Top 95 Ranked

Top Romance Movies Ranked

Timeless Love Stories and Essential Cinema Classics

Discover the best romance movies of all time. From classic Hollywood dramas to modern rom-coms, explore the greatest cinematic tales of love and passion.

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What Defines Romance Movies

In the grand theater of cinema, no genre is as unfairly maligned or as universally essential as the romance. Often dismissed by cynics as escapist fluff or formulaic sentimentality, the love story is actually the foundational bedrock of narrative art. It is the genre that reflects our most profound human desire to be seen, understood, and chosen. To understand where we are going in modern cinema, we must look at how the silver screen first taught us how to fall in love.

The roots of the romantic film stretch back to the silent era, where grand pantomime and expressive faces bridged the gap between Victorian stage melodramas and the intimacy of the camera lens. Early masterpieces like F.W. Murnau s Sunrise established the visual language of longing, using shadow and light to communicate the internal weather of the heart. As the industry moved into the Golden Age of Hollywood, romance became synonymous with star power. The chemistry between icons like Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn or Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman created a blueprint for the urbanity and wit we still crave today.

Key characteristics define the genre, though they often shift with the cultural tide. At its core, every romance requires an obstacle. In the 1940s, that obstacle was often duty or war, exemplified by the bittersweet farewells in Casablanca. In the high era of the romantic comedy, usually cited as the late 1980s through the 1990s, the obstacles were more psychological or situational. Scripts written by the likes of Nora Ephron used sharp dialogue and festive settings to explore the neuroticism of modern dating. When Harry Met Sally became the gold standard for this era, asking if men and women could ever truly be friends while setting the stage for a decade of meet-cutes and grand gestures.

However, the genre has undergone a seismic shift in the new millennium. The traditional formula of the heterosexual couple overcoming a misunderstanding has expanded to include a much broader spectrum of human experience. We have seen a move toward realism and inclusivity that has revitalized the format. Films like Moonlight reimagined the romance as a quiet, lifelong internal struggle, while Brokeback Mountain dismantled the rigid archetypes of American masculinity. Even the visual style has changed. Gone are the soft focus filters of the past, replaced by the tactile, often painful intimacy seen in movies like Past Lives or Portrait of a Lady on Fire.

Today, the romance genre is less about the pursuit of a wedding and more about the complexity of the connection itself. It has moved away from the idea that a relationship is a trophy won at the end of the third act. Instead, modern entries explore the grief of lost love, the endurance of long term commitment, and the radical act of self love. Whether it is a sweeping historical epic or a quiet indie drama, the romance remains cinema s most vital mirror. It captures the one thing that never goes out of style, which is the messy, terrifying, and beautiful necessity of opening oneself up to another person.

The Complete Rankings

Based on the top picks in drafts on SnakeDrafts

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95
Romance in Past Lives (2023)
Past Lives
2023

After decades apart, childhood friends Nora and Hae Sung are reunited in New York for one fateful weekend as they confront notions of destiny, love, and the choices that make a life.

Drama
Romance
1h 46m
Celine Song
Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, John Magaro, Moon Seung-ah
94
Romance in Red, White & Royal Blue (2023)
Red, White & Royal Blue
2023

After an altercation between Alex, the president's son, and Britain's Prince Henry at a royal event becomes tabloid fodder, their long-running feud now threatens to drive a wedge in U.S./British relations. When the rivals are forced into a staged truce, their icy relationship begins to thaw and the friction between them sparks something deeper than they ever expected.

Comedy
Romance
1h 58m
Matthew López
Taylor Zakhar Perez, Nicholas Galitzine, Uma Thurman, Clifton Collins Jr.
93
Romance in Ticket to Paradise (2022)
Ticket to Paradise
2022

Divorced couple Georgia and David find themselves on a shared mission: they team up and travel to Bali to stop their daughter Lily from making the same mistake they once made 25 years ago.

Drama
Comedy
1h 44m
Ol Parker
Julia Roberts, George Clooney, Kaitlyn Dever, Billie Lourd

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92
Romance in Marry Me (2022)
Marry Me
2022

After finding out about her fiancé's cheating ways, a pop superstar impulsively marries a total stranger. They must soon decide if two people from such different worlds can find true love.

Romance
Comedy
1h 52m
Kat Coiro
Jennifer Lopez, Owen Wilson, Maluma, John Bradley
91
Romance in Happiest Season (2020)
Happiest Season
2020

A young woman's plans to propose to her girlfriend while at her family's annual holiday party are upended when she discovers her partner hasn't yet come out to her conservative parents.

Romance
Comedy
1h 42m
Clea DuVall
Kristen Stewart, Mackenzie Davis, Mary Steenburgen, Victor Garber
90
Romance in Palm Springs (2020)
Palm Springs
2020

When carefree Nyles and reluctant maid of honor Sarah have a chance encounter at a Palm Springs wedding, things get complicated when they find themselves unable to escape the venue, themselves, or each other.

Comedy
Romance
1h 30m
Max Barbakow
Andy Samberg, Cristin Milioti, J.K. Simmons, Peter Gallagher
89
Romance in Always Be My Maybe (2019)
Always Be My Maybe
2019

Reunited after 15 years, famous chef Sasha and hometown musician Marcus feel the old sparks of attraction, but struggle to adapt to each other's worlds.

