Good films to keep you company as you navigate this change in your life.

Related: 8 Rom-Coms With Less Than 50% On Rotten Tomatoes That You Should Definitely Watch

Breakups are tough. But surround yourself with good friends and open yourself up to a good time with this mix of movies, and hopefully you’ll get through it safe and sound.

SOMEONE GREAT (2019)

The raw pain of a fresh breakup and the power of female friendships take center stage in this reverse rom-com starring Gina Rodriguez as Jenny, Brittany Snow as Blair, and DeWanda Wise as Erin. Jenny, fresh from a breakup with longtime boyfriend Nate (Lakeith Stanfield), embarks on one last hurrah with her girlfriends before she leaves for a job across the country while navigating a life without whom she thought was the love of her life. The film is honest and hilarious, and cathartic to watch.

BEGIN AGAIN (2013)

Gretta (Keira Knightley) is a singer-songwriter who recently broke up with longtime partner, successful musician Dave (Adam Levine), after he admitted to cheating on her with an assistant. As she performs at a bar, recently-fired music producer Dan (Mark Ruffalo) sees potential in a partnership, and they begin production on her solo album as they work through problems in their own personal lives. With charming performances and a beautiful soundtrack, Begin Again will hopefully inspire you to do exactly what its title suggests.

LOVE AND MONSTERS (2020)

This is not your typical watch after a breakup, but Love and Monsters is a fantastical monster adventure with themes of companionship, family, and of course, love. Dylan O’Brien stars as Joel, a survivor of the monster apocalypse, who embarks on a journey to reconnect with Aimee (Jessica Henwick), his girlfriend he was separated from seven years ago. Fun, thrilling, and original, Love and Monsters will keep you entertained but emotional enough to process your feelings after your breakup.

HOW TO BE SINGLE (2016)

“The thing about being single is…you should cherish it.” Preach it, Dakota Johnson. In this comedy, Alice (Johnson) tries to relish her newly-single life, guided by the wild Robin (Rebel Wilson). Other relationship hijinks ensue between Lucy (Alison Brie) and Paul (Colin Jost), who break up because Paul was seeing other people thinking it was what they were doing, and a pregnant Meg (Leslie Mann) and seemingly uncommitted Ken (Jake Lacy). It’s awkward and funny and just a lighthearted watch perfect for a girls’ night.

LA LA LAND (2016)

By now we all pretty much know how La La Land ends. The musical film is an ode to classic Hollywood and a commentary on the perpetual question of love vs. dreams. Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling are incredible as Mia and Sebastian, and the film progresses with so much heart. Its whimsical, romantic premise gives way to the realities of life and the sacrifices we have to make to achieve our dreams. Whether you relate or not, La La Land will get you right in the feels.

DO REVENGE (2022)

Revenge never felt so good. Kind of. Do Revenge sees Drea (Camilla Mendes) and Eleanor (Maya Hawke) strike a deal to “do revenge” on each other’s enemies. Drea is the victim of a video leak allegedly done by her ex-boyfriend Max (Austin Abrams), and Eleanor is the subject of a false rumor spread about her years ago. Light, funny, and playful, this movie will hopefully lift your spirits.

TICK, TICK…BOOM! (2021)

Tick, Tick…Boom! is a movie adaptation of the musical by the same name. It follows the story of real-life musician and composer Jonathan Larson (played by Andrew Garfield) as he navigates life as a struggling artist trying to make it in the theater industry. In his obsession with a successful career, he struggles with his relationships—with his partner Susan (Alexandra Shipp), and his friends, particularly Michael (Robin de Jesus). Despite technically not a breakup movie, Tick, Tick…Boom! is a poignant and moving tribute that will make your heart soar. The musical is also currently being staged in the Philippines by 9 Works Theatrical.

THAT THING CALLED TADHANA (2014)

A journey driven by heartbreak and an unusual situation that brings two people together marks the premise of classic Filipino movie That Thing Called Tadhana. Angelica Panganiban stars as Mace, a heartbroken, traveling woman, who finds a friend and maybe something more in kind, empathetic Anthony (JM de Guzman). Filled with endless hugot, charming chemistry, and beautiful settings, this movie is an ode to moving on, new beginnings, and hope. If you’d like, embark on a similar trip that they took in the movie from Manila to Baguio to Sagada in an effort to find out where broken hearts go.

