best romantic travel movies

Travelling Without a Passport

Our Favourite Romantic Travel Movies

There’s something so romantic about travelling to an unfamiliar place that the experience is practically made for the big screen. Watching movie characters navigate new places means you can live vicariously through them and experience double the escapism without having to get off the couch. 

If your next holiday feels far away, watch these romantic travel movies and get ready to be transported to a world filled with swoon-worthy romance and scenic destinations. These films are guaranteed to satisfy your wanderlust — at least for the time being. 

• Before Sunrise
• Letters to Juliet
• The Proposal
• Eat, Pray, Love
• The Holiday
• Crazy Rich Asians
• Roman Holiday
• Call Me By Your Name
• The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants

See Also: Romantic Tours & Trips

1. Before Sunrise

For those who have ever dreamed of making an unexpected connection with a stranger while abroad, this movie is for you. Before Sunrise is a 1995 indie film that tells the story of Jesse and Céline, who meet on a train and decide to explore Vienna together on a whim. 

They walk the streets of Vienna at night, talking the whole time about their views on life and love while knowing that when the night is over, they will part ways and likely never see each other again. The movie makes Austria’s capital the perfectly enchanting backdrop to Jesse and Céline’s growing connection, and the soft glow of the evening streets lend a sense of melancholy to their short time together. 

You can watch Before Sunrise on its own, or follow the rest of Jesse and Céline’s story in the sequels, Before Sunset and Before Midnight.

2. Letters to Juliet

On a trip to Verona with her fiancé, Sophie visits Casa di Giulietta (Juliet’s House), where it’s customary for lovelorn visitors to leave letters and messages for the Shakespearean heroine (or in this version of Verona anyway). 

When Sophie discovers an unanswered letter from decades ago, she writes back with the help of the Secretaries of Juliet. Her response brings Claire, the author of the letter, to Verona with her grandson Charlie, and the trio embark on a journey through Tuscany in hopes of finding Claire’s long-lost love. 

The movie features gorgeous shots of the Italian countryside, and it’s a celebration of love that will melt even the coldest of hearts. After you watch it, you might just want to hop on a plane to Verona yourself and leave your own letter to Juliet!

See Also: 7 of the Best Movies to Watch on a Plane

3. The Proposal

When Margaret Tate, a high-powered publishing executive, finds out that she might be deported back to her home country of Canada, she enlists the help of her assistant Andrew to act as her fiancé. To convince the immigration agent of their relationship, the two travel to Andrew’s hometown of Sitka, Alaska to meet his family where, spoiler alert: they fall in love. 

While the movie was not actually filmed in Alaska , seeing the contrast between the towering skyscrapers that Margaret is accustomed to and snow-capped mountains that Andrew calls home will make you feel like you’ve taken a quick getaway. This formulaic rom-com hits all the right spots: a fake relationship turned real against a scenic backdrop, with no shortage of charming hijinks.

4. Eat, Pray, Love

In all its forms, Eat, Pray, Love is a travel classic. Follow Liz Gilbert as she embarks on a year-long travel journey around the world after a difficult divorce to regain balance in her life. This movie is a visual dream, featuring sweeping panoramic views of Italy , India , and Indonesia , along with close-up shots of glorious, mouth-watering food. 

The storyline is dreamy and inspirational, and while not everyone can take a year off from their lives to wander the world, hopefully savouring a delicious margherita pizza in Naples is in your future. 

5. The Holiday

Separated by the Atlantic Ocean, Iris and Amanda are two women who exchange houses for the holidays in an effort to escape their respective romantic troubles. New romances spark for both of them in this holiday favourite, and what starts as a spontaneous getaway ends up being much more. 

Amanda’s modern California mansion could not be more different from Iris’ cosy English cottage, and it’s incredibly entertaining to watch them get accustomed to their new settings. This movie is a win for anyone whose favourite part of travelling is being spontaneous and opening your heart to something new. 

See Also: 7 Movies That Will Inspire You to Travel

6. Crazy Rich Asians

The glitz and glamour of Singapore’s luxurious side is on full display in this vibrant movie where Rachel Chu, a young Manhattanite, travels to Singapore with her boyfriend Nick to meet his family.

Unbeknownst to her, his family is part of the ultra-wealthy Singaporean elite, and they’re experts at throwing lavish and extravagant parties. Unfortunately, there’s trouble in paradise for the pair when Rachel realises Nick’s family disapproves of their relationship. 

This movie is a glittering guide to Singapore’s best sights, from sweeping nighttime shots of Gardens by the Bay to glimmering aerial views of Marina Bay Sands with fireworks exploding overhead. The movie also features glamour shots of Newton Food Center — where you can go to get a taste of authentic Singapore — and Sentosa, a prime Singaporean weekend getaway destination.

No wonder travel searches skyrocketed following the movie’s release — after watching this movie, you’ll want to add Singapore to your travel list, too. 

7. Roman Holiday

In this classic tale of mistaken identity, a crown princess falls in love with an American reporter when she decides to explore Rome on her own on a state visit. Audrey Hepburn’s first film doubles as a scenic romp, hitting quintessential Roman spots like the Spanish Steps, the Colosseum, and the Trevi Fountain. 

Princess Ann’s zeal for exploring Rome on her own terms speaks to the souls of intrepid travellers everywhere, and you’ll love watching her careen through the streets of Rome on a vespa, eat gelato on the Spanish Steps, dine al fresco, and fall in love on her Roman holiday. 

8. Call Me By Your Name

Set in Northern Italy in 1983, Call Me By Your Name tells the story of the love that blossoms between Elio, the young son of an archaeology professor, and Oliver, a visiting American graduate student. 

Filming for the movie took place in Lombardy, and the province is rendered beautifully, with its ornate architecture, sunlit piazzas, and lush countryside, making for the perfect setting for this melancholy love story.

See Also: Romantic Getaways to Rekindle Your Marriage

9. The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants

On the night before they’re slated to go their separate ways, a group of lifelong friends devise a plan to say connected during their first summer apart: by sharing a pair of thrift-shop jeans that inexplicably fit each of their figures perfectly. 

This coming-of-age story follows the four girls — and the magical jeans — to Greece , South Carolina, Mexico , and Maryland, as they journey through a summer of first loves, losses, and heartbreak. 

Being away from the people you love is one of the hardest parts of travelling, and this movie serves as a great reminder that nothing can come between best friends — including time and distance.

What are your favourite romantic travel movies? Let us know in the comments!

Melanie Cheng

Melanie is a Toronto-based writer and editor who loves experiencing new things in new places. In between adventures, you can find her with her nose in a book, re-watching episodes of Friends, or on the lookout for her next favourite brunch spot.

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Top Romantic Travel Movies to watch with your loved one

Posted by Anna | Mar 23, 2020 | Books&Movies , Romantic Travel | 32

True love stories never go out of style, especially when you add to them a travel spin. Love is a universal language, but there´s nothing more absorbing and intriguing than to follow a romance on the other side of the world. Any usual storyline becomes unique when you add new landscapes, cultures, and traditions to the plot. Let´s check my favorite romantic travel movies that will make you live adventures from home.

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As much as I love watching travel documentaries , sometimes we all want something heart-melting – a movie with a beautiful storyline to escape the ordinary without having to get off the couch.

If you think of it, traveling is quite a romantic experience itself: navigating a new place gives you unlimited possibilities to fall in love with cities, architecture, nature, food, museums, street art, and people. Most of my personal romantic travel experiences were connected to traveling.

Therefore, every time my next holiday feels too far away, I just pick a few romantic travel movies and secretly disappear from the rest of the world. Check this list of Charming International Romance Movies Around the World and Spanish TV Series to Binge-Watch .

Table of Contents

The best romantic travel movies

1. out of africa (1985).

Let´s start this list of the most romantic travel movies with a few iconic oldies. Out of Africa (1985) is based on the autobiographical novel and tells the story of the Danish author Karen Blixen, who moved to Africa to establish her new life there.

There´s something breathtaking about this movie – the wild African scenery, the romance between leading actors, the music on the background … Besides the engaging storyline in Out of Africa (1985), the photography director has definitely done a wonderful job bringing Africa´s wild natural beauty to the screen.

2. Roman Holiday (1953)

Roman Holiday (1953) is a timeless classic with Audrey Hepburn´s charming performance. It´s the story of a bored princess who escapes her guardians and falls in love with an American newsman in Rome. It absolutely inspires to visit Rome, Italy or simply watch all of Audrey Hepburn´s iconic movies in a row .

3. The English Patient (1997)

The English Patient (1997) is one of my personal all-time favorites. This movie has it all – love, romance, tragedy, secret, drama, and journey.

A nurse from Canada is caring for a pilot, horribly burned in a plane wreck. He cannot remember his name, so he’s known simply as “the English Patient,” thanks to his accent. However, once the nurse begins to piece together her patient’s story, the spectators time-travel to Italy and Egypt (although the dessert scenes were actually filmed in Tunisia) where the love story took place.

You literally gravitate to the screen from the first minute of The English Patient (1997). It has won 9 Oscars for a reason.

4. Painted veil (2006)

Painted veil (2006) is another absolute favorite of mine. The movie is based on the classic novel by W. Somerset Maugham. The storyline takes us back to the 1920s. A middle-class doctor marries an upper-class woman, but she never really appreciates him and falls in love with someone else. Once the doctor discovers the infidelity, he accepts a job in a remote Chinese village (suffering deadly epidemic) as an act of vengeance.

But this journey together changes everything between the couple and makes the unfaithful wife see her husband in a different light. Life in a Chinese village brings meaning to their relationship and makes them fall in love with each other all over again. I adore this movie and never get tired of watching it.

5. Anna and the King (1999)

Anna and the King (1999) takes you to the magical kingdom of Siam . The widowed British schoolteacher, Anna Leonowens, travels to the other side of the world to educate the king´s heirs in the ways of the West. First, the strict Siamese protocol seems unfair to her. But once she and the king get to know each other and make an attempt to understand their cultural differences, their relationship evolves into a beautiful love story.

6. Tourist (2010)

If there´s one movie to inspire everyone to visit the Italian city of Venice – it´s Tourist (2010). The storyline might not be as deep or dramatic as in the other romantic travel movies from this list. But Tourist (2010) is one of the most visually pleasing movies ever – literally everything you see on the screen is beyond aesthetic: filming locations, leading actors, Angelina´s outfits, the splendid canals of Venice…

The plot seems simple at a first glimpse: an American tourist Frank meets a mysterious beauty who drags him into a dangerous world of espionage and adventure. But did their paths really cross by a pure accident and how will the romance between the two of them evolve?

7. Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)

One of Woody Allen´s must-see works is Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008). The plot takes place in the picturesque city of Barcelona , where two American girls get their travel plans turned upside down by a bohemian artist Juan and his psychotic ex-wife. Besides the great performances of the main actors, what I loved about this movie is how it really shows the beauty of Barcelona and this unique love for life the Spanish people have.

8. The Holiday (2006)

Have you ever thought of having a spontaneous vacation somewhere far away by simply swapping homes with someone? The Holiday (2006) tells a story of two women tired of guy-problems who decide to swap homes. From California glamour to a reclusive British cottage , and all the way around, both of them unexpectedly meet a local guy and fall in love. It´s just a sweet movie to cozy yourself at home and enjoy the two different love stories in the States and UK.

9. A Good Year (2006)

A Good Year (2006) will take you to the c harming region of Luberon in the French Provence . Max Skinner is a highly successful investment expert who inherits the vineyard in France where he grew up as a child. Max travels to France with an intention to sell the vineyard as quickly as possible, but after spending some time in Provence, he discovers a part of himself that he had lost, as well as falls in love with a beautiful French woman.

10. Eat Pray Love (2010)

Almost every list of romantic travel movies and books starts with Eat Pray Love (2010). The movie is based on Elizabeth Gilbert´s post-divorce journey around the world.

