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Every Netflix original rom-com that came out this year, ranked from worst to best

Chad Michael Murray as Luke and Britt Robertson as Ashley in "The Merry Gentlemen"
Chad Michael Murray and Britt Robertson in "The Merry Gentlemen."

Katrina Marcinowski/Netflix

  • Netflix has a vast assortment of original romantic comedies.
  • In 2024, the streamer released 10 new rom-coms and romance films.
  • Critics enjoyed some of the movies ("Hot Frosty") more than others ("A Family Affair").

Netflix's growing collection of rom-coms and romantic films expanded even more in 2024 with 10 new originals.

This year's fresh rom-coms featured plenty of A-listers, including Nicole Kidman, Zac Efron, Lindsay Lohan, and Brooke Shields. Not all of these films were well-received, however.

Here's how this year's new original rom-coms from the streamer stacked up, according to critics.

Note: Rotten Tomatoes scores were current at the time of publication and are subject to change.

10. The characters in "Mother of the Bride" lacked depth and complexity.
mother of the bride netflix
Miranda Cosgrove and Brooke Shields in "Mother of the Bride."

Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 13%

Summary: In "Mother of the Bride," Brooke Shields stars as Lana Winslow, the mother of the bride-to-be and lifestyle influencer Emma Winslow (Miranda Cosgrove). As part of Emma's six-figure sponsorship deal, she and her fiancΓ© RJ (Sean Teale) head to Thailand for their wedding ceremony

The milestone event becomes complicated when Lana learns that RJ's father is Will Jackson (Benjamin Bratt), her college boyfriend who broke her heart.

Critics said the film ticked off the boxes of a typical rom-com but recycled the genre's familiar tropes without adding anything memorable. Even a cast of seasoned actors like Shields and Bratt couldn't do much for the underdeveloped, dull characters.

"No matter how contrived this premise may feel, 'Mother of the Bride' skids off into its many equally predictable subplots with abandon, despite none being staged with the kind of charm required for us to forgive their inevitability," Manuel Betancourt wrote for The A.V. Club.

9. Lindsay Lohan's latest holiday rom-com "Our Little Secret" disappointed critics.
Ian Harding as Logan, Lindsay Lohan as Avery, and Jon Rudnitsky as Cameron in "Our Little Secret."
Ian Harding as Logan, Lindsay Lohan as Avery, and Jon Rudnitsky as Cameron in "Our Little Secret."

Bob Mahoney/Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 35%

Summary: "Our Little Secret" stars Lohan and "Pretty Little Liars" actor Ian Harding as exes Avery and Logan, respectively, who unexpectedly spend the holidays together because their new partners are siblings.

Avery and Logan try to keep their past relationship a secret, but when they reconnect, they realize that they may be more compatible now than they were 10 years ago when they broke up.

Critics felt that Lohan, who carved out a space for herself as Netflix's latest rom-com queen, and Kristin Chenoweth, who plays the fiery potential mother-in-law, stood out in the cast. Overall, though, the movie fell short of expectations.

"The screenplay, from Hailey DeDominicis, lacks the vibrancy you expect from a lighthearted holiday movie," Emily Zemler wrote for . "Sure, there are a few genuine emotional moments and Lohan aptly gives Avery as much dimension as possible, but there's only so much she and Chenoweth can do to liven things up."

8. Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron's combined star power wasn't enough to save "A Family Affair."
"Nicole Kidman as Brooke Harwood, Joey King as Zara Ford, and Zac Efron as Chris Cole in "A Family Affair."
Nicole Kidman as Brooke Harwood, Joey King as Zara Ford, and Zac Efron as Chris Cole in "A Family Affair.

Tina Rowden/Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 36%

Summary: Personal assistant Zara Ford's (Joey King) dynamic with her self-absorbed, high-maintenance movie star boss Chris Cole (Zac Efron) becomes complicated when he starts dating her mom, a writer and widow named Brooke Harwood (Nicole Kidman).

Although some critics said the movie had a few redeeming qualities, "A Family Affair" was largely deemed a dud and devoid of the chemistry Kidman and Efron shared when they last played romantic interests in the 2012 film "The Paperboy."

"Despite a starry cast and endearing performance from Joey King, 'A Family Affair' is as messy as the conflicting professional and personal relationships it depicts," Hanna Ines Flint wrote for IGN. "A convoluted and superficial script and yawning direction fail to deliver character stakes worth getting behind."

