Old Rom-Coms That Walked So Your New Faves Could Run (And They’re Free on Tubi)
in honor of my film, Dating & New York, landing on Tubi!
I woke up this morning to find that the first feature film I ever directed — Dating & New York — is now FREE to watch on Tubi. This is incredibly exciting because not only is Tubi free and super easy to use, it’s also home to some of my favorite classic romantic comedies — the kind of films that inspired not just Dating & New York, but really all the modern rom-coms we love today.
So I wanted to share five of my favorites — plus how I think they’ve impacted today’s filmmakers. And of course… I hope you check out Dating & New York — even if you just leave it on in the background so we can enter the algorithm with a splash. Yay for supporting TRUE indie cinema!
1. Adam’s Rib (1949) – Directed by George Cukor
Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn play married lawyers on opposite sides of a courtroom case. A masterclass in romantic sparring, gender politics, and chemistry. The little waves they give each other in court, the fast-paced dialogue, and the big moral questions around the crime — to me, this represents the best kind of romantic comedy: movie stars using their wit and passion to fall in love all over again.
Influenced: You can feel this film’s DNA in The Proposal, Two Weeks Notice, The West Wing.
2. It Happened One Night (1934) – Directed by Frank Capra
Considered the original romantic comedy, this Oscar-sweeping classic stars Claudette Colbert as a runaway heiress and Clark Gable as a charming, broke reporter who reluctantly helps her.
Influenced: This is the blueprint. It created the “enemies to lovers” trope, fake identities, opposites attracting, road trip bonding — all of it. Roman Holiday owes it a ton. And somehow, it still feels more modern than most rom-coms made in the past 20 years.
3. His Girl Friday (1940) – Directed by Howard Hawks
A rapid-fire newsroom comedy starring Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell. When a savvy reporter tries to leave the newspaper biz (and her ex-husband/editor), she’s pulled back in for one last scoop — and maybe one last shot at love. Famous for its overlapping dialogue, this film redefined screwball comedy and gender dynamics in rom-coms.
Influenced: Everything from Broadcast News to Gilmore Girls. It took the tone Capra established and layered in maturity, speed, and a newsroom setting that’s still irresistible today.
4. The Apartment (1960) – Directed by Billy Wilder
Jack Lemmon lets his bosses use his apartment for affairs — until love (and heartbreak) come knocking. This film has one of the greatest ENDINGS of all time, and according to lore, it was written somewhat on the fly — which is both terrifying and inspiring.
Influenced: Most notably, When Harry Met Sally. The New Year’s Eve win-back moment owes a lot to this. Ending the film in a 10-second count down as the ball-drops comes right from Wilder to Ephron and Reiner. The final line “Shut up and deal” might be the greatest last line in rom-com history. Also, the emotional complexity Wilder brings in — including heartbreak and loneliness — inspired Nancy Meyers (Something’s Gotta Give) and that slightly dark gas leak scene from The Holiday.
5. Annie Hall (1977) – Directed by Woody Allen
Boy meets girl. Boy loses girl. Boy narrates it all in neurotic flashbacks. A groundbreaking, genre-bending rom-com that beat Star Wars at the Oscars. This film changed what romantic comedies could be: non-linear, introspective, stylistically bold. Romantic comedies CAN and SHOULD be art.
Influenced: Basically… everything. Especially the depiction of New York as a romantic character. Before Annie Hall and Manhattan, NYC wasn’t the place for love stories. And its structure gave permission for films to break the mold. That said, I’m always fascinated by how long it takes for something to go from “derivative” to “homage.” (See: when The Lost City came out and nobody mentioned Romancing the Stone.)
Take a look at some of the early reviews of When Harry Met Sally — including one from The New York Times — where critics called it “an uncomfortable sense of déjà vu” with Annie Hall.
To me, WHMS and Annie Hall are completely different films.
It’s funny how quickly critics jump to call something a knock-off in the moment, only to later praise it as a classic. I ask this - when does imitation turn into homage?
Anyway, Dating & New York is on Tubi. It’s free. It’s fun. It’s been reviewed as a copy - but hopefully one day - remembered as a classic.
xo,
Jonah