The Most Romantic Movies of All Time

How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days — Michael Gibson/Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock

We’re losing it over this news. Matthew McConaughey has said that although he’s since moved on from the rom-com genre, there is actually one romance movie he would consider filming a sequel to: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. During an interview with E!’s Daily Pop, McConaughey said that How to Lose a Guy is perfectly “teed up” for a sequel, and he'd "possibly" be on board.

“As far as romantic comedies go, that was a really good one,” said McConaughey. "And it lasts! People still love that one. I enjoyed that one quite a bit."

So, in honor of this news, we’re queuing up our favorite romantic movies of all time. After all, it is cuffing season and the perfect time to cuddle up and binge these lovey-dovey flicks. But whether you’re watching with your S.O., some pals, or by yourself, a nice romantic story can give all of us a little hope in these uncertain times. Keep scrolling and be prepared to fall in love with 51 of the most romantic movies of all time, which never fail to make us cry.

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How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days

A New York City writer and columnist (Kate Hudson) sets out to find the perfect subject for her newest project: a how-to story on getting a guy to leave you in 10 days. Enter advertising executive (Matthew McConaughey) who, in the name of selling a campaign, has convinced his higher-ups that he can get a girl to fall in love with him in 10 days. The two meet and put their plans into action and, well, you can see where this one is going.

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Casablanca

During WWII, two former flames, Rick and Ilsa, cross paths again in Morocco when Ilsa arrives with her husband. Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman’s palpable chemistry is captivating but (spoiler alert) the film forgoes the standard Hollywood happy ending—cue the waterworks.

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Midnight in Paris

Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, and Marion Cotillard star in the 2011 film about a sight-seeing writer who learns about life, literature, and love when he mysteriously travels back in time while vacationing in Paris with his fiancé.

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The Notebook

This 2004 movie, starring Ryan McAdams as Allie and Ryan Gosling as Noah, has become the quintessential romance movie, with some of the most unforgettable quotes and scenes. (we’re talking THAT kiss in the rain!)

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La La Land

This 2016 film’s jazzy music, enchanting hues, and old-fashion charm are the very epitome of romance. Get swept away in Damien Chazelle's dreamy cinematography that captures the essence of Hollywood and tells the love story between a couple of starving artists trying to make it big in the “City of Stars.”

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Call Me By Your Name

Set in the countryside of Italy during a summer in the ‘80s, 17-year-old Elio (Timothée Chalamet) and his father’s 24-year-old research assistant Oliver (Armie Hammer) find themselves in an unlikely romance. This sensual tale of a budding love is both touching and heartbreaking.

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Silver Linings Playbook

In this David O. Russell film, Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence teach us to find the good in everything and keep dancing through life. The movie was nominated for eight Oscars, including “Best Actress,” which Lawrence won for her performance as Tiffany.

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Elizabethtown

After tragedy and a major career fail rock Drew’s (Orlando Bloom) world, he returns back to his hometown for his father’s memorial. While traveling he meets a vivacious flight attendant Claire (Kirsten Dunst) who starts to turn his life around.

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The Holiday

In an attempt to escape their own lives and heartbreaks, two strangers Amanda (Cameron Diaz) and Iris (Kate Winslet) decide to switch homes for the holidays. During their visits, Amanda and Iris meet strangers who help them move on from their past loves. This heartwarming film has become one of our holiday season film staples. (Is it too early to watch?)

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Crazy, Stupid, Love

This heartwarming 2011 film starring Steve Carell, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone, and Ryan Gosling depicts all of the ups and downs of love with a real-world perspective of not knowing whether it will work out or not. Directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa add humor and irony to a heavy subject matter like divorce for a touching movie that will leave you wondering if you should be laughing or crying.

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A Star Is Born

Bradley Cooper directed and starred in this tear-jerking fourth remake of the classic film that starred Janet Gaynor and Fredric March in the original iteration. Pop icon Lady Gaga joins him as leading-lady Ali and gifted us with the Oscar-winning and chart-topping song, “Shallow,” which she co-wrote with Mark Ronson, Andrew Wyatt, and Anthony Rossomando. Cooper and Gaga also stirred up quite a bit of real-life romance rumors which made their on-screen chemistry that much more believable. We’ll always remember them this way.

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Romeo + Juliet (1996)

Romeo and Juliet — Courtesy of Photofest

This 1996 film adaptation of the Shakespeare play stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes and tells the all-too-familiar, heartbreaking tale of the ill-fated, star-crossed lovers.

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The Fault In Our Stars

Teenage cancer patients Hazel (Shailene Woodley) and Gus meet at a cancer support group and form a bond that soon turns to love. Their beautiful and heart wrenching story will have you reaching for the tissues every time. OK? OK.

