The 10 Best Romantic Movies On Netflix Right Now
October is right around the corner, which means I'm readying myself for a horror movie marathon. But I recently watched an amazing romance on Netflix (it's the first film you'll find on my list), and I can't get it out of my head. So in light of that awesome film, I've decided to cull together ten great romances on Netflix—some comedies, some dramas, but all love-affirming tales—that I think are worth checking out. So if you, like me, are looking for something a bit lighter before we delve into the bloody madness of horror movies next month, then check out one (or more) of the following movies. These are what I believe to be the ten best romances available on Netflix.
The 10 Best Romantic Movies On Netflix Falling in Love Like in the Movies (2023)The first movie on our list concerns the very make-up of romantic movies. The main character of Falling in Love Like in the Movie is Bagus (Ringgo Agus Rahman), a scriptwriter who pitches an idea for a black-and-white rom-com based on an experience he shared with his high school love Hana (Nirina Zubir). This meta-narrative shifts between Bagus' past relationship with Hana, who had just lost her husband, and his current feud with producer Yoram (Alex Abbad), who pushes for a more marketable film. As Bagus pursues his artistic vision, tensions between his personal life and filmmaking ambitions arise, lending to the film's meta aesthetic that blurs the lines between the film's actual plot and the film-within-a-film being created. Directed by Yandy Laurens, this movie film's visual playfulness, which features a constant shift between color and black-and-white, offers a self-referential take on romantic movies, ultimately illustrating how cinema can both mirror and differ from real life.
La La Land (2016)On one side of this timeless romance we have an aspiring actress named Mia (Emma Stone, who won an Oscar for her performance), and on the other we have a struggling jazz musician named Sebastian (Ryan Gosling). But together in the magical land of Hollywood, they're about to find out what love truly means—the good...and the bad. After they meet, Mia and Sebastian inspire one another to chase after their dreams, despite the constant setback they face. And as their careers take off, they must learn to balance their relationship with the pursuit of climbing that professional ladder. In the end, La La Land reckons with the painful reality of pursuing one's dreams, and how sometimes love, as much as it can inspire, can ultimately get in the way of our aspirations. A stylist, nostalgic, experience stuffed to the brim with music and color, this honest yet bittersweet story from director Damien Chazelle combines the optimism of romance with the melancholy of life's compromises and missed opportunities.
Blue Jay (2016)While Jim (Mark Duplass) is in town to renovate and sell his late mother's house, he and his high school sweetheart, Amanda (Sarah Paulson), unexpectedly run into each other in Alex Lehman's beautiful black-and-white film Blue Jay. As they spend the day together, they reminisce about their shared past and the time they had spent together, gradually rekindling emotions they once shared. As they revisit the moments and places form their past, unresolved feelings resurface as well, and they reflect on how their lives have changed since they split. Their short time together is a quiet, introspective exploration of what happens when people revisit their past and how time shapes love and loss. Intimate and minimalistic, this black-and-white drama filled with naturalistic dialogue offers a reflective, meditative depiction of love that delves into the complexities of rekindled relationships and the impact memories have on our selves.
Us and Them (2018)Us and Them tells the tale of Xiaoxiao (Zhou Dongyu) and Jianqing (Jing Boran), two strangers who meet on a train while traveling home for the Chinese New Year. Over the course of decade, in a narrative that constantly shifts back and forth between past and present, their relationship evolves from a fleeting connection into a complex deeply emotional bond, as they navigate love, career struggles, and the challenges of building a life together. Through flashbacks and current struggles, this weaving story from Taiwanese singer-actress Rene Liu (aka Milk Tea) captures Xiaoxiao and Jianqing's ups and downs, showing how their individual ambitions, as well as pressures from society, impact their relationship over time. This realistic movie captures the bittersweet spectrum of romantic connection, featuring expressive visual contrasts that juxtapose the vibrant beginnings of love with the muted tones of later challenges.
Muriel's Wedding (1994)Meet the star of director P. J. Hogan's film Muriel's Wedding, Muriel Heslop: a soilly awkward woman who feels stuck and limiated in her small Austrailain town. In this offbeat and super colorful comedy set to the tune of ABBA's bouncy pop music, she dreams of leaving such an unsatisfying life behind and finding happiness by getting married to Mr. Right. After stealing some money to attend a tropical vacation, Muriel (played by Toni Collette in an all-time great performance) reinvents her self with the help her new friend, Rhonda (Rachel Griffiths). They move to Sydney, where Muriels's obsession with getting married leads her into a series of predicaments that challenge her worldview, her vision of what makes life worth leaving. Through this journey, Muriel leans about self-worth and what it truly means to be happy, beyond the fantasy of weddings and what society expects of you. Quirky with an undeniable strand of dark humor, this heartfelt story is the definition of cathartic joy.