Romance
Comedy
1h 42m
Nahnatchka Khan
Ali Wong, Randall Park, James Saito, Michelle Buteau
88
Romance in Long Shot (2019)
Long Shot
2019

Journalist Fred Flarsky reunites with his childhood crush, Charlotte Field, now one of the most influential women in the world. As she prepares to make a run for the Presidency, Charlotte hires Fred as her speechwriter — much to the dismay of her trusted advisers.

Comedy
Romance
2h 5m
Jonathan Levine
Charlize Theron, Seth Rogen, O'Shea Jackson Jr., June Diane Raphael
87
Romance in Set It Up (2018)
Set It Up
2018

Two overworked and underpaid assistants come up with a plan to get their bosses off their backs by setting them up with each other.

Romance
Comedy
1h 45m
Claire Scanlon
Glen Powell, Zoey Deutch, Taye Diggs, Joan Smalls
86
Romance in To All the Boys I've Loved Before (2018)
To All the Boys I've Loved Before
2018

Lara Jean's love life goes from imaginary to out of control when her secret letters to every boy she's ever fallen for are mysteriously mailed out.

Comedy
Romance
1h 40m
Susan Johnson
Lana Condor, Noah Centineo, Israel Broussard, Janel Parrish
85
Romance in The Shape of Water (2017)
The Shape of Water
2017

An other-worldly story, set against the backdrop of Cold War era America circa 1962, where a mute janitor working at a lab falls in love with an amphibious man being held captive there and devises a plan to help him escape.

84
Romance in The Big Sick (2017)
The Big Sick
2017

Pakistan-born comedian Kumail Nanjiani and grad student Emily Gardner fall in love but struggle as their cultures clash. When Emily contracts a mysterious illness, Kumail finds himself forced to face her feisty parents, his family's expectations, and his true feelings.

Comedy
Drama
2h 0m
Michael Showalter
Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Holly Hunter, Ray Romano
83
Romance in Crazy, Stupid, Love. (2011)
Crazy, Stupid, Love.
2011

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.

Comedy
Drama
1h 58m
Glenn Ficarra
82
Romance in About Time (2013)
About Time
2013

The night after another unsatisfactory New Year's party, Tim's father tells his son that the men in his family have always had the ability to travel through time. They can't change history, but they can change what happens and has happened in their own lives. Thus begins the start of a lesson in learning to appreciate life itself as it is, as it comes, and most importantly, the people living alongside us.

Drama
Romance
2h 3m
Richard Curtis
Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams, Bill Nighy, Tom Hollander
81
Romance in The Vow (2012)
The Vow
2012

Happy young married couple Paige and Leo are, well, happy. Then a car accident puts Paige into a life-threatening coma. Upon awakening she has lost the previous five years of memories, including those of her beloved Leo, her wedding, a confusing relationship with her parents, or the ending of her relationship with her ex-fiance. Despite these complications, Leo endeavors to win her heart again and rebuild their marriage.

Drama
Romance
1h 44m
Michael Sucsy
80
Romance in Warm Bodies (2013)
Warm Bodies
2013

After a zombie becomes involved with the girlfriend of one of his victims, their romance sets in motion a sequence of events that might transform the entire lifeless world.

Horror
Comedy
1h 38m
Jonathan Levine
Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer, Lio Tipton, John Malkovich
79
Romance in This Means War (2012)
This Means War
2012

Two top CIA operatives wage an epic battle against one another after they discover they are dating the same woman.

Action
Comedy
1h 38m
McG
78
Romance in New Year's Eve (2011)
New Year's Eve
2011

The lives of several couples and singles in New York intertwine over the course of New Year's Eve.

77
Romance in Valentine's Day (2010)
Valentine's Day
2010

Intertwining couples and singles in Los Angeles break-up and make-up based on the pressures and expectations of Valentine's Day.

Comedy
Romance
76
Romance in When in Rome (2010)
When in Rome
2010

Disillusioned with romance, Beth, an ambitious New Yorker, travels to Rome for her sister's wedding, where she plucks magic coins from a special fountain of love. The coins attract unwanted attention from an assortment of odd yet ardent suitors: a sausage merchant, a street magician, an artist, and a male model. But when the best man from the wedding, persistent reporter Nick, throws his hat in the ring, Beth wonders if his love is the real thing.

Comedy
Fantasy
1h 31m
Mark Steven Johnson
Kristen Bell, Josh Duhamel, Anjelica Huston, Danny DeVito
75
Romance in The Proposal (2009)
The Proposal
2009

When she learns she's in danger of losing her visa status and being deported, overbearing book editor Margaret Tate forces her put-upon assistant, Andrew Paxton, to marry her.

Comedy
Romance
1h 48m
Anne Fletcher
Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Malin Åkerman, Craig T. Nelson
74
Romance in 27 Dresses (2008)
27 Dresses
2008

Altruistic Jane finds herself facing her worst nightmare as her younger sister announces her engagement to the man Jane secretly adores.

