ARTICLE
The Best Romance Movies You Can Stream Right Now!
By Rachelle / 28 May 2021 (Friday)
"The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love, and be loved in return."
Christian, Moulin Rouge (2001)
With the existence of romantic movies, we can fall in love over and over again without the risk of an actual heartbreak. You don’t have to wait until Valentine’s Day for an excuse to cosy up on your couch (or your bed, if you please) and binge sappy romantic dramas.
I've compiled a list of romantic movies that’ll pull at your heartstrings and may make you cry a little in the process.
*P/S: There are clips of the best scenes from each film to further entice you. Do approach with caution if you do not wish to be spoiled! You have been warned.
Pride & Prejudice (2005)
Pride & Prejudice is a romantic drama film based on Jane Austen's 1813 novel of the same name. The film features five sisters from an English family of landed gentry as they deal with issues of marriage, morality and misconceptions. Keira Knightley stars in the lead role of Elizabeth Bennet with Matthew Macfadyen playing her romantic interest Mr. Darcy.
Directed by Joe Wright in his directorial debut, the film was nominated for four Oscars at the 78th Academy Awards, including Best Actress in a Leading Role for 20-year-old Knightley.
Serving us Georgian era realness, Pride & Prejudice explores aspects of love that reach far beyond the usual romance we are exposed to. Despite being a film that lacks physical touch and has zero kissing, it is one of the greatest romantic dramas to ever exist. Don’t believe us? See for yourself.
Best scene: “You have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love, I love, I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on.” Sorry gents but Mr. Darcy set the bar and that's that.
Where to watch: Netflix
Call Me By Your Name (2017)
Call Me By Your Name is a coming-of-age romantic drama film directed by Luca Guadagnino, based on the 2007 novel of the same name by André Aciman.
Set in 1983 in northern Italy, the film chronicles the romantic relationship between a 17-year-old, Elio Perlman (Timothée Chalamet), and Oliver (Armie Hammer), a 24-year-old graduate-student assistant to Elio's father (Michael Stuhlbarg), an archaeology professor. The film also stars actresses Amira Casar, Esther Garrel, and Victoire Du Bois.
Disassociating from your typical Hollywood romance film, Guadagnino succeeded in creating a masterpiece by painting Call Me By Your Name with the artistry of European filmmaking. It’s a summer romance you will never forget.
Best scene: “But to make yourself feel nothing so as not to feel anything - what a waste!” In an unexpected twist, the best scene in this film actually comes from the protagonist’s father. We love a good patriarchal truth bomb.
Where to watch: HBO GO
Moulin Rouge! (2001)
Moulin Rouge! is a jukebox musical romantic drama film directed, co-produced, and co-written by Baz Luhrmann. It follows a young English poet, Christian, who falls in love with the star of the Moulin Rouge, cabaret actress and courtesan Satine. The film uses the musical setting of the Montmartre Quarter of Paris and is the final part of Luhrmann's "Red Curtain Trilogy" following Strictly Ballroom (1992), and Romeo + Juliet (1996). The film stars Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor, John Leguizamo, Jim Broadbent, and Richard Roxburgh.
It has a young McGregor singing his heart out. Need we say more?
Best scene: “I hope you don't mind, That I put down in the words, How wonderful life is while you're in the world.” It’s young Ewan McGregor singing his heart out. Need we really say more?
Where to watch: Disney+
Titanic (1997)
Titanic is an epic romance and disaster film directed, written, co-produced, and co-edited by James Cameron. Incorporating both historical and fictionalized aspects, it is based on accounts of the sinking of the RMS Titanic, and stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet as members of different social classes who fall in love aboard the ship during its ill-fated maiden voyage.
The film was nominated for 14 Academy Awards, winning 11, including the awards for Best Picture and Best Director.
The world fell in love with Leonardo DiCaprio and I haven’t known another world since. Epic indeed.
Best scene: "You jump, I jump." As a skeptical adult you might ask "What do these kids know about love?". Well, a lot more than we do evidently. They dared to make the leap. Would you?
Where to watch: Disney+
The Notebook (2004)
The Notebook is romantic drama film directed by Nick Cassavetes, written by Jeremy Leven and Jan Sardi, based on the 1996 novel of the same name by Nicholas Sparks. The film stars Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams as a young couple who fall in love in the 1940s. Their story is read from a notebook in the present day by an elderly man (played by James Garner), telling the tale to a fellow nursing home resident (played by Gena Rowlands, who is the director Cassavetes's mother).
For some reason, romance always translated better in novels compared to their film counterparts. Unless that is of course there's undeniable chemistry from the cast that successfully sell the film.
There’s good acting and then there’s real love. Any film that ends with the co-stars falling in love with each other off-screen is a good enough indication the film needs to be seen.
Best scene: Noah and Ally's fight scene. Controversial choice choosing a fight scene as the best in a romance movie, yes. But we all know no relationship is truly successful without an argument or two. So much truth was shared in this scene alone. What fiery tension!
