Romantic comedies are the one genre no one can hate. Yet, despite their repeated use of the same tropes to narrate a slightly different story each time, they seem to be popular among people of all ages. One such trope is the fake relationship trope, which never seems to get old. From the renaissance era, Bridgerton, to Netflix's recent release, Purple Hearts, the fake dating trope adds spice to every bland story.

From staging a relationship to fulfill an inheritance clause to pretending to be enchanted for an ex's wedding, fake dating movies are the way to go. While the trope is prone to receive mixed reactions from various people, the sweet promise of happily ever afters seems to win their hearts overall. Especially for a trend that has become a staple for romantic comedies as a whole, the best versions of the fake dating trope are able to reinvent and evolve it in order to add something new to the table.

15 'The Perfect Date' (2019)

Director: Chris Nelson

High school senior Brooks (Noah Centineo) is excited to go to Yale, except he can't afford it. So in a mission to support his dreams, he agrees to pretend to be Celia's (Laura Marano) boyfriend until an idea strikes him. He develops an app and agrees to be a plus one to other girls with a personality of their choosing. A business-minded addition to his CV and quick cash? No way he's saying no to it. But when Celia and Brook decide to go on one last date to make their crushes jealous, they'll realize maybe their affections have found a new focus.

The Perfect Date is a rom-com perfect for date night with cute yet relatable scenes. Noah's appearance as a regular kid with high hopes rather than an arrogant, popular jock is a fresh change that fans can't help but swoon over.

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14 'What Happens in Vegas' (2008)

Director: Tom Vaughan

One of the most popular fake dating rom-coms, What Happens in Vegas tells the story of a wild night spent together by the usually self-disciplined careerist Joy McNally (Cameron Diaz) and the mischievous playboy Jack Fuller (a classic Ashton Kutcher rom-com character) she meets in the city. A few drinks later and the duo wakes up to their brand new marriage, which they're both determined to get out of. When they find out they can get money out of their pretend marriage, though, things take a romantic turn.

A box office hit despite negative reception from critics, What Happens in Vegas is the perfect pick for a nostalgic movie night that viewers don't have to take too seriously – the film does just that, which makes it fun to watch!

13 'Love Hard' (2021)

Director: Hernán Jiménez

Love Hard follows the story of Natalie Bauer, a hopeless romantic living in LA who seemingly has had the worst luck in finding a relationship, but appears to have found the perfect guy on a dating app living on the East Coast. However, when she decides to surprise visit him for the holidays, she realizes that she has been catfished, and her so-called perfect man is far from what she had envisioned. However, the man that she actually fell in love with is in town, and the guy who tricked her promises to introduce the two if she pretends to be his girlfriend in front of his family for the holidays.

Love Hard transforms the classic fake dating trope into the modern era with its implementation of digital dating apps, catfishing, and a slew of other modern dating trends into its premise. At the same time however, the film fundamentally understands exactly what works best about fake dating films, which combined with its Christmas setting and cheeky self-referential humor, makes for a surprisingly pleasant watch. – Robert Lee

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12 'The Wedding Date' (2005)

Director: Clare Kilner

When most of the maid of honors should be rejoicing, Kat Ellis (Debra Messing) dreads the day she has to return to her parents' house in London for her sister's marriage. If her being dateless isn't scary enough, her ex-fiance is the best man at said wedding. So she enlists the help of suave escort Nick Mercer (Dermot Mulroney) to pose as her fake boyfriend.

Of course, in an ambiance of romance and sizzling chemistry, the lines between the fake and real start to blur. A reverse Pretty Woman, The Wedding Date is one of the most rewatchable movies in the fake dating genre that should definitely be considered essential viewing.

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11 'Holidate' (2020)

In one of the best fake dating movies on Netflix, Sloane Benson (Emma Roberts) is tired of her family's constant nagging over the holidays. Meanwhile, her mother is setting her up with people she thinks Sloane should date. So when she meets Jackson (Luke Bracey) while they're both returning presents they received, they devise a plan to be each other holidates or platonic plus ones for a whole year. But their feelings might take a romantic turn as the year progresses.

A modern and riveting take on the fake relationship trope, Holidate features two complete strangers falling into an agreement that might lead them to realize that they're perfect for each other. The film is far from perfect or innovative, but it is nevertheless a mindless fun watch.

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10 'Single All the Way' (2021)

Director: Michael Mayer

Having a significant other is great. But, you know what's better: Your significant other also being your best friend. And that's precisely what hardworking digital marketer Peter (Michael Urie) might learn in this rom-com. When Peter's boyfriend breaks up with him just before the holidays, he knows he can't go home without a date.

Peter convinces his best friend, Nick (Philemon Chambers), to pose as his boyfriend over Christmas at his parent's house in New Hampshire. But he doesn't know yet, that he might be getting a side of forever with his order. A recent addition to delightful Christmas romances, Single All the Way is a movie worth its time in space - boundless, per modern physics.

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9 'Just Go with It' (2011)

Director: Dennis Dugan

Jilted at the altar by his wife-to-be, Daniel "Danny" Maccabee (Adam Sandler) has a wild, drunken one-night stand with a woman he meets at a bar. Twenty-three years later, he's a thriving plastic surgeon who developed the pattern of feigning to be in a happy marriage to hook up with women and avoid commitment. One of these times, he convinces his assistant Katherine Murphy (Jennifer Aniston) to act like his to be divorced wife.

A modern, more fascinating remake of the film Cactus Flower, Just Go with It is a romantic comedy featuring a hilarious workplace relationship. While many critics were disappointed with the film, they all praised Jennifer Aniston for her incredible acting and expert comic timing.

