Love is a universal language that speaks to our hearts and souls. It’s no wonder why countless movies are made with the theme of love woven into them. From cute Rom-Com flicks to heart tugging grab-the-tissues tear jerking films, romantic movies tell the story of diverse levels of emotional attachment and the quest to find our own soulmates.
If you’re looking to cuddle up with your significant other and a big bowl of freshly popped buttery popcorn for an evening of watching a heartfelt love story, or you just want escape into the Hollywood Rom-Com world with your BFFs for a Girls Night In, then our list of classic and romance-filled love stories will guide you to finding the perfect flick.
Our list is in no particular order or ranking and spans the decades of romantic love stories.
50 Romantic Movies and Love Stories To Fall In Love With
- Titanic (1997): James Cameron’s epic film depicts the classic love story of Rose and Jack, two people from different social classes, whose unexpected love is lost during the ships’ ill-fated maiden voyage. Based on historical aspects, this heartbreaking love story leaves you wondering what would have become of Rose and Jack.
- The Fault in Our Stars (2014): Based on the best selling John Green novel, the Fault in Our Stars is a heartfelt coming of age romance between two young cancer patients. This film debuted as the number one box office movie during its opening weekend.
- The Notebook (2004): The film adaptation of Nicholas Sparks’ novel, tells the romantic drama-filled story of a young couple from two different social classes who fall in love in the 1940’s. Their story weaves in the issues of loving someone who is dealing with a lost memory due to Alzheimer’s.
- The Bridges of Madison County (1995): Based on the bestselling novel by Robert James Waller, this love story depicts the chance encounter of a photographer who comes to town and the affair that follows. They are two soulmates that met too late.
- The Bodyguard (1992): This romantic drama thriller was the second highest grossing film of 1992. The film tells the story of a famous popstar who is being stalked and the man who is hired to protect her.
- Where The Crawdads Sing (2022): Based on the Delia Owen’s novel, this love story follows the life of an abandoned girl who learns to live alone and survive in the deep marshes of coastal North Carolina. This love story weaves betrayal, a murder, and the struggle to better one’s life in the midst of exceptional challenges.
- An Affair To Remember (1957): This classic romance film starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr is considered one of the most romantic films of all time. two people who are romantically attached to others meet on a transatlantic cruise and eventually agree to end their current relationships and meet again in 6 months at the top of the Empire State Building. However a horrible accident keeps them from their reunion and the journey of love lost and love found bring these soulmates together again.
- Casablanca (1942): Another classic romance movie starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman is a love triangle set in the midst of a war. The challenges of loving someone who you can’t have and the heartbreaking decision to help them flee has made this film one of the top all-time romantic dramas.
- A Star Is Born (1937, 1954, 1976, 2018): This tragic romance story of a rising young star whose troubled relationship with an alcoholic partner and the difficulties of loving an addict has been remade several times over the years. Which ever version is your favorite, each set of actors who bring the story to life wows audiences with their own unique spin to this classic story.
- Me Before You (2016): The film adaptation of Jojo Moyes’ novel is a heart wrenching romantic story of a young girl hired to be the caretaker of a young man who was paralyzed in a motorcycle accident. As their unlikely relationship blossoms, the characters struggle with a decision that will ultimately be the end of their relationship.
11. Sleepless in Seattle (1993): After Sam, a recent widower, pours his heart out on a radio talk show about losing his wife; Annie, a reporter in Baltimore, becomes infatuated by the story. Although they are both in relationships, Jonah, Sam’s son reads a letter Annie sent to his father. They end up agreeing to meet on top of the Empire State Building on Valentine’s Day. Will blind love be what they were both looking for?
12. Definitely, Maybe (2008): This Rom-Com is about a father who is in the middle of a divorce being asked by his daughter about how he fell in love with her mother. The story keeps viewers guessing which of Will’s past loves is the mother of his daughter.
13. Pretty Woman (1990): This movie is the modern twist on the classic Cinderella story. Only instead of a prince who meets and falls in love with a mistreated servant step sister, we have a billionaire business man whose chance encounter with a prostitute turns into a unique business proposition. They soon find themselves falling in love while trying to navigate the fact they come from two different worlds.
14: Moonstruck (1987): This superstar cast starring Cher and Nicolas Cage, tells the story of a recently engaged woman who unexpectedly falls in love with his younger brother. While she tries to resist, the younger brother does everything he can to pursue the relationship. We soon find out that their secret is not the only secret within the family.
15. While You Were Sleeping (1995): Sandra Bullock plays the role of a lonely Chicago Transit worker who saves the life of a man. Due to a misunderstanding by a nurse, the family believes she is his fiance. Meanwhile, while the stranger is in a coma, she ends up falling in love with his brother but has to get out of a marrying a man she was never engaged to.