7. "Lonely Planet" was heavy on gorgeous scenery but low on chemistry.
Laura Dern and Liam Hemsworth in "Lonely Planet"
Laura Dern and Liam Hemsworth in "Lonely Planet"

Hilary Bronwyn Gayle/Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 41%

Summary: "Lonely Planet," written and directed by Susannah Grant, follows a reclusive novelist named Katherine (Laura Dern) who goes to Morocco for a writers' retreat.

Katherine, who's older than the other retreat attendees, just wants a quiet place to snap out of her writer's block and has no interest in participating in group activities. But while there, she develops a connection with Owen (Liam Hemsworth), a man in finance who's at the retreat with his girlfriend Lily (Diana Silvers). As Owen's relationship with Lily falters, he and Catherine get swept up in an age-gap affair.

The movie β€” which falls more into the romantic drama category than the rom-com group β€” doesn't generate enough steam between the two main characters or tell a memorable story.

"If the Netflix romance depicts a once-in-a-lifetime encounter, the experience of actually watching it is decidedly more mundane," Angie Han wrote for The Hollywood Reporter. "Neither dull enough to be painful nor fun enough to be engaging, it's simply too bland to make much of an impression at all."

6. "Irish Wish" was charming and watchable.
Ed Speleers as James Thomas and Lindsay Lohan as Maddie Kelly in "Irish Wish."
Ed Speleers as James Thomas and Lindsay Lohan as Maddie Kelly in "Irish Wish."

Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 42%

Summary: Lohan stars as a book editor named Maddie Kelly who is in love with Paul Kennedy (Alexander Vlahos), an author she's worked with for years. Before Maddie can tell Paul how she feels about him, Paul falls in love with her best friend, Emma (Elizabeth Tan) and they get engaged.

When the trio head to Ireland for Paul and Emma's wedding, Maddie makes a wish on an ancient stone and wakes up as Paul's bride-to-be.

Critics said that Lohan's chemistry with Ed Speelers, who plays the photographer that audiences know Maddie is bound to actually fall in love with, made the movie enjoyable amid its clichΓ©s.

"The movie is as frothy as the foam on a pint of Guinness, as formulaic as the last disposable Netflix rom-com," Owen Gleiberman wrote for Variety. "Yet these two make you believe that they belong together, and not every romantic comedy does that."

5. "Find Me Falling" failed to balance its romantic tone with serious subject matter.
Agni Scott as Sia and Harry Connick Jr. as John in "Find Me Falling."
Agni Scott as Sia and Harry Connick Jr. as John in "Find Me Falling."

Pavlos Vrionides/Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 43%

Summary: In "Find Me Falling," real-life musician Harry Connick Jr. plays John Allman, a rock star in a career slump. So, he moves to a home in Cyprus with a picturesque view to take a break from his career. Unbeknownst to John, he got a good deal on the property because the cliff-side area is known as a "suicide hot spot."

As fate would have it, he bumps into an old flame named Sia (Agni Scott), who he met years prior and inspired his most popular love song.

Critics said that one of the film's biggest flaws was its mishandling of the subject matter.

"The subplot about suicide just outside John's doorstep feels strangely glib, dampening the mood of this escapist rom-com from the jump: the movie is called 'Find Me Falling after all," Monica Castillo wrote for RogerEbert.com, adding that this aspect of the plot is "played for laughs" at times.

4. Netflix's PG holiday riff on "Magic Mike," titled "The Merry Gentleman," didn't sizzle enough.
Chad Michael Murray in the Netflix movie "The Merry Gentlemen"
Chad Michael Murray in "The Merry Gentlemen."

Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 44%

Summary: After a Broadway dancer named Ashley Davis (Britt Robertson) is replaced by a younger performer, she returns home for the holidays. When she learns that her parents' venue, The Rhythm Room, is in danger of shutting down due to overdue bills, Ashley concocts a plan to bring in money and save it before Christmas: an all-male revue called "The Merry Gentleman."

Along the way, she develops feelings for Luke (Chad Michael Murray), an attractive local carpenter and handyman who reluctantly agrees to participate in the show.

Critics said the film was formulaic with little excitement to offer audiences beyond the male characters baring their abs while dancing shirtless onstage.

"Murray and Robertson feel tired as leads, and while Murray is making it work onstage, the more conventional scenes all feel like they're missing some holiday spice (among other things)," Samantha Bergeson wrote for IndieWire.

