If there’s one thing that Netflix has in abundance, it’s romantic comedies. Rom-coms are very big on Netflix, but they are not the only options for romance movie lovers. Romantic dramas, thrillers, and tearjerkers are also a part of Netflix’s cinematic library. That’s exemplified by the latest additions to our list of the best romantic movies on Netflix.
The Theory of Everything provides the drama of a real-life love story, while A Walk To Remember pulls at the heartstrings. Against All Odds gives us the thrills this month, while the classic rom-com You’ve Got Mail offers fans a charming look back to the early days of internet dating. These are just a few of the best romance movies on Netflix right now. And you can find the rest of our picks below.
Looking for something else? Check out our list of the best rom-coms on Netflix, the best rom-coms on Hulu, and the best rom-coms on Amazon Prime Video.
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- A Walk to Remember2002
- You've Got Mail1998
- Against All Odds1984
The Theory of Everything (2014) new
Although The Theory of Everything is a biopic about the iconic theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking (Eddie Redmayne), it also doubles as a love story about his decades-long relationship with Jane Wilde (Rogue One‘s Felicity Jones). Before Stephen’s body was ravaged by ALS, his theories about the birth and the nature of the universe made him famous. He also found love with Jane.
Stephen and Jane marry and start a family even as the physical toll of ALS robs him of his mobility and his voice. However, the marriage faces extreme challenges, including Jane’s romantic feelings for a family friend, Jonathan Jones (Charlie Cox), and Stephen’s bond with his nurse, Elaine Mason (Maxine Peake).
A Walk to Remember (2002) new
You can almost always count on Nicholas Sparks stories to focus on the unshakable bonds of love — with a touch of bittersweet tragedy thrown in for good measure. A Walk to Remember, the adaptation of Sparks’ novel, is no exception. Shane West stars as Landon Carter, a delinquent teenager who is given a chance to remain in school if he starts tutoring other students and appears in the school play.
That’s where Jamie Sullivan (Mandy Moore) enters Landon’s life. She’s the daughter of Reverend Hegbert Sullivan (Peter Coyote), who is fiercely protective of Jamie. Although Jamie warns Landon not to fall in love with her, it’s easy to understand why he disregards that advice. But once Jamie’s secret comes out, then you’ll know why she gave Landon that warning.
You've Got Mail (1998) new
The modern spin on You’ve Got Mail is that Tom Hanks’ Joe Fox spends most of the movie stalking Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan), and it’s just not true. Joe does hide the fact that he is Kathleen’s secret internet chat pal, but he wasn’t aware that she was his business rival when they started their online entanglement. Joe actually has to reconcile his feelings of animosity toward Kathleen with the warmth he feels for her from their correspondence.
That’s where things get interesting, as Joe tries to build a relationship with Kathleen as himself without dumping the bond that he’s already made with her through their respective computer screens. This was all very new back in 1998, which seems like a very different world than the one we live in today. But this is still a charming rom-com starring two of the best in the genre.
Against All Odds (1984) new
Chances are very good that you’re more familiar with Phil Collins’ Oscar-nominated song, Against All Odds, than with the film it was released with. But since this 40-year-old romantic thriller is on Netflix, there’s no better time to revisit this remake of Out of the Past.
Jeff Bridges plays Terry Brogan, an aging football player facing the end of his career. Out of desperation, Terry accepts a job from Jake Wise (James Woods) to track down his missing girlfriend, Jessie Wyler (Rachel Ward), who just so happens to be the daughter of the owner of Terry’s former football team. It isn’t long before Terry discovers where Jessie is hiding and why, and takes even less time before they fall in love with each other. But with so many people looking for Jessie, these love birds can’t stay hidden forever.
The Vow (2012)
It’s hard enough to win someone’s love the first time. The Vow shows viewers that it’s even more difficult the second time. Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum play the leading couple, Paige and Leo Collins. Although the duo love each other very much at the beginning of the movie, Paige’s near-death experience leaves her without any of her memories of the last few years. And she doesn’t know her husband at all.
Paige’s estranged parents, Bill (Sam Neill) and Rita Thornton (Jessica Lange), use Paige’s memory loss to re-enter her life and drive Leo away. Even Paige’s ex-fiancé, Jeremy (Scott Speedman), sees her condition as a chance to reconcile with her. The only thing Leo can do is to demonstrate his love for Paige, and hope that she can rediscover their passion before they drift apart for good.
