Whether it’s Valentine’s Day, Kissing Day, or a special occasion to celebrate with your partner, the movies always have the right answer when it comes to romance. Therefore, the Empire has selected the 50 best romantic films in the history of cinema.
Are any of them among your favorites?
50. About Time.
Richard Curtis, England’s greatest comedian, plays here with the space-time continuum in the most captivating and strange way possible. While Domhnall Gleeson and Rachel McAdams play an incredible couple, the love celebrated here is more like that found in the bond between father and son, as Bill Nighy brings a heartbreaking moment to the story.
49. While You Were Sleeping.
Sure, there’s something weird about your family forcing you to pose as the fiancée of a comatose patient and then fall in love with his brother, but somehow Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman made it work, while Peter Gallagher sleeps. A classic that reminds us of how rare and unethical love can be.
48. Love Actually.
What was Richard Curtis trying to tell us with ‘Love Actually’? Is it okay to deliver secret love messages to your newlywed friend’s wife? Will husbands finally ever cheat on their wives with younger lovers? Who cares: This romance, if you want to call it that, turned out to be classic and a lot of fun, as it is the only decent Christmas movie in the last 15 years, and the ending on the airport runway softens all the bitter parts of the movie. history and our lives. Plus, the final scene with Bill Nighy and his manager is guaranteed to thaw a frozen heart!
47. Ghost.
How to make ceramics sexy? Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore did. This film mixes laughter with just the right amount of tears, plus Swayze is the ideal romantic hero who returns after being murdered to save the life of his ex-girlfriend. Much more than an Oscar for Whoopi Goldberg, Ghost won in life and life after death.
46. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.
99% of romantic movies would be much better with some kung fu and bass battles. The hyper-stylized adaptation of the graphic novel, made into a movie by genius Edgar Wright, is full of them. In the movie, a lazy Canadian fights for his new girlfriend, Ramona Flowers, literally taking on her seven evil ex-boyfriends in Street Fighter-inspired fights, where special moves are the powers of love and self-respect.
45. Bridget Jones’s Diary.
A classic of classics, with Renee Zellweger representing all the women in the world who have felt little capable, both in their professional life and in their love life. Having two men like Colin Firth and Hugh Grant fighting for your love must be the pinnacle of what a person would expect from their love life. Thanks so much, Bridget Jones!
44. The Wedding Singer.
The most demanding filmmakers might pick ‘Punch, Drunk, Love’ as Adam Sandler’s best romantic movie, but the rest of us will stick with The Wedding Singer. Billy Idol’s cameo makes her perfect, although Sandler and Drew Barrymore also portray a charming couple full of emotions ranging from an unlikely relationship to an incredible airport scene with 80s music in between.
43. The Way We Were.
Basically anti-romance: Sydney Pollack’s melodrama stars Robert Redford and Barbara Streisand as a couple who never adjusted to each other and didn’t end up being together. Opposites attract, but they don’t necessarily work. The story, however, told mostly in hindsight, somehow proves that there were some good times there somewhere in the relationship. Focusing on people trying to make a relationship work despite a bitterly divided life, it seems quite timely for all audiences.
42. Cyrano De Bergerac.
“Mon nez! Huge c’est! Gerard Depardieu’s portrayal as the unrequited romantic in director Jean-Paul Rappeneau’s Edmond Rostand classic is simply heartbreaking and one of the best in film history: dominating the stage for a moment and ripping apart the fibers of his heart the next, his performance is as big as his nose that keeps him away from his great love, Roxane.
41. Sliding Doors.
A high-concept romantic comedy directed by Peter Howitt, which could depend on how much you want to see Gwyneth Paltrow on screen. The film follows Helen’s romantic misadventures through side stories. She refuses to trust love, and both Paltrow and John Hannah are lovable leads.
40. The Notebook.
One of the most popular adaptations of Nicholas Sparks’s work, which makes us cry ourselves to tears: Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams are two young lovers separated through the years by prejudice, World War II and, finally, dementia senile, in a film meticulously designed to leave viewers drowning in a pool of tears.
39. Chasing Amy.
In this film, director Kevin Smith presents an obviously doomed battle between comic book artist Holden (Ben Affleck) and his lesbian love interest Alyssa (Joey Lauren Adams). Though his sexual politics are hopelessly outdated, the script chock-full of pop culture references – the Jaws-inspired scene that changes sex scars, the racist Star Wars delusion, among others – remains one of Smith’s best.
