The Five Holiday Rom-Coms We Can’t Wait to Rewatch
With temps freezing, bells jingling, and mistletoe hanging, it’s officially cuddling season. And nothing gets in the holly jolly mood quite like snuggling up and watching our favorite holiday rom-coms—movies that make you laugh, cry, and feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Read on for our list of five holiday rom-coms we can’t wait to rewatch.
Love Actually (2003)
Arguably the best holiday rom-com, Love Actually follows nine different couples as their lives and relationships intertwine in the weeks leading up to Christmas. The star-studded cast includes Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant, and Kiera Knightley. As some couples grow closer, others separate further, triggering moments that are funny, weepy, and beautiful. A movie that perfectly captures the magic of the season, you’ll find a new appreciation for each of your loved ones—and Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You.”
When Harry Met Sally (1989)
The movie that put the holiday rom-com genre on the map, When Harry Met Sally is about two friends who test the question: can men and women be just platonic friends? Spanning several years and set in New York City, the movie depicts the friendship between Harry, played by Billy Crystal, and Sally, played by Meg Ryan, evolving into something more. A film that’s filled with memorable quotes like, “I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible,” you’re sure to feel all the warm fuzzies this season calls for.
Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)
Bridget Jones, played by Renée Zellweger, is a 30-something “spinster” full of life, cigarettes, and alcohol. Living in London, Bridget has a great group of friends and loving parents but can’t seem to get it right in the relationship department. Vowing to transform herself, she ends up getting more than she bargained for. As two potential lovers vie for her attention, she realizes she’s perfect just the way she is. If ugly Christmas sweaters, British accents, and snowy love-proclamation scenes don’t get you in the holiday spirit, we don’t know what will.
You’ve Got Mail (1998)
In this Nora Ephron classic, Tom Hanks plays Joe Fox, and Meg Ryan plays Kathleen Kelly. The two are competing bookstore owners that form a casual-turned-serious relationship over email. Building a connection over the early-day internet and having never met in person, they don’t realize they’re often at the same place at the same time—or that they hate each other in real life. While this flick isn’t holiday exclusive, there are some memorable Christmas scenes and a sentiment of hopefulness and joy when you think that “someone you pass on the street may already be the love of your life.”
Love Hard (2021)
With today’s dating apps, finding love might be harder than ever before. In Love Hard, Natalie, the movie’s main character, is finally matched with a handsome stranger she connects with but—as is the case in many dating app stories—the guy isn’t real. She’s been catfished. This movie trails Natalie as she navigates a blossoming friendship with her catfish, Josh. Showing how real chemistry derives from in-person, physical relationships than digital ones, this film is sweet, funny, and has a big holiday heart.
Turn Up the Heat
Set that warm and cozy vibe for your rom-com extravaganza with a crackling fire. In our latest article, we offer some fireplace best practices to ensure your flames spark safely.