In pursuit of worldly pleasure, she visits Italy, India, Indonesia and finds friends, spiritual devotion, and love. Many call this movie (or book) “too cutesy” or “superficial”. But I really enjoyed both. The path of spiritual growth and enlightenment is different for everyone, this movie is just a personal journey of Elizabeth Gilbert. It might inspire you or it might not. But you can definitely get some aesthetic pleasure from watching Eat Pray Love (2010). It´s all about life and food passion in Italy, devotion in India, and inner balance on the Indonesian island of Bali .

11. Lost in Translation (2003)

Directed by Sofia Coppola and set under the bustling city life and lights of Tokyo, Lost in Translation (2003) is one of the romantic travel classics. The two main characters from different generations build a surprising bond simply because both feel lonely and have anything to do while they are in Japan. The film is a slow and dreamy story full of funny cultural clashes. It also shows how big cities can bring together people while keeping them apart at the same time…

12. The Terminal (2004)

Every frequent traveler will find the story of being stuck in airports very much relatable. But Viktor Navorski, an Eastern European tourist, is caught up in international politics and forced to live at JFK in New York indefinitely. However, he becomes improbably adored by all the people who work there.

It´s mostly a funny story of how life goes on at any place – people can still make friends and fall in love even without full freedom of move. While living at the airport, Viktor falls for a flight attendant, so the whole feeling-good comedy gets a romantic twist.

13. A perfect plan (2012)

It´s one of the on-the-road favorites we often watch with my husband. It is warm, funny and literally takes you around the world from France and Belgium to Kenya and Russia . In Isabelle´s family first marriages never work out. So she decides to marry the first guy on her way, just to divorce him and go back to her long-time boyfriend Pierre to live happily ever after. But as always things just don´t go as planned…

14. Mama Mia (2008)

If you need an ultimate inspiration to fall in love with Greece , just check Mamma Mia. Despite being a popular tribute to the Greek islands , it was not filmed on the touristy Mykonos or Santorini . Instead, the cast and crew headed to the lesser-known Skopelos and Skiathos. The film is built around ABBA hit songs and tells the story of a daughter inviting 3 of her mother´s boyfriends to figure out who´s her real father.

You know that after my last visit to Crete , I´ve confessed that I´m ready to go back to explore new Greek islands every summer. So every time I feel like I need a dose of Greece, Mamma Mia helps to fuel this Wanderlust.

15. Midnight in Paris (2011)

No list of romantic travel movies can be complete without something set in Paris, the universal city of love . Woody Allen brings to us an intriguing story of an engaged American couple falling under the magic of the city of Paris. Only one midnight walk in the city changes everything for both of them.

Besides spotlighting many famous actors like Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Marion Cotillard, Kathy Bates, and Carla Bruni, Midnight in Paris (2011) is full of beautiful cityscapes that will make you want to grab your partner’s hand and take him/her to Paris right away.

16. Letters to Juliet (2010)

Letters to Juliet (2010) is a romantic movie where the whole story takes place in the Italian city of Verona . Sophie travels to Italy with her husband, but one day she decides to explore the streets of Verona alone. Once she walks up to Juliet´s courtyard, she discovers hundreds of notes stuck in the wall, all from the lovers seeking advice. Sophie answers one of the letters and the story begins…

Verona is one of a few Italian cities still missing on my travel bucket list, so I personally enjoyed time-traveling to Shakespeare´s novel and seeing the beautiful cityscapes of Verona.

17. Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)

Under the Tuscan Sun (2003) is your ultimate Wanderlust ticket to Toscana, Italy . The movie tells us a story of a San Francisco writer Frances Mayes who gets a trip to Tuscany as a gift from a friend. However, once she arrives in Italy she falls under the local charm of Tuscany and impulsively buys an aging, but very charming, villa. New friends, local experiences, and lots of unexpected surprises – Frances Mayes finds herself immersed in an adventure of a lifetime.

18. Beyond Borders (2003)

Beyond Borders (2003) is a story of the turbulent romance with the backdrop of the world’s most dangerous hot spots. This movie brings our attention to the global humanitarian challenges of aid workers and refugees crisis. Many critics claim that Beyond Borders (2003) is neither a beautiful melodrama (because it shows its viewers not the prettiest side of this world) nor a serious documentary (because you have the romance in the foreground).

Although, you can feel that many of the experiences are partially autobiographical for the leading actress Angelina Jolie (who´s also a UN ambassador for refugees). You can find lots of things in common with her “Notes from My Travels”, where the actress describes her visits with Refugees in Africa, Cambodia, Pakistan, and Ecuador. So, this movie makes you reflect on the world´s situation and our possible personal input.

19. Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

Based on the bestseller book, Crazy Rich Asians (2018) is the story of Rachel Chu who accompanies her longtime boyfriend to his best friend’s wedding in Singapore . Excitement about visiting Asia mixes in her heart with a fear of meeting Nick’s family, one of the country’s wealthiest dynasties. It is a funny and romantic story of how a family is actually crazier than love itself.

20. Cairo Time (2009)

Juliette, a fashion magazine editor in her 50s, travels to Cairo to meet her husband, a UN official working in Gaza. She arrives in Egypt for a three-week vacation, but her husband is constantly delayed with work. Therefore he sends one of his friends, who had been his security officer for many years, to escort Juliette throughout the beautiful and exotic city of Cairo. The last thing anyone expects is that they will fall in love.

Cairo Time (2009), aside from its beautiful romance story, is also a love letter to the city of Cairo from its writer/director Ruba Nadda, inspired by her personal experiences. Throughout history, Egypt has played host to the Greeks, Romans, Crusaders, the Ottomans, Napoleon, and the British, so there´s so much life and history beautifully captured on screen. A journey through Cairo feels like a journey through time…

For more couples travel ideas check my Pinterest board Romantic Travel . If you´re looking to fuel your Wanderlust from home check the Travel Books and Movies , Bookish Inspiration , and What to Watch boards.

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Traveling in Spain non-stop is my biggest obsession. Looking for Spanish hidden gems and local travel tips? - You are in the right place! Let me be your insider guide to Spain!

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32 Comments

I love Roman Holiday!

Jennifer Effortlessly Sophisticated

My husband and I visited Italy last year so Tourist would be a great movie choice for us. The fact that it stars Johnny Depp is a total bonus!

What a unique list! I hope to try some of these movies out and hope you stay safe and healthy during this time!

– Avalon from http://www.simplyavalon.com

What a great list! I LOVE Eat, Pray, Love. I loved the book and the movie. I think I need to watch that again soon. 🙂

I love Eat Pray Love and P.S. I live you. They are great travel love movies.

What a great list of top romantic travel movies. Gonna check this list out over the weekend with my other half.

Loving these suggestions! Definitely happy to have more ideas while we self-isolate. Thank you 🙂

No, I don’t have one. I enjoyed Crazy Rich Asians, though.

Hey thanks for all these suggestions! I am always looking for something to watch. I love Roman Holiday. And there are a number of movies here I have not seen. Thanks again!

Allie of http://www.allienyc.com

These looks like some wonderful movies and somehow I’ve only seen couple of them… Thank you for all the great suggestions!

Eat, Pray, Love will forever hold a special place in my heart. I watched it when I was a young adult and it helped me through a tough time in life.

Ok, I’ve only seen 5 of these. I’m putting the others on my must watch list.

Lovely! This list is definitely what I need for this weekend!

These are great movies! We were looking for a movie to watch together tonight.. thanks for the ideas!

there are some really great movies you’ve got listed. i’d add valley of decision if you are a gregory peck fan.

Oooh so many goodies & also some films that I haven’t seen! I was obsessed with Vicky Cristina Barcelona when it first came out, which feels like a longgg time ago. :]

Great movie round-up! You reminded me of some of my favs that I haven’t seen in ages

Good pick! – and I think the holiday and eat. pray. love. are simply classic and influential to many cultures. The English Patient is really good too, I just came back from Tunisia where the film was shot. – Knycx Journeying

A wonderful list of romantic travel movies, I’d love to watch them soon. I’ve already seen some of those like Letters to Juliet and MamaMia but the other not yet.

This is quite a cool list dear! Thanks!

Jessica | notjessfashion.com

I love Crazy Rich Asians. I need to watch that and Eat, Pay and Love again too.

Oh wow that is a great list. I’m saving this. I love romantic movies and I already see some movies I’m gonna watch this weekend.

My wife had been complaining for quite some time now that we were not watching movies together at home and relaxing. This is the perfect time. I have made a quick note of these movies that you suggest and would watch some of these romantic ones.

I’m so happy the holiday is on there! One of my favourite movies! Thanks for the other recommendations, will definitely watch some of these!

Love this list! This is the movie inspo my partner and I need while we’re stuck at home social distancing

Love all these recommendations. I’ve decided I need to finally watch Out of Africa.

I haven’t watched practically all of these haha! I know what I’ll be forcing my boyfriend to do with me this weekend! Thanks for the recommendations.

Oh thanks you for sharing this amazing list of romantics travel movies. I love Roman Holiday and Crazy rich asians. Now I really want to watch all theses movies with my husband to make us travel from our couch haha. xx Margot https://troughthepasturesofthesky.com

It’s crazy how movies can inspire you to travel. Adding the romance bit just makes every second a wonderful moment to remember. There are times I watch time travel movies and get lose in the overlapping moments. Do you think we enjoy travel movies just as much as time travel movies?

I personally love both! any movie that involves traveling and new places and beautiful locations is my kind of movie lol

Great list, also there are a lot of italian and frech romantic films, thanks!!

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11 Best Romantic Travel Movies to Watch on Date Night

By: Author MC Miller

Posted on Last updated: October 1, 2020

Categories Date Ideas , Romance

Looking for a great romantic travel movies to watch on date night at home ?

Look no further, we have you covered with 15 of our absolute favourite travel romance movies.

11 Best Romantic Travel Movies to Watch on Date Night at Home

2 days in paris.

• Starring: Julie Delpy , Adam Goldberg , Daniel Bruhl and Marie Pillet
• Directed by: Julie Delpy

About:  Marion and Jack try to rekindle their love with a trip to Paris, home of Marion’s parents. Oh, and her ex bfs live there.

Eat Pray Love

• Director: Ryan Murphy
• Starring: Julia Roberts, James Franco, Richard Jenkins

About: Liz played by  Julia Roberts is a modern woman on a quest to travel the world and rediscover herself after a divorce. Taking a year-long sabbatical from her job she uncharacteristically out of her comfort zone, risking everything to change her life.

Blended 

• Director Frank Coraci
• Starring Drew Barrymore, Kevin Nealon, Terry Crews

About: Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore are single parents who get stuck together on a blended family vacation in the African Savanna. Will they find love together?

Sleepless in Seattle

A good movie if you want to be inspired to visit Seattle sometime in the future! 

• Director: Nora Ephron
• Starring: Meg Ryan, Tom Hanks, Bill Pullman

About: Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan is about a widower whose son convinces him to seek new love and the woman that he finds.  

Not exactly about traditional travel, but this movie about time travel will be sure to melt even the iciest of hearts.

• Director: Richard Curtis
• Starring: Domnhall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams, Bill Nighy

About: This movie features the ordinary life of 2 people. Can they make their life perfect through the use of time travel?

The Holiday

Traditionally a Christmas movie, this is definitely one of my favorite travel movies ever.

• Director Nancy Meyers
• Starring Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law

About: Two women opposite sides of the world swap houses to only discover the love of their lives may be waiting on the other side.

P.S. I love you

This is quite possibly my favorite romantic movie ever and if you have ever dreamt of visiting Ireland you definitely have to watch it.

• Director Richard LaGravenese
• Starring Hilary Swank, Gerard Butler, Lisa Kudrow

About: When her husband dies, she receives 10 messages intended to help ease her pain and start a new life. Will she find love again?

The Tourist

• Director: Florian Henckel Von Donnersmarck
• Starring: Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Paul Bettany

About: A mysterious woman (Angelina Jolie) and a mild-mannered American (Johnny Depp) get involved in a web of action and romance in the city of Venice.

Crazy Rich Asians

If you are interested in traveling to Malaysia or Singapore you definitely need to watch Crazy Rich Asians, a love story showcasing the best of these countries.

Director: Jon M. Chu

Starring: Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Gemma Chan

About: New Yorker Rachel Chu goes with her boyfriend to his friend’s wedding in Singapore and meets his crazy rich family. 

