Who doesn't love ordering a pizza and curling up on the couch for a good chick flick session? Dudes, we know you secretly enjoy it, too! After a long week, it can be just what you need to recharge. It can also be a great idea for a romantic third date.
Even better than a date is probably a night in with your friends, a few bottles of wine, and at least three of the best chick flicks in history. You won't have to worry at all about how to choose one, as we've done all the heavy lifting for you.
Whether you love Meryl Streep, Reese Witherspoon, Sandra Bullock, Julia Roberts, Kate Winslet, or all of the above, there's something in this list for you! We've ranked the top 50 to help you choose which one you'll watch next. Most women unanimously agree that #1 is the best chick flick of all time!
An oldie but a goodie, Casablanca will never be irrelevant in the chick flick world. The best part is that with Humphrey Bogart starring, the men won't complain too much if you insist on watching it one rainy evening. Set during World War II, this 1942 film was ahead of its time, considering the war didn't end until 1945.
The plot is centered around Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), an American who runs a bar in Casablanca, Morocco, during World War II. Though it's illegal, his bar is a hot spot for refugees hoping to escape to America. When his ex-lover, Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) and her husband show up, he has to make some difficult decisions. The film went on to win an Academy Award for Best Picture, as well as Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay.
This 1994 family drama film really knew how to pull at the heartstrings of anyone who watched it. Based on the 1868 novel of the same name by Louisa May Alcott, Little Women was a blockbuster at the time it was released. No surprises why - it had an all-star cast featuring Winona Ryder, Kirsten Dunst, Claire Danes. Christian Bale, and Susan Sarandon.
The storyline focuses on the March sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, and is set during and after the American Civil War. The girls are raised by their mother while their father is away at war. The film follows the lives of the girls as they deal with violence, romance, illness, and tragedy in such a tumultuous time. It really is a classic that doesn't get old - we even loved reading the book, too.
This film is the absolute epitome of rebellious girl power and we can never get enough of it. Starring Geena Davis as Thelma and Susan Sarandon as Louise, it basically contains everything a woman could ask for in a film - a road trip, murder, robbery, badass ladies, plenty of feminist themes, and of course, an adorable young Brad Pitt. Though it ends in tragedy, it was and still is extremely popular with female audiences.
The 1991 film was controversial when it was first released, but it is now considered a timeless classic. It received six Academy Award nominations and received one for Best Screenplay. Both Sarandon and Davis were nominated for Best Actress, which is practically unheard of for the same film. All in all, it's a must-see if you haven't already had the pleasure.
For those who haven't seen it, Enchanted is one gloriously fun ride. Suitable for a range of ages, anyone can enjoy this live action Disney film starring Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey (also known as Doctor McDreamy from the television series Grey's Anatomy), James Marsden, and Susan Sarandon. Released in 2007, Enchanted is a Disney princess film with a modern-day twist.
Set in New York City, it has all the markers of a Disney story - naïve and beautiful princess, dashingly handsome prince, evil witch who tries to destroy it all, and her loyal henchmen who inevitably mess things up by being total idiots. Reception was surprisingly good on release, with most media outlets giving it favorable reviews. This was unexpected due to the nature of the film's concept. It's definitely one of our favorite girly films to watch.
The Holiday was one of the biggest romantic comedies of the year when it was released back in 2006. With a half-British, half-American main cast, it was something everyone could get behind. And did we mention it's a Christmas film? The Holiday starred Kate Winslet and Jude Law as the British half of the cast, and Cameron Diaz and Jack Black as the American side.
The plot was interesting, if a little predictable, but to be totally honest, we don't think anyone cared. It begins with Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz switching homes as part of a vacation swap arrangement. While the two women are off living in foreign lands, they inevitably fall in love. If you aren't convinced that it's one of the best chick flicks of all time, it might help to know that it won a Teen Choice Award in the Chick Flick category.
Sixteen Candles is the ultimate chick flick for a night on the couch. Starring Molly Ringwald (famous for other cool classics, The Breakfast Club and Pretty in Pink), this 1984 film is a coming of age tale centered around the main Character, Sam's 16th birthday. It has all the markers of a teen movie - high school crushes, jocks, geeks, angst, and family drama.