16. The Lovebirds (2020): Just as a couple is about to breakup, they suddenly find themselves in a bizarre murder mystery. This romantic comedy has you wondering if they will not only survive the night, but what will happen with their relationship now.
17. Knotting Hill (1999): When a British bookstore owner unexpectedly meets a famous American actress, their unexpected romantic turmoil gets the attention of the press and the subsequent fall out ensues. This romantic comedy is the quintessential boy meets girl, boy loses girl, will boy find love again story that we can’t help but watch over and over again.
18. Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001): This rom-com movie follows the quest of a 32 year old woman whose quest to take control of her life and perhaps find love has her start journaling in a diary. Little does she know that she will soon be front and center in a humorous love triangle.
19. Love Actually (2003): This romantic Christmas comedy weaves nine intertwined stories with a star-studded ensemble cast through a serious of complicated love lives.
20. When Harry Met Sally (1989): Who could forget the scene from the deli when Sally explains to Harry how a girl can fake it? Written by the legend Nora Ephron, this romantic comedy begs to answer the question, can men and women actually have a platonic relationship
21. West Side Story (1961, 2021): Both the original and the remake of this classic Romeo and Juliette love story, is set in the 1960’s in New York’s Spanish Harlem neighborhood. Rival gangs and star-crossed lovers from two different ethnic classes create a tragic end to blossoming love story.
22. Grease (1978): This classic movie musical set in the 1950’s is about the quintessential coming of age summer love story. Things get weird when the good girl realizes she fell for the good version of the bad boy. Suddenly their relationship becomes complicated when they find out they are now attending the same high school.
23. Yesterday (2019): A struggling musician is suddenly involved in a freak accident. When he wakes up he realizes that he is the only one in the world who has ever heard of the Beatles. As he is catapulted into stardom after recording the songs of the Beatles as his own, he risks losing the one girl who secretly loved and supported his music before he was famous.
24. Isn’t It Romantic (2019): This quirky part musical, part romantic comedy follows the story of woman who never gets noticed as she is transported into an alternative universe after being knocked unconscious. Things become weird as she suddenly finds herself the object of the hot guy’s attention.
25. The Princess Bride (1987): This fairy tale adventure, featuring a star-studded cast, is a cult romantic comedy favorite. As a grandfather reads to his grandson, the story unfolds as a handsome farmhand sets off on an adventure to rescue his true love the Princess from the evil Prince Humperdink.
26. The Twilight Saga (2008 Twilight, 2009 New Moon, 2010 Eclipse, 2011 Breaking Dawn): Based on the popular Twilight book series, the four movies that make of the Twilight Saga follows the love story of a Bella Swan, a mortal high school student, and Edward Cullen, a vampire whose family does not drink blood. This romantic sci-fi movies series shows that love is eternal and crosses into other worlds.
27. The Age of Adaline (2015): Due to a freak accident, Adaline remains a youthful 29 year old who for nearly 8 decades keeps herself from getting romantically involved with anyone. Everything changes when she meets Ellis whom she falls for. Her secret is about to be revealed when she meets his parents.
28. Pride & Prejudice (2005): This adaptation of Jane Austin’s book features five sisters from an English family who have to deal with the issues and pressures of marriage. This complicated love story is as relevant today as it was back in 1813 when the novel was first published.
29. Love Story (1970): This classic tragic romance film is based on love at first sight and the struggles of falling in love with someone your family doesn’t approve of. The young couple’s life suddenly takes a dramatic turn when a terminal illness threatens to destroy their future.
30. Valentine’s Day (2010): An all-star ensemble makes of the cast of characters whose stories are intertwined as they experience the highs and lows of love on the very day the that is synonymous for love – Valentine’s Da
31. Loving (2016): This powerful love story of an interracial marriage back in 1960, was the center of a legal battle, which included being arrested for getting married, helped pave the future of marriage equality. This movie showcases that love endures and that loving who you love should be a personal choice.
32. Love and Basketball (2000): When two childhood friends aspire to become professional basketball players their love of the sport turns into love off the court. When their paths take different directions, their quest for stardom threatens to destroy their relationship.
33. Love Jones (1997): After a chance meeting at a Chicago nightclub, an aspiring writer and an aspiring photographer bond over their artistic interests. When Nina decides to move to NYC to rekindle her relationship with her ex-finance, this love triangle puts strain on their relationship.
34. Brokeback Mountain (2005): One of the first mainstream Hollywood blockbusters featuring the love story between two gay cowboys, Brokeback Mountain depicts the complex romance between the men in 1963 and the women whom they are each engaged to wed.
35. Safe Haven (2013): Based on best-selling author Nicholas Sparks’ novel, a young woman named Katie, wanting to escape her dark and terrifying secret past, ends up in a small North Carolina town where she doesn’t plan on falling in love. When she lets down her guard, she realizes she must choose between the safety of a transient life or a life of riskier rewards.
