The Brief

Romantic comedies might be going through a bit of an identity crisis.

There have been thoughtful discussions about mid-budget movies (where most rom coms fall) going by the wayside in the streaming era, resulting in cinema’s seeming abandonment of the genre.

But it’s not that rom coms aren’t being made. Just within the last few years we had Anyone But You (2024), Rye Lane (2023), Red, White & Royal Blue (2023), and Palm Springs (2020). There could even be an argument that this year’s Oscar Best Picture winner, Anora, is a rom com. When Harry Met Sally’s Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal did present the Best Picture award, after all.

Has the genre changed?

The genre has gone through many phases, from the screwball comedies of the 1930s that leaned into the outlandish, to the wistful romances of the 50s, to the edgy genre deconstruction of the 70s, to the rom com classics of the 80s and 90s, said Esther Zuckerman, entertainment journalist and author of Falling in Love at the Movies: Rom-Coms from the Screwball Era to Today. She joined guest host Austin Cross on LAist’s daily news program, AirTalk.

“ And now rom coms are sort of once again trying to figure out what they are,” she said. “There are still some great ones coming out, but it’s a little bit of an interesting time for the genre.”

From the obscure, to the unconventional, to the ones hiding in plain sight waiting to sweep you off your feet, these are the underrated rom coms worth checking out, according to AirTalk listeners.

A classic ready for its meet-cute

Harold and Maude (1971)

An unconventional pairing of on-screen lovers, Harold (Bud Cort), a young man obsessed with death, meets Maude (Ruth Gordon), an 80-year-old woman, at a stranger’s funeral. Their friendship turns to love as they chase adventure together.

“A very tender story about two odd people who fall in love. And it’s a cult classic,” said Carmen from Monterey Hills.

“It goes a lot deeper than just romantic love. And it has a phenomenal soundtrack,” said Mark from Orange.

Love Story (1970)

More of a straight up romance than a comedy, Ali MacGraw and Ryan O’Neal play star-crossed lovers whose different economic backgrounds cause obstacles and strife. The film’s enduring tagline, “love means never having to say you’re sorry,” solidifies its classic status.

“ It was my parents date night flick in the 70s,” said Suraya from Eagle Rock. “So I grew up hearing them share how much they loved this movie, how much they cried.”

Crossing Delancey (1988)

This one's an 80s rom com that may have slipped under the radar, eclipsed by larger releases of the time. Amy Irving stars as a New York bookshop employee whose grandmother pushes her to find love through a Jewish matchmaker. She and her main suitor, played by Peter Riegert, get into quite the pickle.

“[It] is a real gem and maybe the only rom com I recommend,” said Hilary from Highland Park. “Who doesn't love a movie about a humble pickle vendor trying to woo an intellectual bookshop worker? Special shout-out to The Roches who provide multiple amazing songs to the soundtrack.”

How to Steal a Million (1966)

Maybe a lesser talked about Audrey Hepburn film, the daughter of an art forger and a cat burglar (Peter O’Toole) team up to steal a statue from a museum. Is their love real, or just another long con?

“ There's lots of physical comedy. It's very, very funny and very charming,” said Anne from Palm Desert. “And of course, Audrey Hepburn, her clothes are just phenomenal.”

It Happened One Night (1934)

As screwball as screwball comedies get, this film stars Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert in one of the most celebrated rom coms from the 1930s era. Colbert plays a newly-wed just trying to get back to her husband but Gable, a news reporter, gets in her way.

“ It holds up incredibly well,” said Curtis from Culver City. “It really kind of set the template for romantic comedies. It feels very, very modern. It's a classic and it is well known, but it's not seen as much as it could be and should be.”

Familiar faces in unlikely places

Joe Versus the Volcano (1990)

Perhaps a precursor to the more fondly remembered You've Got Mail, this rom com also has Meg Ryan opposite Tom Hanks. Hanks plays a terminally ill man who goes on an adventure to live life to fullest before his time is up. On the way, he meets a cast of characters, many of them played by Ryan.

