Theromance genrecan be described as the “comfort food” of movies. Warm, fuzzy, and lighthearted romantic films are a breezy watch, leaving the viewer with a pleasant aftertaste. Add to that the infusion of other elements like comedy and drama, and you have a well-rounded narrative that’s got something for everyone. The 2010s saw a slight shift in the genre as old-school sensibilities evolved into a more modern-day approach, with the reflection of overt themes of sexuality and sexual identity.
While the 2010s were predominantly overshadowed by blockbusters such asLa La LandandThe Fault in Our Stars,the decade also has a few underrated gems you might not have heard of. Due to the changing nature of theatrical distribution, romance movies became less financially viable, and studios shifted their focus to bigger tentpole films. Romance films tended to be seen as less worthy of big-screen viewing, so audiences tended to wait to watch them at home, on streaming. This meant that a lot of films went under the radar. So, without further ado, here are the 2010s' 12 most underrated romance movies, ranked.
Update June 17, 2025: Looking to get ahead, start on Valentine’s Day, and find a romantic movie to watch? This article has been updated with even more great underrated romances from the 2010s that are worth checking out, and where you can stream each title.
12No Strings Attached (2011)
no strings attached
Beautifully highlighting the modern-day struggle between casual sex and commitment,No Strings Attachedstarts off as a film about a casual arrangement between its two leads, Emma and Adam (played byNatalie PortmanandAshton Kutcher, respectively), before turning into a bona fide love story. Directed by Ivan Reitman, the film diverges from other romcoms in its exploration of casual sex and “friends with benefits” policies. It proved to be successful at the box office, going on to make a total of $149 million worldwide on a $25 million budget.
What Makes It Underrated
LikeJust Go With It,No Strings Attachedwas far from a hit with critics. Yet, while it might be a tad on the predictable side, the film is, nevertheless, a light-hearted and easy-to-watch romantic comedy that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Furthermore, with a winning lead performance by Portman, whose presence single-handedly elevates the film, and a talented supporting cast that includes big names, such as Greta Gerwig, Kevin Kline, Mindy Kaling, and Jake Johnson,No Strings Attachedis a perfectly delightful and occasionallyy witty romantic comedy that deserves more love.Stream on Paramount+
Related:The 30 Best Romantic Comedies of All Time, Ranked
11The Age of Adaline (2015)
Age of Adaline
Directed by Lee Toland Krieger, 2015’sThe Age of Adalineputs a rather fantastical spin on the conventional romance story. The filmstars Blake Livelyas a woman born at the beginning of the 20th century named Adaline Bowman who, after being brought back from the dead following a fatal accident, finds that she is no longer capable of aging. Despite knowing that falling in love would mean outliving her lover, she unwittingly finds herself developing feelings for a man she meets on New Year’s Eve 2015. Michiel Hussain plays Adaline’s love interest, Ellis Jones, while Harrison Ford portrays Ellis’s father, William.
On the whole,The Age of Adalinegained a relatively mixed response from critics, who praised Lively’s performance but were critical of the film’s pacing and script. However, don’t be fooled by reviewers because, at its heart,The Age of Adalineis a beautiful and unashamedly romantic film that manages to tug at the heartstrings. The central conundrum it presents - whether falling in love is worth watching your lover die while you live on - may not be a wholly original concept, but it’s certainly a compelling one. And with the addition of an engaging central performance by Lively, a strong supporting cast, and a satisfying ending,The Age of Adalineis far better than critics would have you believe.Rent on AppleTV+
10What If/The F Word (2014)
What If(or in some countries released asThe F Word) features Daniel Radcliffe, Adam Driver, Zoe Kazan, and Mackenzie Davis. With a cast like that, one has to wonder why this was not a bigger deal and more well-remembered, but sadly, this film feels very overlooked. Wallace (Radcliffe) falls for a young woman named Chantry (Zoe Kazan), the cousin of his best friend and roommate Alan (Driver). The only issue is that Chantry has a boyfriend, so the two decide to just be friends, which, of course, is complicated due to their growing feelings for one another. The film’s premise makes it a modern-day riff onWhen Harry Met Sally…
Why It’s Underrated
One reason it could be underrated is just because of the dual names in different regions, and nowWhat If…?is also the name of a popular MCU show, which will likely be what search engines think when one looks it up. Yet the movie had a small limited release in theaters and has never quiet got the streaming bump it deserves. Being released shortly after theHarry Potterfilms ended, it is a great showcase of Radcliffe trying to stretch his acting muscles; while it also came out a year beforeThe Force Awakens, andAdam Driver would become a much bigger star, it is nice to see him in a more comedic role. This is also one of many romances of the 2010s that Kazan is in that will appear on this list. What If is certainly worth checking out and should not be forgotten.Stream on Fubo.
