10 Movies to Watch If You Love Notting Hill
- Joao Nsita
- 4 hours ago
- 17 min read
This is the time of year when we instinctively begin to turn inward, to seek out warmth, comfort, and the soul-deep satisfaction of a truly great love story. And in the vast, magical world of cinema, there is a specific, sacred category of film that we all crave: the "comfort movie."
At the absolute top of that list, reigning from a charming little travel bookshop with a blue door, is the 1999 masterpiece, Notting Hill. It is more than just a movie; it is a feeling. It is the feeling of a rain-soaked London street, of witty banter with a quirky found family, and of the impossible, heart-stopping magic of a fairytale romance. On social media platforms like TikTok and Pinterest, the #RichardCurtisAesthetic and the #90sRomCom trend are a dominant and enduring force, a global celebration of this specific brand of smart, heartfelt, and deeply optimistic storytelling.
This is your definitive, in-depth guide to the essential viewing for anyone who loves Notting Hill. We have curated a list of ten of the most beloved and binge-worthy films that will give you that exact same, magical feeling.
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10. Music and Lyrics (2007)
The Vibe: A charming, witty, and incredibly sweet musical rom-com that is a perfect, feel-good, "second-chance" story.
The Deeper Meaning: At its heart, this film is a beautiful and hilarious exploration of the creative process and of the joy of finding a true, collaborative partner. It is a story about two, slightly lost, people—a "faded" 80s pop star and a quirky, insecure "plant lady"—who discover that their individual, and very different, talents can come together to create something truly magical. It is a film that understands that sometimes, the greatest love story is the one that you write, and sing, together.
Why It's a Perfect Match: If the primary draw of Notting Hill for you was the "charming, bumbling, and deeply British, Hugh Grant," then Music and Lyrics is the perfect, and often very underrated, next watch. Grant is at his absolute, most charming best as Alex Fletcher, a man who was once a global superstar (in a brilliant, Wham!-inspired, fictional band called "Pop!") and who is now relegated to playing on the 80s nostalgia circuit. His life is changed by the arrival of the quirky and brilliant Sophie Fisher (a wonderful Drew Barrymore), who he discovers is a natural, and very gifted, lyricist. The film is packed with the same, sharp, witty banter and the same, deeply romantic, and heartfelt sincerity that is a hallmark of the Richard Curtis-verse.
Iconic Comfort Moment: The film's opening, a full-blown, 1980s music video for the fictional song "Pop! Goes My Heart," is a work of pure, comedic genius. It is a perfect, and hilarious, encapsulation of the 80s pop-music video, and it will be stuck in your head for days. The film’s incredible soundtrack is a key to its success, a theme you can explore in our list of Top 10 Michael Jackson Songs of All Time. For a deep dive into the art of the perfect, 80s-inspired, pop song, the official Rolling Stone website is a fantastic resource.
Where to Find: You can rent or buy Music and Lyrics on platforms like Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.
9. Crazy, Stupid, Love. (2011)
The Vibe: A smart, stylish, and incredibly well-crafted ensemble romantic comedy with a jaw-dropping plot twist that is a true modern classic.
The Deeper Meaning: This film is a brilliant, and often very moving, exploration of the different, and often very complicated, facets of love. It is a story that is not just about the first, exciting spark of a new romance, but is also about the messy, difficult, and deeply important work of a long-term, committed marriage. It is a film that understands that love is not a single, simple, "happily ever after," but is a constant, and often very hilarious, series of choices.
Why It's a Perfect Match: If your favourite part of Notting Hill was the brilliant, and very funny, ensemble of quirky, lovable, and deeply supportive friends, then Crazy, Stupid, Love. is the perfect, modern, American cousin. The film is a masterclass in ensemble storytelling, with a cast that includes Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore, and Emma Stone, all at the absolute top of their game. The script is razor-sharp, the characters are all deeply relatable, and the story is full of a huge, and very genuine, emotional heart.
Iconic Comfort Moment: The film's famous, and perfectly executed, final act twist, where all of the different, and seemingly separate, storylines collide in a single, chaotic, and hilarious, backyard confrontation, is a masterpiece of comedic screenwriting. The show’s focus on a powerful ensemble is a key to its success, a theme you can explore in our list of The Top 5 Best Movies With An Ensemble Cast. For a deep dive into the renaissance of the modern rom-com, The Ringer has some fantastic articles.
Where to Find: You can rent or buy Crazy, Stupid, Love. on platforms like Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.
