To All the Rom-Coms I’ve Loved Before

By Shayelle Smith

Image: Netflix

I was born to be a hopeless romantic. I made my entrance into the world on the day My Best Friend’s Wedding was released in theatres (fate!) and by the time I was in the first grade, I was spending weekends with a bowl of white cheddar popcorn, a glass of Mello Yello and whatever VHS was available to rent at my local Blockbuster. It was the early 2000s, the tail end of the golden age of romantic comedies, so I had a lot to choose from: You’ve Got Mail (1998), The Best Man (1999), Legally Blonde (2001), The Wedding Planner (2001), My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) and 13 Going on 30 (2004), to name a few. But by the time I was old enough to wish for my own meet-cute, rom-coms had largely disappeared from theatres. (And Blockbuster was gone, too, for that matter.)

There are lots of reasons, according to a 2018 Vox article. Rom-coms are mid-budget movies, which sit somewhere between low-budget indies (which cost $5 million or less) and big-budget blockbusters ($100 million+), and studios are making fewer films in this price range, for a variety of reasons. There are also systemic barriers in place; the industry is also historically “apathetic” about telling women’s stories, says writer Emily VanDerWerff. “Hollywood has always, always, always cordoned off movies that star women, or that are aimed at female audiences, within their own genre, and for no real reason.” Plus, after a spate of straight-up bad rom-coms after 2007 or so, the genre wasn’t particularly attractive for up-and-coming actors. That’s why, over the past 10 years, we’ve seen the success of the 50 Shades trilogy and Seth Rogen comedies, but seldom the classic heartwarming story that sits in the centre of the scale.

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Until 2018, that is. That was the year Crazy Rich Asians, The Set Up, Love, Simon and especially To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before ushered in a new age of rom-com greatness. During To All The Boys’ 2018 premiere, (mostly) female fans flocked to Twitter to gush over the movie in what became an unofficial digital watch party. Every conversation I had with peers IRL included the question, “Have you watched To All the Boys?” And as we prepare to watch the third and final installment of the series, I can confidently say that the initial excitement in my social circle hasn’t faded. I think that’s because the movies still feel refreshing. It features an Asian-American leading lady, Lara Jean Covey, who was raised by a supportive single father and falls for Peter Kavinsky, a sensitive suitor who is as complex as he is popular. Throughout the series, Lara Jean takes steps to connect with her Korean heritage, and her loved ones encourage her to prioritize her own growth. Finally, there’s a worthy heir to all the rom-coms I’ve loved before. 

A lot has changed since I first watched Matthew McConaughey step onto the scene as the infuriating-but-handsome love interest; my Blockbuster card is now a streaming subscription, I’ve swapped Mello Yello for kombucha and I prefer charcuterie to cheesy popcorn. But rom-coms have changed, too. To All The Boys and other recent movies showcase contemporary stories and propel the careers of a new diverse range of actors, the way they once did for Julia Roberts, Meg Ryan, Sandra Bullock and Cameron Diaz.

Ready for your next rom-com fix? Here are eight classic movies and new favourites to stream now.

To All The Boys: Always and Forever

Senior year of high school takes center stage as Lara Jean returns from a family trip to Korea and considers her college plans—with and without Peter.
Where to Watch: Netflix

Love & Basketball

Monica (Sanaa Lathan) and Quincy (Omar Epps) are two childhood friends who both aspire to be professional basketball players. Quincy, whose father, Zeke (Dennis Haysbert), plays for the Los Angeles Clippers, is a natural talent and a born leader. Monica is ferociously competitive but sometimes becomes overly emotional on the court. Over the years, the two begin to fall for each other, but their separate paths to basketball stardom threaten to pull them apart.
Where to Watch: Crave

The Holiday

Stuck in a vicious cycle of dead-end relationships with two-timing men, Los Angeles resident Amanda and Londoner Iris decide to swap homes.
Where to Watch: Netflix

The Half of It

When smart but cash-strapped teen Ellie Chu agrees to write a love letter for a jock, she doesn't expect to become his friend — or fall for his crush.
Where to Watch: Netflix

How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days

A player bets his co-workers he can make a woman fall in love with him in just 10 days. But he bets on the wrong girl -- a writer with her own agenda. Sparks fly between Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson in this blockbuster romantic comedy.
Where to Watch: Netflix or Prime Video

Notting Hill

The life of a simple bookshop owner changes when he meets the most famous film star in the world.
Where to Watch: Crave 

The Lovebirds

A couple (Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani) experiences a defining moment in their relationship when they are unintentionally embroiled in a murder mystery.
Where to Watch: Netflix

Clueless

Meddlesome Beverly Hills high school student Cher gets more than she bargained for when she gives a fashion-challenged student a makeover.

Where to Watch: Netflix