Where to watch: HBO GO
Atonement (2007)
Atonement is a romantic war drama film directed by Joe Wright and starring James McAvoy, Keira Knightley, Saoirse Ronan, Romola Garai, Benedict Cumberbatch and Vanessa Redgrave. It is based on Ian McEwan's 2001 novel of the same name. The film chronicles a crime and its consequences over the course of six decades, beginning in the 1930s.
Is Keira Knightley a great romantic actress or is she just really good at picking her roles? Specifically romantic period pieces. And yes, this is the second Joe Wright film on our list but what can we say, the man knows his romance.
Best scene: The fountain scene. The sexual tension between Knightley and McAvoy’s characters deserves a place in the Romance Museum. Sometimes saying nothing at all speaks volumes.
Where to watch: Apple TV
Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Brokeback Mountain is a 2005 American Neo-Western romantic drama film directed by Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’s Ang Lee. Adapted from the 1997 short story of the same name by Annie Proulx, the screenplay was written by Ossana and Larry McMurtry. The film stars Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway, and Michelle Williams and depicts the complex emotional and sexual relationship between two American male cowboys named Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist in the American West from 1963 to 1983.
Who knew Ang Lee had this in him? Delivering a raw, chemistry-filled, performance driven masterpiece with young actors who were still paving their way in Hollywood. Ledger delivered what was his then “best work to-date” at the age of 25 in this film. He may have been robbed of an Oscar but he won our hearts.
Brokeback Mountain secured a place for queer cinema in the mainstream. There’s a reason why it remains one of the most successful LGBTQ films ever.
Best scene: Jack and Ennis' reunion scene. The forceful kiss and embrace between two lovers deprived of each other broke my heart, knowing that they could never truly be with each other despite their strong feelings.
Where to watch: Netflix
Phantom Thread (2017)
Phantom Thread is a historical drama film written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, and starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Lesley Manville and Vicky Krieps. Set in 1950s London, it stars Day-Lewis as an haute couture dressmaker who takes a young waitress, played by Krieps, as his muse.
The film has all the makings of a romantic drama that will linger in your mind for days. Precision direction from Anderson, masterclass acting from Day-Lewis and company, stunning visuals, a pleasing aesthetic that historical film thespians would appreciate and last but definitely not least – a hauntingly beautiful score from composer Jonny Greenwood.
We’re all heartbroken that Daniel Day-Lewis retired from acting but knowing that this film was his final role before retirement eases the pain a little. It’s a fitting bow-out.
Best scene: "Kiss me, my girl. Before I'm sick." When Day-Lewis' Reynolds knowingly ate the poisoned food Krieps' Alma had made him, giving in to her methods of keeping him in his place. I admit, it's borderline toxic but there's just something really beautiful about it and the way it was executed. How far would you go for love?
Where to watch: Apple TV
(500) Days of Summer (2009)
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(500) Days of Summer is a romantic comedy-drama film by first-time director Marc Webb from a screenplay written by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber. The film stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel, and employs a nonlinear narrative structure, with the story based upon its male protagonist and his memories of a failed relationship.
This film was one of the very first I'd seen where not all romances end happy and it stuck with me for a very long time. It made me do a double take on my stance on romance films. I wanted to hate it for denying me a happy ending but it also taught me to appreciate the bittersweet emotions it left me reeling in.
Baby faced Gordon-Levitt and manic pixie Deschanel were in their prime then. They ruled 2009 with this film. Sickeningly indie cute.
Best scene: The IKEA scene. I’d be lying if this film didn’t change the way I viewed IKEA. There hasn’t been a single visit since where I behaved like a normal human just browsing for furniture and things. Why would I when I can have fun and play pretend?
Where to watch: Disney+
Before Sunrise (1995)
Before Sunrise is romantic drama film directed by Richard Linklater and co-written by Linklater and Kim Krizan. It follows Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Céline (Julie Delpy) as they meet on a Eurail train and disembark in Vienna to spend the night together.
The plot is considered minimalistic, consisting mostly of monologues and casual conversation with extended dialogue as the characters navigate Vienna. Their contrasting ideas and perspectives on life and love are detailed, with Jesse a romantic disguised as a cynic, and Céline seemingly a romantic. Before Sunrise also explores time and self-discovery.
Oh how we love a simple romantic gem that carries weight without all the pomp and circumstance!
It would have been a crime not to include any of the films from the Before trilogy. I’d have added all 3 if I could but I’ll just leave the first and best one here and you can decide to follow up with its predecessors on your own. It’s one thing to succeed as an individual original piece but to also have sequels that are equally as good is not something that happens everyday. Linklater has bragging rights for gifting the world one of the best trilogies in film history.
Best scene: Jesse and Céline talking about love.
Where to watch: Apple TV
Would you watch any of these films? Let us know in the comments below!