20 Comedies Where the Romantic Subplot Actually Works

Romance can be the glue that holds a great comedy together, adding stakes, motivation and payoffs that make the laughs land even harder; here are twenty comedies where the love thread interlocks cleanly with the central gag, adventure, or satire, fueling character choices and shaping the story beats in memorable ways.

‘Ghostbusters’ (1984)

The romantic thread pairs Peter Venkman with Dana Barrett, played by Bill Murray and Sigourney Weaver, and ties directly into the supernatural case the team investigates. Dana’s apartment becomes a focal point of the paranormal plot, so the courtship advances as the ghostbusting escalates. Ivan Reitman directs with Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis co-writing, keeping the relationship woven into the team’s world-building. The subplot also motivates Venkman’s heroics during the Zuul and Gozer crises.

‘Groundhog Day’ (1993)

Phil Connors’ pursuit of producer Rita, played by Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell, is the engine for his transformation while trapped in a repeating day. Harold Ramis’s film uses the romance as a structure for Phil’s incremental self-improvement and ethical choices. The time-loop premise keeps the courtship grounded in cause-and-effect, showing learning through repetition. Key scenes—like the diner conversations and the final charity-filled day—tie Phil’s growth to the relationship.

‘The 40 Year Old Virgin’ (2005)

Andy’s connection with Trish, played by Steve Carell and Catherine Keener, turns a raunchy setup into a character-driven story. Judd Apatow’s film uses the romance to explore vulnerability, boundaries and communication. The electronics store buddies push comedic hijinks, but the dating plan and family dynamics with Trish’s daughters keep the plot moving. Set pieces like speed dating and the eBay store underscore how Andy’s choices shift as trust builds.

‘Shaun of the Dead’ (2004)

Shaun’s break-up with Liz, played by Simon Pegg and Kate Ashfield, frames the entire zombie-outbreak objective: rescue, reconcile and survive. Edgar Wright’s “rom-zom-com” uses the pub, apartment and Winchester set pieces to align action beats with relationship milestones. The supporting trio—Ed, Liz and her friends—create comedic and emotional push-pull. The romantic goal gives Shaun concrete decisions under pressure, from route planning to sacrificial moments.

‘Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy’ (2004)

Ron’s rivalry and romance with Veronica Corningstone, played by Will Ferrell and Christina Applegate, sits at the center of the newsroom satire. The subplot drives newsroom conflicts, on-air blunders and the bear-pit rescue. Adam McKay uses the relationship to challenge Ron’s status and behavior across escalating comedic set pieces. Promotions, ratings and team loyalties all hinge on how the pair navigate workplace rules.

‘Superbad’ (2007)

Seth and Evan’s night-long mission orbits crushes—Jules and Becca—turning a party quest into a test of friendship and honesty. The film maps each obstacle—fake IDs, liquor runs, police detours—to the boys’ hopes for connection. By morning, the romantic aims force real conversations about growing apart. The subplot anchors the humor in tangible stakes at the mall and the party.

‘Booksmart’ (2019)

Amy and Molly’s last-night sprint through graduation season includes Amy’s interest in Hope and Molly’s unexpected chemistry with a classmate. Olivia Wilde structures the odyssey to check in with each crush at key party stops. The film balances academic reputations, friendship negotiations and romantic risk-taking. Hallway myths dissolve as the characters discover each other in real spaces—house parties, pools and ride-shares.

‘Zombieland’ (2009)

Columbus and Wichita’s cautious flirtation threads through survival rules, amusement-park set pieces and scams. The duo’s guarded backstories explain their strategies, so each romantic step affects group dynamics with Tallahassee and Little Rock. The road-movie structure provides checkpoints—gas stations, celebrity homes, theme rides—where trust is earned or lost. The final rescue aligns personal feelings with the team’s coordinated plan.

‘The Lego Movie’ (2014)

Emmet and Wyldstyle’s connection develops while assembling a resistance against Lord Business. The romantic beats unfold during heist planning, creative builds and cross-realm travel. Cameos and ensemble missions never sideline the pair’s growth, which supports Emmet’s move from instruction-follower to inventive builder. The live-action framing reinforces how partnership sparks confidence and problem-solving.

