There are romance movies, and then there are Romance Movies. The latter tends to do more than just foist two dopey-eyed protagonists upon each other; they're the kind of films that shape relationship standards for generations to come.
With fall officially in full swing, it's only natural to give into hibernation instincts by turning the lights down low, tuckering into a plush blanket, and switching on the TV. And if drama films, horror movies, or thrillers aren't exactly what you had in mind for a cozy night in, then look no further than our round-up of the best 20 romantic movies that you can stream right now on Netflix.
The beauty of Netflix lies in the breadth of its options—find everything from cult classics like The Notebook to cheesy teen rom-coms like To All the Boys I've Loved Before. If you're in the mood for something a little more sexy, then maybe Lady Chatterley's Lover or Anyone But You will keep you enticed. Or, if you're searching for a story that will leave you heartbroken, then breakup films like Someone Great or Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind might satisfy your masochistic cravings.
Whatever kind of movie you're looking for, trust that the following 20 offerings will have you swooning. Keep scrolling ahead to see them all.
1
Set It Up (2018)
It's true that Glen Powell could have chemistry with a brick wall if he wanted to, but it's perhaps truer that his chemistry is at its peak when he's paired onscreen with Zoey Deutch. The duo are thrilling to watch together in Set It Up, where they play Charlie Young and Harper Moore, two overworked assistants determine to hook up their bosses in order to alleviate their respective workloads.
2
First Daughter (2004)
If you thought being president of the United States was a hard job, then try being his daughter. Katie Holmes stars as Samantha MacKenzie, a sheltered freshman looking forward to experiencing plenty of firsts as she starts college—including her first taste of freedom as the only child of President John MacKenzie. She soon attracts the attention of fellow student and dorm RA James Lansome (Marc Blucas), who is determined that she experience everything that she normally wouldn't outside of the White House. But, when a date goes awry, Samantha discovers that not all is as it seems.
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3
The Notebook (2004)
20 years ago, Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams starred as Noah and Allie in this Nicholas Sparks adaptation–and the world was never the same again. There's a reason that The Notebook tends to be the first title to come to mind when people talk about romance movies. Upon its premiere, the movie set the bar for love stories, with the fiery chemistry between its two protagonists and the everlasting connection that propels the plot forward. The film follows Allie and Noah through life, from young naïve lovers ripped apart from their respective social classes to estranged paramours trying to make up for lost time.
4
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018)
It's possible that the To All the Boys franchise is solely responsible for revitalizing the contemporary rom-com genre. Adapted from Jenny Han's best-selling young adult book series, To All the Boys I've Loved Before is a stellar first installment that puts the butterfly-inducing chemistry of its two young costars front and center. Lara Jean Covey (Lana Condor) is a hopeless romantic who has a habit of writing passionate love letters to boys who have stolen her heart. But, when her little sister mails out these letters, Lara Jean's entire world is turned upside down. To throw her crush (and her sister's ex-boyfriend) off her scent, she hatches a fake-dating scheme with Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo). But the lines between what's real and what isn't are quickly blurred.
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5
Before Sunset (2004)
The second installment of Richard Linklater's Before trilogy continues the decade-sweeping love story between Jesse and Céline, played by Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, respectively. The movie takes place nine years after the two originally met in Before Sunrise. Jesse has gone on to write a critically-acclaimed novel, based off of his experience meeting Céline in Venice for the first time. After Céline attends one of his book readings at the famed Shakespeare and Company, the two stroll through Paris together, where old memories—and feelings—reignite.
6
Wimbledon (2004)
Before there was Challengers, there was Wimbledon. Paul Bettany plays Peter Colt, a British tennis pro whose ranking has fallen from 11th to 119th. He's on the verge of hanging up his racket for good—that is, until he meets Lizzie Bradbury (Kirsten Dunst), the young American tennis player whose skills on the court are about to take the world by storm. With Lizzie's support, Peter finds the strength to shoulder on and reclaim his former glory.
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7
Lady Chatterley's Lover (2022)
Adapted from D.H. Lawrence's 1928 novel of the same name, Lady Chatterley's Lover follows a torrid love affair between Constance “Connie” Reid (Emma Corrin), a noble lady trapped in a cold and controlling marriage, and Oliver Mellors (Jack O'Connell), the gamekeeper who works for Connie's husband. There is an instant connection between Connie and Oliver, but love isn't enough to sustain their relationship. The two must confront external barriers—including the social judgments and biases of the day—in order to truly be together.
8
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
A blend between sci-fi, magical realism, and romantic comedy, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a romance film like no other. Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet play Joel and Clementine, two exes who were so devastated by their breakup that they both decided to undergo a brain procedure that completely wipes out any memory of their relationship. But, as Joel falls back through time during his operation, he realizes that the memory of losing love is far better than having never loved Clementine at all.
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9
Plus One (2019)
Whoever said that good rom-coms don't get made anymore clearly hasn't seen Plus One. Alice and Ben are college friends suffering from perpetual singledom. As the two enter wedding season without dates, they make a pact to take on the back-to-back love fests together as each other's plus ones. Maya Erskine and Jack Quaid are electric as costars, bouncing off of each other in moments that will make you both laugh out loud and root for their happy ending.