Comedy
Romance
1h 51m
Anne Fletcher
Katherine Heigl, James Marsden, Malin Åkerman, Judy Greer
73
Romance in Fever Pitch (2005)
Fever Pitch
2005

When Ben Wrightman, a young teacher, begins dating pretty businesswoman Lindsey Meeks, the two don't seem to have a lot of the same interests, but they fall in love, regardless. Their romance goes well until baseball season begins, and Lindsey soon realizes that Ben is completely obsessed with the Boston Red Sox. Though she tries to understand Ben's passionate team loyalty, eventually it threatens to end their otherwise happy relationship.

Romance
Comedy
1h 44m
Bobby Farrelly
Drew Barrymore, Jimmy Fallon, Jason Spevack, Jack Kehler
72

London bookstore owner William Thacker's quiet life turns upside down when a chance encounter with famous actress Anna Scott sparks an unlikely romance challenged by their vastly different worlds.

Romance
Comedy
2h 4m
Roger Michell
Julia Roberts, Hugh Grant, Gina McKee, Tim McInnerny
71
Romance in Kate & Leopold (2001)
Kate & Leopold
2001

When her scientist ex-boyfriend discovers a portal to travel through time -- and brings back a 19th-century nobleman named Leopold to prove it -- a skeptical Kate reluctantly takes responsibility for showing Leopold the 21st century. The more time Kate spends with Leopold, the harder she falls for him. But if he doesn't return to his own time, his absence will forever alter history.

Romance
Comedy
1h 58m
James Mangold
Meg Ryan, Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Breckin Meyer
70
Romance in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003)
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
2003

It's the battle of wills, as Andie needs to prove she can dump a guy in 10 days, whereas Ben needs to prove he can win a girl in 10 days. Now, the clock is ticking—and the wildly entertaining comedy smash is off and running in this irresistible tale of sex, lies and outrageous romantic fireworks!

Comedy
Romance
1h 56m
Donald Petrie
Kate Hudson, Matthew McConaughey, Kathryn Hahn, Annie Parisse
69
Romance in Sweet Home Alabama (2002)
Sweet Home Alabama
2002

New York fashion designer, Melanie Carmichael suddenly finds herself engaged to the city's most eligible bachelor. But her past holds many secrets—including Jake, the redneck husband she married in high school, who refuses to divorce her. Bound and determined to end their contentious relationship once and for all, Melanie sneaks back home to Alabama to confront her past.

Comedy
Romance
1h 48m
Andy Tennant
Reese Witherspoon, Josh Lucas, Patrick Dempsey, Candice Bergen
68
Romance in You've Got Mail (1998)
You've Got Mail
1998

Book superstore magnate Joe Fox and independent book shop owner Kathleen Kelly fall in love in the anonymity of the Internet—both blissfully unaware that he's trying to put her out of business.

Comedy
Romance
1h 59m
Nora Ephron
67
Romance in Maid in Manhattan (2002)
Maid in Manhattan
2002

Marisa Ventura is a struggling single mom who works at a posh Manhattan hotel and dreams of a better life for her and her young son. One fateful day, hotel guest and senatorial candidate Christopher Marshall meets Marisa and mistakes her for a wealthy socialite. After an enchanting evening together, the two fall madly in love. But when Marisa's true identity is revealed, issues of class and social status threaten to separate them. Can two people from very different worlds overcome their differences and live happily ever after?

Comedy
Drama
1h 45m
Wayne Wang
Jennifer Lopez, Ralph Fiennes, Natasha Richardson, Stanley Tucci
66
Romance in The American President (1995)
The American President
1995

Widowed U.S. president Andrew Shepherd, one of the world's most powerful men, can have anything he wants -- and what he covets most is Sydney Ellen Wade, a Washington lobbyist. But Shepherd's attempts at courting her spark wild rumors and decimate his approval ratings.

65
Romance in P.S. I Love You (2007)
P.S. I Love You
2007

A young widow discovers that her late husband has left her 10 messages intended to help ease her pain and start a new life.

Drama
Romance
2h 6m
Richard LaGravenese
Hilary Swank, Gerard Butler, Lisa Kudrow, Harry Connick Jr.
64

Jerry Maguire used to be a typical sports agent: willing to do just about anything he could to get the biggest possible contracts for his clients, plus a nice commission for himself. Then, one day, he suddenly has second thoughts about what he's really doing. When he voices these doubts, he ends up losing his job and all of his clients, save Rod Tidwell, an egomaniacal football player.

63

Expecting the usual tedium that accompanies a summer in the Catskills with her family, 17-year-old Frances 'Baby' Houseman is surprised to find herself stepping into the shoes of a professional hoofer—and unexpectedly falling in love.

Drama
Music
1h 40m
Emile Ardolino
Jennifer Grey, Patrick Swayze, Cynthia Rhodes, Neal Jones
62
Romance in The Way We Were (1973)
The Way We Were
1973

Opposites attract when, during their college days, Katie Morosky, a politically active Jew, meets Hubbell Gardiner, a feckless WASP. Years later, in the wake of World War II, they meet once again and, despite their obvious differences, attempt to make their love for each other work.

Drama
Romance
Barbra Streisand, Robert Redford, Bradford Dillman, Lois Chiles
61
Romance in My Fair Lady (1964)
My Fair Lady
1964

A snobbish phonetics professor agrees to a wager that he can take a flower girl and make her presentable in high society.

