The 24 best romantic comedies on Max

500 Days of Summer (2009)

While the movie's intro explicitly states that 500 Days of Summer is not a love story, it is a story of love lost and found. 500 days refers to the length of the relationship between Summer Finn (Zooey Deschanel) and Tom Hansen (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), two young co-workers who start dating, but find their attitudes towards love and relationships to be incompatible. Structured in a non-linear fashion and employing plenty of devices that poke fun at the nature of dating and how we remember relationships, 500 Days of Summer isn't a typical rom-com (although it does contain one of the ultimate examples of a manic pixie dream girl). A fun watch featuring some solid acting by the film's two leads, EW's critic calls it a "Gen-Y Annie Hall made by a new-style Wes Anderson who uses his cleverness for humanity instead of postmodern superiority." —Ilana Gordon

Where to watch 500 Days of Summer: Max

EW grade: A (read the review)

Director: Marc Webb

Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel

Related content: The untold story of the (500) Days of Summer dance sequence

Annie Hall (1977)

A comedy that won four out of the five major awards at the Oscars, Annie Hall devotees understand why the film took home trophies for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Actress. Categorized as a "nervous romance," Annie Hall appears to be all talk: The movie is built on monologues, cultural references, asides, and scenes with therapists, but underneath all the chatter are revelations to be mined about the nature of life, love, relationships, and what it all means. The film contains some semi-autobiographical elements — Woody Allen and Diane Keaton did date in the early '70s — but even more interesting is the way it subverts the typical romantic comedy genre, portraying men as neurotic, needy, and emotional, and women as confident, suave, and intellectual. And lest this gender experimentation go unnoticed, we present Exhibit A: Keaton's excellent androgynous, suit-based wardrobe. —I.G.

Where to watch Annie Hall: Max

EW grade: A (read the review)

Director: Woody Allen

Cast: Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Tony Roberts, Carol Kane, Paul Simon, Janet Margolin, Shelley Duvall, Christopher Walken, Colleen Dewhurst

Related content: A critic never forgets Annie Hall

Casablanca (1942)

Despite boasting some of the best quotes in all of cinematic history, Casablanca was just one of many films churned out by the studio system in the early years of World War II. But something about the movie's heart-wrenching love triangle, political and social relevance, and lush setting charmed viewers, propelling the project to an unexpected Best Picture win, and a permanent spot on almost every Best Of list. Electricity rations were common at the time of the movie's release, but entirely unnecessary — the sexual currents pulsating between stars Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman had to have been strong enough to generate power for a small city, at the very least. —I.G.

Where to watch Casablanca: Max

EW grade: A (read the review)

Director: Michael Curtiz

Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains

Related content: What would J. Lo and Ben's Casablanca look like?

Celeste and Jesse Forever (2012)

Ending a relationship is easier than falling out of love. In Celeste and Jesse Forever, the titular characters (Rashida Jones and Andy Samberg) are high-school sweethearts who have made the decision to divorce but haven't yet figured out how to move on. Celeste is a high-achieving career woman looking for something more, but when Jesse gets involved with another woman, she's left to sort through her complicated feelings and starts to second guess whether breaking up was the right move after all. A rom-com that is less about escapism and aspirational love than it is about the hard slog of digging through and understanding intimate realities, Celeste and Jesse Forever is smart, funny, grounded, and energized by the couple's incredible chemistry. EW's critic praises the movie, writing, "It's been a while since a romantic comedy mustered this much charm by looking this much like life." —I.G.

Where to watch Celeste and Jesse Forever: Max

EW grade: A– (read the review)

Director: Lee Toland Krieger

Cast: Rashida Jones, Andy Samberg, Chris Messina, Ari Graynor, Eric Christian Olsen, Will McCormack, Elijah Wood, Emma Roberts

Related content: Rashida Jones talks Celeste and Jesse Forever

Date Night (2010)

A screwball comedy modernized to highlight the exhausted suburban parent, Date Night follows Claire and Phil Foster (Tina Fey and Steve Carell), a New Jersey couple who decide to break out of their mundane routine by enjoying a trendy dinner in the city — only to find themselves confused for another pair and embroiled in a corruption scandal. Pursued around New York City by cops and mobsters, the two rediscover their connection at gunpoint, but have their years of marriage prepared them enough to survive a night out on the town? Carell and Fey — both operating at the height of their TV comedy careers — are perfectly matched and happy to elevate an already solid script with improvised ad libs. Also benefiting from a supporting cast of reliable comedy favorites, Date Night is the perfect film to watch on a date night, or any time you're craving a zany caper that travels from reality to absurdity and back again. —I.G.

