Romantic dramas have a way of burrowing into our hearts, whether that is through grand gestures that sweep us off our feet or those moments that stay with us. However, considering that great love stories often get lost in the clichés and contrivances, sometimes it’s hard to find a great romantic drama that grips you from the opening to the ending scene.
In this list, we celebrate the rare gems where every frame, glance, and word is charged with emotion and chemistry. Ranging from timeless classics to contemporary masterpieces, these are the romance movies that prove love is always worth watching — especially on the big screen!
10
‘Phantom Thread’ (2017)
Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
Starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Vicky Krieps in unforgettable lead roles, Phantom Thread unfolds as a dance of power and love, set against the backdrop of 1950s London. The movie focuses on dressmaker Reynolds Woodcock, whose meticulously crafted world is disrupted after he falls for Alma, a strong-willed, determined muse who refuses to be merely a part of his artistry.
Phantom Thread offers a thought-provoking narrative by interrogating the sacrifices demanded by artistic obsession; it is not your usual romantic drama per se, but it works wonderfully nonetheless, especially with Paul Thomas Anderson‘s stunning direction and immersive cinematography at its center. Despite not being a traditional romance, this captivating drama is a great watch from start to finish, with the two performances at its center further elevating the twisted love.
9
‘Notorious’ (1946)
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
Following Alicia Huberman (Ingrid Bergman), a troubled young woman recruited by American agent Devlin (Cary Grant) to infiltrate a group of Nazis in post-war Brazil by seducing one of its leaders, Alfred Hitchcock‘s unique love story goes from a dangerous assignment to a tangled web of love and suspense.
Notorious is a delightful tale of trust and deception, both in romance and espionage, with masterful direction by one of the most iconic filmmakers of all time. With perfect pacing and cinematography — added to Bergman’s magnetic performance — this must-see classic keeps audiences invested from beginning to end. The chemistry between Bergman and Grant is, too, noteworthy, transforming the old Hollywood gripping thriller into a proper love story that lingers.
8
‘Atonement’ (2007)
Directed by Joe Wright
This sweeping romantic drama grips from its lush opening scenes to its heartbreaking conclusion. At the center of the story is Briony Tallis (Saoirse Ronan delivering an incredible child performance), a precocious young girl whose ill-fated misunderstanding of an encounter between her sister (Keira Knightley) and the housekeeper’s son (James McAvoy) leads to a false accusation that leaves irreversible damage behind.
Joe Wright‘s Atonement is equal parts haunting and fascinating, and that’s what makes it a gripping watch throughout. By thoroughly exploring themes of perception, guilt, and even the unreliability of memory, Atonement stands out not just as a fantastic romance but also as an incredible character study. Whether it’s the flawless shots or devastating narrative, this powerful meditation on the ways love and loss are shaped by time and truth is well worth watching and guaranteed to leave a strong imprint on those who choose to press play.
7
‘Brief Encounter’ (1945)
Directed by David Lean
A timeless romantic drama that remains compelling from its opening to its bittersweet finale, David Lean‘s Brief Encounter follows a married woman (Celia Johnson) and a married doctor (Trevor Howard), who meet by chance in a train station café and develop a deep and unspoken connection. Their friendship blossoms into love, but both must confront the moral and emotional dilemmas of pursuing the relationship.
Anchored by stunning black-and-white cinematography and Lean’s impeccable direction, the melancholic Brief Encounter is a beautiful, achingly real movie, with its true power lying in its understatement and romantic restraint; in its own way, this old Hollywood essential proves that sometimes the most profound and poignant love stories are those left unsaid.
- Release Date
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August 24, 1946
- Runtime
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86 Minutes
- Director
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David Lean
- Writers
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Noël Coward
6
‘Before Sunrise’ (1995)
Directed by Richard Linklater
Interestingly enough, Richard Linklater‘s Before Sunrise shares some key similarities with the just-mentioned Brief Encounter, especially in that it also centers on two people who meet by chance on a train. Starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy in the lead roles, this cult favorite captures the magic of fleeting connection with authenticity, following an American traveler and a French student who decide to spend a night strolling around in Vienna before one of them has to fly back home.
Anyone who appreciates realistic, dialogue-driven romantic dramas is probably going to love Linklater’s 1995 film (and probably any of its successors). The timeless Before Sunrise is a beautiful study in human connection, the passage of time, and the beauty of impermanence — it’s a movie that intrigues audiences throughout its entirety and stays with them after its bittersweet conclusion.
