Julia Roberts’ Top 10 Rom-Coms: From Notting Hill to Pretty Woman

Only a select few actresses are synonymous with the romantic comedy movie genre —and Julia Roberts is certainly one of them.

From her 1988 foray into the genre in the beloved film Mystic Pizza, in which a young Roberts plays a teenage pizza waitress desperate to find her way after graduating high school, to her most recent rom-com Ticket to Paradise opposite George Clooney, Roberts has made a career out of giving moviegoers all the feels.

“People sometimes misconstrue the amount of time that’s gone by that I haven’t done a romantic comedy as my not wanting to do one,” Roberts told The New York Times in a 2022 interview, while discussing her 20-year break from the genre.

“If I had read something that I thought was that Notting Hill level of writing or My Best Friend’s Wedding level of madcap fun, I would do it,” she continued, before adding that the only reason she signed on to star in Ticket to Paradise was because her long-time pal Clooney, was also involved in the project.

“Lo and behold, George felt it only worked with me,” she explained at the time. “Somehow we were both able to do it, and off we went … I’m living my acting dreams.”

While it’s easy to assume the breadth and depth of Roberts’ rom com work would make it impossible to rank some of her most memorable films, Us Weekly has done the dirty work and created the definitive ranking of the Rom Com Queen’s Top 10 iconic films:

10. ‘Mother’s Day’

The 2016 film features a star-studded ensemble cast including Roberts, Jennifer Aniston, Jason Sudeikis, Kate Hudson and Timothy Olyphant. In the film, which follows three generations as they prepare to celebrate Mother’s Day, Roberts plays a career-focused QVC-esque host who gave up her daughter for adoption. Throughout the film, both mom and daughter come to terms with what adoption, parenthood, and a day meant to celebrate mothers truly means.

While no one, including Roberts’ performance was Oscar-worthy, the film gave tried-and-true rom com lovers what they want — numerous love stories between partners, siblings, mothers, daughters, fathers and sons, showcasing the complexities of family life and parenthood.

9. ‘Valentine’s Day’

The 2010 film directed by Garry Marshall walked so Mother’s Day could run. Featuring another ensemble cast including the likes of Aniston, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Biel, Ben Affleck, Jamie Foxx, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Garner, Taylor Swift, Taylor Lautner, Jessica Alba, Emma Roberts, Ashton Kutcher, Patrick Dempsey, Eric Dane,  Kathy Bates, Topher Grace, Queen Latifah and, if you can believe it, more, the rom-com follows several storylines that unfold during Valentine’s Day.

Roberts plays a U.S. Army Captain on active duty, who hasn’t been home in more than 11 months. For Valentine’s Day, she braves a 14-hour flight to spend the evening with her one true love: her son.

The film wins out over Mother’s Day because, well, it came first, and because it’s great to see a mother-son relationship honored on a day that’s usually dedicated to romantic love.

8. ‘America’s Sweethearts’

This 2001 film, directed by Joe Roth, stars Roberts, Billy Crystal (who also cowrote the film), John Cusack and Catherine Zeta-Jones, while also featuring supporting actors Hank Azaria, Stanley Tucci, Seth Green, Alan Arkin and Christopher Walken.

In the film, Kiki Harrison, played by Roberts, is her famous sister’s personal assistant. Perpetually living in her sibling’s shadow, Kiki falls head-over-heels for her sister’s ex — at one point, the former couple were considered, you guessed it, America’s sweethearts. Kiki attempts to show her crush the truth about her self-centered sister in an attempt to win him over.

What can we say, this film has everything: a toxic sibling relationship, a problematic love triangle and Hollywood drama. The jokes haven’t aged all that well, to be clear, and it is still mind-boggling that Roberts played more of a supporting role during a massive high point in her career.

7. ‘The Mexican’

This 2001 film is part rom-com, part action and definitely out-of-the-box. Starring Roberts, the late James Gandolfini, Brad Pitt, Gene Hackman and more, the action-packed film features some truly steamy moments between Pitt and Roberts — showcasing their undeniable chemistry.