Under the Tuscan Sun

• Director: Audrey Wells
• Starring: Diane Lane, Raoul Bova, Lindsay Duncan

About: A divorcee decided to buy a villa in Italy while on vacation. Does she find love again? As a side note, if you love awesome villas and are thinking to travel to Italy, check out our round up of the prettiest towns in Lake Como

Midnight in Paris

• Director Woody Allen
• Starring Kathy Bates, Adrien Brody, Carla Bruni

About: A couple go on vacation in Paris. Will they stay together or will he get distracted?

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MC Miller is a travel blogger and writer who has travelled America extensively and abroad to over 80 countries. He founded Couple Travel The World in 2017. Since then, he has spent over 6 years on the road as a full time travel couple. When he not traveling he likes to spend quality time with his partner Bett, planning our their next date or romantic getaway!

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25 Best Travel Movies On Netflix

I think every wanderlust lover enjoys a great travel movie! These films can make you travel the world in a little under two hours and can be super inspiring. Though finding the right movies to watch when traveling can be time-consuming and even complicated if you’re on an international trip. That’s why Netflix is life-saving for all travel lovers wanting to watch movies on the road! 

For me, one of the best gifts for travel lovers is a streaming subscription! This allows us to download movies and watch them whenever suits us better while on a trip. It’s practical and stress-free! Plus, Netflix has an impressive movie catalog that includes some of the most beloved travel films out there. That’s why I decided to create this roundup. Keep reading to find out what are the best travel movies on Netflix! 

1. Eat, Pray, Love (2010)

This movie is an absolute classic! Not only is this story filled with beautiful landscapes, but it’s also quite moving. It’s based on a true story, so you’re for sure getting the real deal here. The plot follows a freshly divorced woman, Liz, as she embarks on a 9 month-long trip to find herself. The story kicks off in New York but Liz travels to Italy, India, and Bali on this self-discovery journey. It’s fast-paced (only about an hour and a half long) and filled with travel motivation. As you can probably tell, this movie is as inspiring as it gets! 

2. Lion (2016)

This is another touching film based on true events. It’s the story of Brierley, who got lost and separated from his parents at only 5 years old. He ended up on the other side of his home country, India, and never saw them again, getting adopted later and moving to Australia. But the story kicks off when Brierley decides to go on a journey to find them! The movie will take you on a heart-wrenching journey across India and Australia. It lasts almost two hours, so get cozy! 

3. Chasing Liberty (2004)

For anyone longing for a 2000’s rom-com after two emotional films, I’ve got you! This is such a feel-good type of movie that it’s perfect for anyone stuck at a boarding gate, bus terminal, or rainy day when camping ! The story follows the daughter of the President of The United States as she steps off on a European adventure to rebel against the constant security imposed on her. It’s got European travel destinations, 2000’s nostalgia, and romance! 

4. Expedition Happiness (2017)

If you want to check out some of the best United States road trip destinations , then this film is for you!  Expedition Happiness follows a German couple as they set off on a road trip across the USA, Mexico, and Canada. They explore all of North America with their dog and a converted school bus. The views are spectacular and will definitely inspire you to travel!  It lasts 96 minutes and will convince you to pack your bags before you even get to watch half of it! 

5. Mamma Mia (2008)

Another outstanding classic! I couldn’t leave Mamma Mia out of this list, especially when it’s such an uplifting and comforting film. The story takes place on a Greek island ( anyone else longing for some sun right now?) and follows a young woman named Sophie who’s about to get married. She wants her father to be there but doesn’t know who she is. So Sophie invites all three of her potential dads to the wedding! It’s a true rollercoaster of a film. Plus, it’s a musical, so there’s even more to love about it! 

6. Ibiza (2018)

Okay, so this movie is pretty much a rulebook for what NOT to do on a business trip. Which makes it all that much more fun and enjoyable! The plot follows Harper, a 30-year-old woman from NYC who travels to Barcelona for work. But (of course) everything goes off track when she meets a handsome DJ! It’s only an hour and a half long, so you can definitely squeeze it in the middle of any busy day! 

7. The Fundamentals of Caring (2016)

Alright, we’re back to the moving travel movies category. For real now, this is the ultimate road trip movie! It follows the story of Ben, a writer turned caregiver in charge of a teenager with muscular dystrophy, Trevor. As the boy loves American roadside attractions, Ben convinces his mother to go on a road trip across the country. It’s an emotional film packed with views of the open road! 

8. The Terminal (2004)

Pretty much everyone and their mother knows this is a great movie. This commercial success follows the ordeal of an Eastern European man stranded inside of New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport because his passport is no longer valid. But the same reason why they won’t let him in is the same reason why he can’t leave: his country suffered a military coup and his life would be in danger. So he stays there, making a terminal his new home as he waits for asylum. This is a classic and you should not miss it! 

9. Casino Royale (2006)

James Bond films are always quite the show! They’re bound to make you have fun while traveling. This one follows Bond as he is earning his license to kill and is involved in a high-stakes poker game at the Casino Royale, Montenegro. The movie was shot in the Czech Republic, the Bahamas, Italy, and the United Kingdom. So you’ll see lots of different places! 

10. Amelie (2001)

If you’ve ever longed for a trip to Paris, then this movie is for you! The story follows Amelie, a girl whose childhood was conditioned by her mistakenly diagnosed heart condition. As she barely got any real-life interactions with people, she resorted to her own fantasy world that resulted in a vivid imagination even as an adult. Her life changes when she moves to Paris and that’s where this story begins. It’s a cinematic masterpiece and a very acclaimed film! 

11. Into the Wild (2007)

This great movie will take you deep into the wilderness of Alaska. It’s the story of Christopher McCandless, as he sells all of his possessions after graduating from university and departs to Alaska. He even donates all of his savings to give it all up and live in the wild. Along the way, he’ll encounter people that will forever make an impact on his life. It’s quite a long film (almost two and a half hours long) but definitely worth your time! 

12. Adrift (2018)

This moving film is based on an inspiring true story and will leave you shaken. It follows the adventures of two sailors who embark on a trip across the seas only to find themselves in the eye of one of the most catastrophic hurricanes in history. After the storm, their boat is shredded to pieces and one of them is badly injured. Now all they have to do is try to survive. It’s a gripping story, that’s for sure! 

13. Crystal Fairy and the Magical Cactus (2013)

This movie is for those who want a bit of fun when they’re away or daydreaming of being on the road! Meet Jamie, a let-loose American who’s traveling in Chile. There, he joins a woman keen to discover the benefits of a local South American hallucinogen: the San Pedro cactus. You’re bound to have a good laugh with this one. It’s short (1:40 hours) and hilarious!

14. Forrest Gump (1994)

This American classic is one you’ve probably seen dozens of times before. But we never get tired of this movie! This story follows the beloved character, Forrest Gump, across a tale of his eventful life while he waits at a bus stop. His memoirs also depict a series of key events in American history, so it’s quite the emotional ride. It’s a longer movie, almost two and a half hours long, but certainly an unskippable one! 

1 5. Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011)

This Netflix documentary follows the life of 85-year-old sushi master Jiro Ono and his work at his renowned sushi restaurant. It also touches upon his relationship with his son as he is under the pressure of taking over the restaurant. Meanwhile, Jiro sets out on his lifelong quest to create the perfect piece of sushi. It all happens in Tokyo, so it’s a great movie for those longing to visit Japan! 

16. Faces places (2017)

This documentary is the perfect road trip film! The French protagonists, 89-year-old New Wave director Agnés Varda and 33-year-old photographer JR, embark on an artistic journey that’s caught on camera. They travel around the small villages of rural France, as they create portraits of the people they come across on their trip. It’s simple, subtle, and comforting! It’s a great movie for a road trip, so head over to our Road Trip section to start planning your next one.  

17. In Search Of Fellini (2017)

This story is both dreamy and relatable in certain ways! The protagonist is a small-town girl from Ohio who isn’t too keen on reality but adores movies. When she discovers the artistic and bizarre films of Federico Fellini, she takes off on a passionate trip across Italy just to find him. It’s a coming-of-age memoir mixed with a heavy dose of wanderlust. And if you like Italy’s landscapes, you can’t skip it! 

18. The Mummy (1999)

This one is another classic! If you’re in the mood for an adventure comedy, this is what you need to watch. Out of all these travel movies, The Mummy has a very distinct vibe. Is a mix of romance, adventure, comedy, and terror that just ticks all the right boxes! It tells the story of an expedition of treasure-seeking explorers in the Sahara Desert. When they uncover an ancient tomb, they set free a  3,000-year-old mummy by accident. And I’ll let you find out the rest from there! Get ready to visit Egypt! 

19. The Way (2010)

The Way is visually stunning and emotionally touching. It tells the story of a man who goes to St. Jean Pied de Port, France to gather the remains of his deceased adult son. His son died in a storm while attempting to complete the Camino de Santiago (The Way of Saint James trail). There, he decides to embark on the pilgrimage himself to honor his son’s desires. It’s an emotional ride but a beautiful one! 

20. The Bucket List (2007)

A travel movie with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman is a film worth watching! This comedy-drama follows two men suffering from a terminal illness as they set out on a once-in-a-lifetime kind of road trip. On their journey, they will check off everything they need to from their bucket lists before actually “kicking the bucket”. It’s funny, it features lots of cool places and activities, and it’ll sure keep you company while on the open road! 

21. On The Road (2012)

On The Road is the compelling take of a road trip fuelled by grief and a need for inspiration. Writer Sal Paradise embarks on a trip across the open road to regain clarity and motivation. On his journey, he encounters the free-spirited Dean Moriarty and his charismatic girlfriend. Together they travel the American Southwest in search of the unknown. The landscapes present in this movie are stunning and it’s always great to get to see more of the US! 

22. Wild Oats (2012)

This film is for those who want to watch movies that are a ton of fun! Wild Oats is a great movie capable of getting a laugh out of most of us. The story kicks off when a retired high school teacher receives a $5,000,000 check for her deceased husband’s $50,000 life insurance policy. Influenced by her friends, she decides to make the most out of the mistake and embark on a wild trip to the Canary Islands. The location of this film is beautiful and the storyline is hilarious! 

23. The Da Vinci Code (2006)

Everyone knows The Da Vinci Code in one way or another, right? Whether you’ve read the book or seen the film, this is a travel movie worth watching. The story follows symbologist Robert and cryptologist Sophie as they find themselves in the middle of a political and religious battle amid different believers. I don’t want to spoil anything else but this one is a must-watch!

24. Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008) 

This is one of the best comedies/rom-coms of all time! Not only does it make everyone laugh and cringe a little, it’s also set in beautiful Hawaii. The plot follows Peter, who was dumped by his girlfriend (actress Sarah Marshall) and decided to take off to Hawaii. He hopes to relax but, as he’s checking in, he spots Sarah and her new boyfriend. The events that follow are bizarre, hilarious, and worth watching! 

25. Cairo Time (2009)

Finishing off this roundup of travel movies on Netflix with Cairo Time seems like the right move. This movie is poetic to its core and has some really strong performances. It’s a romantic drama that focuses on an unexpected affair in Cairo. Of course, it features the best views of the city and a few of Egypt’s most iconic landmarks. For those of you who love the Pyramids, this one’s for you! 

What are your favorite travel movies and shows on Netflix?

Those are the 25 best travel movies on Netflix! Each and every one of these films is perfect for sparking that wanderlust flame or preparing for an upcoming trip. Even more, you can watch them while traveling on a road trip or at the hotel! So just download them and get ready to be entertained for a while. What is your favorite travel movie? Let me know in the comments. Now go enjoy those wanderlust-packed films! 

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Wonderful & Amazing Blog Post about Travel Movies on Netflix!

Hello and warm regards from sunny Singapore!

Been following your IG and now subscribed to your blog. Thanks for this travel list. Cant wait to watch them. Thanks for your recommendations.

Ms Shan Lim

This is such a great list!! I am such an Egypt fanatic, how I have never heard of Cairo Time? Totally going to watch that tonight, thanks for the recommendations!