Where to watch Date Night: Max

EW grade: B (read the review)

Director: Shawn Levy

Cast: Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Taraji P. Henson, Common, Mark Wahlberg

Related content: Date Night: Could the comedy's cast get any better?!

Definitely, Maybe (2008)

For those seeking a quicker rom-com fix than binging nine seasons of How I Met Your Mother, this sleeper late-2000s flick offers the same formula with a worthwhile conclusion in just under two hours. Ryan Reynolds is as charming as ever in his role as soon-to-be divorcée Will Hayes, whose inquisitive daughter (Abigail Breslin) prods him to narrate his meet-cute with her anonymous mom. Dipping back into his past relationships not only unveils the complexities of marriage and love but also helps him discover, much like a skilled storyteller, how he'd want his happy ending to play out. While not revolutionary, Definitely, Maybe delivers all the essential ingredients for a top-tier rom-com — an endearing cast, witty banter, and plenty of touchy-feely moments  — making it the perfect recipe for a cozy night in. —James Mercadante

Where to watch Definitely, Maybe: Max

EW grade: B+ (read the review)

Director: Adam Brooks

Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Isla Fisher, Derek Luke, Abigail Breslin, Elizabeth Banks, Rachel Weisz

Related content: Spotlight on Ryan Reynolds

Dinner With Friends (2001)

HBO's cinematic adaptation of Donald Margulies' Pulitzer Prize winning 1998 play, Dinner With Friends maintains the original's simple premise while mining deep for emotional and personal revelations. The story of two New England couples dealing with the fact that one of the pairs is divorcing, the film captures the unexpected moments of vulnerability and honesty that define long-term relationships — even ones that are falling apart. Dennis Quaid and Andie MacDowell are perfectly cast as a pair of foodies who are more comfortable navigating what's on their dinner plates than what's going on in their friends' lives, and Greg Kinnear and Toni Collette toggle between insecurity and self-assurance as the couple whose marriage is broken up by an affair with a younger woman. Haute cuisine served over seven scenes, Dinner With Friends is the rare adaptation that remains faithful to the original while still finding new paths to tread. —I.G.

Where to watch Dinner With Friends: Max

EW grade: N/A (read the review)

Director: Norman Jewison

Cast: Dennis Quaid, Andie MacDowell, Greg Kinnear, Toni Collette

Election (1999)

Tracy Flick walked so Gilmore Girls' Paris Geller could run. In the 1999 romantic comedy Election, Reese Witherspoon and Matthew Broderick star as an overachieving high school student and a popular history teacher, whose relationship becomes increasingly combative as Tracy (Witherspoon) attempts to run for president of her school's student body. Determined to prevent Tracy from emerging victorious in an unopposed race, Jim McAllister (Broderick) recruits a sidelined football player (Chris Klein) as an opposition candidate, but finds that his commitment to teaching Tracy a lesson comes at the expense of his personal and professional life, as well as his sanity.

Adapted from a novel by Tom Perrotta and directed by Alexander Payne (Sideways), Election was incredibly well-received by critics, earning an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay and the top slot on our list of Reese Witherspoon's best movies. The film may have faltered at the box office, but it remains one of the most enduring and funniest high school films of all time. —I.G.