38. Titanic.
Yes, yes, we all know that Jack could have easily walked into the floating door. Geometric frustrations aside, James Cameron’s spectacular disaster ship movie took us on a journey through a cheesy yet scary love story that destroys social class and brings a human scale to the catastrophe based on true events.
37. William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet.
Shakespeare knew how to write a good romance, even if it surpassed him in depressing conclusions. Baz Luhrmann brought his explosive visual dynamism to the original doomed lovers, decking the Montagues and Capulets in Hawaiian shirts, pistols, and a color palette that even most ’90s pop groups would describe as “a bit garish.”.
36. The 40-Year-Old Virgin.
Judd Apatow’s film debut marked an entire generation that saw future Hollywood star Steve Carrell suffer for love in body and soul. The 40-Year-Old-Virgin defined the next decade of American comedies by the enchanting search for Andy’s true love. Furthermore, the method of “detecting gays” through Coldplay songs will never go out of style.
35. Sleepless in Seattle.
Today the stories between people who never met in real life result in confrontations with Catfish and television shows about hoaxes. But in 1993, Nora Ephron turned this into an extremely cute rom-com where Sam (Tom Hank) and Annie (Meg Ryan) bond over radio broadcasts and typing. Years later, this pair would fall in love again, although using more modern methods …
34. Truly, Madly, Deeply.
The heartbreaking story of Nina (Juliet Stevenson), grieving over the loss of her boyfriend Jamie (Alan Rickman) until he supernaturally returns to her life. Anthony Minghella carefully navigates feelings of conflict and romantic interludes and uses the tale to explore the truth behind the couple’s previous relationship. It wasn’t often that we saw Rickman in a romantic role, but the couple makes us feel their pain, their love, and their loss.
33. Up.
Pixar quietly offered audiences some emotional devastation in the first five minutes of Up, a mini-masterpiece of an extraordinary and love-filled life between soulmates, Carl and Ellie. But the rest of Carl’s South American adventure as a retired man is also full of romance. We shouldn’t even mention the scrapbook scene, which offers Pixar’s deepest reflection on what true love really is like.
32. The African Queen.
A Hollywood classic. The African Queen manages to show a romance on a World War I suicide mission. Katharine Hepburn is the Methodist missionary who convinces the stubborn captain (played by Humphrey Bogart) to climb back into his steamboat for a dangerous journey down the Ulanga River, this in a torpedo attack against the Germans.
31. Carol.
Todd Haynes never lets social conflicts and debates get in the way of the story he wants to tell. In ‘Carol’ a delightful romance between the young photographer Therese (Rooney Mara) and the glamorous and tragic lady Carol (Cate Blanchett).
30. The Big Sick.
Without a doubt the best cinematic romance where one member of the couple spends most of the time in a coma. Kumail Nanjiani and his wife Emily V. Gordon adapted the disease from their own relationship to real-life for contemporary culture, where romantic comedy collides with life and death. Less stark than most Judd Apatow-produced films, while sketches of 9/11 sit in the air.
29. Say Anything.
Cameron Crowe made his directorial debut in this film after proving that he had a keen ear for realistic and memorable dialogue in previous work. John Cusack is Lloyd Dobler, while Ione Skye shares the scene with him, in a clear look at the tortuous path that love can take. The film also features key moments that last longer than most, including the highly publicized boombox scene.
28. Dirty Dancing.
The incredible chemistry between Jennifer Gray and Patrick Swayze was noticed on screen, in this hit-laden ode from the eighties, shocking your parents and doing whatever it takes to end up hiring a dance instructor to stay fit and find love in the hot steps of the movie. Warning: don’t attempt the famous climate lift unless you are as impressive and strong as Swayze.
27. Shaun of the Dead.
Edgar Wright’s big-screen debut still has a big heart and brain like any other romantic comedy today, even if it involves a zombie attack. This is a movie about deciding to get engaged to your girlfriend, growing up past your twenties, and abandoning everything that ties you down and won’t let you get on with your life … or something like that.
26. Manhattan.
Although currently in the process of critical degradation thanks to the remarkable history of child abuse, Manhattan still has much to offer. The film talks about both outstanding interpersonal relationships and failed relationships. This is Woody Allen’s most passionate love letter to New York City and the music of George Gershwin. “New York was his city, and always would be,” is the line heard at the beginning, when ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ explodes to life and fireworks light up the Manhattan skyline. A classic that, hopefully, will never be forgotten.