“It is unique because Meg Ryan plays three different roles,” said Robbie from Pasadena. “It is so random, but it works!”

Long Shot (2019)

A more recent entry into the genre. Seth Rogen and Charlize Theron are an unexpected match, but that’s by design as the two play an unlikely couple: Theron, an ambitious diplomat running for president and Rogen, a scrappy journalist prone to trouble.

“ It's so hilarious,” said Allegra from Encino. "I mean, who would ever think Seth Rogen and Charlize Theron as love interests, but the chemistry is so good.”

Once Around (1991)

Holly Hunter and Richard Dreyfus star in this romance turned family drama. Hunter’s character begins a relationship with an older charismatic salesman (played by Dreyfus) to Hunter’s parents’ disapproval.

“It takes some unique turns and has some interesting ideas about not liking someone initially and then coming around in the end,” said D.P. from the Crenshaw District.

The Sweetest Thing (2002)

Cameron Diaz is no stranger to the rom com, but besides The Holiday, her name is seldom mentioned when discussing some of the genre’s beloved leads. In this film, Diaz’s character goes on a road trip to track down a man she met at a bar (played by Thomas Jane) not wanting to miss a chance at love.

“The cast was great with Cameron Diaz, Christina Applegate, Selma Blair, and Jason Bateman,” said Eddie from Palm Desert. “It was a more mature movie but it was so well done and very ahead of its time.”

For a bit of the fantastical

About Time (2013)

Another notch in writer-director Richard Curtis’ rom com belt (he also wrote Love Actually and Four Weddings and a Funeral). Domhnall Gleeson’s character has the ability to travel through time and decides to use this newfound power to find love. Enter Rachel McAdams. Gleeson leverages his gift to change and intercept possible derailments to their relationship.

“ It's such an unconventional Rom Com in a way,” said Colton from Silver Lake. “It does have the traditional man, woman, love story, but then it morphs into a family love story, and it turns into this love story about a father and a son.”

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012)

If it was your last few weeks on Earth, who would you spend them with? Steve Carell and Kiera Knightly opt to spend their last days together in a car racing against an asteroid. Why? So Carell can find his long lost love. But isn't it more about the journey, than the destination?

“ It's happening with the backdrop of the world ending in a matter of days or weeks,” said Samantha from Sherman Oaks. “And so they develop a friendship, they have really good chemistry, and they both are motivated to solve kind of age-old problems within their families. It's just a beautiful, touching film.”

A rom com by any other name

The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

Wes Anderson’s films are a genre in themselves, and while Moonrise Kingdom may come to mind as the more obvious Anderson rom com, The Royal Tenenbaums’ central characters are full of heart.

“Such a quirky film with interesting relationships,” said Jenny from Silver Lake. “Certainly, Gene Hackman's character made past mistakes in his marriage, but when he said “You’re true blue” to Angelica Huston (his ex-wife in the film), it was so romantic.

So, I Married an Axe Murderer (1993)

Leave it to Mike Myers to star in a film that satirizes the rom com. Myers plays a comedian who meets the woman of his dreams (Nancy Travis), but then starts to suspect she may be a serial killer.

“Mike Myers I believe is at his funniest,” said Christina from Indian Wells. “It’s just a delightful development of a romance against someone’s wishes. Also, it’s a great love story about the San Francisco Bay Area.”

“It’s just so nostalgic and reminds me of when I was dating and trying to find the perfect partner,” said Steven from Glendale.

This story first appeared on The LA Local.

Since 1977, Richard Santillan has been to every Opening Day game at Dodger Stadium. 

“The tradition goes from my father, to me, to my children and grandchildren. Some of my best memories are with my father and children here at Dodger Stadium,” Santillan told The LA Local, smiling under the shade of palm trees near the entrance to the ballpark Wednesday morning. He was there to protest the team less than 24 hours before Opening Day.

Santillan, like countless other loyal Dodgers fans, is grappling with his fan identity over the team’s decision to accept an invitation to the White House and owner Mark Walter’s ties to ICE detention facilities.

