Fed up with the usual boy-meets-girl clichés? Romance isn’t always accompanied by violins and candlelit dinners—and that’s precisely what makes these unconventional romantic comedies so appealing. Featuring eccentric meet-cutes and wildly unique relationships, these films transform the concept of falling in love. Whether it’s clumsy, chaotic, surprising, or simply bizarre, these narratives offer a refreshing take on the rom-com genre. Available for streaming on your preferred OTT platforms, these English as well as Hindi movies break the mold of typical love tales… and that’s exactly why you’ll be drawn to them.
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1. Margarita With a Straw
- IMDb Rating- 7.2/10
- Rotten Tomato Rating-85%
- Smartprix Rating-8/10
- Streaming on- JioHotstar
- Runtime- 2 hours 20 minutes
- Starring- Kalki Koechlin, Revathi & others
- Language- Hindi, English
About the Movie- The movie features an unconventional lead, Laila aka Kalki, a young woman with cerebral palsy, which is rare in mainstream romcoms. Her desires, flaws, and romantic explorations are treated with honesty and humor without any pity. The movie uses gentle laughs as a reflection of life’s bittersweet ironies, and even heavy moments are interspersed with lightness. It is not romantic in a fairy tale way, and offbeat in all the best ways possible. The film redefines romance by placing authenticity over escapism, imperfection over fantasy, and individual self over cliché.
2. Dhoom Dhaam
- IMDb Rating-6.4/10
- Rotten Tomato Rating- 60%
- Smartprix Rating-6.5/10
- Streaming on- Netflix India
- Runtime- 1 hour 48 minutes
- Starring- Yami Gautam, Pratik Gandhi & others
- Language- Hindi
About the Movie- The movie is rooted in a small-town backdrop, far removed from the glossy metros in mainstream rom-coms. The fresh pairing of actors known for their grounded and nuanced performances adds freshness and unpredictability to the chemistry, and the plot revolves around unexpected love during wedding chaos. It is about drama, comedy, and romance laced with realism and emotional depth. The movie is desi, chaotic, heartfelt, and yet different from other romcoms, as the suspense keeps you guessing all the time. Yami is natural, and the scenes with her monologue are the highlight of the film.
3. Khwaabon Ka Jhamela
- IMDb Rating-5.4/10
- Rotten Tomato Rating- N/A
- Smartprix Rating-5.5/10
- Streaming on- JioHotstar
- Runtime- 1 hour 53 minutes
- Starring- Sayani Gupta, Prateik, Smita Patil & others
- Language- Hindi
About the Movie- This movie is perfect to be called an off-beat romcom, all thanks to its quietly whimsical, emotionally grounded, and far from Hindi cinema’s candyfloss movies. It is a slice-of-life romantic comedy that has its own quirks and chaos. The movie is a story about aspirations and love spiraling into confusion, and the characters are flawed, making one relate to them easily. The movie stands out as different because it doesn’t include grand declarations or song and dance sequences, but an honest love story between Zubin and Ruby.
4. Picture This
- IMDb Rating-5.3/10
- Rotten Tomato Rating-45%
- Smartprix Rating-5.5/10
- Streaming on- Amazon Prime Video
- Runtime- 1 hour 41 minutes
- Starring- Simone Ashley, Hero Fiennes Tiffin & others
- Language- English
About the Movie- This one might not be the first that comes to mind when you think of offbeat romcom, but it does give a fresh, quirky take on love in modern times. It has an unlikely heroine who’s awkward, underdog, and overlooked, and her journey is not entirely about finding love, but finding herself as well. The premise of her sneaking around to attend the party might seem absurd, but it is relatable, and the core of the film also lies in friendship, independence, and rebellion. If you are looking for a love story wrapped in quirky antics, this one can be your guilty pleasure.
5. Sleeping with Other People
- IMDb Rating-6.5/10
- Rotten Tomato Rating-64%
- Smartprix Rating-6.6/10
- Streaming on-YouTube
- Runtime- 1 hour 41 minutes
- Starring-Alison Brie, Jason Sudeikis & others
- Language- English
About the Movie-This movie is one of the perfect examples of off-beat romances as it takes the classic rom-com structure and subverts it with emotional messiness and deeply flawed yet relatable characters. The leads of the movie are emotionally complex, two people who can’t get it right at all, yet keep trying. It explores issues like addiction, emotional cheating, and more. This one has no gloss but raw love that is unfiltered. The movie is realistic without being cynical and romantic without being naïve.
