The 20 Best Wedding Movies, Ranked

Church bells are ringing, the choir's singing, and your true love is walking down the aisle. One of the happiest — but most stressful — days of every couple's lives has been great fodder for filmmakers for decades. Whether they're watching Audrey Hepburn's charm and beauty threaten William Holden's nuptials, Andi MacDowell and Hugh Grant attend multiple weddings (and one funeral), or Andy Samberg relive the same ceremony over and over again, viewers young and old alike love to laugh and cry at wedding movies.

These movies' success comes down to flexibility; there are countless narrative possibilities associated with a momentous occasion like a wedding. While we watch a couple commit to until-death-do-us-part, the screen can radiate immense love and joy, or immediate dread and regret. Laughter can fill a banquet hall just as easily as the sound of a jilted lover's tears. So, dust off that tuxedo and puff up that bridesmaid dress, because here are our picks for the 20 best wedding movies.

Another film that could only be made during the '00s! "Bride Wars" stars Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway, who show us the lowest lows of female friendships and a woman's seemingly singular obsession over having the "perfect" wedding. As Olivia Lerner and Emma Allan, Hudson and Hathaway play two life-long best friends who become engaged a day apart and, because of an error, schedule their weddings for the same day at New York City's famed Plaza Hotel. Before long, Liv and Emma declare nuptial war on one another.

"Bride Wars" wasn't received well when it was released in 200, and it hasn't aged any better in the last decade-plus. Personally, though, while I wouldn't put "Bride Wars" on my all-time best-of list, I respect it for unashamedly depicting the nonsensical chaos that arises from such an auspicious event. While the film naturally plays everything to an extreme, "Bride Wars" has a (however misguided) pulse on how weddings have evolved from loving celebrations to days of superficial one-upmanship.

"The Proposal" puts a spin on the traditional "green card bride" trope. Sandra Bullock's Margaret Tate, a high-powered Canadian working at a New York publishing company, faces deportation and forces her assistant Andrew Paxton (the ever-quippy Ryan Reynolds) to marry her. Sensing that their marriage is a fraud, the immigration agent assigned to Margaret tells them that they will be interviewed separately, and will need to provide matching answers to prove their marriage is the real deal. (I can only assume that all U.S. immigration issues are resolved via "The Newlywed Game.")

As Margaret and Andrew get to know each other better in order to evade permanent deportation and imprisonment, they inevitably fall in love. "The Proposal" doesn't stretch the formula much, if at all, but the chemistry between Bullock and Reynolds is palpable. While that's not surprising given both actors' inherent charm, their pairing is as goofy and lovable as you'd expect. Admittedly, the script doesn't give them much to work with, but it's a testament to Reynolds and Bullock's comedic chops that they're able to create entertaining moments and anchor the film even when it's a bit rudderless.

In addition to being a cultural moment for Asian-American cinema and a big reason why Academy Award winner Ke Huy Quan returned to acting, "Crazy Rich Asians" includes one of the most breathtaking wedding scenes in recent memory. When Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) travels to Singapore for her boyfriend Nick's (Henry Golding) best friend's wedding, she faces both culture shock and an intimidating family, led by the matriarch Eleanor (Michelle Yeoh). However, perhaps the most surprising discovery of her trip is that Nick comes from an extremely wealthy family.

As such, Nick's social circle runs on the affluent side, resulting in one of the most over-the-top, yet somehow elegant, wedding ceremonies ever put to film. As Kina Grannis sings Elvis Presley's timeless "Can't Help Falling In Love," three adorable children begin the procession, serving as the flower girls and page boy. As the lyrics "Like a river flows..." sound out, a stream of water slowly fills the aisle, lined with lush foliage. The bride makes her way towards her betrothed, and the guests gently wave ornamental fireflies, enveloping her in a twilight-like glow. Considering that the happy couple aren't even the film's main characters, the amount of detail put into this scene is extraordinary.

Count me as one of those '90s kids who wasn't that into Adam Sandler. His humor wasn't my cup of tea, and preteen me just didn't see the appeal. Leave it to Drew Barrymore to bring out a side of Sandler we hadn't seen yet, one that I found far less grating. "The Wedding Singer" did away with Sandler's usual daft screen persona and replaced it with the more mature, softer, and romantic Robbie Hart, a New Jersey-based wedding singer.

After being jilted at the altar, Robbie combats his growing depression — and his feelings for his engaged friend Julia (Barrymore) — by only pursuing superficial relationships with women. After realizing that discontentment comes along with these hookups, Robbie throws caution to the wind and declares his love to Julia. "The Wedding Singer" set Sander on a new path, one that would ultimately result in the sort of critical acclaim and awards season consideration that seemed out of reach at the beginning of his career. As Robbie, Sandler revealed a range and vulnerability that he continued to finesse in Paul Thomas Anderson's "Punch-Drunk Love" and later projects.

No list of wedding movies is complete without a visit from John (Owen Wilson) and Jeremy (Vince Vaughn). A film that has only grown in popularity since its 2005 release, "Wedding Crashers" is an R-rated comedy led by the two aforementioned funny men, with a terrific supporting cast that includes Rachel McAdams, Isla Fisher, Bradley Cooper, Jane Seymour, and the always remarkable Christopher Walken.