Sixteen Candles was generally well received by the public and Molly Ringwald's performance was praised by most critics. She just nails the 'insecure high school girl with a crush' image. There are some elements that would make the film unacceptable by today's standards. For example, an Asian character which makes use of offensive stereotypes, as well as a joke about date rape. All in all, this fun movie ages pretty well, though.
Talk about all-star casts of the '90s! This film is full of some of our favorites, including Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore, and Whoopi Goldberg. Released in 1990, Ghost is considered a 'romantic fantasy thriller' which is a genre you don't see very much of. And we have to admit, it's a pretty weird storyline when you think about it. It managed to satisfy the critics, though - Ghost was nominated for five Academy Awards, and Whoopi Goldberg won one for Best Supporting Actress, as well as a Golden Globe.
If you haven't seen it, the plot of Ghost follows Moore's character, Molly Jensen, whose dead lover, played by Swayze, comes back as a ghost to warn her of impending danger. Swayze enlists the help of a psychic, played by Goldberg, who communicates with Molly. We told you it was weird!
Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan films are basically the definition of 'guilty pleasure chick flick indulgence' and we're totally here for it. Released in 1998, You've Got Mail was one of the first films to include online dating within the plotline. It was back in the day where we only had email and desktop computers. Can you imagine?
Hanks and Ryan play business rivals who can't stand each other. But what they don't realize is that they've entered an online relationship together without knowing who the other one is. Bear in mind that photos and real names weren't really used online in those days, so it was totally reasonable that they didn't figure things out until later. Obviously, they fall in love and everything is wonderful. If you're feeling down this is definitely a movie that will cheer you up.
Who doesn't remember Drew Barrymore in that beautiful Cinderella dress? Everyone went crazy for Ever After when it was released back in 1998, and for good reason - it's definitely one of the best chick flicks of all time. Based loosely on the fairytale of Cinderella, the film is set in France during the exciting Renaissance era.
The interesting thing about this version of Cinderella is that it has a bit of a feminist twist. We still have the evil stepmother and stepsisters (though one of them is kind of nice), but this Cinderella doesn't need anybody to rescue here. She knows how to get herself out of this mess and even saves the prince, too! It's refreshing to see a Cinderella who knows what she's doing and who takes her destiny into her own hands.
Released in 1997, My Best Friend's Wedding was one of the movies of the decade. Starring both Julia Roberts and Cameron Diaz, the cast was first class. But the storyline was even better - nothing like this had ever been done before. Roberts's character, Julianne, has a long-term pact with her college best friend, Michael (played by Dermot Mulroney). They agreed that if neither of them was married by the time they turned 28, they would marry each other.
A few weeks before turning 28, Julianne receives a call from Michael announcing his engagement to 20-year-old rich girl, Kimmy (played by Diaz). Julianne then decides she's in love with Michael and does everything she can to sabotage the wedding. Of course, there are plenty of disasters and dramas along the way, but for the most part, it's a feel-good film with an unpredictable ending.
If you haven't laughed your head off to this hilarious romantic comedy, it's about time to get started. Amanda Bynes stars as Viola Hastings, a tomboy who just wants to play soccer. When her school cuts the girls' team, she asks to try out for the boys' team and is told that it's impossible. Of course, this leads to a somewhat ridiculous plot, involving attending the rival school disguised as a boy. This is all so she can beat her previous school and ex-boyfriend in the final game between the two teams.
Along the way, she falls in love with soccer captain, Duke Orsino (played by the gorgeous Channing Tatum), but of course, he believes she is a boy, so much hilarity and drama ensue. The film was actually inspired by Shakespeare's play, Twelfth Night.
Hollywood isn't exactly known for its realistic portrayal of life. And though this film isn't exactly a replica of normal living, so many women were able to relate to it. Bridesmaids took common problems that women deal with as part of being in their friends' weddings and turned them into a side-splitting comedy that people could totally feel. What 20 and 30-something women haven't had these wedding logistics problems?
Released in 2011, Bridesmaids stars Kristen Wiig, with a kickass supporting cast of Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy, Ellie Kemper, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Chris O'Dowd, Rebel Wilson, and Matt Lucas. The movie was well received both critically and at the box office, and it won a ton of awards. Melissa McCarthy was especially praised for her hilarious performance in a supporting role and was even nominated for an Academy Award, BAFTA, and Screen Actors Guild Award.