‘Scott Pilgrim vs. the World’ (2010)

Scott’s pursuit of Ramona requires facing her League of Evil Exes, making the romance the literal structure of the fights. Musical battles, boss-level exes and Toronto venues map out a leveling-up path tied to relationship baggage. Edgar Wright syncs editing, graphics and band rehearsals to plot progress, so each victory opens another layer of Ramona’s history. Knives Chau’s arc intersects with the romance to test accountability.

‘Shrek’ (2001)

Shrek’s quest to escort Princess Fiona back to Lord Farquaad intertwines banter, fairy-tale parodies and a curse reveal. Donkey’s commentary keeps comedic rhythm while the travelers bond across forests, castles and dragon towers. The romance dovetails with identity and appearances, culminating in a choice that alters both leads. Set pieces—wrestling knights, musical interludes and the dragon’s lair—track the relationship’s stages.

‘The Mummy’ (1999)

Rick O’Connell and Evelyn Carnahan’s partnership grows amid desert expeditions, deciphered artifacts and resurrected dangers. Archaeology puzzles and transport convoys push the pair into coordinated problem-solving. Each discovery—journals, maps, canopic jars—creates plot turns that depend on their combined skills. The romance builds through rescue beats and library-to-catacomb transitions.

‘Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl’ (2003)

Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann’s connection structures the rescue-and-piracy plot across Port Royal, ship chases and Isla de Muerta. Captain Jack Sparrow’s schemes intersect with the couple’s choices about duty and freedom. Sword fights, cursed crews and naval maneuvers place the romance in ongoing peril, raising the stakes for every bargain. The subplot informs alliances among pirates, officers and civilians.

‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ (2014)

Peter Quill and Gamora’s wary rapport grows during prison breaks, orb trades and Ravager politics. The team’s formation—Rocket, Groot and Drax—keeps the comedy brisk while the pair confront Kree threats and Nova Corps entanglements. Dance-offs, mixtapes and ship repairs provide recurring beats for incremental trust. The romantic thread remains secondary to the heist-and-battle structure yet guides late-stage decisions.

‘Deadpool’ (2016)

Wade Wilson and Vanessa’s relationship grounds the film’s fourth-wall humor and mercenary chaos. The origin setup, experimental treatment and revenge plan all loop back to reunion goals. Fight scenes, barroom sequences and X-Men cameos keep the tone comedic while the romance drives deadlines and disguises. The subplot informs costume choices, mission timing and adversary showdowns.

‘Grosse Pointe Blank’ (1997)

Hitman Martin Blank returns to his hometown for a reunion and reconnects with Debi, a DJ whose radio booth becomes a recurring locus. Assassination contracts, rival operatives and suburban revisits interlace with the second-chance story. The soundtrack and school events structure encounters that test whether Martin can change careers. Comedy arises from therapy sessions, hallway run-ins and hardware-store improvs aligned with the romance.

‘Game Night’ (2018)

Married trivia champs Max and Annie navigate a staged kidnapping that turns real, making communication under pressure the key skill. Competitive party rules, neighbor surveillance and mistaken identities drive set pieces across living rooms and airports. The couple’s fertility concerns sit under the caper, informing choices during chases and trades. Ensemble players orbit the pair’s decisions, so each clue advances both plot and relationship.

‘Singin’ in the Rain’ (1952)

Silent-era star Don Lockwood’s shift to talkies intersects with his meeting Kathy Selden, whose dubbing work becomes a central reveal. Studio politics, test screenings and musical numbers give the romance practical obstacles to solve. Lina Lamont’s contract power injects complications that the couple must outmaneuver. The backstage framework ties love, labor and technology into the film’s comic momentum.

‘His Girl Friday’ (1940)

Newspaperman Walter Burns schemes to keep reporter Hildy Johnson from leaving the press room for remarriage. The romance lives inside a rapid-fire newsroom plot involving a prison breakout, political pressure and deadline maneuvers. Telephone calls, press benches and front pages create a map for the pair’s tactical sparring. The script’s overlapping dialogue keeps the professional stakes linked to personal choices.

‘The Princess Bride’ (1987)

Westley and Buttercup’s bond threads through fencing lessons, cliff climbs and castle infiltrations. The framing device—grandfather and grandson—sets a storybook rhythm that checks in on the romance at chapter beats. Allies like Inigo and Fezzik shift the couple’s odds through swashbuckling and wordplay. The quest structure—kidnapping, fire swamps and the gate—keeps love as the goal while the comedy fills every waypoint.

Share your favorite example of a comedy where the love story truly clicks in the comments!