Netflix’s new original romantic comedy Resort to Love stars Christina Milian as Erica Wilson, a wedding singer who is unwittingly booked to perform at her former lover’s lavish tropical resort wedding. The gorgeous location of Port Louis, Mauritius is one of the most alluring and seductive aspects of the film, providing escapist summertime entertainment for viewers to kick back and enjoy the sandy beaches, beautiful sunsets, and surrounding scenery.
Resort to Love joins a long line of enchanting island-set romantic comedies, many of which have the same breezy, lighthearted tone and quasi-Hallmark quality. Be sure to book a trip to see these island-set rom-coms before the summer ends.
The Blue Lagoon is one of the most stunning, visually captivating island rom-coms produced in the last 40 years. Filmed in Fiji, Malta, and Vanuatu, the film tells an extremely earnest love story about two shipwrecked teens who grow up, become sexually enlightened, and evolve as loving partners and dedicated parents.
While the arresting scenery is the major draw, the material is handled with a deft, non-ironic touch that is devoid of cynicism. Some may call it sappy, but The Blue Lagoon remains one of the most soothing and sumptuous island rom-coms ever made.
Ibiza - Stream On Netflix
The Netflix original rom-com Ibiza is an ideal movie to play as a double feature alongside Resort to Love. The film stars Gillian Jacobs as Harper, a burned-out PR employee who is sent to Spain for an assignment, where she chases a DJ named Leo (Richard Madden) to the island of Ibiza with her two best friends.
Aside from the scenery and crackling chemistry between Jacobs and Madden, the film’s enjoyment comes from subverting the typical raunchy girls-gone-wild subgenre and becomes a far sweeter, funnier, and affecting tale of friendship, maturation, and heartfelt romance.
Couples Retreat - Stream On Sling
Old pals Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn reteam for a sun-dappled romantic getaway in Couples Retreat, a movie that relies on their combustible comedic chemistry opposite Malin Akerman and Kristen Davis to work its escapist movie magic.
Set at a luxury resort in Bora Bora, four couples travel to the island to bolster their romantic bonds. However, one disaster after another ensues when the resort turns out to be a mandatory therapeutic retreat for troubled couples. The film has a lot of hilarious dialogue to go with a loose and laid-back island vibe and a decent commentary on not taking a romantic loved one for granted no matter the location.
Six Days Seven Nights - Stream On Max Go
Due to the lighthearted directorial touch of Ivan Reitman and the scintillating onscreen rapport of stars Harrison Ford and Anne Heche, Six Days Seven Nights is an infectious guilty-pleasure island rom-com. Heche plays Robin, a pampered NY magazine editor who crashes on a deserted island along with her crabby pilot Quinn (Ford).
Each with their own significant other left behind to worry about their survival, Quinn and Robin must overcome their seething hatred of one another to work together, stay safe, and find a way off the island. Along the way, they slowly fall for each other in a series of hilarious misadventures. Shot on the island of Kaua’i, the film has stunning vistas to go with two fantastic lead performances.
Mamma Mia! - Stream On Peacock
Campy as can be by design, Mamma Mia! is one long delightful roll in the Greek island sun. The Abba-inspired musical is full of sunshine and bright vibrant colors as Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) vows to identify her biological father ahead of her oceanside wedding to the dashing Sky (Dominic Cooper).
A joyous celebration of life, love, and family, the musical rom-com is almost impossible to not leave a smile on the face of viewers after two hours of neverending singing, dancing, cavorting in the surf, and more. A huge part of the appeal comes from the natural chemistry of Seyfried and Cooper, who dated in real life after meeting on the set.
The Beach - Stream On Starz
While Danny Boyle’s The Beach is far more than a romantic comedy as the core of the film revolves around Richard’s (Leonardo DiCaprio) love of the hidden island location itself, as well as the romance he forges with French traveler Francoise (Virginie Ledoyen).
Filmed on the intoxicating Ko Phi Phi Leh Island off the coast of Thailand, Richard finds himself belonging to a hidden commune of self-sufficient searchers and spiritualists who have forged a home on the hidden island. Richard’s lust for life and exploration of nature’s beauty is even more profound than his steamy romance with Francoise.
50 First Dates - Stream ON AMC+
Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore play an adorable couple in 50 First Dates, a sweet-spirited com-com in which the great state of Hawaii plays a major character. With hilarious cameos, a leisurely vacation vibe, and an emotionally touching finale, the film is an ideal cinematic getaway for Resort to Love fans.
When the commitment-phobe bachelor Henry (Sandler) meets the charming Lucy (Barrymore), he thinks he’s found an ideal match until he discovers she has short-term memory loss and forgets him each day. Working hard to stay in her mind and heart, the two form a really tender romance that’s hard not to be smitten with.
Forgetting Sarah Marshall - Stream On Starz
With a magnetic performance by Mila Kunis, Forgetting Sarah Marshall is one of the most gratifying island rom-coms in recent memory. Set in picturesque Hawaii, the film is very similar to Resort to Love in that both feature a main character who runs into their ex while on a tropical vacation. Moreover, both protagonists are musicians at heart.
After being left by his lover, Peter (Jason Segel) ventures to Hawaii to cheer himself up. However, he immediately spots his ex Sarah (Kristen Bell) and her obnoxious new beau (Russell Brand) in the same hotel he’s staying at, prompting him to confront his past while looking forward to the future with Rachel (Kunis), a hotel employee who is much cooler than Sarah ever was.
The Way Way Back - Rent On Apple TV
Since Cape Cod is technically an island, the superb and accurate coming-of-age rom-com The Way Way Back is a worthy movie to watch alongside Resort to Love. The story traces Duncan (Liam James), a 14-year-old sent to live with his mother and mean boyfriend for the summer on Cape Cod.
Unhappy at first, Duncan finds a purpose by working at the local water park, where he makes a romantic bond with the much cooler Susanna (AnnaSophia Robb). The aching adolescent angst and a nostalgic glimpse at teenage first-love are as compelling as can be, offering summertime hijinks and sunny shenanigans in the process.
Your Sister’s Sister - Stream On Fubo TV
While it doesn’t have quite the same level of sunshine and sandy beaches, Your Sister’s Sister is still an absolute must-see romantic comedy set on the San Juan Islands off the coast of Washington. The story follows Jack (Mark Duplass), a man reeling over his brother’s death who is invited to stay at his friend Iris’s (Emily Blunt) family island hideout.
Upon arrival, Jack soon meets and falls for Iris’ sister, Hannah (Rosemarie DeWitt), who has already moved into the cottage to get over her recent break-up. An original and refreshing spin on an age-old formula will have fans returning time and again.
