Jennifer Aniston has starred in some of the most beloved rom-coms ever made, but looking closely at her filmography revealed many films that viewers may have missed. While movies like Along Came Polly and Bruce Almighty stood out as highly acclaimed and well-known rom-coms, Aniston has consistently starred in lesser-known releases that deserve more attention and recognition. Even as she starred as Rachel Green on Friends for ten years, Aniston still carved out time in her busy schedule for some heartfelt, hilarious, and often zany rom-com love stories.
Many of the best Jennifer Aniston movies were rom-coms, but there were plenty more titles that audiences may have never heard of. While these lesser-known releases varied in quality, and some were unknown for a reason, Aniston always brought her unique charm and comedic persona to every part she played. Even though they may not be as well-known as her best work, lovers of Aniston’s bombastic and charming style will surely discover some hidden gems from these releases.
5 The Break-Up (2006)
The Break-Up featured Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn as a couple traversing the end of their relationship that peeled back the curtain of all that had gone wrong with their once-loving romance. While Aniston’s Brooke felt underappreciated, Vaughn’s Gary thought she was too controlling, and the pair must untangle their lives from one another as they sell their mutual condo and try to move on. As a document of the struggles of modern romance and the challenges of communication, The Break-Up was an insightful look into the way that couples can fall apart.
With strong performances across the board and an enjoyable supporting role from Aniston’s frequent collaborator Jason Bateman, the universal struggles in The Break-Up made this a relatable and realistic rom-com. As a story of self-discovery, it was enjoyable to see Brooke find a way to thrive outside of her relationship and for Gary to reflect on where things went wrong and do the work to become a better man. While it’s practically indistinguishable from any other rom-com of doomed relationships, The Break-Up was still a good time.
4 Management (2008)
Jennifer Aniston was an executive producer for the offbeat rom-com Management. With Aniston as the high-powered company sales executive Sue Claussen and Steve Zahn as Mike, the hapless night management of his parent’s motel, the two formed an unlikely connection as Sue momentarily let Mike touch her butt while they shared champagne in her motel room on a business trip. In most instances, things would end right there, but Mike was smitten and decided to fly to Baltimore to let Sue know how he felt.
Management was a strange movie with stalkerish undertones that still worked due to the sincere vulnerability of Zahn’s performance.
Management was a strange movie with stalkerish undertones that still worked due to the sincere vulnerability of Zahn’s performance and Aniston’s innate likability and upbeat demeanor. This was a story of two lonely people taking chances in a challenging world that felt clever and original. Management was surprisingly heartfelt, and Zahn’s performance turned what could have been a creepy stalker character into something that felt more nuanced and honest.
3 The Switch (2010)
The Switch reunited Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman for a rom-com about a man who drunkenly switched the sperm donations for his best friend’s child with his own. With a truly outrageous and morally dubious premise, The Switch was actually a touching love story about best friends, unrequited love, and the time it takes to discover what’s right in romance. While audiences will have to suspend their disbelief for events like an “insemination party,” Aniston and Bateman’s clear chemistry made this a highlight underrated 2010s rom-com.
The story took place over several years as Aniston’s character became pregnant and raised her young child. This strangely sentimental tale saw Bateman try to reconnect with a seven-year-old son whom nobody knew was his. With interesting character dynamics, The Switch included many tropes and clichés of the rom-com genre but still felt unique. With plenty of lighthearted moments and a serious topic undercutting its narrative, The Switch was an insightful rom-com that deserves more attention than it ever got.
2 The Bounty Hunter (2010)
If it wasn’t for the great chemistry between Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler, the cliche-ridden action rom-com The Bounty Hunter would be a total waste of time. With nominations for Worst Actor, Actress, Picture, and Screen Couple at the Razzies, and Aniston even winning the Actress Most in Need of a New Agent prize at the Alliance of Women Film Journalists awards, The Bounty Hunter was badly received by critics, to say the least. However, for all its faults, this story about a bounty hunter retrieving his ex-wife who skipped out on her bail had some redeeming moments.
The Bounty Hunter was a formulaic rom-com with plenty of violence and fast-paced action as the two former lovers tried to outwit one another throughout this frantic road trip movie. With a few bright spots and some laugh-out-loud sequences, the overall feeling watching The Bounty Hunter was that it could have been so much better. While lovers of Aniston’s bombastic rom-com persona will find a lot to enjoy, The Bounty Hunter was one of her lesser-known movies for a reason.
1Mother’s Day (2016)
From the same director as Pretty Woman and The Princess Diaries, Mother’s Day has failed to have the same kind of lasting cultural impact as those Garry Marshall movies. However, this ensemble rom-com had plenty to offer as it featured iconic actresses like Jennifer Aniston, Julia Roberts, and Kate Hudson. This story of three generations of mothers coming together in the week leading up to Mother’s Day also reunited Aniston with her We’re the Miller’s costar, Jason Sudeikis.
However, for all the talent on display, Mother’s Day never quite lived up to its potential, as its predictable rom-com cliches and by-the-numbers narrative made for a lackluster viewing experience. Sadly, like many of Aniston’s lesser-known rom-coms, Mother’s Day just never hit the right notes, and although it was perfectly watchable, it felt like a waste of its talented cast. While Mother’s Day worked well as some distracting entertainment, it did nothing to stand out among the rest of Jennifer Aniston’s work and was likely quickly forgotten by viewers once the credits had rolled.