Steve Martin, Diane Keaton, Kimberly Williams, and George Newbern star in this popular comedy released in 1991. Though you may cringe now at the gender stereotypes, at the time of its release, Father of the Bride was a hilarious romantic comedy. The film was a major box office success - so much so that a sequel was released a few years later.
The storyline follows businessman, George Banks (played by Martin) as he discovers his daughter is getting married. Disapproving of his daughter's partner, George refuses to give her away at first. However, he inevitably comes to terms with his future son in law and everyone ends up being happy. Father of the Bride won a BMI Film Award for Best Movie in 1993. It remains a classic item on the list of greatest chick flicks of all time.
We can't even think about this movie without tearing up! We recommend only sitting down to watch this if you have several boxes of tissues ready to go. Released in 1991, My Girl starred everybody's favorite child actor, Macaulay Culkin, as well as Anna Chlumsky, Dan Aykroyd, and Jamie Lee Curtis. It is a coming of age comedy, drama, romance, tragedy, etc. Yes, basically an emotional rollercoaster ride.
The storyline is centered around eleven-year-old Vada, a hypochondriac who lost her mother and is obsessed with death. She's friends with Thomas, a dorky dude who is allergic to pretty much everything. Naturally a sweet love starts to blossom. It all ends rather sadly when Thomas gets stung by so many bees that he dies from an allergic reaction. He was attempting to retrieve Vada's ring at the time.
It felt like this 2002 comedy came out of nowhere and really took everyone by surprise. My Big Fat Greek Wedding wasn't exactly projected to do so well, but it ended up becoming the highest grossing romantic comedy of all time (until another movie took the record in 2016). We had no idea how successful it was at the box office - but we absolutely loved the movie, so we're not sure why we're so shocked.
The plot involves two people who are about to get married. The catch is that the bride is a Greek American, and with a Greek family there is nothing short of complete chaos when a wedding is being planned. It wasn't just a hit at the box office, it was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
Here's another wedding movie that plenty of women all over the world could relate to. "Always the bridesmaid, never the bride" best described the life of Jane Nichols, played by Katherine Heigl. She attends back to back weddings, wearing terrible dresses, a total of 27 (in case the movie title didn't give it away), in order to be the best bridesmaid for her friends. Love just doesn't seem to happen for Jane, until she meets Kevin (played by James Marsden).
Obviously, plenty of drama ensues and it almost all falls apart. But, predictably, it all comes good in the end and the couple live happily ever after. If you wanted proof that it's undoubtedly a chick flick, statistics about the audience revealed that 75 percent of viewers were women. Some critics called it cliché, we call it a perfect rainy day film!
No ultimate chick flick list would be complete without a few Drew Barrymore films. They're always adorable, funny, and absolutely perfect for a night in with pizza. Never Been Kissed is no exception. Released in 1999, this movie had an all-star cast featuring, Drew Barrymore, David Arquette, Michael Vartan, Leelee Sobieski, Jeremy Jordan, Molly Shannon, Garry Marshall, John C. Reilly and James Franco.
The plot follows Josie Geller (played by Barrymore), a young journalist given an undercover assignment at a high school. Things get complicated when she begins to fall in love with her teacher, Sam, who doesn't know she isn't really a student. When everything eventually blows up in her face, she makes a dramatic gesture to win Sam back, who is angry with her for lying. We're sure you know what ends up happening next.
Is there anything better than watching The Sound of Music with a bunch of girlfriends who know the words to every song? We don't think so! Julie Andrews was on a roll with this one, as she had just achieved huge success with Mary Poppins the year before. Whether your favorite song is Sixteen Going on Seventeen, My Favorite Things, Do-Re-Mi, Edelweiss, or something else, everybody can have with this film.
The storyline follows Maria, a nun in training, who gets assigned the role of governess for seven children. She moves into the Von Trapp home and brings music into their lives. She ultimately falls in love with 'the captain' - the father of the children, who had lost his wife. It is set during World War II and involves a dramatic escape at the end.
Jane Austen's famous 1813 novel, Pride and Prejudice, has had such long-lasting popularity that several movies, television series, and modern adaptations have been created. It seems the audience just can't get enough of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy and we're totally part of that group, too. We love settling in for a bit of old timey English romance.
