10 Jennifer Lopez Rom-Com Movies, Ranked From Worst to Best
There’s a reason Brett Goldstein wrote Office Romance specifically for Jennifer Lopez to star in. In the early aughts, the actress cemented her place as one of the queens of the rom-com genre alongside the likes of Julia Roberts and Sandra Bullock. “We wrote it because she’s the best rom-com actor, and day one, I was like, ‘We made the right decision,’” Goldstein told Swooon. “She’s f**king brilliant.”
It’s pretty much an indisputable fact that J.Lo’s lengthy catalog, from The Wedding Planner to Maid in Manhattan, helped define the romantic comedy genre we all know and love. As a result, most of her movies stand the test of time, but not all. Not even the rom-com queen — who usually plays a career-focused woman whose world is unexpectedly turned on its head by love — can save every movie. (Need we say more than Gigli?)
If you’re looking for more viewing material after Office Romance, we’ve got you covered. We’ve ranked all 10 of JLo’s rom-coms from worst to best, from 2005’s Monster-in-Law to newer additions like Marry Me. Of course, we had to include her latest flick, so you can find out how Office Romance compares to some of the J.Lo classics. Tell us if you agree with our takes in the comments at the end of the page!
Office Romance, Streaming Now, Netflix
10. Second Act
Second Act isn’t the worst movie on our list, but it is the worst rom-com. It’s all com and no rom, despite being marketed as having both. In 2018, J.Lo seemingly returned to the genre that made her famous with Second Act, which follows a 40-something woman who’s aiming for a promotion at a Value Store. When it goes to a college-educated man instead, Maya lands herself a corporate job instead — with a fake resume.
Where is the love interest in all this? Maya’s boyfriend, Trey (Milo Ventimiglia), only pops up occasionally. After he encourages Maya to come clean to her boss, he mentions going on a vacation and starting a family, which Maya isn’t ready for. They split, and he doesn’t come back into the picture until the end. This is a workplace comedy over anything else, so we have to put it last. — Morgan Pryor
9. Gigli
We’ll always have to give props to Gigli as the film where J.Lo met her now-ex-husband, Ben Affleck, but aside from that, there’s not much redeeming about the 2001 film. The movie is widely regarded as a flop, but there’s no denying that it’s a necessary moment in the Jennifer Lopez canon.
Like in any good rom-com, Lopez and Affleck’s characters (Ricki and Larry) end up together at the end of the film, and the love translated off-screen, as well. The A-listers got engaged after filming the movie, and although they never made it down the aisle, they reunited 20 years later after their respective divorces.
Unfortunately, in real life, it wasn’t a happy ending for Lopez and Affleck, as they wound up divorcing in 2024, as well. — Alyssa Norwin
8. Shotgun Wedding
The press tour for Shotgun Wedding was more exciting than the film itself, but after two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was the perfect, mindless flick to release in 2022.
The film features a happily ever after for J.Lo’s Darcy and Tom (Josh Duhamel), but getting to that point is a little chaotic and corny (a destination wedding invaded by pirates? Huh?) There is a little twist at the end when we find out who actually hired the pirates to hijack the ceremony, though, and overall, it’s a fun time. — Alyssa Norwin
7. The Back-Up Plan
When The Back-up Plan was released in 2010, it was J.Lo’s first movie in three years. The rom-com isn’t the strongest in her repertoire, but the actress seemed to have a lot of fun making the flick. Her character, Zoe, undergoes artificial insemination and winds up pregnant with twins just as she meets a new guy, Stan (Alex O’Loughlin). J.Lo embraces the physical comedy in The Back-up Plan, and if there’s one thing about J.Lo, she always gives it her all. The movie is so silly, but it’s a fine background rom-com. — Avery Thompson
6. Shall We Dance?
In the 2004 flick, Shall We Dance?, the king of romance movies met the new queen of rom-coms. Richard Gere‘s John Clark crosses paths with Lopez’s Paulina while taking up dance lessons. Gere and Lopez have excellent chemistry, and their dancing scenes together are sizzling. And yet, John and Paulina don’t end up together because they’re not exactly love interests. John is very much married to his wife, Beverly (Susan Sarandon), and that relationship is truly at the center of the movie. Shall We Dance? leans more on the comedy and drama than the romance, which is fine. However, when it comes to J.Lo rom-coms, it can’t rank any higher. — Avery Thompson
5. Monster-in-Law
Forget the leading couple … it’s the comedic chemistry between Lopez (Charlie) and Jane Fonda (Viola) that makes this movie a hit. Meddling in-laws are a tale as old as time in movies, but this film perfected the trope and will always sit fondly in the minds of millennials.
No rom-com is complete without resolution, and in this case, it came following a showdown when Viola wore white to her own son Kevin’s (Michael Vartan) wedding. Eventually, the “monster-in-law,” with some help from her assistant Ruby (Wanda Sykes), had an epiphany about her actions, and the bride and groom were able to live happily ever after. — Alyssa Norwin
4. Marry Me
Somehow, J.Lo and Owen Wilson have the secret sauce. This unlikely duo, both on and off-screen, creates a delightful love story between pop superstar Kat Valdez (Lopez) and math teacher Charlie Gilbert (Wilson). If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if Jenny From the Block had a massive meltdown on stage and married the first rando holding a “Marry Me” sign in sight, this is definitely the rom-com for you. Did the movie live up to the concept? Maybe not… But it’s still a great time. — Rebecca Perlmutter
3. Office Romance
We’re suckers for a workplace romance, so we had high hopes going into Office Romance. The good news is that it mostly delivers all the cheesy charm of the rom-coms of yesteryear. It’s a refreshing switch-up from the rags-to-riches rom-coms we usually see from Lopez: Office Romance puts her character in a position of power. She plays Jackie, the workaholic CEO of Air Cruz who strictly doesn’t date her employees. But she changes her mind when her company hires a sexy lawyer (Goldstein).
The combined charisma of J.Lo and the Ted Lasso actor goes a long way in this Netflix flick. Not to mention, Betty Gilpin is a total delight as Jackie’s disapproving, ultra-loyal right-hand woman. While the performances and surprising raunchiness work wonders, Office Romance doesn’t have enough laughs or take enough risks. While nostalgia is always welcome in a rom-com, there’s a need to have some fresh ideas to balance it out. Because of that, it doesn’t reach the heights of some of J.Lo’s classics. — Morgan Pryor
2. The Wedding Planner
The Wedding Planner is one of those cases of it’s so bad it’s good. When by-the-book wedding planner Mary’s heel gets caught in a grate and she’s about to be run over by a runaway garbage dumpster — yes, really — a pediatrician named Steve (Matthew McConaughey) saves her. Sparks fly until Mary finds out Steve is engaged to her client, and Mary herself is pursued by someone else (Justin Chambers). It’s a delightfully silly premise anchored by two of the strongest rom-com actors of that era, and their charm does most of the heavy lifting. So does the nostalgia. This is definitely a rom-com that improves with time. It’s a rewatchable time capsule, which helps it edge out some of Lopez’s newer additions to the genre. — Morgan Pryor
1. Maid in Manhattan
A rich, high-profile politician falling for the hotel maid? The Cinderella premise always hits. Maid in Manhattan is truly one of the most defining rom-coms of the 2000s.
J.Lo’s Marisa and Ralph Fiennes‘ Chris are the perfect leading couple (with incredible chemistry, too), and although the story may be fairly predictable, it’s impossible not to smile while giving this one a rewatch. Maid in Manhattan came out a year after The Wedding Planner and truly cemented J.Lo’s rom-com queen status. — Alyssa Norwin