36. The Lucky One (2012): Another romance novel written by Nicholas Sparks makes our list of romance films. The Lucky One is about a soldier who returns from Iraq convinced that a picture of a woman who he has never met is the reason why he survived the war. When he finally meets her, he hopes that she will become more than a good luck charm.
37. From Here to Eternity (1953): Another classic film to make our list touches upon a love triangle. When a lone-wolf soldier and a boxing champion refuses to box, his Captain subjects him to a grueling series of punishments. Meanwhile the soldier ends up falling in love with the Captain’s mistreated wife and their clandestine affair threatens them all.
38. Roman Holiday (1953): This classic film starring Audrey Hepburn as Ann, a European princess, takes a sedative prescribed by her doctor and falls asleep on a park bench in Rome. When a reporter finds her and then later discovers her identity, he bets his editor that he can get an exclusive interview. Love gets in the way in this romantic comedy.
39. Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961): Based on Truman Capote’s novel, the story features a young woman in New York City who is working as an expensive escort looking for a rich man to marry. She meets a young man who moves into her building who is living with an older wealthy woman. As the story unfolds, secrets begin to be revealed which complicates both the young woman’s life and the life of the budding writer living with the wealthy older woman.
40. Forget Paris (1995): When a mix up with a casket is lost at a Paris airport, the relationship between Mickey, an NBA referee, and Ellen, and airlines employee blooms. Their love story is told from the perspective of their friends who explain their relationship to another couple who are waiting for Mickey and Ellen to arrive for dinner at a restaurant.
41. Crazy Rich Asians (2018): This funny romantic comedy is a modern-day twist on the struggles with falling in love with someone whose family doesn’t think you are good enough. Set in cosmopolitan Singapore, this movie showcases the ultra luxurious life of Asia’s richest families.
42. The Proposal (2009): When a Canadian, who is a publishing executive living in New York City is about to overstay her work visa, she hatches a plan to marry her assistant for a green card in exchange for giving him a promotion. Things take a hilarious twist when she travels to Alaska to meet his family.
43. Leap Year (2010): When another year passes without a proposal from her boyfriend, Anna decides to take action on February 29, Leap Year, the day where Celtic tradition allows women to pop the question. Things get complicated when Anna follows her love to Dublin to propose, but the fates have other plans for her.
44. 500 Days of Summer (2009): When a greeting card writer and hopeless romantic is suddenly dumped by his girlfriend, Summer, he tries to figure out where their 500 day romance went wrong. In the process, he rediscovers what his true passion in life is.
45. My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002): Still unmarried at 30, Toula’s Greek family is worried that she will never marry. When she meets a teacher and falls in love, her family is less worried about her never marrying than wanting to marry someone who is not Greek. This hilarious movie highlights the quirkiness that all families seem to deal with.
46. Wedding Crashers (2005): Two friends who are divorce mediators, spend their free time crashing weddings end up attending the wedding of a prominent political family. Things get complicated when a meaningless hook up turns into a weekend spent back at the family’s vacation estate. When the friends fall for two sisters, their secret is exposed.
47. Something Borrowed (2011): A Romantic comedy based on the Emily Griffin novel, tells the tale of two friends, one a serious-minded attorney, and the other free-spirited who end up in a bitter love triangle when Rachel ends up sleeping with her friend Darcy’s fiancé.
48. 27 Dresses (2008): Always the Bridesmaid, never the Bride. This go-to-gal is the perennial bridesmaid who is always putting the needs of others above her own. When Jane’s day planner is left behind in a cab she shares with a reporter, he snoops inside and resolves to return it to her. Things become complicated when James, the reporter, who writes wedding announcements, is assigned to write about the wedding Jane is helping her friend plan. Unaware of his intentions to write about her and her 27 Bridesmaids dresses, they end up growing closer. James has a tough decision to publish the article and potentially lose the girl he has fallen for.
49. He’s Just Not That Into You (2009): This ensemble cast intertwines the love lives of a group of friends in their 20’s and 30’s, who try to navigate the rules of modern love.
50. Made of Honor (2008): When a serial dater’s best friend says she’s found Mr. Right and is going to get married, Tom realizes he’s always been in love with Hannah. When Hannah asks Tom, her best friend, to be her Maid of Honor, he takes the opportunity to try to stop the wedding and make Hannah fall in love with him.
While our list covers many of the all-time classic romantic love stories and romantic comedies, it is not an all-inclusive list of every romance movie made. But we do hope you will find a few that you can binge with your favorite person.
Drop a comment below and let us know what your all-time favorite romantic movie is. Do you prefer a classic love story, or a laugh-inducing comedic movie?
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Titanic has been on at cinemas due to its anniversary. It is a perfect romance film. Amazing list! Also the Bodyguard is beautiful with a wonderful soundtrack.