The first Pride and Prejudice film was released in 1940 and starred Greer Garson as Elizabeth Bennet and Laurence Olivier as Mr. Darcy. The film was well received, but actually lost money at the box office. Since then, a mini-series (starring Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy) and another movie (starring Keira Knightly as Elizabeth) have been filmed. Another awesome chick flick, Bridget Jones's Diary (starring Renee Zellweger), is actually a modern adaptation of the novel, which not everybody realizes. It even stars Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy!
We told you that every chick flick list needs at least a few Drew Barrymore movies, and we weren't lying. Throw Adam Sandler into the mix and you've got yourself a wonderful cure after a hard day of work. Barrymore and Sandler make a great team, despite the storylines of their films being notoriously cheesy and predictable. But, hey, it's what the people want!
50 First Dates follows womanizing Henry, as he seduces tourist women in Hawaii. One day he meets Lucy, a woman with a bizarre form of amnesia. Every day she wakes up thinking it's the same date: October 13 of the year before. Henry takes Lucy out for a series of dates, but she never remembers who he is the next day. We're going to leave the rest of the story up to you to watch, but trust us, you'll love it!
This 1989 classic is about as girly as it gets. Steel Magnolias has a kickass cast full of some of the best ladies in Hollywood. Watch it and you'll be treated to performances by Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, Julia Roberts, and a bunch of other famous faces. If these women don't convince you it's worth a viewing, we don't know what will!
The film focuses on a group of women from a small Southern community who have to deal with the death of a friend together. The movie's title implies that the women in the story can be as delicate as flowers, yet as strong as steel. Julia Roberts was nominated for an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress, and she ended up winning the Golden Globe.
This one has a bit of a cheesy plotline, but we guarantee you'll be crying from laughter in no time - Freaky Friday is legitimately hilarious. Starring Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis, this unlikely duo make a fantastic comedy team. Released in 2003, the film was both well received by critics and a success at the box office.
Lohan and Curtis play a mother and daughter who can't manage to get along. Curtis is straight laced and strict, while Lohan is a tad rebellious and in a punk band. This is where the cheesy 'body swap' part comes in. After eating at a Chinese restaurant, a fortune cookie changes the course of their lives. Suddenly, they've swapped bodies, and hilarity inevitably ensues. The two finally learn how to fix their relationship with each other after seeing things from a different point of view.
This 2007 blockbuster is the epitome of guilty pleasure. P.S. I Love You was certainly not going to win any prestigious awards, but it definitely won a place in the hearts of women all over the world. Based on a novel by the same name, the film stars Hilary Swank, Gerard Butler, Lisa Kudrow, Gina Gershon, James Marsters, Harry Connick Jr., and Jeffrey Dean Morgan.
The plot sounds interesting, but the film was critically panned, indicating that execution wasn't the best. Hilary Swank plays Holly, a woman who is trying to get over the death of her husband, Gerry. Before he died, he left her a series of letters, which eventually motivate her to move on with her life and look to the future. She has the support of two girlfriends, as well as her mother, who Gerry asked to pass on the letters.
There are so many classic chick flicks featuring Julia Roberts and we are totally here for them. She just knows how to pick the blockbuster scripts. Notting Hill was one of those iconic films of the late '90s, and it had a killer soundtrack to boot. Who could forget Ronan Keating's 'When You Say Nothing at All' blasting out of our radios for months on end?
This 1999 film also stars Hugh Grant as the leading man. Of course, he plays the bumbling yet charming British gentleman. Grant's character is Will, a humble book store owner who captures the attention of a Hollywood actress (Roberts) while she is visiting London. The usual romantic comedy antics take place, but obviously, the pair end up reuniting by the time the credits roll. A must-watch on any chick flick night.
Here we go with another Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan classic. Not many people of the '90s could forget this super famous romantic comedy released in 1993. Sleepless in Seattle is one of those rare movies that was a hit at the box office, as well as with the critics. It was nominated for two Academy Awards and three Golden Globe Awards.
This one is not your typical plot. It involves a man named Sam (Hanks) and his son Jonah, who are grieving the loss of their wife and mother. Annie (Ryan), a reporter, becomes interested in Sam's story, but there's too many things getting in the way and they don't end up meeting properly until the very end of the film. By the time the film finishes up, everything is looking up for this little trio.