Where to watch Election: Max

EW grade: N/A (read the review)

Director: Alexander Payne

Cast: Matthew Broderick, Reese Witherspoon, Chris Klein

Related reading: Reese Witherspoon to reprise Election role in sequel Tracy Flick Can't Win

Just Wright (2010)

Combining love and basketball often makes for a romantic comedy slam dunk, and 2010’s Just Wright delivers just the right amount of sports, laughs, and relationship drama to keep the trend alive. Queen Latifah stars as Leslie Wright, a physical therapist who keeps getting friend-zoned by her dates. Her career picks up when she helps NBA star Scott McKnight (Common) work through a potentially career-ending injury, but their bond is complicated by Leslie’s friendship with Morgan (Paula Patton), who is dating Scott. A charming comedy confidently led by a trio of stars, Just Wright gives Latifah room to do what she does best: win over audiences with her likeability and wit. A good rom-com option for basketball fans, EW’s critic writes “The hoops set can enjoy some courtside action with real pro players.” —I.G.      

Where to watch Just Wright: Max

EW grade: B (read the review)

Director: Sanaa Hamri

Cast: Queen Latifah, Common, Paula Patton

Related content: Queen Latifah's best performances

I Love You, Man (2009)

Peter Klaven (Paul Rudd) is the opposite of a toxic male. Deeply in touch with his feminine side, Peter struggles to make male friends, and after he proposes to his girlfriend Zooey (Rashida Jones), he realizes he has no one to serve as his Best Man. With the wedding fast approaching and no prospects on the horizon, Peter meets Sydney Fife (Jason Segel), and soon finds the relationship turning bromantic. Featuring 100% more Lou Ferrigno than anyone would expect to find in a rom com, I Love You, Man is the ultimate expression of the power of Paul Rudd's charisma; even at his cringiest and most pathetically earnest, you're still rooting for him to win. —I.G.

Where to watch I Love You, Man: Max

EW grade: A (read the review)

Director: John Hamburg

Cast: Paul Rudd, Rashida Jones, Jason Segel, Jon Favreau, Andy Samberg, Joe Lo Truglia, Lou Ferrigno

Related content: Paul Rudd: What's not to love?

Knocked Up (2007)

Based solely on the sheer number of films he wrote, directed, and produced during this period, it's reasonable to assume that Judd Apatow was responsible for at least 10% of the laughs enjoyed during the mid to late aughts. Written and directed by Apatow and released two years after the success of 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 get involved as the couple decides 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: Max

EW grade: A (read the review)

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

Related content: Katherine Heigl really delivers in Knocked Up

The Last of the Blonde Bombshells (2000)

A film with a sensibility that can only be described as singularly British, The Last of the Blonde Bombshells is a romantic comedy with some rhythm. Elizabeth (Judi Dench) spent World War II playing saxophone in a swing band called the Blonde Bombshells. After the death of her husband, Elizabeth reconnects with Patrick (Ian Holm) — the band's former drummer and only male member, who avoided conscription during the war by cross-dressing. After the pair start dating, Elizabeth decides to get the band back together, but discovers the Bombshells have scattered with members in jail, suffering from alcoholism, and devoted to the Salvation Army. Described by EW's reviewer as "witty and wistful," The Last of the Blonde Bombshells is another piece of evidence that blondes really do have more fun. —I.G.

Where to watch The Last of the Blonde Bombshells: Max

EW grade: B+ (read the review)

Director: Gillies MacKinnon

Cast: Judi Dench, Ian Holm, Romola Garai, Olympia Dukakis

Related content: Judi Dench says acting 'has become impossible' due to worsening eyesight

Legally Blonde (2001)

You can't make a list of Reese Witherspoon's best movies — regardless of genre — without including Legally Blonde. A fish out of water comedy that takes a SoCal sorority girl and drops her into Harvard Law to win back the boyfriend who dumped her, this rom-com is on a mission to prove that blondes have more fun (and more brains) than people give them credit for. Witherspoon plays to the top height of her intelligence, transforming Elle Woods from a sheltered, privileged West Coast princess to a legal shark whose generosity and good attitude outside the courtroom helps her attract a crew of admiring outcasts. White Lotus fans will love seeing Jennifer Coolidge in one of her best roles as a beaten down manicurist in need of a cheerleader, and it's a credit to the strength of the film and the actors' performances that while Legally Blonde has been adapted into a Broadway musical, it hasn't been remade into a new movie — yet. —I.G.

