As part of their 10 Top 10 list, the AFI has released their ranking of the 10 greatest romantic comedies of all time. As one might expect from a prestigious and historical ranking such as this one, the list is comprised primarily of older classic films, with one movie from the past 30 years cracking the list.
The list includes Academy Award darlings such as It Happened One Night and Annie Hall, black and white classics such as The Philadelphia Story and Roman Holiday, and a couple of beloved modern classics from Nora Ephron in Sleepless in Seattle and When Harry Met Sally..., among others.
Sleepless In Seattle
The most recently released film on the list, 1993's Sleepless in Seattle follows Annie Reed as she attempts to track down a single father that she feels a connection to after hearing him talk about his late wife on a national radio broadcast.
Sleepless in Seattle is an unconventional romantic comedy in that its two leads spend much of the film on opposite sides of the country. But the film succeeds largely because of its heartfelt tone, iconic ending, and endearing performances from rom-com legends Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.
Harold And Maude
The cult classic Harold and Maude tells the story of the unlikely titular couple. Harold is a young man who is fascinated with death who forms a romantic relationship with Maude, an elderly Holocaust survivor who teaches him the importance of living his life to the fullest.
With a meaningful message and a unique leading couple, Harold and Maude is a one-of-a-kind romantic comedy that defies the expectations and conventions of the genre in order to deliver important themes and surprisingly effective dark humor.
Moonstruck
Lead by a genuinely great Oscar-winning performance from Cher, Moonstruck follows a superstitious widow who gets engaged and insists on following tradition in order to avoid having a cursed relationship, as she believes her first marriage was jinxed. However, a complication arises when she develops feelings for her fiancé's brother.
With engaging performances from Cher, Nicolas Cage, and the supporting cast, as well as an excellent script, and hilarious comedic moments, Moonstruck is one of the best romantic comedies of the 1980s and earns its place on the list of best rom-coms of all time.
Adam's Rib
The 1949 classic Adam's Rib is about a pair of lawyers who are married to each other and come to oppose each other in court when they agree to take on opposite sides of a case involving a woman who attempted to shoot her husband after catching him in an affair.
The film addresses the changing gender roles and societal expectations that were taking place in the middle of the century in a smart, progressive, and hilarious way. With the iconic pairing of Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn bringing to life a brilliant script, Adam's Rib has cemented itself as one of the funniest and greatest romance movies of all time.
When Harry Met Sally...
Centered around the question of whether men and women can just be friends, When Harry Met Sally... tracks the development of a relationship over the course of a decade as the titular couple progress from strangers to friends to eventual romance, tracking their highs and lows along the way.
When Harry Met Sally... perfectly marries the optimistic romance of writer Nora Ephron with the comedic cynicism of director Rob Reiner, exemplifying these traits in the lead characters who are played to perfection by Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal. Hilarious and heartwarming, it is not hard to see why the film is considered the best romantic comedy of the last several decades.
The Philadelphia Story
Based on a Broadway play, The Philadelphia Story follows wealthy socialite Tracy Lord as she prepares for her upcoming wedding, only to find herself developing feelings for a journalist covering her wedding and reawakened feelings for her ex-husband who is suddenly back in her life.
The film's central love triangle is brought to life by Hollywood icons Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant, and James Stewart. With these legends leading the way, the film uses a ridiculous story to set up some truly great moments of humor and romance.
Roman Holiday
The classic romance Roman Holiday follows a European princess as she sneaks away from her country's embassy in order to explore the city of Rome on her own where she strikes up a romance with a man who, unbeknownst to her, is an American journalist.
Led by Gregory Peck and an Oscar-winning performance from Audrey Hepburn, the film combines the gorgeous locations of Rome with an endearing doomed romance to create a heartfelt, funny, and bittersweet story about lovers kept apart by circumstance.
It Happened One Night
The screwball comedy It Happened One Night is about a rich young woman who is en route to her wedding to formalize her marriage after eloping with a man who may only want to be with her because of her money. Along the way, she encounters a newspaper reporter who she grows to have feelings for.
Although the film's story is fairly light, the relatable characters, effective humor, and charming performances from Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert have made the film an enduring classic. It Happened One Night is also the rare comedic Oscars darling, becoming the only comedy ever to win the Big 5 awards of Best Picture, Director, Actor, Actress, and Screenplay.
Annie Hall
Annie Hall reflects on a failed romance as Alvy examines his own neuroses and the factors that led to his breakup with Annie, a free-spirited woman with whom he had a relationship unlike any he had ever had before.
With a relatably self-destructive lead and a surreal approach to its storytelling, the film is able to capture the perspective and internal reality of its protagonist with striking efficiency. Its deft balance of humor and romance, unique approach, and universal themes helped the film win the Best Picture Oscar and earn the reputation as an all-time great romantic comedy.
City Lights
The only silent film to make the list, City Lights follows Charlie Chaplin's iconic character The Tramp as he falls in love with a blind woman who mistakes him for a wealthy man. The Tramp then befriends an eccentric millionaire who is happy to help him pose as a rich man in order to impress the woman.
As is to be expected, Chaplin is reliably hilarious in one of his best movies as he returns to his most beloved role. The film is funny and sweet with one of the most moving and iconic endings of the era. Thanks to a simple but charming story and a heartfelt comedic performance from Chaplin, 90 years later the film still remains the greatest romantic comedy ever made.