8. You've Got Mail (1998)
The Vibe: The ultimate, iconic, and deeply, profoundly cozy 90s "bookshop" romance. This is a film that is the very definition of a perfect, autumn, comfort watch.
The Deeper Meaning: At its heart, this is a story about the complex, and often very fraught, relationship between tradition and progress. It is a film that is, in many ways, a beautiful, and very nostalgic, love letter to a bygone era—a world of small, independent, and deeply personal, neighborhood bookshops. But it is also a story about the messy, and often very painful, process of change, and of the surprising, and very beautiful, connections that can be found in the most unexpected of places (like the new, and very anonymous, world of the internet).
Why It's a Perfect Match: For any fan of Notting Hill, the "bookshop" setting is a huge, and very powerful, part of its charm. You've Got Mail is the other, undisputed, reigning champion of the "bookshop rom-com." The film, from the legendary writer-director Nora Ephron, reunites the iconic, and unbelievably charming, duo of Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. He is the owner of a massive, corporate, "Fox Books" superstore, and she is the owner of the small, charming, independent, children's bookshop that his new store is threatening to put out of business. They are bitter, real-life, business rivals, but they are also, secretly, and completely unknowingly, falling in love with each other as anonymous, email pen-pals.
Iconic Comfort Moment: The film's final, perfect, and deeply, profoundly, romantic scene, in a blossoming, New York park, is a masterclass in emotional payoff. The line, "I wanted it to be you. I wanted it to be you, so badly," is one of the all-time great, romantic declarations. The show’s focus on a powerful romance is a key to its success, a theme you can explore in our list of the The 10 Best Rom-Coms of the Last 25 Years, Ranked. For a deep dive into the film's iconic, New York locations, Condé Nast Traveler has a fantastic guide.
Where to Find: Stream You've Got Mail on NOW (with a Sky Cinema membership).
7. Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! (2004)
The Vibe: A sweet, charming, and incredibly underrated "small-town girl meets big-time superstar" romantic triangle.
The Deeper Meaning: At its heart, this is a story about the difference between a "fantasy" love and a "real" love. It is a film that is a smart, and very funny, exploration of our modern, celebrity-obsessed culture. It is a story about a young woman who is forced to choose between the perfect, glossy, and impossibly handsome, movie star of her dreams, and the real-life, flawed, and deeply, profoundly, decent man who has been right in front of her all along.
Why It's a Perfect Match: This is the most direct, and most literal, parallel to the Notting Hill premise on the entire list. It is a film that is built on the exact same, "ordinary person/superstar" trope. The story follows Rosalee Futch, a sweet, and wonderfully naive, small-town grocery clerk (a fantastic Kate Bosworth) who wins a "dream date" with the massive, bad-boy, movie star, Tad Hamilton (a very charming Josh Duhamel). But when the movie star, charmed by her small-town authenticity, decides to follow her home, it throws her life, and her relationship with her nerdy, and secretly-in-love-with-her, best friend, Pete (a brilliant Topher Grace), into complete and utter chaos.
Iconic Comfort Moment: The film's script is packed with sharp, witty, and incredibly quotable dialogue, much of it from Topher Grace's "Will Thacker"-esque, romantic-hero-in-disguise. His final, heartfelt, and deeply romantic speech about a girl's "six different smiles" is a true, all-time-great, rom-com moment. The show’s complex heroes are a fascinating character study, a theme you can explore in our list of the The 10 Best Teen Romance TV Shows Ever Made. For a deep dive into the best, and most underrated, rom-coms of the 2000s, Entertainment Weekly has a fantastic list.
Where to Find: You can rent or buy Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! on platforms like Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.
6. Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
The Vibe: The ultimate 90s comfort rom-com about fate, destiny, and the magical, and often very strange, ways that two people can be destined for each other (even if they've never met).
The Deeper Meaning: This film is a beautiful, and deeply moving, exploration of grief and of the courage it takes to open your heart to love again. It is a story that is steeped in a deep, and almost magical, sense of "what if," a testament to the idea that the universe has a plan for us, and that the person we are meant to be with is out there, somewhere, waiting for us. It is a film that is not about a relationship, but about the promise of one.
Why It's a Perfect Match: Sleepless in Seattle has the same, witty, intelligent, and "grown-up" rom-com feel as Notting Hill. It is a film that is built on the genius-level, Nora Ephron script, and the legendary, untouchable, on-screen chemistry of Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. It is a story about two people who are "worlds apart"—in this case, on opposite sides of a continent—who are brought together by a magical, and very public, twist of fate. It is a perfect, and deeply, profoundly romantic, exploration of a love that feels like destiny. This is a key part of building a lasting connection, a theme explored in 10 Habits of Couples Who Stay Deeply in Love for a Lifetime.
