Forget Pride and Prejudice, These 15 Romance Movies are a Must-Watch

The chemistry in these movies is so palpable you can almost feel it through the screen; the witty banter makes you laugh and wish you could come up with something half as clever; the plot twists keep you guessing and hoping for a happy ending.

1. Rye Lane (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 98%

Two twenty-somethings, Yas and Dom, both recovering from recent break-ups, spend a whirlwind day together in South London, sharing their heartbreaks, dreams, and a series of quirky, spontaneous adventures that might just lead them to discover new love.

2. Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 97%

In 18th century France, Marianne, an artist, is commissioned to paint the wedding portrait of Héloïse without her knowing, leading to an intimate relationship between the painter and her subject against a backdrop of societal expectations.

3. In The Mood for Love (2000)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 92%

In 1960s Hong Kong, Chow Mo-wan and Su Li-zhen, neighbors suspecting their spouses of adultery, form a bond of friendship and secret love as they vow not to be like their unfaithful partners, amidst a backdrop of social constraints and personal longing.

4. The Dreamers (2003)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 60%

In Paris, during the tumultuous events of 1968, an American university student becomes entangled in a passionate but complex relationship with a French brother and sister who share a love of cinema, leading to a exploration of boundaries, freedom, and identity.

5. The Lunchbox (2013)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 97%

A mistaken delivery in Mumbai's famously efficient lunchbox delivery system connects a young housewife to an older man in the twilight of his life as they start exchanging notes through the daily lunchbox, leading to an unexpected friendship and the possibility of love.

6. Emma (2020)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 86%

In this adaptation of Jane Austen's novel, Emma Woodhouse, a young, wealthy, and meddling matchmaker in Regency-era England, navigates her way through missteps and romantic misadventures to discover the love that has been there all along.

7. Two Weeks Notice (2002)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 42%

A brilliant but frustrated environmental lawyer, Lucy Kelson, decides to quit working for her charming, irresponsible billionaire boss, George Wade, only to realize their professional relationship has evolved into something more personal.

8. Something's Gotta Give (2003)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 72%

Aging playboy Harry Sanborn experiences a heart attack while with his latest girlfriend at her mother's beach house; he then finds himself attracted to the mother, a successful playwright, leading to a late-life romance filled with humor and self-discovery.

9. Midnight in Paris (2011)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 93%

On a trip to Paris with his fiancée's family, a nostalgic screenwriter finds himself mysteriously going back to the 1920s every night at midnight, where he meets and draws inspiration from legendary literary and artistic figures, leading him to reassess his life and find a more genuine love.

10. Sing Street (2016)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 95%

In 1980s Dublin, a teenager forms a band to impress a mysterious girl he likes, leading to a journey of self-discovery, creativity, and the pursuit of dreams amidst the economic hardship of the era.

11. It's Complicated (2009)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 59%

A divorced woman, Jane, unexpectedly begins an affair with her ex-husband, Jake, while simultaneously getting attention from her architect, Adam, leading to a complicated love triangle and a journey of self-discovery in her later years.

12. Brooklyn (2015)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 97%

In the 1950s, Eilis Lacey, a young Irish immigrant in Brooklyn, finds herself torn between her new life in America and her homeland, especially when it comes to choosing between two men who represent these very different worlds.

13. About Time (2013)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 71%

After discovering he can travel in time, Tim uses his ability to improve his life, including winning the heart of Mary, but learns that his unique gift can't protect him and his loved ones from the problems of ordinary life.

14. Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 92%

After being released from a psychiatric institution, Pat Solitano Jr. tries to rebuild his life and reconcile with his ex-wife, finding an unexpected connection with Tiffany, a young widow with issues of her own, leading them both towards healing and an unconventional romance through a dance competition.

15. Wild Mountain Thyme (2020)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 26%

Set in rural Ireland, headstrong farmer Rosemary pines for her oblivious neighbor, Anthony, who is unaware of his inheritance issues and her love for him, leading to misunderstandings and a quest for love amidst family land disputes.