The Great Gatsby (2013)
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby has had numerous adaptations, but none more showy than the 2013 film directed by Baz Luhrmann. Killers of the Flower Moon star Leonardo DiCaprio steps into the title role as Jay Gatsby, a millionaire in the early 1920s who flaunts his wealth to win back his former lover, Daisy (Carey Mulligan). Unfortunately for Gatsby, Daisy is already married to Tom Buchanan (Joel Edgerton).
Gatsby also befriends Daisy’s cousin, Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire), who has his own issues to deal with as the film’s narrator. But as Gatsby and Daisy renew their interest in each other, a tragedy slowly unfolds that will change their lives.
It Could Happen to You (1994)
It Could Happen To You revolves around a cop named Charlie Lang (Nicolas Cage) and a waitress, Yvonne Biasi (Bridget Fonda). Charlie and Yvonne both made bad choices about the partners that they married. But they get an unexpected second chance in life when Charlie wins the lotto, and he keeps his promise to share half of the winnings with Yvonne.
Yvonne’s newfound fortune brings out her estranged husband, Eddie Biasi (Stanley Tucci), as he tries to get $50,000 from her. Charlie’s wife, Muriel Lang (Rosie Perez), is even worse, because she doesn’t just want Charlie’s money, she wants Yvonne’s share of the prize as well. As the people they used to love try to tear them down, all Charlie and Yvonne have is each other.
The Other Boleyn Girl (2008)
Which of the Boleyn sisters is the title character in The Other Boleyn Girl? That would be Mary Boleyn (Asteroid City‘s Scarlett Johansson), the lover and mistress of King Henry VIII (Eric Bana). But the entire Boleyn family is in on the idea of installing one of the sisters at court to give the king a child. They just thought the king would prefer Mary’s sister, Anne Boleyn.
As Mary and Henry fall in love, Anne plots to tear them apart and win the king’s heart so she can be his new queen. What Anne doesn’t realize is that her own machinations may destroy her, as well as her sister and their family.
All the Bright Places (2020)
Get ready for a tearjerker with All the Bright Places. Jennifer Niven co-wrote the adaptation of her own novel, which features Elle Fanning as Violet Markey. One year after the death of her sister, Violet seemingly contemplates suicide before Theodore “Theo” Finch (Dungeons & Dragons star Justice Smith) successfully talks her down and befriends her.
Over time, Theo and Violet become close even though their relationship causes some friction with her parents. However, Theo has some very serious emotional demons to face, and not even his connection to Violet may be enough to pull him back from the brink.
I Love Lizzy (2023)
I Love Lizzy follows Jeff (Carlo Aquino), a young man who is on the verge of becoming a priest. While on vacation in the Philippines, Jeff becomes instantly attracted to his tour guide, Lizzy (Barbie Imperial); they soon open up to each other and share a bond.
This forces Jeff to question whether he is truly ready to become a priest or is willing to turn his back on that in the hope of finding a lasting love with Lizzy. However, Lizzy’s emotional baggage leads to tragedy, forcing Jeff to reevaluate his choices once again.
Love at First Sight (2023)
Love At First Sight is a bit of a misnomer, because Hadley Sullivan (Haley Lu Richardson) and Oliver Jones (Ben Hardy) don’t fall head over heels in love just because they’re two incredibly attractive people. Although that certainly had to have helped things along. Instead, Hadley and Oliver briefly meet at the airport before sitting next to each other on a long flight to England. And during the flight, they form a bond that surprises both of them.
Their connection is so strong that Hadley makes the decision to pursue Oliver even though they both have family drama that they need to face before they can determine if they can make a relationship between them into a reality.
The Noel Diary (2022)
Although it may be implied by the title, The Noel Diary is not a movie about the famous Christmas carol, The First Noel. Instead, it’s a literal diary by Noel Ellis (Essence Atkins), a woman who is unknowingly the common factor connecting Jake Turner (Justin Hartley) and Rachel Campbell (Barrett Doss).
Jake is back in his hometown to handle his late mother’s estate when he meets Rachel, a woman who is looking for Noel, the woman who may be her birth mother. Because Noel was once Jake’s nanny, he realizes that his estranged father, Scott Turner (James Remar), may have answers. And as Jake helps Rachel find what she’s looking for, they may find something even greater together.