Comedy
Romance
2h 50m
George Cukor
Audrey Hepburn, Rex Harrison, Stanley Holloway, Wilfrid Hyde-White
60

Over the course of five social occasions, a committed bachelor must consider the notion that he may have discovered love.

Comedy
Drama
1h 57m
Mike Newell
Hugh Grant, Andie MacDowell, Kristin Scott Thomas, Simon Callow
59
Romance in Midnight in Paris (2011)
Midnight in Paris
2011

While on a trip to Paris with his fiancée's family, a nostalgic screenwriter finds himself mysteriously going back to the 1920s every day at midnight.

Fantasy
Comedy
58
Romance in Manhattan (1979)
Manhattan
1979

Manhattan explores how the life of a middle-aged television writer dating a teenage girl is further complicated when he falls in love with his best friend's mistress.

Comedy
Drama
Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Michael Murphy, Mariel Hemingway
57

Andrew returns to his hometown for his mother’s funeral, a journey that reconnects him with old friends. The trip coincides with his decision to stop taking his powerful antidepressants. A chance meeting with Sam—a girl also struggling with various maladies—opens up the possibility of rekindling emotional connections, confronting his psychologist father, and perhaps beginning a new life.

Comedy
Drama
1h 42m
Zach Braff
Zach Braff, Natalie Portman, Ian Holm, Peter Sarsgaard
56

A socially awkward and volatile small business owner meets the love of his life after being threatened by a gang of scammers.

Romance
Drama
Adam Sandler, Emily Watson, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Luis Guzmán
55
Romance in Sabrina (1954)
Sabrina
1954

After her return from school in Paris, a playboy finally takes notice of his family's chauffeur's daughter Sabrina, who's long had a crush on him, but he questions his more serious brother's motives when he warns against getting involved with her.

Comedy
Romance
Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn, William Holden, Walter Hampden
54
Romance in My Best Friend's Wedding (1997)
My Best Friend's Wedding
1997

When she receives word that her longtime platonic pal Michael O'Neal is getting married to debutante Kimberly Wallace, food critic Julianne Potter realizes her true feelings for Michael -- and sets out to sabotage the wedding.

Comedy
Romance
1h 45m
P.J. Hogan
Julia Roberts, Dermot Mulroney, Cameron Diaz, Rupert Everett
53
Romance in Splash (1984)
1984

A successful businessman falls in love with the girl of his dreams. There's one big complication though; he's fallen hook, line and sinker for a mermaid.

Comedy
Romance
52
Romance in Roman Holiday (1953)
Roman Holiday
1953

Overwhelmed by her suffocating schedule, touring European princess Ann takes off for a night while in Rome. When a sedative she took from her doctor kicks in, however, she falls asleep on a park bench and is found by an American reporter, Joe Bradley, who takes her back to his apartment for safety. At work the next morning, Joe finds out Ann's regal identity and bets his editor he can get exclusive interview with her, but romance soon gets in the way.

Romance
Comedy
Audrey Hepburn, Gregory Peck, Eddie Albert, Hartley Power
51

Two middle-aged men embark on a spiritual journey through Californian wine country. One is an unpublished novelist suffering from depression, and the other is only days away from walking down the aisle.

Comedy
Drama
2h 7m
Alexander Payne
Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen, Sandra Oh
50
Romance in Harold and Maude (1971)
Harold and Maude
1971

A deadpan young man obsessed with death meets an eccentric septuagenarian who teaches him to live life to the fullest.

Comedy
Drama
1h 32m
Hal Ashby
Ruth Gordon, Bud Cort, Vivian Pickles, Cyril Cusack
49
Romance in In the Mood for Love (2000)
In the Mood for Love
2000

Two neighbors form a strong bond after both suspect extramarital activities of their spouses. However, they agree to keep their bond platonic so as not to commit similar wrongs.

Drama
Romance
1h 39m
Wong Kar-Wai
Maggie Cheung, Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Siu Ping-Lam, Rebecca Pan
48
Romance in The Fault in Our Stars (2014)
The Fault in Our Stars
2014

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a patient named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

Romance
Drama
2h 6m
Josh Boone
Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort, Nat Wolff, Laura Dern
47

Photographer Robert Kincaid wanders into the life of housewife Francesca Johnson for four days in the 1960s.

Drama
Romance
Meryl Streep, Clint Eastwood, Annie Corley, Victor Slezak
46
Romance in When a Man Loves a Woman (1994)
When a Man Loves a Woman
1994

An airline pilot and his wife are forced to face the consequences of her alcoholism when her addictions threaten her life and their daughter's safety. While the woman enters detox, her husband must face the truth of his enabling behavior.

Drama
Romance
2h 6m
Luis Mandoki
45
Romance in Brief Encounter (1945)
Brief Encounter
1945

Returning home from a shopping trip to a nearby town, bored suburban housewife Laura Jesson is thrown by happenstance into an acquaintance with virtuous doctor Alec Harvey. Their casual friendship soon develops during their weekly visits into something more emotionally fulfilling than either expected, and they must wrestle with the potential havoc their deepening relationship would have on their lives and the lives of those they love.

