Whether someone likes to admit it or not, people love a bit of romance to spice up their daily lives. They may like the unrealistic aspect of the romance on screen or may use them as a tool to escape the scrutinizing reality; whatever the case may be, what better way to wind down after an exhausting day than to watch the over-the-top, sappy romantic movies from the '80s? Even though many films are forty or close to 40 years old, they still endure to this day and find ways to captivate audiences.

Actors like Nicolas Cage, Patrick Swayze, Julia Roberts, and Meg Ryan all owe a big thanks to the abundance of romantic movies that were produced in the '80s, which subsequently gave them the chance to enter the big Hollywood scene. Although there were many classics to choose from, take a look at our compiled list of the best '80s romantic movies ranked.

Update February 8, 2024: This article has been updated with even more great romances from the 1980s to enjoy this Valentine's Day, and where you can stream each title.

10 Dirty Dancing (1987)

Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey took the world to the dance floor in this romantic drama movie. The plot is famously centered around a summer resort for rich families in the 1960s, more specifically the Houseman family and their daughter Frances "Baby", who falls in love with dance instructor Johnny Castle.

An Exceptional Grand Finale

It's the perfect story of forbidden love, where money and age make a whole lot of difference. Grossing over $214 million worldwide, Dirty Dancing is the Top Gun of dancing movies. Audiences everywhere were completely enchanted when Baby and Johnny shared their iconic final dance to the unforgettable Oscar-winning tune "(I've Had) The Time of My Life", topping off the duet with their legendary lift. It may come off as a surprise, but there is actually a Dirty Dancing sequel in production with Grey reprising her role. Stream on Hulu

9 Terms of Endearment (1983)

Terms of Endearment was a major commercial success, grossing over $165 million at the box office and winning a dazzling five Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress (for Shirley MacLaine), Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor (for Jack Nicholson). It tells the story of a mother and her daughter, their mutual relationship over the course of thirty years, and their desperate need to find love.

An Unbreakable & Everlasting Bond

Although the movie is centered on a complex mother-daughter relationship, there's no denying that the romance and plot will make viewers cry every single time. Watching MacLaine and Debra Winger experience their romantic highs and lows while attempting to nurture their own personal bond was an emotional rollercoaster ride for audiences, and it remains a truly touching drama that still tugs on heartstrings to this day. Stream on Paramount+

8 Pretty In Pink (1986)

Pretty In Pink is a cult classic among the lovers of teen romance movies and is one of the very finest to emerge from the 1980s. Directed by Howard Deutch and written by John Hughes, the plot focuses on the social cliques in an American high school, more specifically on a teen girl who has to choose between her childhood sweetheart and a rich, sensitive boy.

Related: The Most Memorable "Best Friends" in Romantic Comedies

Ringwald Continues Her Hollywood Reign

Commonly defined as a "Brat Pack" movie due to the same actors appearing together in teen romance movies, Pretty In Pink has some of the most memorable best friends in teen romance, with its focus on unrequited love. It helped further establish Molly Ringwald as one of Hollywood's most sensational leading ladies and touted a stellar soundtrack of toe-tapping hits that was listed in Rolling Stone's list of "The 25 Greatest Soundtracks of All Time". Stream on Paramount+

7 Moonstruck (1987)

Featuring one of the big screen's most surprising but nonetheless captivating romantic pairings, music and actress extraordinaire Cher starred opposite eclectic acting chameleon Nicolas Cage in Moonstruck. The Norman Jewison flick centers on an Italian-American woman who finds herself attracted to her oafish fiancé's stubborn and testy younger brother and sparks flying between the pair as they develop a profound and life-altering bond.

Cage Becomes a Bonafide Leading Man

Moonstruck earned three Academy Award wins, with Cher receiving the Best Actress statuette for her honest and heartfelt performance of the romantically conflicted woman. The picture also served as a major career breakthrough for Cage, who was riding high on the success of the Coen brothers' Raising Arizona when he branched out and portrayed Cher's leading man. Moonstruck also landed on the American Film Institute's "Ten Top Ten" list for the romantic comedy genre, as voted on by fans. Rent/Buy on Apple TV+

6 Tootsie (1982)

Selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry, Tootsie has become a culturally significant artifact in American culture. This romantic comedy focuses on a talented but volatile actor who adopts a new identity as a woman in order to get an acting job. Starring Dustin Hoffman, the movie became the second most profitable release of 1982 behind only E.T: The Extra Terrestrial.

