Valentine’s Day: The Most Popular Romantic Comedy Movies Across America
February is here, and for the hopeless romantics among us, that can only mean one thing—move over, Super Bowl, because the real main event is Valentine’s Day.
Whether you’re heading out for a fancy dinner, snuggling up with your partner (or your bestie, your dog, or a giant tub of ice cream – we don’t judge), or embracing full-on Galentine’s Day vibes, nothing beats settling in with a feel-good romantic comedy.
If you’re a true rom-com aficionado, you’ll probably recognize most of the titles we’re about to reveal. We used IMDb’s ultimate list of the highest-rated romantic comedies and surveyed 3,000 Americans to discover their favorites. We even broke it down by state, top actors, and rom-com-watching habits. And with 70% of Americans saying they’ll be watching a rom-com this Valentine’s Day, love is officially in the air – so let’s dive in.
Key Findings:
- The Princess Bride takes the crown as America’s #1 most popular rom-com this Valentine’s Day
- 10 Things I Hate About You and Love Actually are tied for #2 place, while Pretty Woman comes in #3
- Bradley Cooper was voted America’s favorite rom-com actor, with Ben Affleck as the runner-up
- Emma Stone is the nation’s rom-com sweetheart, followed closely by Julia Roberts
Love is in the Air: America’s Top 3 Favorite Rom-Coms:
You can count on a Valentine’s Day that is far from lonely if you’re planning to press play on any of these beloved classics.
- The Princess Bride
- 10 Things I Hate About You & Love Actually
- Pretty Woman
Taking the top spot, director Rob Reiner has stolen the hearts of 15 states with his perfect blend of romance, action, adventure, and humor – The Princess Bride. As audiences follow the enchanting love story of Cary Elwes and Robin Wright, they’re swept away into a fairytale world. This classic is a favorite in Arizona, Delaware, Illinois, New York, Oregon, Tennessee, and Texas (to name a few). Further proving its popularity, the film has racked up an impressive 127,000 average monthly Google searches across America over the past year.
Tied for second place, 10 Things I Hate About You and Love Actually have won the hearts of viewers in 7 states. The 1999 classic 10 Things I Hate About You – a modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, continues to captivate audiences 26 years later, thanks to its unforgettable performances by Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger. Fans in Alabama, Idaho, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Wyoming all agree. And if the heartfelt poem recital doesn’t cue the waterworks or melt a frozen heart, we don’t know what will.
A Richard Curtis classic makes its mark in the top 2, with none other than Love Actually. While many consider it a holiday favorite, it’s no surprise – it racked up an impressive 1.2 million searches in December alone. But this rom-com has also secured its place as a Valentine’s Day go-to. As we follow the chaotic intertwined romances, we’re taken on a true emotional rollercoaster. 6 states were particularly love-struck by this film, including: California, Colorado, Maryland, Montana, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington.
Rounding out the top 3 is Pretty Woman, the rom-com that holds the title for the highest ticket sales in the U.S. grossing a staggering $463.4 million worldwide. 4 states also couldn’t get enough of this classic: Florida, Kentucky, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. An oldie but a true goodie, Pretty Woman, directed by Garry Marshall is still winning hearts as a top Valentine’s Day choice even after two decades.
America’s Rom-Com Sweethearts: The Nation’s Favorite Actor & Actress:
What’s a rom-com classic without a lovable, relatable, and captivating cast? Those who grace our screens and make us believe in true love all over again, cliché we know. We asked the nation which actors and actresses steal their hearts the most in these timeless rom-coms.
Top 3 actors:
- Bradley Cooper
- Ben Affleck
- Channing Tatum
Top 3 actresses:
- Emma Stone
- Julia Roberts
- Jennifer Aniston
Bradley Cooper has us obsessed time and time again with unforgettable roles in Silver Linings Playbook, He’s Just Not That Into You, and Valentine’s Day, just to name a few. With a string of iconic performances leading to twelve Oscar nominations, Cooper is undeniably a cinematic star. It’s no wonder that 60% of America crowned him the best rom-com actor, with fans in California, Florida, New York, Texas, and Pennsylvania leading the way.
In second place is Ben Affleck, known for his role in He’s Just Not That Into You among other iconic films. His fans reside in Delaware, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maryland, and Missouri, to name a few. Meanwhile, Channing Tatum, famous for his roles in Magic Mike’s Last Dance and Dear John, claims third place, winning over audiences in Connecticut, Indiana, and Louisiana.
When it comes to actresses, Emma Stone takes the crown, America has fallen in love with her iconic roles in Crazy, Stupid, Love and La La Land alongside Ryan Gosling. A true rom-com queen, Stone’s films are the perfect choice for a date night or Valentine’s Day watch. Fans in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, and New York would agree – and so would 21 other states (42%).
In second place is Pretty Woman’s leading lady, Julia Roberts. Her unforgettable performance earned her the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy, and many states would agree. This Valentine’s Day, it’s likely that residents of Alabama, Florida, and Kansas (to name a few) will be cuddled up watching a Julia Roberts classic. Not far behind is Jennifer Aniston, who captured the hearts of fans in Arkansas, Delaware, and Indiana thanks to her rom-com successes in Just Go With It, He’s Just Not That Into You, and Along Came Polly.
The Nation’s Rom-Com Viewing Habits:
We wanted to dive into the nation’s watching habits on Valentine’s Day to uncover just how rom-com obsessed we really are. The rom-coms we analyzed have accumulated an average of over 3 million searches per month in the U.S.
When asked why they tune into a cozy romantic comedy on this day of love, the most common answer was that they “increase their happiness,” followed by the fact that they “reduce stress.” Only a small percentage said these movies make them feel “sad/jealous,” leading them to avoid them altogether. An impressive 56% rated their enjoyment of rom-coms a 5 on a scale of 0-5.
Which State Is Most Likely to Be Watching a Rom-Com this Valentines?
Nevadans are the most likely to be sitting back and relaxing in front of a rom-com this Valentine’s Day – they’re clearly the hopeless romantics among us, with 89% saying they’ll be watching one. Coming in next are California (70%) and Texas (67%).
When it comes to the battle between Valentine’s Day vs. Galentine’s Day, the most likely to tune in for a rom-com marathon on Galentine’s Day are the Mississippians (63%)!
That’s a Wrap:
Whether a soppy rom-com isn’t your go-to Valentine’s Day pick, you prefer to avoid the day altogether, or you’ve already blocked off your calendar for a full rom-com marathon – one thing is for sure: these romantic classics are loved year after year, and they’ll no doubt be a staple for many viewers on February 14th.
Methodology:
We based our analysis on IMDb’s list of the highest-rated rom-com movies of all time. To dive deeper, we surveyed 3,000 Americans about their rom-com watching habits, favorite movies, and top rom-com actors and actresses. For search data, we used the SEO tool Ahrefs to analyze Google search volumes across the U.S.
Data was collected on January 31st, 2025.
