22 movies that prove the 2000s were the golden age of romcoms

Before Mel Gibson became the uncle no one wants to sit by at Thanksgiving, he got the power to hear women’s thoughts in one of the first notable romcoms of the 21st century, 2000’s What Women Want.

After Jason Biggs decimated a pie and became a teen movie icon, he moved on and into a wonderful little movie called Loser. Not ringing a bell? It’s where the viral “Teenage Dirtbag” song originated from. Yup, check out the music video, and you’ll see Biggs’ American Pie costar, Mena Suvari, mouthing the now-infamous hook.

The film proved to be such a classic that they tried to make it into a whole series, but unfortunately, it seems like this tale was only meant for the big screen.

This movie had an entire generation wondering if Genovia was a real place or not.

Did anyone else swear off every M&M except the brown ones after seeing Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey kill it in The Wedding Planner?

Dear diary, the 2000s would have been a whole lot different without our collective obsession with Renée Zellweger in Bridget Jones's Diary.

Everyone should have a moment in which someone stands outside their home with a gaggle of signs as a declaration of love.

A movie so good, Ariana Grande used it as part of the inspiration for her video, “Thank U, Next.”

Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore are one of the most perfect pairings in the history of romcoms.

Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams are the "rom" while Vince Vaughn and Isla Fisher balance them with a heavy dose of "com."

Love is not giving up what you love but instead realizing that you would give it up for the person you love.

When Ryan Reynolds is done with Deadpool, can someone get him in Just Friends 2? Thanks!

Amanda Bynes at her comedic best plus Channing Tatum’s first himbo role equals perfection.

Seth Rogen isn’t the first person one thinks of when they think of romcom lead but hey, he rocked it alongside Katherine Heigl.

Ironically, one of the most unforgettable romcoms of its era.

KELLY CLARKSON! Seriously, though, the popularity of this movie led to an interest in Steve Carell, which led to The Office getting more exposure and not getting canned.

There was a phase in the 2000s where romcoms had larger-than-life casts, but this was the best to do it.

Even hipsters need a romcom to call their own.

House Bunny is one of those movies that one doesn’t see in theaters, but rather when they’re home for the holidays and stuck with their parents’ basic cable, and it winds up being an absolute delight thanks to Anna Faris’ ridiculousness.

All great relationships spawn from manipulation and bets, right? At least, they do when you’re in the middle of a romcom and working for a magazine.

The trope of an uptight person finding romance in an unlikely place isn’t new, but Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds somehow made it feel fresh.

There’s no denying that Shrek, while a satirical animated movie about an ogre, is also a funny film that tosses romance in the middle of it, so yeah, Shrek is most definitely a romcom due to the love that spawns between the titular character and Princess Fiona.