Any season can be a season of love with these swoon-worthy films.

The 25 best romantic movies on Netflix

Any season can be a season of love with these swoon-worthy films.

By Ilana Gordon,

Ilana Gordon is an entertainment, culture, and comedy writer originally from Connecticut. She currently lives in Los Angeles.

EW's editorial guidelines

and James Mercadante

on November 10, 2025 9:23 a.m. ET

LaKeith Stanfield as Nate Davis and Gina Rodriguez as Jenny Young in 'Someone Great'; Emma Corrin as Lady Constance Chatterley and Jack O'Connell as Oliver Mellors in 'Lady Chatterley's Lover'; Robert Redford as Louis Walters and Jane Fonda as Addie Moore in 'Our Souls at Night'. Credit:

Netflix (2); Kerry Brown/Netflix

Tired of going to bed alone? With Netflix, you don't have to. Cozy up to one of the platform's myriad romantic films: They come in all shapes, sizes, and genres. Looking for a historical romance or queer entanglement? What about a journey of self-discovery or a musical romp? All you have to do is swipe and select. And to help you find a movie you love even faster, EW has curated a selection of the 25 best romantic movies worth watching with a date or by yourself.

10 Things I Hate About You (1998)

Heath Ledger as Patrick Verona and Julia Stiles as Kat Stratford in '10 Things I Hate About You'.

Richard Cartwright/Touchstone Pictures

The 20th century ended on a high, at least as far as rom-coms are concerned. Starring some of the hottest young talent of the late-‘90s, *10 Things I Hate About You* reimagines William Shakespeare’s beloved play *The Taming of the Shrew *as a high school love story. Cameron James (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) falls in love with Bianca Stratford (Larisa Oleynik), but learns she isn’t allowed to date until her older sister, Kat (Julia Stiles), does. After Cameron manages to convince resident bad boy Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger) to woo Kat, Padua High School finds itself overrun with hormones and hijinks.**

A classic rom-com with a killer soundtrack, *10 Things I Hate About You* is the only film to answer the question of what would happen if Shakespeare went to high school in Seattle. —*Ilana Gordon***

Where to watch *10 Things I Hate About You*: Netflix******Director: **Gil Junger**

**Cast: **Julia Stiles, Heath Ledger, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik

Always Be My Maybe (2019)

Ali Wong as Sasha Tran and Keanu Reeves as himself in 'Always Be My Maybe'. Doane Gregory/Netflix

Two old childhood friends reconnect in *Always Be My Maybe*, starring Ali Wong and Randall Park. As teens, the pair considered a romantic relationship, but it didn't work out. As adults, she's become a famous chef while he's still stuck in a small-time band and working for his dad's business.

Now, they'll have to try and see if love is their destiny once again while facing her fame and his insecurities. The movie also features plenty of quirky moments, including Keanu Reeves playing an odd version of himself as a love interest for Wong's character. And, as an added bonus, there's also Wong's amazing wardrobe. —*Lia Beck *

Where to watch *Always Be My Maybe*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B

**Director: **Nahnatchka Khan

**Cast: **Ali Wong, Randall Park, Keanu Reeves, Daniel Dae Kim, James Saito, Michelle Buteau, Vivian Bang ** **

Blue Jay (2017)

Sarah Paulson as Amanda and Mark Duplass as Jim in 'Blue Jay'. Everett Collection

Twenty years after breaking up, former high-school sweethearts Jim (Mark Duplass, who also wrote the script) and Amanda (Sarah Paulson) bump into each other in their California hometown and end up spending the day — and night — together. As they update each other on what's transpired in their lives in the years since they last spoke, Jim and Amanda reminisce together about the people they used to be while attempting to understand the people they have become. A slice of life film that offers a glimpse into the optimism of youthful infatuation, and the bitter realities of aging, living, and loving, *Blue Jay's *simple story is still meaty enough for its two leads to dig their performative talons into. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Blue Jay*: Netflix

**Director: **Alex Lehmann** **

**Cast: **Mark Duplass, Sarah Paulson ** **

Clueless (1995)

Stacey Dash as Dionne Davenport and Alicia Silverstone as Cher Horowitz in 'Clueless'.

Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection

Nineties teen fashion, music, and vernacular are on full display in Amy Heckerling’s *Clueless*. A time capsule preservation of the decade’s pop-cultural attitudes — at least as far as the Beverly Hills set is concerned — *Clueless *asks what would happen if Jane Austen’s *Emma* was set in a Los Angeles high school during the height of mall culture.

The film’s critical reception was mid, but three decades later, *Clueless *has aged as gracefully as Paul Rudd’s face, which is to say shockingly well. Alicia Silverstone gives a career-best performance as Cher Horowitz, a spoiled teenager whose worldview and popularity are disrupted by the arrival of a new girl in school (Brittany Murphy, also operating at the top of her game). Whether you’re lusting after Cher’s wardrobe and digital closet or enjoying Heckerling’s virtuosic presentation of ‘90s teen slang, watching *Clueless *always feels like a return to simpler times.* —I.G.*

Where to watch *Clueless*: Netflix through Nov. 30

**Director: **Amy Heckerling

**Cast: **Alicia Silverstone, Paul Rudd, Stacey Dash, Brittany Murphy

Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

Michelle Yeoh as Eleanor Sung-Yung, Henry Golding as Nicholas Young, and Constance Wu as Rachel Chu in 'Crazy Rich Asians'.

Sanja Bucko/Warner Bros. Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

Singapore is a small country with a big thirst for gossip — at least as it pertains to the extravagantly wealthy families on the island in *Crazy Rich Asians*. And nobody there is considered a more eligible bachelor than Nick Young (Henry Golding), who left for the States years ago and is now returning to attend a friend’s wedding along with his girlfriend, Rachel (Constance Wu), who — to the dismay of the area’s singles — is American born, and worse, does not come from money.

Shocked to learn that her down-to-earth boyfriend is actually the heir to one of Singapore’s biggest and longest-established fortunes, Rachel must learn to navigate this new culture, impress Nick’s snobbish family, and generally survive life among the excess if she hopes to continue her relationship. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Crazy Rich Asians*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B

**Director: **Jon M. Chu

**Cast: **Henry Golding, Constance Wu, Michelle Yeoh, Gemma Chan, Awkwafina, Ken Jeong, Jimmy O. Yang

Dirty Dancing (1987)

Patrick Swayze as Johnny Castle and Jennifer Grey as Frances 'Baby' Houseman in 'Dirty Dancing'.

Vestron Pictures/Courtesy Everett

Get ready for the time of your life with *Dirty Dancing*, an ‘80s movie about a summer spent growing up and falling in love. Set in 1963, Frances "Baby" Houseman (Jennifer Grey) joins her parents and older sister at a resort in the Catskills for a vacation, where she finds herself drawn to Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze), a working-class dance instructor. But as Baby grows closer to Johnny, she begins to shed her upper-middle-class, sheltered upbringing and find her place in the world — and on the dance floor.

Swayze and Grey famously didn’t get along during production, but their chemistry and dance moves onscreen are so iridescent, they remain relevant almost 40 years later. The plot wades into dramatic waters, but the film’s love story, soundtrack, and dance moves make it the feel-good movie we need right now. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Dirty Dancing*: Netflix

**Director: **Emile Ardolino

**Cast: **Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Grey, Jerry Orbach, Cynthia Rhodes

Duck Butter (2018)

Laia Costa as Sergio and Alia Shawkat as Naima in 'Duck Butter'. The Orchard

Love gets fast-tracked in *Duck Butter*, a 2018 independent film co-written by and starring Alia Shawkat. Struggling with the local dating scene, actress Naima (Shawkat) and artist Sergio (Laia Costa) meet at a bar and decide to accelerate their relationship by spending 24 hours together and having sex once an hour. But the more time Naima and Sergio spend together, the more they find their quickly-established intimacy tested by new friends and loved ones.

