. The film was also groundbreaking as one of the first Christmas films to focus on a queer couple. Director Clea DuVall’s film stars Kristen Stewart as Abby, who visits the family of her girlfriend, Harper (Mackenzie Davis), for Christmas, only to find that Harper has yet to come out to her parents.

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The dramatic, high-stakes plot of Happiest Season is enough alone to capture the attention of viewers, who feel for Abby as she impatiently waits for Harper to tell the truth, while Harper narrowly dodges discovery through a series of hilarious tactics. The film also has notable guest stars who only add to the comedy through their strong performances, such as Aubrey Plaza’s “Riley” and Dan Levy. In the end, Harper chooses to fight for her love and comes out to her conservative family. Harper and Abby’s romance reminds viewers that everyone deserves to love openly and honestly during the holidays.

1 Love Hard (2021)

Directed By Hernán Jiménez

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10/10 Love Hard pg-13RomanceComedy

Love Hard is a holiday romantic comedy that follows the hopelessly romantic but eternally single LA journalist Natalie who begins to see the light at the end of the tunnel when she begins a long-distance relationship with a man on the east coast. Deciding to take the jump, Natalie flies to her crush for the holidays, only to learn that she’s been catfished by Tag’s childhood friend, who is equally unlucky in love, Josh. What follows is a story of two lovelorn fools who may find what they’re looking for in each other.

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*Availability in US Director Hernán Jiménez Release Date November 5, 2021 Cast Mikaela Hoover , Harry Shum Jr. , Nina Dobrev , Heather McMahan , James Saito , Jimmy O. Yang , Darren Barnet Runtime 105 minutes Writers Rebecca Ewing , Danny Mackey

Love Hard is a newer Christmas romantic comedy on Netflix that has become a modern classic. The film follows Natalie (Nina Dobrev), a Los Angeles writer who meets a man, Josh (Jimmy O. Yang) on a dating app and decides to surprise him for the holidays by paying a visit to his house on the East Coast, only to discover he has been catfishing her.

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The two decide to make a deal that she will pretend to be his girlfriend to impress his family if he introduces her to the man he used in his catfish profile, Tag (Darren Barnet). What ensues is a series of ridiculous lies that eventually explode on Christmas day. For anyone who has suffered from singleness during the holidays, it is easy to relate to the loneliness of the leads in this film. In the end, both acknowledge that love comes from getting to know a person openly and naturally, not using deceit to attract them.

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