Drama
Romance
Celia Johnson, Trevor Howard, Stanley Holloway, Joyce Carey
44

In 1960s Wyoming, two men develop a strong emotional and sexual relationship that endures as a lifelong connection complicating their lives as they get married and start families of their own.

43

Two lost souls visiting Tokyo -- the young, neglected wife of a photographer and a washed-up movie star shooting a TV commercial -- find an odd solace and pensive freedom to be real in each other's company, away from their lives in America.

Drama
Comedy
1h 42m
Sofia Coppola
42
Romance in Two for the Road (1967)
Two for the Road
1967

Architect Mark Wallace and his wife, Joanna, travel to France to meet with an affluent client. While there, they reflect on their first decade of marriage -- memories of when they first met, of courtship, and of road trips through the French countryside. As flirtation and playful quarreling turn to boredom with the banality of married life, the Wallaces struggle to rekindle their passion, while mutual infidelity threatens to tear them apart.

Drama
Romance
1h 52m
Stanley Donen
Audrey Hepburn, Albert Finney, Georges Descrières, Claude Dauphin
41
Romance in Blue Valentine (2010)
Blue Valentine
2010

Dean and Cindy live a quiet life in a modest neighborhood. They appear to have the world at their feet at the outset of the relationship. However, his lack of ambition and her retreat into self-absorption cause potentially irreversible cracks in their marriage.

Drama
Romance
1h 52m
Derek Cianfrance
Ryan Gosling, Michelle Williams, John Doman, Mike Vogel
40
Romance in Beginners (2011)
Beginners
2011

Oliver meets the irreverent and unpredictable Anna only months after his father Hal Fields has passed away. This new love floods Oliver with memories of his father, who, following the death of his wife of 44 years, came out of the closet at age 75 to live a full, energized, and wonderfully tumultuous gay life – which included a younger boyfriend.

Drama
Romance
1h 44m
Mike Mills
Ewan McGregor, Christopher Plummer, Mélanie Laurent, Goran Višnjić
39
Romance in Moulin Rouge! (2001)
Moulin Rouge!
2001

A celebration of love and creative inspiration takes place in the infamous, gaudy and glamorous Parisian nightclub, at the cusp of the 20th century. A young poet, who is plunged into the heady world of Moulin Rouge, begins a passionate affair with the club's most notorious and beautiful star.

Drama
Romance
2h 8m
Baz Luhrmann
38
Romance in The Apartment (1960)
The Apartment
1960

Bud Baxter is a minor clerk in a huge New York insurance company, until he discovers a quick way to climb the corporate ladder. He lends out his apartment to the executives as a place to take their mistresses. Although he often has to deal with the aftermath of their visits, one night he's left with a major problem to solve.

Comedy
Drama
Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Fred MacMurray, Ray Walston
37
Romance in Charade (1963)
Charade
1963

After Regina Lampert falls for the dashing Peter Joshua on a skiing holiday in the French Alps, she discovers upon her return to Paris that her husband has been murdered. Soon, she and Peter are giving chase to three of her late husband's World War II cronies, Tex, Scobie and Gideon, who are after a quarter of a million dollars the quartet stole while behind enemy lines.

Comedy
Mystery
1h 53m
Stanley Donen
36

Shallow, rich and socially successful Cher is at the top of her Beverly Hills high school's pecking scale. Seeing herself as a matchmaker, Cher first coaxes two teachers into dating each other. Emboldened by her success, she decides to give hopelessly klutzy new student Tai a makeover. When Tai becomes more popular than she is, Cher realizes that her disapproving ex-stepbrother was right about how misguided she was -- and falls for him.

Comedy
Romance
1h 37m
Amy Heckerling
Alicia Silverstone, Stacey Dash, Brittany Murphy, Paul Rudd
35
Romance in (500) Days of Summer (2009)
(500) Days of Summer
2009

Tom, greeting-card writer and hopeless romantic, is caught completely off-guard when his girlfriend, Summer, suddenly dumps him. He reflects on their 500 days together to try to figure out where their love affair went sour, and in doing so, Tom rediscovers his true passions in life.

Comedy
Drama
1h 35m
Marc Webb
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel, Geoffrey Arend, Chloë Grace Moretz
34

Bridget Jones is an average woman struggling against expectations. As a New Year's resolution, Bridget decides to take control of her life, starting by keeping a diary in which she will always tell the complete truth. Her charming boss takes an interest in her, and she cannot stop running into a rather disagreeable acquaintance whom Bridget cannot help finding quietly attractive.

Comedy
Romance
1h 37m
Sharon Maguire
33
Romance in Me Before You (2016)
Me Before You
2016

Lou Clark, a directionless 26-year-old from the English countryside, takes a job at the local castle as a caregiver and companion to a wealthy young banker, Will Traynor. Wheelchair-bound from an accident two years prior, the once adventurous Will has all but given up — that is until Lou determines to show him that life is worth living.

Drama
Romance
1h 50m
Thea Sharrock
Emilia Clarke, Sam Claflin, Janet McTeer, Charles Dance
32
Romance in Doctor Zhivago (1965)
Doctor Zhivago
1965

The life of a Russian physician and poet who, although married to another, falls in love with a political activist's wife and experiences hardship during World War I and then the October Revolution.

