As we question why genres such as buddy comedy only exist for male camaraderie, its female equivalent, chick flick, is a conventional genre in film categorization. Conventionally, the genre describes movies that appeal to a largely teen and especially female audience,

and most films rich in romance and sentiments fall into the umbrella category. Although a genre is merely a label, we have a few movies to mention if you are going to a girls’ night-in on HBO Max.

16. Snatched (2017)

What is meant to be an exciting holiday for Emily and her mother, Linda, all of a sudden becomes a survival expedition in Jonathan Levine’s comedy drama ‘Snatched.’ The pair gets kidnapped on their vacation trip to Ecuador, and they have no one but each other to look up to for help and support. Escaping would demand collaboration, and though they are physically robust, their chemistry carries a whiff of tomfoolery in it so the entire exercise becomes a joy ride for the audience. Powered by the performances of Amy Schumer as Emily and Goldie Hawn as Linda, ‘Snatched’ is a hoot of a chick flick you can watch here.

15. Your Monster (2024)

A pretend reimagining of Disney’s ‘Beauty and the Beast,’ ‘Your Monster’ is about cancer-diagnosed Laura Franco, who is struggling to move past her nasty breakup. On one of such days, she discovers a monster in the closet of her childhood house. With a poor beginning, the two end up being friends since Monster assists Laura through her suffering, particularly after she ends up working as the assistant to her ex, Jacob, who is a playwright writing his next play. ‘Your Monster’ is a light-hearted drama touching on insecurities and vulnerabilities through the lens of an imaginary being that appears to be an extension of Laura’s defense mechanism. Or is the monster real? Starring Edmund Donovan as Jacob, Tommy Dewey as the Monster, and Melissa Barrera as Laura Franco, it’s a fun chick flick to watch that you can stream here.

14. Am I Ok? (2024)

Lucy, who is 32 (Dakota Johnson), doesn’t feel she is okay. She has no idea what she wants to do, no idea what type of guy she likes, and shuns everyone except her friends, including best friend Jane (Sonoya Mizuno), who is concerned about her. Lucy believes that she is lesbian, but she is not certain. The entire movie is about Lucy attempting to solve things, only to discover that it is her choice that is more important than what is meant to be and what is not. Sweet and engaging tale of self-discovery, ‘Am I Ok? ‘ transcends the status of a chick flick to present us with a coming-of-age drama that shows us that there is no specific age for an individual to grow up. You can view the movie here.

13. The Color Purple (2023)

Period drama based on the Tony-winning Broadway musical itself inspired by Alice Walker’s Pulitzer-winning novel of the same name, ‘The Color Purple’ is directed by Blitz Bazawule. The movie is about the extraordinary sisterhood of three women who find refuge in one another and create an unbreakable bond amidst abuse and patriarchy during 20th-century Georgia. Starring Fantasia Barrino, Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, and Colman Domingo, the movie is a true retelling of the book and paints a stunning portrait of trauma and resilience, allowing you to decide which dominates which. This decision that the movie allows you to make is what makes it lovely. You can stream ‘The Color Purple’ here.

12. The Fallout (2021)

This heart-wrenching drama delves into the trauma of a school shooting as lived by a Gen-Z teen. Vada Cavell (Jenna Ortega) and Mia Reed (Maddie Ziegler) are in the school bathroom when shots are heard, and they cower inside one of the stalls. They are later joined by a fellow student named Quinton Hasland (Niles Fitch). While the shooter is brought down by the police, the trauma that the event births inside the three teenagers unfolds differently. The worst hit is Vada, who becomes withdrawn, and shortly resorts to alcohol and drugs. How her experiences with the trauma influence her relationships with her mother, Mia, and stepfather, Quinton, the latter two being her only sources of light following the tragedy, and if she is able to bounce back from it are things we learn in this Megan Park-directed film. The presentation of trauma that is caused by such a tragedy and how far it can go in affecting an individual has been successfully presented in the movie. Jenna Ortega’s performance as Vada Cavell has earned her the Breakthrough Artist Award at the 2023 Austin Film Critics Association award and was nominated for Best Actress at the 2022 Hollywood Critics Association Midseason Awards. The movie was awarded three at the 2021 South by Southwest Film Festival. You can stream ‘The Fallout’ here.

11. We Live in Time (2024)

Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh star in ‘We Live in Time’, a movie that tells the story of two strangers, Tobias and Almut, who meet by chance and fall into a relationship. As their relationship develops, they experience the downs and highs like any other couple until a difficult choice comes knocking on their doorstep that will impact how they carry on living together. An extremely intimate drama that is realized as an emotional spectacle through a non-linear narrative, ‘We Live in Time’ is both heartwarming and moving, underpinned by the performances of Garfield and Pugh. You can stream the John Crowley directorial right here.

10. Babygirl (2024)

Directed by Halina Reijn, ‘Babygirl’ portrays a steamy, hot, and forbidden romance between CEO Romy Mathis and her intern Samuel. Romy is married, but sexually unhappy, a fact that Samuel happily takes it upon himself to fix. Thus, he becomes the dominant partner and she the submissive partner. But Romy is aware of the effects it has on her life at home and soon finds herself torn, though sexual pleasure leads her back to Samuel. Starring Harris Dickinson and Nicole Kidman, ‘Babygirl’ is a captivating chick flick that you will definitely watch with your girlfriends. It can be streamed here.

