It's Valentine's Day, and that means it is the perfect time to look for a romance movie to watch. Typically, romance movies have an unfair stigma to them, often looked down upon as being lesser films. Enduring a litany of snide comments about romantic comedies being formulaic and clichéd or romances being too sappy, this genre has had plenty of unfair criticism leveled against it over the years.
Yet there are plenty of great romance movies. In fact, in 2002, The American Film Institute (aka AFI) published a list of the most romantic movies ever made, titled AFI's 100 Years...100 Passions. The list focused on American-based feature films with a romance at the center of it and whose love stories have been important to film as an art form and inspired generations of artists and audiences. It features over 100 films and is great for anyone looking for some of the best romances to watch to show just how moving the genre can be. Here are the top fifteen most romantic movies on the list.
Update February 14, 2024: In honor of Valentine's Day, this article has been updated with even more great romantic movies from the AFI 100 Years...100 Passions list and where each title can be streamed if you are looking for something to watch for the holiday.
15 Wuthering Heights (1939)
Wuthering Heights, along with other adaptations of the Brontë sisters's works, need little introduction. Directed by William Wyler (Ben-Hur), the 1939 version is the first live-action adaptation of Brontë's novel and stars classic Hollywood icons Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon as Heathcliffe and Catherine. Wuthering Heights is a gothic romance about young love and passion, which is broken by duty and civility, only to be tested again years later. When Catty marries her rich neighbor, despite harboring feelings for Heathcliffe, her life is thrown into disarray when Heathcliffe returns after some years, now an incredibly wealthy man.
The Original Is Often the Best
In the modern age of remakes and reboots, Wuthering Heights has currently seen 11 adaptations across TV and film, including multiple BBC mini-series and an incredibly 00s musical version. However, as is often the case with remakes and reboots, the original is still considered the best by many. Not only is it the most iconic adaptation of the novel, it also won an incredible 8 Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Stream on PeacockTV
14 The African Queen (1951)
The African Queen
- Release Date
- January 7, 1952
- Director
- John Huston
- Cast
- Humphrey Bogart , Katharine Hepburn , Robert Morley , Peter Bull , Theodore Bikel , Walter Gotell
- Runtime
- 105
The African Queen is an adaptation of the C. S. Forester novel of the same name. The film follows Charlie Allnut, the captain of the African Queen steamer, and Rose Sayer, the sister of a British missionary. When Rose convinces Charlie to use his boat to attack a nearby German gunship, the two find themselves slowly falling in love despite being totally opposed to each other. The African Queen features a who's who of classic Hollywood stars, including Humphrey Bogart, Katherine Hepburn, Robert Morley, Peter Swanwick, and Theodore Bikel.
Inspired by Real Events
Set in East Africa during the height of the First World War, the film, and the novel, are loosely inspired by a true story. While the inspiring romance and the eccentric characters are pure Hollywood magic, the German gunship was inspired by a real naval vessel that operated on Lake Tanganyika during WWI until it was destroyed in 1916. African Queen is a iconic film, and it's influence is felt in eve non-romantic films as Dwayne Johnson's character in Jungle Cruise wears an outfit almost identical to Bogart's character. Stream on Prime Video and Parmaount+.
13 Out of Africa (1985)
Out of Africa
- Release Date
- December 20, 1985
- Director
- Sydney Pollack
- Cast
- Meryl Streep , Robert Redford , Klaus Maria Brandauer , Michael Kitchen , Malick Bowens , Joseph Thiaka
- Runtime
- 150
AFI's list is naturally dominated by 'classic' Hollywood movies, but there are some (slightly) more recent movies intertwined in the ranking. One such film is Out of Africa, directed by Sydney Pollack. Like many of the films on this list, Out of Africa has an incredible cast, with the film being headlined by none other than Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. The film has sadly fallen out of popularity with modern audiences simply due to the popularity of more contemporary romances, but Out of Africa is one of the defining romantic movies of the 80s and deserves a lot more attention now.
A Real-Life Romance
Out of Africa is based on the real-life of Baroness Karen Blixen, from her personal writings. Her notes detail her journey to Kenya to run a coffee plantation and how she married her lover's brother. For the film's adaptation, Pollack took heavy inspiration from Blixen's journals but put more attention on the fictitious romance with Denys. The movie was a runaway hit, and won seven Academy Awards including Best Picture. Rent on Apple TV+, Google Play, Vudu, and Prime Video.
