33 Romantic Films That Will Make You Believe That Love Is Real

Whether animated or adventurous, here are the top romantic films that made the list.

These films — from heartbreaking realities to romantic comedies — are a must-watch whether you're single, coupled up, or in a situationship. So grab a snack, get cozy on the couch, and pick one (or five) of the films below for a romantic night in.

This list was compiled with help and input from the BuzzFeed Community!

1. Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)

StudioCanal

Bridget Jones's Diary was pretty much a perfect rom-com when it came out, and remains one to this day. It takes a while for Mark and Bridget to realized they even like each other, but they still manage to give us some swoon-worthy moments. When he rescues Bridget during her disastrous dinner party? Swoon. When he says "I like you very much. Just as you are"?? Swoon!  When he buys her a new diary and they kiss in the snow??? SWOON!!!!! 

2. Enchanted (2007)

Buena Vista Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

You are lying to yourself if you don't think everything that happens between Giselle and Robert in Enchanted is straight out of a rom-com. The tension between them will make you want to watch Grey's Anatomy just to catch more of Patrick Dempsey in full McDreamy mode. And if you get emotional watching their angsty dance to "So Close," complete with Robert singing to Giselle for the first time, well, you're only human.

3. The Apartment (1960)

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The premise of The Apartment promises messiness and boy, does it deliver. Jack Lemmon plays Bud, a man who allows his four bosses to use his apartment for their extramarital affairs until he starts to fall for Fran (Shirley MacLaine). Fran is, unfortunately, one of the women having an affair with his boss, and Jack has to balance his growing affection and care for her with his corporate ambitions.  Honestly, if you're not misty-eyed by the end, the last two lines spoken by Bud and Fran will absolutely do you in.

4. Mississippi Masala

Samuel Goldwyn Films/Courtesy Everett Collection

Mississippi Masala was the film debut of Sarita Choudhury (her very first acting credit, actually), which makes the way she carries the movie all the more impressive. Mina and Demetrius (Denzel Washington) don't have the flashiest romance, but their connection is strong enough to dismantle both of their generational traumas and emerge as committed to each other as two people could ever be.

5. Shakespeare in Love (1998)

Miramax/Courtesy Everett Collection

Many years before she was Goop-ing, Gwyneth Paltrow won an Oscar for playing Viola, the woman who inspired Shakespeare to write both Romeo and Juliet and Twelfth Night after their doomed, whirlwind romance. The story is entirely made up, but Shakespeare in Love is so good you'll wish it was real. And you'll also laugh. And cry. And belief in the transformative power of love, whatever.

6. Pride & Prejudice (2005)

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Even if you haven't watched this movie yet, you've probably seen that hand scene at least once while scrolling on social media. 

Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen's chemistry is beyond electrifying as they flirtatiously dance between subtle glances, passionate arguments, and quick-witted dialogue. This film is a romantic classic for a reason. 

7. Someone Great (2019)

Netflix / Via youtube.com

"This isn’t what most people would consider a romantic movie, but honestly, Someone Great on Netflix. It’s a really beautiful movie about moving on and letting go of a relationship that’s run its course even when there is still so much love involved. I think it just captures the dynamic beautifully."

—Shauna

8. WALL-E (2008)

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Star Wars is not the only film that involves a space-love romance. In this animated film, robots WALL-E and Eve find each other in a complicated place between the responsibility of their obligations and the desire for something deeper. This is one of those films that will pull on your heartstrings in ways you weren't expecting.

9. When Harry Met Sally (1989)

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"I cannot ever see When Harry Met Sally too many times! I like how their relationship takes such a long time to become more than friends, but then it takes them (mostly Harry) by surprise and tears them apart. However, Harry finally gets his act together and realizes that he is in love with this woman, and if he doesn't admit it, she will never be in his life again, which is an unbearable future for him.

"And, of course, we can't forget how Jess and Marie came to be together.

"It was also cute seeing Harry and Sally try to date other people and childishly snip about them behind each other's back."