Ehrengard: The Art of Seduction (2023)
The title character of Ehrengard: The Art of Seduction is played by Alice Bier Zanden, and she seems to be completely immune to the charms of a painter, Cazotte (Mikkel Boe Følsgaard). Cazotte is so eager to win Ehrengard’s heart that he agrees to help the Grand Duchess (Sidse Babett Knudsen) by giving her son, Prince Lothar (Emil Aron Dorph), some pointers on seducing women so he can have an heir.
Unfortunately for Cazotte, Lothar is a quick study. That leads to all sorts of problems for the royal family. And Ehrengard remains frustratingly out of Cazotte’s reach and in the arms of another man.
No Limit (2022)
Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between (2022)
It feels like you need to take a deep breath before saying the name Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between. In this Netflix Original movie, Talia Ryder stars as Clare, a high school senior who has had a difficult time connecting with anyone because her family constantly moves. Enter Aidan (Jordan Fisher), a teenager who breaks through Clare’s emotional barriers.
To convince Clare to give romance a chance, Aidan proposes that they set an end date for their relationship with an epic final date. But when the date finally arrives, Clare has to wonder if Aidan’s elaborate plans are really meant to keep them together.
The Choice (2016)
Nicholas Sparks has a pretty high percentage for getting his romance novels turned into movies. The Choice is one of the more recent Sparks adaptations, and it features Benjamin Walker as Travis Shaw and Teresa Palmer as Gabby Holland, a medical student who catches Travis’ eye. Despite Gabby’s relationship with Dr. Ryan McCarthy (Tom Welling), and Travis’ on-and-off fling with a woman named Monica (The White Lotus‘ Alexandra Daddario), Gabby and Travis seem drawn to each other.
To explain what “the choice” is in regards to the movie’s title is a bit too big of a spoiler. Just expect some tear-jerking moments ahead. This is a Nicholas Sparks story, after all.
Forever My Girl (2018)
In Forever Your Girl, Liam Lincoln Page (Alex Roe) is one of the biggest country music stars in the world. But years earlier, Liam abandoned Josie Mollee Swan (Jessica Rothe) at the altar and he didn’t look back. Upon returning to his hometown for a funeral, Liam learns that Josie resents him and that they have a daughter, Billy Anne Swan (Abby Ryder Fortson).
Learning about Billy inspires Liam to try to reconcile with Josie while trying to be a father to their daughter. However, the same reasons that kept Liam and Josie apart may keep them from figuring out how to rekindle the love they once had.
Lady Chatterley's Lover (2022)
For the better part of a century, D. H. Lawrence’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover has been adapted again and again for film, television, and even radio. Netflix’s movie is the latest adaptation, and it features Emma Corrin in the title role of Constance “Connie” Reid, the wife of Matthew Duckett’s Sir Clifford Chatterley.
When Clifford returns home from World War I as a paraplegic, the passion goes out of his marriage with Connie despite her best efforts. But when Connie begins a torrid affair with a gamekeeper, Oliver Mellors (Jack O’Connell), it may cost Lady Chatterley her title, her wealth, and even her husband.
Faraway (2023)
Sometimes, you just need a break from life. When her mother passes away and her husband doesn’t show up to the funeral, it’s the last straw for Zeynep (Naomi Krauss). She’s already dealing with stress at work, an aging father at home, a husband who is clearly too preoccupied with his job for her, and a typical closed off teenage daughter.
So, she takes things into her own hands and decides to drive off to a home in Croatia that her mother bought before her death. But when she arrives, the owner of the villa Josip (Goran Bogdan) is still living there. This could pose a problem, or could it? Faraway is a romantic drama with elements of comedy and feel-good heartwarming moments that fans have likened to movies like Mamma Mia.
Most Eligible Bachelor (2021)
Along for the Ride (2022)
Phantom Thread (2017)
A Christmas Prince (2017)
Malcolm & Marie (2021)
To All the Boys I've Loved Before (2018)
To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You (2020)
To All the Boys: Always and Forever (2021)
The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society (2018)
Marriage Story (2019)
Always Be My Maybe (2019)
Someone Great (2019)
Set It Up (2018)
The Incredible Jessica James (2017)
Nappily Ever After (2018)
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