12 My Fair Lady (1964)
My Fair Lady
- Release Date
- October 21, 1964
- Director
- George Cukor
- Cast
- Audrey Hepburn , Rex Harrison , Stanley Holloway , Wilfrid Hyde-White , Gladys Cooper , Jeremy Brett
- Runtime
- 170
My Fair Lady is a defining Hollywood classic. Adapted from the George Bernard Shaw play Pygmalion, My Fair Lady still remains one of the most popular and best musical romantic movies. Starring Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison, My Fair Lady is a classic Hollywood story of the snobby professor befriending a low-born girl, taking her into his care to better her and make her 'presentable' to society, all while romantic feelings begin to grow under the surface.
The Film Started a New Sub-Genre
My Fair Lady's influence on modern cinema and pop culture is almost indefinable, but one notable aspect is the wave of Pygmalion-style narratives that appeared after its release in 1964. Some highlights include Pretty Woman, Educating Rita, She's All That, and it is even shouted out in Kingsman: The Secret Service, much to Colin Firth's shock. My Fair Lady is a delightful film and rightfully won eight Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director. Streram on Paramount+
11 Annie Hall (1977)
Annie Hall
- Release Date
- April 19, 1977
- Director
- Woody Allen
- Cast
- Woody Allen , Diane Keaton , Tony Roberts , Carol Kane , Paul Simon , Shelley Duvall
- Runtime
- 93
Directed by and starring Woody Allen, Annie Hall is a beautifully poignant and reflective romance movie that pushed the boundaries of the genre in 1977. Alongside Allen, Annie Hall stars Diane Keaton as the titular nightclub singer, as well as Shelley Duvall, Paul Simon, Tony Roberts, and Carol Kane. Allen and Keaton's chemistry shines on-screen, and the hilariously witty script brings the history of their cracked relationship to life.
A Reflection on Love and Entertainment
Annie Hall is a reflection on a past relationship, as Alvy Singer looks back on his love with Annie Hall, which, like most of his previous marriages, ended suddenly. As well as being an excellent meditation on love and relationships, Annie Hall also explores the personalities of those in the entertainment, as Alvy is a comedian, and Annie Hall is an aspiring singer. The film would win Best Picture at the Academy Awards, notably beating out Star Wars. There is certainly a question to be had if Annie Hall is still a movie that can be fully enjoyed and appreciated given all the accusations of sexual abuse against Woody Allen, but when the list was published in 2002 there was no denying that Annie Hall was a modern classic. Stream on Prime Video
10 City Lights (1931)
When you think of romance films, you probably imagine grand projections and confessions of love, with heartwarming soundtracks. City Lights couldn't use any of that, and is still one of the best romance films ever made. Starring Charlie Chaplin, City of Lights blends Chaplin's signature physical comedy with a surprisingly moving and endearing romantic plot between a tramp and a blind girl. City of Lights came at the end of Chaplin's career in silent films, and is seen as one of his best and most innovative.
A Silent Love
Chaplin plays the vagabond who, after falling in love with a blind girl (played by Virginia Cherrill), attempts to gather money for her treatment. However, his journey to raise money is met by a wealthy drunkard who takes issue with the tramp's methods, as well as other hilarious obstacles. If you're looking for something different to watch on your date night, City Lights is absolutely worth your time. Stream on Max
9 Love Story (1970)
Love Story
- Release Date
- December 16, 1970
- Director
- Arthur Hiller
- Cast
- Ali MacGraw , Ryan O'Neal , John Marley , Ray Milland , Russell Nype , Katharine Balfour
- Runtime
- 99
Love Story is certainly an important film in terms of American popular culture. As of this writing, the film is the 42nd highest-grossing film of all time adjusted for inflation; additionally, the film features one of the most iconic romantic lines in film history, one that star Ryan O'Neil even referenced and satirized in What's Up Doc? with "Love means never having to say you're sorry". The film's plot follows wealthy law student Oliver (Ryan O'Neil) and middle-class music major Jenny (Ali McGraw), who decide to marry despite what Oliver's family thinks, only to have their love threatened when Ali is diagnosed with a terminal illness.
