In the mood for love? New rom-coms (and wrong-coms and dom-coms) to watch now

There’s Billy Crystal’s Harry confessing his love to Meg Ryan’s Sally. Or the impassioned classroom poem from Julia Stiles’ Kat in 10 Things I Hate About You . Or Hugh Grant in … well, take your pick. As a genre, romantic comedies dominated film and TV in the ’90s and early 2000s. Since this golden era, rom-coms now seem more associated with cringe than comfort. But could the tide be turning? From “dom-coms” to “wrong-coms” to more conventional destination romances, there’s a plethora of romance on screen in more recent times.

I’m just a writer, standing in front of a reader, asking you to consider the resurgence of rom-coms with the following list of films and TV shows that have (or are about to) come out.

Jennifer Lopez as Jackie Cruz and Brett Goldstein as Daniel Blanchflower in Office Romance. Office Romance (Netflix)

It wouldn’t be a list of rom-coms without Jennifer Lopez, who has 10 such titles to her name and counting. Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on where you stand), her latest film doesn’t revolve around planning or attending a wedding. It does feature Brett Goldstein ( Ted Lasso ) as her on-screen romantic interest and the lawyer recently hired to work for her company. What’s an airline chief executive to do when she falls for a staff member after instituting an office fraternisation ban? It’s a deeply relatable plot – for airline chief executives. This R-rated film will probably entertain, depending on your feelings towards British-American cultural differences, workplace ensembles, and extended work trips.

For fans of: The Office (US) , Two Weeks Notice and J-Lo.

Yali Topol Margalith as Izzy and Jemaine Clement as her older boyfriend, Steve, in Alice and Steve.

Alice and Steve (Disney+)

“No young woman wants a 50-year-old man creeping up to her,” Steve (Jemaine Clement) tells his best friend Alice (Nicola Walker) in a bar after attending the funeral of a mutual friend. And yet, a few short scenes later, it’s the very premise of the show. As Steve goes on to date Alice’s 20-something daughter, Izzy (Yali Topol Margalith), this “ wrong-com” takes us to deeply uncomfortable places. Creator and writer Sophie Goodhart ( Sex Education ) puts Alice and Steve’s friendship at the forefront of this six-part series that will have you asking: “Are we meant to laugh at this part?”

For fans of: Flight of the Conchords , Peep Show.

Kit Connor (left) as Nick and Joe Locke as Charlie in Heartstopper Forever (Netflix). Heartstopper Forever (Netflix, July 17)

Charlie Spring (Joe Locke) and golden retriever in human form Nick Nelson (Kit Connor) are back in Heartstopper Forever . The feature film is the final instalment of the gay romance series , based on YA graphic novels by Alice Oseman . In this chapter, Nick heads to college as Charlie reckons with his last year of school without his boyfriend. If it’s anything like the series, the film will feel like a big warm hug with a side of adolescent drama. Long-distance relationships are rich fodder for rom-coms, but can Charlie and Nick survive this trope test?

For fans of: Young Royals , Sex Education and whatever the opposite of Euphoria is.

Zoey Deutch as Jill in Voicemails for Isabelle. Voicemails for Isabelle (Netflix, June 19)

A woman leaving voicemails for her dead sister doesn’t sound like the premise for a rom-com, but it’s what drives the plot of Voicemails for Isabelle. Pastry chef Jill (Zoey Deutch) and real estate agent Wes (Nick Robinson) meet when Jill’s dead sister’s number is reassigned to Wes, of course. As she leaves messages about her life, work and grief to an unwitting stranger, that stranger – aka Wes – finds himself falling for her. The trailer makes direct reference to You’ve Got Mail , only it’s the “sick reboot” according to Wes’ friend, Andy. Indeed, director Leah McKendrick says Nora Ephron’s 1998 film was a big influence. There’s an interesting cast, too – including Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation ) and Lukas Gage ( White Lotus ).

For fans of: You’ve Got Mail (obviously), Love, Simon and interminably long voice memos.

Alexander Skarsgård in Pillion. Pillion (HBO Max)

The critically acclaimed film featuring Alexander Skarsgård as Ray, a dom in a relationship with the meek Colin (Harry Melling, of Dudley Dursley in Harry Potter fame), has now landed on streaming. Director Harry Lighton explores BDSM and relationships in a complex way; one of the more memorable scenes is the “meet the parents” moment between Colin’s mother and father and an unapologetic Ray. It’s perhaps an unconventional contender in the rom com category – but the film is tender, and ultimately, a love story (featuring boot-licking).

For fans of: All of Us Strangers , God’s Own Country and leather.

Halle Bailey as Anna and Regé-Jean Page as Michael in You, Me and Tuscany. You, Me and Tuscany (Amazon Prime Video)

This destination rom-com is not exactly reinventing the wheel, but it’s no less enjoyable if you’re into two big stars falling for each oth…