Drama
Romance
Omar Sharif, Julie Christie, Geraldine Chaplin, Rod Steiger
31
Romance in West Side Story (1961)
West Side Story
1961

In Manhattan’s Upper West Side, rival gangs of Polish-Americans and newly arrived Puerto Ricans clash for control of the neighborhood, even as two young members from opposite sides fall dangerously in love.

Crime
Drama
2h 33m
Robert Wise
Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Russ Tamblyn, Rita Moreno
30
Romance in It Happened One Night (1934)
It Happened One Night
1934

A runaway heiress makes a deal with the rogue reporter trailing her but the mismatched pair end up stuck with each other when their bus leaves them behind.

Comedy
Romance
Clark Gable, Claudette Colbert, Walter Connolly, Roscoe Karns
29
Romance in The Philadelphia Story (1940)
The Philadelphia Story
1940

When a rich woman's ex-husband and a tabloid-type reporter turn up just before her planned remarriage, she begins to learn the truth about herself.

Comedy
Romance
1h 53m
George Cukor
28
Romance in Ghost (1990)
1990

After a young man is murdered, his spirit stays behind to warn his lover of impending danger, with the help of a reluctant psychic.

Fantasy
Thriller
2h 7m
Jerry Zucker
27

Vivian is a carefree, streetwise diamond in the rough when she meets sophisticated billionaire Edward in a chance encounter that turns into a week-long business arrangement. But Vivian's energetic spirit challenges Edward's no-nonsense approach to life, and soon they are teaching each other – and falling in love!

Romance
Comedy
Richard Gere, Julia Roberts, Ralph Bellamy, Jason Alexander
26

Young William Shakespeare is forced to stage his latest comedy, 'Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter', before it's even written. When lovely noblewoman Viola de Lesseps auditions for a role, they fall into forbidden love — and Shakespeare's play finds a new life (and title). As their relationship intensifies, the comedy soon transforms into tragedy.

Romance
History
2h 4m
John Madden
Joseph Fiennes, Gwyneth Paltrow, Geoffrey Rush, Tom Wilkinson
25
Romance in Cyrano de Bergerac (1990)
Cyrano de Bergerac
1990

Famed swordsman and poet Cyrano de Bergerac is in love with his cousin Roxane. He has never expressed his love for her as he his large nose undermines his self-confidence. Then he finds a way to express his love to her, indirectly.

Drama
Comedy
2h 17m
Jean-Paul Rappeneau
Gérard Depardieu, Anne Brochet, Vincent Perez, Jacques Weber
24
Romance in An Affair to Remember (1957)
An Affair to Remember
1957

A couple falls in love and agrees to meet in six months at the Empire State Building - but will it happen?

Drama
Romance
1h 51m
Leo McCarey
Cary Grant, Deborah Kerr, Richard Denning, Neva Patterson
23
Romance in Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
Silver Linings Playbook
2012

After losing his job and wife, and spending time in an institution, a former teacher winds up living with his parents. He wants to rebuild his life and reconcile with his wife, but his father would be happy if he shared his obsession with the Philadelphia Eagles. Things get complicated when he meets Tiffany Maxwell who offers to help him reconnect with his wife if he will do something very important for her in exchange.

Drama
Comedy
2h 2m
David O. Russell
22
Romance in Call Me by Your Name (2017)
Call Me by Your Name
2017

In the summer of 1983, a 17-year-old Elio spends his days in his family's villa in Italy. One day Oliver, a graduate student, arrives to assist Elio's father, a professor of Greco-Roman culture. Soon, Elio and Oliver discover a summer that will alter their lives forever.

Romance
Drama
2h 12m
Luca Guadagnino
Armie Hammer, Timothée Chalamet, Michael Stuhlbarg, Amira Casar
21
Romance in A Star Is Born (2018)
A Star Is Born
2018

Seasoned musician Jackson Maine discovers — and falls in love with — struggling artist Ally. She has just about given up on her dream to make it big as a singer — until Jack coaxes her into the spotlight. But even as Ally's career takes off, the personal side of their relationship is breaking down, as Jack fights an ongoing battle with his own internal demons.

Music
Drama
Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper, Sam Elliott, Andrew Dice Clay
20
Romance in Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
Crazy Rich Asians
2018

An American-born Chinese economics professor accompanies her boyfriend to Singapore for his best friend's wedding, only to get thrust into the lives of Asia's rich and famous.

Comedy
Romance
2h 1m
Jon M. Chu
Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh, Gemma Chan
19

Average student and eternal optimist Lloyd Dobler seeks to capture the heart of Diane Court, a beautiful but unattainable valedictorian classmate. He surprises just about everyone - including himself - when she returns the sentiment. However, Diane's divorced, over-protective father soon begins to disapprove of the match, and Lloyd realises that it's going to take more than just the power of love to conquer all.

Romance
Comedy
1h 40m
Cameron Crowe
John Cusack, Ione Skye, John Mahoney, Lili Taylor
18

When a secretary's idea is stolen by her boss, she seizes an opportunity to steal it back by pretending she has her boss' job.