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60 Best Travel Movies to Inspire Wanderlust

Written By: The Planet D

Travel Movies

Updated On: February 14, 2024

What makes for great travel movies? We feel it is when the destination becomes the star. A movie that showcases beautiful cities , landscapes, and culture is a movie that inspires us to visit a destination or relive our time there when we get home. Dave and I love movies. We worked in the film business in our previous careers and lived for the cinema. So when we chose our list of the best travel movies, we took it seriously. 

Table of Contents

The Best Travel Movies

Our choices for the best travel movies are probably very different than yours, so leave a comment and let us know what you think the best travel movies are. We are always looking for new travel films to ignite our wanderlust. To rent or buy one of these travel films to inspire wanderlust right now, check out Amazon Instant Video

The Best Travel Movies to Inspire Wanderlust

1. in bruges.

This is by far the best travel movie. One of the characters actually carries around a guidebook! If you love a good caper set in an exotic location, you’ll love In Bruges. Collin Farrel and Brendan Gleeson star as two hit men who are sent to Bruges, Belgium to hide out after a job goes bad.

The more Colin Farrell’s character complained of hating Bruges (in Belgium), the more you took in the surroundings of Bruges and noticed just how picturesque the city is. While the film is primarily a crime drama and dark comedy it intertwines the city’s picturesque locations and cultural aspects with the narrative seamlessly.

Rent or Buy In Bruges on Amazon

2. banshees of inisherin trailer

I was so excited to see Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson reunite and this time, they share screen time in one of the newest travel films on our list, the Banshees of Inisherin. The movie takes place on the Aran Islands of Ireland and showcases the beauty of that destination as two friends go through some very dark times.

Gleessan’s character Colm decides he has wasted his life and cuts ties with his lifelong best friend Pádraic (Farrell) and all kinds of darkness begins. It had some of the best acting I’ve seen in years, and every one of the four main cast was nominated for Acadamy Awards.

3. One Week

One of our favorite travel movies of all time. And not because it is set in Canada. One Week follows a young man driving a motorcycle on a cross-country road trip across Canada after being diagnosed with terminal cancer. No movie has made me want to explore a country more than One Week. It showcases Canada beautifully.

I didn’t want to see this movie because of its morbid subject, but it ended up being an uplifting and enlightening film of self-discovery. It truly is the ultimate Canadian road trip movie. Rent One Week Here on Amazon

4. Secret Life of Walter Mitty

I had to watch this most popular of all travel films twice before deciding I liked The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and I can understand why it is at the top of most lists of best travel movies. This movie takes you from New York, to Iceland, Greenland and the Himalayas.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty shows how taking a risk and getting out of your comfort zone can lead to great things. The ending was my favorite, but I won’t spoil it for you. Rent it now .

5. Before Sunrise Trilogy

We have three of our favorite travel movies in one package! And each showcases the destination they are in. The Before Sunrise movies are about love but they are also very much travel films. They were filmed 10 years apart and they take place in three different locations around Europe – Vienna , Paris , and Greece .

The Before Sunrise trilogies capture the essence of each destination. And here’s a cool fact – Dave and I stayed at  Costa Navarino  in Greece where After Midnight took place!

It is probably the best of all romantic travel movies out there that literally spans three decades. (They film a movie every 10 years). Watch Before Sunrise and Sunset on Amazon Prime

6. Planes Trains and Automobiles

John Candy and Steve Martin take an unexpected cross country road trip from New York City to Chicago. This is Dave’s pick for the best travel movie.

This is considered one of the great comedy travel movies, but I look at it as a drama. John Candy’s character breaks my heart. You may think of it as a holiday film but it is also one of the funniest travel films out there. If you’re in the mood for a good heartfelt comedy,  rent it today.

7. Julie & Julia

Not only does Julie and Julia star the great Meryl Streep but this travel movie is based on blogging. It’s like it was made for us! I was surprised by how much I loved this movie based on the true story of Julia Child and I didn’t go in expecting much.

Julie & Julia follows the life of Julia Child during her time in Paris and cuts throughout to the present day in New York . It makes you crave French cuisine and a life of decadence in France. When it comes to choosing a  favorite travel movie this one is right up there. Rent it now

8. The Big Year

The Big Year follows Jack Black (who doesn’t love Jack Black?), Owen Wilson, and Steve Martin traveling around the United States with hopes of becoming the number 1 bird watcher in the world. It ended up being one of the most surprising travel films I’ve seen.

They are obsessed with spotting more species of birds than any other person in 365 days. I related to this movie because it is more about the journey and how having a great adventure can change a life. Rent it Now

Best Travel Movies for Adventure Lovers

9. into the wild.

The real-life true story chronicles the journey of  Christopher McCandless who went on a cross country road trip through the US and ended up in Alaska .

I read Into the Wild years ago and was mesmerized trying to figure out how someone could give up everything to go and live off the grid. John Krakauer dug into the psyche of McCandless and what motivates people to take risks.

Things don’t turn out as he hoped, and it is a lesson learned for would-be adventurers. Enjoy it now !

Wild is an adaptation of Cheryl Strayed’s travel memoir, From Lost To Found On The Pacific Crest Trail. Based on a true story, it follows her journey about putting a life back together after it all falls apart.

Pushing the limits physically on the Pacific Crest Trail and stepping out of her comfort zone take her on a journey of self-discovery. A struggle and journey can change a life and Reese Witherspoon is excellant as usual. Check it out on Amazon

11. Everest

Everest by John Krakauer is the true story of the catastrophe that happened on Everest in 1996. It’s a first-hand account by Krakauer who was on Everest at the time. While the movie focuses on the events, it does showcase the psyche of why people climb mountains and it shows the culture and beauty of the Everest Region.

As far as travel movies go, even though it is based on a dark subject, it does make me want to go to Everest. So we did! Plus, it stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Josh Brolin, so how can you go wrong?

• You can rent this movie made in Hollywood
• You can also check out the documentary.

Tracks is another travel movie base on a true story and I really enjoyed it. It’s a film about a young woman who walks across Australia from Alice Springs to the Indian Ocean with four camels and her pet dog.

What I really liked is how the lead character Robyn Davidson learns the skills needed to survive. She is visited by a photographer from National Geographic who shared her story and was led through the sacred lands of the Outback by an Aboriginal elder. Watch this Amazing true story on Amazon ! 

13. World’s Fastest Indian 

From New Zealand to America, Anthony Hopkins takes his Indian Motorcycle to the salt flats to see how far he can go. The World’s Fastest Indian is one of my favorite performances by Hopkins and it is one of the great underrated travel movies.

He is vulnerable, lovable, and inspiring. This true story takes you on a fun road trip along the way until he reaches the Salt Flats of California and that is when you really start rooting for him to win! Rent it on Amazon Prime

14. Adventures of Pricilla Queen of the Desert

Adventures of Pricilla Queen of the Desert follows a group of drag queens taking a cross country road trip in a van named “Pricilla” from Sydney to Alice Springs where they are going to perform their drag show.

They meet a lot of characters along the way and this film introduced us to superstars Hugo Weaving and Guy Pearce who joined the already-established Terrence Stamp.

15. Motorcycle Diaries

Ever since watching one of the best travel movies about South America, (you guessed it, the Motorcycle Diaries) wanted to do a road trip through South America. (PS. I’m still dreaming of that road trip through South America one day)

Gael García Bernal stars as Che Guevera and it follows his journey on a motorcycle trip through South America before he became a part of the revolution. This movie is based on a true story where Che traveled through the continent and I believe it was traveling through South America that Che saw what people were going through and that is what sparked him to take action in his own way.

• Check it out for yourself
• Rent it on Amazon

16. The Way

Dave and I have always wanted to walk the Camino de Santiago in Spain. This movie is a bittersweet tribute to the epic hike. Acting legend Martin Sheen walks the trail to honor his son Emilio Estevez (also director) who died on the walk. This movie explores themes of grief, regret, and understanding.

Sheen’s character finishes what his son started helping him connect and understand his son while examining his own life and is one of the most moving travel movies on our list. You can watch it on Amazon

Best Classic Travel Movies

17. lawrence of arabia.

Lawrence of Arabia made us dream of the Arabian Desert and that is what travel films are meant to do. I would say that this is often considered one of the best travel movies of all time. It’s the original travel movie for sure and it really does capture the majesty of the Arabian Desert.

When we got the chance to visit Jordan and walk in the footsteps of the real Lawrence of Arabia, we couldn’t believe we were living our own travel movie. This will make you want to go on an adventure and spend the night in a Bedouin tent. Rent it on Amazon Prime Now

18. Out of Africa

If you want another Meryl Streep vehicle that is often considered one of the best travel movies, you should try  Out of Africa. Out of Africa takes place in a different time, but it captures the heart of Africa beautifully.

Based on a true story, Meryl Streep stars as a married baroness in love with big game hunter Robert Redford. Their chemistry is unmistakable. She falls in love with Africa and you will fall in love with it too.

The cinematography is outstanding. It won 7 Oscars including Best Picture and Best Cinematography. Rent Out of Africa

19. Romancing the Stone

Who didn’t fantasize about an adventure in Colombia after watching Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas in Romancing the Stone? As a kid I always thought about the line “ I need to get to Cartagena ” and while I had no idea where Cartagena was,(It’s in South America by the way) I knew it was exciting.

In the most romanticly fun of travel movies, Kathleen Turner transformed from a scared writer who merely writes about adventure, to a woman encountering an adventure and meeting a rugged mysterious man in exotic Columbia. Watch Romancing the Stone today

20. The Bucket List

With two of my favorite actors and a message to live life to the fullest, the Bucket List is one amazing movie and one of the best travel movies. I think it actually invented the term, The Bucket List. The phrase has been overused in recent years, but the message never gets old. The Bucket List is the original “live your dreams now” travel movie.

It’s beautifully acted, heartfelt, and showcases how life should be lived to the fullest. Rent or buy it here!

Most people say that Amelie is one of the best travel movies of all time. So this list wouldn’t be complete without it. I did love the views of Paris and the everyday life showcased in Montmartre.

I also enjoyed the uplifting message of a quiet young woman named, Amelie helping the people around her in the lovely district of Montmartre in Paris. If you want to watch sweeping scenes through Paris streets and if you love Paris, you can’t help but like Amelie. So check it out !

22. Roman Holiday

This did not age well in our opinion. We watched it recently and it is just downright bad. Many people will probably disagree. But as far as travel movies go, it is fun to see a princess posing as a regular young Woman zipping around Rome.

They should remake Roman Holiday, it would be fun. Rent it on Prime

23. Sideways

I admit it. After this movie came out, I didn’t drink Merlot for years! Sideways takes us on a road trip through California wine country and it really is filled with amazing performances by Paul Giamatti, Sandra Oh, Virginia Madsen, and Thomas Hayden Church.

We have been to Santa Maria, California, and this movie captures the feel of wine country perfectly. Rent or buy on Amazon Prime 

24. Up in the Air

Up in the Air makes you love the idea of travel but it shows the emptiness that the life of a vagabond can lead to if you don’t stay grounded with your family and friends. It’s not in the genre of typical travel films out there, but travel is the main theme.

I cannot go through airport security anymore without thinking of George Clooney as his character has the art of travel down to a science.

This movie also has a great message that Dave and I can relate to. We all become so consumed with our careers and our lives that we forget about what is important. Get it on Amazon Instant Video

Best Travel Movies Highlighting Destinations

25. ticket to paradise.

Our newest addition to our travel movies is from two legends, George Clooney and Julia Roberts who take us to Bali for their daughter’s wedding. The two divorced years ago, but agree that their daughter is too young to get married and decide to sabotage the wedding.

This movie showcases the culture and beauty of Bali while showing us once again how travel can be transformational and can change your life.

I love these two together, George and Julia, and great friends in real life and have amazing on-screen chemistry.

26. The Beach – Thailand

The Beach is the original backpacker slacker travel film. The Beach captures what Thailand was like before tourists started flocking to it en-masse. At one time, it was an off-the-beaten-path backpacker destination. We enjoyed the book more, but you can never go wrong with Leo.