John and Jeremy are divorce mediators who moonlight as professional wedding crashers in order to hook up with women. McAdams and Fisher play the sisters-of-the-bride who John and Jeremy set their sights on, only to end up with more than they bargained for as the two develop genuine feelings. The film is filled with the type of debauchery you normally associate with a raunchy comedy, but it's balanced with some truly heartfelt moments. Vaughn delivers a great performance, bringing heart and soul to an otherwise bawdy film. As is typical of comedies from this time, some of the jokes haven't aged well, but the bromantic sentiments continue to entertain.

Just when you thought time loops couldn't get any better, director Max Barbakow and writer Andy Siara give us a fresh take. Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti play Nyles and Sarah, respectively, two guests who get caught in a time loop while attending a wedding. "Palm Springs" follows the duo's attempts to make the best of a bad situation and their eventual efforts to escape the cycle.

Samberg has continued to impress since his "Saturday Night Live" days. He's a comedic actor with a good dramatic range, lending his boyish and earnest looks to touching performances. "Palm Springs" explores the existential dread that comes with perpetually living the same day, as Nyles and Sarah have very different responses to their shared predicament. The film has plenty of humor, too, especially with the introduction of J.K. Simmons' character, who Nyles accidentally brought into the loop and who takes every opportunity to murder him by way of thanks. But even with Roy's psychopathic bent, a heartfelt moment grounds the film, making it a well-rounded comedy with a heart of gold.

As far as dramatic wedding films go, "The Best Man" is right up there with the best of them. When Harper's (Taye Diggs) friends read his debut novel — which is based on them — his best friend Lance (Morris Chestnut) discovers that Harper and Lance's soon-to-be wife had a one-night stand in college. That's already enough drama to go around, but it's compounded by the fact that the discovery is made at Lance's bachelor party, the night before his wedding. Throw in a tense confrontation during which Lance almost throws Harper off a balcony, and we've got a show.

Where "The Best Man" excels, though, isn't in its drama, but rather its humor and heartfelt displays of love. Chestnut and Diggs both offer solid turns along with breakout performances from Regina Hall and Terrence Howard. Really, the film's entire ensemble delivers a tightly-knit and layered story that delves into fidelity and friendship and their complexities. The movie also happens to have an incredible soundtrack that includes the vastly underrated song "The Best Man I Can Be" by Ginuwine, RL, Tyrese, and Case.

"The Graduate" was Dustin Hoffman's breakout film, earned him his first Academy Award nomination, and kicked off his legendary career. Hoffman stars in the film as Benjamin Braddock, a recent college graduate who begins a tryst Mrs. Robinson (the undeniable Anne Bancroft), he wife of his father's law partner. A love triangle soon develops as Mrs. Robinson's daughter, Elaine (Katharine Ross), becomes involved with Benjamin, unaware of his affair with her mother. The complicated and torrid love affairs come to a head at Elaine's wedding, and the film concludes with one of cinema's most memorable final shots.

Part of the enduring appeal of "The Graduate" is how the film has aged. Initially a movie that spotlighted youthful indiscretion and the wide-eyed possibilities of life post-college, Mrs. Robinson has been examined through a feminist lens in the years since the movie's release, lending more sympathy to her plight. "The Graduate" continues to be a solid piece of filmmaking with excellent performances that defies generations — a true American classic.

A classic of British cinema and the first collaboration between Richard Curtis and Hugh Grant, "Four Weddings and a Funeral" is an ensemble film following a group of friends over the course of just over a year as they attend wedding after wedding and, unfortunately, one funeral. Hearts are broken, friendships are challenged, and love is found throughout the film, which has all the hallmarks of Curtis' magic on full display.

There's a lot to love about "Four Weddings and a Funeral." It's irresistibly charming and humorous in the most British way possible. What has endured for almost 30 years, though, is Grant's floppy, awkward, and entirely endearing performance, which would carry his success through the decades. His chemistry with Andi MacDowell is a casting director's dream, and their banter flows like balletic choreography — in fact, the entire cast comes together like lightning in a bottle. Considered one of the very best rom-coms, British films, and '90s movies, "Four Weddings and a Funeral" earns its reputation on every re-watch.

Often imitated, never duplicated, "My Best Friend's Wedding" didn't originate the idea of an envious ex trying to ruin a wedding, but it certainly refined it. As Julianne, Julia Roberts uses her irrepressible charm to win back her former lover Michael (Dermot Mulroney) as he prepares to marry Kimmy (an infectiously delightful Cameron Diaz). It's a relatively simple concept, but the chemistry among the ensemble (which also includes the ever-so-suave Rupert Everett) elevates what could have been another pedestrian rom-com.

"My Best Friend's Wedding" gives us the best a wedding-oriented rom-com has to offer – ironically, without showing an actual wedding. From the opening musical number to the joyous singalong of "Say a Little Prayer," P.J. Hogan's '90s classic isn't short on memorable moments. The film also beautifully shows off Chicago, taking us on a trip to Comiskey Park (as it was then known) and through the city's romantic canals. It would've been easy for the film to turn into a superficial catfight between Julianne and Kimmy. Instead, thanks to Ronald Bass' solid script, "My Best Friend's Wedding" is a joyous, funny, and sentimental movie that celebrates why we love love.