While the Sergio character was originally written for a man, the decision to cast a woman instead adds another layer of specificity and nuance. Heavier on the toilet humor than you might expect, *Duck Butter *is worth a watch for its excellent acting and killer roster of supporting players. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Duck Butter*: Netflix

**Director: **Miguel Arteta** **

**Cast: **Alia Shawkat, Mark Duplass, Jay Duplass, Mae Whitman, Hong Chau, Kate Berlant, Kumail Nanjiani

Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (2020)

Will Ferrell as Lars Erickssong and Rachel McAdams as Sigrit Ericksdottir in 'Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga'.

Elizabeth Viggiano/Netflix

If the Puritans knew that coming to America would later disqualify them from competing in the Eurovision Song Contest, they might have had second thoughts about leaving England. As it is, the closest Americans will get to participating in Eurovision is by turning on Will Ferrell's 2020 parody of the annual competition. Lovingly crafted and full of legitimately good songs — including the always requested "Jaja Ding Dong" — *Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga *is a silly story about a maligned musical duo (Ferrell and Rachel McAdams) who are selected to represent Iceland at the competition after a tragedy befalls the country.

McAdams is particularly delightful as the nightingale-voiced Sigrit who commits to helping her bandmate (not brother) achieve his dream of competing in the Eurovision Song Contest. If you’re looking for a musical romp populated by whales and gnomes, this is the film for you.  *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga*: Netflix

**Director: **David Dobkin

**Cast: **Will Ferrell, Rachel McAdams, Dan Stevens, Graham Norton, Demi Lovato, Pierce Brosnan

Frances Ha (2012)

Adam Driver as Lev and Greta Gerwig as Frances in 'Frances Ha'. IFC Films/Courtesy Everett Collection

One of the best-known additions to the mumblecore movement that briefly invaded independent cinema during the mid-2010s, *Frances Ha* is also one of the most charming. Directed by Noah Baumbach and co-written by the film's star, Greta Gerwig, *Frances Ha* chronicles a difficult period in 27-year-old aspiring dancer Frances Halladay's life. Struggling with the dissolution of one of her closest friendships, financial challenges, and difficulties with her chosen career, Frances is both unmoored and undeterred.

A late-20s coming-of-age story released in 2012, *Frances Ha* contains some vague similarities to HBO's *Girls* (Adam Driver, for one), which premiered that same year, but the film offers such a high level of style, point of view, and performance as to distinguish itself from the rest of the genre. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Frances Ha*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B+

**Director: **Noah Baumbach

**Cast: **Greta Gerwig, Adam Driver, Mickey Sumner, Michael Zegen, Michael Esper, Charlotte d'Amboise

Groundhog Day (1993)

Bill Murray as Phil Connors in 'Groundhog Day'. Everett Collection

Decades before Hollywood started pumping out romantic comedies like *Leap Year* (2010), *Valentine's Day* (2010), and *New Year's Eve* (2011), there was *Groundhog Day*, the ultimate niche holiday comedy. The film follows a TV weatherman named Phil Connors (Bill Murray) who is assigned to cover the annual February festivities in Punxsutawney, Pa., only to find himself reliving the same day over and over again.

A movie that paved the way for other time loop stories like *Looper* (2012), *Edge of Tomorrow* (2014), and *Palm Springs *(2020), *Groundhog Day* casts Murray as a Scrooge-esque misanthrope, places him in an unwinnable situation, and watches as he proceeds to have an existential meltdown — before seizing on his unique situation and attempting to woo his producer, Rita (Andie MacDowell). As EW's critic writes, "*Groundhog Day* — with its really high concept — unfolds with a goofy elegance that feels like a tonic." *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Groundhog Day*: Netflix

**EW grade:** A

**Director:** Harold Ramis

**Cast: **Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, Chris Elliott

The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Society (2018)

Glen Powell as Mark Reynolds and Lily James as Juliet Ashton in 'The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society'. Studiocanal/Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock

Fans of period romances will fall head over heels for the Netflix original* The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society*. The 2018 film stars Lily James as a writer who gets to know the residents of Guernsey, an island that had recently been under German occupation during World War II. As for the romantic aspect, the lead character is torn between two men: her American fiancé (Glen Powell) and a new man from Guernsey (Michiel Huisman). EW's review of Mike Newell's film calls it "as snug and sweet and congenitally British as a tea cozy." *—L.B.*

