Top 25 Best Romance Movies
Just like true love, the perfect romance film is hard to find. Of course, we have high standards -- we want palpable chemistry, enormous odds for our lovers to overcome ... and a devastating death scene never hurts. And the best part? They don't even have to love us back. -- By Liane Bonin
AP / ZUMA Press / Getty / Everett Collection
25. 'Sleepless in Seattle' (1993)
It reads like a stalker tale: A woman crosses the country for a stranger. But when it's Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks, it's just adorable. That we fell for a love story in which the stars only spend two minutes on screen together speaks volumes.
Rent the DVD |
TriStar/ ZUMA Press
24. 'The Notebook' (2004)
This story of star-crossed lovers (Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling; Gena Rowlands and James Garner) captures the heartbreak and beauty of enduring love, and it's pretty hot to boot. Teen girls hadn't swooned like this since 'Titanic.'
Rent the DVD | Buy the DVD
New Line
23. 'Dark Victory' (1939)
Bette Davis got an Oscar nod for playing a socialite who finds love with the doctor set to operate on her brain tumor. She's dying, but ironically she's also finally living -- and it's caring about someone other than herself that's made her a person worth loving.
Rent the DVD | Buy the DVD
Everett Collection
22. 'Amelie' (2001)
A shy Parisian waitress daydreams of finding love while spending her free time improving the lives of her neighbors. Uniquely French and extra quirky, the movie is irresistibly charming. And only the hardest heart could resist gamine star Audrey Tautou.
Rent the DVD | Buy the DVD
Miramax Films/ZUMA Press
21. 'Love Story' (1970)
He's a rich, handsome jock (Ryan O'Neal), she's a beauty his parents don't accept (Ali McGraw). They stay together despite formidable obstacles, but there's one whopper still ahead -- and it's a tearjerker. Grab your tissues, and don't say we didn't warn you.
Rent the DVD | Buy the DVD
Paramount Pictures/ZUMA Press
20. 'Jerry Maguire' (1996)
Forget "Show me the money!" The most memorable quote in this film -- the closest thing you'll see to a "bro-mance" -- comes when Tom Cruise admits to Renee Zellweger, "You complete me." The follow-up is perfect: "Just shut up. You had me at hello." Sigh.
Rent the DVD | Buy the DVD
TriStar Pictures/ZUMA Press
19. 'West Side Story' (1961)
It's 'Romeo and Juliet' in New York City AND there's dancing -- who could ask for anything more? Apparently not Oscar voters, who awarded the classic musical 10 statues, including Best Picture. If only Shakespeare had had a librettist and a choreographer.
Rent the DVD | Buy the DVD
ZUMA Press
18. 'Atonement' (2007)
An unlikely yet alluring couple (James McAvoy and Keira Knightley) is torn apart by a lie in this devastating Oscar contender. Don't hold out for a happy ending, but sometimes yearning for love lost is the most powerful heartstring-tugger of all.
Rent the DVD | Buy the DVD
Focus Features
17. 'Lady and the Tramp' (1955)
Who says love can't be just as touching in animated form? (See also 'Beauty and the Beast.') Ever since this Disney film about dogs from opposite sides of the tracks, no dating couple has looked at spaghetti in quite the same way.
Rent the DVD | Buy the DVD
Walt Disney Productions/ZUMA Press
Reader Comments (61)
Brandy at 10:33AM on Jun 11th 2008
I think the Notebook deserves to go higher than second to last c'mon! :) it was great. Or at least I think so lol.
Vannicola at 10:00PM on Jun 12th 2008
To not have "Somewhere in Time", starring Jane Seymour and Christopher Reeve on this list, tells me the person who created this list hasn't watched too many Romance movies, or they are very narrowminded with Brokeback Mountain type movies.
Someone who knows something needs to redo this list.
LOVESRT at 10:57PM on Jun 12th 2008
What about Cruel Intentions and Dirty Dancing??? Those would have definetly made my list!!
princesske1sha@aol.com at 9:56AM on Jun 13th 2008
Crap! The Notebook belongs in the top 3 and Brokeback needs to be removed.
JV at 1:29AM on Jun 13th 2008
"Camille" with Greta Garbo and Robert Taylor is perhaps the greatest Romance movie ever. How is it not on the 25 greatest list also?
Maxine at 3:32PM on Jun 13th 2008
Moulin Rouge??? Best EVER.
jezebelle at 2:33AM on Jun 15th 2008
haha i agree, NOTEBOOK shouldve been right next to TITANIC! come on! also, if any of you guys heard of A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT?? now thats a teardrop movie! not tragic but sad. but i know theres more then this!
aerie marie at 3:01AM on Jun 18th 2008
p.s. i love you needs to be on the list!
incredible movie
aerie marie at 3:04AM on Jun 18th 2008
p.s. i love you needs to be added
and the notebook does need to
be higher up..
come on even guys cried
because of that movie
kim at 4:29PM on Jun 18th 2008
The Notebook definitely deserves to be in the top 5...and what about Pride and Prejudice Cold Mountain,The English Patient....I just dont get some of the movies that were included while these were left off...
shruti at 10:51AM on Jun 20th 2008
well.....pearl harbor deserved to be there too!!!!.......i personally loved the movie.....mad me cry :(
SJ at 12:29AM on Jun 27th 2008
A Walk to Remember should be on the list!
Cheryl Clarke at 12:42AM on Jun 28th 2008
Love in the Time of Cholera--absolutly needs to be on this list
cdcorn1 at 1:07AM on Jun 30th 2008
Vannicola.......You're right. Somewhere in Time is as big a tear jerker as The Notebook. I saw it as a young girl and couldn't catch my breath. Loved it!
tonygilliland at 11:17PM on Jun 30th 2008
Somewhere in time has got to be thee best romance and love story of all time. No question about it
Nicole Gloria at 6:26PM on Jul 5th 2008
One of my favortie romance movies ever was Edward Scissorhands. Maybe some people don't consider it good enough for the top 25 but i certainly do. Although it's quirky and a little sci-fi for the romance genre, the emotions on the screen are genuine, you can feel the hushed passion radiating at you the entire film.
Big Mike at 8:23PM on Jul 6th 2008
One of the (if not the) greatest love stories to ever hit the screen was "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance." Once again, your team of "greatest" selectors left a lot to be desired.
Stacinator at 2:02PM on Jul 10th 2008
I dont think it's possible to have a "top 25 greatest romance movies" list. There is just to many out there.
Not to mention not all romance movies are going to have the same type of theme. There are diffrent kinds of romance. Tons of them. Each storie focuses on a particular type. You can't really compare. The Notebook can't be compaired to Atonment. Neither can it be compaired to Gone With The Wind or Casablanca. The Notebook doesn't focus on the same type of love they do. So really, it's just a matter of which storie you hold personaly in your heart rather then which movie is "better".
EricE at 8:54PM on Jul 10th 2008
A Room with a View
valarie. at 1:39AM on Jul 14th 2008
dude.
where is a walk to remember??
and notebook should be in top ten.