45 Romance Movies for Everyone
By Michele Tang
Whether you’re in a long-term relationship, single, or a family guy, a nice romance movie is always a good idea. Here at Likewise, we’ve compiled some of our favorite romance movies for you to watch if you’re ever in a romantic mood. If you like any of the movies below, be sure to save them in the free Likewise app, so you’ll never have to miss out on the content you love.
10 Things I Hate About You
10 Things I Hate About You is Shakespeare: American High School edition. An adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, this movie follows the Stratford sisters, Bianca and Kat. Bianca, the younger sister, can’t date until Kat does, so Bianca schemes to get Kat a date. Even though it’s over 20 years old, the movie is still a fun watch in 2021. It also provided a breakthrough role for some major actors, including Julia Stiles, the late Heath Ledger, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Overall, it’s a quintessential romantic comedy that you won’t want to miss!
About Time
Directed by the guy who made Love Actually and starring the likes of Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams, Margot Robbie, and Bill Nighy, About Time is like the movie version of a warm hug. If you wanna watch a movie guy who can time travel and falls in love, About Time is available to stream on Netflix.
Amélie
Amélie is a romcom about a do-gooder who falls in love with a mysterious man she’s been seeing around Paris. It’s got a beautiful color palette and a straight-up delightful script. This movie is in French, but even if you usually aren’t into foreign films, you’ll still find this movie absolutely charming and more than worth a watch. You can stream it on Paramount Plus.
A Star Is Born
Lady Gaga’s incredible voice and Bradley Cooper’s Oscar-nominated acting chops–what more could you ask for in a movie? A Star Is Born follows an alcoholic musician, played by Cooper, and an aspiring singer, played by Gaga. The movie is packed full of emotional performances and features the song “Shallow”, which won Best Original Song at the Oscars. So, if you’re looking for an emotional, romantic movie and also wouldn’t mind Lady Gaga’s vocals, A Star Is Born is for you!
Booksmart
If you’ve ever watched Superbad, trust me, you will love Booksmart (and no worries if you haven’t watched Superbad before!). The movie follows two studious best friends who decide that on their last day of school, they are finally going to break the rules and attend a high school party. While Booksmart follows in the comedic footsteps of Superbad, it goes beyond the classic teen movie trope and explores relationships and coming-of-age in a more meaningful way. And fun fact, Booksmart actor Beanie Feldstein is actually the younger sister of Superbad star, Jonah Hill!
Carol
It’s 1950s Manhattan and a young female photographer falls in love with an older woman. Their forbidden affair is explored in this melodrama with mesmerizing detail, simple narrative, and beautiful cinematography. Actresses Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara were praised endlessly for their performances and the film received six Oscar nominations. If you’re looking for a taste of 1950s style cinema and a passionate love story, Carol is for you.
Crazy Rich Asians
Crazy Rich Asians is a colorful, fun, romantic comedy that is fit for a king. It follows a Chinese-American woman, Rachel, on her trip to meet her boyfriend Nick’s family in Singapore. Unbeknownst to Rachel, Nick’s family is one of the wealthiest families in Singapore. Rachel tries to navigate the culture of not only a new country, but of a different social sphere. The film is filled with luxuries ranging from high society parties to million-dollar rings. If you’re looking to immerse yourself in the lifestyle for the ultra-rich for the night or just want a great romance movie with your significant other, try Crazy Rich Asians!
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
There’s a reason Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind has a cult following. It features a couple, played by Kate Winslet and Jim Carrey, who decide to undergo a medical procedure to erase each other from their memories after they break up. The movie uses a non-linear narrative style to explore the couple’s relationship and their memories, and it has received countless awards and accolades for its incredible portrayal of love and romance. If you aren’t afraid of a little heartbreak in your romance movie, give it a watch.
Her
Her is a great, unique sci-fi romance movie. It’s set slightly into the future when a man named Theodore falls in love with an intelligent operating system. This movie was written and directed by Spike Jonze, who also directed movies like Being John Malkovich and Adaptation. It stars the likes of Joaquin Phoenix, Scarlett Johansson, and Amy Adams, who all give stellar performances. If you want an original love story with excellent actors and storytelling, Her is available to rent on Amazon Prime.
High Fidelity
High Fidelity is, put simply, hilarious. It’s a movie about a failing record shop owner who has to confront his multiple failed relationships, including his current relationship. Yes we know, breakups aren’t what we traditionally think of for romance movies, but we promise, the comedic value of this film will make up for it. It stars John Cusack and Jack Black, so you know you’ll get some laughs out of it.