Where to watch Legally Blonde: Max

EW grade: N/A (read the review)

Director: Robert Luketic

Cast: Reese Witherspoon, Luke Wilson, Selma Blair, Matthew Davis, Victor Garber, Jennifer Coolidge

Related content: Everything we know so far about Legally Blonde 3

Let Them All Talk (2020)

Joan Didion once said "Writers are always selling someone out," and that is exactly what Pulitzer Prize-winning author Alice Hughes (Meryl Streep) is accused of doing. In Let Them All Talk, Alice boards the Queen Mary 2 on a transatlantic trip with the intention of writing her new book and spending time with two of her oldest friends (Candice Bergen and Dianne Wiest). But as the voyage proceeds, Alice ends up battling with Roberta (Bergen) over how much of her original book was based on Roberta's life, and watching as her nephew Tyler (Lucas Hedges) falls for her literary agent, Karen (Gemma Chan). Funny, wise, bitter, primarily improvised, and made in barely two weeks, EW's critic describes the film as "a chance to spend two hours watching Streep & Co. make the most of Deborah Eisenberg's deliciously salty script, while Soderbergh — who also serves as cinematographer — shoots it all in ruthless, radiant light." —I.G.

Where to watch Let Them All Talk: Max

EW grade: A- (read the review)

Director: Steven Soderbergh

Cast: Meryl Streep, Candice Bergen, Dianne Wiest, Gemma Chan, Lucas Hedges,

Related content: How Candice Bergen prepared for her Oscar-hopeful Let Them All Talk role

The Lobster (2016)

An absurdist black comedy that satirizes our culture's discomfort around uncoupled people, The Lobster asks what would happen if singles were given 45 days to find a mate, or transformed into the animal of their choice. After David's (Colin Farrell) wife leaves him, he is taken to a hotel and instructed to find someone compatible. But when an incident involving a potential life partner forces him to flee into the woods to live with the loners, David discovers that it doesn't matter where you are or who you're with — falling in love is never easy. Also starring Rachel Weisz, Ben Whishaw, John C. Reilly, and Olivia Colman, The Lobster is one of the most original romantic comedies of all time, and will live in your brain rent-free for weeks after watching. —I.G.

Where to watch The Lobster: Max

EW grade: A (read the review)

Director: Yorgos Lanthimos

Cast: Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz, Ben Whishaw, John C. Reilly, Olivia Colman, Léa Seydoux

Related content: The Lobster: Colin Farrell shares his (spoiler-free) thoughts on the film's ending

My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)

Toula Portokalos (Nia Vardalos) embraces her role as the loyal yet overlooked member of her enormous clan until she decides to take control of her life at 30. While her parents tirelessly seek the perfect Greek man for her, Toula knows none of those suitors stand a chance against WASP English teacher Ian Miller (John Corbett), who's head over heels for her and is ready to take on the challenge of getting her family to approve their marriage. (He's really all that and a bottle of Windex!) Adapted from Vardalos' one-woman show based on her real-life family, My Big Fat Greek Wedding delves into the dynamics of growing up in an immigrant household deeply rooted in their culture, navigating a world that centers on conformity. —Angela Andaloro

Where to watch My Big Fat Greek Wedding: Max

EW grade: N/A (read the review)

Director: Joel Zwick

Cast: Nia Vardalos, John Corbett, Lainie Kazan, Michael Constantine, Gia Carides, Louis Mandylor, Andrea Martin, Joey Fatone

Related content: My Big Fat Greek Wedding cast: Where are they now?

Pitch Perfect 2 (2015)

The box office success of 2012's Pitch Perfect mandated a sequel, and Pitch Perfect 2 obliged. After a scandalous mishap during a performance for the President keeps the Barden Bellas from competing in Nationals, the franchise takes a Mighty Ducks 2-esque leap in logic and goes international. Now forced to compete with a German supergroup called Das Sound Machine, the Bellas must pull out their best medleys and moves if they are to secure the win at the world competition and find their way back into the a capella sphere's good graces. Turbocharged with jokes — as one would expect from Kay Cannon, a former 30 Rock writer — and bowing at the altar of the movie's patron saint, Beyonce, Pitch Perfect 2 finds its heart, as EW's critic writes, in giving "big, joyful voice to groups whose members have spent their whole lives being targeted because of who they are, be it black, gay, overweight, female, or just deeply uncool." —I.G.