5
‘The Handmaiden’ (2016)
Directed by Park Chan-wook
Park Chan-wook‘s visually stunning, twist-laden romantic drama set in 1930s Korea under Japanese occupation follows Sooke (Kim Tae-ri), a pickpocket hired to help a conman win the fortune of a reclusive heiress, Hideko (Kim Min-hee), only for the two to fall unexpectedly in love and ultimately upending everyone’s plans.
In true Park Chan-wook fashion (he’s the mind behind Oldboy, after all), The Handmaiden shifts perspectives like no other romance film, keeping viewers invested throughout each act. By shedding light on themes of power, desire, and even female autonomy in the most captivating way, The Handmaiden rises above being a merely great romantic film and fully transforms into a must-see, empowering watch, particularly for female and queer audiences.
- Release Date
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June 1, 2016
- Runtime
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145 minutes
- Director
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Park Chan-wook
- Writers
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Park Chan-wook, Sarah Waters, Chung Seo-kyung
4
‘Titanic’ (1997)
Directed by James Cameron
Even after all this time, James Cameron‘s real-life-inspired Titanic remains the ultimate romantic epic, gripping audiences from its opening notes and never letting them go. At its center is Rose (Kate Winslet), a young woman trapped by social expectations, and Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio), a free-spirited artist, who meet abroad on the doomed ocean liner. Naturally, a passionate, though ill-fated, romance blossoms between the two.
Audiences who love big spectacle and grand gestures and haven’t yet watched this contemporary classic (unlikely, but possible) should be sure to do it anytime soon. More than a disaster movie, Titanic is a sweeping and immersive romance that remains a cinematic touchstone, whether that is thanks to the chemistry between the two leads or their devastating story as star-crossed lovers.
3
‘Casablanca’ (1942)
Directed by Michael Curtiz
The quintessential romantic drama, Michael Curtiz‘s Casablanca has captivated audiences for generations and certainly for generations to come. Set in wartime Morocco, the story centers on Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart in an iconic role), a cynical American expatriate whose past love, Ilsa (Bergman), unexpectedly re-enters his life, now married to a resistance leader. Rick is torn between his affection and the greater good as he must decide whether to help the two escape the Nazis or reclaim the romance he lost.
Casablanca‘s iconic screenplay has captured the attention of audiences throughout the years, with its universal themes of sacrifice and the sometimes bittersweet nature of love still resonating deeply. Add that to Bogart and Bergman’s unforgettable performances and chemistry that simmers with longing and regret, and it’s easy to see how this visually striking black-and-white picture remains an enjoyable one from start to finish.
2
‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire’ (2019)
Directed by Céline Sciamma
A breathtaking study of love and longing, set against the stunning backdrop of an isolated French island in the late 18th century, Céline Sciamma‘s Portrait of a Lady on Fire follows Marianne (Noémie Merlant), a painter commissioned to create a portrait of a young woman (Adèle Haenel) reluctant to be married. But as Marianne closely and secretly observes Héloïse for her work, a profound, forbidden romance blossoms between the two.
This masterwork in subtlety is equal parts sensual and restrained, anchored by its pictorial cinematography and meticulous direction. In Sciamma’s slow-burning romantic drama, every gesture, glance, and silence speaks for itself, making it nearly impossible for audiences to look away. It is the perfect pick especially for those who enjoy quiet and introspective watches, offering a meditation on memory, art, and love’s fleeting nature.
1
‘In the Mood for Love’ (2000)
Directed by Wong Kar-wai
In the Mood for Love by Wong Kar-wai is another international cinema essential romantic period piece that does not shy away from diving headfirst into desire and restraint. Set in 1960s Hong Kong, the movie follows two neighbors (Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung Chiu-Wai) who suspect their spouses are having an affair. The two tentatively grow closer through stolen glances and hushed conversations, but are always careful enough to maintain the delicate boundary between companionship and something more.
The atmospheric In the Mood For Love fascinates on many levels — one of them being Kar-wai’s slow, deliberate signature style, featuring a lush color palette and evocative music. However, what truly elevates the must-see arthouse film to higher levels are Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung performances and palpable chemistry that simmers just beneath the surface. No doubt, this absorbing and visually poetic moving meditation on love, loss, and time truly captivates from the beginning to the end.
- Release Date
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March 9, 2001
- Runtime
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98 Minutes
- Director
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Kar-Wai Wong
- Writers
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Kar-Wai Wong