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For most of the last decade, film critics spent a lot of their time writing about the so-called death of the romantic comedy.
And despite the popularity of these statements, they were always greatly overstated, sprinkled with tinges of misogyny, and half-baked — the genre has never really faltered in popularity or quality.
Now, this year, due to ongoing COVID-19-related travel restrictions, it is likely that most people will have nothing to do and nowhere to go on Valentine's Day. Well, controversially, unless you're in New York City. So, there's really no better time to delve into the expansive history of romantic comedies.
Below, Insider's entertainment team picked 53 of our favorite romantic comedies that will get you through the big day.
The list includes 80's classics like "Moonstruck" as well as new gems like "To All the Boys I've Loved Before" and, of course, a whole bunch of Nora Ephron and Richard Curtis classics.
Keep reading to see which films made the cut, listed below in no particular order.
Ashley Simone Johnson and Jacob Sarkisian contributed reporting to an earlier version of this article.
"When Harry Met Sally..." (1989)
Few rom-coms capture the absolute agony (and pure bliss) of realizing that you're in love with your best friend like "When Harry Met Sally."
Starring Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan as the titular Harry and Sally, Rob Reiner's 1989 classic gifted us with iconic lines (who could forget the hilarious reaction of the woman at Katz's after Sally fakes an orgasm there during lunch with Harry?!) and a stellar cast (including the late Carrie Fisher in one of her best performances).
But at the core of the film is a tender, beautifully-explored love story, set against the backdrop of New York in the fall and winter.
While the costumes, script, and characters are flawless, overall, "When Harry Met Sally" is a gentle reminder that true love sometimes takes a while to find — but is...