David’s Download: 2026 Romcom Showdown
The 90’s and 2000’s were the heyday of the romantic comedy, fueled by the star power of Meg Ryan, Julia Roberts, Sandra Bullock, Cameron Diaz and many more actresses still beloved to this day. During this era, a romcom was pretty much as bankable as any action or horror movie, and even if the movie was silly and unrealistic, you could count on some laughs and 90 minutes of escapist fluff. But sadly, since the dawn of streaming, this lighthearted genre has been relegated to mostly at-home viewing, and frankly, the quality of these movies has fallen drastically (with the exception of some gems here and there).
2026 has been more of the same, with most romantic comedies dropping on Netflix or other streaming services, but there are glimmers of hope for the genre with a few major theatrical releases and heavyweights like J.Lo returning to her romcom roots. So, how does this year’s slate stack up? Check out my thoughts on a few of the major releases below:
One Night Only
This romcom starring Monica Barbaro and Callum Turner, while a bit unusual in its setup, felt very fitting for the current state of our country.
Set in the near future, when premarital sex has been outlawed with the exception of one night a year, the movie follows Owen and Allie, two single adults who start to fall for each other through a series of meet cutes and mishaps on “the least romantic night of the year.”
The Purge-like concept is off-putting at first and doesn’t particularly inspire feelings of romance and wanderlust. Even so, Barbaro has all the charm needed to be a great leading lady, and occasionally, the dystopian setting lends itself to moments of comedic gold, including a rush to find a condom when all stores are sold out. I especially enjoyed the recurring bit about pharmaceutical jingles, as Allie’s character is a singer who is frequently hired for advertisements.
Without spoiling any specifics, the ending was a bit mixed in its messaging (and almost feels like it caves into the story’s fascist backdrop), but I appreciate that One Night Only is trying something new and taking some swings in the world of romcoms. I’d say it’s a solid 3 out of 5.
Office Romance
Unfortunately, Office Romance was the biggest disappointment of this bunch for me, given the talent behind the scenes and on camera.
Jennifer Lopez is undoubtedly a 2000’s romcom queen, starring in hits such as The Wedding Planner, Maid in Manhattan and Monster-in-Law (one of my all-time favorites). Even her 2022 romcom Marry Me was delightful, so when I heard she was returning to the genre and collaborating with Ted Lasso writer-actor Brett Goldstein, I thought we were in for a modern classic. Alas, Office Romance fails to rise above Netflix’s usual fodder.
Despite strong chemistry between Lopez and Goldstein and a couple gags that made me laugh, such as the HR director, a lot of the comedy in this one feels forced. I’m all for a raunchy, R-rated comedy, but Office Romance feels like it’s trying too hard to be in the vein of Knocked Up or Bridesmaids. The sight of a CGI vagina with a baby coming out felt incredibly out-of-place, and the meet-cute between Lopez and Goldstein was cringe-inducing.
You can probably skip this one and rewatch one of J.Lo’s 2000’s classics, or The Proposal (a clear inspiration for Office Romance) instead.
Honestly, J.Lo should take a break from romcoms until she gets a call to work with Nancy Meyers (Something’s Gotta Give, The Holiday)!
You, Me, and Tuscany
Starring Halle Bailey (The Little Mermaid) and Rege-Jean Page (Bridgerton), this was a pleasant surprise among this year’s crop of romcoms.
Was it predictable? Yes! Was it outlandish? Yes! Does the story borrow from While You Were Sleeping and My Big Fat Greek Wedding? Yes! But that doesn’t really matter, because You, Me, and Tuscany offers just the right amount of whimsy, humor, and sexiness, all bolstered by a gorgeous Tuscan backdrop.
Director Kat Coiro imbues the movie with the lightness and zippiness of a Disney Channel Original Movie, but I say that with the highest praise.
Pop open a bottle of wine and check this one out when your brain needs a break after a long day of work!
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Overall, it doesn’t feel like romcoms are headed for more glory days any time soon, but I’m glad that there have been a couple bright spots in 2026 so far. Hopefully the tables will start to turn for the genre soon as the movie industry is finally rebounding to pre-pandemic levels!