17
Romance in Singin' in the Rain (1952)
Singin' in the Rain
1952

In 1927 Hollywood, a silent film star falls for a chorus girl just as he and his paranoid screen partner struggle to make the difficult transition to talking pictures.

Comedy
Romance
1h 43m
Gene Kelly
Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds, Jean Hagen
16

After the death of his mother, a young boy calls a radio station in an attempt to set his father up on a date. Across the country, an engaged woman becomes convinced that they belong together, despite their never having met. Will their paths collide despite the odds?

Comedy
Drama
1h 45m
Nora Ephron
15

In this enchantingly cracked fairy tale, the beautiful Princess Buttercup and the dashing Westley must overcome staggering odds to find happiness amid six-fingered swordsmen, murderous princes, Sicilians and rodents of unusual size. But even death can't stop these true lovebirds from triumphing.

Adventure
Family
Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, Chris Sarandon
14

An unexpected meeting on a train leads two travelers to spend an evening wandering through Vienna. As the night unfolds, they share stories and conversations about life and love, exploring new ideas while a quiet intimacy grows between them, knowing it may be their only night together.

Drama
Romance
Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Andrea Eckert, Hanno Pöschl
Why it ranks

Richard Linklater strips the genre down to its conversational soul, finding profound intimacy in the simple act of wandering through a city. This film understands that romance is often just a fleeting, high-stakes debate between two strangers who realize they speak the same private language.

13

37-year-old Italian-American widow Loretta Castorini believes she is unlucky in love, and so accepts a marriage proposal from her boyfriend Johnny, even though she doesn't love him. When she meets his estranged younger brother Ronny, an emotional and passionate man, she finds herself drawn to him. She tries to resist, but Ronny, who blames his brother for the loss of his hand, has no scruples about aggressively pursuing her while Johnny is out of the country. As Loretta falls for Ronny, she learns that she's not the only one in her family with a secret romance.

Comedy
Drama
Cher, Nicolas Cage, Vincent Gardenia, Olympia Dukakis
12
Romance in Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)
Breakfast at Tiffany's
1961

Holly Golightly is an eccentric New York City playgirl determined to marry a Brazilian millionaire. But when young writer Paul Varjak moves into her apartment building, her past threatens to get in their way.

Comedy
Romance
Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard, Patricia Neal, Buddy Ebsen
11

The Dashwood sisters, sensible Elinor and passionate Marianne, learn that their prospects of marriage seem doomed by their family's sudden loss of fortune. After Henry Dashwood dies unexpectedly, his estate must pass on by law to his son. These circumstances leave Mr. Dashwood's wife and daughters without a home and with barely enough money to live on. As Elinor and Marianne struggle to find romantic fulfillment in a society obsessed with financial and social status, they must learn to mix sense with sensibility in their dealings with both money and men.

10
Romance in Gone with the Wind (1939)
Gone with the Wind
1939

The spoiled daughter of a Georgia plantation owner conducts a tumultuous romance with a cynical profiteer during the American Civil War and Reconstruction Era.

Drama
War
3h 53m
Victor Fleming
Vivien Leigh, Clark Gable, Olivia de Havilland, Leslie Howard
Why it ranks

Vivien Leigh delivers a masterclass in calculated desperation, weaponizing her porcelain features to mask a relentless, jagged survival instinct. This role transformed her from a British newcomer into a global icon by perfectly balancing Scarlett’s exasperating vanity with a grit that defines the golden age of cinema. She commands every frame with a volatile energy that makes her character’s moral ambiguity both fascinating and undeniable.

9

Eight very different couples deal with their love lives in various loosely interrelated tales all set during a frantic month before Christmas in London.

Comedy
Romance
2h 15m
Richard Curtis
Why it ranks

Richard Curtis assembles a dizzying mosaic of affection that treats love as a chaotic, unavoidable seasonal force. Its enduring appeal is found in its messy plurality, arguing that the emotion is omnipresent regardless of whether it manifests as unrequited pain or grand gestures.

8
Romance in La La Land (2016)
La La Land
2016

Mia, an aspiring actress, serves lattes to movie stars in between auditions and Sebastian, a jazz musician, scrapes by playing cocktail party gigs in dingy bars, but as success mounts they are faced with decisions that begin to fray the fragile fabric of their love affair, and the dreams they worked so hard to maintain in each other threaten to rip them apart.

Comedy
Drama
2h 9m
Damien Chazelle
Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, John Legend, Rosemarie DeWitt
Why it ranks

A vibrant collision of technicolor nostalgia and modern disillusionment, this musical explores the high cost of shared dreams. It serves as a bittersweet tribute to the people who inspire our growth even if they cannot remain for the final act.

7
Romance in Amélie (2001)
Amélie
2001

At a tiny Parisian café, the adorable yet painfully shy Amélie accidentally discovers a gift for helping others. Soon Amelie is spending her days as a matchmaker, guardian angel, and all-around do-gooder. But when she bumps into a handsome stranger, will she find the courage to become the star of her very own love story?

Comedy
Romance
2h 2m
Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Audrey Tautou, Mathieu Kassovitz, Rufus, Serge Merlin
Why it ranks

Whimsical and visually inventive, this French gem treats the pursuit of love as a sophisticated game of hide-and-seek. It champions the quiet voyeur and the shy dreamer, proving that the most magical connections are often found in the eccentric details of everyday life.