3. Gina Rodriguez anchored the flawed but serviceable rom-com "Players."
Gina Rodriguez and Damon Wayans Jr. in "Players."
Gina Rodriguez and Damon Wayans Jr. in "Players."

K.C. Bailey / Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 53%

Summary: "Jane the Virgin" star Gina Rodriguez plays Mack, a 33-year-old sportswriter who has spent years creating successful hookup schemes as part of a playbook with her friends. When she sets her sights on Nick Russell (Tom Ellis), a war reporter and eligible bachelor, Mack and her crew devise a plan to reel him in. As Mack starts falling for Nick, she realizes that she wants a serious relationship.

Critics had mixed feelings on "Players," but many agreed that Rodriguez's charm, along with other winning components, made the film worth watching.

"It's not reaching for unique twists or spectacular splashes. It's not trying to reinvent, reimagine, or re-do anything about the pursuit of love," Lovia Gyarkye wrote for The Hollywood Reporter. "No, it's trying to win you over with the basics: attractive leads with chemistry, a bit of triangular tension, a gallery of witty friends, and a lesson tucked into a heartwarming story."

2. "Meet Me Next Christmas" was a breezy and entertaining holiday film.
Devale Ellis, Christina Milian in "Meet Me Next Christmas"
Devale Ellis as Teddy and Christina Milian as Layla in "Meet Me Next Christmas."

Sophie Giraud/Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 69%

Summary: In "Meet Me Next Christmas," Christina Milian stars as Layla, a woman who has a magical encounter with a man named James (Kofi Siriboe) at an airport lounge.

The pair make a deal to meet up again next Christmas at the concert of the a cappella group Pentatonix, but when the time comes, Layla's dismayed to learn that tickets are all sold out. Determined to reconnect with her dream guy, Layla taps a concierge service to help her get a coveted ticket to the show.

But along the way, Layla finds herself torn by her feelings for James and Teddy (Devale Ellis), her concierge.

Critics said that "Meet Me Next Christmas" contained familiar rom-com tropes, but it was an enjoyable watch.

"While it certainly isn't breaking new ground in any capacity, the movie is a feel-good moment that gets us into the holiday spirit," Ben Gibbons wrote for Screen Rant.

1. The premise of "Hot Frosty" was so silly that it worked.
Dustin Milligan as Jack Snowman and Lacey Chabert as Kathy Barrett in "Hot Frosty."
Dustin Milligan as Jack Snowman and Lacey Chabert as Kathy Barrett in "Hot Frosty."

Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 76%

Summary: "Hot Frosty" centers on Kathy Barrett (Lacey Chabert), a woman who magically brings a snowman to life two years after her husband's death. As Kathy helps the snowman-turned-human named Jack Snowman (Dustin Milligan) acclimate to real life, she finds herself laughing and falling in love again β€”Β and desperate to save him from melting.

Even with an absurdly goofy plot, "Hot Frosty" delighted critics.

"It's cheap and it's silly and it has a laughable premise that some people will mistake for terribleness. But it's also winking and whimsical. It knows what it's doing and it's doing it on purpose. Somehow it actually kind of works," William Bibbiani wrote for The Wrap.

Read the original article on Business Insider

THEN AND NOW: The cast of 'You've Got Mail' 26 years later

Composite image of a close-up of Meg Ryan smiling in "You've Got Mail" and Meg Ryan wearing a sparkly gown against a red and yellow background at the Vanity Fair Oscars Party
"You've Got Mail" debuted in 1998.

Warner Bros. Pictures; Michael Tran/Getty Images

  • The "You've Got Mail" cast has been in many projects since the rom-com premiered 26 years ago.
  • Tom Hanks has since held roles in films like "Elvis" (2022) and "A Man Called Otto" (2022).
  • Meg Ryan has starred in a range of films and made her directorial debut in 2015 with "Ithaca."

"You've Got Mail" may have premiered over 25 years ago, but it's still a favorite movie among fans of rom-coms and 90s classics.

The film, which was directed by Nora Ephron, starred Meg Ryan as a struggling bookseller who develops an online friendship-turned-romance with an anonymous internet user. Unbeknownst to her, she's actually messaging her nemesis, the owner of a chain bookstore, played by Tom Hanks.Β 

Here's what the "You've Got Mail" cast has been up to since the movie hit theaters in 1998.

