10 Underseen Modern Romance Movies That Deserve a Second Chance

From The Big Sick to Palm Springs, let's take a look at 10 modern romance movies, that deserve another look.

The art of the rom-com can't and will never die. To put it simply, people love to watch strangers fall in love on the big screen, no matter the pairing or what the plot is. To be swept up in a story of love and to have to sit through a third act breakup just so the two main characters come back together in the end, is what the audience wants and needs!

Of course, you have your classics in the rom-com genre, such as the beloved When Harry Met Sally... and You've Got Mail, but now more than ever, the rom-com genre is alive. In the past 10 years, romance lovers have been blessed with a number of great films, but some five-star movies have flown under the radar. So, if you're a fan of rom-coms and want more modern options, check out this list of 10 films.

Set It Up has everything a bona fide rom-com lover needs to enjoy such a film; the enemies to friends to lovers trope. Starring Glen Powell (who's set to star in a new rom-com with Sydney Sweeney) and Zoey Deutch, this film focuses on two overworked employees who realize that in order for their bosses to ease up on them, they have to set them up with each other.

It's lighthearted but also hilarious as Charlie and Harper's attempts to get their bosses together initially backfire until eventually they start to date. While they work together to make this plan successful, Charlie and Harper grow closer and harbor feelings for each other, and yes, there is a heart-stopping moment that involves running in an airport!

Related: 10 Rom-Com Flops That We Think Are Actually Good

With a sequel that seems to never be coming out, despite several updates with different screenwriters, Crazy Rich Asians proves that love doesn't see what's in your bank account. Nick is an heiress to one of the wealthiest families in Singapore, while Rachel is a professor at NYU, where she teaches game theory. Despite the differences in how they grew up and the amount of money they have, the two are deeply in love, and their relationship is put to the test as they head to Singapore for a wedding.

While there, Nick's mother has a hard time accepting their relationship and makes sure to do whatever is necessary in order to break the two apart, following the trope of a terrible mother-in-law. Crazy Rich Asians is a great rom-com with one of the best wedding scenes from any romance movie, ever. So, if you need a pick-me-up and wish to daydream about a life of wealth and luxury, pop in Crazy Rich Asians.

Something great about rom-coms is when they bring two actors from opposite sides of the business and force them to be together, creating a pairing that you didn't know you needed until it was right in front of you. Seth Rogen and Charlize Theron star in this grossly underrated romance that follows two people who are reunited after years; a journalist (Rogen) and the United States Secretary of State (Theron).

When Fred starts to work as Charlotte's speechwriter, the two start to grow closer and share some hilarious moments, and sweet ones, too, as they realize their true feelings. The third-act breakup in this film will have you slightly rolling your eyes since it takes the cheesy route, but when they're reunited, it'll all be worth it as they have a dramatic scene where they get back together.

A good old-fashioned Groundhog Day-style movie that disguises itself as a rom-com is a fresh addition to this list, and like the other entries, isn't talked about nearly enough. Andy Samberg belongs in more romance movies, and the chemistry between him and Cristin Milioti will have you thinking they're the next Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks as they continuously relive November 9th together.

After the two are sucked into a time warp of sorts at a resort where Sarah's sister is getting married, the two fall into a comfortable cycle as they experience the same day over and over again, while also falling for each other in real time. It's a very sweet and original romance film that'll leave you feeling warm as the credits roll.

In this second chance romance of sorts, George Clooney and Julia Roberts come together and star in this hilarious and sweet film about an estranged couple joining forces to try and stop their daughter's wedding. After their one and only child announces that she's marrying a man she's only known for a few months, divorced couple David and Georgia decide that they're going to work together to bring their daughter home, even though they can't stand each other.

As they work together and devise plan after plan to break up the happy couple, David and Georgia realize that there might be some unresolved feelings buried deep down for each other, despite what they say. Ticket to Paradise was released only a year ago, but sadly, there wasn't much discourse about this very fun and light rom-com.

If you've ever been broken up with before, aka dumped, then it might be a universal experience where you keep something of your ex-partner's, for nostalgia and also as a memento. Now, imagine there was a place where you could bring these little items and put them on display for the world to see, for other onlookers to peruse and share your experience.

In The Broken Hearts Gallery, this idea turns into reality as a hopeless romantic who has kept several things from her past boyfriends meets a man named Nick, and the two start up a gallery of sorts to display heartbreak in an artistic way. This film came out in 2020, so if you missed it due to theater restrictions at the time, definitely check out this sweet movie that'll make you rethink the box of items you have stored in your closet from past relationships.

Related: The 15 Best Leading Men In Rom-Coms, Ranked

In this film that came out in 2023, most of the plot takes place all in one day, making it real and special as Yas and Dom meet and form a connection that neither of them were expecting. The two meet at an exhibit before they bond over broken hearts and decide to spend the day together, visiting the Rye Lane market, after which the film is named.

As the day progresses, the two bond and get themselves into tricky situations until, of course, they have a full-blown argument, which results in them not speaking for months. The grand gesture at the end of this film is very sweet and personal to the two, making you swoon as the two characters are brought back together.

In this coming-of-age film, Simon, a teen who's gay and not quite ready to tell his family and friends, is outed by someone from his school. Based on the novel of the same name by Becky Albertalli, Simon has spent the last few months emailing someone going by the alias "Blue", who also goes to their school and is also gay.

Love, Simon is a very sweet movie about friendship, not being afraid of who you are, and love. As the movie progresses and Simon's secret is revealed against his will, you'll be wondering who the identity of Blue belongs to and rooting for Simon the entire time.

In this heartwarming romance, screenwriters Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon wrote this movie to depict what they went through in real-life as they fell in love and Gordon was diagnosed with adult-onset Stills disease. Not often do we see a rom-com based on true events, but in The Big Sick, they really sell it as the audience watches Emily and Kumail fall in love, while simultaneously, Kumail is pressured by his parents to marry someone from an arrangement, instead of naturally pursuing someone.

Emily soon becomes very sick and is placed in a coma to fight off the illness, and when her parents arrive from out of state, it's like Kumail and Emily's relationship grows even stronger as he fights to visit her constantly, despite her parents' initial disapproval. The Big Sick is a great movie when you need to cry, but also feel that true love can beat just about anything.

In this film that shows off the classic trope of two friends agreeing to be each other's wedding dates while also helping each other find love, Plus One is funny, warm, and heartfelt. This modern rom-com depicts two friends from college who are sick of attending weddings alone and then awkwardly having to navigate flirting with other guests, so they link up and decide to help each other, even though the pair is a strange match at first.

Starring Jack Quaid and Maya Erskine, the two gel well together, and you'll find yourself awkwardly laughing at what happens between them, especially when they become intimate for the first time. Plus One is a great movie if you despise wedding season and also enjoy the friends-to-lovers trope.

Book fanatic, movie lover and can remember any side character even if they had fifteen seconds of screentime.