Gone with the Wind is one of the great love stories of our time. The main problem with the book is that it's just so darn big. You'd need a really long vacation to get through it all. Or just a year of gradual reading. Ain't nobody got time for that, so definitely watch the movie instead. Released in 1939, the film is set in Southern USA during the American Civil War.
Our main characters are Scarlett O'Hara (played by Vivien Leigh) and Rhett Butler (played by Clark Gable), but this is one long saga, so there are plenty of other people in the mix, too. To be totally honest with you, there's no way we can summarize everything that happens in just a few sentences, so we're just going to leave you with a recommendation instead: watch it!
Along with Little Women and My Girl, this is yet another tear jerker for the list. A Walk to Remember didn't really hit the big screen with great expectations. It was marketed as a girly film and it starred Mandy Moore, who was better known as a pop star at the time (not a serious actress). But boy, were we surprised. As it turns out, this girl can act, and most of us left the cinema with red eyes and used Kleenex in our hands.
Released in 2002, A Walk to Remember was based on the Nicholas Sparks novel of the same name. Moore plays Jamie, a teenage cancer patient, who develops an unlikely friendship with the school's bad boy, Landon (played by Shane West). This is a Nicholas Sparks storyline we're talking about here, so, of course, everything ends in tragedy and everybody in the audience gets very sad.
As far as we're concerned, you can't go wrong with a Sandra Bullock film. Just try thinking of one that didn't keep you entertained and you'll see that it doesn't exist. We're willing to admit that The Proposal isn't exactly her best work, but you'll still love it! Released in 2009, this movie also stars Ryan Reynolds - some great eye candy if you're having a night in with the girls.
The plot is somewhat unrealistic but it always keeps things fun. Bullock plays Margaret Tate, an editor in chief of a publishing house. The catch is that she's Canadian and is facing deportation from the USA due to an expired visa. Of course, instead of going through the appropriate official channels, this is where she forces her assistant, Andrew Paxton, to act as her fiancé.
There was a period where Meg Ryan was just pumping out the best romantic comedies of all time, and we're pretty sure it started with When Harry Met Sally. This is a film that doesn't age (unless you count the dorky, late '80s clothing). The story remains timeless, no matter when you watch it, or who you watch it with. Released in 1989, this film also stars Billy Crystal.
Written by Nora Ephron and Rob Reiner, When Harry Met Sally was thought to be quite unique at the time, as it was created by a male-female team. The story follows Harry (Reiner) and Sally (Ryan) over a period of twelve years in New York City. The pair meet various times in chance encounters throughout the years and develop a friendship before predictably falling in love at the end.
Back in the day, Hilary Duff and Chad Michael Murray were essentially teen royalty. They were the Miley Cyrus and Zac Efron of their time, if that helps anyone understand how popular they were. So, naturally, A Cinderella Story was much anticipated and very much loved by the target audience upon its release in 2004. It was marketed as a modern-day take on Cinderella, except minus the royalty and it's a Halloween ball instead.
Duff plays Sam, who is raised by her widowed father. As you can probably guess, he then marries an awful woman with two awful daughters and then promptly dies. While trying to save money as a waitress in order to pay for college, Sam begins a pen pal relationship with Austin, who is played by Murray. You can guess what happens in the end!
To say that this movie is iconic is a massive understatement. We think Breakfast at Tiffany's may even be THE chick flick of chick flicks. Did anyone watch this and not want to be Audrey Hepburn in her glamorous black dress and elbow-length gloves? Can anyone listen to 'Moon River' and not immediately get swept up in the romance?
Released in 1961, Breakfast at Tiffany's was an all-round favorite. People loved it, and so did the critics. It won two Academy Awards and was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry. Hepburn plays the elegant Holly Golightly, who famously eats her breakfast and drinks coffee while window shopping. Her love interest is Paul Varjak, who is played by male lead, George Peppard. After plenty of ups and downs, the two of them finally get their act together by the end of the film.