Hanks starred as Joe Fox, a New York businessman who opens a chain bookstore.
tom hanks you've got mail
Tom Hanks in "You've Got Mail."

Warner Bros.

In "You've Got Mail," Hanks' character, Joe, is a third-generation businessman who opens a commercial chain bookstore called Fox Books on Manhattan's Upper West Side.

By the time Hanks β€” one of America's favorite actors β€” landed the part, he had been appearing in movies and TV for nearly 20 years, beginning with roles in sitcoms like ABC's "Bosom Buddies" and NBC's "Family Ties."

In the 1990s, Hanks impressively earned two consecutive Oscars for his performances in the dramas "Philadelphia" (1993) and "Forrest Gump" (1994), which was based on Winston Groom's novel of the same name.

He also received best actor award nominations for "Big" (1988) and "Saving Private Ryan" (1998).

In addition to appearing in the baseball film "A League of Their Own" (1992) and the NASA biopic "Apollo 13" (1995), Hanks was in "Sleepless in Seattle" (1993), another iconic Ephron rom-com in which he starred opposite Ryan.

Additionally, he voiced Woody, a Wild West action figure, in Pixar's "Toy Story" (1995).

Hanks has portrayed an impressive range of real and fictional characters.
Close-up of Tom Hanks wearing a black suit and smiling at the 2023 MusiCares Persons of the Year gala
Tom Hanks attended the 2023 MusiCares Persons of the Year gala in Los Angeles in 2023.

Frederic J. Brown

Following "You've Got Mail," Hanks had starring roles in late-1990s and early-2000s hits such as "The Green Mile" (1999), "Cast Away" (2000), and "Catch Me If You Can" (2002).Β 

He also lent his voice to the conductor in "The Polar Express" (2004) and reprised his role as Woody in all the "Toy Story" sequels, most recently "Toy Story 4" (2019).Β 

Hanks has notably portrayed a number of real-life figures on the screen, too.

He played Walt Disney in "Saving Mr. Banks" (2013), pilot Chesley Sullenberger in "Sully" (2016), Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee in "The Post" (2017), and Fred Rogers in "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood" (2019), which scored him an Academy Award nomination.

He also held roles in the Apple TV+ war drama "Greyhound" (2020) and Amazon's "Borat Subsequent Moviefilm" (2020).Β 

His most recent projects include "Elvis" (2022), Disney's live-action "Pinocchio" (2022), "A Man Called Otto" (2022), and "The Bloody Hundredth" (2024).Β 

Ryan played Kathleen Kelly, a children's bookstore owner who unknowingly starts an epistolary romance with Joe.
meg ryan you've got mail
Meg Ryan in "You've Got Mail."

Warner Bros.

Ryan played Kathleen, the owner of an independent children's bookstore called The Shop Around the Corner. After joining an over-30 chat room online, Kathleen unknowingly starts an epistolary romance with Joe, her business rival.Β 

Like Hanks, Ryan began professionally acting in the early 1980s.

Some of her first credits include lead roles in the long-running CBS soap opera "As the World Turns" β€” her character, Betsy Stewart, was a fan favorite whose on-screen wedding garnered 20 million viewers β€” and in the Western ABC series "Wildside."

Leaving TV for Hollywood, Ryan had a supporting part in "Top Gun" (1986) as Nick "Goose" Bradshaw's wife, Carole. But it was her roles in romantic comedies that earned her a reputation as "America's sweetheart."Β 

Opposite Billy Crystal, she charmed viewers in Rob Reiner's friends-to-lovers romance "When Harry Met Sally…" (1989). In "Sleepless in Seattle," she played a journalist who falls for a single dad (Hanks) after his young son calls into a radio talk show.

Ryan went on to star in the drama "When a Man Loves a Woman" (1994) and appeared opposite Nicolas Cage in the romantic fantasy "City of Angels" (1998).

She also provided the speaking voice for the title character in "Anastasia" (1997), the animated musicalΒ inspired by the Russian royal family.Β 

Ryan has since starred in commercial and independent movies and made her directorial debut.
Meg Ryan wearing a gray sweater and holding a microphone with one hand scratching the top of her head onstage
Meg Ryan received an award at the 30th Sarajevo Film Festival in August 2024.

Elvis Barukcic/Getty Images

In 2001, Ryan starred in "Kate and Leopold," a romantic drama that centers on a 19th-century duke (Hugh Jackman) who time-travels to present-day New York.