Iconic Comfort Moment: The entire, parallel-montage scene where Sam (Hanks) and Annie (Ryan) both watch the classic film An Affair to Remember is a work of genius. It’s a beautiful, and very funny, sequence that connects our two, separated heroes through a shared, cultural touchstone, a powerful and romantic "invisible string" that ties them together.
What Makes It a Top Binge: This is, quite simply, one of the most beloved and most perfect romantic comedies ever made. The chemistry between Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan is so powerful that they don't even have to be in the same room for 99% of the movie. It is a perfect, sentimental, and deeply romantic film that beautifully captures a sense of longing and hope. For a deep dive into the genius of Nora Ephron, The New Yorker has a fantastic archive.
Where to Find: Stream Sleepless in Seattle on NOW (with a Sky Cinema membership).
5. About Time (2013)
The Vibe: A quirky, charming, and profoundly moving British dramedy that feels like a warm, tear-soaked hug.
The Deeper Meaning: At its heart, this film is a beautiful, and surprisingly simple, meditation on the extraordinary, magical beauty of an ordinary life. It is a film that uses its high-concept, sci-fi premise not for action or for adventure, but for a profound, and deeply moving, exploration of the simple, everyday moments that make a life truly wonderful. It is a story that is not just about a romance, but is also one of the most beautiful, and most heartbreaking, portrayals of a father-son relationship in modern cinema.
Why It's a Perfect Match: This is the exact same, cozy, upper-middle-class, "British-countryside-meets-charming-London" vibe as Notting Hill. It is written and directed by the same man, Richard Curtis. It is overflowing with his signature, quirky, and quintessentially British charm. The central romance, between the bumbling, and deeply lovable, Tim (Domhnall Gleeson) and the charming, and slightly insecure, Mary (Rachel McAdams) is incredibly sweet. But it is the film's deep, and abiding, sense of warmth, of family, and of a profound, and very gentle, wisdom that makes it a true, kindred spirit to Notting Hill. The show’s focus on a powerful family is a key to its success, a theme you can explore in our list of The Top 5 Best Movies About Fathers.
Iconic Comfort Moment: The film's final, central message—Tim's father's "secret formula" for happiness—is one of the most beautiful, profound, and life-changing moments in modern cinema. It is a simple but incredibly powerful philosophy: to live every day as if you've deliberately come back to it, to find the joy in the ordinary.
What Makes It a Top Binge: This is a film that will make you laugh out loud and then, five minutes later, have you sobbing uncontrollably. The time-travel premise is a work of genius, and the film's final, central message is a simple but incredibly powerful and life-changing philosophy. For a deep dive into the "Richard Curtis Universe," The Ringer has a fantastic article.
Where to Find: Stream About Time on NOW (with a Sky Cinema membership) and Sky Go.
4. Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)
The Vibe: The original, groundbreaking, and quintessentially British romantic comedy that made Hugh Grant a global star and defined a genre for a generation.
The Deeper Meaning: This film is a brilliant, and often very funny, exploration of the anxieties of commitment, of the fear of growing up, and of the profound, life-saving importance of a great group of friends. It is a story that understands that our friends are the true "found family" of our adult lives, the people who are there to celebrate our greatest joys and to hold us together during our most devastating losses.
Why It's a Perfect Match: This is the blueprint for Notting Hill. It is the film that established the perfect, and now-legendary, "Richard Curtis formula." It is written by Curtis, it stars Hugh Grant as the charmingly flustered and endearingly commitment-phobic Charles, and it is, most importantly, built around an iconic, lovable, and absolutely hilarious "found family" of friends. The structure of the film is a work of genius, and the witty, sophisticated, and deeply, deeply British, dialogue is a perfect match for the world of Notting Hill.
Iconic Comfort Moment: The film is packed with iconic moments, but the "funeral" scene is a masterpiece of storytelling. The unexpected, and deeply tragic, death of one of the group's most beloved members, and the beautiful, heartbreaking eulogy that is delivered at his funeral, is one of the most powerful and moving portrayals of grief in modern cinema. It is a moment that gives the film its profound, and very human, heart. The show’s focus on a powerful friendship is a key to its success, a theme you can explore in our list of The Top 5 Best Movies About Friendship.