If you haven't seen Mamma Mia, you've got to do yourself a favor and get watching immediately. It's got everything a ladies' night requires: sing-alongs to classic ABBA songs, a cute and very fun storyline, and Meryl Streep. In addition to this, it also comes with Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, and Stellan Skarsgard. If that's still not enough to excite you, wait until you hear about the insane scenery - it's filmed in the Greek islands and will give you major wanderlust syndrome.
The storyline follows the life of Donna Sheridan (Streep) in the lead up to her daughter, Sophie's (Amanda Seyfried), wedding. Sophie has three possible fathers and has invited all three of them (Brosnan, Firth, and Skarsgard) to the wedding, located on a beautiful Greek island. Chaos ensues as the men finally realize why they've been invited.
This has got to be one of the best Christmas movies out there. We also love how British it is! When we say all-star cast, we really mean it this time - it's full of so many famous faces, including Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Laura Linney, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Keira Knightley, Martine McCutcheon, Bill Nighy, and Rowan Atkinson.
Released in 2003, Love Actually follows an interesting format that makes use of an ensemble cast. We are shown ten separate storylines that all vaguely intertwine in some way. It is set in London and full of wonderful English Christmas imagery. It was well received at the box office and by critics, with Bill Nighy winning a BAFTA for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. It's the perfect feel-good chick flick, especially if you're watching it around holiday time.
When you feel like crashing on the couch and watching something completely effortless, this movie is the perfect choice. Sweet Home Alabama was released in 2002 and stars Reese Witherspoon and Josh Lucas, with appearances from Dakota Fanning, Patrick Dempsey, and Candice Bergen. It is entertaining and the storyline is not difficult to follow. It's pretty predictable if we're being honest, but that's one of the things that makes it so relaxing to watch.
Melanie Smooter (Witherspoon) has worked her way up in the world, moving from Alabama to New York City and becoming a successful fashion designer. It feels like everything is falling into place for Melanie when she accepts her rich boyfriend's (Dempsey) marriage proposal. There's just one thing she has to do first: return to Alabama to divorce her childhood sweetheart, Jake (Lucas).
One thing we can give this chick flick credit for is the unique storyline. Starring Emma Stone, as well as two of our other favorites, Amanda Bynes and Lisa Kudrow, Easy A is a high school romantic comedy, with a lot of gossip thrown in for good measure. Released in 2010, the film received good reviews, as well as surprisingly high profits at the box office.
The story is centered around main character, Olive (Stone), who lies to her friend about why she can't attend a camping trip by saying she was with a boy. Somebody overhears and the rumor spreads like wildfire, sparking the diminishing of Olive's previously good reputation. She eventually begins pretending she has slept with certain students in exchange for gifts, in order to boost their popularity. As you can imagine, there's plenty of drama.
Our feelings for Pitch Perfect are similar to our feelings for Mamma Mia. Who doesn't love a film with singing, girl power, and a cute little love story? Released in 2012 and starring an ensemble cast of Anna Kendrick, Skylar Astin, Rebel Wilson, Anna Camp, Brittany Snow, Hana Mae Lee, Alexis Knapp, Ester Dean, Adam DeVine, Ben Platt, John Michael Higgins, and Elizabeth Banks, Pitch Perfect was a major hit at the box office.
The film was so successful that it spawned a successful trilogy with Pitch Perfect 2 and Pitch Perfect 3. The storyline follows the a cappella groups at Barden University and their quest to win the national championship. Anna Kendrick plays Beca, a misfit who wants to leave college to pursue a career in music. Her father agrees to fund it, as long as she gives college a try for one year.
This is one of those perfect chick flicks that everybody loves. We can't imagine it ever losing its spot on this list, because it's an ideal combination of friendship, romance, and fun. Plus, it stars the adorable Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo, as well as Judy Greer and Andy Serkis. The storyline is a bit out there and totally unrealistic, but it allows us to take a look through a retrospective lens and examine our life choices and the impact they could have on our futures.
Released in 2004, the story centers around Jenna Rink (Garner), a 13-year-old girl who makes a birthday wish to be 30, after being cruelly pranked at her own party. Fast forward 17 years and she's living a glamorous life as the editor of her favorite magazine. She soon realizes some hard truths about the decisions she has made along the way.
Our list would not be complete without this wonderfully adventurous movie. The Princess Bride was released in 1987 but remains a chick flick staple to this very day. Starring Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, Chris Sarandon, Wallace Shawn, André the Giant, and Christopher Guest, this film takes us far away to a fantasy world.
