Nominations Are Open
I spent an hour trying to think of something more clever and failed.
It’s Thanksgiving evening and I’m watching Freakier Friday when I remember I need to put this email together (yeah, I know. you’re getting this Monday afternoon). We’re coming up on the ninth #RomComBracket, and a week and a half ago I very impulsively announced via socials after a fun night out at the movies that the nomination form would be opening up on the first of December. So here I am now making sure a greater share of my audience doesn’t miss this information.
But also there is a twist.
Now for most things in life we focus on the celebration of things in sets of fives. Fifth anniversaries, decades, centuries…things that end in 5s and 0s are the ones that mean the most but for me a girl born in the 3rd full week of the 3rd month, nothing means more to me than multiples of 3 and my chaos babies we are entering our 9th #RomComBracket!
#RomComBracket9
We’ve gone through some things over the years with #RomComBracket. Twitter blowing up, fights over the legitimacy of something being a romcom, Kevin Smith’s interloping, a handover, and a foolish attempt to run the bracket on 3 platforms at once while on vacation at Disney World.
I will not be doing the last one again.
But through it all you’ve all been troopers so in that spirit I would like to do a little celebrating this year upcoming bracket. Starting with the nomination form! I will be doing a little surprise package giveaway for those who enter the nominations, so make sure to provide your email address if you’re interested in winning!
Nominations
The rules are as such:
you can nominate any movie you want that you believe to be a ROMANTIC COMEDY, but it doesn’t mean it’ll make it on
the movie you nominate must be available to the public at large before February 14, 2026, when voting begins (availability extends to an overpriced German dubbed DVD on Amazon, a Tubi special, and a movie you remember seeing once on the late night special that some mensch has uploaded to YouTube)
you can submit the nomination form as many times as you want
submissions are not guaranteed to make the final bracket
finally, previous winners are not eligible for the bracket, and they are:
2018: Princess Bride
2019: 10 Things I Hate About You
2020: Clueless
2021: The Mummy
2022: Ever After
2023: While You Were Sleeping
2024: Pride & Prejudice (2005)
2025: My Big Fat Greek Wedding
Note: I’m a purist and I think strongly about every movie I put on the bracket. Yes, there are a few movies I put on the bracket that *I* don’t consider to be Rom-Coms but they are few and far between and most likely not the ones you’d guess. (note: I’ve only helped set it since 2022) However, I do try to be amenable to people’s feelings on things that should be included, especially when I’ve seen them try to make the case.
So without further ado, the nomination form: bit.ly/RomComBracket
Please share it widely. Nominations close December 23, 2025. The winner for the nominations giveaway will be announced on December 26, 2025. I will release an unseeded list of movies on January 1, 2026 on Instagram and Letterboxd to give everyone a chance to check out movies they’ve never seen before. The seeded bracket will be released February 6, 2026.
What I’ve Been Watching?
I swear I’m not trying to throw the #RomComBracket in any particular way, because honestly you all only abide by some kind of divine chaos, but we need to talk about the state of Romance media since the last time I’ve sent a missive.
Eternity
Ok, can I say when A24 first said they were getting into RomComs with The Materialists I was like, “Ummm…let’s wait and see,” and I was right in the case of that movie, cause what the fuck was happening there??? However, when I heard about Eternity I was cautiously optimistic, and frankly my instincts were right. I was lucky enough to catch an early screening thanks to
, and every moment was hilarious and some breathtakingly romantic. I hope it stays in theater long enough for you to catch it, but if it doesn’t make sure to see it once it’s streaming.Harlequin on the CW
This is a very US specific mention, but I’m sure everyone will get to experience it eventually. I’m sure you’ve heard me wax poetic about my love old the old Harlequin movie adaptation from the 90s (and a comically hilarious one in the early 00s) before. I’ve been dying for them to get back into the game properly, and late last year they announced a partnership with a Canadian production company to adapt some of their books for movies and TV shows. The first round from that partnership has just begun to air. Personally, I was super excited for
’s Savvy Sheldon Feels Good As Hell, and it was delightful, but all of the adaptions are fun. You can catch them all on the CW website and app.Heated Rivalry
In that same vein of Harlequin adaptations, there’s a brand new TV show adaption of Rachel Reid’s Heated Rivalry by my ever so favorite Jacob Tierney. And it is good! Give it a watch on HBOMax in the US and Australia, Crave in Canada, Neon in Aotearoa/New Zealand, and Movistar Plus in Spain.
Holiday Decor and more!
Measure and Slow’s Trope Ornaments are back! And they’re having a sale right now with 15% off of the whole store if you use the code WINTER25. There’s some great stuff in there for your upcoming White Elephant gift exchanges and things you’ll want for yourself.
The Reading List
The Scoundrel and the Siren by Christy Carlyle (ARC) Bookshop | Amazon
The Love Audit by Lucy Eden (ARC) Bookshop | Amazon
The Very Definition of Love by Sophia Benoit (ARC) Bookshop | Amazon
A Little Buzzed by Alys Murray (ARC) Bookshop | Amazon
The Paris Match by Kate Clayborn (ARC) Bookshop | Amazon
The Dating Prohibition Audiobook by Taj McCoy (ALC) Bookshop | Amazon
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So I made a booboo and didn't add my email to enter the giveaway 😭