Nancy Meyers movies, ranked

There are few things in this world I hold as sacred as the romantic comedy genre. I mean, romance and comedy? It’s a match made in heaven.

But sadly, the art of crafting a perfect rom-com is not an easy one to master. Many have tried and failed, but a few, like modern day genius Nancy Meyers, have succeeded beyond my wildest dreams.

If you're unfamiliar with Meyers, she has a knack for creating hilariously chaotic worlds where characters wear daring all-white outfits all the time, have stupidly gorgeous kitchens, and get their hearts broken to pieces only to have them repaired again in a hot second.

Rom-com queen, Nancy Meyers. Credit: Vera Anderson/WireImage via getty images

Asking someone to choose their favorite Nancy Meyers movie is like asking someone to choose their favorite appetizer. They're all fantastic so there's not really one answer. You don't sit down at a restaurant and choose between mozzarella sticks, nachos, wings, fries, and freaking quesadillas. You get them all. How else do you explain the invention of sampler platters? 

But in an attempt to provide budding rom-com superfans with some viewing guidance I’ve ranked the six films Meyers has directed. (Note: This ranking only includes movies Meyers directed because if I had the added challenge of considering films like Father of The Bride and Home Again I would pass out at my desk.) 

6. What Women Want

Meyers' 2000 film What Women Want, tells the tale of Nick Marshall (Mel Gibson), a problematic "man's man" who doesn't treat the women in his life with the respect they deserve. After a series of unexpected events at work, Nick falls into a bathtub with a blowdryer and electrocutes himself.

Magically, this incident gives him the power to hear what women think, which is truly eye-opening for him because he realizes that though women think he's handsome, the majority of them feel he's also The Worst. Nick first uses his power to attempt to undermine his new boss (Helen Hunt) — a woman who was given his ideal promotion. But after falling in love with her, he decides to start being a better man. 🙃

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Reason for ranking: Though the movie's plot is compelling and creatively examines gender dynamics, as my editor put it, "the film didn't age well." In fact, watching it in 2018 — after a man accused of sexual assault was elected president, and millions of women continue to fight for gender equality and share their personal experiences involving sexual misconduct — was medium-to-high-key painful. And the fact that Mel Gibson is an extremely problematic man IRL did not help at all.

I would also like to think men can learn to be understanding and empathetic without electrocuting themselves, but this movie did not provide me with that hope. Fingers crossed that What Men Want won't disappoint.

5. The Intern

Meyers' most recently directed film, The Intern, tells the heartwarming story of 70-year-old widower Ben Whittaker (Robert De Niro) getting back in the working world.

The movie, which came out in 2015, shows Ben becoming a ~literal~ senior intern for Jules Ostin (Anne Hathaway,) CEO and founder of an online fashion website. Though Jules assumes Ben's age will render him useless, he takes his decades of business and life experience and proves himself to be an invaluable asset to the company.

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After sharing sage wisdom (like how to dress when delivering something to Beyoncé and Jay-Z's house) with the younger employees, he and Jules form one of the most enviable on-screen friendships you'll ever see.

Reason for ranking: The movie is straight-up adorable and the definition of a "feel good film." TBH, the only reason it's not higher on the list is because Meyers' other films are too damn good.

4. The Parent Trap

In the 1998 masterpiece, The Parent Trap, Meyers reimagines the classic 1961 David Swift film about two identical twin sisters who pull the old switcheroo on their loved ones.

Annie and Hallie (both played by a young Lindsay Lohan) meet at camp and find out they share the same divorced parents, Nick (Dennis Quaid) and Elizabeth (Natasha Richardson,) in one of the most iconic scenes in movie history.

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When it's time to get picked up from camp, the twins swap lives to spend some quality time with their usually absent parents, and after some fake accents, a long lost grandfather, a money-hungry potential fiancé, and some good old fashioned pranks, the girls attempt to reunite the family.

Reason for ranking: If we were ranking by nostalgia, Parent Trap would have easily earned the top spot. The film is a classic and should be considered essential childhood viewing. But in the grand scheme of greatness that is Nancy Meyers, I feel she's had better works of art.

~ Grab some snacks, everyone. It's time for the terrific top three. ~

3. Something's Gotta Give

When you think Nancy Meyers, you should think Something's Gotta Give. The 2003 movie stars Diane Keaton as Erica Barry, a writer who falls in love with her daughter's boyfriend, the womanizing Harry Sanborn (Jack Nicholson). After a series of poorly-timed events, a heart attack leaves Harry recovering at Erica's Hamptons beach house and a glorious love triangle forms when Harry's doctor (Keanu Reeves) sets his sights on Erica.

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Reason for ranking: Something's Gotta Give is an overwhelming fan favorite, but I am trash and therefore it isn't my No. 1 pick. Still, I will acknowledge this movie is Nancy Meyers at her finest. Moms will love it. Writers will love it. Anyone who's ever experienced heartbreak will love it. It's relatable, laugh-out-loud funny, and considered by some her quintessential film.

2. The Holiday

The Holiday is an incredibly charming 2006 movie that follows two women who are each in the middle of their own life crises. Desperate to escape their homes for the holidays, Amanda (Cameron Diaz,) who lives in Los Angeles, and Iris (Kate Winslet) who lives in England, decide to swap houses. During their personal getaways, they each their own versions of love and clarity.

Jude Law and Jack Black star as the love interests, Graham and Miles, and the late Eli Wallach gives a heartwarming performance as Arthur, a former big-time Hollywood screenwriter who befriends Iris.

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Reason for ranking: The Holiday is my personal favorite Nancy Meyers movie, and yet, I did not put it first on this list. WHY? I'm thinking BIG PICTURE here, people, and as much as it pains me to admit, this movie does have flaws. For one, it's set during the holidays, and some people (not me) choose not to watch holiday movies year-round.

Then we've got John Krasinski's character, who appears on-screen for a total of less than a measly two minutes. (Disgraceful.) And finally, there's the issue of Jack Black. Black plays the same character he always plays: An outgoing goof with a Big sense of humor. In this case, the shtick happens to be a bit too much and low-key ruins the movie. Otherwise, the film is iconic. The score? To die for. The plot line? Stunning. "Mr. Brightside" dance scene? Perfect. Jude Law as a dad? *SWOON*

1. It's Complicated

The beautifully titled 2009 movie, It's Complicated, is without a doubt one the best films of all time. Here's the deal: Jane, played by Meryl freaking Streep, has an unexpected affair with her ex-husband Jake (Alec Baldwin,) who got remarried. You know what that means ... drama. Amid this relationship relapse, Adam (Steve Martin), a divorced architect who's remodeling Jane's kitchen is crushing on her.

While that love triangle is playing out there's a whole bunch of graduation, fertility, and wedding planning stuff going on. (Also, John Krasinski is in this film for more than two minutes.)

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Reason for ranking: This movie has IT ALL. There's chocolate cake. There's John Krasinski taking photos with a Motorola Razr. There's Steve Martin, Meryl Streep, and Alex Baldwin smoking weed at a graduation party. There's a family gathered around leftovers at a kitchen island, a hotel, an affair, a remodel, a traumatic webcam incident.

You'll laugh, you'll cry — heck, you'll probably feel the overwhelming desire to get high with A-list actors. The point is, the movie is very good.

Remember, the rom-com you choose to watch depends on the mood, the season, and the circumstances that built up to you feeling the need to sit on the couch to partake in this moving experience in the first place. But with Nancy Meyers films, you can never go wrong.