BIRDS OF PREY (2020)

A wild superhero romp starring Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn fresh from a breakup with the Joker makes for a night of action, powerful women, and colorful, crazy antics. Birds of Prey sees a team-up between an ensemble cast of vigilantes and a detective trying to stop the plans of an evil crime lord. This engaging, thrilling, female-led film filled with fun performances is the perfect distraction from wallowing.

LEGALLY BLONDE (2001)

The entire premise of Legally Blonde literally centers on a strong, independent woman who needs no man to succeed. Despite no one believing in her, Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) gets into Harvard and excels at law school with her signature pink everything and out-of-the-box thinking. A forever classic, Legally Blonde has taught us to celebrate independence and the capabilities of women.

STARTING OVER AGAIN (2014)

The adorable, hilarious, and very real Starting Over Again asks painful questions and rehashes hopes of a love lost. Starring Piolo Pascual and Toni Gonzaga as Marco and Ginny, respectively, the movie sees the two former lovers meet again long after a rough, abrupt end to their relationship. Stellar performances make for emotional and heartwrenching scenes that will get you laughing and crying all the while.

THE LAST FIVE YEARS (2014)

Told through song and a nonlinear narrative, The Last Five Years chronicles the ill-fated relationship of Cathy (Anna Kendrick) and Jamie (Jeremy Jordan) and everything they went through in the five years they were together. The Last Five Years is based on a musical, and the Philippines will actually be staging it this September and October, starring Gab Pangilinan as Cathy and Myke Salomon as Jamie. Reliving pleasures and pains is cathartic in its own right, and we hope the wonderful songs and dynamic story in this film carries you through it all.

Continue Reading: 13 Female-Directed Filipino Movies to Watch

Expand your horizons and expose yourself to the diverse stories of women loving women in different forms of media.

Related: Love Wins (and Hurts) in These Award-Winning Filipino Queer Films

In the world’s ever-growing repertoire of queer media, stories about sapphics/women-loving-women still take up much less space than their male-dominated counterparts. There’s much discussion to be had about “proper” queer representation in media in general, but for now it’s good to diversify our own libraries, per se, by checking out these movies, series, and books all available to watch, stream, and read—and all about the sapphics.

MOVIES

The Half of It (2020)

This movie is a consistent placer on lists of great WLW media. And for good reason! The Half of It is a retelling of the 1897 play Cyrano de Bergerac, in that it features our protagonist Ellie (Leah Lewis) pretending to be someone else while communicating with someone they like. The Half of It is a subversive and refreshing take on sapphic media, touching on issues of freedom and friendship as it puts young, sweet relationships in the limelight.

Baka Bukas (2016)

Fresh from the successful theatrical run of her new film Rookie, Samantha Lee has proven to deliver quality queer content. As Lee’s first project as director, Baka Bukas achieved success and set the foundations for her career of crafting beloved sapphic stories. In the film, Alex (Jasmine Curtis-Smith) helplessly falls for her best friend Jess (Louise delos Reyes) and they must navigate a world of changes to their relationship. Baka Bukas will be available to stream on Netflix starting August 25.

Shiva Baby (2020)

Danielle (Rachel Sennott) is a hot queer mess. What else would you be when you attend a shiva (a week-long period of mourning practiced in Judaism) with your entire family, your ex-girlfriend, and your sugar daddy and his wife and child? Shiva Baby is praised for being hilarious and awkward, with Danielle being “cringe-worthy in the best way,” and is a movie to be watched through horrified looks and snorts of laughter.

Billie and Emma (2018)

Set in the 90s, Billie and Emma lays out the conflicts of being gay and being a young woman in a small town. Billie (played by openly queer Zar Donato) is sent to a strict all-girls Catholic school where she meets smart, popular Emma (Gabby Padilla), and faces a slew of resistance to their relationship—one of which is Emma’s sudden pregnancy. Samantha Lee’s second film is genuine, fun, and is unafraid to be honest in representing tough issues. It champions queer love both in the story and its production.