When Love is Tested
Love Story was an instant smash hit and was one of the earliest examples of a Hollywood studio capitalizing on an emerging youth market that would lead the way for the exciting New Hollywood era of the 1970s. Alongside Rya O'Neil, Love Story also features Ali Macgraw's fantastic performance as Jennifer Cavalleri. The movie is both an uplifting and tragic romance that spoke to audiences at the time and continues to endure to this day, sparking a whole wave of 'terminal illness' love movies. Stream on Paramount+
8 It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
It's A Wonderful Life is culturally remembered as a Christmas movie and has been a classic for families during the holiday season for years. While most of the common elements remembered about the movie are its connection to the Yule Tide season (despite it being initially released in January), the movie also has a prominent romance between George Bailey (James Stewart) and his wife, Mary Hatch Bailey (Donna Reid).
A Timeless Classic Beyond Christmas
Mary and George's romance goes back decades, and despite the financial trouble that George finds himself in, the film shows how his love for Mary and her love for him has endured and, in the end, saves him. The film also features one of the most iconic Hollywood villains in Mr. Potter (played by Lionel Barrymore), the infamous robber baron who steals George's money. Stream on Prime Video
7 Doctor Zhivago (1965)
Doctor Zhivago
- Release Date
- December 22, 1965
- Director
- David Lean
- Cast
- Omar Sharif , Julie Christie , Geraldine Chaplin , Rod Steiger , Alec Guinness , Tom Courtenay
- Runtime
- 197
Released in 1965, Doctor Zhivago is an epic film based on the novel of the same name. Set in Russia during World War I and the Russian Civil War, the movie is an epic love story spanning years between Yuri Zhivago (Omar Sharif) and Lara Antipova (Julie Christie). Yuri is a poet and physicist who finds his loving marriage tested when he finds himself attracted to another woman.
Love & Temptation Spanning Decades
Regarded as one of the great cinematic love stories of all time and even referenced in the latest season of Stranger Things, Doctor Zhivago was a smash hit and, adjusted for inflation, is the eighth highest-grossing movie of all time. The film won five Oscars: Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, and Best Costume Design. It was nominated for Best Picture and Best Director but notably lost to The Sound of Music, which is the third highest-grossing film of all time adjusted for inflation meaning that 1965 was a great year for movies. Stream on Tubi
6 The Way We Were (1973)
The Way We Were
- Release Date
- October 19, 1973
- Director
- Sydney Pollack
- Cast
- Barbra Streisand , Robert Redford , Bradford Dillman , Lois Chiles , Patrick O'Neal , Viveca Lindfors , Allyn Ann McLerie , Murray Hamilton , Herb Edelman , Diana Ewing , Sally Kirkland , George Gaynes , James Woods , Susan Blakely
- Runtime
- 118 Minutes
The Way We Were was directed by Sydney Pollack and starred Robert Redford and Barbra Streisand. It was released in theaters in 1973. Katie Morosky (Streisand) is a politically active Jewish Marxist, and Hubbell Gardiner is a White Anglo-Saxton Protestant who has no interest in politics. Despite the two having nothing in common, they begin to fall for one another and, after college, reconnect and marry during World War II. When Hubbell begins to make it as a writer, and his novel is being considered for adaptation as a film Katie's political activism jeopardizes Hubbell's position and reputation as the Hollywood blacklist grows under the House Un-American Activities Committee.
Romance and Music
While the film is a romantic classic, it may be most culturally remembered for its music. The movie won the Academy Awards for Best Original Dramatic Score and Best Original Song for the theme song "The Way We Were," which was sung by Streisand. The soundtrack hit the Billboard Top 20, and the Academy Award-winning song even topped the charts and was certified gold. The movie and its score have had a lasting impact on pop culture, being referenced in The Simpsons, That 70s Show, Friends, and Sex and the City, just to name a few. The Way We Were is not available for streaming.
5 An Affair to Remember (1957)
An Affair to Remember
- Release Date
- July 11, 1957
- Director
- Leo McCarey
- Cast
- Cary Grant , Deborah Kerr , Richard Denning , Neva Patterson , Cathleen Nesbitt , Robert Q. Lewis
- Runtime
- 119
1957's An Affair to Remember, starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr, is actually a remake of a 1939 film titled Love Affair. Despite being in a relationship, Nickie (Grant) and Terry (Kerr) fall in love while on a cruise from Europe to New York. The duo agrees to reunite at the top of the Empire State Building in six months, but an unfortunate accident keeps her from the reunion, and he fears that she has married or does not love him anymore. An Affair to Remember is a moving, emotionally charged gut punch that remains just as tragic with every viewing.
Inspiring Romantics Across New York
While the movie did not win any of the four Academy Awards it was nominated for, its legacy can still be felt to this day. The idea of meeting at the top of the Empire State Building became the inspiration for Sleepless in Seattle (which features clips and references to An Affair To Remember throughout). Two lovers agreeing to meet later but failing to do so is also the end scene of Before Sunrise and a major plot point in its sequel, Before Sunset. Stream on Hoopla.