More than 30 people joined Santillan on Wednesday morning for a press conference held near 1000 Vin Scully Drive to convey a message directly to the team. 

“We are demanding the Dodgers stop participating in funding of inhumane treatment of families and do not go to the White House to celebrate with the criminal in chief,” Evelyn Escatiola told the crowd. “Together, we have the power to make a change.”

Escatiola, a former dean of East Los Angeles College and longtime community organizer, urged fans to flex their economic power by “letting the Dodgers know that we do not support repression.”

Jorge “Coqui” Rodriguez, a lifelong Dodgers fan, spoke to the crowd and called on Dodgers ownership to divest from immigration detention centers owned and operated by GEO Group and CoreCivic.

Jorge Coqui H Rodriguez speaks at a press conference outside Dodger Stadium on March 25, 2026, to demand the Dodgers not to visit the White House following their 2025 World Series win.

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J.W. Hendricks

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The LA Local

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In a phone interview a day before the protest, Rodriguez told The LA Local he did not want the Dodgers using his “cheve” or beer money to fund detention centers. 

“They can’t take our parking money, our cacahuate money, our cheve money, our Dodger Dog money and invest those funds into corporations that are imprisoning people. It’s wrong,” Rodriguez said. 

Rodriguez considers the Dodgers one of the most racially diverse teams and said the players need to support fans at a time when heightened immigration enforcement has become more common across L.A.

The team’s 2025’s visit to the White House drew ire from the largely Latino fan base, citing the Trump administration’s ongoing attacks on immigrants. 

In June, the team came under further scrutiny when rumors swirled online that federal immigration agents were using the stadium’s parking, which immigration authorities later denied in statements posted on social media accounts.

The team again came under fire after not releasing a statement on the impacts of ICE raids on its mostly Latino fan base at the height of immigration enforcement last summer. The team later agreed to invest $1 million to support families affected by immigration enforcement.

When he learned the Dodgers were pledging only $1 million to families in need, Rodriguez called the amount a  “slap in the face.” 

“These guys just bought the Lakers for billions of dollars and they give a million dollars to fight for legal services? That’s a joke,” Rodriguez said. “They need to have a moral backbone and not be investing in those companies.”

According to reporting from the Los Angeles Times, former Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershawsaid last week that he is looking forward to the trip.

“I went when President [Joe] Biden was in office. I’m going to go when President [Donald] Trump is in office,” Kershaw said. “To me, it’s just about getting to go to the White House. You don’t get that opportunity every day, so I’m excited to go.”

The Dodgers have yet to announce when their planned visit will take place. 

Santillan sometimes laments his decision to give up his season tickets in protest of the team. His connection to the stadium and the memories he has made there with family and friends will last a lifetime, he said. On Thursday, he will uphold his tradition and be there for the first pitch of the season, but with a heavy heart.

“It’s a family tradition, but the Dodgers have a lot of work to do,” he said.

A local favorite mom-and-pop bookshop in Eagle Rock is facing displacement due to a steep rent hike. The owners say theirs is just one of several small businesses along Eagle Rock Boulevard struggling to keep up with lease increases.

Over the past 19 years, many in the neighborhood have come to love READ Books for its eclectic collection of used titles and shop dog Florence.

Co-owner Jeremy Kaplan said it’s been a delight to grow with the community over the years.

“Like seeing kids come back in, who were in grade school and now they’re in college,” Kaplan said.

But the building where Kaplan and wife Debbie rent was recently sold, and the rent increased by more than 130% to $2,805 a month, Kaplan said. He told LAist it was an increase his small business simply could not absorb.

Kaplan said he originally was given 30 days notice of the rent increase. After some research, assistance from Councilmember Ysabel Jurado’s office and some pro-bono legal help, Kaplan said he pushed back and got the 90-day notice he’s afforded by state law.

California Senate Bill 1103 requires landlords to give businesses with five or less employees 90 days’ notice for rent increases exceeding 10%, among other protections.

Systems Real Estate, the property management company, did not immediately respond to LAist’s request for comment.