25. La La Land.
Here are two great romances: one between the musician played by Ryan Gosling, Sebastian, and Mia, the actress with the big green eyes Emma Stone; and the other between director Damien Chazelle and his beloved city of Los Angeles and jazz. Beyond music, this is a delightful tale about life and how to move on.
24. Roxanne.
Not many romantic comedies starring Steve Martin can claim to be based on a verse play from 1897. In fact, this could be a version of Cyrano de Bergerac for an audience of the eighties. The film shows us that there are many confusions and frustrations on the road to true love, but despite knowing where the story is going, a light touch and the total charm of the cast lead us to believe in romance again.
23. The Philadelphia Story.
The triumphant return of Katharine Hepburn after a series of disappointments, both in her personal and professional life. The original Broadway play was written specifically for her and she oversaw its adaptation with the support of Howard Hughes. The movie is torn between accepting the affections of Cary Grant or James Stewart, and if the idea of that love triangle was no longer seductive enough, it is actually a square, as John Howard is there too. The classics will always be classics.
22. The Shape Of Water.
Only Guillermo del Toro could propose a romance between a woman and a half-man, half-fish creature, and elevate it beyond something you would find on deep web sites. Sally Hawkins is endlessly charming as Elisa, effortlessly displaying her great attraction to the scaly, demi-god “fish man” Doug Jones.
21. Notting Hill.
The romance between a common man and a Hollywood star is only slightly more believable than the concept of getting a Notting Hill apartment with the profits of a second-hand bookstore. But the charm of the film is irresistible: Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts at the peak of their careers, a script by Richard Curtis full of classic lines make this film the best option to fall in love again.
20. Call Me By Your Name.
This movie puts true love on one side and unexpected feelings on the other. Luca Guadagnino’s gaze of love has been honorably laden with accolades and Oscar nominations. Teenager Elio (Timothée Chalamet), juggling at least one girlfriend while developing a deeper relationship with Oliver (Armie Hammer), who came to the family’s summer home to become the research assistant for his father … Everything picks up in a great story of romance and mixed feelings for new audiences.
19. Gone With The Wind.
Settle in for a long walk through the tumult of the American Civil War and beyond through the story of Scarlett O’Hara, a southern woman who will do anything and marry whoever she wants to get what she wants. A true Hollywood epic, featuring iconic performances by Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable, with surprisingly crude language (“Frankly darling, I don’t give a damn”) and a chilling four-hour run time.
18. 10 Things I Hate About You.
The Movie That Raised The Bar For Teen Romance Films Everywhere: Julia Stiles Gives Her Max And Heath Ledger Is The Best Bad Boy Alongside An Angelic Joseph Gordon-Levitt In This High School Adaptation Mixed With Shakespeare: Teen Poetry depressing, a touch of pop-punk in the soundtrack and the ugliest prom dress ever… Another classic of contemporary romance.
17. An Affair To Remember.
A classic romance with a valuable lesson: look both ways before crossing the street. Cary Grant as Nickie and Deborah Kerr as Terry are conflicting lovers who fall in love on a cruise ship. There is a problem: they both have a partner at home. These lovers make a pact to meet on top of the Empire State Building after six months if they still love each other, but Terry never makes it to the meeting after being hit by a car. The impact on the audience and his beloved are evident …
16. Pretty Woman.
Julia Roberts became instant royalty of Hollywood and rom-coms as Vivian, the golden-hearted prostitute who becomes involved in the life of a businessman, played by Richard Gere. She gets a makeover and fairy tale ending with her white knight, as well as discovering true love and a new perspective on relationships. Just don’t think too much about sexual politics.
15. The Apartment.
Billy Wilder at the height of his filmmaking career guides Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine through a film that explores not only the growing attraction between two characters, but also loneliness, despair, and the feeling of being in a world that doesn’t think of yourself. The result? Five Oscar statuettes (including Best Picture) with 10 nominations, all well earned.
14. Groundhog Day.
Sarcastic weatherman Phil Connors is caught in a time loop in which he is forced to become his best version of himself to be worthy of courting his co-worker, Rita. Bill Murray in his prime? Yes, by mixing comedy with romance in a fun story about time travel and self-improvement.
13. Brokeback Mountain.
The impressive performances of Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, and the sensitive direction of Ang Lee (who won an Oscar for his work) combine to create an instant and memorable classic that is based on talk and longing. The story of these two cowboys falling over each other is so powerful because it is so perfectly played by an impressive ensemble that also includes Michelle Williams and Anne Hathaway.
12. Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
Putting aside some of the more troublesome elements that emerge when the film is viewed with a modern eye, TIFFANY’S is fueled by the nuclear-level charm of Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly, the socialite looking for a new neighbor and a dark past. Hepburn went on to comment on how difficult she found playing Holly, but you’ll never notice it in the film, a complex story about a woman pushing her way to profit at all costs.
11. Across the Universe.
The decision of the Web Editor. How not to think of The Beatles when talking about love? Whether in them as a group or individually in Paul and his “silly love songs” and John asking for love to be made and not a war between nations, Across the Universe compiles the great songs of the most famous quartet in the world in a story done war, social conflicts and love play a key role in the protagonists.
10. Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind.
With a script by Charlie Kaufman and Michel Gondry behind the camera, ETERNAL SUNSHINE dispenses with romantic conventions to reflect on love, memory, and pain. The non-linear narrative crudely loads the breakup scenes and then offers a warmer look at the happy days of the relationship between Joel (Jim Carrey) and Clementine (Kate Winslet), who make the drastic decision to forget each other entirely. a procedure that made more than one suffer in the movie theater.
9. Jerry Maguire.
This Cameron Crowe film combines the sheer joy of falling head over heels in love with the excitement of a sports lover. The film is more romantic than it sounds, delivering two of cinema’s greatest declarations of love in fifteen seconds: Tom Cruise’s “You Complement Me” and “You beat me with ‘hello’”.
8. Before Sunset.
When Richard Linklater is allowed to experiment with the format of his cinema and find something new to say about how love evolves through the years, great stories hit the big screen. In this follow-up to Before Sunrise, you catch up with Ethan Hawke’s Jesse and Julie Delphy’s Celine nine years later for walking, talking, and romance. Written by the cast with its director, it appears to have emerged organically rather than being forced into existence like many sequels, with a script that feels warm, witty, and real when it comes to matters of the heart, for better and for worse.
7. Annie Hall.
Annie Hall stands as one of the best rom-com ever made. Diane Keaton is the titular actress who plays Annie, Alvy’s carefree lover, a neurotic comedian. The film eschews emotional bombast and instead focuses on the tiny everyday moments that spark daily flashes of joy and disappointment, spearheaded by jokes that break the fourth wall with ironic overtones. It is unlikely to win new fans, but hard to forget for those who have already seen it.
6. True Romance.
Its title is not ironic: Beneath Gary Oldman’s cocaine, murders, and terrible outfit, the film has a raw, pounding heart in the travel lovers Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette represent. The movie changed the meaning from “three little words: I love you” to “You are so cool … You are so cool … You are so cool.”
5. The Princess Bride.
Rob Reiner’s cult classic is a swashbuckling romance where the bottom line is: find a partner to launch yourself down the longest hill in the world.
4. Four Weddings and a Funeral.
Richard Curtis fueled the careers of Hugh Grant and Mike Newell, defined an entirely new era of British romantic comedies, and made a classic we will never forget. Four Weddings and a Funeral offers the bittersweet promise of its title, is a film that shows us how subtle and complex living in love can be.
3. Brief Encounter.
With a message of “a stable husband is better than a passionate lover” (classic in the 1940s), Brief Encounter is as painfully romantic as it is poignant melancholy. Laura and Alec’s first conversation on the train platform is perhaps the most famous, as the duo’s deep connection stood up to scrutiny from the social mores of the time. The end of the romance is enough to leave you with something more than “trash in the eye.”
2. Casablanca.
Humphrey Bogart. Ingrid Bergman. A classic phrase. Against the backdrop of World War II, the story of Rick, an emotionally troubled bar owner, and the return of Ilsa, the old flame who left him emotionally distant, is unequivocally regarded as one of the great films of the world. all the times. Their central love story is bittersweet, with a sacrificial payoff that only reinforces its emotional impact. When you have seen it once, you will be desperate to see it again, because “we will always have Paris”.
1. When Harry Met Sally.
It can be hard to find anything new to say about Rob Reiner and Nora Ephron’s romantic classic, as it has topped the charts and been as praised in the past as possible. This film hits you both in the heart and the sense of humor, reuniting the impossible lovers played by Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal. There’s the endlessly quotable dialogue, Carrie Fisher stealing the scene, and the kind of lasting impact so many movies in the genre haven’t been able to match before or after. This is the quintessential romantic movie.