What Makes It a Top Binge: This is, quite simply, one of the most important, most influential, and most beloved British films ever made. It is a show that is a perfect, and very necessary, piece of cinematic history for any fan of the modern romantic comedy.
Where to Find: You can rent or buy Four Weddings and a Funeral on platforms like Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.
3. The Holiday (2006)
The Vibe: The absolute pinnacle of "cozy comfort" cinema. This is a transatlantic, "house-swap" fantasy that is a perfect, warm, and deeply, profoundly, romantic hug in a mug.
The Deeper Meaning: This film is a powerful and beautiful exploration of the "fresh start." It is a story about two, very different, women who are both at their absolute, rock bottom. It is a film about the courage it takes to run away from a life that is no longer working for you, and about the surprising, and very magical, joy of discovering your own strength and finding a new, "found family" in the most unexpected of places. It is a story that, at its core, is about learning to be the "leading lady" in your own life.
Why It's a Perfect Match: This is the perfect, and most essential, companion piece to Notting Hill. It is the other great, transatlantic rom-com. It has the exact same, "charming Brit/A-list American" dynamic, just with the genders flipped. The story of the high-powered, Hollywood movie-trailer editor, Amanda (Cameron Diaz), who falls for the charming, and deeply romantic, British book editor, Graham (Jude Law), is a perfect, modern, and very sexy, fairytale. And the story of the gentle, British, journalist, Iris (Kate Winslet), who finds her "gumption" in a massive, aspirational, L.A. mansion, is a beautiful and heartwarming journey of self-discovery.
[Visual Suggestion: A split-screen image, showing the beautiful, minimalist, L.A. mansion on one side, and the iconic, snow-dusted, "Rosehill Cottage" on the other.]
Iconic Comfort Moment: The entire, "Iris's side" of the story is a masterpiece of comfort, but the most beautiful, and most moving, scenes are her friendship with the elderly, and forgotten, Hollywood screenwriter, Arthur (Eli Wallach). Their journey together is a beautiful, and deeply, profoundly, heartwarming "found family" story. For more on the joy of a cozy home, you can check out our guide to 12 Cozy Winter Living Room Refresh Ideas.
Where to Find: Stream The Holiday on Amazon Prime Video and NOW (with a Sky Cinema membership).
2. Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)
The Vibe: A hilarious, heartwarming, and quintessentially British romantic comedy that is the ultimate comfort watch for anyone who has ever felt like a lovable hot mess.
The Deeper Meaning: At its heart, this is a story about radical self-acceptance. It is a film about a woman who is, in her own, hilarious, and often very painful, way, just trying to "get a grip." It is a story that is a brilliant, and very funny, exploration of the anxieties of being a single woman in your thirties, and it is a powerful, and very moving, testament to the idea that you are worthy of love, exactly as you are, "lumpy bits" and all.
Why It's a Perfect Match: This is the other, undisputed, holy-trinity of the "Richard Curtis-verse." It is a film that is not just written by Richard Curtis; it is a film that is co-written by him and is set in the exact same, charming, and very witty, London as Notting Hill. It stars Hugh Grant, this time as the delicious, and very caddish, Daniel Cleaver. And it is, at its core, a modern, and brilliant, retelling of Pride and Prejudice, a classic, "enemies-to-lovers" romance between the chaotic, and deeply lovable, Bridget, and the handsome, reserved, and initially infuriating, human rights barrister, Mark Darcy.
Iconic Comfort Moment: The final, snowy, and incredibly romantic chase scene, with Bridget running through the streets of London in nothing but her pyjamas and a pair of trainers, and Mark Darcy's final, perfect, and deeply romantic line, "I like you, very much. Just as you are," is a true, all-time-great, rom-com moment. The show’s complex hero is a fascinating character study, a theme you can explore in our list of the The 10 Best Cringiest Comedy TV Shows Of All Time.
Where to Find: Stream Bridget Jones's Diary on NOW (with a Sky Cinema membership).
1. Love Actually (2003)
Why It's at the Top: While Notting Hill is a perfect, and beautifully focused, solo, Love Actually is the grand, festive, and star-studded symphony. It is the undisputed, reigning, and untouchable king of the modern, ensemble romantic comedy, and it is the film that takes every, single, beloved element of Notting Hill and amplifies it to perfection. It has the same, brilliant, Richard Curtis script, the same, iconic, "love letter to London" setting, the same, witty, and deeply British, charm, and the same, powerful, and deeply, profoundly, romantic heart. It is, quite simply, the ultimate, and most essential, companion film.
