Data Analysis of 200+ Movies: The Best Romantic Comedies Of All Time 

Ahead of Valentine’s Day, VegasInsider’s supercomputer has analyzed 200+ romantic comedy movies to determine what are the most successful rom-coms of all time based on various factors. 

After the initial list of the most famous rom-coms was collected, the movies were assigned points by the supercomputer on the basis of their worldwide box office reported gross, user reviews scores on IMDb & Letterboxd, Rotten Tomatoes & Metacritic critics’ scores as well as the estimated return on investment. 

To see the romantic comedies that ended up with the most overall points, have a look below. You can also see the most and least successful movies of the different categories in their respective detailed sections below. 

However, before we dive into the analysis, it is important to first clarify what exactly defines a romantic comedy. A romantic comedy, or rom-com, is a film genre that blends elements of romance and humor, typically focusing on a love story that unfolds with amusing misunderstandings, witty banter, and a satisfying resolution. While many rom-coms follow a familiar formula - lighthearted storytelling, quirky characters, and a happy ending - the genre is more flexible than it may seem. Different moviegoers and critics categorize films differently, often leading to debates about what truly qualifies as a rom-com. Some films, like Four Weddings and a Funeral or When Harry Met Sally, are universally accepted as rom-coms, while others, such as La La Land or Shakespeare in Love, sit on the edge of the genre, mixing romance and comedy with deeper dramatic elements. Ultimately, rom-coms can exist on a spectrum and it is all a matter of perspective - some are light and formulaic, while others mix in deeper themes.

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OVERALL POINTS

The points system assigned 1 to 3 points based on a movie's performance in various categories, with higher points indicating better performance. 

• Metacritic score: 70-79 = 1 point, 80-89 = 2 points, 90-100 = 3 points
• Rotten Tomatoes score: 70-79 = 1 point, 80-89 = 2 points, 90-100 = 3 points
• IMDb user rating: 7.0-7.49 = 1 point, 7.5-7.99 = 2 points, 8+ = 3 points
• Letterboxd score: 2.5-2.99 = 1 point, 3.0-3.49 = 2 points, 3.5+ = 3 points
• Worldwide Gross: $100M-$199.99M = 1 point, $200M-$299.99M = 2 points, $300M+ = 3 points
• Estimated ROI: 100%-499.99% = 1 point, 500%-999.99% = 2 points, 1,000%+ = 3 points

After the points from the different categories were summed up, the top 4 movies with the most points turned out to be La La Land (2016), Silver Linings Playbook (2012), The Apartment (1960) & Amélie (2001).

La La Land (2016) earned the top spot with the highest overall points (18), thanks to its strong performance across several categories, including a 94 Metacritic score, a 91 score on Rotten Tomatoes, 4.1 on Letterboxd and 8 on IMDb. Silver Linings Playbook (2012) came in second with 15 points, driven by great ratings on Rotten Tomatoes (92) and an impressive return on investment (1,025%). The Apartment (1960) and Amélie (2001) both scored 14 points, performing well with both critical scores and user ratings. 

All of the 200+ movies and their metrics can be found in a searchable interactive table below.

WORLDWIDE GROSS

When it comes to the worldwide box office gross, the top 5 highest-grossing rom-coms are: 

1. Mamma Mia! (2008) - $611,452,132 WW gross
2. La La Land (2016) - $509,183,536 WW gross
3. Pretty Woman (1990) - $463,406,268 WW gross
4. Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018) - $395,607,854 WW gross
5. What Women Want (2000) - $374,111,707 WW gross

RETURN ON INVESTMENT 

The top 5 movies with the highest estimated return on investment are: 

1. My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) - 7,274.88%
2. Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994) - 5,484.11%
3. Chasing Amy (1997) - 4,708.51%
4. Pretty Woman (1990) - 3,210.04%
5. Amélie (2001) - 1,651.83%

My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) takes the top spot when it comes to return on investment with a budget of $5 million and a worldwide gross of $368.7 million. Right behind it at #2 is Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994), which had a budget of $4.4 million and made $245.7 million globally. Chasing Amy (1997) comes in at #3, with a modest $250,000 budget and $12 million at the box office. Pretty Woman (1990) sits at #4, with a budget of $14 million and a worldwide gross of $463.4 million. Finally, Amélie (2001) rounds out the list at #5, with a $10 million budget and $175.2 million globally.

USER RATING 

When looking at the highest-rated rom-coms by users, on IMDb, the top 5 are: 

1. The Apartment (1960) - 8.3 IMDb rating
2. Amélie (2001) - 8.3 IMDb rating
3. Singin' in the Rain (1952) - 8.3 IMDb rating
4. Some Like It Hot (1959) - 8.2 IMDb rating
5. Before Sunrise (1995) - 8.1 IMDb rating

Meanwhile, on Letterboxd, the top 7 highest-rated rom-coms are: 

1. The Apartment (1960) - 4.4 Letterboxd rating
2. Singin' in the Rain (1952) - 4.3 Letterboxd rating
3. Some Like It Hot (1959) - 4.3 Letterboxd rating
4. Before Sunrise (1995) - 4.3 Letterboxd rating
5. Amélie (2001) - 4.2 Letterboxd rating
6. The Shop Around the Corner (1940) - 4.2 Letterboxd rating
7. Roman Holiday (1953) - 4.2 Letterboxd rating

CRITIC REVIEWS

When looking at the highest-rated romantic comedies by critics, on Rotten Tomatoes, 9 movies achieved a perfect 100 score:

1. Singin' in The Rain (1952)
2. Before Sunrise (1995)
3. How to Steal a Million (1966)
4. The Philadelphia Story (1940)
5. Pride and Prejudice (1940)
6. A Foreign Affair (1948)
7. Holiday (1938)
8. Top Hat (1935)
9. Love Me Tonight (1932)

Meanwhile, on Metacritic, the top 5 highest-rated romantic comedies are:

1. Singin' in The Rain (1952) - 99 Metacritic score
2. Some Like It Hot (1959) - 98 Metacritic score
3. The Philadelphia Story (1940) - 96 Metacritic score
4. The Shop Around the Corner (1940) - 96 Metacritic score
5. The Lady Eve (1941) - 96 Metacritic score

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METHODOLOGY 

• In total, 217 different romantic comedies were collected from various listicles
• The points were assigned in the following categories: Rotten Tomatoes score, IMDb rating, Letterboxd rating, Metacritic score, reported worldwide gross and an estimated ROI 
• If a given metric was not available for a movie, it could not gain points in that category and it was left blank
• Sources of data: IMDb.com, Rottentomatoes.com, Metacritic.com, Letterboxd.com