Where to watch *The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B+

**Director: **Mike Newell** **

**Cast: **Lily James, Michael Huisman, Glen Powell, Jessica Brown Findlay

The Half of It (2020)

Leah Lewis as Ellie Chu and Daniel Diemer as Paul Munsky in 'The Half of It'. KC Bailey/Netflix/Everett

Securing Tribeca's Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature, Alice Wu's queer revision of *Cyrano de Bergerac *introduces viewers to Ellie Chu (Leah Lewis), a booksmart outcast whose writing skills become a lucrative business with her peers as customers. When she starts drafting love letters for himbo jock Paul Munsky (Daniel Diemer, a.k.a. Will Poulter's doppelgänger) to popular girl Aster Flores (Alexxis Lemire) — whom Ellie secretly harbors feelings for — the unlikely pair forge a connection far more profound than any high school crush.

Through atmospheric camerawork, whip-smart dialogue, and a sea of film references for cinephiles to bathe in, *The Half of It *spins a coming-of-age love story that bleeds wisdom beyond its years. *—James Mercadante*

Where to watch *The Half of It*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B

**Director:** Alice Wu

**Cast:** Leah Lewis, Daniel Diemer, Alexxis Lemire, Enrique Murciano, Wolfgang Novogratz, Catherine Curtin, Becky Ann Baker, Collin Chou

How to Be Single (2016)

Dakota Johnson as Alice and Rebel Wilson as Robin in 'How to Be Single'.

Barry Wetcher/Warner Bros./Courtesy Everett Collection

Fresh out of college, Alice (Dakota Johnson) embarks on a new chapter of life by taking a break from her long-term boyfriend, Josh (Nicholas Braun), and relocating to N.Y.C. to start her career as a paralegal and move into her sister's apartment. Now navigating the single life, Alice is feeling way in over her head, but she doesn't have to do it alone: She has her sister (Leslie Mann) and co-worker–turned–best friend (Rebel Wilson) by her side, who add a little spice and humor to her misadventures.

Interweaving multiple story lines, *How to Be Single* captures the chaos of modern dating and the quest to embrace life on your own terms. Whether you're in a relationship, inexperienced in love, or somewhere in between, this film offers something for everyone — and might reveal a thing or two about yourself. *—J.M. *

Where to watch *How to Be Single*: Netflix

**Director:** Christian Ditter

**Cast: **Dakota Johnson, Rebel Wilson, Leslie Mann, Alison Brie, Damon Wayans Jr., Anders Holm, Nicholas Braun, Jake Lacy, Jason Mantzoukas

The Incredible Jessica James (2017)

Chris O'Dowd as Boone and Jessica Williams as Jessica James in 'The Incredible Jessica James'. Netflix

Jessica Williams took the world by storm when she became the youngest correspondent on *The Daily Show*. And after leaving the program in 2016, Williams honed in on film — starting by taking on the roles of Executive Producer and lead actor in the rom-com *The Incredible Jessica James. *The role of Jessica James was created especially for Williams by writer-director Jim Strouse, and the character is perfectly customized to flaunt her many comedic and performative strengths.

In the film, Jessica is an aspiring playwright and employee at a children's theater workshop who just broke up with her boyfriend (LaKeith Stanfield). After her friend Tasha (Noël Wells) sets her up on a date with Boone (Chris O'Dowd), Jessica must decide if their romance is worth pursuing, and what she wants her love life and work life to look like going forward. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *The Incredible Jessica James*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B+

**Director: **Jim Strouse

**Cast: **Jessica Williams, LaKeith Stanfield, Noël Wells, Chris O'Dowd** **

The 20 best romantic comedy movies on Netflix

The 18 best romantic comedies on HBO Max

Knocked Up (2007)

Katherine Heigl as Alison Scott in 'Knocked Up'. Suzanne Hanover

Based solely on the sheer number of films he wrote, directed, and/or produced during this period, it's reasonable to assume that Judd Apatow was responsible for at least 10 percent of the laughs enjoyed during the mid- to late-aughts. Released two years after the success of Apatow's *The 40-Year-Old Virgin*, *Knocked Up* stars a who's who of comedy legends past, present, and future.