Carol (2015)It's 1950s New York, and Therese (Rooney Mara), a young aspiring photographer, and Carol (Cate Blanchett), an elegant, wealthy woman going through a difficult divorce, meet each one another at crucial crossroads in their lives. Despite the constraints of their time and social prejudices, these two women form a deep emotional connection that quickly turns into a love affair. As their relationship intensifies, they are forced to confront the messiness of their looked-down-upon love, including Carol's custody battle for her daughter and the risks associated with love between two women in a conservative era. This romantic drama from Todd Haynes is, per the director's style, elegantly composed as it meticulously captures the essence of New York City in the mid-20th century with lush, atmospheric cinematography. The movie's tender, restrained approach results in an absorbing undercurrent of tension and desire that permeates this sad yet entrancing love story.
Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003)I would feel remiss not including a Bollywood musical on this list, and I see no better suitor than the uplifting yet heartbreaking story of Kal Ho Naa Ho, which translates to Tomorrow My Never Come. This film from Nikkhil Advani centers on a romance between Naina (Preity Zinta) and Aman (Shah Rukh Khan). While living in New York City, Naina, a young uptight student living with her widowed mother, disabled brother and hostile grandmother, struggles with her own unhappiness. But when her new neighbor, the cheerful and optimistic Aman, enters Naina's life, he begins to change the way she sees the world. Soon, a love triangle between Naina, Aman and Naina's classmate Rohit (Saif Ali Khan) unfolds, all while Aman keeps a life-threatening heart condition a secret. This vibrant and dramatic experience features a fantastic blend of comedy, romance and deep drama that's expected of Bollywood films.
On Body and Soul (2017)Love at first sight? How about love at first dream. That's the case in On Body and Soul, which tells of the ethereal romance between Endre (Morcsányi Géza) and Mária (Alexandra Borbély), two workers in a Hungarian slaughterhouse who discover they share they same dream each night, where they meet as deer in a peaceful forest. While shy and removed in their waking lives, this strange shared dream slowly brings them closer together. As they learn to communicated in reality, their relationship deepens, and they confront emotional barriers that have kept them from love and connection in the past. Quiet and visually poetic with its dreamlike approach, this film from Ildikó Enyedi contrasts the cold, sterile environment of the slaughterhouse with the serene, natural imagery of our central couple's shared dream, producing in a a haunting atmosphere that's both longing and vulnerable, that focuses on the characters' inner worlds and their struggle to connect in an emotionally detached environment.
Don't Go Breaking My Heart (2011)One of the great romantic duologies of recent years, the first part Don't Go Breaking My Heart introduces the love triangle between Yen (Gao Yuanyuan), a young analyst working in Hong Kong who recently broke up with her boyfriend, and her two suitors, Sean (Louis Koo), a wealthy investment firm CEO, and Kevin. (Daniel Wu), an architect who suffers from alcoholism. Both enamored by Yen, Sean and Kevin vie for her attention in increasingly creative ways as Yen tries to choose the man who truly complements her. Directing team Wai Ka-fai and Johnnie To's glossy and playful film employs slick cinematography that captures its modern, urban as it depicts love amidst the dynamic cityscape of Hong Kong. Light, charming and humorous, this Shakespearean romantic comedy, is uplifting yet doesn't shy away from capturing the ultimate complexities of relationships, and in the end delivers a healthy mix of joy, frustration and longing that naturally comes with love.
Big Eden (2000)The final film on our list is Big Eden, which tells the story of Henry Hart (Arye Gross) , a successful New York City artist who returns to this rural Montana hometown to care for his ailing grandfather. While home, Henry, who is fearful of losing his last remaining family member, reconnects with the people from his childhood, including his high school crush, Dean (Tim DeKay), who recently returned to Big Eden with his kids after a divorce, and a quiet local store own who harbors feelings for Henry, Pike (Eric Schweig). As Henry struggles with the impending death of his grandfather while balancing feelings stirred up by his visit home, this warm and idyllic film from director Thomas Bezucha presents a small-town fantasy world where the entire community is accepting and supportive of one's journey of self-discovery. Its tone of positivity and inclusivity might seem cloying to some, but others like me will find the film's sweet, lighthearted approach to be a breath of fresh air.
