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15 Of The Most Iconic Romantic Movies Of All Time

From the heartbreaking to the heartwarming - by Marie Claire
  • 04 Feb 2022
15 Of The Most Iconic Romantic Movies Of All Time

Love stories have certainly morphed and shifted over time, with present day romance seemingly worlds away from the love stories that riddled Old Hollywood. But whether you're more of a traditional romantic, or a rom-com lover, there is a romantic flick out there for everyone. 

Below, we've compiled 15 of the most iconic romantic movies of all time—from classic comedies to wholesome musicals.

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again - Final Trailer

The sequel to the 2008 musical, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again chronicles two time periods: 1979 and present day. In 1979, a young Donna (Meryl Streep), Tanya (Christine Baranski) and Rosie (Julie Walters) graduate from Oxford University, where Donna meets Harry (Colin Firth), Bill (Stellan Skarsgård) and Sam (Pierce Brosnan)—the latter whom she falls in love with, but he's also the man who breaks her heart. In the present day, Donna's pregnant daughter, Sophie (Amanda Seyfried), dreams of renovating a taverna while reuniting with her mother's old friends and boyfriends on the Greek island of Kalokairi. Let's just say things get a little...complicated. 

Watch Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again on BINGE.

How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days

How to Lose A Guy In 10 Days - Trailer


When it comes to the early '00s more iconic flicks, Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey's 2003 romantic comedy, 
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days takes the cake every time. Benjamin (McConaughey) is challenged by his co-workers to make a woman fall in love with him. While Andie (Hudson), a writer at Composure magazine, is tasked with writing an article on how to lose a man in 10 days. The pair unknowingly choose each other for their projects and it a hilarious, yet beautiful mess.

Watch How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days on Prime Video.

Blue Valentine

'Blue Valentine' Trailer HD

Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams really turn up the heat in the 2010 drama/indie film Blue Valentine. Yes, at times it's a little depressing watching Gosling's and Williams' characters detail the ups and downs of their relationship, but it's guaranteed to get you and your date to cosy up together on the couch.

Watch Blue Valentine on Foxtel.

Serendipity

Serendipity Official Trailer #1 - (2001) HD

Two words: Michael Cera. Based off of the novel of the same name, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist tells the story of - shocker - Nick (Michael Cera) and Norah (Kat Dennings), who meet in a club while searching for Norah's drunk best friend (relatable) and, well, you can probably guess what happens next...

Watch Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist on Google Play.

The Holiday

The Holiday (2006) Official Trailer 1 - Kate Winslet Movie

After a harsh break-up, Iris (Kate Winslet) agrees to swap her cosy, British cottage with similarly unlucky in love Californian Amanda (Cameron Diaz), for a much-needed break. However, after arriving Iris finds herself in a palatial Hollywood mansion surrounded by fame and fortune, while Amanda navigates the lanes of a picture-esque English village. Soon enough, both women bump into locals perfect for a romantic pick-me-up.

Watch The Holiday on Prime Video.

A Walk To Remember

A Walk to Remember (2002) Official Trailer #1 - Mandy Moore Movie HD

Set in North Carolina, A Walk To Remember follows the rite of passage of a jaded, aimless high school senior (Shane West) who falls in love with a guileless young woman (Mandy Moore), that he and his friends once scorned. In the 2002 flick, the two develop a powerful and inspirational relationship in which they discover truths that take most people a lifetime to learn. Make sure you have some tissues handy.

Watch A Walk To Remember on Apple TV.

Me Before You

Me Before You - Official Trailer [HD]

Continuing the theme of tearjerkers, Me Before You follows an eccentric Louisa "Lou" Clark (Emilia Clarke), who moves from one job to the next to help her family make ends meet. Her cheerful attitude is put to the test when she becomes a caregiver for Will Traynor (Sam Claflin), a wealthy young banker left paralysed from an accident two years prior. Will's cynical outlook starts to change when Louisa shows him that life is worth living. As their bond deepens, their lives and hearts change in ways neither one could have imagined.

Watch Me Before You on Stan.