A few years later, she pivoted to roles in independent films such as "In the Land of Women" (2007) and "Serious Moonlight" (2009).

Ryan's projects in the 2010s have ranged from Lisa Kudrow's improvisational Showtime comedy series "Web Therapy" about a psychologist's teletherapy practice to the film "Fan Girl" (2015), which stars Kiernan Shipka as a teen who wants to make a movie about All Time Low, her favorite band.Β 

On top of making her directorial debut with "Ithaca" (2015), a drama based on William Saroyan's novel "The Human Comedy," she also starred in it alongside Hanks and her son, Jack Quaid.

She most recently directed and starred alongside David Duchovny in a romantic comedy called "What Happens Later" (2023).

Stand-up comedian Dave Chappelle portrayed Joe's best friend, Kevin Jackson.
Dave Chappelle in "You've Got Mail."
Dave Chappelle in "You've Got Mail."

Warner Bros.

Although better known as a comedian, Chappelle had several film credits to his name by the time he played Kevin, Joe's best friend and a store manager at Fox Books.

Chappelle was in Mel Brooks' musical parody "Robin Hood: Men in Tights" (1993) and the 1996 remake of the sci-fi comedy "The Nutty Professor."

He also appeared in the action-thriller "Con Air" (1997).Β 

Chappelle's comedy career took off in the 2000s with stand-up specials and his own show.
Dave Chappelle wearing a suit and speaking onstage at the dedication of the theater at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC
Dave Chappelle spoke at the dedication of the theater at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, in 2022.

Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/Getty Images

Chappelle recorded his first hourlong HBO stand-up special, "Dave Chappelle: Killin' Them Softly," in 2000.

Three years later, he launched "Chappelle's Show," a weekly sketch series on Comedy Central that aired until 2006.Β 

In addition to touring his stand-up act around the country, he has earned three consecutive Grammy awards for best comedy album.Β 

Although mainly focusing on stand-up, Chappelle still acts from time to time. He played Morris in Spike Lee's "Chi-Raq" (2015) and George "Noodles" Stone in "A Star is Born" (2018).Β 

In recent years, he has appeared in his own TV comedy specials.

Greg Kinnear played Frank Navasky, Kathleen's boyfriend and a journalist obsessed with analog technology.
Greg Kinnear you've got mail
Greg Kinnear in "You've Got Mail."

Warner Bros.

Kinnear played Kathleen's boyfriend, Frank, a New York Observer writer who loves analog technology, especially typewriters, and decries the computer revolution.Β 

Kinnear had a number of small parts in shows and in made-for-TV movies in the late 1980s before making his feature-film debut in the superhero parody "Blankman" (1994).

His first major role was in Sydney Pollack's remake of the romantic drama "Sabrina" (1995) opposite Harrison Ford and Julia Ormond.Β 

In 1997, he starred in "As Good as It Gets" as Simon Bishop, a painter who lives next door to a reclusive romance novelist (Jack Nicholson). Kinnear earned his first and only Oscar nomination to date for that performance.Β 

Kinnear has appeared in buzzy indie films like "Little Miss Sunshine" (2006) and several high-profile TV series.
greg kinnear
Greg Kinnear was in "Little Miss Sunshine."

Getty Images

Kinnear's biggest roles in the 2000s spanned from baseball coach Roy Bullock in Richard Linklater's remake of "Bad News Bears" (2005) to pageant dad Richard Hoover in the hit independent film "Little Miss Sunshine."

He also played Tina Fey's romantic interest in "Baby Mama" (2008).Β 

He also starred as Jack Kennedy in Reelz's "The Kennedys," played billionaire Bill Shepherd in season six of Netflix's "House of Cards," and made a cameo as himself in Netflix's "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt."

Additionally, he portrayed a young Joe Biden in "Confirmation" (2016), which chronicles Clarence Thomas' Supreme Court nomination hearings, and has starred in festival-favorite indies such as "Little Men" (2016) and "Brigsby Bear" (2017).Β 

Kinnear appeared in the thriller "Dreamland (2019)," costarring Armie Hammer, Gary Oldman, and Lily-Rose Depp. He also held roles in the Apple TV series "Black Bird" and season four of Netflix's "You."

Posey played Joe's girlfriend, a book editor named Patricia Eden.
Parker Posey you've got mail
Parker Posey in "You've Got Mail."

Warner Bros.

