The romantic comedy is back in a major way—and I’m talking comedy too. This isn’t just about tension and falling in love…I want quirky, silly obstacles with low stakes and awkward situations! No disrespect to the yuletide efforts of Hallmark and Lifetime, but there are actual big-screen rom-coms coming in 2022 (and many that are already out and streaming) with your favorite stars and hilarious plots that tumble toward a big swoon-y happy ending. This is already a great year for meet-cutes, grand romantic gestures, and running through the airport…I can feel it!
2022 has also been a really great year for romantic comedies on television, TBH! If you’re a fan of the genre, definitely check out shows like Heartstopper, Our Flag Means Death, and Starstruck. And I mean, of course, the holiday season is sure to bring an avalanche of punny television and streaming movies about hometown pumpkin-spiced romance.
When it comes to romantic comedies, I don’t want to hear a single thing about multiverses or murder mysteries. They’re fine. They have their time. This is valen-time.
Book of Love
Release date: February 4
An uptight British author falls in love with the translator who turned his book into a steamy romance novel. Sign me TF up!
I Want You Back
Release date: February 11
Comedians Jenny Slate and Charlie Day are starting the year off right and romantic with this cute-looking ensemble flick. Their characters strike up a friendship when they meet mid-sob over their respective breakups and decide to help each other out. Are they gonna end up together? Can’t wait to find out!
Marry Me
Release date: February 11
I may or may not have convinced myself that this Jennifer Lopez/Owen Wilson romantic comedy is going to save the world. The fake relationship trope is *chef’s kiss* and I can already tell their chemistry is off the charts. (As they’re both professional rom-commers, it better be!) If you haven’t caught the trailers, it’s about a pop star who marries a man in the audience at her concert after catching her famous fiancé cheating on her.
Tall Girl 2
Release date: February 11
This is a follow-up to the 2019 film, because if there’s one thing Netflix loves, it’s a romantic comedy sequel.
Moonshot
Release date: March 22
Not to be confused with Moonfall, this upcoming HBO Max rom-com is set in space! It stars Riverdale’s own Cole Sprouse and Netflix rom-com princess Lana Condor, so it’s sure to give you all the feels.
The Lost City
Release date: March 25
This movie is formerly known as The Lost City of D (get it?)…change it back, cowards! It marks the return of Sandra Bullock to the genre, alongside Channing Tatum, and it’s about a romance novelist who ends up on an island with an eccentric billionaire who wants her to find the treasure she wrote about in her most recent *fictional* novel. Brad Pitt is also in this, FYI.
Crush
Release date: April 29
It’s a cutie-pie, WLW, young-adult rom-com starring Miss Girl Meets World and Miss Moana herself! I love to see it!
Fire Island
Release date: June 3
Joel Kim Booster wrote and stars in this upcoming Hulu rom-com about a group of gay friends on vacation together, inspired by Pride and Prejudice. The film also stars Bowen Yang from Saturday Night Live, his frequent collaborator Matt Rogers, Conrad Ricamora from How to Get Away With Murder, and Margaret Cho, so…I’m excited.
Cha Cha Real Smooth
Release date: June 17
This indie romantic comedy looks…so charming? It’s about two adults who find each other in different states of arrested development, it looks like. It stars Cooper Raiff, who also wrote and directed the film. It might be moodier and less full of antics than some rom-coms, but my heart is full just watching the trailer, so at least they’ve got the chemistry right!
Mr. Malcolm’s List
Release date: July 1
Maaaaaajor Bridgerton vibes going on here, bless! Julia Thistlewaite sets out to get revenge on a man who embarrassed her, but the trick may or may not backfire when the bestie she asks to seduce him actually falls for him.
Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris
Release date: July 15
Not to be confused with Emily, obvs.
Three Thousand Years of Longing
Release date: TBD “Summer”
IDRIS ELBA PLAYS A HOT GENIE. THAT’S IT, THAT’S THE MOVIE. THIS IS NOT A DRILL!
Ticket to Paradise
Release date: October 21
Oh, was the return of J.Lo and Sandra not enough for you? What about Julia Roberts and George Clooney? That’s right, they cooked up a lil rom-com for us too, and I’m psyched. It’s kind of a reverse Parent Trap meets Blockers. It’s about two divorced parents who try to stop their daughter from getting impulsively married like they did. Do we think the parents are going to end up back together? I can’t wait to see….
Shotgun Wedding
Release date: TBD
J.Lo is in two rom-coms this year, actually. Shotgun Wedding is about a destination wedding that goes wrong when the wedding party is kidnapped. So…a rom-com AND some hijinks? Yes, please.
Disenchanted
Release date: TBD
We don’t know much about the upcoming sequel to Disney’s Enchanted, but a sequel to a rom-com has to have some rom and some com, right?
Via Cosmopolitan US.