LIFE & CULTURE

The Best Romantic Movies To Watch In Australia When You Need A Good Cry / Laugh

Grab the popcorn.
Loading the player...

Whether you’re spending Valentine’s Day with your friends, partner or all by yourself, there’s no better night to curl up with a romantic movie. 

So, grab the chocolate, a bottle of wine and a big bowl of popcorn and settle in for a romantic evening

Below, all the best romantic flicks to stream on Stan, Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney+. 

10 Things I Hate About You 

Based on Shakespeare’s The Taming Of The Shrew, 10 Things I Hate About You is an enemy-to-lovers style romance starring Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles.

Watch it: on Disney+.

10 things
10 Things I Hate About You (1999) (Credit: Touchstone Pictures)

27 Dresses 

If you’re always the bridesmaid and never the bride then you’re going to love 27 Dresses. The film stars Katherine Heigl as eternal bridesmaid Jane Nichols, who has to cope with the idea of her younger sister marrying the man she has always been in love with. 

Watch it: on Disney+.

27 Dresses
27 Dresses (2008) (Credit: Twentieth Century Fox)

Never Been Kissed 

Drew Barrymore stars as awkward 25-year-old reporter Josie Geller, who poses as a high school student for a story. While the film could definitely be considered a little problematic now (the teacher who falls in love with her doesn’t know that she isn’t really a high school student) Never Been Kissed will certainly be a conversation starter. 

Watch it: on Disney+.

Never Been Kissed
Never Been Kissed (1999) (Credit: Twentieth Century Fox)

My Best Friend’s Wedding 

If you want a rom-com that doesn’t have a completely predictable ending then we can recommend My Best Friend’s Wedding. The film stars Julia Roberts as Julianne Potter, who realises that she’s in love with her best friend four days before his wedding.

This quirky rom-com doesn’t just have some iconic 90s outfits but a hilarious musical number that send ‘I Say A Little Prayer’ to number one. 

Watch it: on Stan.

Julia Roberts
My Best Friends Wedding (1997) (Credit: Getty)

Crazy Stupid Love 

Crazy Stupid Love might have some of the best plot twists to come out of a romantic comedy in the last two decades. Without giving too much away, the film follows a number of different characters on their search for love. Expect a dirty dancing style lift, a shirtless Ryan Gosling and a surprisingly sweet ending. 

Watch: on Stan

Ryan Gosling
Crazy Stupid Love (2011) (Credit: Warner Bros)

How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days 

From the iconic yellow dress to the love fern, it’s worth watching Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey go head to head as two writers in this genuinely funny flick.

The film follows Benjamin Barry (McConaughey), who is challenged by is his co-workers to make a woman fall in love with him and Andie Anderson (Hudson) is challenged to write an article about how to lose a man in 10 days. As you may expect, chaos ensues. 

Watch it: on Stan.

How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003) (Credit: Paramount Pictures)

Just My Luck 

Lindsay Lohan stars as Ashley—a Manhattan socialite with a serious case of lucky girl syndrome. But everything changes for Ashley (and her luck) when she meets Jake (Chris Pine), a guy plagued by misfortune. If you’re not in the mood for anything too serious then consider Just My Luck the perfect light and fluffy flick.

Watch it: on Amazon Prime.

Just My Luck
Just My Luck (2006) (Credit: Twentieth Century Fox)

Ghost 

Possibly responsible for hundreds of pottery class sign-ups, Ghost follows Sam Wheat (Patrick Swayze) as he tries to communicate with his girlfriend (Demi Moore) from the afterlife. Between the stellar soundtrack and sexy pottery, Ghost is one of those films that you just have to see. 

Watch it: on Amazon Prime.

Ghost
Ghost (1990) (Credit: Paramount Pictures)

The Notebook 

Is it really Valentines Day if you don’t re-watch The Notebook? Based on the book by Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook follows the love story between Noah (Ryan Gosling) and Allie (Rachel McAdams), who fall in love as teenagers in the 1940s. Expect passionate embraces in the rain and scenes so cute that it will will probably make you hate your own relationship. Good luck. 

Watch it: on Amazon Prime.

The Notebook
The Notebook (2004) (Credit: New Line Cinema)

You’ve Got Mail 

We’ll watch (or read) anything with Nora Ephron’s name on it but You’ve Got Mail is particularly sweet. The film follows children’s bookstore owner (Kathleen Kelly) who starts an online relationship with Joe Fox (Tom Hanks), the owner of a large chain of mega bookstores threatening to take over her own.

Basically, You’ve Got Mail has everything that you could ever want in a 90s romcom: Autumn trees, New York City and the prettiest little bookshop that you’ve ever seen. 

Watch it: on Amazon Prime.

You've Got Mail (1998)
You’ve Got Mail (1998) (Credit: Warner Bros)

Dirty Dancing 

It’s hard not to get swept up in the magic of Dirty Dancing. The film stars Jennifer Grey as Baby, who falls in love with her rebellious dance instructor Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze). 

If you decide to download the soundtrack after the film (we guarantee that you will) just don’t try and attempt the leap at home! 

Watch it: on Netflix.

Dirty Dancing
Dirty Dancing (1987) (Credit: Getty)

Pride and Prejudice 

Whether you’re dedicated to the Kiera Knightly adaptation, BBC version or the Jane Austen book, you can’t go past Pride and Prejudice on Valentines Day. Fortunately, the beloved period drama is streaming on Netflix and available for your next watch or (let’s be real) 10th re-watch. 

Watch it: on Netflix.

Pride and Prejudice
Pride and Prejudice (2005) (Credit: StudioCanal)

Notting Hill 

Notting Hill is one of the most beloved romantic comedies of all time—and for a good reason. The film follows London bookshop owner William Thacker (Hugh Grant) who falls in love with famous Anna Scott (Julia Roberts). Expect British humour, beautiful London scenes and a genuinely heart-warming plot. 

Watch it: on Netflix.

Notting Hill
Notting Hill (1999) (Credit: Universal Pictures)

Related stories