Romantic comedies are not exactly a Netflix speciality these days. The platform is bringing in a lot of thriller and action combos with a side of mystery. And this might be why My Oxford Year feels like such a refreshing surprise. It is new, it is easy on the eyes, and it is already climbing the Netflix charts.

Ranking at number three on Netflix Global, this film at its heart, it is a teacher–student romance with just the right mix of sweetness and drama. It won’t be wrong to say that it is perfect for switching off the part of your brain that insists films have to make complete sense.

The story follows an American woman, Anna De la Vega, who lands in Oxford on a prestigious scholarship, ready for a year of pure academic ambition. Of course, romance gets in the way, in the form of a charming and maddeningly attractive English literature professor. He is witty, he is well-read, and he is definitely the kind of man who should come with a warning label. From their first meeting, there is that quick-fire banter and spark you only get in a rom-com that knows what it is doing.

And that is the real charm of My Oxford Year. It is not trying to reinvent the genre. It leans into the old-school formula that Hollywood used to do so well. Your meet-cutes, stolen glances, and witty back-and-forths. Big emotional revelations in scenic locations. You could say you have seen it before, but that is exactly the point. It is comfort food cinema, dressed up in British architecture and warm lighting.

The Oxford setting does a lot of the heavy lifting. Cobbled streets, ivy-covered walls, and candlelit pubs make every frame look like it has been plucked straight from a postcard. It gives the romance an almost fairytale quality. That makes it easier to forgive the parts of the story that stretch believability. Yes, some of the plot turns are a little dramatic. Yes, the characters sometimes make decisions that make you want to shout at the screen. But that is part of the fun. You are not here to fact-check. You are here to float along with them.

It also helps that the leads have chemistry you can actually feel. The kind that makes even the most predictable moments land. Whether they are teasing each other over a pint or sharing a quiet moment in a library, there is a warmth to their connection that makes you root for them, even if you know where it is heading.

As a weekend binge, My Oxford Year hits all the right notes. It is short enough to watch in one go, light enough to leave you smiling, and just dramatic enough to make you text a friend about it after. In a sea of intense thrillers and heavy dramas, it is nice to have a film that asks for nothing more than your couch, a blanket, and maybe a tub of ice cream.

After a long time, Hollywood has delivered a rom-com that feels like the ones you used to rewatch in the early 2000s. No cynical twists, no deconstruction of the genre. Just romance, charm, and a setting that could sell out a travel brochure. If you have been waiting for something easy and warm to fill your weekend, My Oxford Year might be the perfect choice.