6
Romance in The Notebook (2004)
The Notebook
2004

An epic love story centered around an older man who reads aloud to a woman with Alzheimer's. From a faded notebook, the old man's words bring to life the story about a couple who is separated by World War II, and is then passionately reunited, seven years later, after they have taken different paths.

Romance
Drama
2h 3m
Nick Cassavetes
Why it ranks

This unapologetic tearjerker weaponizes the passage of time to illustrate the sheer endurance of a first love. Its power lies in the commitment to a grand, sweeping sentimentality that treats a singular devotion as the most heroic act a human can perform.

5

New York comedian Alvy Singer falls in love with the ditsy Annie Hall.

Comedy
Drama
Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Tony Roberts, Carol Kane
Why it ranks

Diane Keaton crafts a twitchy, lovable archetype with her neurotic delivery and improvisational charm. This career-defining turn transformed her from a talented ensemble player into a singular comedic icon, forever linking her offbeat personal style with the film's intellectual heart. She navigates the character's insecurity with a vulnerability that remains the gold standard for modern romantic comedy.

4

Joel Barish, heartbroken that his girlfriend underwent a procedure to erase him from her memory, decides to do the same. However, as he watches his memories of her fade away, he realises that he still loves her, and may be too late to correct his mistake.

Science Fiction
Drama
1h 48m
Michel Gondry
Why it ranks

Charlie Kaufman deconstructs the heart’s architecture by exploring why we cling to the very memories that break us. It is a surrealist triumph that suggests even when logic is erased, the emotional gravity of a soulmate remains inescapable.

3
Romance in Pride & Prejudice (2005)
Pride & Prejudice
2005

A story of love and life among the landed English gentry during the Georgian era. Mr. Bennet is a gentleman living in Hertfordshire with his overbearing wife and five daughters, but if he dies their house will be inherited by a distant cousin whom they have never met, so the family's future happiness and security is dependent on the daughters making good marriages.

Drama
Romance
2h 8m
Joe Wright
Keira Knightley, Matthew Macfadyen, Brenda Blethyn, Rosamund Pike
Why it ranks

Joe Wright transforms Jane Austen’s drawing-room politics into a visceral, mud-flecked sensory experience. Through lingering glances and tactile tension, it captures the electricity of intellectual equals overcoming their own defensive vanities.

2

Sex always gets in the way of friendships between men and women. At least, that's what Harry Burns believes. So when Harry meets Sally Albright and a deep friendship blossoms between them, Harry's determined not to let his attraction to Sally destroy it. But when a night of weakness ends in a morning of panic, can the pair avoid succumbing to Harry's fears by remaining friends and admitting they just might be the perfect match for each other?

Comedy
Romance
Why it ranks

Nora Ephron’s sharp-tongued script interrogates the friction between friendship and friction with unparalleled neurological precision. It remains the gold standard for the 'will they, won't they' dynamic, grounding its humor in the terrifying vulnerability of being truly known by another person.

1
Romance in Casablanca (1943)
Casablanca
1943

In Casablanca, Morocco in December 1941, a cynical American expatriate meets a former lover, with unforeseen complications.

Drama
Romance
1h 42m
Michael Curtiz
Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains
Why it ranks

The ultimate archetype of noble sacrifice, this wartime masterpiece proves that the most enduring loves are often defined by what must be relinquished. Its alchemy of cynical wit and bruised idealism creates a blueprint for cinematic longing that has never been surpassed.

FAQ

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Everything you need to know about this list and SnakeDrafts

Casablanca masterfully combines themes of sacrifice, love, and political intrigue, creating a deeply emotional narrative that transcends the typical romance genre. Its iconic dialogue and complex characters continue to resonate with audiences, securing its status as a cinematic classic.

When Harry Met Sally... innovatively explores the evolution of friendship into love, using witty dialogue and relatable scenarios to challenge conventional romantic comedy formulas. Its honest portrayal of relationships has influenced countless rom-coms since its release.

Pride & Prejudice captures the nuances of love, social class, and personal growth through literary adaptation, bringing Jane Austen's timeless story to life. Its lush cinematography and strong performances highlight the enduring appeal of romantic storytelling rooted in character development.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind uniquely blends science fiction with romance, exploring memory and heartbreak in an imaginative narrative. Its non-linear storytelling and emotional depth offer a fresh perspective on the complexities of love and loss.

'Annie Hall' balances humor and heartfelt moments to portray the intricacies of modern love, using sharp dialogue and character-driven storytelling. This blend enriches the romantic narrative, making it both entertaining and emotionally resonant.

La La Land pays homage to classic Hollywood musicals while addressing contemporary themes of ambition and romance. Its vibrant visuals and memorable music underscore the bittersweet nature of love and personal dreams in today's world.

'The Notebook' uses passionate performances and a sweeping narrative to depict enduring love across time and adversity. Its emotional intensity and nostalgic tone have made it a staple in romantic drama films.

Unique settings in films like 'Amélie' and 'Before Sunrise' not only provide charming backdrops but also enhance the intimacy and cultural context of the romance. These locations help to deepen the characters' connection and create an immersive experience for viewers.
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