9. My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)

Helmed by Joel Zwick, ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’ focuses on Toula (Nia Vardalos), a Greek, 30 and single, who finally falls in love with Ian Miller (John Corbett), a non-Greek. Although she is willing to marry him, her parents, who are determined to see her get married to a good Greek boy, are outraged. Now, Ian and Toula must figure out a way to get Toula’s huge family to accept him, and Toula’s parents must also learn to accept Ian as a non-Greek son-in-law. How these conflicts become a huge romantic comedy is what ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’ documents. If you are in the mood for a wedding film, this one offers a fantastic movie that you can see here.

8. This Means War (2012)

Directed by McG, ‘This Means War’ is a rom-com with a twist of spies. We have CIA agents Franklin and Tuck, the best the agency has and also the best of friends. When they happily open up to one another about the girl they are dating, they discover it is the same girl, Lauren Scott. While Lauren remains dating both, both men attempt to outdo one another, giving the audience bingeworthy romantic comedy action. Additionally, we have Chris Pine as Franklin, Tom Hardy as Tuck, and Reese Witherspoon as Lauren, eyes feasting galore. ‘This Means War’ can be streamed here.

7. Singin’ in the Rain (1952)

A traditional musical romantic comedy film directed by Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly, ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ features Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, and Jean Hagen. The movie depicts the transition from silent movies to talkies based on a narrative that takes place in Hollywood during the 1920s. Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly) and Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen) have been a great box-office draw as a romance couple, but the arrival of talkies translates to the necessity of good voices, and in this instance, Lina’s voice is the casualty. She will be replaced with rising stage actress Kathy Selden (Debbie Reynolds). How it plays out is depicted stunningly and musically, topped by an unrepeatable moment in movie history. You can also stream ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ here.

6. Practical Magic (1998)

Griffin Dunne’s ‘Practical Magic’ is a cult classic fantasy comedy that features Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as witch sisters Sally and Gillian Owens, who are both burdened with a generational curse prohibiting them from falling in love. While the two women each work separately to combat this curse, they soon find themselves having to collaborate when an abusive man by the name of Jimmy Angelov comes into their lives. It’s an enjoyable film and is quintessentially 90s in style, when things were straightforward and so was life. You can watch it with your girlfriends here.

5. He’s Just Not That Into You (2009)

Directed by Ken Kwapis, ‘He’s Just Not That Into You’ is set in Baltimore and revolves around numerous women as they navigate dating/love-relationship. Beth has commitment issues with her boyfriend Neil; Gigi and Mary are going nowhere with their dates; and Janine has trust issues with her husband Ben, who is clearly interested in another woman named Anna. Starring Jennifer Aniston, Ben Affleck, Ginnifer Goodwin, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Connelly, Bradley Cooper, and Scarlett Johansson, the movie is based on Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo’s self-improvement book. With each story addressing various aspects of relationships, ‘He’s Just Not That Into You’ is a bingeable exploration of a person’s urge for the perfect romance in an imperfect world. It can be streamed here.

4. Pride & Prejudice (2005)

Based on Jane Austen’s 1813 novel, ‘Pride & Prejudice’ is set in late 18th-century England and is an intimate commentary about the landed gentry society from the POV of Elizabeth Bennet, one of five sisters. Strong-minded and soft-hearted yet outspoken when need be, she finds her match in Fitzwilliam Darcy. How their antipathy for each other blossoms into romance, with the social norms and expectations in the background, provides the basis for ‘Pride & Prejudice.’ The Joe Wright film has passed the test of time as one of the greatest feature film adaptations of a book, one emphasized by the superb performances, particularly that of Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet and Matthew Macfadyen as Fitzwilliam Darcy. You can watch it here.

3. Barbie (2023)

From director Greta Gerwig comes a societal satire that took the world by storm. While showcasing America’s if not the world’s most iconic and popular doll (first live-action version), Barbie, who lives in the matriarchal Barbieland along with other Barbies and Kens, the film serves as a commentary on the male-dominated real world and how Barbie deals with it after arriving in it following a crisis that can compromise her very existence. Margot Robbie stars as Barbie, while Ryan Gosling plays Ken. The other members of the cast are Simu Liu, Emma Mackey, Kate McKinnon, Issa Rae, and Will Ferrell. You can stream this masterpiece here.

2. Casablanca (1942)

The top spot on this list is reserved for the classic black-and-white romance featuring the legends Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart. Directed by Michael Curtiz, the film is during the early part of World War II and revolves around Rick Blaine (Bogart), the proprietor of a nightclub in Casablanca, Morocco, which is a haven for individuals escaping the Germans to America. Confronted with the option of returning to his former sweetheart Ilsa (Bergman), whom he encounters at his café or assisting her husband Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid), a leader of the Czech resistance movement, to escape Casablanca and thereby from the Germans, Rick is confronted with a dilemma. From the conversations to the theme music to the main actors, all there is to the movie has become iconic over time, and now ‘Casablanca’ ranks as one of the greatest films ever made. The story of the movie is based on an unpublished play entitled ‘Everybody Comes to Rick’s’ written in 1940 by Murray Burnett and Joan Alison. You can watch the classic movie here.

1. Carol (2015)

Starring Rooney Mara and Cate Blanchett, ‘Carol’ details the “forbidden” love between Carol Aird, a middle-aged married woman, and Therese Belivet, a much younger aspiring photographer, in 1950s New York. The period, of course, means their tryst is simply impossible to materialize, but the heart desires what the heart desires. Making things worse, of course, is the fact that Carol is divorced and getting increasingly harder. It is hard to move on, but when you are frequently seeing the one you love standing in front of you, then the longing only intensifies. Visually and narratively gripping, ‘Carol’ ranks among the best LGBTQ movies ever made and received 6 Oscar nominations and 9 BAFTA nominations, among others. Here is where you can watch it.Read More: Best Chick Flicks on Netflix