Everyone loves a good tear jerker. Romance movies have always been around and will continue to be around for a long, long time. At some point, everyone likes to sit around wrapped in blankets and watch a good story about people falling in love. Romantic movies are timeless and will continue to be made due to their growing popularity. Some of the most popular movies of all time are romantic movies, and although they are given the stereotype of being chick flicks, romantic movies are a genre for everyone to love. Â Without further ado, here is, in my opinion, the top 10 romance movies of all time.
#10 – Edward Scissorhands (1990)
We’ll start this list off with something a bit different. Edward Scissorhands is by no means your average romance movie. This movie is all about a man who has scissors for hands and his love for all things cutting. His appearance is startling, but he is a very gentle and kind man who finds himself falling in love with a local girl. The movie is all about his acceptance into this new community after living by himself for so long. Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder star in this film that won 1 Oscar and several other awards during its time in theaters.
#9 – The Notebook (2004)
The epitome of a romance movie, The Notebook is about a man who falls in love with woman, but the only thing that is keeping them from being together forever is their differing social statuses. Starring Gena Rowlands and James Garner, The Notebook was one of the most watched movies when it was released, grossing well over 81 million dollars during its weekend launch. This movie did not win any Oscars, but it did win a bunch of other awards and is definitely one of the more iconic modern romance movies.
#8 – Fiddler on the Roof (1971)
Fiddler on the Roof stars Topol and Norma Crane. Fiddler on the Roof follows a Jewish peasant who is trying to marry off three of his daughters, all the while his town is pressuring him. This is an instant classic and might even deserve to be higher on this list. This is definitely one of my favorite movies on the list and is great for a movie night. Fiddler on the Roof is another one that is different on this list because it is a romance, drama, and a musical all rolled up into one great movie. If you haven’t seen this classic before, I think this is one of the first ones you should check out.
#7 – Beauty and the Beast (1991)
What kind of list would this be if we didn’t include a Disney movie? As many of you know, Beauty and the Beast tells the tale of a beast who was transformed from a prince into a beast. Belle offers herself to the beast in order to save her father. Eventually, the two come close together and she is the only thing that can set him free from this curse that was bestowed upon him. This is a classic romance movie that is probably at the top of everyone’s list, but to keep things a bit different, I put it at number seven on our list. No matter what, this movie will go down as one of my personal favorite Disney movies, and being that it is somewhat of a romance movie, it deserves its spot on our list.
#6 – Her (2013)
Her might be the strangest romance movie on this list. This movie stars Joaquin Phoenix and takes a different take on a romance movie. Instead of the typical relationship seen in these types of movies, the story follows a writer who falls in love with an artificial intelligence that is installed in his home and on his phone. He grows a connection to it and falls in love with it. This is definitely a movie that is different than all of the rest on this list, and I think this is one that everyone should check out. I praise this movie for being different and going against the grain, and that is why it takes a spot on our top ten list!
#5 – Gone with the Wind (1939)
Gone with the Wind stars Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh in this romantic drama movie. Named one of the best during its time period, Gone with the Wind is all about a southern belle who is having an affair and all of the controversy that comes along with that. This movie won 8 Oscars since its release and has been named as one of the top movies of all time and on countless must watch lists. If you have not seen this movie before, I definitely recommend this one as it is a timeless classic that everyone should watch if they consider themselves a movie buff.
#4 – Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind stars Jim Carrey as a man who is in a relationship that eventually falls through. The couple decides the only logical thing to do is to remove each other from their memories. Through this, they find out about what they had and what they were missing out on by not having each other in their lives. This movie is a great example of a modern romance movie as it shows a great relationship between two people who fall apart, and come back together only after experiencing life without each other. This movie won 1 Oscar and many other awards during its time. Rated number 85 on IMDB’s top movies list, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind takes the number four spot on our list.
#3 – Vertigo (1958)
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, Vertigo is another classic, but this time, it’s not just a romance movie, but a romantic thriller. In the typical Hitchcock fashion, Vertigo will take you on an adventure with a police officer who is suffering from a harsh case of acrophobia. For Hitchcock fans, you will surely love this movie like all of his others, and for those who haven’t seen this movie, it is most definitely a must watch film. Though it didn’t win any awards during its time, Vertigo is still a well referenced movie in pop culture today.
#2 – American Beauty (1999)
American Beauty stars Kevin Spacey in this romance and drama movie. American Beauty isn’t your conventional romance as it follows a frustrated father who is having a midlife crisis and is becoming slowly obsessed with his teenaged daughter’s best friend. This movie won 5 Oscars and a ton of other awards. If this is one you haven’t seen before, I definitely recommend checking it out as it takes a spin on the classic romance genre and makes it very unique. You won’t find another romance movie like this on the list, and for that reason, it takes the number two spot on our top ten list.
#1 – Casablanca (1942)
Casablanca is without a doubt the most timeless romantic movie on this list. Since its release in 1942, Casablanca has continued to be shown as a timeless piece of American history in the film industry. Many consider this to be one of the best movies of all time, with leading actors Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. Casablanca has won 3 Oscars and many other awards since its debut. It has also been voted as the number 33 movie of all time on the internet movie database for films. Without a doubt, Casablanca will always be one of the best romance movies of all time, and movies will continue to copy its style and the way the movie was made. For that and more, Casablanca has earned its rightful spot at our number one spot on our top ten best romance movies.
No matter what, romance movies will always be made because everyone likes the movie that makes them feel something that does not line up with everyday feelings. Dive deep into a movie about two people falling in love and lose your sense of reality in these movies. If you are not all that familiar with the genre, this list is a great place get you started on some of the better ones that have been made in the past hundred years!