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Brokeback Mountain

A pioneer in gay cinema, the 2005 film stars Jake Gyllenhaal as rodeo cowboy Jack and Heath Ledger as ranch hand Ennis. The two are hired to herd sheep on a ranch in Wyoming, and their friendship soon turns into more. Although they both live different lives with wives and families, their secret love doesn’t die.

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Cold War

The 2018 film stars Tomasz Kot as Wiktor and Joanna Kulig as Zula, a pianist and singer who fall in love during the Cold War in Poland. Creator and director Pawel Pawlikowski wrote the film based on his parents’ unlikely love story.

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To Catch a Thief

When notorious burglar John Robie’s (Cary Grant) love interest's jewels go missing, she suspects him as guilty. John goes to extra lengths to find the real thief to clear his name and keep the girl.

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The Prince and the Showgirl

This 1957 classic stars Laurence Olivier as a regent who falls in love with American performer Elsie played by Marilyn Monroe. The actress's performance enchanted the audience and even crew members on set (more on that later with My Week With Marilyn).

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Once

On the streets of Dublin, a vacuum-repairman and musician meets a flower sales girl and Czech immigrant, who is also a singer. The two compose music together and fall in love. The film has since been made into a hit Broadway musical.

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Hitch

When dating coach “Hitch” (Will Smith) meets beautiful, intriguing Sara (Eva Mendes) his “techniques” don’t quite land, so he spends the movie vying for her love. Though Will Smith’s charm and quick-wit would’ve had us from the beginning!

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Moulin Rouge!

The 2001 film stars Nicole Kidman as Moulin Rouge singer Satine and Ewan McGregor as Christian who falls in love with the courtesan after seeing her perform. The Parisian backdrop sets the romantic tone for the character’s love affair.

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Pride & Prejudice

In this 2005 adaptation of the Jane Austen classic, Kiera Knightly stars as Elizabeth, a young Englishwoman who falls into a love/hate relationship with Mr. Darcy, an upper-class man of wealth played by Matthew McFadyen. Their differences test their relationship but in the end, they realize their love for each other.

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Top Five

Profile writer for the New York Times, Chelsea (Rosario Dawson) must spend a day with comedian and movie star Andre (Chris Rock) for a work assignment. On their adventure through the bustling streets of New York City, Andre begins to fall for the reporter.

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Loving

Joel Edgerton and Ruth Negga star in the 2016 film about the true story of interracial married couple Richard and Mildred Loving. When the couple is arrested for being together, their case makes it all the way to the Supreme Court, where it is ruled unconstitutional to ban interracial marriage.

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Singin’ in the Rain

Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds’s voices and dancing take us back in time to the invention of the talkies in Hollywood. The iconic musical theater numbers from the 1952 film still get stuck in our heads almost 70 years later.

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Roman Holiday

This classic film directed by William Wyler was Audrey Hepburn’s debut performance—the first of many. Gregory Peck starred alongside Hepburn, and their performance has influenced an obsession surrounding the romanticism of Roman culture.

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Dirty Dancing

Nobody puts this movie in a corner. The 1987 movie starring Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze is one of our favorites and is still referenced in movies and television shows today.

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Moonstruck

Cher took home the Oscar for her performance in the 1987 romance about a widow who falls in love with her fiancé's younger brother, Ronny (Nicolas Cage).

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The Princess Bride

This 1987 film follows Westley’s (Cary Elwes) quest to rescue his “one true love” Buttercup (Robin Wright) from the evils of the mythical kingdom Florin.

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When Harry Met Sally

This film starring Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan begs to ask the age-old question: can men and women have platonic friendships? When a friendship begins to form between the two, that theory is put to the test.

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You’ve Got Mail

Meg Ryan plays the leading lady once again in this romance about a small bookstore owner who falls for a guy on the Internet, not knowing his true identity: Joe Fox (Tom Hanks), owner of the competing bookstore chain. Ryan and Hanks basically set the precedent for online dating success stories.

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Say Anything

This 1989 film starring John Cusack and Ione Skye has given us one of the greatest scenes in romance movie history that has been replicated time and time again. And set unrealistic expectations that have us checking out our windows for boombox-carrying guys.

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Grease

This 1978 film and cultural phenomenon starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John took “summer lovin’” to a whole new level when high-school sweethearts Danny and Sandy cross social groups all in the name of love.

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Titanic

A very young Leo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet star in the beautifully heartbreaking 1997 film directed by James Cameron. Jack and Rose fall in love aboard the Titanic before the ship meets its doomed fate. The movie is filled with romantic and iconic scenes that have us swooning—even after watching it for the 100th time.

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Sense and Sensibility

Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, and Hugh Grant star in this 1995 adaptation of another Jane Austen novel that follows sisters Elinor and Marianne who are looking to find love (and financial help) after their father passes. We just hope the sisters would be more independent if there were to be a 2020 remake.