—emilypost

10. If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)

Annapurna / Via youtube.com

This film, an adaptation of James Baldwin's novel of the same name, highlights the devotion of two childhood friends turned lovers, Fonny and Tish, during an extremely trying time: Fonny is wrongfully accused by a racist cop of raping a woman as Tish simultaneously finds out she's pregnant. 

Throughout the film, flashbacks of their relationship and love unfold while present-day family tensions are woven in between. The juxtaposition of these two timelines highlights how their love is built and strengthens over time during an unthinkable moment no couple should ever go through. 

While the film is directed by none other than Barry Jenkins, the cast is top-tier too, with Kiki Layne, Stephan James, Regina King, Brian Tyree Henry, Colman Domingo, Pedro Pascal, and Teyonah Parris.

11. Tangled (2010)

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"Hands down, this is Disney’s most romantic movie. GodDAMN, do Rapunzel and Flynn (Eugene, whatever) have amazing chemistry. And the boat scene? It makes me believe in love again every time."

—smogden

12. The Princess Bride (1987)

20th Century Fox / Via youtube.com

Marriage is what brings us together...and it also makes us laugh, cry, and fight for the ones we love. This romantic, adventurous film by Rob Reiner will have you quoting every single line for the rest of your life, thanks to the cast of Mandy Patinkin, Billy Crystal, Robin Wright, Cary Elwes, and Wallace Shawn. 

While romance is undoubtedly at the forefront between Westley and Buttercup, the adventurous tale will make you laugh so hard, your stomach will hurt.

13. Set It Up (2018)

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"Whether it's because I could relate to Zoey Deutch's character (I am also an aspiring writer who has had a terrible boss in the creative world), because of Pete Davidson's delivery, or because I've been a Glen Powell fan since 2018, it's the one rom-com I will watch over and over and over again. 

"I even made merch for it. The chemistry is amazing, and the 'You like because, and you love despite' and 'You're not hard to get at all, you're hard to earn' scenes make me weep every time. Glen needs to be in 5,000 more movies with Zoey."

—Morgan O Wilson, 28, California

14. Moonlight (2016)

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Based on the unpublished play In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue by Tarell Alvin McCraney, Barry Jenkins directs a film about a man who grapples with his identity and sexuality throughout the earlier parts of his life. 

While it may feel as if heartbreak is at the forefront of the film, there's so much understanding and love between Chiron and Kevin. This Academy Award winner for Best Picture is beautiful, touching, and absolutely worth a watch.

15. Dirty Dancing (1987)

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"Coming of age, class differences, unplanned pregnancy, summer in the '60s, killer music, memorable lines, and Patrick Swayze — what more could you want? It just doesn't get old!"

—Rita

16. The Bodyguard (1992)

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If you lived through the '90s, it may be hard not to automatically think of the song "I Will Always Love You" when someone talks about The Bodyguard. Kevin Costner portrays Frank Farmer, a Secret Service agent turned — you guessed it — bodyguard for R&B singer Rachel Marron, played by the incredibly talented Whitney Houston. 

This romantic tale will have you on the edge of your seat as you watch the chemistry between Kevin and Whitney electrify the big screen.

17. Moulin Rouge (2001)

20th Century Studios / Via youtube.com

"It's an incredible piece of art. It was so different from anything I knew at the time. Nothing touches my heart more than music, so I was obsessed with the movie."

—lblanc86

18. The Big Sick (2017)

Amazon Studios / Via youtube.com

Based on the true story of actor and writer Kumail Nanjiani's real-life relationship with writer Emily Gordon, this romantic dramedy follows the characters of the same names navigating not only their different cultures but also a mysterious illness that Emily contracts. This film highlights love through sickness and the challenges it can bring within both their relationship and Emily's family. 

19. About Time (2013)

Universal Pictures / Via youtube.com

"This film is a win for me. There's so much love in this movie, it's like a warm hug. I could live in that story. I always watch it when I need a heartwarming cry."

—triple.goddess.latte

20. Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)

A24 / Via youtube.com

Yes, the beautiful relationship between the mother and daughter is at the forefront of this film, but the love between Evelyn and Waymond (played by Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan) is not something to be ignored — after all, Waymond delivers one of the most heartfelt quotes about love in recent history. 

