By Anita Rodriguez, Contributing Writer

        Studies show that about 70% of people enjoy watching romantic comedies, or rom-coms, on or around Valentine’s Day. Personally, I watch rom-coms indiscriminately throughout the year and am a self-proclaimed expert on the genre. I believe that nothing can truly top sitting down with a group of friends and a cliché happy-ending. So, if you too want to join in on the movie-watching festivities beyond the Valentine’s Day season, here are some of my favorite recommendations, organized by options from the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s.

Let’s start with the 1980s: if you’re looking for cult classics and opposites-attract type tropes, sit down with When Harry Met Sally or Say Anything. These movies are the origin of time-honored clichés like running through New York to the New Year’s party or standing outside with a boombox and are beloved across generations. If instead, you’re looking for high-school, coming-of-age storylines, you might enjoy John Hughes’s Some Kind of Wonderful or Pretty in Pink. 

Moving on to the 1990s: My favorite sub-category of this era is the Hugh Grant romantic comedy. From Notting Hill to Four Weddings and a Funeral, these movies are sweet and funny, all wrapped up with 1990s London charm. Another fun archetype of this time is rich-man-meets-everyday-girl, with personal favorites like Jerry Maguire or Pretty Woman. With great soundtracks and iconic lines like “You had me at hello” or “Big mistake. Huge,” these movies are must-watch material.

       And finally, the 2000s: A big decade for second-chance romance stories—movies like 13 Going on 30 or Sweet Home Alabama are some of my all-time favorites. With cute childhood friendships and emotional reunions, these comforting movies are great to watch with friends or family. Another element of 2000s romantic comedies are the fantasy-adventure rom-coms, including movies such as Stardust or Kate and Leopold that feature elements like time-travel, evil fairies, and sky-pirates. If you’re looking for more familiar actors, hilarious movies like The Proposal and The Wedding Planner feature Ryan Reynolds, Matthew McConaughey, and JLo herself. 

Rom-Coms, photo from Anita Rodriguez

So if you’re one of the 70% planning to enjoy a romantic movie this month, I hope these recommendations offer some inspiration. Valentine’s Day is the perfect time for the cliché montages, happy-endings, and funny one-liners of this genre! ☐