6. Qarib Qarib Single
- IMDb Rating-7.1/10
- Rotten Tomato Rating- 89%
- Smartprix Rating-8.8/10
- Streaming on- Netflix India
- Runtime- 2 hours 5 minutes
- Starring-Irrfan, Parvathy Thiruvothu & others
- Language- Hindi
About the Movie- This movie is a textbook example of an offbeat rom-com set in India. It is charming, hilarious, and emotionally healing with a refreshing take on romance and friendship. Unconventional leads Jaya and Yogi are exactly opposite in nature and personality, which makes them fit together like pieces of a puzzle. The movie is not about love at first sight, but explores two wounded souls healing each other one step at a time. The movie proves that love doesn’t have to be loud, perfect, or quick; it can be slow, silly, frustrating, and fulfilling. Personal recommendation, go watch this one if you love watching romcoms.
7. 8 A.M. Metro
- IMDb Rating-7.6/10
- Rotten Tomato Rating-78%
- Smartprix Rating-7.7/10
- Streaming on-YouTube
- Runtime- 1 hour 56 minutes
- Starring-Saiyami Kher, Gulshan Devaiah & others
- Language- Hindi 1
About the Movie- This beautiful film doesn’t follow traditional beats of a romcom but makes a place for itself with subtle romantic undertones, emotional intimacy, and poetic storytelling. The plot is about strangers who meet in the metro and form a deep bond. It explores romance through everyday conversations, silences, poetry, and shared vulnerability. The characters are middle-aged, layered, and carrying baggage that makes them even more gullible yet strong. This off-beat urban romance is about finding poetry in routine, magic in strangers, and healing in expected companionship.
8. 500 Days of Summer
- IMDb Rating-7.6/10
- Rotten Tomato Rating-86%
- Smartprix Rating-8/10
- Streaming on-YouTube
- Runtime- 1 hour 35 minutes
- Starring-Joseph Gordon Levitt, Zooey Deschanel & others
- Language- English
About the Movie- an iconic offbeat romance, this one defined a new genre of romcom for the next generation. It overturns the traditional romcom tropes, offering a more realistic, bittersweet, and emotionally layered take on love, heartbreak, and expectations. The film has a nonlinear narration and is told from one point of view. It is basically a coming-of-age story disguised as a love story that makes one realize that love doesn’t guarantee happiness every time. The movie is funny but not fluffy, romantic but not idealistic, and emotional but not melodramatic.
9. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
- IMDb Rating-8.3/10
- Rotten Tomato Rating-92%
- Smartprix Rating-9/10
- Streaming on- Netflix India
- Runtime- 1 hour 48 minutes
- Starring-Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet & others
- Language- English
About the Movie- It is a quintessential offbeat romantic movie of the 21st century that bends genre, warps time, and deconstructs memory, love, and heartbreak, all while telling a story that is funny, romantic, and emotionally shattering. The story is told backwards and focuses on emotionally broken Joel and Clementine. It is a blend of sci-fi and romance, while the tone is melancholic, existential, and hopeful, unlike other romcoms. This movie dares to ask what happens after love breaks down, and whether starting over would change anything. It is for those who have loved, lost, and still hope.
10. Set it Up
- IMDb Rating-6.5/10
- Rotten Tomato Rating-92%
- Smartprix Rating-9/10
- Streaming on- Netflix India
- Runtime- 1 hour 45 minutes
- Starring-Glen Powell, Zoey Deutch & others
- Language- English
About the Movie- This one’s a modern romcom with offbeat flair, though it does follow some classic formulas. Harper and Charlie start off as co-planners to bring their bosses together, and don’t even realize when they fall in love with each other themselves. There is no love at first sight, or dramatic attraction, as the equation grows organically, slowly, and with teamwork. The leads are ambitious but stuck, and their arc is not solely about love but also about balance, self-respect, and growing up. The movie might not be radically offbeat, but its spirit completely is.
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