Settle In With A Tub Of Ice Cream And These 17 Romantic Movies From The Prime Video Store

I never pass up an opportunity to have my heart strings yanked.

I spent the better part of my adolescence getting my heart smashed open and curing it with a heavy dosage of romantic movies.

StudioCanal

I was a very emotional teenager.

I therefore feel I am well equipped to recommend you a romantic movie or two.

American Broadcasting Company

I'm just glad those hours of torment came to something.

Whether you're looking for something light and glossy, or raw and meaningful, these 17 movies from the Prime Video Store have you covered:

1. 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

Touchstone Pictures

Oh, Heath. He never was more charming than in 10 Things I Hate About You, as the misunderstood bad boy with the heart of gold. No doubt you've seen and loved this iconic movie — high school outcast, Patrick, is paid to take out anti-social Kat, so that her younger sister can date. Watch again for all the best lines ("Mr Stratford, it's just a party." "And hell is just a sauna") in this, the best teen rom com of all time — yes, I said it, and I stand by it.

Rent it for $4.99 or buy for $11.99 here.

2. Revolutionary Road (2008)

BBC FIlms

If you're in the mood to get your heart ripped out and stepped on, here's Mum and Dad, Kate and Leo, in an adaptation of a '60s novel about the truly devastating effects that can happen whenever two individuals attempt to build a shared life together. Honestly, the acting is perfection and if you're not in the mood for your classic "girl meets boy" storyline, this one is a brilliant (albeit heartbreaking) telling of what can come after.

Rent for $4.99 or buy for $12.99 here.

3. 500 Days of Summer (2009)

Dune Entertainment

If you're a hopeless romantic like me, chances are you've idealised people and situations many a time in your life. This story about girl meets boy (don't worry, this is no spoiler: We're told straight away this isn't a love story) follows romantic Tom, as he reflects on the year-ish long time he spent with realist, Summer. This movie will make you relive past relationships (trust me, it's good for you) and consider just what was real and what was projected.

Rent it for $4.99 or buy for $14.99 here.

4. Anna Karenina (2012)

Universal Pictures

If you've had this iconic novel on your bookshelf forever, promising yourself you'll one day read it, save yourself the denial and get this modern retelling on your screen. Keira Knightly is the anguished, tragic heroine, torn between her responsibilities as a mother and wife, and the love she feels for her beloved Count Vronsky. Come for the decadent and lavish styling of this film — stay for the ever-relevant commentary on the impossible societal pressures women endure, until they can't anymore.

Rent it for $2.99 or buy for $9.99 here.

5. An Affair to Remember (1957)

20th Century Fox

If you rarely — or never — delve into old school Hollywood films, may I suggest you start here? This '50s movie has inspired many of the romantic movies that we know and love (see next: Sleepless in Seattle), the story of two seemingly opposite individuals who meet and are hopelessly drawn to each other on a ship destined for New York from Europe. Both committed, they plan to meet at the top of the Empire State Building in six months time, after having broken off their current relationships. This film is for anyone who believes that love always finds a way.

Rent it for $4.99 or buy for $14.99 here.

6. Sleepless in Seattle (1993)

TriStar Pictures

I swear this movie was always on free-to-air growing up and can be held accountable for an entire generation of hopeless romantics (myself included). Everyone's favourite, Tom Hanks, is a widower who is pushed to share his memories of his late wife on radio by his son — getting the attention of Annie, who is engaged to be married, but feels something is missing from her relationship. Add a bit of serendipity and a whole lot of nostalgia courtesy of the Empire State Building, and you have the perfect romantic movie to end any day.

Rent it for $4.99 or buy it for $11.99 here.

7. Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

Warner Bros. Pictures

I, an Asian-Australian, watched this movie with two of my friends of Asian descent. I don't mind telling you, we cried seeing faces like ours on-screen. If the significance of seeing Asians in leading roles in a Hollywood movie doesn't apply to you, but you enjoy a fun romantic comedy, I promise, you will still love this film. NYU economics professor, Rachel Chu, goes to Singapore to attend a wedding with her boyfriend — only to find out his family is filthy rich. Family dynamics, West vs. East customs, Awkwafina...this film is everything.

Rent it for $4.99 or buy for $17.99 here.

8. Ever After (1998)

20th Century Fox

Oh, this movie. It unabashedly has my heart. A modern retelling of Cinderella — no magic or talking mice here — it reimagines Cinderella as a passionate, well-read woman who (wonderfully, gloriously) is more capable of saving the prince than he is of saving her. This movie found me at the perfect age and yes, there is romance, but most perfectly, is about only accepting a love that wants you exactly for who you are.

Rent it for $4.99 or buy for $14.99 here.