The film follows Alison Scott (Katherine Heigl), an up-and-coming E! News reporter, and Ben Stone (Seth Rogen), a Canadian deadbeat she meets at a Los Angeles nightclub. When a drunken hookup between the two results in an unexpected pregnancy, everyone from Ben's slacker friends to Alison's sister's family gets involved as the parents-to-be decide to keep the baby and attempt to stay together. Never one to over-edit, Apatow's film runs long, but the jokes are worth it. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Knocked Up*: Netflix

**EW grade:** A

**Director:** Judd Apatow

**Cast: **Katherine Heigl, Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Jason Segel, Jay Baruchel, Martin Starr, Charlyne Yi, Leslie Mann, Paul Rudd, Maude Apatow, Iris Apatow

Lady Chatterley’s Lover (2022)

Emma Corrin as Lady Constance Chatterley and Jack O'Connell as Oliver Mellors in 'Lady Chatterley's Lover'. Netflix

If* Fifty Shades of Grey *and *Bridgerton* welcomed a child, its name would be *Lady Chatterley's Lover*. Enduring decades of bans for its salacious content, D.H. Lawrence's 1928 avant-garde novel gets a fresh adaptation under the heedful eye of Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre, who deftly explores the depths of female desire. In this soft-core romance about emotional and bodily fulfillment, an unhappily married aristocrat (Emma Corrin) defies gender roles by acting on her own urges — starting a clandestine affair with the gamekeeper (Jack O'Connell) of her husband's (Matthew Duckett) estate.

While EW's critic observes a lack of dramatic conflict in the film, they highlight that "what's left is just an unabashedly heady romance, rich in pretty costumes — when they're wearing them — and lush, lusty atmosphere." *—J.M.*

Where to watch *Lady Chatterley's Lover*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B+

**Director: **Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre

**Cast:** Emma Corrin, Jack O'Connell, Matthew Duckett, Faye Marsay, Ella Hunt, Anthony Brophy**

Long Shot (2019)

Seth Rogen as Fred Flarsky and Charlize Theron as Charlotte Field in 'Long Shot'.

Philippe Bosse/Lionsgate/Courtesy Everett Collection

It’s a tale as old as time: an ambitious secretary of state (Charlize Theron) reconnects with the boy she used to babysit (Seth Rogen), who has grown up to be a political journalist. She’s running for president, and he’s looking for a new job after getting fired for his incendiary, left-leaning writing. He gets hired to punch up her speeches, and as the two travel the world on a diplomatic tour, their connection turns romantic.

A cross between *Beauty and the Beast* and *Veep* — with a little *There’s Something About Mary* thrown in for good measure — *Long Shot* is a romantic comedy with a political edge and serious chemistry between its two leads. With a script co-written by Dan Sterling (*The Interview*) and Liz Hannah (*The Post*), *Long Shot* is a perfect blend of political satire, romantic tropes, and rapid-fire raunch. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Long Shot*: Netflix through Nov. 30

**EW grade: **B

**Director:** Jonathan Levine

**Cast: **Seth Rogen, Charlize Theron, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Andy Serkis, June Diane Raphael, Bob Odenkirk, Alexander Skarsgård

The Lovebirds (2020)

Issa Rae as Leilani Brooks and Kumail Nanjiani as Jibran in 'The Lovebirds'.

After four years of dating, Jibran (Kumail Nanjiani) and Leilani (Issa Rae) are prepared to call it quits — until the couple finds themselves involved in a murder that requires them to put their break up aside and go on the run. Too concerned about racial profiling to involve the police, Jibran and Leilani must hunt down the identity of the man who was murdered so they can find out who killed him and clear their own names.