10
Love in Taipei (2023)
Adapted from Abigail Hing Wen's 2020 novel Loveboat, Taipei, this 2023 Paramount+ film is a delightful young adult rom-com that embraces the joys and challenges of forging your own identity. At the behest of her parents, Ever Wong (Ashley Liao), a 21-year-old premed student, embarks on a summer-long program in Taipei, where her parents expect her to hunker down and learn more about her heritage. Upon arrival, however, Ever discovers the program's reputation as a “Loveboat,” with many students using the program to spark new romances. Ever soon finds herself smack in the middle of her very own love triangle, in which she'll have to decide between prodigy Rick “Wonder Boy” Woo (Ross Butler) or bad boy Xavier (Nico Hiraga).
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11
Someone Great (2019)
After landing her dream job at Rolling Stone, Jenny (Gina Rodriguez) should be celebrating—but, instead, she's spiraling out of control after getting dumped by her boyfriend of nine years, Nate (Lakeith Stanfield). In an attempt to get out of this slump, Jenny recruits her two best friends for one final hurrah before she makes her cross-country move to San Francisco for work. But, New York City is littered with memories of her ex that she just can't seem to shake, no matter how hard she tries.
12
Carol (2015)
Part period piece and part holiday film, Carol is the kind of romantic drama that will leave you utterly enthralled. Based off of Patricia Highsmith's seminal 1952 novel The Price of Salt, the film tracks the growing attraction between Therese (Rooney Mara), a young aspiring photographer who works at a department store in Manhattan, and Carol (Cate Blanchett), an older and glamorous woman looking for a way out of her loveless marriage. While their relationship develops, Carol's husband discovers their affair and threatens to invoke a “morality clause” against Carol in court in order to obtain custody of their daughter.
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13
Anyone But You (2023)
Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell will have you kicking your feet and giggling while watching this 2023 rom-com, which stars Sweeney as Bea, a law student, and Powell as Ben, a Goldman Sachs employee. After a chance encounter, sparks immediately fly between the two. But, a miscommunication abruptly cuts their romance short, and they quickly go from lovers to enemies. When they're forced to spend time together for a mutual friend's destination wedding in Australia, they eventually realize that their egos have kept them from truly seeing each other at all.
14
Always Be My Maybe (2019)
Sasha (Ali Wong) and Marcus (Randall Park) were next-door neighbors and childhood best friends with an unbreakable bond—that is, until an explosive fight left them on not-speaking terms for 15 years. When Sasha eventually moves back to their hometown to open a restaurant, she and Marcus reconnect. As adults, they must now confront how past hurts have impeded their ability to move on if they truly want a chance at being together again.
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15
Call Me By Your Name (2017)
Based off of André Aciman's 2007 novel of the same name, this Luca Guadagnino film is a stunning coming-of-age story that paints a tenderhearted portrait of how it feels to fall in love for the first time. Timothée Chalamet plays Elio, a 17-year-old boy who becomes enchanted with Oliver (Armie Hammer), a 24-year-old graduate student assisting Elio's father, an archaeology professor, in academic paperwork. When Oliver comes to stay with the family at their house in rural Northern Italy, the two begin a passionate, summer-long affair.
16
The Wedding Planner (2001)
The Wedding Planner is one of the best romantic comedies to have come out of the early aughts. Starring Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey, the movie follows Mary, an ambitious wedding planner hoping to become a partner at the firm she works for. Her plans for success, however, are derailed by Steve, a kind-hearted pediatrician who she immediately falls for after he saves her from a near-fatal encounter with a dumpster. He also happens to be the fiancé of heiress and San Francisco socialite Fran Donolly, the bride of the biggest wedding that Mary has taken on yet.
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17
Wedding Season (2022)
After breaking off her engagement and leaving her cushy Wall Street job, Asha (Pallavi Sharda) has no time for dating—but that won't stop her parents from creating a dating profile for her. To get them off her back, she agrees to go on a date with one match, the handsome and wealthy Ravi (Suraj Sharma). With wedding season incoming, she ends up taking things a step further by convincing Ravi to pretend to date her in order to keep nosy relatives at bay.
18
The Kissing Booth (2018)
Audiences today might be most familiar with Jacob Elordi from his critically-acclaimed work in Euphoria, Saltburn, and Priscilla. But, before he transformed into Elvis Presley, he was the tall heartthrob in The Kissing Booth trilogy. Starring opposite Joey King, Elordi plays high school bad boy Noah, who has long been the object of shy high schooler Elle's desires. Unfortunately for Elle, Noah is strictly off-limits, as he is the older brother of her best friend. But, when Elle decides to run a kissing booth at a school fundraiser and Noah pops by, she must make a choice between love or friendship.
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19
Holidate (2020)
Sloane (Emma Roberts) and Jackson (Luke Bracey) are both unlucky-in-love singles. After meeting each other at a store's return counter, the two strangers decide to make a pact to be each other's dates for every major holiday. Over New Year's, Valentine's Day, Independence Day, and Halloween, the two develop a closer friendship that turns out to be stronger than any romantic connection they've harbored before.
20
Love Hard (2021)
Speaking of holiday movies, Netflix continued their rollout of delightfully festive rom-com movies with Love Hard, starring Nina Dobrev and Jimmy O. Yang. Natalie (Dobrev) hasn't had much luck with dating, but when she matches with the handsome Tag on a dating app, she thinks she's finally hit the jackpot. Throwing caution to the wind, she decides to hop on an airplane and surprise Tag for Christmas—but, to her disappointment, she finds that she has been catfished by Josh (Yang), Tag's childhood best friend. The two strike a deal: if Natalie pretends to be Josh's girlfriend for the holidays, Josh will set up Natalie with the real-life Tag.