La La Land
If you haven’t watched La La Land what have you been doing?! La La Land captures the beauty of finding love in Los Angeles. It follows an aspiring actress, played by Emma Stone, who meets a pianist, played by Ryan Gosling. Their love story develops through musical pieces and the stunning Los Angeles skyline. It’s obvious why the film received a record fourteen nominations at the Oscars,
Moonlight
Artistic, moving, powerful. Moonlight is a must-watch, Oscar-winning coming of age drama. Split into three defining chapters, Moonlight follows the life of Chiron, a young, queer, black male as he grows up in Miami and attempts to navigate familial and romantic relationships. Three different actors play Chiron in each of the three chapters and each actor adds new levels of complexity to Chiron’s character. Not to mention, the film is so visually stunning, you won’t forget it.
Notting Hill
Quiet British bookseller meets Hollywood starlet. Notting Hill is a romance comedy classic starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant. It’s known for its charmingly sweet storyline and the great chemistry between Roberts and Grant. This is the perfect movie for any romantic occasion, from a dinner date to girls’ night. Also, if you ever find yourself in London post-COVID-19, you can actually visit the Notting Hill bookshop (maybe you’ll find your future lover there too?)!
Runaway Bride
Here’s another Julia Roberts movie, what can we say, she truly is the Queen of Rom-Coms. The title of this movie tells it all, Roberts plays a small-town girl, Maggie, who is notorious for leaving her fiancés at the altar. Ike is a journalist, played by Richard Gere, who decides to write an in-depth article about Maggie and meets her to interview her. Ike eventually falls for Maggie, but what will come of their relationship? You’ll have to watch to find out!
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
Written and directed by Edgar Wright and adapted from the famous comic book series, Scott Pilgrim vs the World follows titular character Scott Pilgrim as he fights his new girlfriend Ramona’s seven evil exes. This film is engaging, this film is fast-paced, and this film is very funny. It features a star-studded cast including the likes of Michael Cera, Chris Evans, Jason Schwatzman, Aubrey Plaza, Anna Kendrick, Brie Larson, and so many more incredible actors. You can stream it right now on Netflix.
The Half of It
Netflix has been stepping up their romance movies recently! This Netflix Original follows a smart, nerdy girl Ellie, who meets a football player named Paul. She helps him write love letters for a girl named Aster even though she’s secretly in love with Aster too. The Half of It navigates friendships and queer romantic relationships thoughtfully. It’s a heartwarming story that should be on your next-watch list!
The Notebook
What would a romance movie list be without The Notebook? This iconic romance movie is based on the novel The Notebook and follows a young couple who fall in love in the 1940s. The couple, played by Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, experience countless struggles and trials throughout their relationship, but their love still remains strong throughout. Of course, there’s their famous kiss in the rain that is enough reason alone for you to watch the movie. Make sure you have some tissues around if you’re watching this movie because there are some heartwrenching moments!
The Shape of Water
If you’re a sci-fi fan looking for romantic watch, The Shape of Water is for you. This Oscar-winning film follows a mute woman who works in a government lab and falls in love with a mysterious, other-worldly creature. Director Guillermo del Toro weaves moving themes with great cinematography. Ultimately, The Shape of Water proves that love transcends difference.
The Princess Bride
Here’s a kid-friendly romance movie for you and your family! Farmworker Wesley must rescue Princess Buttercup from the evil Prince Humperdinck in this fairytale film. Told as if it is being read straight from a storybook, the film’s screenplay is funny, romantic, classic. The film is also listed as one of the American Film Institute’s greatest film love stories, which is an impressive feat!
When Harry Met Sally
When Harry Met Sally is the love story of Harry Burns (played by Billy Crystal) and Sally Albright (played by Meg Ryan) which takes place over the course of a decade. Even if you haven’t seen this movie, you probably know about it because of its famous “I’ll have what she’s having” scene. Written by Nora Ephron (the person who wrote You’ve Got Mail and Sleepless in Seattle) and directed by Rob Reiner (the person who directed The Princess Bride, This is Spinal Tap, Stand By Me, A Few Good Men, and just so many other movies), this movie is an absolute delight to watch. If you love Carrie Fisher or iconic New York imagery or wearing sweaters, this is definitely a movie for you. You can stream it now on Showtime.
We hope you found a movie you’d like to watch on that list! If those weren’t enough for you, check out 25 more romantic movies to watch. As always, make sure to download the free Likewise app and save your favorite items on the app!
Always Be My Maybe
Blue is the Warmest Color
Boys Don’t Cry
Brokeback Mountain
Call Me By Your Name
Casablanca
Crazy, Stupid, Love.
Forrest Gump
God’s Own Country
I Feel Pretty
Love Actually
Love, Simon
Milk
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
P.S. I Love You
Portrait of a Lady on Fire
Roman Holiday
Shakespeare in Love
Silver Linings Playbook
Tangerine
The English Patient
The Fault in Our Stars
The Kissing Booth
Titanic
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before