Because the film does not follow the typical rom-com playbook, but does highlight Roberts acting range, Us is giving it a higher spot on the list despite it being, perhaps, one of her lesser known  films.

6. ‘Ticket to Paradise’

No Julia Roberts rom-com list is complete without a collaboration with her longtime friend Clooney. This 2022 film features the BFFs, who play a bitter, divorced couple who are forced to get along for the sake of their daughter (played by Kaitlyn Dever) after she gets engaged while on vacation. Surprise surprise, the pair start to appreciate one another’s company (again), and while hilarity ensues.

Clooney and Roberts have chemistry for a reason, and any time the pair share a screen viewers are sure to enjoy a fun, flirty film that doesn’t try to reinvent the rom com wheel but rather highlights the best parts of the genre.

5. ‘Runaway Bride’

A soundtrack featuring The Chicks, a Roberts and Richard Gere onscreen reunion, and a main female character who is afraid of commitment? Sign. Us. Up. This 1999 classic and box office hit arguably solidified Roberts as a rom-com Queen, giving fans everything they look for in a feel good romance flick.

For the uninitiated, Roberts plays Maggie Carpenter, who has a history of falling in love only to leave her betrothed at the altar. Gere’s character, a journalist writing an article on the so-called runaway bride, ends up falling in love with Maggie, which leaves fans to wonder: will she run again?

The film is fun, Roberts and Gere’s chemistry is as flirtatious and palpable as ever, and Roberts herself plays a believably neurotic character who, like the poor schmucks she can’t bring herself to marry, you just can’t help but fall in love with.

4. ‘Mystic Pizza’

This 1988 film gave Roberts her breakout role as Daisy Arujo, a carefree, small town girl working at a pizza parlor who enjoys getting attention from the boys in her area until she unceremoniously falls in love with a wealthy man.

Look, there would be no Pretty Woman, Erin Brockovich, Notting Hill  (insert your favorite Roberts’ film here) without Mystic Pizza. The film is delightful in that it truly leans into the ‘80s rom com genre, and looking back gives viewers a look at how Roberts became one of Hollywood’s most beloved stars.

3. ‘Pretty Woman’

What’s not to love about this 1990 classic film? From its memorable lines like, “You’re late. You’re stunning. You’re forgiven,” and “You work on commission, right? Big Mistake. Big. Huge,” to the onscreen chemistry between Roberts and Gere, Pretty Woman was an instant hit and a cultural powerhouse that has certainly stood the test of time as one of the most iconic rom com films to date.

Roberts plays the lovable and eccentric sex worker Vivian Ward, who ends up entertaining mega rich businessman Edward Lewis (Gere) after he gets lost and is in need of directions. Despite their differences, the pair fall in love during the week Edward pays Vivian to be his escort.

2. ‘Notting Hill’

One line, that is all it took, to change cinematic history: “I’m just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.” This 1999 film, written by the icon Richard Curtis, is the quintessential rom com and arguably one of the most memorable films of Roberts’ career.

Starring alongside Hugh Grant, Roberts plays movie star Anna Scott who meets and falls in love with a London bookshop owner (Grant). While vastly different — a quintessential rom com trope – they fall in love and try to make their wayward romance work. Grant and Roberts’ chemistry was electric – one of the reasons why this film is one of the most iconic rom coms of all time.

1. ‘My Best Friend’s Wedding’

Let’s be real — any of these top three films could easily be put in the No. 1 slot, they’re all just that good. Why this 1997 classic gets number one billing in our book is because, in the end, Roberts’ character does not get the guy (played by Dermot Mulroney), instead watching him ride off into the sunset with his fiancée, played by an ever-endearing Cameron Diaz. We love a good ending that doesn’t follow the normal rom-com playbook. All hail best friend love!