Where to watch Pitch Perfect 2: Max

EW grade: B+ (read the review)

Director: Elizabeth Banks

Cast: Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Hailee Steinfeld, Brittany Snow, Skylar Astin, Adam DeVine, Katey Sagal, Anna Camp, Alexis Knapp, Hana Mae Lee, Ester Dean, Chrissie Fit, John Michael Higgins, Elizabeth Banks

Related content: Pitch Perfect 2: The story behind "Flashlight"

Serendipity (2001)

When destiny has a sense of humor, we call it serendipity, which also happens to be the title of one of 2001's most beloved romantic comedies. A whirlwind New York love story, Serendipity stars Kate Beckinsale and John Cusack as two young city dwellers who meet and enjoy a magical night — only to decide to let fate control whether they end up together.

As the years pass and their life paths diverge, it seems destiny has other plans for the would-be lovers, but New York City and a series of fortunate events may end up reuniting the pair after all. A missed connections comedy featuring an excellent supporting cast and a screenplay that is more than willing to lean into all of the best tropes of the genre, Serendipity is fun, funny, and guaranteed to make you yearn for a holiday season spent in the Big Apple. —I.G.

Where to watch Serendipity: Max

EW grade: A– (read the review)

Director: Peter Chelsom

Cast: John Cusack, Kate Beckinsale, Molly Shannon, Jeremy Piven, Bridget Moynahan, Eugene Levy

Related content: Jennifer Aniston passed on Serendipity because Friends felt like doing a rom-com every week

Shakespeare in Love (1998)

Even Shakespeare suffered from writer's block, or at least that's the premise of the late '90s period romantic comedy, Shakespeare in Love. Joseph Fiennes stars as the Bard, a strapping poet and writer whose newest play Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter is going nowhere fast — much to the dismay of Philip Henslowe (Geoffrey Rush) who owns the playhouse where the show is set to be performed. Inspiration strikes in the form of Lady Viola (Gwyneth Paltrow), a fan of Shakespeare's work and an aspiring actor who auditions for a role in his new work and ends up becoming his muse. Riddled with the love triangles, tragic miscommunications, and comic asides that have distinguished the playwright's work for centuries, Shakespeare in Love is, as EW's critic writes, "really about two great loves at once — the love of life and of art — and the way that Shakespeare, like no writer before him, transformed the one into the other." —I.G.

Where to watch Shakespeare in Love: Max

EW grade: A (read the review)

Director: John Madden

Cast: Joseph Fiennes, Gwyneth Paltrow, Geoffrey Rush, Colin Firth, Ben Affleck, Judi Dench, Simon Callow, Jim Carter, Martin Clunes, Antony Sher, Imelda Staunton, Tom Wilkinson, Mark Williams

Related content: Julia Roberts quit Shakespeare in Love after disastrous chemistry reads, says producer

Shiva Baby (2021)

Released during the pandemic, Shiva Baby is both an indie rom-com and a delightful reminder of the emotional dangers that come with spending time in a room full of acquaintances — especially when that room includes at least two people you've slept with already. Danielle (Rachel Sennott) plays a college student and call girl who, along with her parents (Polly Draper and Fred Melamed), attends a Jewish mourning ritual held at the home of a family member. While there, Danielle finds herself caught between her past (in the form of her more successful best friend and former lover, Maya) and her present (her sugar daddy Max, who thinks she's in law school, and who brought along the wife and baby he never told her about). Based on director Emma Silegman's short by the same name, Shiva Baby is a comedy that requires the emotional fortitude of a horror film, as viewers are forced to withstand an onslaught of cringe moments. —I.G.

