20 Romantic Movies on Prime Video That Will Have You Swooning
December 22, 2024
A Walk to Remember (2002)
Based on a Nicholas Sparks novel, this 2002 coming-of-age drama follows the unlikely love story between two North Carolina teens: popular bad boy Landon (Shane West) and the local reverend’s daughter, Jamie (Mandy Moore). When Landon is forced to participate in the school play to avoid expulsion, he asks Jamie to help him learn his lines—and begins to fall for her, which just so happens to be the one thing she told him not to do. From then on, their bond is put to the test. Keep the tissue box on hand.
The Idea of You (2024)
If you didn’t stream this romantic comedy as soon as it hit Prime Video, then now’s the time to do so. Anne Hathaway stars as Solène, a 40-year-old single mom and gallery owner who, after taking her daughter to Coachella, finds herself swept up in a whirlwind affair with the 24-year-old lead singer of the biggest boy band on earth. Based on a novel by Robinne Lee, the film chronicles the unexpected romance between Solène and Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine), while examining the implications of their age gap in a frank yet hopeful way.
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003)
If Andie Anderson (Kate Hudson) isn’t the ultimate early-aughts rom-com heroine, then we don’t know who is. As the advice columnist for a women’s magazine, she decides to write a “how to” piece on testing the limits of a new relationship—or, more specifically, getting a man to leave you—just 10 days in. But when she selects her mark, advertising exec Ben Berry (Matthew McConaughey), Andie is unaware that he’s on a mission of his own: to make a woman fall in love with him in the exact same timeframe. More than 20 years after its release, the film that introduced us to love ferns—and that iconic yellow dress—still delights.
The Holiday (2006)
Between an A-list cast and a dreamy plot, Nancy Meyers’s life-swap rom-com stands the test of time. It centers on two unhappy women—lovelorn British journalist, Iris (Kate Winslet), and hardheaded Hollywood editor, Amanda (Cameron Diaz)—who sign up for a home exchange in order to escape their lives during Christmas. The change of pace proves to be exactly what both characters need, with Iris enjoying Amanda’s sprawling Los Angeles mansion while Amanda learns to appreciate Iris’s quaint English village. It doesn’t hurt that they have perfectly-written love interests (played by Jude Law and Jack Black), too.
Challengers (2024)
Romantic sports dramas tend to be underrated, but Challengers—and its heavily-discussed threesome scene—brought the genre right to center court. The steamy tennis flick follows Tashi (Zendaya), a tennis prodigy turned coach who’s helped her husband, Art (Mike Faist), become one of the world’s top players. To break Art’s recent losing streak, Tashi signs him up for a low-stakes, confidence-boosting challenger event. But when he’s forced to play against his former best friend—and Tashi’s ex-boyfriend—Patrick (Josh O’Connor), the pressure is higher than ever. Jumping between timelines, the film explores the characters’ passion for their favorite sport and, of course, each other.
The Way We Were (1973)
The Way We Were has it all: campy romance, major star power, and an award-winning soundtrack that will absolutely get stuck in your head. Barbara Streisand and Robert Redford star as the central politically-opposed pair—idealistic Jewish activist Katie and WASPy writer Hubbell—who first meet as college students and later marry during World War II. Their opposites-attract love story is the bittersweet stuff of legend, and the disconnect between their private and public lives is something that still resonates today. It’s also worth noting that “Your girl is lovely, Hubbell” remains one of the most iconic movie lines of all time.
Sylvie’s Love (2020)
What starts as a summer fling evolves into a romance for the ages in this 2020 Amazon Original. Tessa Thompson stars as the titular Sylvie, who’s working at her father’s record store in 1950s Harlem when she meets Robert (Nnamdi Asomugha), a talented saxophonist. Despite the fact that Sylvie is engaged to another man (Alano Miller), she and Robert embark on a passionate affair—until Robert’s burgeoning career pulls him elsewhere. Their goodbyes, however, prove to be fleeting; when they reconnect five years later, it’s clear that neither party’s feelings have changed. And so their storybook romance continues.
