12 Movies Like New Girl You Need to Watch
Find 12 smart, funny picks with the same awkward charm, romance, and energy fans want from New Girl-inspired comedies and dramedies.
If you’re hunting for movies like New Girl, you probably want the same mix of sharp banter, awkward chemistry, and characters who feel instantly familiar. This roundup brings together comedy-forward picks such as Crazy, Stupid, Love. and LOL, along with ensemble favorites like Happy Endings and Suburgatory that capture that witty, messy-friends energy. You’ll also find options with a little more heart or edge, including Good Trouble, Awkward., and Drifters, so the list works whether you want romance, drama, or something a bit offbeat. And of course, New Girl is here too, because its blend of charm and chaos is the standard these recommendations are aiming for. With 12 titles to explore, there’s plenty here for a quick binge or a longer watchlist.
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01
Happy Endings
comedy · romance
A fresh and funny take on modern friendship and what one urban family will do to stay friends after the perfect couple who brought them all together break up on their wedding day. The failed wedding forces them all to question their life choices. Then there are Alex and Dave themselves, who strike a truce and must learn to live with the changes their breakup has brought.
Directed by Rob Greenberg, Jay Chandrasekhar, Jeff Melman, Joe Russo, Anthony RussoCast Eliza Coupe, Elisha Cuthbert, Zachary Knighton, Adam Pally, Damon Wayans Jr.Hulu -
02
Suburgatory
comedy
Single father George Altman is doing his best to raise his sixteen-year-old daughter Tessa in the big city. When he discovers a box of condoms in her bedroom, though, he decides the time has come to move her to a more wholesome and nurturing environment: the suburbs. But behind the beautiful homes and perfect lawns lurk the Franken-moms, spray tans, nose jobs, and Red Bull-guzzling teens who have nothing in common with Tessa. It’s a whole new world, one that makes George wonder if they haven’t jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire.
Directed by Alex Hardcastle, Ken Whittingham, Elliot Hegarty, Julie Anne Robinson, Phil TraillCast Jeremy Sisto, Jane Levy, Carly Chaikin, Allie Grant, Cheryl HinesNetflix -
03
Good Trouble
comedy · drama · romance
After moving to The Coterie in Downtown Los Angeles, Callie and Mariana Foster realize that living on their own is not all that it’s cracked up to be.
Directed by Peter Paige, Bradley Bredeweg, Michael Medico, Laura Nisbet-Peters, Troian BellisarioCast Cierra Ramirez, Zuri Adele, Sherry Cola, Emma Hunton, Tommy MartinezHulu -
04
Crazy, Stupid, Love.
comedy · drama · romance
Cal Weaver is living the American dream. He has a good job, a beautiful house, great children and a beautiful wife, named Emily. Cal's seemingly perfect life unravels, however, when he learns that Emily has been unfaithful and wants a divorce. Over 40 and suddenly single, Cal is adrift in the fickle world of dating. Enter, Jacob Palmer, a self-styled player who takes Cal under his wing and teaches him how to be a hit with the ladies.
Directed by Glenn Ficarra, John RequaCast Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone, Lio TiptonMax -
05
Drifters
comedy
Comedy series about three young women living in Leeds who've graduated, had a year out, and are now struggling to find a job they're passionate about, a place to live that is half decent and a boyfriend they actually like. A sitcom about making terrible decisions, but having a brilliant time doing it.
The show focuses on Meg, her eccentric cousin Bunny and their friend Laura as they discover that life might just be a bit tougher than they had imagined. From demeaning Promotions jobs complete with mad outfits to pursuing the men of their dreams - yet dating the men of their nightmares - the girls face '#FML-worthy' disasters in both their work and personal lives.
Directed by Al Campbell, Simon Delaney, Tom MarshallCast Jessica Knappett, Lydia Rose Bewley, Lauren O'Rourke, Bobby Hirston, Arabella WeirFreevee -
06
Awkward.
action · comedy · drama · romance
An irreverent look at the conflict, chaos and humor that defines teenage life through the eyes of 15-year-old Jenna Hamilton whose life begins to change when a simple accident becomes an epic misunderstanding and is blown way out of proportion. Narration in the first-person voice of Jenna's blog posts captures the humor within the struggles and experiences everyone can relate to from their formative years.