The Vibe: The ultimate, sprawling, and unapologetically romantic British Christmas classic. It's a funny, chaotic, and heartwarming exploration of love in all its messy, complicated, and beautiful glory.
What Makes It a Masterpiece: This film is a true cultural phenomenon, a film that has become a non-negotiable part of the Christmas tradition for millions. The cast is an absolute, jaw-dropping "who's who" of British acting talent, from Hugh Grant and Emma Thompson to Alan Rickman and Keira Knightley. The script is a masterpiece of writing, a perfect blend of laugh-out-loud comedy and genuine, often heartbreaking, emotion. And the film is a beautiful, glittering love letter to London at its most magical and festive. For a deep dive into the film's enduring, and often very debated, legacy, The Ringer has some fantastic articles.
Iconic Comfort Moment: The opening and closing monologues at Heathrow Airport, set to the film's soaring, beautiful score, are a perfect, and profoundly moving, encapsulation of the film's entire, hopeful philosophy. It is a simple, and powerful, reminder that "love, actually, is all around." The show’s focus on a powerful ensemble is a key to its success, a theme you can explore in our list of 12 Classic British Christmas Movies Perfect for Festive Nights.
Where to Find: Stream Love Actually on Amazon Prime Video and NOW (with a Sky Cinema membership).
Conclusion
In the beautiful, complex, and often very demanding world of modern life, the "comfort movie" is more than just a simple escape; it is a vital and necessary ritual of self-care. The ten films on this list are a testament to the incredible, and enduring, power of a story that is designed to do one, simple, profound thing: make you feel good. They are a celebration of the "Richard Curtis aesthetic," a world where the jokes are always witty, the friendships are always loyal, and the love stories are always smart, heartfelt, and deeply, profoundly, hopeful.
These are more than just movies; they are old friends, a collection of stories that we return to time and time again to be soothed, to be inspired, and to be reminded of the simple, and often very messy, magic of falling in love.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What makes Notting Hill such a classic? Notting Hill is a classic because it perfectly balances a high-concept, fairytale romance (the "ordinary person/superstar" trope) with a witty, down-to-earth, and incredibly charming "found family" of friends. The script by Richard Curtis and the iconic chemistry between Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant make it a timeless, perfect film.
2. Who is Richard Curtis? Richard Curtis is a legendary British screenwriter and director who has defined the modern romantic comedy. He is famous for his signature style of witty, heartfelt, and deeply optimistic films, including Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, Bridget Jones's Diary, Love Actually, and About Time.
3. Where can I watch Notting Hill in the UK? The streaming availability for films often changes. As of late 2025, Notting Hill is not on a UK subscription service but is available to rent or buy on platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play.
4. What is the "ordinary person/superstar" trope? This is a popular romance trope where a regular, everyday person, through a twist of fate, meets and falls in love with a massive, global celebrity. Notting Hill is the most famous example, and Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! is another perfect, and very fun, exploration of this fantasy.
5. Why is the "found family" so important in rom-coms? The "found family," or the quirky, supportive friend group, is a crucial element in many rom-coms. They provide the emotional support for the main character, they are a source of great, comedic relief, and they represent a different, and equally important, kind of love story.
6. Did Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts star in any other movies together? No, Notting Hill is the only film that the two, iconic, rom-com superstars have ever starred in together, which is part of what makes the film so special.
7. What are some modern movies like Notting Hill? For a modern take on the "ordinary person/superstar" trope, the 2024 film The Idea of You, starring Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine, is a fantastic and very popular example.
8. Was the bookshop in Notting Hill real? Yes, the film's iconic, blue-doored "Travel Book Co." was directly inspired by a real-life travel bookshop that was, at the time, located in Notting Hill. The actual shop, with its famous blue sign, has become a massive, global tourist destination.
9. What is the "Nancy Meyers aesthetic"? The "Nancy Meyers aesthetic" is a popular social media trend that celebrates the signature style of writer-director Nancy Meyers. It is defined by its aspirational, "quiet luxury" interiors (especially large, all-white kitchens), its neutral, high-end, cozy fashion (think cashmere and linen), and its affluent, sophisticated, "grown-up" atmosphere. The Holiday and Something's Gotta Give are the ultimate examples.
10. What's the best "comfort movie" on this list? While this is deeply personal, the most common "comfort movies" on this list, beloved for their warmth and re-watchability, are The Holiday, Love Actually, Bridget Jones's Diary, and Sleepless in Seattle.
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