Crush (2022)

This high school rom-com is light fun with a sweet ending. Crush was accompanied by a calling-out controversy involving star Auliʻi Cravalho, targeted at co-star Rowan Blanchard. Regardless, the two exuded adorable chemistry and sincerity in the coming-of-age film about artist Paige (Blanchard) navigating her long-harbored feelings for crush Gabriella (Isabella Ferreira) and newfound feelings for Gabriella’s sister AJ (Cravalho).

Rookie (2023)

The way Samantha Lee consistently delivers lovely, genuine sapphic stories is awe-inspiring. Her most recent work is a love story set in the world of high school volleyball. Rookie stars Pat Tingjuy as Ace, a reluctant basketball player-turned-volleyball player, and Aya Fernandez as Jana, the driven captain of the volleyball team. Rookie won three awards at the Cinemalaya 2023 awarding ceremony: Best Editing, Audience Choice, and Best Actress for Tingjuy.

SERIES

Warrior Nun (2020)

If you were on X (formerly Twitter) last year, you’d have seen the outrage that poured in at Netflix’s cancellation of fantasy series Warrior Nun. Thankfully, just last August 16, it was announced that the story will continue as a trilogy, much to the delight of its dedicated fanbase. The story of demon fighters, “warrior nuns,” Ava (Alba Baptista) and Beatrice (Kristina Tonteri-Young) hopefully gets to continue in all its glory.

Sleep with Me (2022)

Samantha Lee’s first streaming series is a warm, intimate look at a budding romance between Harry (Janine Gutierrez), a late-night radio DJ and wheelchair-user, and Luna (Lovi Poe), a textbook writer with a disorder that only lets her sleep during the day. Sleep with Me is a comforting rom-com with adorable performances, discussion on intersectionality, and a clear focus on love between two women.

BetCin (2021)

This miniseries looks into the world of online dating coupled with the pressures of being an online couple. This close to breaking up, Beth (Kylie Padilla) and Cindy (Andrea Torres), receive news that they were selected to join a #RelationshipGoals contest where they have to prove to everyone that they’re the perfect couple so they could win a whopping 10 million pesos. Now the question is: how far can they go before something snaps?

Pearl Next Door

Webseries Pearl Next Door is another local offering that stars beloved BL Gameboys character Pearl (Adrianna So) and chronicles her journey to find love. Whether that’s with Karleen (Iana Bernardez), her best friend, or Alex (Rachel Coates), her former childhood best friend, you’ll have to watch to find out. Presented in a screenlife format with characters talking through screens, Pearl Next Door captures a modern, easy charm largely due to the distinct personalities of its characters.

Dickinson (2019-2021)

Hailee Steinfeld plays prolific poet Emily Dickinson in this comedy-drama series about her life, romance with her best friend and future sister-in-law Susan Gilbert (Ella Hunt), and the limitations and pressures placed on a woman artist at the time. In a deliberate decision, Dickinson uses modern language and anachronism to deliver a fun, steamy, relatable story about love, womanhood, and freedom.

BOOKS

One Last Stop (2021)

Casey McQuiston’s debut novel Red, White, and Royal Blue found peak success both as a novel and now as a hit Amazon Prime movie adaptation. Their second novel One Last Stop is another prime example of WLW literature done well, with eccentric but authentic characters, a very subtle magical/sci-fi premise, and soaring, electric writing. August Landry meets punk, leather-clad rebel Jane Su on a train and falls in love. Only one problem: Jane is lost in time. She’s from the 1970s, she’s stuck on the train, and August will do anything to help her.

Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating (2021)

Everybody loves a good fake dating trope. Popular, bisexual student Hani comes out to her friends, but they’re invalidating and disbelieving! She lies that she’s actually in a relationship with a girl—Ishu. Ishu is smart and driven, and she agrees to fake date Hani if it means it gets her elected head girl. The YA novel is a breath of fresh air as it puts Bengali girls in the spotlight and uniquely intersperses their stories with a tried-and-true trope.

