scorecard
  1. Home
  2. entertainment
  3. news
  4. Julia Roberts' rom-coms ranked, according to critics

Julia Roberts' rom-coms ranked, according to critics

Ayomikun Adekaiyero   

Julia Roberts' rom-coms ranked, according to critics
Julia Roberts in rom-coms over the years.The Samuel Goldwyn Company / Universal Pictures
  • Julia Roberts has starred in 13 romantic comedy films in her career.
  • These range from hits like "Notting Hill" to less successful films like "Valentine's Day."

In "Mother's Day," Julia Roberts plays an accomplished author who reconnects with the daughter she gave away for adoption.

In "Mother
Julia Roberts and Jennifer Aniston in "Mother's Day."      Gulfstream Pictures

Critic Score: 8%

Summary: Almost every American holiday has been turned into a rom-com ensemble movie. In 2016, Julia Roberts was part of the star-studded cast in "Mother's Day," a film about different mothers in the lead-up to the holiday. She plays Miranda, an accomplished author and television personality who gets a surprise visit from her daughter (Britt Robertson), who she gave away for adoption when she was very young.

The movie is not only Roberts' lowest-rated rom-com but the lowest-rated film in her career.

Roberts starred in the first of Gary Marshall's three ensemble rom-coms, "Valentine's Day."

Roberts starred in the first of Gary Marshall
Bradley Cooper and Roberts are stuck on the same plane in "Valentine's Day."      Warner Bros Pictures

Critic Score: 18%

Summary: Roberts' also starred in another ensemble holiday movie directed by Gary Marshall, "Valentine's Day." The film is a series of interconnected love stories from first dates to longtime commitments and even old flames reconnecting.

Roberts plays a captain in the US Army, Kate Hazeltine, who spends her one-day leave trying to get home to her love. She sits next to a man called Holden Wilson (Bradley Cooper) on the plane and the pair get to know each other.

Critics believed the storyline was messy but the movie had some comedic performances from the star cast.

Critics argued that "I Love Trouble" leads Nick Nolte and Julia Roberts were a mismatch for the film.

Critics argued that "I Love Trouble" leads Nick Nolte and Julia Roberts were a mismatch for the film.
Nick Nolte and Julia Roberts in "I Love Trouble."      Touchstone Pictures/Getty

Critic Score: 22%

Summary: When a worn-down reporter (Nick Nolte) and ambitious journalist (Julia Roberts) meet at the scene of a train derailment, they immediately dislike each other. Despite working for rival newspapers, they decide to work together to break a conspiracy behind the crash and form a connection.

Many critics thought the casting of Nolte and Roberts was a mismatch as their chemistry did not work on screen.

Rom-com legends John Cusack, Julia Roberts, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Billy Crystal team up in "America's Sweethearts."

Rom-com legends John Cusack, Julia Roberts, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Billy Crystal team up in "America
Roberts plays an assistant trying to help her boss and estranged husband get through a public engagement.      Columbia Pictures

Critic Score: 32%

Summary: John Cusack, Julia Roberts, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Billy Crystal team up in this fun rom-com about a personal assistant falling for her megastar boss' husband. Kiki (Roberts) has to help her boss Gwen (Zeta-Jones) get through her last public appearance with her estranged husband Eddie (Cusack). However, things get complicated when Kiki and Eddie develop feelings for each other.

Critics thought the film was occasionally funny but was disappointing overall.

Critics wrote that Roberts and Tom Hanks have great chemistry in "Larry Crowne."

Critics wrote that Roberts and Tom Hanks have great chemistry in "Larry Crowne."
Roberts plays a teacher in "Larry Crowne."      Vendome International

Critic Score: 37%

Summary: In "Larry Crowne," Tom Hanks plays the titular character, a newly unemployed man who enrolls in college to figure out what next to do with his life. While there, he falls for Mercedes Tainot (Julia Roberts), an instructor who has also lost her passion for her current life, including teaching and her marriage.

While critics loved the chemistry between Hanks and Roberts, they thought the story itself was bland.

"Runaway Bride" follows a journalist trying to report on a serial heartbreaker.

"Runaway Bride" follows a journalist trying to report on a serial heartbreaker.
Roberts plays the runaway bride in the film.      Paramount Pictures

Critic Score: 46%

Summary: Maggie Carpenter (Julia Roberts) has left three grooms at the altar, leading to her being branded "The Runaway Bride" by city journalist Ike Graham (Richard Gere). To protect his reputation, Ike decides to report on her fourth wedding to see if she'll run again. Instead, he falls for the heartbreaker.