4 Roman Holiday (1953)
Roman Holiday is the film that won Audrey Hepburn an Academy Award for Best Actress and is one of the most iconic romances of all time. Released in 1953, the film stars Hepburn as a princess who sets out to see Rome on her own and meets a reporter, played by Gregory Peck. Roman Holiday is the second time Hepburn has appeared on this list and cements her legacy as a queen of classic Hollywood romance movies.
Roman Holiday Is About the Moments of Love
Roman Holiday isn't so much about an entire relationship, looking away from the end result of their love to celebrate one magical moment between two people and acknowledge the responsibilities of being an actual grown-up. The romance centers around Peck's reporter attempting to get an exclusive interview from the touring Princess, but, just as you would expect, an unintentional romance begins to form between the pair. The movie is an iconic piece of cinema one that has endured for generations and one that will continue for years to come. Stream on Paramount+
3 West Side Story (1961)
1961 West Side Story is one of the most celebrated movies of all time. The story is based on the Broadway play, which itself is a modernization of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, this time with Tony and Maria in the upper West Side of New York set against the backdrop of two rival gangs. West Side Story was nominated for 11 Academy Awards and won 10, and to this day is regarded as one of the greatest films ever made. The movie's dances, songs, and outfits have been referenced, parodied, and paid homage in countless film and television series.
Inspiring Numerous Retellings
In 2021, director Steven Spielberg took on the daring chance of remaking the iconic film. While the movie disappointed at the box office, it garnered a great deal of critical acclaim and is cited as one of the greatest remakes of all time. Just as the original movie was inspired by the Broadway play, the film has become so iconic that contemporary stage versions of West Side Story now take heavy inspiration from th classic movie. It shows just how powerful this story is and how it connects with audiences at any point. Rent or Purchase on AppleTV+, GooglePlay, Vudu, and Prime Video.
2 Gone with the Wind (1939)
Gone With the Wind
- Release Date
- February 16, 1940
- Director
- Victor Fleming , George Cukor , Sam Wood
- Cast
- Thomas Mitchell , Barbara O'Neil , Vivien Leigh , Evelyn Keyes , Ann Rutherford , George Reeves
- Runtime
- 238
Gone with the Wind is one of the most iconic movies of all time, if not the most iconic. Released in 1939, the film to this day is the highest-grossing movie of all time when adjusted for inflation. Set during the American Civil War in the American South, the film follows Scarlett O'Hara (Vivian Leigh), who falls desperately in love with Ashley Wilkes (Leslie Howard), despite him being engaged and soon due to marry, leading Scarlett to take drastic measures to win over Ashley.
A Complicated Legacy
Highly anticipated upon its release and based on a beloved book, Gone With The Wind was nominated for twelve Academy Awards and won ten of them, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actress, and Best Supporting Actress. The movie today certainly has faced a great deal of criticism, from a heavily implied sexual assault scene played as romantic to the racial politics surrounding the film, but ultimately, Gone With The Wind is an iconic film with a complicated legacy but one whose impact is still being felt almost 100 years after its release. Stream on Max
1 Casablanca (1942)
Casablanca
- Release Date
- November 26, 1942
- Director
- Michael Curtiz
- Cast
- Humphrey Bogart , Ingrid Bergman , Paul Henreid , Claude Rains , Conrad Veidt , Sydney Greenstreet
- Runtime
- 102
Casablanca is a movie the AFI truly loves, not only ranking it as number one on the 100 Years...100 Passions list, but as the second best movie of all time on AFI's 100 Years... 100 American Movies behind Citizen Kane, and is the film with the most quotes on AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies Quotes, with six quotes. The story of American Rick Blane (Humprey Bogart), who must choose between his love for Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman) and helping her husband (Paul Henreid) escape to help fight for the French Resistance in World War II, is a love story that has spoken to generations.
A Conflict of Love & Duty
Casablanca is the ultimate romance film where one must choose between what somebody wants and what is truly right; it's a story that can transcend borders, language, and time. It is a love story where the hero must put his own wants and desires aside and know that love also sometimes means letting go, but that does not mean it was for nothing. Casablanca is a romance for the ages and one that can be enjoyed today as much as it could in 1943. Stream on Max
If you'd like to see the other 85 titles not mentioned here, you can check out AFI's list here.