She Gets the Girl (2022)

Alex is brave, flirtatious, and fresh from a breakup she hopes isn’t for good. Molly is awkward and incapable of talking to her crush. They hatch a plan to work together to get their respective interests to love them, but can you take a guess as to who falls in love instead? Slow burn with a lot of banter, She Gets the Girl is a lighthearted classic YA read written by real-life wives.

Juliet Takes a Breath (2016)

Juliet is a lesbian Latina interning in Portland, Oregon for her favorite white feminist author Harlow Brisbane. She spends her summer figuring out everything about not just being gay, but being a gay, female, person of color in this vast, crazy world. Juliet Takes a Breath is a funny, moving, intersectional exploration of identity and the complexity of people.

The Falling in Love Montage (2020)

A light, fun read, The Falling in Love Montage sees cynical Saoirse embark on a summer fling with the vivacious Ruby. They agree to go on cheesy, romantic dates that’ll end the moment summer does—but of course, when has that ever worked out? This book offers a cute premise, a love built between two very different girls, family, and strong personalities.

It is stellar to see so much diversity in contemporary media, and we hope it only gets better from here. Love female and sapphic love by breathing in these stories and letting them lead us towards a more open world.

Continue Reading: The Inside Story of How The Lovers, An Animated WLW Short Set In the Philippines, Came To Be

A low critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes isn’t what makes a movie as these rom-coms make for a fun movie night—whether you want to spend the time hating or otherwise.

Related: Make Room in Your Watchlist for These New Movies and Shows of August 2023

Listen. We all have that one movie that flopped in more ways than one that we absolutely adore. Did you know that Princess Diaries 2: The Royal Engagement only has 29% on Rotten Tomatoes? Shocking, I know. Of course, movie reviews—no matter how good or bad they are—are always subjective (just like this article!). That’s why below is a list of literally underrated romantic comedies that I think are worth a watch, even if they’re certified “rotten” on the review aggregator website.

HOW TO LOSE A GUY IN 10 DAYS (2003)

I know—this is often deemed a classic. But this movie starring Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey only scored 42% on the Tomatometer (the review measuring scale on Rotten Tomatoes).

Well! While not perfect by any means, it offers a fun premise and committed performances. Andie Anderson (Hudson) is a “how-to” columnist for a women’s magazine. She gets the bright idea to act like a complete nightmare of a girlfriend for an article: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, inspired by her friend who can’t keep a relationship. Benjamin Barry (McConaughey) is an advertising executive who made a deal with his boss that if he can make any woman fall in love with him, he gets to lead a huge ad campaign. They meet at a bar, enact their plans, and you can guess what happens next.

CHASING LIBERTY (2004)

Chasing Liberty is from 2004. So, if its 18% Tomatometer score has anything to say about it, it has cheesy 2004 problems. Anna Foster (Mandy Moore) is sick of the constant pressures and limitations bestowed upon her as the daughter of the President of the United States. One night, on a trip to Prague, she decides to escape the watchful eyes of her protection detail and asks Ben Calder (Matthew Goode) for help. He accompanies her as she makes her way through Europe to attend a music festival in Berlin, while keeping his true identity as a Secret Service agent secret from her. You can bet the reveal turns out well (spoiler, it doesn’t).

Moore is effervescent and carefree, but also whiny and terribly naive, while Goode exudes leading man charm in this made-for-a-teen-audience rom-com.

LEAP YEAR (2010)

Can you tell the writer of this article is a Matthew Goode enjoyer? In this 2010 rom-com, he plays Declan O’Callaghan, a surly, sarcastic Irish pub owner, opposite the ever-so-sweet Amy Adams as prim and proper Anna Brady. Anna’s been waiting forever for her boyfriend Jeremy (Adam Scott) to propose, so she decides to surprise him in Dublin and propose herself. She doesn’t make it there, though, and hires Declan—who needs money to keep his pub afloat—to bring her from Dingle to Dublin. The two start off as rocky as the gorgeous landscape of Ireland, and hijinks ensue.

Leap Year only has 23% on Rotten Tomatoes. A review by Tim Robey of the Daily Telegraph simply, hilariously, reads: “Poor Amy Adams.” Regardless, to this writer and definitely non-professional-movie-critic, Leap Year is sweet, funny, and boasts a lovely romance.