Farm worker Westley must rescue his true love, Princess Buttercup, from an evil prince. Along the way, he makes friends who accompany and support him on the journey. The cutest thing about this film is that the story of Westley is being read from a book back in the real world, by a grandfather to his sick grandchild. The Princess Bride didn't really do that well in terms of box office takings but has become a cult classic over time.
Oh no, not another Nicholas Sparks tragedy! You're probably already very familiar with The Notebook, starring Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling - it was one of the biggest movies of 2004, after all. Though this romance film isn't exactly miserable, it does bear all the signs of a typical Sparks tearjerker. Forbidden love, terminal illness, brief moments of passion - this film has it all.
The plot follows the love story of heiress, Allison (McAdams) and working-class Noah (Gosling) during the 1940s. As you can imagine, there are plenty of barriers preventing them from getting together. Allison's parents do a pretty good job of keeping the two apart, not to mention World War II. While the couple are separated, Noah writes letters, but they are intercepted by Allison's mother. There are some interesting twists and turns, but you'll have to watch to find out!
Have we already mentioned how great Sandra Bullock is? Well, we'll say it again, just in case! Anything she stars in is simply chick flick gold, and Miss Congeniality is no exception. This movie will have you laughing out loud and wanting to watch it all over again when you're finished. Released in 2000, Miss Congeniality also stars Michael Caine, Benjamin Bratt, William Shatner, Ernie Hudson, and Candice Bergen.
The storyline is fairly unrealistic, but nobody can accuse it of being predictable. Bullock plays tomboy cop, Gracie Hart, who is assigned an undercover case acting as a beauty pageant contestant. Police intelligence says there is a terrorist planning an attack, so it's her job to find them, while also participating in the pageant and accidentally falling in love. Seriously, just do yourself a favor and start watching!
Now that we're in the top ten, everything is just amazing. All of these are must-see chick flick classics that you absolutely need to make time for. We don't care if you have a job, just do it! Clueless is pretty much the definition of a chick flick. Starring Alicia Silverstone, Stacey Dash, Brittany Murphy, and Paul Rudd, the film was released in 1995 and directed by Amy Heckerling. It is also a modern-day adaptation of Jane Austen's famous novel, Emma.
Clueless follows Cher Horowitz (Silverstone), the most popular girl in school, and her general exploits as a spoilt brat. Offering a makeover to a new student and matchmaking two teachers allows Cher to think she is doing good deeds, but her step-brother, Josh (Rudd), is there to remind her she did them out of selfishness. As the film progresses, she learns what it is to really do good (and falls in love, of course).
The Princess Diaries has to be one of the most wholesomely entertaining chick flicks there is. And it stars Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews - as far as we're concerned, you really can't go wrong with such a winning combination. Released in 2001, the film was a massive success and spawned a sequel, The Princess Diaries 2: A Royal Engagement, three years later.
The story is based on the novel of the same name, written by Meg Cabot. It follows Mia Thermopolis (Hathaway), a dorky teenager who discovers she's actual royalty. Julie Andrews plays her grandmother, Queen Clarisse Renaldi, with whom Mia must take 'princess lessons' in order to prepare to take the throne one day. There are obviously some ups and downs, but in the end everything works out for the best, as it usually does.
This film isn't just for chicks, it's for everyone! 10 Things I Hate About you was an instant hit and became permanently ingrained into pop culture history. Released in 1999, it starred Julia Stiles, Heath Ledger, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Larisa Oleynik. Like a few other films on this list, it is actually a modern-day adaptation of old literature. In this case, Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew.
10 Things I Hate About You was a massive success and propelled the careers of Stiles and Ledger, who were relatively unknown at the time. A new student at school, Cameron (Gordon-Levitt) develops an immediate crush on Bianca (Oleynik). Unfortunately, her father has a strict rule about boys: no dating until your sister does. Her sister, Kat (Stiles) is a rebellious misfit, so Cameron enlists another misfit, Patrick (Ledger) to romance her.
We wouldn't be doing this list justice if we didn't include another absolute hit starring Reese Witherspoon. Legally Blonde is a chick flick that will simply never get old, because it presents such a strong message for young women. Released in 2001, it also stars Luke Wilson and Selma Blair. The film was a critical and box office success and was even nominated for two Golden Globe Awards.