If you want to get a sense of what it was like to travel to Thailand before mass tourism, this is a good movie for you. Plus it is beautiful and as far as travel movies go, it will make you want to go to Thailand. Not only are the people beautiful, but the scenery of southern Thailand is also out of this world.

Take in the journey as they search for a hidden beach that is pure perfection.

27. Lost in Translation – Tokyo

Tokyo is a bit strange. It is unlike anywhere else on earth, and Lost in Translation showcases the culture shock that one feels when staying in a different city.

There are different customs in Japan and the culture is much different than anywhere else and this movie captures that odd feeling you get when traveling there. Lost in Translation highlights some of the best spots in Tokyo.

The hotel where the movie takes place still has one of the best views in the city! And who doesn’t love Bill Murray? He is priceless and it’s one of Scarlett Johanson’s best performances. Check it Out

28. Slumdog Millionaire – India

We traveled to India in 2010 and Slumdog Millionaire seemed to capture the true slums of India while showcasing the heart of the people. Many of the rich cities are modern, but when traveling through rural India and the poorer areas, this is what it’s like.

Dev Patel stars as a young Indian boy who gets on a game show that could change his life. It’s heartbreaking, raw, and sometimes uncomfortable which is exactly what travel can be too hence why it made the list of our favorite travel movies. Download it here on Amazon

If you are a fan of Dev Patel (as we are) you will love him in another of our favorite travel films, Lion. Lion is based on a true story and is an emotional journey that takes audiences across India and Australia spanning cultures, and decades.

Patel plays Saroo Brierley, a young Indian boy who gets lost on a train in India at the age of five. After surviving several challenges on the streets of Kolkata and eventually being adopted by an Australian family, Saroo, as an adult, uses Google Earth to find his birth mother and the journey begins. The movie also stars Nicol Kidman.

30. Vicky, Cristina Barcelona – Spain

Admit it, we all want to go to Spain and run into beautiful people like Penelope Cruz and Javier Barden. I think this movie did so well because it inspired everyone to go to Barcelona. (That’s our criteria for choosing the best travel movies, how they inspired travel)

Vicky Cristina Barcelona makes us dream of the cities in Spain , the passion of the Spanish people and getting away for a summer in Spain.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona definitely is an inspiring travel movie and one of the best travel films out there. It really captures the energy and passion of Spain in Barcelona . Rent Vicky Christina Barcelona on Amazon

31. Under the Tuscan Sun – Italy

For the romantics out there, Under the Tuscan Sun is one of the best travel movies. Wouldn’t you just love to buy a villa in Tuscany and fall in love with a stranger?

This is one of my favorite romantic travel films and Under the Tuscan Sun based on a true story. After a bad divorce, her character takes a trip to Italy courtesy of her best friend, (The incredible Sandra Oh!) and buys a house!

This travel movie is based on a true story where our star shares the trials and tribulations of renovating a Tuscan villa. You can rent Under the Tuscan Sun on Amazon

32. Best Exotic Marigold Hotel – India

We always preach that you are never too old to try something new and you are never too old to travel and that is the premise of one of the most beloved travel movies, Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. It’s chock full of great legendary actors including Dame Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, and Maggie Smith.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel follows a group of retirees who travel to India to live out their days at a crumbling retirement hotel. All mayhem and madness ensue as things can only in India. There’s romance, tragedy, and hope. Rent it now

33. A Good Year – Provence France

A Good Year made me want to go to Provence and live a simple life…on a multi-million dollar vineyard estate. That’s reasonable, right? And that’s what travel movies make you want to do…Pick up and go somewhere.

A Good Year makes life in Provence look like the Garden of Eden and I want a piece of it. Everyone is beautiful, everyone is a wine connoisseur, and everyone is pure and good. Who wouldn’t want to go to the south of France after seeing A Good Year? Rent it now.

34. Midnight in Paris – Paris

Looking for travel movies that combine time travel this movie night? Midnight in Paris captures the golden years of Paris as Owen Wilson walks through the streets at night in search of that romantic nostalgia of the city.

Blending time travel with traditional travel, this film showcases Paris’s rich history and examines how different eras appeal to different people.

He ends up meeting the famous patrons of the 1920s including Cole Porter, Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, and more! This travel movie makes me want to hop on a flight to Paris every time! Watch it on Amazon Prime or get it on DVD

35. Australia – Australia

This movie was crucified by the critics, but I loved it and its one of the best travel movies showcasing the beauty of Australia’s landscape. Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman take her cattle across the Outback.

It also touches on the injustices of how Australia treated the Aboriginal People, reminding me of what Canada did with residential schools to our own indigenous communities.

It’s beautifully shot and is a love letter to Australia while highlighting the true story of the Aboriginal struggles. I think it deserved more love than it got. Check it out on Amazon

36. The Impossible

It took me forever to finally watch the impossible because it is based on the true story of surviving the devastating Tsunami in Southeast Asia. It follows a family from England who are vacationing in Thailand and are impacted by the Tsunami.

It showcases the huge hearts that the Thai people have. Even while going through their own trauma, they play a huge role in helping this family get back together and survive.

The movie stars Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor and Tom Holland and it is one of the best performances I think Naomi Watts has ever done.

Lighthearted Travel Movies

37. eurovision.

This is one of the funniest travel movies out there. The movie kicks off (after a brief flashback) in Iceland showcasing its beautiful landscapes and waterfalls with sweeping drone shots of the stars performing.

It has all the stereotypes and cliches of Iceland, but it is done with heart and fun. It really is a love letter to Iceland. Follow Lars and Sigrit as they try to fulfill their dream of competing in Eurovision in Edinburgh. The movie gives a nice showcase of that city too making it two travel movies in one. Rent it on Amazon

38. Darjeeling Limited

This quirkiest of travel movies takes Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman, and Adrian Brody across India one year after their father’s death starting on the Darjeeling Express train. It’s strange, heartbreaking, hilarious, and pure Wes Anderson.

When they visit their mother in an Ashram, it makes me think of the strange people that run away to India to find themselves. Oh yeah, he gets it. Check it out on Amazon Prime

39. Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Set in the very real Turtle Bay Resort in Oahu this pick on our travel movies list stars Jason Seigel as a Hollywood Writer who goes to Hawaii to heal his wounds after getting dumped by his girlfriend Kristen Bell. It turns out, she is there on vacation with her new boyfriend and shenanigans ensue.

This movie makes you want to book a plane to Hawaii and have your own stay at Turtle Bay which has now become very popular. Rent it on Prime

40. Last Holiday

If you are searching for comedy travel movies, this should be at the top of your list. This is the ultimate fairytale on how travel can change a life. And how we should all strive to live a better life. It’s too short to wait.

Queen Latifa is priceless as a woman who is diagnosed with a terminal disease, so she takes her life savings to enjoy her final holiday at a luxurious resort. She does everything from base jumping to snowboarding and indulging in decadent French cuisine.

If everyone took a holiday like this, we’d all live happier lives. Rent, Buy or Watch on Amazon Prime

41. The Holiday

It may be a Christmas movie, but The Holiday is one of the best travel movies out there. We watch it every year and it shows how travel is transformational. Starring Kate Winslett, Jack Black, Jude Law and Cameron Diaz, The Holiday flips back and forth between Los Angeles and England.

The two female stars have very different vacations as they house swap, but both have their lives changed through travel.

42. French Kiss

Meg Ryan plays a woman named Kate who is afraid to travel. When her fiance falls for another woman in France, she vows to win him back and travels there despite being terrified. Hilarity ensues when she meets con man Kevin Kline and they venture across the country together following the formula of travel movies galore.

My favorite scene is when she is indulging in cheese on the train. It’s that French moment that made me daydream about traveling by train across the French countryside. Watch French Kiss for yourself

43. My Life in Ruins

While not as good as My Big Fat Greek Wedding, My Life in Ruins is a nice comeback for Nia Vardalos in a fun-loving travel film.

She plays a tour leader taking stereotypical tourists through the sites of Greece. It’s fun, it’s romantic and the setting is beautiful. It’s not going to win any Academy Awards, but for a fun Saturday afternoon movie, this will transport you to Greece. Rent it or buy it on Amazon

44. The Hangover 2

The First Hangover was far better and it too is a travel movie taking you to Vegas. But when choosing travel movies from this trilogy, I had to choose the setting of Bangkok. It captures the crazy energy of the city.

My favorite scene is when Bradly Cooper has to go to the hospital and comes out with an absurdly low hospital bill. Dave and I have been to the hospital in Thailand and can attest, it is cheap. Rent it now! 

Blockbuster Travel Movies

45. star wars: the rise of skywalker & the last jedi.

One wouldn’t think of a movie based in outer space to be a travel movie that inspires wanderlust, but the last Star Wars Trilogy featured one of our favorite destinations on Earth, Skellig M ichael

This 6th-century monastery was a star unto itself as Luke trained Rey in the ways of the Force. It has now inspired many travelers and film buffs to take the hair-raising boat ride out to these rocky islands 12 km off the coast of Ireland. Check it out

46. Mama Mia

We actually learned where Mama Mia takes place while visiting the location where it was filmed, Pelion, Greece. The Greek islands are paradise, and Mama Mia follows the story of Meryl Streep who runs a hotel on the coast. We thought it was filmed somewhere like Santorini or Mykonos.

When her daughter becomes engaged, she invites three men who might be her father. It’s a rip-roaring good time of music, fun and beautiful scenery.

The Santorini blue and white houses, the crystal clear blue sea, and the music of Abba become those who watch to travel to Greece! Watch it on Prime today

47. Once Upon a Time in Mexico Trilogy

How sexy are Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayak together? You must watch the entire trilogy to really appreciate this series by Robert Rodrigues. Once Upon A Time In Mexico ends the trilogy with Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, and Cheech Marin. El Mariachi started it all starring Carlos Gallardo. My favorite of the 3 is Desperado , but they are all entertaining.

Once Upon A Time In Mexico is a fantasy and it is a stereotype of Mexico, but it makes you want to go to Mexico and have a great adventure. The scenery is gorgeous, the film is filled with cool style, and the music is fabulous. Watch the Trilogy today!

48. The Legend of Tarzan

The $180 million dollar budget makes sure to showcase the beauty of the African Savannah, the dense jungles, and the majestic wildlife. You feel as if you have entered the heart of Africa. Seriously, rent it, you’re going to like it a lot more than you think! Rent it on Amazon

49. The Tourist

It’s a little indulgent, and Angelina Jolie is a bit annoying to watch with how amazing she thinks she is in this, but it does capture taking an international trip to Europe beautifully.

It makes you want to have a romantic tryst in Venice . It makes you want to ride a train and have a mysterious encounter. It gives you a glimpse into how the rich live and travel the world.

50. The Thing

Recently we had someone write to us with a list of their favorite movies about travel. He mentioned the first Alien vs. Predator took place in Antarctica and I remember that being a pretty entertaining film. Then I thought about the classic Kurt Russel movie, The Thing .

This thriller takes place at a scientific base camp in the Antarctic and really lets you feel how claustrophobic and isolated researchers must feel when spending the winter at the bottom of the world. Watch it now!

51. Thelma and Louise

Who would have thought that Thelma and Louise would be heralded as one of the best travel films of all time, but it has. When researching this article, I saw that everyone had it on their list, so I had to include it. Besides, I love this film. I saw it at the theatre when it came out and it blew me away.

Brad Pitt makes his debut in this dark road trip adventure. Susan Sarandon and Geena Dave about female empowerment, friendship, and the transformative power of travel.

52. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

Yes, this was a blockbuster film for teenagers. I remember working at YTV and this movie was going mad in the teen realm so I had to add it to my best travel movies list. The premise of the story revolves around four friends—Lena, Tibby, Bridget, and Carmen—who find a pair of jeans that, despite their differing body types, fits each of them perfectly. They decide to share these “magical” pants as they embark on their separate summer adventures, thus maintaining their connection with each other.

Where does the traveling come in? Well, Lena travels to Greece , Bridget goes to Mexico , Carmen visits her father in South Carolina, and Tibby stays in Maryland.

While not a “travel movie” in the traditional sense—where the main characters are often journeying together or the narrative revolves solely around their travel experiences—”Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” embodies elements of travel movies by incorporating different cultures, locations, and the concept of journeying (both physical and emotional) into its narrative.