Directed by Peter Lauer, Lauren Iungerich, Ryan Shiraki, David Katzenberg, Joe NussbaumCast Ashley Rickards, Beau Mirchoff, Jillian Rose Reed, Brett Davern, Molly TarlovParamount Plus -
07
LOL
comedy · drama · romance
In a world connected by YouTube, iTunes, and Facebook, Lola and her friends navigate the peer pressures of high school romance and friendship while dodging their sometimes overbearing and confused parents. When Lola's mom, Anne, "accidentally" reads her teenage daughter's racy journal, she realizes just how wide their communication gap has grown.
Directed by Lisa AzuelosCast Jean-Luc Bilodeau, Douglas Booth, Vivian Le Borgne, Bridget Brown, Jim CarranePeacock Premium -
08
Hall Pass
comedy · romance
When best buds Rick and Fred begin to show signs of restlessness at home, their wives take a bold approach to revitalize their marriages, they grant the guys a 'hall pass'—one week of freedom to do whatever they want. At first, it seems like a dream come true, but they quickly discover that their expectations of the single life—and themselves—are completely and hilariously out of sync with reality.
Directed by Bobby Farrelly, Peter FarrellyCast Owen Wilson, Jason Sudeikis, Jenna Fischer, Christina Applegate, Nicky WhelanMax -
09
Necessary Roughness
comedy · drama · romance
A tough, sexy Long Island divorcee, Callie Thorne, gets a job as therapist for a professional football team in order to make ends meet. Underestimated at every turn, she succeeds beyond all expectations and soon finds herself as the sought-after therapist to high-profile clients. As a newly single mom raising two teenagers, she is determined to make her new career work by striking a balance between her personal and professional worlds.
Directed by Kevin Dowling, John Fortenberry, Kevin Hooks, Tim Hunter, Elodie KeeneCast Callie Thorne, Scott Cohen, Mehcad Brooks, Marc Blucas, Hannah MarksPeacock Premium -
10
Take This Waltz
comedy · drama
Twenty-eight-year-old Margot is happily married to Lou, a good-natured cookbook author. But when Margot meets Daniel, a handsome artist who lives across the street, their mutual attraction is undeniable.
Directed by Sarah PolleyCast Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen, Luke Kirby, Sarah Silverman, Jennifer PodemskiNetflixAmazon Prime Video -
11
Easy A
comedy · drama · romance
Olive, an average high school student, sees her below-the-radar existence turn around overnight once she decides to use the school's gossip grapevine to advance her social standing. Now her classmates are turning against her and the school board is becoming concerned, including her favorite teacher and the distracted guidance counselor. With the support of her hilariously idiosyncratic parents and a little help from a long-time crush, Olive attempts to take on her notorious new identity and crush the rumor mill once and for all.
Directed by Will GluckCast Emma Stone, Penn Badgley, Amanda Bynes, Dan Byrd, Thomas Haden ChurchApple TV Plus -
12
Pretty Smart
comedy · romance
A self-proclaimed intellectual is forced to move in with her carefree sister and her sister's lovably eccentric friends.
Directed by Pamela Fryman, Phill Lewis, Richie Keen, Jody Margolin HahnCast Emily Osment, Gregg Sulkin, Olivia Macklin, Cinthya Carmona, Michael Hsu RosenNetflix
Wrapping Up
This list brings together 12 picks that channel the easygoing humor, romantic tension, and awkward charm fans love most. Whether you want a sitcom-style comfort watch or a movie with a little more drama mixed in, there’s a solid match here for your mood. Save this page and come back when you want another recommendation, because it’s updated regularly to keep the selections fresh. If you enjoyed the balance of comedy and heart in these choices, you’ll have plenty more to queue up next.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes these movies similar to New Girl?
These picks were matched by tone, themes, and story style using a similarity model trained on plot synopses, genres, and cast — not just shared genre tags — so the connection runs deeper than a simple category match.
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Last updated: September 8, 2026