Red, White & Royal Blue (2023)
For feel-good vibes, look no further than Amazon’s adaptation of Casey McQuiston’s bestselling 2019 novel. The movie traces the forbidden romance that blossoms between the son of a U.S. president, Alex (Taylor Zakhar Perez) and his British arch-nemesis, Prince Henry (Nicholas Galitzine), when they’re forced into a truce for the sake of foreign relations. With just the right amount of camp and chemistry that’s off the charts, it’s a refreshing rom-com that will have you rooting for the characters at its core. Like, you’ll actually be sad when the credits roll.
Love, Actually (2003)
Thanks to a large ensemble cast, this London-set holiday film delivers nine loosely interconnected love stories. While one thread that follows a British prime minister (Hugh Grant) falling for his junior staffer (Martine McCutcheon) probably wouldn’t be greenlit today, the others are still largely relatable and include: a graphic designer (Laura Linney) putting her love life on hold to care for her mentally ill brother; a best man (Andrew Lincoln) who’s in love with his BFF’s bride (Keira Knightley); a married man (Alan Rickman) considering cheating on his wife (Emma Thompson); and a recent widower (Liam Neeson) raising his young stepson (Thomas Sangster). Catch them in all their glory at Heathrow’s arrivals gate.
Emma (1996)
Any list of romantic movies calls for a Jane Austen tale. Inspired by the writer’s 1815 novel, this Oscar-winning period film follows the antics of Emma Woodhouse (Gwyneth Paltrow), a 19th-century socialite who busies herself by playing matchmaker within her small English community. Her latest project? Finding a love interest for the unsophisticated Harriet Smith (Toni Collette). But as she meddles in the affairs of others, Emma risks her own shot at love with suitors played by Alan Cumming, Ewan McGregor, and Jeremy Northam. For additional takes on the classic, stream Clueless and 2020’s Emma. when you’re done.
When Harry Met Sally (1989)
It’s never a bad time for a When Harry Met Sally rewatch. The perfect friends-to-lovers tale, it stars Billy Crystal and rom-com queen Meg Ryan as the titular duo, who are total strangers when they agree to share a car ride from the University of Chicago to New York City after graduation. Their chemistry is immediately clear, and among their many road-trip conversations—and one unforgettable diner scene—they debate whether or not men and women can truly have platonic relationships without anyone catching feelings. A decade after going their separate ways, Harry and Sally decide to give real friendship a shot. And for the record, we’ll have what she’s having, too.
My Policeman (2022)
Get your Harry Styles fix courtesy of this 2022 drama. Based on Bethan Roberts’s novel, the film depicts the changing dynamic between a trio of characters from the 1950s to the 1990s. The saga begins when policeman Tom (Styles) meets and develops passionate feelings for museum curator Patrick (David Dawson). With homosexuality criminalized at the time, the men must hide their forbidden relationship, which continues even as Tom courts and marries a schoolteacher, Marion (Emma Corrin). Although she’s initially unaware of the men’s romance, she soon becomes suspicious—and sets into motion a series of events that will forever impact their love triangle.
The Family Stone (2005)
Following one dysfunctional family’s Christmas celebration, this 2005 film brings the laughs, tears, and plenty of romance. It all starts when Everett Stone (Dermot Mulroney) brings his neurotic girlfriend, Meredith (Sarah Jessica Parker), home to meet his parents (Diane Keaton and Craig T. Nelson) and siblings (Rachel McAdams, Luke Wilson, Tyrone Giordano, and Elizabeth Reaser). Because the Stones’ reception to Meredith is unceremoniously icy, the lone outsider brings in her sister, Julie (Claire Danes), for backup. Sparks begin to fly where they shouldn’t, and there’s plenty of emotional baggage to go around as the film unfolds in a way that’s both heartwarming and heartbreaking.
