Subscribers looking for some laughs and love stories will find plenty of both among the best romantic comedies on Disney+. RomComs might not be what initially springs to mind when it comes to Disney+, as Disney's iconic animated movies and television shows alongside flagship franchises are the platform's staples. But as exciting as Star Wars and the MCU can be, some people are in the mood for something else when they log onto Disney+. There are plenty of other genres to choose from, and that includes many great romantic comedies.
Creating a great romantic comedy isn't an easy task as balancing all of the different emotions into one movie isn't as simple as it seems. However, Disney+ has some fantastic examples of this genre at its absolute best that are available to stream today. These movies can be laugh-out-loud funny in one moment and touchingly romantic in the next. Seeing these love stories unfold with a good bit of humor is a thrill and the best romantic comedies on Disney+ feature big names ranging from Tom Hanks to Drew Barrymore to Sandra Bullock.
10 Confessions Of A Shopaholic (2009)
Based on the best-selling novels, Confessionals of a Shopaholic stars Isla Fisher as a young woman obsessed with shopping for clothes and shoes. When her spending gets out of control, she is forced to fake her way into a job with a financial magazine where she gains the iration of her charming boss (Hugh Dancy). Though the movie is not entirely deep with its concept or characters, it is elevated by Fisher's funny and winning performance in the lead role.
9 While You Were Sleeping (1995)
There are many great Sandra Bullock rom-coms but While You Were Sleeping manages to pull off a hilarious and endearing story based on a very odd premise. Bullock plays a single woman who saves a man (Peter Gallagher) who falls into a coma. After being mistaken as the man's fiancé, she goes along with the lie until she begins falling for the man's brother (Bill Pullman). A rom-com that begins with someone falling into a coma might not sound overly romantic or funny, but a combination of Bullock's star power and her chemistry with Pullman really makes it work. The movie grossed over $100 million and earned Bullock a Golden Globe nomination.
8 Enchanted (2007)
Fairy tale romances are ripe for parody and Enchanted has a blast bringing those dated tropes into a modern setting. Amy Adams stars as a princess straight out of a classic Disney animated movie who is magically transported into the live-action world of New York City. As her dim Prince Edward (James Marsden) pursues her, she falls for an ordinary single father (Patrick Dempsey). Adams gives a wonderful Golden Globe-nominated performance that combines her likability and humor. Though the sequel Disenchanted failed to recapture the magic, Enchanted remains a wonderful satire of fairy tale clichés and also a legitimately great musical with three Oscar-nominated songs.
7 Never Been Kissed (1999)
Drew Barrymore gives a fully committed comedic performance in the high school rom-com Never Been Kissed. Barrymore plays a socially awkward and lonely reported who must face her dramatic high school days when she is assigned to go undercover as a student for a story. As she attempts to have a better teenage experience this time around, she falls for her kind teacher (Michael Vartan). The romantic aspects with the teacher certainly have not aged well, but those aspects are smoothed over by Barrymore's hilarious performance. The movie also contains a great ing cast, including John C. Reilly, Octavia Spencer, and Molly Shannon as well as early roles for Jessica Alba and James Franco.
6 Father Of The Bride (1991)
Father of the Bride is a rare rom-com in which the romance at the center of it all is not the main focus. Instead, this is a movie about a man (Steve Martin) dealing with the mayhem of his daughter getting married to her fiancée. The young love around the wedding is charming, but the chaos of the wedding planning is the most fun aspect — especially with Martin Short's scene-stealing role as an eccentric wedding planner. Martin gives one of his most grounded performances as there are some real relatable and emotional moments as Short's stiff and uptight father figure character struggles with seeing his little girl go off to start her own life.
5 Bend It Like Beckham (2002)
Along with being a sweet rom-com, Bend it Like Beckham is also a renowned feel-good sports movie. It stars Parminder Nagra and Keira Knightley as two young women who want nothing more than to pursue their dreams of soccer even though their respective families have other plans. In the midst of the sports story, there is a charming romance between Jess (Nagra) and a caring coach named Joe (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) that adds to the theme of following the heart and staying true to yourself. The small British movie became a surprise hit and was even nominated for Best Picture at the Golden Globes.
4 The Princess Diaries (2001)
Anne Hathaway found her breakout role in the teen rom-com The Princess Diaries. She plays Mia, a clumsy and overlooked high school student who learns that she is the princess of a royal family and her grandmother (Julie Andrews) seeks to transform her into royalty. However, the romance at the center of it all is Mia and Michael, a friend from her high school who liked her before she was given the royal makeover. With rom-com veteran Gary Marshall at the helm, director of Pretty Woman, it is no surprise that the movie was a hit. Hathaway gives a star-making performance and has great chemistry with Julie Andrews.
3 Splash (1984)
One of Tom Hanks' many great roles, Splash helped to launch his career as a box office draw. Years after being saved in the ocean by a mermaid as a child, Allen (Hanks) reunites with the lovely sea creature (Daryl Hannah) and falls in love with her. Splash is another example of how a rom-com can be a huge success if it is willing to break from the genre's norms. The odd fantasy story works surprisingly well, as Hanks is a hilarious leading man thrust into this strange situation while Hannah is enchanting. It marks a terrific early directing project from Ron Howard that earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay.
2 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
10 Things I Hate About You is one of the funniest movies available on Disney+, as the movie has a tremendous cast and lots of fun to be had. The movie is a classic teen comedy focusing on two sisters that several characters end up falling in love with. While one is popular and beloved, the other is typically much pricklier on the outside, although the equally badass male lead of the film ultimately falls in love with her. The movie was actually loosely based on the Shakespeare tale The Taming of the Shrew but adapted for a younger and hipper audience. With the likes of Heath Ledger, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Julia Stiles leading the story of unlikely couples and young romance.
1 The Princess Bride (1987)
Like Enchanted, The Princess Bride dives into the world of fairy tale romance and adds its own wonderful modern twist. The clever framing device for the movie has a grandfather reading a story to his grandson about a stableboy and a beautiful girl who fall in love only for fate to tear them apart. The long, entertaining and hilarious adventure to see these two reunited is filled with The Princess Bride's iconic cast of characters. It is a rare movie that can have fun with its tone and not take itself too seriously, yet is extremely effective at delivering an emotionally gripping story. Plus, it's one of the most quotable movies put to screen, and its mix of romanc and humor with action and adventure makes it a family favorite and easily the best romantic comedy on Disney+.