What can small businesses do? 

Nadia Segura, directing attorney of the Small Business Program at pro bono legal aid non-profit Bet Tzedek said California law does not currently allow for rent control for commercial tenancies.

Outside of the protections under SB 1103, Segura said small businesses like READ Books don’t have much other recourse. And even then, commercial landlords are not required to inform their tenants of their protections under the law.

“There’s still a lot of people that don’t know about SB 1103. And then it’s very sad that they tell them they have these rent increases and within a month they have to leave,” Segura said.

She said her group is seeing steep rent hikes like this for commercial tenants across the city.

“We are seeing this even more with the World Cup coming up, the Olympics coming up. And I will say it was very sad to see that also after the wildfires,” Segura said.

Part of Bet Tzedek’s ongoing work is to advocate for small businesses, working with landlords who are increasing rents to see if they are willing to give business owners longer leases that lock in rents.

What’s next 

After READ Books posted about their situation on social media, commenters chimed in to express their outrage and love for the little shop.

While he looks for a new spot, Kaplan says he’s forming a coalition of local businesses and activist groups to see what can be done to help other small businesses facing similar displacement. He wants to address the displacement issue for businesses like his, which have made Eagle Rock the distinctive neighborhood that it is today.

Owl Talk, a longtime Eagle Rock staple selling clothing and accessories in a unit in the same building as READ Books, is facing a “more than double” rent increase, according to a post on their Instagram account.

Kaplan said he’s been in touch with the office of state Assemblywoman Jessica Caloza and wants to explore the possibility of introducing legislation to set up protections for small businesses like his, including rent-control measures or a vacancy tax for landlords. Kaplan said he also reached out to the office of state Sen. Maria Durazo.

By his count, Kaplan said there are about a dozen businesses within surrounding blocks that are at risk of closing their doors or have shuttered due to rent increases or other struggles.

When READ Books was founded during the Great Recession, Kaplan said he knew it was a longshot to open a bookstore at the same time so many were struggling to stay in business.

“It was kind of interesting to be doing something that neighborhoods needed. That was important to me growing up, that was important to my children, that was important to my wife growing up,” Kaplan said.

“And then somebody comes in and says, ‘We’re gonna over double your rent.”

Topline:

Frozen budget: Most of the city’s Bureau of Street Lighting budget comes from an assessment that people who own property illuminated by lights pay on their county property tax bill. The amount people pay depends on the kind of property they own and how much they benefit from lighting. A typical single-family home currently pays $53 annually, and in total, the assessments bring in about $45 million annually for the city to repair and maintain streetlights. Changing the amount the Bureau of Street Lighting gets from the assessment requires a vote among property owners who benefit from the lights.

Ballots: L.A. City Council’s vote gives city staff the green light to prepare and send out those ballots. Miguel Sangalang, who oversees the bureau, said at a committee meeting earlier this month that he expects to send out ballots by April 17. Notices about the ballots will be sent out prior to the ballots themselves.

Near unanimous vote: L.A. City Councilmember Monica Rodriguez was the only “No” vote Tuesday, saying she wanted to see a more current strategic plan for the bureau. Sangalang said the bureau developed a plan in 2022 that lays out how money will be spent. Councilmember Imelda Padilla was absent for the vote.

Vote count: Votes will be weighted according to the assessment amount. Basically, the more you’re asked to pay yearly to maintain streetlights, the more your vote will count. Ballots received before June 2 will be tabulated by the L.A. City Clerk.

How much more money: According to a report, the amount needed in assessments from property owners to meet the repair and maintenance needs of the city’s streetlighting in the next fiscal year is nearly $112 million.

Use of the money: Sangalang said at a March 11 committee meeting that the extra funds would be used to double the number of staff to handle repairs and procure solar streetlights, which don’t face the threat of copper wire theft. That would all potentially reduce the time it takes to repair simple fixes down to a week. Currently, city residents wait for months to see broken streetlights repaired. The assessment would come with a three-year auditing mechanism.