Where to watch Shiva Baby: Max

EW grade: B (read the review)

Director: Emma Silegman

Cast: Rachel Sennott, Polly Draper, Fred Melamed, Molly Gordon, Dianna Agron

Related content: Bottoms up! Shiva Baby duo on reuniting to form their queer teen fight club

Singin' in the Rain (1952)

Widely considered one of the best musicals ever captured on film, Singin' in the Rain has everything from music and dance to comedy and romance. Released 29 years after the entertainment industry premiered its first movie featuring sound-on-film, the story stars Gene Kelly as a celebrated silent film actor struggling to make the jump to the "talkies," and Debbie Reynolds as an up-and-coming actress trying to break into the business. The majority of the film's comedy and over-the-top dance numbers are provided by the charismatic Donald O'Connor, and Jean Hagen makes a delightful (and Oscar-nominated) turn as Lina, a silent movie star with a face for film and a Brooklyn accent strong enough to stop traffic. A beloved treasure and shining representative from Hollywood's Golden Era, Singin' in the Rain continues to endure and inspire. —I.G.

Where to watch Singin' in the Rain: Max

EW grade: A+ (read the review)

Director: Stanley Donen, Gene Kelly

Cast: Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O'Connor, Jean Hagen

Related content: Every Singin' in the Rain reference in Babylon

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2008)

Four best friends and the one pair of jeans that fit them all return in 2008's The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2. Now having completed their first year of college, Bridget (Blake Lively), Lena (Alexis Bledel), Tibby (Amber Tamblyn), and Carmen (America Ferrera) embark on their respective summer plans, but find their friendship tested by love, loss, family, and growing pains. With storylines taking place in exotic locales (like Turkey, Greece, and New York City), and more domestic settings (like Alabama, Rhode Island, and Connecticut), The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 is a charming follow up to 2005's original film, and an oft-needed reminder that the best friendships can survive anything — even the loss of a beloved pair of pants. —I.G.

Where to watch The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2: Max

EW grade: B+ (read the review)

Director: Sanaa Hamri

Cast: America Ferrera, Blake Lively, Alexis Bledel, Amber Tamblyn, Rachel Nichols, Rachel Ticotin, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Blythe Danner, Lucy Hale

Related content: Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants: A third movie could happen 'sooner rather than later'

Some Like It Hot (1959)

Three years before Marilyn Monroe died, she made one of the best movies of her lifetime. Topping the list of AFI's 100 Funniest American Movies Of All Time, Some Like It Hot is a crime movie that combines Marx Brothers comedy with Scarface action. Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon co-star as two struggling musicians who, after witnessing the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, disguise themselves as women and join an all-girl band to escape death at the hands of the mob. Monroe plays Sugar Kane, the band's vocalist, who ends up falling love with a man masquerading as a millionaire (also Curtis). A cinematic masterpiece beloved by critics and fans since its initial release, Some Like It Hot represents the ultimate '50s farce. Monroe may have been deep in the throes of addiction while filming the project, but her charisma, comedic timing, and musical talents shine through regardless, and the film remains a tribute to her legacy. —I.G.

Where to watch Some Like it Hot: Max

Director: Billy Wilder

Cast: Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, George Raft, Joe E. Brown, Pat O'Brien

Related content: Some Like It Hot review: Nobody's perfect, but this new production comes pretty close

The Spectacular Now (2013)

In 2014, Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort jumped from playing siblings in Divergent to starring as a star-crossed couple in The Fault in Our Stars. However, the preceding year saw Woodley team up with another Divergent costar, Miles Teller, in The Spectacular Now. A24's coming-of-age romance — based on Tim Tharp's 2008 novel — follows the life of Sutter Keely (Teller), a popular, party-going high school senior whose life changes when he wakes up on a front lawn and meets Manic Pixie Dream Girl Aimee Finecky (Woodley). With graduation on the horizon, the Big Man on Campus finds himself gradually falling for Aimee's quirks, insecurities, and withdrawal from regular adolescent antics. Yet, the film transcends the typical teen flick, as noted by EW's critic: "It's one of the rare truly soulful and authentic teen movies. It's about the experience of being caught on the cusp and not knowing which way you'll land." Woodley and Teller's chemistry operates as a driving force of the film, rendering a raw honesty so exceptional that both actors earned the Special Jury Award for Acting at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. —J.M.

Where to watch The Spectacular Now: Max

EW grade: A– (read the review)

Director: James Ponsoldt

Cast: Miles Teller, Shailene Woodley, Brie Larson, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Bob Odenkirk, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Kyle Chandler

Related content: The Spectacular Now and other great coming-of-age movies