Top 10 Most Relatable Rom-Com Moments
#10: Feeling Out of Your League
“Crazy Rich Asians” (2018)
Finding out your partner is wealthier than you are might create its own set of challenges. But if your partner is crazy rich like Nick Young, that’s a whole other story. Rachel Chu doesn’t even find out that her boyfriend’s family is one of the richest in Singapore until she’s already traveled on a plane to meet them. She struggles to blend in since her background is so different. When feeling that imbalance, particularly around money, it can be difficult to adjust. When certain people, like Nick’s mom in this case, have no intention of letting you fit in, it can be even worse.
#9: A Late Bloomer
“The 40-Year-Old Virgin” (2005)
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Okay, so four decades might seem like a pretty long time to wait to be intimate with someone. But for all the late bloomers out there, Andy Stitzer’s plight might seem fairly familiar. “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” follows Andy’s attempts to finally leave behind his virginity. The trials and tribulations that Andy goes through are pretty relatable, even if viewers aren’t in the exact same position. The mix of embarrassment, excitement, and joy at finding a connection is all-too familiar. And for those who choose, there’s also all the grooming — waxing and all.
#8: Culture Shock
“My Big Fat Greek Wedding” (2002)
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When you’re marrying into a big family, you’ll likely want to learn their particular quirks. And of course, they’ll want to learn yours. In “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” the back and forth of Ian trying to get to know Toula’s exuberant family and vice versa is probably familiar to a lot of us. From Ian agreeing to be baptized in the Greek Orthodox Church to his decidedly not Greek parents having to meet Toula’s family, many aspects of this rom-com will ring true for anyone who has been through a similar cultural exchange.
#7: Bad Karaoke
“My Best Friend’s Wedding” (1997)
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Maybe trying to ruin your best friend’s wedding so he’ll marry you instead is a unique situation. But the awful singing in “My Best Friend’s Wedding” is definitely something we can relate to. After Jules meets Michael’s fiancée Kimmy for the first time, she tries to embarass her by making her sing karaoke. This ultimately doesn’t work, because what Jules doesn’t realize is that nobody actually cares when people are good at karaoke — and being bad can be a crowd-pleaser. Kimmy’s tone-deaf performance reminds us of some of our own experiences. We’d give her a standing ovation for being a good sport.
#6: All By Myself
“Bridget Jones's Diary” (2001)
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Sometimes, all you need is a good cry into some unhealthy food and drink. Before she makes a New Year’s resolution to try and turn her life around, Renée Zellweger’s Bridget spends the beginning of the film feeling sorry for herself. She watches “Frasier,” drinks wine, and sings along to “All By Myself” — the anthem of lonely people everywhere. We’re happy to see Bridget fight her way out of this slump, but we have to admit it is highly relatable watching her go through it. It reminds us of our time on the couch, indulging in treats and songs included.
#5: Chaotic Family Dinner
“While You Were Sleeping” (1995)
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This rom-com might have a wild premise that hasn’t really aged well, but it’s quite relatable despite the fact that Sandra Bullock pretends to be the fiancée of a man in a coma - that she doesn’t even know. Bullock’s character Lucy is incredibly lonely, a fact that hits home especially over the holidays. When she joins her fake fiancé’s family for dinner, she gets a look into their eccentric-but-lovable dynamic. Each member of the family falls into their roles perfectly, creating a familiar type of chaos for anyone who has a big family. As for Lucy, you can see her falling quickly in love with this wacky crew. And how could you not?
#4: No Fairytale Ending
“Someone Great” (2019)
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When you find someone you really love, you might imagine it will last forever. But sometimes, life gets in the way. For anyone who has ever had a relationship end not because you wanted it to, but because the timing just didn’t work out, “Someone Great” is a highly relatable movie. When Jenny gets her dream job on the West Coast, her boyfriend Nate ends things with her after nine years together. It’s a tough pill for Jenny to swallow, but as the movie progresses, the audience realizes the two have been growing apart for some time. In the end, “Someone Great” isn’t really about the relationship. It’s about the friendships — and those are forever.
#3: Olive Is Mistreated
“Easy A” (2010)
Throughout most of “Easy A,” Olive tries to wield her newfound notoriety with absolute power. At first, pretending to date boys in exchange for gift cards is no big deal for her. But then, the film takes a turn when one of those boys thinks it’s real. When Olive goes on a date with someone named Anson, things go horribly wrong. At the end of the date, he tries to pay Olive to actually be with him instead of just faking it, and is horrible to her when she refuses. We may not know what it’s like to do exactly what Olive’s doing, but we can empathize with her when she says no and the other person won’t listen.
#2: About Last Night
“When Harry Met Sally...” (1989)
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A lot about this classic romantic comedy feels like a fairytale. But “When Harry Met Sally...” actually has a lot to relate to. Harry and Sally start out as friends, and it takes a long time for that friendship to grow into something more. But even more relatable than that is the fact that their first time doesn’t go over so well. Harry and Sally finally spend the night together after Sally learns that her ex-boyfriend is getting married. In the morning, Harry has regrets and acts awkward and stilted. Even though they eventually wind up together, this all-too-familiar moment of poor communication almost ends their relationship for good.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
The Hair Routine, “Nappily Ever After” (2018)
A Black Woman’s Hair Is No Laughing Matter
Crying, “Broadcast News” (1987)
Who Hasn’t Cried About Work?
Unplanned Pregnancy, “Obvious Child” (2014)
Dealing with an Unplanned Baby Is No Walk in the Park
Heads Up, “Fire Island” (2022)
We Always Get a Little Too Competitive during Game Time
Parasocial Relationships, “Sleepless in Seattle” (1993)
Falling in Love from a Distance Is All Too Relatable
#1: Not Forever
“500 Days of Summer” (2009)
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Most things don’t last forever. And when the person you love repeatedly tells you she’s not interested in something serious, it’s probably your own fault if you don’t take that to heart. “500 Days of Summer” offers a pretty relatable look at how it feels to be in love with someone when there’s really no future in sight. Tom ignores all of Summer’s overt signs that she’s not interested in him long-term. Who among us hasn’t thought that we might be the exception? It’s pretty interesting for a rom-com to go that route. But we appreciate the film’s attempt to show us the reality of the situation, and the fact that Tom has to accept it and move on.
