Whether it’s a lighthearted flick or a hard-hitting drama, there’s usually a romantic film that holds a special place in each viewer’s heart. The best ones remind audiences about the most amazing (and terrible) parts of love, often featuring either idealized or deeply flawed relationships set in unique worlds.
Some romance movies on Letterboxd – a social media platform for film buffs – are more popular than most, in large part depending on a combination of factors like their number of fans, current rating, and comments. Fans of the genre should consider the most popular romantic films on the site as essential viewing, as they represent the prevalent trends in how love stories have been depicted on the big screen in each of the last ten years.
Her (2013) – Rating: 4.1, 19k Fans
Available to rent on Apple TV+.
Often considered one of the best sci-fi films of the 2010s, director Spike Jonze’s Her is set in a future where artificial intelligence has advanced enough to be able to communicate with people in realistic and convincing ways. It depicts this setting through Theodore Twombly’s perspective and experience of falling in love with his virtual assistant, Samantha.
More than a moving love story, the film serves as a powerful commentary on the ways technology can both cause loneliness and become a source of comfort. Theodore and Samantha’s unusual relationship is so fascinating precisely because of the fact that similar technologies are already starting to emerge.
The Theory Of Everything (2014) – Rating: 3.6, 1.2k Fans
Available to stream on Hulu.
Part biopic depicting renowned astrophysicist Stephen Hawking’s life and part love story focusing on his complicated relationship with Jane Hawking, The Theory of Everything masterfully weaves together the happy, messy, and captivating things about the scientist.
Based on a 2007 memoir by Jane Hawking herself, director James Marsh does an excellent job at giving viewers a glimpse into what went on between the two from the moment they met at the University of Cambridge to the heartbreaking last stages of their 25-year marriage. While most fans would agree that it doesn’t really deliver on the scientific aspects of Stephen’s career, it does depict his romance with Jane in a heartfelt and unforgettable way.
The Lobster (2015) – Rating: 3.8, 4.9k Fans
Available to rent on Apple TV+.
Director Yorgos Lanthimos thrusts audiences into a genuinely unique dystopia through The Lobster, where people without romantic partners are given 45 days to find and connect with someone in The Hotel, or risk being turned into an animal of their choice. David, a recently divorced man, has no choice but to participate in the strange practice, as it is part of The City’s rules.
It’s an ambitious plot, to say the least, but those who get into the absurd and surreal dark humor of the film will likely find that it will become among their favorites. The awkward silences and stiff interactions in The Hotel eventually give way for more profound, if not confusing, memorable scenes.
La La Land (2016) – Rating: 3.9, 42k Fans
Available to stream on Hulu.
Whether it’s Mia Dolan and Seb Wilder’s passionate lines or the grand musical numbers, there’s more than one reason to rewatch the wildly popular La La Land. Director Damien Chazelle tells an engrossing love story centered on the pair, with Mia being an aspiring actor and Seb dreaming of becoming a successful jazz musician.
As their relationship progresses, they find that their goals may not be aligned, which is where the main conflict of the film arises from. Fans who have seen the movie will likely never forget the emotional conversations and tear-jerking moments between the two, whose love for each other is put to the test more than once.
Call Me By Your Name (2017) – Rating: 4.0, 24k Fans
Available to rent on Apple TV+.
Set in 1980s Italy, Call Me by Your Name tells the stirring story between 17-year-old Elio Perlman and 24-year-old Oliver, a graduate assistant who works for the teenager’s father over the summer. While the two spend a majority of their months in the house only sending subtle signs to each other, it’s only towards the end of Oliver’s stay that they begin to be bolder with their advances.
Directed by Luca Guadagnino, the slow and thoughtful portrayal of the romance that forms between the two main characters leaves viewers feeling invested in their relationship. It’s a film that reflects both the passionate and fleeting natures of young love.
A Star Is Born (2018) – Rating: 3.6, 1.8k Fans
Available to rent on Apple TV+.
Lauded as one of the best movies directed by Bradley Cooper, A Star is Born is centered on the budding romance between a successful musician, Jack Maine, and the young singer he meets and mentors, Ally. The aspiring artist’s career improves dramatically thanks to Jack, but the cracks in their relationship soon begin to show.
The drama film deals with hard-hitting themes like mental health and alcoholism, as Jack struggles to cope with his increasingly difficult personal life. Most audiences seeing the movie for the first time will likely have their eyes glued to the screen with each gripping scene, all the way to its shocking conclusion.
Little Women (2019) – Rating: 4.2, 24k Fans
Despite it being the seventh film adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s 1868 eponymous novel, director Greta Gerwig manages to make her version of Little Women stand out. Set in the 19th century, the coming-of-age period film portrays the experiences of the March children, as they struggle to find their place in the aftermath of the Civil War.
While there is romance in the film thanks to characters like Laurie Laurence and Fred Bhaer, these take a backseat to the much more important relationship between the sisters. They’re shown facing discriminatory societal pressures together and carving out lives for themselves in an increasingly unforgiving world.
Palm Springs (2020) – Rating: 3.8, 1.7k Fans
Available to stream on Hulu.
Director Max Barbakow gives audiences an entertaining romcom with a twist in Palm Springs, as its protagonists, Nyles and Sarah Wilder, find themselves stuck in a time loop during a wedding. The comedic sci-fi twist allows for hilarious moments as the two try and fail to get out repeatedly.
The movie’s unique twist to the Groundhog Day formula works to its advantage, as instead of just one person experiencing the same day over and over again, viewers see what it would be like if there were two individuals stuck in a loop. What’s more, these two develop a one-of-a-kind romance that’s complicated by their bizarre situation.
The French Dispatch (2021) – Rating: 3.8, 2.4k Fans
Available to stream on HBO Max.
The French Dispatch is an anthology comedy-drama film that introduces director Wes Anderson’s fans to wacky characters like Moses Rosenthaler and Lucinda Krementz. Depicted as multiple segments, the movie follows three major storylines (excluding “The Cycling Reporter): Moses’ imprisonment and artistic career, Lucinda and Zeffirelli’s experiences during the student riots, and the kidnapping of a commissioner’s son.
It’s in the former two narratives that romantic relationships are featured, with the first being Moses and Simone’s unconventional pairing as an incarcerated artist and prison guard, and the second being Zeffirelli and Lucinda’s as a student revolutionary and older journalist. Fans of the auteur’s recognizable and often peculiar artistic choices will appreciate how he manages to weave the complex tales together in an entertaining way.
Fresh (2022) – Rating: 3.5, 452 Fans
Available to stream on Hulu.
Mimi Cave is already making a name for herself in the industry through her directorial debut, with the recently released Fresh rightly stirring up discussions online. The comedy thriller film tells the story of Noa, a relatable young woman who’s growing tired of scrolling through dating apps. Things quickly take a dark turn when she takes a chance on a man she meets in the produce section.
The film somehow strikes the perfect balance between being relatable, comedic, and downright terrifying. Viewers can’t be blamed for being at the edge of their seats soon after the jarring scene where Steve reveals his true self.