The Best ’80s Romantic Comedies to Watch Right Now
Step back into the 1980s with some of our favorite rom-coms from the decade. Nicolas Cage in “Valley Girl” and “Moonstruck,” Molly Ringwald looking for love in high school, and, of course, Princess Buttercup and her devoted Westley.
Below we round up some of the best ’80s romantic comedies, and where each is currently streaming. And most of the films that aren’t streaming for free right now are available to rent for less than $5.
When Harry Met Sally…
Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal go from friends to lovers to … well, panic, and finally blissful commitment in this comedy written by Nora Ephron and directed by Rob Reiner. The deli scene is, of course, a classic.
Stream “When Harry Met Sally…” on Tubi.
Coming to America
Prince Akeem (Eddie Murphy) tries to find the perfect American bride who doesn’t care that he’s African royalty in this hilarious comedy where he plays multiple parts. Always worth a rewatch.
Stream “Coming to America” on Sling
Pretty in Pink
What’s the most important love affair in this John Hughes-penned movie? Have-not Andie (Molly Ringwald) and rich boy Blane (Andrew McCarthy)? Duckie (Jon Cryer)’s unrequited crush on Andie? Or handsome snob Steff (James Spader) and his perfect, perfect hair?
Stream “Pretty in Pink” on Paramount+ or Pluto.
Moonstruck
Cher won a Best Actress Oscar for playing a widowed accountant who agrees to marry boring Johnny (Danny Aiello), only to fall head over heels in love with his passionate younger brother, Ronny (Nicolas Cage, in beautiful over-the-top mode).
Stream “Moonstruck” on Roku Channel, Tubi or Pluto
Valley Girl
Nicolas Cage is an L.A. punk and Deborah Foreman is the Valley Girl he falls for in this ever-so-‘80s romp directed by Martha Coolidge of “Real Genius” fame. Love that soundtrack.
Stream “Valley Girl” on Pluto, Tubi or MGM+
The Princess Bride
Was there ever a more perfect movie? Amidst all the storming the castle and fighting Rodents of Unusual Size is the swoony romance of Princess Buttercup (Robin Wright) and her sweet Westley (Cary Elwes). Great even if you’re not really into yukky kissing scenes.
Stream “The Princess Bride” on Disney+, Hulu or AMC+
Working Girl
Melanie Griffith got an Oscar nomination (as did Joan Cusack and Sigourney Weaver) for this extremely fun tale of a smart secretary working her way up the corporate ladder — and hooking up with Harrison Ford’s hot exec along the way.
“Working Girl” is not streaming, but you can rent it from Apple TV+, Vudu or Prime Video
Romancing the Stone
Kathleen Turner plays romance novelist Joan Wilder, who’s whisked into a tropical jungle mystery when her sister is kidnapped. The only man who can help? The dashing Jack T. Colton (Michael Douglas). And all those Joan Wilder fans in unlikely places.
“Romancing the Stone” is not currently streaming, but you can rent it from Apple TV+, Vudu or Prime Video
Arthur
The always funny Dudley Moore is the billionaire title character, who must marry a woman his family has chosen for him or kiss his fortune goodbye. Naturally, he prefers a shoplifting waitress (Liza Minnelli). John Gielgud won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar as Arthur’s disdainful, foul-mouthed valet.
“Arthur” is not streaming, but you can rent it from available digital retailers.
Tootsie
Dustin Hoffman plays Michael, an actor who is so disliked he must dress up as woman to get parts. As “Dorothy,” he lands a spot on a soap opera and becomes a sensation overnight. But how to approach beautiful costar Julie (Jessica Lange), who has no idea he’s a man? Michael accidentally starts a relationship with pal Sandy (Teri Garr), and that’s only part of the romantic miscues in this Oscar-nominated comedy.
Stream “Tootsie” on Pluto
Victor/Victoria
In 1930s Chicago, a down-on-her-luck singer (Julie Andrews) passes herself as a female impersonator and is suddenly the hottest act in town. She has to keep up the pretense after drawing the attention of James Garner’s gangster … or does she? Happily, this Blake Edward farce is far more deft than his 1991 “sexist guy who comes back in the body of a woman” trainwreck of a movie, “Switch.”
“Victor/Victoria” is not streaming, but you can rent it from available digital retailers, including Google Play, YouTube and Vudu.
Roxanne
Steve Martin is C.D. Bales, a man with a ridiculously large nose in this very funny twist on Cyrano de Bergarac. He helps tongue-tied firefighter Rick Rossovich woo the beautiful, brainy Roxanne (Daryl Hannah), but it’s clear that C.D. and Roxanne are the ones who are meant to be together.
Stream “Roxanne” on Philo
Married to the Mob
Michelle Pfeiffer’s widowed mob wife is wooed by both mob boss Dean Stockwell and undercover FBI agent Matthew Modine in Jonathan Demme’s fun, funky, comedy.
Stream “Married to the Mob” on Pluto or Tubi
Sixteen Candles
Sam (Molly Ringwald)’s 16th birthday is in danger of being completely overlooked amidst preperations for her older sister’s wedding. Thank God hunky Jake (Michael Schoeffling) remembers her big day in one of the sweetest movie moments ever.
Stream “Sixteen Candles” on Netflix
Splash
Allen (Tom Hanks) falls in love with a fish, er, mermaid (Daryl Hannah) in this Ron Howard comedy. It was the first Disney movie released under the Touchstone Pictures label, which meant it could be mentioned (if not shown) that these two got busy all over Allen’s apartment, including on top of his refrigerator!
Stream “Splash” on Disney+.
Murphy’s Romance
Sally Field reteamed with Norma Rae” director Martin Ritt for this enjoyably wholesome romcom where she falls for James Garner. And yes, that’s Corey Haim as her son.
Stream “Murphy’s Romance” on Sling
Baby Boom
Diane Keaton’s hot shot exec inherits a baby who upends her life. Before she knows it, she’s living in the country, making her own extremely marketable baby food and being romanced by Sam Shepard’s very hot vet.
Stream “Baby Boom” on MGM+, Tubi, Pluto or Roku Channel
Crossing Delancey
Amy Irving gets fixed up with pickle purveyor Peter Riegert in this underrated and very heartwarming 1988 comedy directed by Joan Micklin Silver.
“Crossing Delancey” is not streaming, but you can rent it from available digital retailers, including YouTube, Prime Video and Apple TV.
Bull Durham
Susan Sarandon and Kevin Costner have terrific chemistry (and some very quotable lines) in this beloved sports rom-com.
“Bull Durham” is not streaming, but you can rent it from Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube or Vudu.
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