Fall is almost here meaning it’s time to return to cozy days and evenings indoors – best spent with a good movie or two, of course. Fortunately, there are plenty of options for streaming romance films that will appeal to every kind of mood. Maybe you want a classic rom-com or Hallmark-esque romance that ensures a happy ending. So, whether you’re searching for a good girls’ night pick or a sweet movie to enjoy solo, this list of must-see romance movies is worth a peek before settling in.
The Lovebirds
If you like romance movies with a dose of thrills, Lovebirds is for you. Kumail Nanjiani and Issa Rae star as Jibran and Leilani, a couple on the verge of breaking up when they get caught up in an evening of sex cult drama and murder. Sure, it’s more chaotic than your average date but think of all the chaos and the ways a relationship can blossom under pressure.
About Time
From Notting Hill to Love Actually, filmmaker Richard Curtis is a bona fide rom-com king but among his oeuvre is a sweet hidden gem you might have missed along the way. About Time stars Domhall Gleeson and Rachel McAdams as a sweet, shy time traveler and his girlfriend-turned-wife, respectively. This isn’t quite a sci-fi thriller but more of a heartfelt exploration of how we approach time and relationships with loved ones when we have more than one chance to get it right.
Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga
For romance fans who love a good musical, too, add Eurovision to the top of your list. On their quest for international acclaim, small-town Icelanders Sigrit and Lars (played by the hilarious duo of Rachel McAdams and Will Ferrell) face the music and fall in love – but not before belting out some genuinely iconic songs, from the heartfelt Oscar-nominated “Husavik” to the relentless earworm that is “Jaja Ding Dong.”
No Strings Attached
In this modern romance, Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman star as a pair of old friends who start sleeping together sans romance. Of course, this isn’t the first film to explore the concept of a friendly hook-up situation – it’s not even the only one released recently (looking at you, Friends with Benefits). But what helps this iteration stand out is a surprisingly stacked supporting ensemble, including Jake Johnson, Greta Gerwig, Mindy Kaling and Ludacris.
Crimson Peak
If you crave something warm, fuzzy and feel-good – well, maybe save Crimson Peak for another day. But if passionate, tragic love and gothic horror sound like the perfect night in, this 2015 film can’t be beaten. Helmed by Guillermo del Toro, Crimson Peak revolves around a Victorian-era aristocrat (Tom Hiddleston) who marries an American writer (Mia Wasikowska) and brings her abroad to his old family mansion. It sounds like a richly romantic period piece, right? It is until ghosts get involved…
Always Be My Maybe
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In this delightful Netflix original, Randall Park and Ali Wong star as a pair of childhood best friends who reconnect as adults. She’s a big-time chef while he’s a musician who’s wary of leaving home and moving on. Together, they confront their tricky past and explore the idea of their future and a relationship. Not only does Always Be My Maybe boast one of the best celebrity cameos (maybe ever) but it also feels like a love letter to the rom-coms that came before. In conversation with Bustle in 2019, Nahnatchka Khan cited When Harry Met Sally, Bridget Jones’s Diary and Notting Hill as creative influences.
The Half Of It
This sweet coming-of-age romance stars Leah Lewis as Ellie Chu, a student who a classmate hires to scribe letters to his crush only to develop her own crush on Aster, the girl on the other end. In evaluating their feelings for each other, Aster and Ellie also get to know themselves and their ambitions a little better, making this a truly heartwarming Netflix original.
The Last Letter From Your Lover
Good news for fans of the 2016 tear-jerker Me Before You: there is yet another Jojo Moyes adaptation available to stream and it’s brand-new to Netflix. The Last Letter From Your Lover stars Felicity Jones as Ellie, a journalist investigating a curious decades-old love story – one who twists and turns eventually inspire her own story-in-the-making alongside archivist Rory (Nabhaan Rizwan).
Let us know in the comments below how you like these movies.
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