Directed by Michael Showalter (*Wet Hot American Summer*), *The Lovebirds* is a romantic evening gone wrong in the style of films like 2010's *Date Night* and 2018's *Game Night*. Boasting a high ratio of jokes per minute and a pair of lead actors who know how to wield their witticisms like machetes, Nanjiani and Rae's on screen bickering and loving needling will have you rooting for their relationship, even as it's falling apart. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *The Lovebirds*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B

**Director: **Michael Showalter** **

**Cast: **Kumail Nanjiani, Issa Rae, Anna Camp, Paul Sparks ** **

Match Point (2005)

Scarlett Johansson as Nola Rice and Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Chris Wilton in 'Match Point'. Clive Coote

Woody Allen’s work usually centers around the neuroticisms of wealthy New Yorkers, but in *Match Point*, he deviates in almost every regard. A psychological romantic thriller, the film is the story of Chris (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), a former professional tennis player turned social climber who marries a wealthy woman (Emily Mortimer), only to enter into an affair with an aspiring American actress (Scarlett Johansson).

When Chris’ lust threatens to derail his marriage and financial stability, the former tennis star struggles to keep his life from combusting. Those looking for Allen’s traditional comedic stylings are sure to be disappointed, but the film is a tight, taut thriller that EW’s critic calls a “serious and lusciously entertaining adultery drama driven by a lust that turns into authentic compulsion.” *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Match Point*: Netflix

**Director:** Woody Allen

**Cast: **Brian Cox, Matthew Goode, Scarlett Johansson, Emily Mortimer, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Penelope Wilton

Our Souls at Night (2017)

Robert Redford as Louis Walters and Jane Fonda as Addie Moore in 'Our Souls at Night'. Kerry Brown/Netflix

Some partnerships just keep getting better with age, and the onscreen relationship between Robert Redford and Jane Fonda — now in its fourth iteration — is one of those unions. In the Netflix original movie *Our Souls at Night*, Redford and Fonda play longtime neighbors and widowers Louis and Addie, who find comfort in spending their nights together as platonic friends. Aware that their unorthodox relationship and sleeping arrangement is eliciting side eyes from the town and their adult children, the pair must eventually choose between their growing emotional dependence on each other and the needs of their respective families.

With a cast of only seven actors, the strength of *Our Souls at Night* lies mainly in the steady hands of its two leads, who make falling in love look just as appealing as they did half a century ago in *Barefoot In The Park*. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Our Souls at Night*: Netflix

**Director: **Ritesh Batra** **

**Cast: **Robert Redford, Jane Fonda, Judy Greer, Matthias Schoenaerts, Bruce Dern, Iain Armitage

Phantom Thread (2017)

Daniel Day-Lewis as Reynolds Woodcock and Vicky Krieps as Alma Elson in 'Phantom Thread'. Laurie Sparham/Focus Features

There are lots of lighthearted romantic movies on Netflix, but if you're looking for something much, much darker, there's *Phantom Thread*. The Paul Thomas Anderson movie stars Daniel Day-Lewis as a fashion designer who finds a muse and partner in a waitress (Vicky Krieps) during the 1950s. The couple's relationship is rocky to say the least, and some poisonous mushrooms play a hefty role in the film's tension.

"What's true with Daniel is that you're always in front of someone very awake, so you have to be awake," Krieps tells EW about working with Day-Lewis. "You couldn't go and do something not really knowing what you're doing or being half thinking about your lunch. It wouldn't work because you'd just crash against the wall." *—L.B.*

Where to watch *Phantom Thread*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B

**Director: **Paul Thomas Anderson

**Cast: **Daniel Day-Lewis, Vicky Kreips, Lesley Manville

Set It Up (2018)

Zoey Deutch as Harper Moore and Glen Powell as Charlie Young in 'Set It Up'. Netflix

If you found Glen Powell to be perfect boyfriend material in *Anyone but You* (2023), wait until you see him paired with the dynamic Zoey Deutch in *Set It Up*. When two stress-ridden assistants from adjoining companies, Harper (Deutch) and Charlie (Powell), conspire to set up their Type-A bosses (Taye Diggs, Lucy Liu) in hopes of freeing themselves from the nonstop office grind, it sparks an enemies-to-lovers fling between the two matchmakers that's as satisfying as a sublime slice of pizza. *Set It Up *ranks among Netflix's finest rom-coms, injecting the genre's familiar elements with an extra dose of heart — all fueled by the palpable chemistry between Powell and Deutch. *—J.M.*

Where to watch *Set It Up*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B

**Director:** Claire Scanlon

**Cast:** Zoey Deutch, Glen Powell, Lucy Liu, Taye Diggs, Joan Smalls, Meredith Hagner, Pete Davidson, Jon Rudnitsky, Tituss Burgess**

She’s Gotta Have It (1986)

John Canada Terrell as Greer Childs, Spike Lee as Mars Blackmon, and Tommy Redmond Hicks as Jamie Overstreet in 'She's Gotta Have It'.

