The power of a romcom cannot be underestimated. I’m truly a believer in their superpowers. Whether it’s a timeless classic or a modern romance, I’ve been obsessed with romcoms since I was a young kid trying to make sense of a first crush. When teenage boys were inconsistent and confusing, romcoms were a stable and reliable source of comfort. And not much has changed over 15 years later.

If anything, they’ve become an even bigger presence throughout my late 20s and are one of the main reasons why I’ve been called a hopeless romantic, a badge I wear with honour. I mean, I’ve probably watched The Proposal over 50 times at this point and I shed a tear every time.

Although romcoms tend to get a bad reputation for how they idealise dating and relationships or aren’t ‘real’, I think many of us find joy and happiness in their stories. Besides, these films can help us to navigate the messy world of breakups.

Having your heart broken sucks hard and yes, you can take the usual steps of trying to heal and move on, but I’ve found that pressing play on my favourite romcoms has sometimes done more for my heart than talking things through or blocking an ex on social media. Even better if a few friends come round for a romcom marathon. A solid communal cry while watching To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before or A Cinderella Story is my own personal formula for fixing a broken heart – and it seems I’m not the only one.

New research from Costa Coffee has shown that 62% of Brits agree that a romcom can have a positive impact on a breakup, 42% felt inspired to break away from a negative relationship after watching a romcom and 54% claimed that the themes of a romcom have made them feel like they should be exploring more in their own lives.

Interestingly, almost half of the people surveyed said that the main character in a romcom made them feel that they should be moving onto something better, too.

A friend of mine, Georgia, always tells us how Legally Blonde is her go-to romcom because Reese Witherspoon’s Elle Woods taught her the value of self-confidence and prioritising yourself. This was a film she turned to yet again recently after going through a particularly painful breakup.

Another friend holds Someone Great close to her heart, as watching Gina Rodriguez’s character process her breakup and embrace single life helped her navigate her own heartbreak. For me, that’s what Hilary Duff’s character in A Cinderella Story does every single time I watch it, even if she does have a romantic happy ending.

But what is it about a romcom that makes them such a joy and a comfort? Costa Coffee’s research found that the best elements of a romcom are the humour (38%), the resolution of a happy ending (22%) and watching the personal journey of a character (17%). We love to watch them again and again largely due to their ability to get us laughing again (48%), the escapism (45%), being relatable (41%) and providing some much-needed optimism and hope (37%).

It also found that some of the nation’s favourite romcoms to help with heartbreak are: Bridget Jones’ Diary, Legally Blonde, How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days, The Holiday and Bridesmaids.

“Our research has shown that these films can have a real positive impact and not only be relatable but put a smile on faces, too. While some are more realistic than others in the plot, it was interesting to find how effective they were in getting viewers to shed a tear or two, then move on,” Julia Foye, Costa Coffee’s head of marketing execution, says.

It’s why the coffee brand is partnering up with Odeon to bring the ultimate ‘moving on’ romcoms back to the big screen. When it comes to mending a broken heart, almost a quarter (21%) of people surveyed have gone to a cinema to watch a romcom after a breakup, and over half like to stick to their favourite drink throughout the year when watching one. Well, ’tis the season after all.

If you’re looking to dip your toe into the world of romcoms then these are just some of my all-time favourites:

27 Dresses – For the Bennie & The Jets scene alone (and James Marsden), this film isn’t just your typical boy-meets-girl story but also a tale of friendship, sisterhood and why boundaries are important.

The Proposal – It’s likely that I’ll be banging the drum for this film for the rest of my life but Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds are truly a romcom pair for the ages. Hilarious and heartwarming.

How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days – This film occupies legendary status in the romcom world and it might’ve just celebrated its 20-year anniversary but it’s still going strong. A game of egos and how different dating expectations can be between men and women. And a whole lot of love, of course.

Wedding Season – A recent addition to my romcom repertoire but it’s fast become a favourite. Suraj Sharma and Pallavi Sharda have incredible on-screen chemistry and it’s a classic fake dating turns real storyline, with added parental and cultural pressures.

Set It Up – People that fall in love while scheming? Immediate yes. 

The Wedding Planner – A romcom list without including a Jennifer Lopez film would be impossible; she’s an undisputed icon of the genre. But it’s The Wedding Planner that wins it for me as it’s the perfect level of cringe, while J-Lo and Matthew McConaughey are brilliant together.

A Cinderella Story – I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve watched this film; it simply never gets old. A modern twist on the fairy tale, Hilary Duff shows us what it means to believe in yourself and have the confidence to put yourself back out there. Plus, Jennifer Coolidge as the stepmum is comedy gold.

Sleepless In Seattle – Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan truly ruled 90s romcoms, but this one takes the top spot as it’s all about getting a second chance at love, which is the perfect antidote when in the midst of a breakup.

Image: Rex Features; Getty; Netflix