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Up in the Air

Corporate downsizer and frequent flyer Ryan (George Clooney) takes his younger colleague Natalie (Anna Kendrick) along on his travels to show her the ropes. When a new technology at his company (and a love interest) threatens to bring him back to Earth, Ryan starts questioning his way of life.

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Like Crazy

When London immigrant Anna (Felicity Jones) and her American boyfriend Jacob (Anton Yelchin) are pushed apart by Visa complications, the couple must face the difficulties of maintaining their young love while on other sides of the world. The Drake Doremus film received many accolades, like top-prize at Sundance in 2011.

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My Week With Marilyn

Based on a true story, the 2011 film follows Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne), an assistant of Sir Laurence Olivier on the set of The Prince and the Showgirl, where he meets American starlet Marilyn Monroe (Michelle Williams). The two spend a brief week together, and Williams's performance captures the alluring and dazzling persona of the iconic movie star.

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If Beale Street Could Talk

In Harlem during the late '70s, a young couple's plan for the future is thrown off course when Alonzo "Fonny" (Stephen James) is arrested for a crime he didn't commit. His pregnant fiancé Tisch (Kiki Layne) turns to her family and the community for support. The heartbreaking love story that's based on the James Baldwin novel highlights society's racial injustices.

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Brooklyn

Saoirse Ronan stars in the 2015 Oscar-nominated film about a young Irish immigrant Eilis who moves to Brooklyn, New York, and falls in love with a local (Emory Cohen). After tragedy strikes at home, she must decide between staying with her love or returning to her family in Ireland.

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Southside With You

John Legend executively produced this indie film that tells the story of President Barack Obama’s first date with his future wife and first lady, Michelle Obama. The uplifting film captures the love story of two of the most influential figures of our time.

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The Shape of Water

The Oscar-winning Guillermo del Toro film follows the love story between a mute janitorial woman and a fish god being held captive by the government. While falling in love with a fish-man seems a bit strange, the movie's brilliant filmmaking earned del Toro many accolades, including the 2018 Academy Award for Best Picture.

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The Bodyguard

Whitney Houston made her film debut in this 1992 romance drama film alongside Kevin Costner. While the film was considered a flop, it has become a beloved classic for fans of Houston.

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Love and Basketball

Monica (Sanaa Lathan) and Quincy's (Omar Epps) love for basketball bond them together at a young age, but as they get older, their similar dreams threaten to pull them apart. Life challenges them to find out if their love for each other is as strong as their love for the game.

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Monsoon Wedding

This BAFTA-Winning film addresses arranged marriage and the stereotypes that come along with it. When both the bride and groom's families fly into New Delhi for the wedding festivities, drama ensues.

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The Way We Were

They say opposites attract, but in this 1973 film Katie (Barbara Streisand) and Hubbell (Robert Redford) fall in love and marry despite their polarizing differences, which end up challenging them throughout their lives.

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Water for Elephants

In this 2011 film adaptation of the New York Times #1 bestseller, an aspiring veterinarian Jacob (Robert Pattinson) runs off to the circus, where he becomes an animal caretaker and meets the enchanting circus performer Marlena (Reese Witherspoon). Their shared compassion for one elephant brings them together, and they fall in love under the Big Top. But Marlena's hateful husband threatens their relationship and safety.

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Crazy Rich Asians

Based on the best-selling book, this 2018 film follows Nick Young (Henry Golding) who takes his girlfriend Rachel (Constance Wu) to meet his family at a wedding in Singapore, where she discovers their wealth and high-class status. When his high-strung mother disapproves of Rachel, Nick must choose between family and love.

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The Last Song

An angsty teen pianist is sent to live with her father down south for the summer, where she falls in love with a local resident named Will (Liam Hemsworth). Just as Ronnie (Miley Cyrus) begins to enjoy the summer and even grow closer to her estranged father, it is revealed that he has a terminal illness. Cyrus and Hemsworth's fiery chemistry while filming led to their 10-year on-and-off relationship.

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500 Days of Summer

We know this movie doesn't have that stereotypical romantic happy-ending, but hear us out—sometimes the most romantic movies are about self-discovery. A heartbroken Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) reflects on his "relationship" with Summer (Zooey Deschanel), a cynical young woman who doesn't believe in love.

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Pretty Woman

While out of town for work, successful businessman Edward (Richard Gere) hires Vivian (Julia Roberts), a beautiful hooker, to spend the weekend with him. After spending time together, the two fall in love but realize just how different their lives really are.

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Love Jones

Two creatives working in Chicago meet and begin to fall for each other. When Nina's (Nia Long) ex comes back into her life, things get complicated for her new relationship with Darius (Larenz Tate). The 1995 movie gained popularity for its refreshing and realistic take on love and life.