The plot follows seemingly ditzy sorority girl, Elle Woods, and her quest to get her high school boyfriend back by getting into Harvard. After being dumped for not being serious enough, she figures getting into Harvard will prove she's worth it. Along the way, she learns a lot about herself and realizes she's capable of much more than she previously thought. Oh, and there's a love story involved, too.
Titanic will go down in history as one of the biggest and most successful productions to ever grace our screens. Everybody was obsessed with this film when it was released in 1997, and it made Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio megastars overnight. It wasn't uncommon for people to see the movie three or four times at the cinema - it really was that good.
Nominated for a whopping 14 Academy Awards, Titanic took out 11 of them, causing it to tie with Ben Hur for the most Oscars won for a single film. In 2004, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King also joined them in the 11 Oscar club. Titanic is about the love story of rich girl Rose and poor dude Jack, as they take to the sea on the "unsinkable" ship.
Give us Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, and Emily Blunt any day of the week. The Devil Wears Prada is an absolute classic in the chick flick category. Released in 2006, the film was based on the novel of the same name by Lauren Weisberger. The novel was an account of her own time working for notoriously tough Vogue editor, Anna Wintour.
The film was a huge success and Streep received rave reviews for her portrayal of Miranda Priestly (the character based on Wintour in the novel). The story is about young journalist Andy (Hathaway) and her first real job working as an assistant for fashion magazine, Runway. Her personal life soon begins to fall apart as she follows the outrageous demands of her nightmare boss. If you love fashion, you'll love all of the amazing clothes in this movie!
Is there a greater love story than that of Sandy and Danny? Probably. But we still think they're one of the best ones out there! Grease is one of the most successful musicals of all time and is still super popular with audiences today. Its entertainment value remains priceless and it definitely earns its spot in the top five chick flicks of all time. Released in 1978, the film starred Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta, who were at the peak of their careers at the time.
The plot follows the romance between bad boy, Danny Zuko and sweet as pie Sandy Olsson in the setting of fictional Rydell High School. There is drama and fun aplenty, as the audience is taken on a wild ride through the late 1950s. Did we mention the songs are amazing?
Written by famous comedian, Tina Fey, Mean Girls was always going to be good. But we don't think anyone ever predicted exactly how good it would be. This is one of those films that will be quoted until the end of time and popular no matter when you end up watching it. Released in 2004, Mean Girls stars Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Lacey Chabert, and Amanda Seyfried. It even includes appearances by Tina Fey herself, as well as bestie and fellow comedian, Amy Poehler.
Mean Girls is a high school comedy, drama, and romance, which follows the story of Cady (Lohan), who enters high school after being home schooled in Africa her whole life. She ends up running with a crowd of girls known as 'the plastics' including their queen bee, Regina George (McAdams). Much girl drama ensues and it is highly entertaining!
We would be doing you a massive disservice if we didn't include another Julia Roberts success. But this isn't just any old success, it's one of the most popular romantic comedies of all time! Pretty Woman is so big, it even has its own song. Released in 1990, it became the third highest-grossing film of the year. The film's male lead is, of course, Richard Gere.
The story follows businessman Edward Lewis (Gere) who hires escort, Vivian Ward (Roberts) to accompany him to several work functions and social events over a week-long period. Of course, it's not all that simple, and the two begin to develop feelings for each other. Obviously, there's a bit of drama here and there, but ultimately, they figure it all out. The film was a critical and commercial success, and Julia Roberts even won a Golden Globe for her performance.
Nobody puts Baby in a corner! One of the best quotes in chick flick history, and so perfectly delivered by the late Patrick Swayze. There is, of course, no other film that could have taken out this top spot - Dirty Dancing is absolutely number one when it comes to girly, feel-good movies. It has romance, dancing, and enough drama to satisfy even the toughest critics.
Dirty Dancing follows the story of Baby (Jennifer Grey) as she falls in love with the resort dance instructor, Johnny (Swayze) while on a family vacation. Though released in 1987, the film is set in the summer of 1963. Dirty Dancing won plenty of awards, including the Academy Award for best original song ('I've had' the time of my life), as well as the Golden Globe Award for the same category.