Posey played one of the most misunderstood characters in "You've Got Mail" β€” Patricia, a high-powered book editor who Joe dates for most of the movie.Β 

Despite coming off as aloof and self-absorbed, the ambitious Patricia offers to give Kathleen a job when The Shop Around the Corner is jeopardized by Fox Books.Β 

Posey gained name recognition in the 1990s from appearing in Richard Linklater's "Dazed and Confused" (1993), "Kicking and Screaming" (1995), and the cult classic "Party Girl" (1995).Β 

She also portrayed art dealer Mary Boone in the biopic "Basquiat" (1996) and starred in the mockumentary "Waiting for Guffman" (1997).Β 

In addition to acting in films, Posey has made guest appearances in shows like NBC's "Parks and Recreation" and Fox's "New Girl."
parker posey
Parker Posey plays June Harris in "Lost in Space."

Gary Miller/Getty Images

Posey's movie roles in the 2000s ranged from Fiona, a conspiracy-spouting record company executive, in "Josie and the Pussycats" (2001) to Kitty Kowalski, Lex Luthor's nurse and eventual girlfriend, in "Superman Returns" (2006).Β 

More recently, she appeared in Woody Allen's "CafΓ© Society" (2016), a romantic drama set in the 1930s, and "Columbus" (2017), filmmaker Kogonada's feature directorial debut.Β 

Posey also starred as June Harris, also known as Dr. Smith, in the Netflix sci-fi reboot "Lost in Space," which aired from 2018 to 2021.Β 

She has also played recurring parts in ABC's "Boston Legal," CBS' "The Good Wife," and TBS-HBO's "Search Party" in addition to making guest appearances on series like NBC's "Will and Grace," "Parks and Recreation," and "New Girl."

Posey also played Blair in AMC's "Tales of the Walking Dead" and is set to appear in season three of HBO Max's "The White Lotus."

Steve Zahn played George Pappas, an employee at The Shop Around the Corner.
Steve Zahn you've got mail
Steve Zahn in "You've Got Mail."

Warner Bros.

Zahn played goofy bookseller George in "You've Got Mail."Β 

Prior to acting on screen, Zahn cut his teeth onstage. In 1991, he helped form the Malaparte Theatre Company with Ethan Hawke and playwright Jonathan Marc Sherman. The collective focused on works about male anxiety.

In 1994, he appeared with Hawke in the cult classic "Reality Bites," a film focusing on recent college grads in Houston.

He also starred alongside Hanks in "That Thing You Do!" (1996), Hanks' directorial debut about a fictional 1960s band.

Zahn has played an eclectic range of characters in movies and TV.
Steve Zahn
Steve Zahn was in "Where'd You Go, Bernadette."

Bryan Bedder/Getty Images

Zahn provided the voice for the cat Monty in "Stuart Little" (1999), played Rosencrantz in Michael Almereyda's contemporary version of "Hamlet" (2000), and starred as Drew Barrymore's ex in the coming-of-age film "Riding in Cars with Boys" (2001).Β 

His movie roles in the 2010s have included parts in "Dallas Buyers Club" (2013), "Captain Fantastic" (2016), "Where'd You Go, Bernadette" (2019), and the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" film series, based on the books by Jeff Kinney.Β 

Also known for his work as a TV actor, Zahn starred in the New Orleans-set HBO drama "Treme" as Davis McAlary and in the ABC sci-fi thriller "The Crossing" as Jude Ellis.

Additionally, he played the Dunphys' neighbor, Ronnie, in ABC's "Modern Family."

Zahn also voiced an emotional support dog that helps an anxious preteen in Netflix's family comedy "The Healing Powers of Dude." Zahn appeared as Mark, a father with an inferiority complex, in season one of HBO Max's "The White Lotus" and most recently held a role in season two of the Apple TV+ show "Silo."

Heather Burns played Christina Plutzker, George's coworker.
Heather Burns you've got mail
Heather Burns in "You've Got Mail."

Warner Bros.

Burns played Christina Plutzker, George's droll coworker at the bookstore.

Before appearing in "You've Got Mail," Burns had small parts in NBC's "Law and Order" and ABC-Hulu's soap opera "One Life to Live."Β 

Burns is known for her role as Cheryl Frasier in "Miss Congeniality" (2000), which she reprised in the movie's sequel.
heather burns
Heather Burns was also in "Bewitched."

