Is there anything that speeds up the heart race than a nice movie romance? Top 15 best love story movies of all time romance lovers are captivated by the soaring music, the spilling of feelings, the lean-in, and the final kiss. Romance lovers are blessed for choice with all the different kinds of love stories set to cinema, from frivolous romantic comedies to more serious tales brimming with yearning and swooning.
Whether you're viewing with a beloved, yearning alone, or just in the desire to get swept away, the next time the event calls for it, these are "the finest romantic movies of all time." Some are timeless, with fantastic kisses and hot situations being mentioned even after decades.
Others are more recent favorites you might not have seen yet. Some are more serious, while others are humorous, but all of them highlight a nice love story front and center. Throw one of them on whether you want to Netflix and chill or simply want your pulse to race.
Top 15 Best Love Story Movies Of All Time
1. Roman Holiday (1953)
A first leading part for Audrey Hepburn, Roman Holiday won her an Oscar. She portrays a princess who chooses to explore Rome on her own and runs into a journalist (Gregory Peck) who withholds knowledge of her actual identity. Will he get a scoop or something more meaningful? Either way, there are plenty of sights to inspire you to reserve a vacation to Italy right away.
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2. From Here to Eternity (1953)
Though you may not have watched this movie, you have likely seen tributes or footage of its large, renowned smooch-fest in the surf. The rest of it, should you choose to view any of the other scenes (not a necessity), focuses on the activities at a military installation in the time frame preceding the assault on Pearl Harbor.
3. An Affair to Remember (1957)
Any reader of Sleepless in Seattle is familiar with the following plot point: When our two lovers meet, they're involved with other people, so they create a plan to meet at the top of the Empire State Building in six months if they still have affections for one another; only tragedy prevents the rendezvous from happening. If you still have some left over from Love Story, bring the Kleenex.
4. The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964)
Without The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, Catherine Deneuve would not exist. The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, a vibrant French movie-musical, prominently features Catherine Deneuve in a story about a couple shattered by one member's deployment to battle in Algeria. Though it's a serious topic, director Jacques Demy and composer Michel Legrand make it seem lighter.
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5. Days of Heaven (1978)
Renowned for his lovely, poetic movies, director Terrence Malick's Days of Heaven is among his most praised. It took home an Oscar for Best Cinematography. The story unfolds on a Texas Panhandle farm in 1916, where Bill (Richard Gere) and Abby (Brooke Adams) struggle to make ends meet while maintaining a clandestine affair. Bill ultimately persuades Abby to marry the elder farm owner, thereby inheriting the money upon his death and exacerbating the situation for all three of them.
6. An Officer and a Gentleman (1982)
When most people think of a Richard Gere romance, Pretty Woman springs to mind, but no one should ignore his earlier, swoonier performance in An Officer and a Gentleman. You'll be singing "Up Where We Belong" on a loop.
7. Dirty Dancing (1987)
Dirty Dancing, one of just three films—the only romance—to make the first round of Netflix's The Movies That Made Us docu-series, follows the story of Baby (Jennifer Grey) and her fateful journey to the Catskills, where she meets resort worker Johnny (Patrick Swayze). From "the lift" in their dance sequence to the magnificent "Nobody puts Baby in a corner," their bond ignites moments still vivid in every '80s child.
8. Cinema Paradiso (1988)
This film honors a love of cinema as well as the love between two individuals. The Italian film centers on Salvatore Di Vita, a young man whose connection with Alfredo, the projectionist at his local theater, and the girl who left town before he could win over her critical father shapes his life. Will they ever meet again?
9. Before Sunrise (1995)
With this laid-back movie, director Richard Linklater accomplishes a wonderful feat: the whole romance develops while the two protagonists stroll about a European city, simply conversing. It shows that wonderful loves don't have to be so emotionally charged. Following the same relationship, the movie gave rise to two sequels, Before Midnight and Before Sunset.
