For a romance that is more than a meet-cute, start with Casablanca; for a buoyant comedy, try It Happened One Night. This ranking weighs the central relationship, filmmaking, cultural staying power and variety across eras and tones. It is an editorial selection, not a claim of universal consensus—and romance here includes comedy, drama and stories shaped by sacrifice or restraint.
10. The Wedding Banquet (1993)
Ang Lee’s romantic comedy brings parental pressure and family expectations into the story of a relationship. It earns its place for showing how love can be entangled with family obligations, not just private feeling. The film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film, according to the American Film Institute.
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9. Say Anything (1989)
This teen romance is remembered in part through a single image: John Cusack holding a boombox, with Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes” as its soundtrack. That pop-cultural shorthand points to the film’s appeal—romantic expression that is earnest, vulnerable and hard to forget. The AFI notes the lasting recognition of the scene and song.
8. Now, Voyager (1942)
Not every romance depends on a conventional courtship or a tidy resolution. Bette Davis’s performance gives this film its force as a story of longing and restraint. The AFI’s 100 Years…100 Passions list places it at No. 23. Its famous line captures the ache of accepting limits: “Oh, Jerry, don’t let’s ask for the moon. We have the stars.”
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7. Roman Holiday (1953)
A princess slips away during a visit to Rome and falls for journalist Joe Bradley. The setup gives this romantic comedy room for playful encounters, while its bittersweet turn keeps the romance from feeling weightless. It is a graceful pick for viewers who want charm without requiring a conventionally happy ending. The Week includes it among its best romance movies.
6. Moonstruck (1987)
A widowed Italian American woman falls for her fiancé’s younger brother in a comedy that lets family, desire and unlikely attraction collide. Cher’s performance is central to its appeal: she won the Academy Award for Best Actress, and the film won three of its six nominations. The AFI summarizes the film’s premise and awards record in its Moonstruck guide.
Rank #2
5. It Happened One Night (1934)
A reporter and an heiress on the run make an unlikely pair, and their clashing agendas power one of cinema’s defining screwball comedies. Its brisk comic rhythm makes the courtship fun to watch, while the movie’s historical recognition adds context: the AFI reports that it was the first film to win the five major Academy Awards—Picture, Direction, Screenplay, Actor and Actress. That achievement is a milestone, not a measure of every viewer’s taste. See the AFI overview.
4. The Apartment (1960)
Billy Wilder’s romantic comedy-drama is a strong choice for viewers who want romance mixed with social observation and moral complication. Its place here broadens the list beyond fairy-tale courtship: the appeal of a relationship can lie in the choices characters make under pressure. The film is included in Rotten Tomatoes’ all-time rom-com guide, which uses Tomatometer ranking rather than this article’s cross-era editorial criteria.
Rank #3
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- COLLECTION CONTENTS: Features three romantic films based on Nicholas Sparks novels - Safe Haven, The Best of Me, and The Longest Ride on Blu-ray format
- MOVIE FORMATS: High-definition Blu-ray presentation of all three films, providing superior picture and sound quality
- ROMANCE TRILOGY: Experience three compelling love stories from acclaimed author Nicholas Sparks' bestselling novels brought to life on screen
- STAR-STUDDED CAST: Features performances from Josh Duhamel, Julianne Hough, James Marsden, Michelle Monaghan, Scott Eastwood, and Britt Robertson
- ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: Three full-length feature films in one collection, perfect for romantic movie marathons and Nicholas Sparks fans
3. Before Sunrise (1995)
Richard Linklater’s romance makes conversation itself the engine of attraction. Instead of leaning on grand gestures, it invites viewers to follow two people discovering whether a fleeting connection can become meaningful. Its quieter, dialogue-driven approach offers a useful counterpoint to stories built around family pressure, comic misunderstandings or wartime stakes. Rotten Tomatoes includes it in its romantic-comedy selection.
2. Casablanca (1942)
Rick Blaine must choose between his former love, Ilsa, and helping her husband escape occupied Europe. That dilemma makes the romance inseparable from sacrifice: love is measured not only by who ends up together, but by what a character is willing to give up. The Week highlights this central conflict in its 2026 romance list. It remains the ranking’s most powerful choice for viewers drawn to love under historical pressure.
Rank #4
1. When Harry Met Sally… (1989)
Rob Reiner’s romantic comedy earns the top spot for making the gradual shift from friendship to love its central pleasure. It offers the warmth and comic timing expected of a rom-com while giving its leads room to disagree, change and grow closer over time. The result is a romance that feels earned rather than delivered by a single grand gesture. Rotten Tomatoes includes the film in its all-time rom-com guide.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to choose your next romantic movie
- For screwball comedy: It Happened One Night turns an unlikely pairing into a battle of wits.
- For bittersweet charm: Roman Holiday balances playful escape with an affecting turn.
- For sacrifice and separation: Casablanca makes romance part of a larger moral dilemma.
- For longing and restraint: Now, Voyager offers a more complicated emotional register.
- For a modern-feeling conversation piece: Before Sunrise lets connection develop through dialogue.
Rankings differ because their methods differ. Rotten Tomatoes says its newer-romance guide orders titles by Tomatometer, with Certified Fresh films first; that is a distinct approach from weighing tone, era and relationship stakes together. See its new-romance guide, updated August 31, 2026. Streaming and rental availability varies by territory and date, so check a local service for current options.
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