Bruce Glikas/Getty Images

Burns has acted in multiple films with Sandra Bullock, beginning with her performance as Miss Rhode Island, Cheryl, in "Miss Congeniality" and continuing with "Two Weeks Notice" (2002) and "Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous" (2005).

She is also known for her roles in "Bewitched" (2005) and "What's Your Number?" (2011).Β 

Burns also starred in the HBO comedy "Bored to Death" and the NBC sitcom "Save Me."

She also had recurring roles and guest parts in shows such as NBC's "Blindspot," Amazon's "Sneaky Pete," and Netflix's "The Politician."Β 

She appeared most recently in an episode of the timely Netflix anthology "Social Distance." Since then, she's held roles in the Paramount+ drama "The Good Fight" and HBO Max's "Julia."

Jean Stapleton began acting in movies in the 1950s and played Birdie Conrad, Kathleen's friend and bookkeeper.
Jean Stapleton you've got mail
Jean Stapleton in "You've Got Mail."

Warner Bros.

Stapleton played Birdie, the eccentric and sage bookkeeper at The Shop Around the Corner who Kathleen confides in about her personal life.Β 

Stapleton, who had a background in theater, began acting in movies and TV shows in the 1950s. Her first film role was in the musical "Damn Yankees" (1958).

She went on to star in "Up the Down Staircase" (1967), a drama based on the novel of the same name by Bel Kaufman.

She's perhaps best known for her role as matriarch Edith Bunker in the CBS sitcom "All in the Family," which earned her three Emmys.

Stapleton died in 2013 at age 90 after a long career.
jean stapleton
Jean Stapleton guest-starred in several famous sitcoms.

Ron Galella, Ltd./Getty Images

SheΒ  guest-starred in hit CBS series in the 1990s and early 2000s like "Murphy Brown," "Everybody Loves Raymond," and "Touched By an Angel."Β 

In 2013, Stapleton died of natural causes at age 90. Her final movies included the direct-to-video sequel "Pocahontas 2: Journey to a New World" (1998) and the rom-com "Pursuit of Happiness" (2001).

This story was originally published in December 2020 and most recently updated on December 18, 2024.

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Writer Richard Curtis on why Julia Roberts rejected a 'Notting Hill' sequel: 'A very poor idea'

Notting Hill
Julia Roberts in the classic romantic comedy.

Universal Pictures

  • Richard Curtis's idea for a second "Notting Hill" film was apparently shelved because of Julia Roberts.
  • Roberts is said to have disliked his idea for a follow-up film with a divorce plot.
  • "Julia thought that was a very poor idea," the "Love Actually" director told IndieWire.

The screenwriter behind the rom-com "Notting Hill" has opened up on why the classic movie has never got a sequel.

In an interview with IndieWire, Richard Curtis said that Julia Roberts was not a fan of his idea for a follow-up in which Roberts' and costar Hugh Grant's characters split up.

Asked if he would like to do any follow-ups to his past films, he said: "I tried doing one with 'Notting Hill' where they were going to get divorced, and Julia thought that was a very poor idea."

"I actually did four Red Nose Days and Comic Relief. We did those mini sequels to 'Love Actually,' and those satisfied me," he added.

A representative for Roberts did not respond to a request for comment sent by Business Insider.

In the 1999 film, Roberts plays a famous movie actor named Anna Scott.

Scott falls in love with William Thacker (played by Grant), the owner of a bookstore in the picturesque area of London from which the film takes its name.

notting hill
Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant in "Notting Hill."

Universal Pictures

While the paparazzi's fascination with Anna initially complicates their relationship, the film ends with the pair happily together and expecting a child.

When it was released in theaters over Memorial Day weekend in 1999, "Notting Hill" grossed around $21.8 million over three days, and $27.7 million over the long weekend, making it the biggest opening for a romantic comedy film at the time.

The movie, directed by the late Roger Michell, was nominated for best film in the comedy or musical genre at the Golden Globes, with Grant and Roberts also receiving individual nominations.

Curtis, whose new animated film "That Christmas" premieres on Netflix on December 4, suggested that even if Roberts was on board with a "Notting Hill" sequel, his focus was currently on branching out into new kinds of projects.

"I think oddly enough I'm keen at this stage in my career of doing new things as much as I can," he told IndieWire. "That's why it was great doing an animated film. I've made, I think, 17 films. It's quite hard for the 18th to be as different as this one is."

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