In an age of algorithm-built romances and cookie-cutter meet-cutes, one 36-year-old film still outshines the streaming giants. Charming, funny, and impossibly human, this timeless classic reminds us what a romantic comedy can truly be—and you can watch it for free right now.

Has streaming killed the romcom?

Let’s be honest: who doesn’t love a good romantic comedy? There’s something comforting about watching two people fumble their way toward love—often under a downpour, often to the soundtrack of an 80s ballad. But somewhere along the road to endless streaming content, the genre seems to have lost its heart.

Netflix and Prime Video churn out hundreds of romcoms a year, yet few manage to deliver the spark that once defined the genre. The latest offerings too often feel like reheated leftovers—predictable plots, cardboard characters, and lines so clunky they almost beg for a laugh track.

Take “The Kissing Booth” trilogy, for example—sweet in theory, exasperating in practice. Or Prime’s “Maintenance Required”, where a garage owner unknowingly falls for her online rival. It’s a fun premise, but the execution runs on autopilot. The “enemies to lovers” formula can still work (just ask You’ve Got Mail), but it needs wit, not wires.

These modern romances feel like they’ve been assembled by spreadsheet, not screenwriters. And yet, amidst all that digital noise, one film from 1989 continues to show them all how it’s done.

Thirty-six years of perfection: When Harry Met Sally

When “When Harry Met Sally” arrived in cinemas, it didn’t just charm audiences—it redefined what a romantic comedy could be. Directed by Rob Reiner and written by the brilliant Nora Ephron, it tackled a question that’s still debated over dinner tables: can men and women ever be just friends?

Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan play that question to perfection. Their chemistry is effortless, their banter razor-sharp, and their friendship maddeningly believable. You can’t help but root for them even as they frustrate each other (and us). The film’s humour feels lived-in, its dialogue natural, its heart utterly sincere.

And of course, there’s that restaurant scene—probably one of the most iconic moments in cinema history. Decades later, it still earns a laugh and a knowing nod. Few films manage to be both hilarious and genuinely moving, but “When Harry Met Sally” pulls it off with ease.

Why it still matters today

More than three decades on, the film hasn’t aged a day. Its sharp writing and emotional honesty feel almost revolutionary compared to today’s formulaic streaming fare. It’s no wonder the American Film Institute named it one of the greatest love stories of all time.

Watching it now feels like rediscovering what the genre was meant to be: intelligent, funny, and anchored by characters who feel real. These aren’t manic pixie dream girls or brooding entrepreneurs—they’re flawed, funny adults trying (and failing) to make love work. And isn’t that what makes it relatable?

Where to watch?

“When Harry Met Sally” is currently available to stream for free on both Amazon Prime and Netflix, somewhat ironically.

So, the next time Netflix recommends another self-produced paint-by-numbers romcom, skip it. Pour a glass of wine, settle into the sofa, and let Harry and Sally remind you how it’s really done. After all, 36 years on, this little film still beats the best that streaming has to offer—and that’s no minor miracle.