A Delightful Screwball Rom-Com

The movie does indeed have some problematic parts, but it's still considered one of the most iconic movies of the '80s in large part due to Hoffman's fearless and uninhibited performance. The satirical rom-com nabbed the object of his character's affections, Jessica Lange, the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, and the duo shined on screen in exceptional screwball performances that kept moviegoers entertained and laughing every step of the way. Rent/Buy on Prime Video

5 Sixteen Candles (1984)

What was supposed to be her sweet sixteen turns into a complete disaster. The basic plot for a coming-of-age movie, right? But it surprisingly works perfectly. Samantha, a high school sophomore, is excited to celebrate her upcoming birthday, only to get forgotten by her own family. As the day progresses, everything gets even more embarrassing and disastrous; from turning tomato-red in front of the hottest guy in school because he says 'hi' to her to having to sleep on the couch on her birthday because Sam's grandparents forget that she's turning sixteen.

An Adored Director Makes His Debut

As John Hughes' directorial debut, Sixteen Candles received positive reviews and swiftly established the filmmaker as one of Hollywood's most refreshing and introspective voices. He would go on to further dominate the decade with unforgettable hits like The Breakfast Club and Planes, Trains and Automobiles, with Hughes and Sixteen Candles helping make Molly Ringwald one of the cinema's most buzzed-about It Girls and a certified member of the Brat Pack. Stream on Netflix

4 An Officer and a Gentleman (1982)

Audiences all across the world fell head-over-heels for Richard Gere when he starred as the rebellious United States Navy man Zack Mayo, who strikes up a romance with beautiful townie Paula (Debra Winger) while completing his training at aviation school in the revered romantic drama An Officer and a Gentleman. The esteemed classic chronicles the many personal and professional lessons Zack learns while in pursue of both his career and Paula, as he ultimately emerges a better man.

Oscar History Is Made

Interestingly enough, folk music singer John Denver was initially attached to headline the project before Gere was eventually brought on, and the actor came out triumphant and beat out fellow contenders like John Travolta and Jeff Bridges. Though the chemistry between Gere and Winger was dynamite on-screen, the duo did not get along when cameras stopped rolling, and there was constant tension on-set. Regardless of such behind-the-scenes turmoil, An Officer and a Gentleman was a critical and commercial hit, and co-star Louis Gossett Jr. becoming the first Black actor to win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Stream on Max

3 Say Anything (1989)

Widely regarded as one of the greatest teen romance flicks of all time, Say Anything... marked Cameron Crowe's directorial debut and featured a career-defining performance by John Cusack, who memorably starred as the lovelorn underachiever Lloyd Dobler as he relentlessly pursued beautiful class valedictorian Diane (Ione Skye) despite the meddling of her doting and overbearing father (John Mahoney).

Just a Boy and a Boombox

Say Anything... is perhaps best remembered for the iconic scene in which Cusack holds up a boombox outside Diane's bedroom window in a grand gesture of love as Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes" blasts through the speaker. Moviegoers everywhere were completely transfixed by the romantic moment, one of Hollywood's most unforgettable. Crowe said of the swoon-worthy scene: "That scene is like Romeo under the trellis. But I have this feeling when I watch it that it's filled with double emotion – both with the story and the actors, whose own trepidation bleeds in." Rent/Buy on Apple TV+

2 When Harry Met Sally (1989)

An all-time classic that simply cannot be excluded from this list is the beloved romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally.... The story follows 12 years of chance encounters between two polar opposite characters and tries to resolve the ever-unanswered question: can a man and a woman be just friends? Of course, they can, but this movie does not prove it.

Ryan & Crystal Are Sensational

Meg Ryan was definitely the ultimate queen of rom-coms back in the '80s and '90s. But, this one in particular captures every human emotion just perfectly. Audiences can definitely feel that the romance is written by a woman (Nora Ephron), and both Ryan and Billy Crystal helped bring her impeccable screenplay to life in dazzling fashion and were a part of cinema gold in the iconic restaurant scene. Rent/Buy on Prime Video

1 The Princess Bride (1987)

Rob Reiner's hallowed romantic fantasy extravaganza The Princess Bride remains a cherished fan-favorite staple that continues dazzling viewers over thirty years later. Chronicling the noble quest dashing farmhand Westley (Cary Elwes) embarks upon to rescue his lady love Princess Buttercup (Robin Wright) from the revolting Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon), the undisputed classic is full of swashbuckling heroes, exciting action, and of course a heartwarming love story.

Acclaimed Cult Classic

While it was an overall success at the box office and with critics upon its initial release, The Princess Bride achieved cult status in the decades since its premiere and is now considered one of Reiner's most acclaimed masterpieces and a knockout film of the 1980s. The sweeping picture is remarkably quotable and the romance between Westley and Buttercup is downright dreamy, and it remains a revered and deeply beloved film that has had a massive influence on Hollywood. Stream on Disney+