Your Votes Are In! Romantic comedies raised us. They gave us unrealistic expectations about love, made us believe in grand gestures, and delivered some of the most iconic main characters of all time. But let’s be real—none of it would’ve worked without the women who carried these movies on their backs.
I asked you to vote for your rom-com queen, and y’all did not disappoint. This ranking is solid, the results are in, and honestly? I love our collective taste.
1. Reese Witherspoon
2. Kate Hudson
Kate Hudson walked onto the How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days set and said, “Let me give you perfection.” That yellow dress? Iconic. That “frost yourself” campaign? Genius. She’s the queen of chaotic rom-coms—Bride Wars was unhinged (in the best way), Raising Helen had us in our feelings, and Something Borrowed was the definition of a guilty pleasure. Kate just gets it.
3. Sandra Bullock
If Sandra Bullock is in a rom-com, you know it’s gonna be elite. Miss Congeniality is still top-tier, Two Weeks Notice gave us her and Hugh Grant bickering like an old married couple, and The Proposal gave us fake-dating gold. Plus, While You Were Sleeping is so underrated—it’s got cozy ’90s vibes and peak mistaken-identity romance. Sandra’s the queen of playing women who are a little chaotic but also deeply lovable.
4. Jennifer Aniston
Jen Aniston has never made a rom-com that wasn’t fun. She just gets it. The Break-Up was painfully relatable, Along Came Polly was the perfect mix of awkward and cute, and Just Go With It had fake-dating, tropical vacations, and Nicole Kidman randomly doing hula. Plus, He’s Just Not That Into You was basically a PSA for overthinkers everywhere.
5. Julia Roberts
Julia Roberts basically built the rom-com genre. Pretty Woman is legendary. My Best Friend’s Wedding was chaos, Runaway Bride was a mood, and Eat Pray Love made us all rethink our life choices. She’s been delivering that rom-com magic since the ’90s, and we are forever grateful.
6. Anne Hathaway
Anne Hathaway’s rom-com range is unmatched. She’s literally royalty in The Princess Diaries. Bride Wars gave us wedding-planning warfare. Love & Other Drugs was a rom-com that made us cry, and The Idea of You is about to have us feral. She just belongs in this genre.
7. Jennifer Lopez
J.Lo doesn’t just do rom-coms—she owns them. Maid in Manhattan was the ultimate fairytale. The Wedding Planner made us believe in fate (and made planners seem way more glamorous than they are). Monster-in-Law was mother-in-law horror comedy at its finest. And The Back-Up Plan flipped the whole “finding love” timeline on its head. An icon.
8. Katherine Heigl
Katherine Heigl dominated the 2000s rom-com era. 27 Dresses is elite (the Bennie and the Jets scene lives rent-free in my mind). The Ugly Truth gave us peak enemies-to-lovers energy. Knocked Up was a chaotic journey into parenthood, and Life as We Know It had us sobbing. She was that girl for a solid decade.
9. Drew Barrymore
Drew Barrymore was made for rom-coms. 50 First Dates is one of the most adorable love stories ever. Never Been Kissed made us all cry (and scream at the teacher storyline, but that’s another convo). Blended was just fun, and Music and Lyrics gave us a rom-com with bops. Also, her chemistry with Adam Sandler? Unmatched.
10. Kristen Bell
Kristen Bell in Forgetting Sarah Marshall was iconic. That breakup scene? Still painful. Couples Retreat and When in Rome gave us peak 2000s vibes, and You Again was pure nostalgia-fueled fun. She’s got that relatable, slightly chaotic rom-com energy.
11. Cameron Diaz
Cameron Diaz just gets rom-coms. There’s Something About Mary was insane in the best way. The Holiday is mandatory December viewing. What Happens in Vegas was unhinged, and The Other Woman turned a cheating scandal into the ultimate girl-power revenge comedy. A legend.
12. Jennifer Garner
13 Going on 30 was a cultural reset, and Jennifer Garner made that movie what it is. Catch and Release was a hidden gem, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past was messy but fun, and Valentine’s Day was proof that she belongs in every ensemble rom-com.
13. Amanda Bynes
Amanda Bynes owned the 2000s teen rom-com era. She’s the Man is comedy gold (Channing Tatum’s crush acting alone deserves an award). What a Girl Wants was peak wholesome chaos. Sydney White gave us a fun college rom-com twist, and Love Wrecked was just a vibe. Her comedic timing? Unmatched.
14. Meg Ryan
Meg Ryan invented the cozy rom-com. When Harry Met Sally is still one of the best. Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail are comfort movies. And Kate & Leopold? Time-travel romance done right. She is the blueprint.
15. Rachel McAdams
Rachel McAdams isn’t just a rom-com queen—she’s a romance queen. The Notebook ruined us emotionally. About Time was so underrated. Morning Glory was a fun newsroom rom-com, and Wedding Crashers had her being the perfect love interest yet again. She just gets it.
16. Sanaa Lathan
Sanaa Lathan gave us one of the best love stories ever with Love & Basketball. Brown Sugar blended hip-hop and romance perfectly. The Best Man was dramatic but so good. And Something New was such a slept-on gem. She’s got that effortless cool girl rom-com energy.
So, there you have it—your ranking of the ultimate rom-com queens! Honestly? Y’all did good. But let’s hear it—who’s your personal number one? Drop your faves in the comments!