About Fate (2022)
Few pairings are as dependable as Emma Roberts and the rom-com genre as a whole. In this twist-packed film, the actress portrays Margot, a realtor who unknowingly appears to be living a parallel life to a lawyer named Griffin (Thomas Mann). The two are total strangers, but find themselves in the same restaurant, preparing to get engaged to their respective partners, on New Year’s Eve. Needless to say, things don’t go according to plan. When a twist of fate lands Griffin on Margot’s doorstep the next day, the pair embark on a wild adventure together. As the title suggests, where they’ll end up—and with whom—is all, seemingly, predestined.
Something from Tiffany’s (2022)
If your boyfriend was—god forbid—hit by a car outside of a jewelry store on your anniversary and he just so happened to have an engagement ring among his possessions, chances are, you’d be expecting a proposal. That’s exactly what Rachel (Zoey Deutch) assumes when she finds herself in that very situation in this Amazon Original. She doesn’t know that her concussed beau, Gary (Ray Nicholson), had actually bought her a pair of earrings; the diamond sparkler really belongs to Ethan (Kendrick Sampson), who accidentally switched the jewelry boxes while performing first aid on Gary. The unexpected mix-up significantly changes each character’s journey.
Casablanca (1943)
Widely considered to be one of the most romantic movies of all time, Casablanca is really the only choice if you’re in the mood for an early classic. Set in the titular Moroccan city during World War II, the film centers on Rick (Humphrey Bogart), a cynical American expat who runs a local nightclub. When his former flame, Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman), walks in, Rick is forced to choose between his love for the woman of his dreams and helping her fugitive husband, Victor (Paul Henreid), escape the Germans. A wartime tale of sacrifice, it’s an all-engrossing watch that still lives up to the hype today.
The Spectacular Now (2013)
This adaptation of Tim Tharp’s novel is one of the most realistic on-screen portrayals of teenage romance you’ll find. It follows popular, life-of-the-party Sutter (Miles Teller) and innocent, smart Aimee (Shailene Woodley), an unlikely pair of high school seniors who take a very sudden—and very intense—interest in each other ahead of graduation. With a palpable connection that bonds them, the characters are by each other’s side while navigating everything from prom night and geometry exams to alcoholism and family trauma. Just know that you’ll be rooting for their ultimate success, whether that means they’re together or apart in the end.
Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
If you’re not in the mood for a full-on fairytale, Silver Linings Playbook explores the heavier themes of mental health. The Oscar-winning film centers on Pat (Bradley Cooper), a former teacher who’s coping with bipolar disorder and moves in with his parents (Robert De Niro and Jacki Weaver) when he’s released from a psychiatric hospital. Desperate to reconcile with his estranged wife as he rebuilds his life, Pat agrees to enter a dance competition with a young widow, Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), in exchange for her help in winning back his ex. Aided by an understanding of each other’s mental health struggles, the pair’s chemistry quickly proves to be off the charts.
Dear John (2010)
A Nicholas Sparks adaptation is just about as romantic as it gets. Dear John chronicles the seven years after soldier John (Channing Tatum) meets—and quickly falls for—college student Savannah (Amanda Seyfried) while he’s home on leave. Not ready to let go of their whirlwind romance before John’s deployment, the lovebirds decide to write each other letters to keep their long-distance relationship alive until John’s eventual return. But the 9/11 attacks change their plans, and the ripple effects of their heart-wrenching love story play out in the years that follow.
Somebody I Used to Know (2023)
Reality TV showrunner Ally (Alison Brie) has no real life outside of her work. So when she learns that her series is cancelled, what else is there to do but head to her hometown for a family visit? As luck would have it, she runs into her ex-boyfriend, Sean (Jay Ellis), while drinking at the local bar. After a night spent reminiscing with her former flame, Ally is left wondering what her life could have been had she made different choices—especially since Sean’s fiancée, Cassidy (Kiersey Clemons) reminds her of, well, her younger self. A path of self-discovery—and some well-intentioned meddling—awaits.
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