WHEN WE FIRST MET (2018)

Adam Devine’s Noah Ashby goes a long way to learn a great lesson in When We First Met. Noah’s been in love with Avery Martin (Alexandra Daddario) for three years, but she’s firmly put him in the friendzone and is set to marry Ethan (Robbie Amell). When he discovers a photobooth that sends him back in time to the time he and Avery first met, he tries a myriad of ways to win her over—all resulting in less-than-stellar outcomes in the future. Don’t worry—it’s fun to get mad at him for going about things the wrong way.

The film pairs classic rom-com tropes with a fantastical premise and a subversive take on the genre. At 43%, it’s not certified fresh, but it’s certainly not without its praise. Jeffrey Lyles of Lyle’s Movie Files says on Rotten Tomatoes, “While it’s predictable, the destination eventually makes the journey worthwhile and rewarding.”

MONTE CARLO (2011)

We all love a good identity theft moment. Monte Carlo, which is must-watch viewing for any Selena Gomez stan, follows graduating high school student Grace Bennett (Gomez), who looks an awful lot like the British heiress Cordelia Winthrop-Scott. On a trip to Paris, after being mistaken for the socialite, she assumes Cordelia’s identity and lives the high life with her friends Meg (Leighton Meester) and Emma (Katie Cassidy). She meets Theo Marchand (Pierre Boulanger), who knows of Cordelia’s spoiled personality, but eventually she wins him over.

At 40%, Monte Carlo is said to be “mostly silly, predictable stuff that never pushes beyond the boundaries of formula.” However, it delivers authenticity and a promise to be a great addition to a girls’ night movie watchlist.

SHE’S THE MAN (2006)

Speaking of identity theft, She’s the Man is one of the films that totally banked on the fake identity trope in the 2000s. Arguably Amanda Bynes’ most popular film role, it tells the story of high school soccer player Viola Hastings and her shenanigans. Viola, whose girls’ soccer team gets cut, assumes her twin brother Sebastian’s identity to prove her coach and her ex-boyfriend wrong for cutting the team. Viola, as Sebastian, befriends hotshot Duke (Channing Tatum) and they start to bond—but then so does Duke and Viola (as Viola). With all the secrecy and mistaken identities floating around, this movie’s sure to keep you on your toes.

Dated, ridiculous, yet enjoyable, She’s the Man is a comedic watch filled with great one-liners and awkwardness to boot.

HE’S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU (2009)

For those of you who love a hot mess, this film is a heaping pile of it. He’s Just Not That Into You, a 41% scorer, is a romance-comedy-drama that follows the lives of a stacked ensemble cast. How does a movie with Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Connelly, Bradley Cooper, Ginnifer Goodwin, Scarlett Johansson, Ben Affleck, Kevin Connolly, and Justin Long sound? From affairs and unwanted marriage talks to mixed signals and awkward assumptions, this movie presents relationships in all its glory as well as all its nitty gritty.

SHE’S ALL THAT (2006)

The mother of many clichés, She’s All That is a bucket list rom-com that checks off all the boxes. Quirky, spunky lead girl? Check. Popular hot guy with a hot ex-girlfriend? Check. A relationship based on a bet between bros? Check. Makeovers? Check. Jokes that won’t land today? Check. But Rachael Leigh Cook as Laney Boggs and Freddie Prinze Jr. as Zach Siler endearingly deliver wit, charm, and sincerity that will make you smile, even just a little bit.

She’s All That, despite its 41% rating, is a classic. It spawned an insane parody starring Captain America himself (Not Another Teen Movie, 2001), and a gender-swapped remake that did even worse than its predecessors (He’s All That, 2021), and probably countless more teen films over the years.

Clichéd, unfunny, bland chemistry, terrible acting—you’ve heard it all. But if you’re willing to open your mind to giving these rom-coms a chance, you’ll have a great time. (Hate-watching is also a great time). At the very least, you’ll be able to commiserate and laugh at all the reviews. And you never know—you might find a favorite worth defending.

Continue Reading: 8 Best Romcoms That Prove Fake-Dating Tropes Never Fail