53. Bourne Movies, James Bonds, Mission Impossible & Indiana Jones Movies

The Bourne movies, James Bond, Indian Jones, and Mission Impossible take us around the world with each movie and really are the best travel films to showcase the globe. These epic travel movies take audiences to a whole new level of taking an international trip with decadence, wealth, espionage, and romance.

I wanted to include them because if you are looking for some beautiful scenes from Europe and the Middle East, these travel films fit the bill. They are so good at taking you away to exotic places .

Our Favorites of These Epic Travel Movies are

54. the bourne identity.

The original takes us on an international trip from Switzerland through Paris. It’s the car scene in Paris that really captures the city but the entire movie is one big travel movie.

55. Casino Royal – James Bond

This makes us dream of living with the high rollers in Montenegro the beautiful people in the Bahamas. It’s as epic as epic travel movies get riding on trains, planes and yachts and it’s the best James Bond with Daniel Craig.

56. Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol

It’s not often that sequels are better than the original, but when it comes to the Mission Impossible series, each one out does the other. Tom Cruise loves to travel and push the limits creating the most epic travel movies on the planet. I chose Ghost Protocol because of its setting in Dubai and Cruise scaling the walls of the Burj Khalifa. (The tallest structure in the world)

Best Travel Movies in Fictional Settings

57. grand budapest hotel.

I can’t help it, I love Wes Anderson movies. He is offbeat and quirky. Grand Budapest Hotel is one of the best travel movies that isn’t set in any real place. This is all in a fictional setting.

I like this for a travel movie because it reminds me of the grand old hotels from another era. Well, it should because it is set in another era. The hotel is fictional, but it does take you away to another world. Rent it on Prime

58. Black Panther

Wakanda may be a fictional place in Africa, but this movie captures the spirit of East and South Africa. It embraces the African culture and many of the movie’s scenes were filmed in Africa.

We have been to Africa numerous times and this movie transported us there again. It may be fictional, but Black Panther is one fo the best travel movies to make you want to discover the culture and beauty of Africa. watch it now!

59. Lord of the Rings and Hobbit

They may be set in Middle Earth, but the Lord of the Rings movies are a love letter to New Zealand. As far as setting go, the trilogy makes for epic travel movies! Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit Movies make us want to go to New Zealand and these films capture its beauty perfectly.

Rent the trilogy on Amazon today

60. Eat Pray Love

And let us end with the mother of all travel movies, Eat Pray Love. Who doesn’t love Julia Roberts? However, Eat Pray Love wasn’t my favorite travel movie at all. But The book was okay but the movie starring Julia Roberts is dreadful. If you liked it, let me know. Maybe I’ll give it another watch in case I missed something. Rent it on Amazon

We’ll be updating this list regularly and we love finding new travel movies to watch. So, if you have suggestions for your favorite travel movies, leave them in the comments below and we’ll be sure to give them a watch!

Tell me what you think are the best travel movies and we will compare notes.

You May Enjoy these other inspiring posts:

• 44 of the Best Road Trip Songs
• Best Travel Songs Playlist
• Best Travel Books to Inspire Travel
• 60 of the Best Road Trip Songs to Rock the Long Drive
• 101 Best Travel Quotes in the World with Pictures

Disclosure:  The links above are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. We receive affiliate commissions, but it’s no extra cost to you!

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Dave Bouskill and Debra Corbeil are the owners and founders of The Planet D. After traveling to 115 countries, on all 7 continents over the past 13 years they have become one of the foremost experts in travel. Being recognized as top travel bloggers and influencers by the likes of Forbes Magazine , the Society of American Travel Writers and USA Today has allowed them to become leaders in their field.

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107 thoughts on “60 Best Travel Movies to Inspire Wanderlust”

Very interesting and thought-provoking list. Another film I think belongs in this company is “A Month by the Lake,” a 1995 work starring Vanessa Redgrave, Edward Fox, and Uma Thurman. Its setting, at the Villa del Balbianello on a peninsula in Lake Como, was used in scenes from a number of other movies, but here it gets starring role.

one of my favorite travel movies is “If it is Tuesday it must be Belgium”. it captures the travels and travails of some very uninformed American tourists on a guided tour. One of the wives, tired of the endless strings of cheese shops they visit heads back to their tour bus. The problem is it is the wrong tour bus. Hilarity ensues …

Thanks for the thoughtful list. Might I add a few more wanderlust-inducing movie recommendations/destinations that I have a hunch you will love?

Enchanted April (Italy) Shirley Valentine (Greece/Mykonos) Everything is Illuminated (Russia/Ukraine) Summer Lovers (Gene Siskel’s ‘guilty pleasure) (Greek Islands/Santorini) The Hundred Foot Journey (India/France) Local Hero (Scotland — and perfectly depicts how an enchanting location can change your view of what’s important in life) Anne of Green Gables — Kevin Sullivan version (Price Edward Island) Outsourced (India) Jean de Florette/Manon of the Spring (Provence France) The Quiet Man (Ireland) A Passage to India (India)

These are fantastic suggestions, thank sfor sharing! I’ve been wanting to see The Hundred Foot Journey. I think that will be my weekend watching!

Hi , thanks for sharing the best travel movies.

I love to watch 72 hours is my best travel movie all time.

Brilliant! Some of my teal favourites and now a list to watch. …many, many thanks. Allison

Great movies list all movies are best and all movies have a good rating on IMDb actually my favorite movie is LORD OF THE RINGS AND HOBBIT. and next, I would like to watch Star wars series.

Great choices of movies you have given a big list a great work

Great article! I will definitely choose a few movies that I haven’t seen yet. I could add a movie called “The Hundred-Foot Journey”. This film is about a Hindu family who moves to France, where they open a restaurant.

I’ve been meaning to watch that one. I think I will have to check it out this weekend and add it to the list! Thanks for the reminder.

Very comprehensive list! lots of great movies, and some of my favourites such as Seven Years inTibet and Walter Mitty.

I have to disagree with you about The Darjeeling Limited though: “When they visit their mother in an Ashram, it makes me think of the strange people that run away to India to find themselves. Oh yeah, he gets it.”

I felt the most important scene in the movie is when the guys rescue the boys in the river, and one doesn’t make it. They take part ion the family grieving and funeral, and have a very life-changing, profound experience. I felt the movie actually validates people “running away to India.”

In these difficult times especially, finding a sense of purpose, or meaning, or spirituality, or whatever you want to call it, is more important than ever. I think we will see a lot more people “running away to find themselves” and in fact, I am working on offering spiritual itineraries.

How about Red Eye and Flight Plan? I think they both portrait (fear of) commercial flying experience pretty good!

We have already watched quite a few of these ? gotta love a great movie night! Thanks for a great list, that we will start to work our way through ?

Great choices for movies! Others that come to mind are “Before Sunrise” and “Into the Wild.”

LORD OF THE RINGS AND HOBBIT is my favourite. i had watch so many times but always loved

This list couldn’t have come at a better time as we currently shelter in place and travel only through our TVs! Thank you.

All movies are great and my fav <3

great films..i watched some movie

OOH Julie and Julia is one of my all time favorites! And Eat Pray Love…It’s a good time for movies at home for sure!

Love the list. Thank you for sharing. As a classic movie buff, however, you are so wrong about Roman Holiday. This movie is a classic. I recently saw it on the big screen for the millionth time and it was amazing. How can you not love Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn?! His voice alone is worth a listen! And the old scenes of Rome are wonderful. Have to truly disagree about this one. LOVE this movie.

Anyway, thanks again!

SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY movie motivates people to dare to make a decision.

I love this list!! You hit some of my favorite movies. I’ve watched a lot of these but I have a feeling I’ll be rewatching some of them in the coming weeks. Thanks for remind me!

GREAT list, thank you! I’ve seen some Bollywood films and loved them, and would love a best of list of them!

Great site for everything

Great list, guys — you really dug deep. If you love The Sounds of Music, you have to visit Salzburg, where you can see the actual places where they shot many of the scenes, including the palace in the middle of town. You can even stay in the Von Trapps’ house. And I may have missed it in your list, but The Year of Living Dangerously absolutely captures the exotic atmosphere and the beauty of Southeast Asia — the gamelan music stays in your head for days. Also, Gandhi for a virtual trip to India.

Very well collections, Really some of the names are not heard. This type of movies are oxygen for any traveler.

Great list of movie i like slumdog millionaire once upon a time in mexico

Secret Life of Walter Mitty for sure, this movie made me so pumped to travel while ‘into the wild’ made me a little depressed and not wishing to become a mentally ill person who goes eating dead animals and rejecting society

Lovely idea, great movies! Love your blog!

I really love this movies.

Each movie is an exciting adventure, felt from the film, emotions, as well as an impressive moment. Thanks for your collection!

Thank you for your list! Lawrence of Arabia for certain, but almost any film by Werner Herzog, especially Aguirre:The Wrath of God. But I am partial to “art” or “foreign” films over Hollywood.

I loved a movie I watched and I can’t remember the name and I can’t find it. It was about a woman, maybe in her 40’s maybe 50’s that traveled to India to meet up with her husband. Her husband was detained by work and sent his male Indian assistant to meet her. While waiting for her husband to arrive, the assistant showed her the sites of India. A romance developed with the assistant over many days, but never crossed the line. Would love to watch this again….

Maybe you’re thinking of the movie ‘Cairo Time’. It’s set in Egypt, not India, but has the exact plot you’re referring to.

All are attractive and I will watch each movie

I shared the movies I shared. The movie content is very interesting and interesting, I like it very much.

This is also a very good post which I really enjoy reading

For me Motorcycle diaries is best.Thanks for list. I will check other movies too.

Nice list, you got almost all of my favorite travel films! A couple additions I would make are “The Sheltering Sky”, and “Voyager”.

The Painted Veil – gorgeous!

I hope it will be show at CGV

Definitely a great list of movies that gets us thinking about travel. Everest was one that really took our breath away and told an amazing story. In Bruges is still one of my favorite. Thanks for sharing!

Loved the post and the films. I still didn’t see 9 films and already want see. Will try found they for this weekend. But the best is to see Indiana Jones in the list.. it’s my prefer film of life <3

the beauty of this movie list is that this in includes movies in Malayalam, Hindi English and believe me these movies are the very best travel movies I have seen . kudos?

Great Choices !

Always on the lookout for movies to watch on the plane!!! Thanks for the recos!!!!

Great choices for movies

I hate you after watching only 2 of these movies from your list i feel like travelling but unfortunately my my academics. By the way best list of travel movies I have seen on internet. Good going brother. wish to see more content in future.

Mr. Bean’s Holiday. A very ridiculous movie, but the cinematography is amazing, and it’s very inspiring.

Great article and awesome collection of movies. Red balloon is my favorite movie and it’s amazing storey

Film is called Before Midnight. Not after.

Thanks for the correction. I mixed up the Trilogy in my head, thinking “the one after Before Sunset.” – There is Before Sunrise, Before Sunset and Before Midnight.

Great article, many good informations

I love watching movies ahead of travelling and often find them inspirational. For Western Australia I found ‘Rabbitproof Fence’ a very good movie. You’ve chosen some good ones!

Great collection of movies to watch. I absolutely loved The Bucket List. As usual Morgan Freeman was awesome. Great movies about travel and for when traveling.

Can you believe that I never saw Stealing Beauty? Now I am going to have to check it out. I agree with Sideways too. Loved that show. It made me want to drink Pinot Noir.

Wild is a great book and the movie is pretty true to the book. Reece Witherspoon is really good in it. Based on true story of a troubled woman who decides to hike one of Americas longest trails with little money and not enough experience. Humbling and left me feeling the wanderlust pretty hard.

The Bucket List and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty are the best travel movies in my opinion. Iceland is on my travel bucket list, hope I can visit that place.

Best Movie Collection. my favorite movies also include in these. love to see the collection of movies thanks to sharing this information with us.

Nice article! inspiring people for Traveling

Thanks for compiling this list. It’s interesting to know the place where the movie was shot. I absolutely agree on what you said about James Bond movies.