9Long Shot (2019)
2019’sLong Shotis a film that has no right to be as good as it is. Directed by Jonathan Levine, the romantic comedystars Seth Rogenas a New York City journalist named Fred Flarksy, who reunites with his former babysitter/childhood crush, Charlotte Field (Charlize Theron), who is now a U.S. Secretary of State preparing to run for president. Charlotte enlists Fred as her official speechwriter, and the two soon develop feelings for one another. As well as Rogen and Theron, the film also stars Andy Serkis, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Bob Odenkirk, Alexander Skarsgård, and Lisa Kudrow, among others. Despite generally positive reviews from critics,Long Shotunderperformed at the box office, making just over $53 million on a $40 million budget and seemed to signal that romantic comedies were no long theatrical viable, despite it being good.
The film’s wacky and contrived premise, coupled with its polar opposite stars, means that, on paper,Long Shotshouldn’t work. This was likely the thinking of prospective audiences who chose not to go and see it in cinemas. However, against all odds, it does work. Thanks to a gag-filled script filled with more hits than misses, and two leads who share a surprising amount of chemistry, the film is a highly enjoyable and hilariously fun slice of romcom madness. While it may require viewers to suspend their belief more than they ever have before, for those who manage to go along with its madcap setup,Long Shotdelivers a wonderfully silly romantic comedy that more people need to see.Stream on Paramount+
8Ruby Sparks (2012)
Ruby Sparks
2012’sRuby Sparksis a romantic fantasy film thatplays on the trope of the dark side of wishes coming true.Struggling novelistCalvin Weir-Fields (Paul Dano) decides to overcome his most recent case of writer’s block by writing a character based on his ideal woman. What he doesn’t anticipate is his fictional creation, who he has named Ruby Sparks (Zoe Kazan) jumping off the page and entering reality. However, what initially feels like a dream come true, slowly becomes bogged down with the realities of everyday life. Alongside Dano and Kazon, who also wrote the film’s script,Ruby Sparksstars Annette Benning, Antonio Banderas, Chris Messina, and Steve Coogan in supporting roles.
After making less than $10 million at the worldwide box office,Ruby Sparkshas remained largely forgotten since its initial release, which is a shame, because, overall, it’s a highly inventive and original romantic movie. And while it doesn’t entirely live up to its genius premise, the film is, nevertheless, an interesting and charming look at relationship dynamics and the importance of self-identity. Add to that a pair of endearing performances by Dano and Kazan, as well as a strong supporting cast, and you have a clever and unique take on the classic romance formula.Rent on AppleTV+
7Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)
Only Lovers Left Alive
Jim Jarmusch’s love letter to Detroit and rock and roll,Only Lovers Left Aliveis more of a vibe than a film. Released in 2013, the romantic fantasy film revolves around the marriage between Adam and Eve (Tom Hiddleston and Tilda Swinton, respectively), a pair of centuries-old vampires whose idyllic world is shattered when Eve’s younger sister, Ava (Mia Wasikowska) arrives in town from Los Angeles. Following its premiere at the 66th Cannes Film Festival,Only Lovers Left Alivewas met with overwhelmingly positive reviews. The film’s cast also includes Jeffrey Wright, Anton Yelchin, and John Hurt.
Offbeat, sexy, and darkly comedic,Only Lovers Left Aliveis everything audiences have come to expect from aJim Jarmusch film, and more. Arguably the most tasteful and evolveddepiction of vampiresin modern-day cinema, the film plays out as a slow-burn celebration of art, music, and style, doing away with the modern malaise of generic culture. However, for all its darkness, poeticism, and quirky humor, it’s also a deeply romantic film with a surprisingly compelling love story at its core.Only Lovers Left Alivemay be an example of Jarmusch emphasizing style over subject, but with glowing central performances by Hiddleston and Swinton and some insightful takes on love, it’s a clever and eccentric slice of romantic escapism.Stream on Fubo
6Set It Up (2018)
The 2018Netflix original movie,Set It Upis an example of a good old-fashioned romantic comedy done right. Directed by Claire Scanlan from a script by Katie Silberman, the film centers on two overworked assistants, Harper and Charlie (played by Zoey Deutch and Glen Powell, respectively), who hatch a plan to set their bosses up on dates. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that Harper and Charlie might be the ones who need setting up. Lucy Lui and Taye Diggs star as Harper and Charlie’s demanding bosses, while Pete Davidson, Joan Smalls, and Meredith Hagner also make appearances.