The Time Traveller's Wife

The Time Traveler's Wife (2009) Official Trailer - Rachel McAdams Movie HD
This 2009 romance follows librarian Henry De Tamble (Eric Bana), who suffers from a rare genetic disorder that causes him to drift uncontrollably back and forth through time. On one of his trips, he meets the love of his life, Claire (Rachel McAdams). After their courtship and eventual marriage, the problems and complexities of any relationship are multiplied by Henry's inability to remain in one time and place, so that he and his beloved are continually out of sync.

Watch The Time Traveller's Wife on Apple TV.

The Lucky One

THE LUCKY ONE Trailer 2012 Movie - Official [HD]

If you're a romantic movie fanatic, then you're sure to be familiar with any of Nicholas Sparks' projects. In this case, The Lucky One follows U.S. Marine Logan Thibault (Zan Efron) who returned home from his third tour of duty in Iraq, with the one thing he believes kept him alive: a photograph of a woman that he doesn't know. After learning the woman's name is Beth (Taylor Schilling), he goes to meet her. Despite Beth being full of mistrust, a romance blooms, giving Logan hope that the pair will become more than just a photograph.

Watch The Lucky One on Stan.

To All The Boys I've Loved Before

To All The Boys I've Loved Before | Official Trailer | Netflix

Teenager Lara Jean's (Lana Condor) secret love letters are exposed by her little sister, and as a result, wreak havoc on her love life. While Lara Jean writes letters each of her past loves, the letters are meant for her eyes only. Juggling multiple of her ex-loves, she must decide which one will get her heart.

Watch To All The Boys I've Loved Before on Netflix.

Sliding Doors

Sliding Doors (1998) Trailer
When Helen (Gwyneth Paltrow) is fired from her job and rushes out to catch a train, two scenarios take place. In one, she gets on the train and comes home to find her boyfriend, Gerry (John Lynch), in bed with another woman. In the second, she misses the train and arrives after the woman has left. In the first scenario, Helen dumps Gerry, finds a new man and gradually improves her life. In the second, she becomes suspicious of Gerry's fidelity and grows miserable. Which alternate universe she ends up in, and with which guy, is a surprise to all.

Watch Sliding Doors on Stan.

The Notebook

The Notebook Movie Trailer [HD]

Perhaps one of the most iconic romances of all time, The Notebook follows the love affair between mill worker Noah Calhoun (Ryan Gosling) and Allie (Rachel McAdams). Based in 1940s South Carolina, their difference in familial wealth creates rifts between their families, with Allie's parents not approving of their relationship. But when Noah leaves to serve in World War II, it seems to mark the end of their love affair. In the interim, Allie becomes involved with another man (James Marsden). But when Noah returns to their small town years later, right before Allie's marriage, it soon becomes clear that their romance is anything but over.

Watch The Notebook on BINGE.

A Star Is Born

A STAR IS BORN - Official Trailer 1
Seasoned musician Jackson Maine discovers—and falls in love with—struggling artist Ally (Lady Gaga). She has just about given up on her dream to make it big as a singer, until Jackson (Bradley Cooper) coaxes her into the spotlight. But even as Ally's career takes off, the personal side of their relationship is breaking down, as Jackson fights an ongoing battle with his own internal demons.

Watch A Star Is Born on Foxtel.

Dear John

DEAR JOHN - Official Trailer (HD)
When soldier John Tyree (Channing Tatum) meets an idealistic college student, Savannah Curtis (Amanda Seyfried), it's the beginning of a strong romance. Over the next seven years, they are separated by John's increasingly dangerous deployment, but continue to stay in touch through their letters, meeting in person only rarely. However, their correspondence triggers consequences that neither could foresee.

Watch Dear John on Stan.

When Harry Met Sally

When Harry met Sally... (1989) - Trailer HD Remastered
If you're looking for a classic rom-com, look not further than When Harry Met Sally. In the film, college graduates Harry Burns (Billy Crystal) and Sally Albright (Meg Ryan) share a car ride from Chicago to New York, during which they argue about whether men and women can ever truly be strictly platonic friends. Ten years later, Harry and Sally meet again at a bookstore, and in the company of their respective best friends, Jess (Bruno Kirby) and Marie (Carrie Fisher), attempt to stay friends without sex becoming an issue between them.

Watch When Harry Met Sally on Stan.

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