This genre-bending film discusses love, regret, shame, and family in a way that will make you want to call your loved ones immediately after watching. 

21. The Wedding Singer (1998)

New Line Cinema / Via youtube.com

"I can think of other ones that are far more serious and have won accolades. But that movie is done so perfectly that I still cry happy tears at the end, even after seeing it so many times."

—renloveslemmy

22. Brokeback Mountain (2005)

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Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal play Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist, respectively, in a heartbreaking film about a complicated love between two American cowboys over the span of about 20 years. 

Their yearning for something more intertwines with the women they have created lives with, played by Michelle Williams and Anne Hathaway. It's the kind of movie that will stick with you for years. 

23. Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

Warner Bros. Pictures / Via youtube.com

"My go-to when I'm feeling down. It never fails to put a smile on my face and is full of very hot guys!"

—ameliaheinl1953

24. Up (2009)

Pixar/Disney / Via youtube.com

If there's one film that will make you ugly-cry in the first 20 minutes, it's this one. This animated film from Pixar and Disney showcases the importance of having love, losing love, and accepting love, not only from others but also from the one you may need it from the most: yourself. Plus, who doesn't love talking dogs? It's an all-around perfect movie and a perfect romantic film.

25. An Affair to Remember (1957)

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"Because it's way funnier than any romance film that came out in that era, and it's one of the few films from the golden age of Hollywood where the leads actually act as if they want to be in the same room."

—lobsterlemonlime

26. The Notebook (2004)

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Noah and Allie, played by subsequently real-life couple Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, are teenagers who meet, fall in love, and go their separate ways. What happens when they reconnect after being apart for years? You'll have to watch one of the most romantic films to date to find out.

27. Past Lives (2023)

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"It’s beautiful, and I love its themes of destiny and meeting someone and knowing you’re meant to meet. It was so romantic."

—Jazmin Gisselle

28. Carol (2015)

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When Carol meets Therese while in a loveless marriage headed to divorce, their innocent encounter turns into a deep and life-altering love affair that shakes up the long-held worlds each of them created.

Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara will take your breath away as they spotlight an empathic love that embodies acceptance, courage, and passion.

29. The Before Trilogy: Before Sunrise (1995), Before Sunset (2004), and Before Midnight (2013)

Warner Bros. Pictures / Via youtube.com

"Cowritten and directed by Richard Linklater. It is a beautiful trilogy about how love develops through conversation, connection, and curiosity. The dialogue is amazing. Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy have great chemistry."

—Anonymous 

30. Love & Basketball (2000)

40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks / Via youtube.com

Monica (Sanaa Lathan) and Quincy (Omar Epps) are childhood friends who later fall in love as they train in hopes of becoming professional basketball players. 

While Gina Prince-Bythewood's film is about romance, it's also about the complexities of balancing a career and a relationship. It's a timeless film that feels incredibly relevant today. 

31. Titanic (1997)

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Even though you've probably seen this film a hundred times over, it's always worth a watch when you need a good cry or just want to witness a love that helps both individuals feel seen for exactly who they are. 

Longtime scene partners Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet carry this over three-hour movie because of their flawless acting as two people passionately in love during a traumatic piece of history.

32. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

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If you've ever wanted to erase a relationship from your memory because the breakup was so incredibly painful, then watch this film. 

Kate Winslet and Jim Carrey do a beautiful, heartbreaking job of highlighting the difficulties of navigating an entangled, sometimes toxic relationship while simultaneously learning to accept the implications of how our pasts can affect our futures. 

The film is so whimsical and breathtaking to watch that you'll need to play it a few times to ensure you see every nuanced detail this movie delivers. 

33. In the Mood for Love (2000)

MUBI / Via youtube.com

Is there a more visually beautiful romantic film than In the Mood for Love? Probably not. While the cinematography will alter your brain chemistry, so will the love story between Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Maggie Cheung Man-yuk. 

It's a tale about two people coming together as their respected partners are often away for work — until they find out unfortunate news, which deepens their connection.

Which romantic film do you watch over and over again? Tell us which one and why in the comments below.

Note: Some entries have been edited for length and/or clarity.