Thanks for the post. Some I have seen and some I haven’t, and looking forward to (Especially ONE WEEK)

I’d like to add LOCAL HERO. There are some melancholic moments in the film accompanied by Mark Knopfler’s beautiful soundtrack. Would make anyone jump off the couch, dump all the COMFORTS OF CITY and visit rural Scotland and walk the beaches and witness the Aurora Borealis. One of my favourites alongwith The Motorcycle Diaries and Into the Wild.

Great choices

Excellent list, but Indiana Jones really is a wonderful trip. Note 1000.

Under a Tuscan sun is my favorite!!!! Been to Tuscany because of that movie!! 🙂 Jotted down a few to watch from your list! Thanks!

thank you guys. Into the wild is my favourite one on the list.

You named quite a few of my favorites but the two I’d like to recommend are Hector and the Pursuit of Happiness starring Simon Pegg, and The Way starring Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez.

The Way inspired me to walk the Camino de Santiago which turned into an incredible trip.

Great list of best all time travel movies. I must admit that there are still so many movies I have not yet seen. I need to work on that sooner rather than later!

Great list but would certainly add :

– The way (with Martin Sheen) , very inspiring movie about Camino de Santiago – Motorcycle diaries, simply a great movie about travel and life

Fantastic films, thanks for making this kind of film! Many people should watch it! Thanks for sharing this list.

Wow! This list is great! I will surely add these in my playlist. Hopefully, I will be able to watch most of these travel movies. I plan to travel soon, I’m juts looking for more inspiration and travel tips. Glad I came by your blog!

Whoa! You gave me a completely new set of movies to add to my list here! Into the Wild is one of my favorites and the Everest is a spine-chilling movie. A great list Dave & Deb!

Check out Maindentrip, the story of the youngest girl to sail around the world, Laura Dekker. I think my wife finally believed we could do it if a 13 year old can.

Thanks for the recommendation!

These ultimate travel tips for when they have a desired of lust.

What about “Blue Hawaii” and any of the Jurassic Park videos for Hawaii?

Thank you for your list – I am constantly looking for good travel movies.

Till the date bucket list is one of my favourite movie 🙂 Thank you for the information about other movies too

Thank you for this great list. I see some old favorites on the list but also a number of movies I need to see. I’ve added them my list. You’re right about movies inspiring travel. After seeing, Under the Tuscan Sun, I’ve always wanted to visit Tuscany. I’m finally making it there soon.

What a fantastic list full of excellent movies! There’s no doubt that these titles can help to light the spark of wanderlust in anyone. I was actually lucky enough to stumble upon the making of Ridley Scott’s upcoming Alien Covenant movie in New Zealand’s Milford Sound. I’m very much looking forward to its release so I can see the spectacular panning shots of that breathtaking landscape. Movies are a great medium to translate the beauty of travel.

No way! That is so cool. I’m such a fan of Alien, it would be amazing to see them filming it. I love seeing landscapes of places I’ve been in movies.

Slumdog Millionaire and Secret Life of Walter Mitty are Good Movies

Nice list – a few of my favourites there: Everest, Into The Wild, Slumdog Millionaire, The Bucket List, Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Nothing like a good movie for inspiring travel.

A few others to consider: The Beach, Midnight Express, Kundun, Seven Years in Tibet…

“Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all of one’s lifetime.” – Mark Twain

Hi, Oh wow I really love this list, seriously is so right! Holidays is another good one that invites you to discover surrey :), I enjoyed so much Amelie, unfortunately I cannot say the same of Paris, Je t’aime, which is other of the “must seen movies”, honestly… overrated… anyways, nice list I really enjoy it.

Great list… something a lot of people leave off the list is Julia and Julia. That movie is HUGE to foodies, chefs, etc… Makes me want to hop on a flight every time I see it! Julia Child was a machine, so glad you guys included that movie on this list!

I am a movie addict person, and I loved to travel. I enjoyed all of these films. Very Inspirational lists. Thank you, Dave, for this excellent Article. Loved it:)

A lots of movies that needed to add here. I watched a few of then not all and find very inspirational and heart touching. Slumdog millionaire is one of my favourite and very heart touching.

I love this list, but I’d add almost any movie filmed in San Francisco, even if they weren’t that good (like “The Wedding Planner” or the “The Rock”). They’d actually have to be filmed there and not just set there, like the last “Godzilla” movie 😉

Thanks for the additions. I loved the wedding planner. Although I just watched it again recently and realized what a schmuck Matthew Macoughnay’s character is. He totally led Jennifer Lopez’s character on and was a jerk to his fiancé. haha. But it’s a good lighthearted romantic comdey. They don’t make enough of those anymore..

I came to this article to ensure you had Romancing the Stone..and you didnt let me down. I used to love that movie growing up. I am totally with you, on thinking about Cartagena as some exotic far away place that I had to visit. I eventually found out the movie wasn’t actually filmed in Cartagena or Colombia because of the dire security situation at that time…but when i finally visited Cartagena, i found it even more magical and exotic than the film…love the film, and love the city even more now.

I am so glad we didn’t let you down! I am also so glad that you felt the same way about Cartagena. I always envision Kathleen Turner saying “come to Cartagena with me” It was such a grand adventure. We need more movies like that!

Cool list! I would add:

– Before Sunrise (Vienna) – Waking Ned Devine (Ireland, though filmed in the Isle of Man) – Lost in Translation (Tokyo)

Great additions. I loved Before Sunrise, I can’t believe I forgot about that one. I saw it in the 90s and then watched the whole trilogy. I haven’t seen Waking Ned Devine, I’m going to check that out and yes, Lost in Translation is a good one for Tokyo. I have to watch that again. I barely remember it, but I do remember loving Bill Murray

Just what I needed, thank you guys. Into the wild is my favourite one on the list.

I don’t think any movie has made us want to travel more than Amelie.

2 Days In Paris, on the other hand, was kind of a turn off.

Amelie celebrated Paris, but 2 Days kinda made fun of it. .-= The Jetpacker´s last blog .. UFO Hotspots — 11 Best Places To See UFOs In The World =-.

I don’t need a movie to inspire me to travel. I always want to travel, but some movies make me want to travel more I guess is how to put it. BTW. I thought Up in the Air stunk and don’t get why it was so popular. I loved In Burges which many people have never seen. Guess I’m just weird. .-= Gwen´s last blog ..Kids Grease Costumes =-.

You’re not weird at all! That is what makes watching movies so great. Everyone has different opinions on them all. We didn’t love Amelie and I have never met another person that didn’t like it. We were more into the quirkiness of Two Days in Paris and nobody liked that one:-)

Great choice, I never really fancied visiting Bruges until watching the hilarious In Bruges (and I agree the film also did Colin Farrell a huge favour). Tuscany is still on my must see list after the gorgeous ‘Stealing Beauty’ and being from the UK, Sideways and Swingers always made me want to go to California.

OK, I obviously need to get myself to the nearest pirated DVD place since I’ve only seen 3 of these movies! Thanks for the advice. .-= Audrey´s last blog ..Couch Surfing with KGB Agents =-.

Fantastic post, though most of these movies I haven’t seen (yet) but Vicky Christina Barcelona has really made me want to see Barcelona. I’m really bad for being easily suggestible when it comes to travel. If a place is featured on a movie or tv have a sudden desire to go there. Like I watch a John Waters movie and I wanna go to Baltimore, or the way Shirley Valentine made me really want to go to Greece. Even places that were never really on my travel to do list, like watching Dexter has made me want to visit Miami (even though most of the show is filmed around LA). .-= Alouise´s last blog ..List 9 – How To Have A Cheesy Time At West Edmonton Mall =-.

Wonderful list! I’ve seen a few of these and just loved them (Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Julie & Julia, In Bruges, Up in the Air, and Romancing the Stone)…..and I still dream of someday going to Cartagena, Columbia because of that movie! There are so many great movies that inspire travel that I’m sure it must have been hard to winnow it down to just eight. The rest of your list I’ll have to add to my Netflix queue! .-= Trisha´s last blog .. PR-Blogger Relations Manifesto =-.

I love that you think of Cartagena because of Romancing the stone. There were so many movies that I had on a list. I could have just listed about 50 and that could have been good enough. Maybe I will do that for a post one day when I am out of ideas:) It was very difficult to narrow it down to eight, we were trying to be a little unique in our choices, but then again, it is hard to be unique when it comes to choosing great travel movies. I guess, it was more of a reminder post. Everyone thinks of the choices like The Beach, The James Bond Movies and the Bourne Movies, but we haven’t thought about Romancing the Stone or Once Upon a Time in Mexico in a while.

Great list! We think movies and books add so much to travel that we brought a bunch with us on our open ended world tour. We’re in France now, so tend to watch French ones here and ones that are family friendly since we travel with a kid. 😉 I think we love the Red Balloon and Chocolate best for France.

Two that really stick out on our trip were Troy ( watched again and again through out Greece while reading Homer, including also while we were in Troy in Turkey) and “The Medici, Godfathers of the Renaissance” a thrilling PBS special series that we watched in Florence before we toured. .-= soultravelers3´s last blog .. Captivating Colliore- France on Bastille Day =-.

Thanks for the additions. I forgot about Chocolate. I loved that movie and Johnny Depp and Juliet Binoche were both so charming. I haven’t seen Red Balloon, I will check it out. It is wonderful to watch movies for inspiration before, after and while you are at that place.

Great choices for movies! Others that come to mind are “Before Sunrise” and “Into the Wild.”

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The 40 best travel movies

Hit the trail with some of cinema’s most magical destination films

There’s loads to be said for the transportive power of cinema – that magical ability to whisk us off to places we’d never otherwise go – but we’re often glad of its power to bring us back again. It’s fun to pay a visit to Mos Eisley or Twin Peaks but you probably wouldn’t want to linger too long. Occasionally, though, a movie will leave you with itchy feet and an urge to hit the trail (or at least, low-cost airline website) for real. Here are 40 films that’ll have you reaching for your passport.

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Sideways (2004)

Destination: Santa Ynez Valley, California, USA

They may be insufferable wine bores cursed in perpetuity by merlot producers the world over, but it’s hard not to kinda love pent-up Miles (Paul Giamatti) and laconic Jack (Thomas Haden Church) in Alexander Payne’s Oscar-winning comedy-drama. For one thing, the hapless roadtrippers are never dull; for another, they introduced the moviegoing world to California’s lush Santa Ynez Valley and its array of sun-kissed valleys, bountiful vineyards and roadside staging posts. If you’re ever following in their footsteps, be sure to stop in at Miles’s favourite restaurant, The Hitching Post II . PDS  

Into the Wild (2007)

• Action and adventure

Destination :  Denali National Park, Alaska, USA

Things go south when Christopher McCandless (Emile Hirsch) heads north in Sean Penn’s moving biopic of the young hiker’s journey from comfortable middle-class life to the vast Alaskan wilderness. This true-life adventure may have a heartbreaking ending but the journey there is pretty special, backdropped by unforgettable American landscapes and life-changing encounters in the spirit of all great road-trip movies. The vast solitude of Alaska’s Denali National Park, five hours’ drive from Anchorage and overshadowed by North America’s highest peak, Mount Denali (aka Mount McKinley), leaves a haunting impression. PDS

Wild (2014)

Destination: The Pacific Crest Trail, USA

There was a reason thousands of solo hikers set off on the Pacific Crest Trail IRL after seeing this movie. Based on Cheryl Strayed’s bestselling memoir of the same name and starring Reese Witherspoon, ‘Wild’ paints a vivid picture of life off-grid and on-foot on the PCT, an equal parts gruelling and stunning hiking route which weaves through the Cascade and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges on America’s west coast. The urge to pack up your water purifier and your emotional baggage and hit the trail as the credits roll is hard to ignore. EWA

The Sheltering Sky (1990)