"Ticket To Paradise" is Roberts' most recent rom-com in which her longtime friend George Clooney plays her ex-flame.

"Ticket To Paradise" is Roberts
Clooney and Roberts in "Ticket to Paradise."      Universal Pictures

Critic Score: 57%

Summary: Roberts returned to rom-coms with her latest movie "Ticket to Paradise." In the movie, she and George Clooney play a divorced pair who hate each other but must work together to stop their young daughter (Kaitlyn Dever) from getting married and making the same mistake they made.

While the plot may not have been groundbreaking, many critics praised the performances of Oscar-winning megastars Clooney and Roberts.

"Duplicity" is a thriller rom-com about two rival spies who have an affair.

"Duplicity" is a thriller rom-com about two rival spies who have an affair.
"Duplicity" premiered in 2009.      Universal Pictures

Critic Score: 65%

Summary: "Duplicity" follows two former government operatives (Julia Roberts and Clive Owen) who get involved in a passionate affair while working for rival companies. While on a mission to collect a formula, both spies try to figure out whether they can trust the other.

"Pretty Woman" is the only rom-com for which Roberts was nominated for an Academy Award.

"Pretty Woman" is the only rom-com for which Roberts was nominated for an Academy Award.
Julia Roberts and Richard Gere in a scene from "Pretty Woman" in 1990.      Buena Vista/Getty Images

Critic Score: 66%

Summary: In the 1990 comedy "Pretty Woman," Roberts plays a prostitute whose life is changed when she meets a wealthy businessman who needs a fake girlfriend. After being dumped by his girlfriend, arrogant businessman Edward (Richard Gere) has an unexpected encounter with Vivian (Roberts) and thus pays her to be his fake girlfriend for a few business deals. Instead, the pair fall for each other despite their class differences.

"Pretty Woman" was both commercially and critically successful, with Roberts gaining her second Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations.

In "My Best Friend's Wedding," Roberts plays a woman trying to stop her childhood friend from marrying someone else.

In "My Best Friend
"My Best Friend's Wedding" was directed by P.J. Hogan.      TriStar Pictures

Critic Score: 73%

Summary: "My Best Friend's Wedding" is another one of Julia Roberts' famous rom-coms. In the film, she plays Julianne Potter (Roberts), who is trying to stop her childhood best friend Michael (Dermot Mulroney) from getting married. The pair of friends had made a deal to marry each other at 28 if they were both single but four days before Julianne's birthday, Michael announces his engagement to a gorgeous younger woman (Cameron Diaz).

Roberts was praised for her brilliant performance in the movie.

"Everyone Says I Love You" is a rom-com musical about a complicated family.

"Everyone Says I Love You" is a rom-com musical about a complicated family.
Roberts plays a young lady who is pursued romantically by Woody Allen's character.      Miramax

Critic Score: 77%

Summary: Julia Roberts also starred in the Woody Allen musical "Everyone Says I Love You." The film follows D.J. (Natasha Lyonne) as she deals with her extended family after her parents' divorce. Roberts plays Von, a beautiful woman who D.J.'s father Joe (Allen) pursues romantically while in Europe.

In Roberts' breakthrough film "Mystic Pizza," she plays a pizza restaurant worker dreaming about leaving her small town.

In Roberts
"Mystic Pizza" was Roberts' fourth film.      The Samuel Goldwyn Company

Critic Score: 78%

Summary: "Mystic Pizza" was Julia Roberts' breakthrough film which launched the actor into fame. The film follows the lives and romances of three waitresses in a small town played by Roberts, Annabeth Gish, and Lili Taylor. As they work in a local restaurant after graduating from high school, each girl dreams of escaping their small town.

"Notting Hill" is one of Roberts' best-known films.

"Notting Hill" is one of Roberts
Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant in "Notting Hill."      Universal Pictures

Critic Score: 84%

Summary: The most critically-praised rom-com in Julia Roberts' career is of course "Notting Hill." In the rom-com classic, Roberts plays a famous actress who begins a romance with a London bookseller (Hugh Grant) when she walks into his store. The pair have to work out how to get to know each other while keeping away from the paparazzi.

Critics thought the film was funny, sweet, and had great performances from both leads.

Advertisement