Watch on Starz

8 'The DUFF' (2015)

Director: Ari Sandel

As a high school senior, the worst thing one could ever be is a DUFF (Designated Ugly Fat Friend). So when Bianca (Mae Whitman) realizes she's the DUFF of her group, and it is explicitly brought to her attention, she is devastated. For once in her life, she wants to change, and the only person who can help her is the guy she despises: her childhood friend Wesley (Robbie Amell).

They make a pact to help each other, her helping him with his grades, but it isn't long before the waters of friendship are tested, and the DUFF becomes the queen of his heart. Based on the actual teen slang, The DUFF is an interpretation of the social differences among high school students wrapped up in a rather delightful comedy.

Watch on Showtime

7 'About Fate' (2022)

Director: Marius Weisberg

About Fate follows the story of two strangers, having both dealt with painful and unexpected breakups, who miraculously find themselves on each other's paths on their highly depressing New Year's Eve. With seemingly no other way to break the news of their breakups to their families at their respective New Year's Eve parties, the duo agree to pretend to be each other's significant others for the night. As the night continues, however, it becomes increasingly apparent that their meeting was far from just change, but may have actually been destiny bringing them together.

About Fate succeeds spectacularly in the most important aspect of a romantic comedy, being the genuine heart and feelings of love and genuine connection felt throughout its runtime. The on-screen chemistry between Emma Robert and Thomas Mann is a genuine treat throughout the entire runtime, as they work perfectly off of one another comedically and make for a near-perfect on-screen couple. Even if the film is far from reinventing the wheel when it comes to the fake dating trope's conventions, it accomplishes its base structure so effectively that it is easily one of the most underrated rom-coms in recent memory. – Robert Lee

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6 'How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days' (2003)

Director: Donald Petrie

Andie Anderson (Kate Hudson) is a writer for the composure magazine who writes "How To" articles. Bored of her monotony and fueled by her friend's annoying habits, she decides to write a piece on "How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days" and tries to prove her point by dating a man and imitating her friend's behavior.

Advertising executive Benjamin Barry (Matthew McConaughey), on the other hand, is looking to work for a diamond company. When challenged by his boss, he bets he could get any woman to fall in love with him. Together, they make a cute couple, but hearts will soon shatter as things get messy. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days is a legendary 2000s rom-com flick and the perfect movie to watch when looking for dating advice, especially the don'ts.

Watch on Paramount+

5 'We're the Millers' (2013)

Director: Rawson Marshall Thurber

We're the Millers proves that the fake dating trope isn't exclusive to the romance genre, with the crime comedy movie making great use of it. It's centered on small-time criminal David (Jason Sudeikis), who's indebted to some dangerous people and plans to use a fake family to smuggle an illegal shipment from Mexico to pay what he owes.

Jennifer Aniston plays Sudekis' (fake) other half, and the chemistry between the two leads makes the comedic movie that much better. We're the Millers is a beloved classic for a reason, with moments and quotes from the film still used as memes and referenced today.

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4 'The Proposal' (2009)

Director: Anne Fletcher

Margaret (Sandra Bullock) has a record of treating her employees terribly, especially her assistant, Andrew (Ryan Reynolds). So when her visa to stay in the USA expires, and she is on the verge of being deported to Canada, Andrew has no reason to help her, much less pretend to marry her so she can get citizenship. But in an exciting turn of events, he does just that.

An enemies-to-lovers romance movie, The Proposal is a hilarious rom-com that will have viewers clutching their stomachs as they roll around the floor, laughing. While Sandra and Ryan's chemistry does wonders, the characters' disdain for each other makes it even better.

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3 'To All the Boys I've Loved Before' (2018)

Director: Susan Johnson

Based on Jenny Han's fake dating book series of the same name, To All the Boys I've Loved Before tells the story of Lara Jean (Lana Condor), who is trying to execute damage control after her little sister sends out secret letters Lara wrote to her crushes over the years. She decides to team up with one of the recipients, Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo), who's looking to make his girlfriend jealous.

While the happily ever after is somewhat guaranteed, it's exhilarating to see Peter and Lara realize their feelings toward the movie's end. The best attribute of their relationship, however, is how they genuinely enjoy each other's company and fall effortlessly in love without anything feeling forced.

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2 'Anyone But You' (2023)

Director: Will Gluck

Anyone But You is a true return to form when it comes to major studio romantic comedies making their way to the big screens. The film stars massive new breakout stars Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell as a duo who were initially head over heels for each other, but after several miscommunications, their love turned into massive hatred. However, over a year after their meeting, they are forced to bear each other's presence when their friends are getting married, where the duo hatch a plot to pretend to be a couple to get the attention off their backs.

Anyone But You transfers and evokes the same powerful romantic comedy energy of some of the best adult-oriented rom-coms of the 2000s and early 2010s, acting as a massive return of the genre in terms of scope and scale. These aspects go beyond simply having a higher budget and actually releasing in theaters instead of streaming, but the setpieces, tone, and energy all come together to create one of the most memorable rom-coms in years. It's a hopeful sign for another wave of great romantic comedies in theaters, as a surefire step in the right direction for rom-com fanatics. – Robert Lee

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1 'Pretty Woman' (1990)

Director: Garry Marshall

Undoubtedly, everyone has watched or at least heard of the romantic masterpiece Pretty Woman once in their lifetime. Edward Lewis (Richard Gere) is a corporate raider who purchases businesses, selling them for a profit. When his girlfriend breaks up with him hours before a business trip, he hires sex worker Vivian Ward (Julia Roberts) to be his fake girlfriend after a drunken night. They soon find themselves both wanting to change their initial deal.

While it may need some updates to suit modern audiences, it is a classic through and through. A legendary rom-com that inspired numerous fake relationship movies, Pretty Woman serves as a love story that transcends money and social differences.

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