9. Juno (2007)

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Okay, so romantic love is more of a subplot, but this movie is excellent and this is my list, so on it goes. This extremely quotable movie is still one of the best coming-of-age stories around. Juno, played by Ellen Page, is confronted with an unplanned teen pregnancy, which unexpectedly brings different manifestations of love into her life — whether with the prospective adoptive parents (played by Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman), her own parents or yes, the biological father of the baby she's carrying.

Rent it for $4.99 or buy for $14.99 here.

10. La La Land (2016)

Lionsgate

Of all the possible stories about love, "right person, wrong time" might be my favourite. Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling star in this at-times whimsical, always sincere musical about aspiring actress, Mia, and jazz pianist, Sebastian, who fall in love at the exact time their dreams seem within reach. Watch this, then try not to play the soundtrack on repeat for days later (shout out to "The Fools Who Dream").

Rent it for $4.99 or buy for $14.99 here.

11. Before Sunset (2004)

Castle Rock Entertainment

For those who are unfamiliar with the Before Sunrise trilogy, there were nine years between each instalment, so the lead characters, Jesse and Celeste, aged as audiences did. The trilogy starts with young adults — with all the chemistry of first attraction — and ends with the resentments and familiarity of a middle-aged couple who have grown in close proximity to each together. Before Sunset is the second film and by far my favourite. In this, the characters are old enough to have amassed regret, but young enough to still be tentative with their desires — pure magic. It's hard to be cynical after watching this movie.

Rent $4.99 or buy for $14.99 here.

12. Call Me By Your Name (2017)

Sony Pictures Classics

I'm going to try not to gush about this movie, but don't like my chances. The book on which it is based is one of my absolute favourites — tender and almost painfully vulnerable — and is of the short-lived, but wholly felt, romantic relationship between young Elio and Oliver, the graduate student who is staying with Elio's family for the summer. Brilliant soundtrack (truly), beautiful direction, perfect casting (my boyfriend, Timothée Chalamet, in his breakout role), this one is about longing for, and treasuring, love.

Rent it for $4.99 or buy for $14.99 here.

13. The Holiday (2006)

Universal Pictures

This movie is just so damn likeable. All four leads — Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jack Black and Jude Law — are carrying emotional wounds which viewers will relate to, whether it be pining after someone who is not good for us, or finding connection hard to come by, or finding love after loss. Iris and Amanda live in England and California, respectively, and swap homes over Christmas to distract themselves from their heartbreak.

Have an Amazon Prime subscription? You can watch this movie for free.

Rent it for $4.99 or buy for $14.99 here.

14. The Five-Year Engagement (2012)

Universal Pictures

I mean, Jason Segal and Emily Blunt in a Judd Apatow-produced fllm — seems a no-brainer to me. But if that's not enough to convince you that you should watch this movie, take the premise — a couple whose relationship is strained by its constantly postponed wedding date (and I swear, is there a more modern storyline that that?). Throw in a hilarious Chris Pratt and Alison Brie in supporting roles, and you have yourself a quality rom com.

Rent it for $4.99 or buy it for $14.99 here.

15. Trainwreck (2015)

Universal Pictures

Written by and starring Amy Schumer, this movie is bloody hilarious — fan or not of her stand up, I swear, you will laugh out loud at least a half a dozen times (the scene with John Cena dirty talking in bed? I cried). In this, magazine writer, Amy, meets and pursues her first relationship with orthopaedic surgeon, Aaron. Thing is, laughter aside, this movie is really wonderful for showing how people can overcome their hangups with commitment when given the chance at something real.

Rent it for $4.99 or buy it for $4.99 here.

16. Your Name (2017)

CoMix Wave Fillms

If you like your romance with a dose of fantasy, then settle in with this movie immediately. Two teenagers — Mitsuha, a small town girl and Taki, a boy in Tokyo — wake in each others' bodies every morning, and communicate to each other only by leaving notes for the other to find when the magic has worn off. Then, they try to find each other. Your Name is truly captivating, beautifully animated and your heart will be properly stretched out by the end of it. It is the fourth-largest grossing film in Japan ever — well and truly worth the watch.

Rent it for $4.99 or buy it for $14.99 here.

17. Pride & Prejudice (2005)

StudioCanal

I know, I know — controversial putting this adaptation here when the BBC one exists. I grew up with the latter, but have recently watched this one...and guys, I really think us die-hard Colin Firth fans have judged it too harshly. This modern retelling of a strong-willed Elizabeth Bennet and proud Mr Darcy, is so charming and (for the period film cynics) not the least bit stuffy — it was produced by the same people responsible for Bridget Jones' Diary, after all. Watch and find yourself involuntarily swooning over the last lines (trust me).

Rent it for $4.99 or buy it for $7.99 here.

Haven't had your fill yet? I've also binged and adored the Prime Original, Modern Love, an eight-part series on all kinds of love, starring Anne Hathaway and Tina Fey.

Prime Video

You needn't even fork out money to watch it. Sign up for a 30-day free Prime Video trial here. But, actually — it's worth it.

You, watching each and every one of these films.

ITV