10. William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet (1996)
Over the 420+ years of its existence, countless different versions of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet have been created; you probably can't go wrong with any of them. Our favorite, though, is Baz Luhrmann's interpretation, which contrasts historical words with a then-contemporary 1990s setting and soundtrack.
11. Shakespeare in Love (1998)
Thought: what about his own personal life? William Shakespeare has penned some of the most timeless love stories in history. This movie shows a made-up relationship between Shakespeare and his inspiration at the time, when he was penning one of his greatest love stories, Romeo and Juliet.
12. The Notebook (2004)
This love story, based on a book by Nicholas Sparks, flips between a couple's initial bloom of love in the '40s and the present-day reality of how that relationship has changed in old age, spanning decades. Though the story is touching, viewers may sometimes overlook the events following Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams' iconic rain-soaked kissing scene.
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13. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (2008)
Set in London in the lead-up to World War II, Miss Pettigrew dwells midway between romantic drama and screwball comedy. Taking on the screwball role, Amy Adams plays Delysia Lafosse, a socialite juggling relationships with three different men—all of whom may assist her social position or profession. Guinevere Pettigrew (Frances McDormand) joins Delysia's high-status world as her social secretary, initiating a more serious relationship of her own.
14. The Worst Person in the World (2021)
Focusing on the loves that come in and out ofyour life when you don't have yourself 100% together, this Norwegian film, nominated for Best International Feature Film at the Academy Awards, is a coming-of-age drama and romance blended together. Who can't relate? Though Anders Danielsen Lie co-stars as the person she often crosses paths with, it largely centers on Julie (Renate Reinsve) and her route to young adulthood.
15. Decision to Leave (2022)
This film is for those who enjoy their love stories wrapped in peril and enigma. The noir-ish picture by filmmaker Park Chan-wook, who won the Best Filmmaker prize at the Cannes Picture Festival for it, follows a detective investigating a murder—only to fall for the chief suspect. He must decide if she is innocent or if it's all part of her scheme.
conclusion on Top 15 Best Love Story Movies Of All Time
Long after the credits roll, love stories have a remarkable capacity to linger with us. Whether it's the ageless romance of Casablanca, the raw emotion of Titanic, or the unusual spark in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, each of these movies conveys the core of love in its various forms—passionate, sad, redemptive, or even unsaid. These top 10 love story films exemplify cinematic romance and remind us why we fell in love with narrative per se. Whether you are happy or sad, there is a love story on this list that will resonate with your heart and perhaps leave a tear or two behind.
FAQs: Top 15 Best Love Story Movies of All Time
What is the No. 1 romantic movie?
Though no clear "number one" romantic film exists, Titanic often comes up as a high candidate given its cultural influence and financial success. "Top" romantic movies, on the other hand, can be subjective, as lists contain different movies like Love Actually, To All the Boys I've Loved Before, and Set It Up, depending on individual taste.
What is the greatest love story movie of all time?
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Titanic (1997). Everett.
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The Best Man (1999): Everett.
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Roman Holiday (1953) Everett.
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The Princess Bride (1987) Everett.
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Like Water for Chocolate (1993). Shutterstock.
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If Beale Street Could Talk (2018). Shutterstock.
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Dirty Dancing (1987). Everett.
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Romeo + Juliet (1996). Shutterstock.
Which is the best love story movie?
No one movie about a love tale is universally "great"; rather, one's own taste sets this. Still, among well-liked and highly praised romance movies are "The Notebook," "Titanic," "Pride and Prejudice," and "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge" (DDLJ). "The Fault in Our Stars" and "50 First Dates" are also sometimes state to be excellent romantic movies. In the end, the greatest love story film is the one that speaks to you the most.
Which love story is the best?
There is no "best" love story since it's personal and varies with each reader's tastes. Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice," and Emily Bronte's "Wuthering Heights" are among the most famous and praised love stories. Known for their strong emotions, timeless themes, and captivating characters, these tales are