Upon its release,Set It Upwas met with mostly favorable reviews by critics. However, in the time since it debuted, the film has seemingly disappeared from the public conscience. This is no reflection on the movie’s quality, however, with the modern romcom offering an entertaining and surprisingly clever entry in the genre. In fact, what makes this film so good is how it plays out exactly like one would expect from a romcom: there are no big twists or changes to the formula, it’s a classic romcom through and through. However, thanks to its sharp dialogue, charismatic performances, and joyous tone,Set It Upis a classic romcom done right.Stream on Netflix
Related:The 10 Most Underrated Romance Movies of the 2000s, Ranked
5Love, Simon (2018)
Love, Simon
Not only an underrated romance film, 2018’sLove, Simonis also one of thebest LGBTQ+ films of the 2010s. Based on Becky Albertalli’s novel,Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda,the film tells the story of Simon Spier (Nick Robinson), a closeted gay high school boy whose secret is threatened when a fellow student starts to blackmail him. As well as this, Simon tries to work out the identity of a fellow closeted gay student whom he has been speaking to anonymously over email. Jennifer Garner, Josh Duhamel, Alexandra Shipp, and Tony Hale all appear in supporting roles, and the film was a hit among critics.
Love, Simonis a film that feels like it’s still waiting for its big moment in the spotlight. While it was a favorite with the critics and a modest hit at the box office, it never reached the level of popularity it is so clearly capable of. A coming-of-age film and a romcom all mixed into one, the film manages to be a fresh and interesting take on both genres. It’s sweet without being sickly, and charming without being pompous and, overall, is a heartwarming and sensitive look at what life is like for a young LGBTQ+ person. Moreover, with an intelligent script and some neat direction,Love, Simonis a remarkable romantic comedy-drama that has been criminally overlooked.Stream on Hulu
4Enough Said (2013)
Enough Said
Most romantic films tend to focus on young couples trying to find love and navigate life. 2013’sEnough Saidwonderfully breaks this formula by focusing on two divorced people looking for love. Written and directed by Nicole Holofcener, the film starsJulia Louis-Dreyfusas Eva, a recently divorced single mother and massage therapist who pursues a relationship withJames Gandolfini’s Albert. However, things become complicated when Eva discovers that Albert is the ex-husband of her new friend, Marianne (Catherine Keener).Enough Saidreceived widespread critical acclaim despite largely flying under the radar at the box office. It was released not long after Gandolfini tragically passed away.
Enough Saidmanages to sidestep the kind ofclichés that bog down most modern rom-coms, and instead focuses on telling an authentic and original story. Holofcener’s script is packed with pathos, nuance, and genuine heartfelt emotions, as well as a healthy dose of joy and levity. Aside from the film’s narrative sensibilities, it also has a string of memorable performances, with Julia Louis-Dreyfus and James Gandolfini both doing what they do best and sharing a chemistry that can only be described as palpable.Enough Saidis a charming and warm romantic comedy-drama all about the trials and tribulations of dating later in life, and it’s a film that more people need to see.Rent on AppleTV+
3The Big Sick (2017)
The Big Sick
The Big Sickis an underrated romance film not because it didn’t gain recognition - after all, it was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay - but because it’s been largely forgotten since it premiered in 2017 and is now best known for being the movie that launched the film career of star Kumail Nanjiani instead of the movie itself. The film sees Kumail Nanjiani playing a fictionalized version of himself, a Pakistan-bornstand-up comedianalso called Kumail. When Kumail begins dating a white graduate student, Emily (Zoe Kazan), he is flung into a world of cultural differences, which only becomes intensified when Emily contracts a mysterious illness. The film’s script was written by Nanjiani and his real-life wife, Emily V, Gordon, and is loosely based on their real-life romance. Big names such as Ray Romano, Holly Hunter, Bo Burnham, and Adeel Akhtar make up the supporting cast. This is also the third movie on this list that features Kazan after What If and Ruby Sparks, making her the unofficial queen of romances in the 2010s.
Despite making a big impression on critics upon its release,The Big Sickrarely gets mentioned in discussions about the best romance films. Which, quite frankly, is criminal. After all, the film does what few romantic comedy dramas are able to: it manages to be laugh-out-loud funny while also being full of heart. What’s even more impressive is that it does this without messing with the standard romance formula too much. In fact, what makesThe Big Sickstand out is how it uses its simple premise to explore themes of love, identity, and familial interference. Rich with drama and depth and brimming with wit and charisma,The Big Sickis easily one of the best romance films of the 2010s.Stream on Prime Video