Island Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

Spike Lee’s first feature film as a writer and director, *She’s Gotta Have It* presents intertwining romances as lead character Nola Darling (Tracy Camilla Johns) decides which of the three men she’s dating (Lee, Tommy Redmond Hicks, John Canada Terrell) she wants to have a monogamous relationship with. Luxuriating in Lee’s creative sensibility and shot in crisp black and white, Nola’s journey towards picking a partner is funny, thought-provoking, and unique in every respect.

In a review of Netflix’s 2017 *She’s Gotta Have It *adaptation (also directed by Lee), EW’s critic describes the original movie, writing, “*She’s Gotta Have It *was Spike Lee’s first feature film, and few movies feel so joyfully first.” A dramedy that questions sexual, relationship, and gender norms of the time, *She’s Gotta Have It *is notable for its subject matter, aesthetic, and for launching Lee’s storied Hollywood career. *—I.G. ***

Where to watch *She’s Gotta Have It*: Netflix**

**Director:** Spike Lee **

**Cast: **Tracy Camilla Johns, Spike Lee, Tommy Redmond Hicks, John Canada Terrell**

Someone Great (2019)

LaKeith Stanfield as Nate Davis and Gina Rodriguez as Jenny Young in 'Someone Great'. Sarah Shatz/Netflix

Heartbreak just hits different in Netflix's *Someone Great*, a film about Jenny (Gina Rodriguez), a music journalist who goes through a breakup after accepting her dream job in San Francisco and learning her boyfriend (LaKeith Stanfield) doesn't want to come along. Emotionally buttressed by her best friends Erin (DeWanda Wise) and Blair (Brittany Snow), Jenny decides to make the most of her last night in New York City, and along the way encounters an eclectic supporting cast including Rosario Dawson, RuPaul, and *SNL's* Alex Moffat.

In addition to being a solid modern rom-com, *Someone Great* also has great significance in Swiftie lore: Taylor's 2014 song "Clean" off the *1989* album was one of the inspirations for the film's story, and Swift wrote *Lover's* "Death by a Thousand Cuts" after seeing the movie. Deeply relatable for anyone who's been blindsided or suffered a broken heart, *Someone Great *is about endings, beginnings, and finding the joy in both. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Someone Great*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B+

**Director: **Jennifer Kaytin Robinson** **

**Cast: **Gina Rodriguez, DeWanda Wise, Brittany Snow, LaKeith Stanfield, Rosario Dawson, RuPaul, Alex Moffat ** **

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018)

Lana Condor as Lara Jean Song-Covey and Jordan Fisher as John Ambrose in 'To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You'. Bettina Strauss/Netflix

Navigating high school is painful enough without all of your crushes finding out you like them — at the same time. A modern rom-com that EW's critic calls "breezy and charming," *To All the Boys I've Loved Before* follows Lara Jean Covey (Lana Condor) as her worst fears are realized when the love letters she never meant to send find their way to the boys who inspired them.

Cornered by love, Lara Jean negotiates a sham relationship with her former crush to throw off her current one, but when feelings start catching, Lara Jean must deal with the consequences of both her lies and the truths she's starting to realize. The first in a series of three films, which also include 2020's *To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You* and 2021's *To All the Boys: Always and Forever*, the original still hits the hardest. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *To All the Boys I've Loved Before*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B

**Director:** Susan Johnson

**Cast: **Lana Condor, Noah Centineo, Janel Parrish, Anna Cathcart, Andrew Bachelor, Trezzo Mahoro, Madeleine Arthur, Emilija Baranac, Israel Broussard, John Corbett

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW Movies”