The Idea of You Ruined Me: 10 Rom-Coms for Your 2026 Watchlist

Okay, I rewatched The Idea of You in 2026, and I have to report that my personality briefly became a straw hat and a Coachella wristband. Anne Hathaway as Solène, Nicholas Galitzine as Hayes, a secret romance, an age gap, and a boy-band fandom with the investigative energy of a true-crime podcast: yes, please. The film is based on Robinne Lee's novel and directed by Michael Showalter, and it left me craving more stories where two people fall for each other and then immediately have to negotiate fame, exes, teenagers, and the internet. So I made a watchlist. It is unscientific, deeply biased, and arranged with the confidence of someone who once watched three rom-coms in one weekend and called it research.

Here is the quick-and-dirty lineup, because I respect your time and also because I cannot be trusted to keep a secret:

Now, the extremely serious commentary. First up, I Could Never Be Your Woman. Michelle Pfeiffer's Rosie is 40, Paul Rudd's Adam is 29, and her brain has a running commentary from Mother Nature. It is basically The Idea of You if Solène's anxiety had a union rep. The film digs into Rosie's insecurity about age, while Adam's growing fame makes her wonder whether their relationship can hold. I laughed, I winced, I checked my own internal monologue for unsolicited commentary.

Love & Other Drugs gives us Hathaway opposite Jake Gyllenhaal, and it starts casual before becoming much heavier when Maggie's Parkinson's diagnosis changes the emotional math. Critics apparently found some side plots unnecessary, which is fair, but the lead performances are undeniable. It keeps an adult feel that many rom-coms politely avoid. I respect a movie that lets the romance get messy and then hands you a tissue.

Upgraded is the art-world cousin of The Idea of You. Camila Mendes plays Ana, an intern who meets William in London and lets him believe she is higher up at work than she really is. One lie leads to another, and suddenly she is living a double life. The art setting and secret identity give it a similar spark to Solène's gallery and Hayes's very public existence. It is not identical, but it scratches the same itch.

Red, White & Royal Blue is the obvious pick for Galitzine fans. He plays Henry, a British prince, while Taylor Zakhar Perez plays Alex, the first son of the United States. Their relationship is complicated by their high-profile positions, and Henry takes time to become comfortable with his sexuality and his feelings. Unlike Hayes, who is sure of Solène, Henry has royal tradition breathing down his neck. The charm and humor make it an easy follow-up.

How Stella Got Her Groove Back is the age-gap classic with a vacation glow. Angela Bassett's Stella is 40 and without a romantic partner, and a spontaneous trip to Jamaica introduces her to William, a younger chef's assistant. He pursues her with determination, but Stella starts doubting the relationship when she considers their different levels of maturity and life experience. It is The Idea of You with more sunscreen and fewer paparazzi.

Hello, My Name Is Doris gives us Sally Field as Doris, a woman who spent years caring for her mother and now has a crush on her younger co-worker, John. Unsure how to approach him, she creates a fake social media account to learn more. Their first sparks happen at a concert, which is very on-brand for this list. The ending is ambiguous in a way that made me yell at my screen, but in a fond way.

Long Shot swaps the boy-band stage for the Oval Office. Charlize Theron's Charlotte is a Secretary of State with presidential ambitions, and Seth Rogen's Fred is an ordinary journalist. The film examines how success and fame can complicate a relationship, and it leans into comedy harder than The Idea of You. There is a drug-fueled adventure, there is chemistry, and there is the eternal question: can you date someone when the entire public has opinions?

Enough Said is the divorced-mom secret-keeping pick. Julia Louis-Dreyfus's Eva has a teenage daughter and starts dating Albert, only to realize he is the ex-husband of her new massage client and friend. The secrecy is smaller in scale than Solène and Hayes's media circus, but the charm is huge. Louis-Dreyfus and James Gandolfini feel grounded and vulnerable, which is exactly what I want after a glamorous celebrity romance.

Notting Hill is the perfect double feature. Hugh Grant's Will owns a bookstore; Julia Roberts's Anna is a famous actress. Their relationship gets invaded by the public, and the film explores how fame can strain a couple. In The Idea of You, Solène absorbs the online negativity and worries about her daughter; in Notting Hill, Anna has been in the spotlight long enough to know the cost. Same problem, different accents.

Finally, I'll See You in My Dreams gives us Carol, played by Blythe Danner, who has not dated since her husband died 20 years ago. She is lonely but protecting herself from being hurt again, which echoes Solène's fear of getting close to Hayes after her divorce. The film balances internal struggle with sweetness and laughter. It is the quiet, grown-up nightcap to this very chaotic watchlist.

So there it is: ten rom-coms for anyone who finished The Idea of You and immediately needed more age gaps, secret relationships, and famous people discovering that privacy is a luxury item. In 2026, I am still not over Solène and Hayes, but at least now I have a watchlist. My couch has already filed a complaint.