The Anniversary: A Day for Andie and Ben
It’s been over two decades since Andie Anderson (Kate Hudson) first decided to drive Benjamin Barry (Matthew McConaughey) crazy for the sake of journalism. Released on this day in 2003, the film wasn’t just a box office smash; it became a cultural touchstone.
From the iconic “You’re So Vain” duet to the high-stakes “Frost Yourself” gala, the movie perfected the “hidden motives” trope. Whether you’re a fan of the “Benny and the Jets” energy or you just really want that yellow dress, today is the perfect excuse to revisit this movie.
5 More Unmissable Rom-Coms for Your Marathon
If you’ve already finished your rewatch of Andie and Ben, here are five other essential romantic comedies that capture that same electric, bickering, “fake-it-until-you-make-it” energy.
1. Anyone But You (2023)
The movie that single-handedly revived the theatrical rom-com. Starring Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell, this loosely based adaptation of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing follows two people who have a disastrous first date and end up stuck together at a destination wedding in Australia. To keep their meddling families at bay, they decide to fake a relationship. It’s got everything: a killer soundtrack (shoutout to “Unwritten”), incredible scenery, and a leads-chemistry that rivals Hudson and McConaughey.
2. What Happens in Vegas (2008)
If you love the “forced proximity” of How to Lose a Guy, this Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher classic is a must. After a wild night in Vegas ends in a drunken wedding and a three-million-dollar jackpot, a judge sentences the two strangers to live together for six months before they can divorce and split the money. Watching them systematically try to destroy each other’s lives—only to realize they might actually be perfect for one another—is pure 2000s comedy gold.
3. The Proposal (2009)
Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds are the ultimate power duo in this high-stakes “fake engagement” flick. When a high-powered book editor faces deportation to Canada, she blackmails her long-suffering assistant into marrying her. A trip to his family home in Alaska leads to some of the funniest physical comedy in the genre (the woods-dance scene alone is worth the watch).
4. 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
Another Shakespearean reimagining (The Taming of the Shrew), this film features Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger in a classic “dating wager” plot. Much like How to Lose a Guy, the relationship begins with a bribe and a hidden agenda, but Ledger’s stadium-sized rendition of “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” proves that real feelings are impossible to hide.
5. Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011)
This film offers a more modern, ensemble take on the genre. While Steve Carell deals with a mid-life heartbreak, we get the electric sub-plot of Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. Their “Dirty Dancing” lift attempt is one of the most iconic rom-com moments of the 2010s and perfectly balances the movie’s mix of genuine heart and laugh-out-loud absurdity.