Destination: Aït Benhaddou, Morocco

Paul Bowles’s bohemian account of post-war life in north Africa is hardly the greatest advertisement for tourism – the jaded American couple at its heart aren’t the most open-minded pair – but Bernardo Bertolucci’s visually rich adaptation makes it all seem well worth the trip anyway. It has Debra Winger and John Malkovich as the pair of slightly insufferable roamers (‘We’re travellers,’ they’re at pains to point out, ‘not tourists’) but the real stars of the show are the Saharan landscapes, Tangier souks and dusty villages. One of those villages, the ancient fort of Aït Benhaddou, is a film star in its own right, having appeared in ‘Gladiator’, ‘Babel’, ‘Kundun’ and ‘The Mummy’, among others. PDS  

Lost in Translation (2003)

Destination: Tokyo, Japan Sofia Coppola’s classic is one of the quintessential travel movies, not just for its Japanese locations, both postcard-famous and off-the-beaten-track, but in perfectly capturing that unmistakable sense of dislocation that can come with hitting the trail. Here, it’s magnified by deeper life crises for Scarlett Johansson and Bill Murray’s two lonely travellers, but their existential woes spark a powerful connection – and we’ve all been there. As far as the travelling goes, they’re doing it the luxe way, staying in the now-very-famous and expensive Park Hyatt Tokyo and taking day trips to Kyoto soundtracked by Air. Other hotels (and Spotify) are available. PDS

A United Kingdom (2016)

Destination: Serowe, Botswana

This true-life love story between Bechuanaland royal heir Seretse Khama (David Oyelowo) and Londoner Ruth Williams (Rosamund Pike) plays like a cross between a Disney fairy tale and a bracing slug of social realism. The couple are subjected to prejudice and disapproval in all its guises – straight-up racism in post-war Britain and prescriptive protocols in Africa – but coolly face it down to make history. The story is inspiring and the backdrops scarcely less so. Director Amma Asante filmed on location in Seretse’s home village of Serowe, so head there for a two-in-one cinematic and historical pilgrimage (and check out the rhinos while you’re there). PDS

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994)

Destination: Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia

This comedy-drama is at once an Aussie classic, a road trip gem and a glorious celebration of difference – all crammed on to a bus called Priscilla and driven across Australia’s Outback to a gig in Alice Springs. The movie’s spiritual home – as its website proudly points out – is The Palace Hotel in hardscrabble Broken Hill, where a night in the tacky-flamboyant Priscilla Suite will set you back around A$200. It’s here that Bernadette Bassenger (Terence Stamp), Mitzi Del Bra (Hugo Weaving) and Felicia Jollygoodfellow (Guy Pearce) stay over en route to the Northern Territory. Or if you want to keep things strictly underground, head for the subterranean White Cliffs motel in the bizarre town of Coober Pedy– another port of call for the trio. PDS

A Room with a View (1985)

Destination: Florence, Italy

What’s most charming about this 1980s Merchant Ivory classic, which follows the  first visit to Italy of the young Lucy Honeychurch (Helena Bonham Carter)? It’s a tough call between the sun-soaked streets of Florence and all those becoming Edwardian ruffles. Though it does a very good job of capturing England’s bucolic countryside too, it’s the first half of the film, full of glorious views of the languid Arno river, the city’s terracotta rooftops and ochre-coloured landmarks that lingers in the memory. EWA

A Walk in the Woods (2015)

Destination: The Appalachian Trail, USA

According to the Bill Bryson memoir from which this warm-hearted outdoorsy adventure is adapted, 2,000 people attempt the 2,200-mile-long Appalachian Trail every year, but only 10 percent make it. Attempting to beat the stats are Robert Redford and Nick Nolte’s old-timers. The trail – the longest hiking-only path in the world – runs from Maine to Georgia, with glorious, Ansel Adams-esque scenery and killer hills all the way. Will our grizzled heroes make it? Do bears shit in the woods? Finally, a movie that can answer both questions. PDS

Monos (2019)

Destination: Chingaza National Natural Park, Colombia

The brilliant ‘Monos’ sometimes feels like a war film, sometimes like a sci-fi and sometimes like some new genre we’ve never encountered before. Its high-altitude locations are guaranteed to have intrepid types reaching for their passports. Rising to more than four kilometres above sea level, Colombia’s Chingaza National Natural Park, where it is filmed, feels like the roof of the world and director Alejandro Landes gives its cloud forests, waterfalls and rocky outcrops the full widescreen treatment. Within range of Bogotá, it’s catapulted straight on to our bucket list. PDS  

Journey to Italy (1954)

Destination: Naples, Italy

This influential Roberto Rossellini film follows discontented marrieds Katherine (Ingrid Bergman) and Alex Joyce (George Sanders) as they drive to Naples and bicker their way towards something that looks likely to involve eye-watering legal costs and a painful conversation about who gets to keep the Frank Sinatra LPs. Watching these sophisticated travellers slugging it out can be an emotionally arduous ride, but they find calm and beauty amid the city’s archaeological treasures. For her, it’s the volcanic Phlegraean Fields and the ancient artefacts of the Naples Museum; for him, a ferry ride to Capri. For us? A trip to the EasyJet website.  PDS

The Way (2010)

Destination: El Camino de Santiago, Spain 

Whether it’s to the football, the pub or just to Homebase for something to de-grease the barbecue, a father-and-son pilgrimage is a special thing. It’s arguably even more special when there’s an actual pilgrimage involved, as is the case in this touching 2010 drama directed by Emilio Estevez and starring his dad, Martin Sheen. The movie follows the path of Galicia’s Camino de Santiago, a UNESCO listed network of hiking trails that leads pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela. With its stunning landscapes and moments of footsore camaraderie, it’ll have you itching to follow in its footsteps. PDS

Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)

Destination: Oahu, Hawaii, USA Boy meets girl. Boy loses girl. Boy tracks down girl in far-flung corner of Hawaii. Boy discovers girl is now having mindblowing sex with a rockstar (Russell Brand). Major bummer. Still, on the upside for Jason Segel’s lovelorn musician – and everyone else in the film – this lol-some romantic-comedy unfolds on Oahu’s stunning north shore. Specifically, the Turtle Bay Resort , a honeymooners’ paradise that comes equal first with Bora Bora from ‘Couple’s Retreat’ in a list of dream destinations Kristen Bell has managed to visit for work . PDS

Midnight in Paris (2011)

Destination: Paris, France

Americans swooning over the City of Light is nothing new. But rarely are their chansons d’amour so persuasive as Woody Allen’s ‘Midnight in Paris’. Gil (Owen Wilson) is a jobbing Hollywood screenwriter on vacation in gay Paree with fiancée Inez (Rachel McAdams) and her parents. Each night he wanders off alone, and on midnight’s chime, is transported into a magical-realist time warp: first the 1920s (hello, Ernest, Zelda and Scott), then the Belle Époque of Degas, Gauguin and Toulouse-Lautrec. From Rodin’s hôtel particulier to abandoned fairground the Musée des Arts Forains , Gil is swept up by the city’s charms, and as he falls deeper in love, so do we. HO

The Passenger (1975)

Destination: Vera, Spain

From the nocturnal streets of Milan to the Aeolian Islands and even south-east  London, Michaelangelo Antonioni’s locations often got as much screen time as his actors. Even larger-than-life Jack Nicholson feels swallowed up by the epic sweep of southern Spain, the last stop for his journalist-gone-rogue David Locke after an almost 007-worthy itinerary (Algeria, London, Munich, Barcelona). The dusty Andalusian hilltop town of Vera, with its dilapidated bullring and now-demolished Hotel de la Gloria, is the filming location for the famous six-minute tracking shot in which Locke’s fate is sealed – in typically cryptic Antonioni style, naturalmente . JM

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)

Destination:  Seyðisfjörður,  Iceland Timid Life magazine staffer Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller) heads off to track down grizzled photojournalist Sean O’Connell (Sean Penn) and finds himself along the way. It’s basically a mega-budget version of that gap year your mate Charlie still goes on about. But if Walter’s fantastical daydreams of superpowered adventure and heart-stopping romance are eclipsed by the rugged Icelandic landscapes, what landscapes to be eclipsed by. If you want to recreate his high-speed longboard ride , just head for Seyðisfjörður on the eastern edge of Iceland. Just be sure to check the terms of your travel insurance first. PDS

Leap Year (2010)

Destination: Aran Islands, Ireland It may not be a great advertisement for filmmaking but this romcom is an excellent billboard for the Irish counties of Wicklow, Mayo and Galway. Matthew Goode plays Irish innkeeper Declan O’Callaghan and Amy Adams is Anna Brady, the American visitor looking to exploit an arcane tradition whereby a man proposed to on a Leap Day must accept (because no marriage is more likely to last than one you’ve been forced into by an ancient form of blackmail). Forget the plot contortions and focus instead on the glorious Irish vistas, especially those of the rocky Aran Islands where much of the movie was filmed. PDS

L'Avventura (1960)

Destination: Aeolian Islands, Italy In Michelangelo Antonioni’s languid classic, a young woman (Lea Massari) vanishes during a yachting trip to the rocky, mysterious Aeolian Islands and her boyfriend Sandro (Gabriele Ferzetti) and BFF Claudia (Monica Vitti) make a slightly half-hearted attempt to find her (think Tommy Lee Jones in ‘The Fugitive’, only on Xanax). The disappearance itself takes place on the tiny volcanic outcrop of Lisca Bianca, which can be visited only by private boat, but Sandro and Claudia’s ensuing wanderings will have you adding Sicily to your holiday wishlist too. Even in black and white, the Tyrrhenian Sea sparkles enticingly. PDS

Mamma Mia! (2008)

Destination: Skopelos, Greece Abba-inspired ‘Mamma Mia!’ is movie Marmite, but it’s impossible to watch the film, or it’s more recent sequel ‘Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again’, and not be left pining for Greece’s many paradise-like islands. And if you’re into tales of friendship, motherhood, a secret search to find a father figure and a dungare ed Meryl Streep singing ’70s hits, they are pure joy. Oh, to be skipping through a Greek orange grove, falling in love in an intimate taverna or diving off a boat into the clear waters that surround sunny Skopelos right now…  EWA

Tracks (2013)

Destination: Western Australia

Australia’s dusty town of Alice Springs is the jump-off point for an outback adventure that’s based on a true story. Mia Wasikowska plays Robyn Davidson who, in 1977, trekked 1,700 miles across the continent with only her dog, Diggity, and four dromedaries for company. At least, until National Geographic photographer Rick Smolan (Adam Driver) pitches up to cover her incredible undertaking. It’s a pure travel movie: a celebration of the dangers and majesty of the great outdoors that captures the spirituality of Aboriginal lands, the vastness of ever-shifting deserts and the spellbinding starscapes of the Australian night sky. PDS

The Two Faces of January (2014)

Destination: Crete, Greece Like ‘The Talented Mr Ripley’, this underrated thriller has everything you could possibly want from a Patricia Highsmith adaptation: gorgeous costumes, slippery characters and exotic European settings. Oh, and foul deeds – let’s not forget about them. Here the double-dealing and betrayals take place in Greece rather than Italy, but the soft Mediterranean light and shimmering seaside backdrops are equally to die for as Viggo Mortensen and Oscar Isaac’s vying tricksters, and Kirsten Dunst’s beautiful sorta-moll, journey from the tourist traps of Athens to Crete’s sun-baked hills and its Minoan ruins. PDS

Jeremiah Johnson (1972)

Destination: Zion National Park, Utah, USA In movie terms, Utah is most famous as home to Monument Valley, a landmark in all those great John Ford westerns. Head a few hours west, though, and you’ll find the even more remote dream destination for the hardcore western lover-cum-outdoors type: Utah’s mountainous Zion National Park, where Robert Redford western and handy gif generator ‘Jeremiah Johnson’ was partly filmed. The real-life Johnson was the nineteenth century’s answer to Bear Grylls and probably smelled badly of bison liver and fetid beard, but needless to say, Redford makes him a total thirst trap(per). PDS

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

Destination :  Ventura, California, USA It may not be Big Sur or Malibu but Ventura is famous for a few things: its sandy beaches, long pier, surfing and – surely the topper – hosting the climactic moments of ‘Little Miss Sunshine’. It’s in this sun-kissed corner of California that the dysfunctional Hoover clan pull up in their yellow VW microbus and unleash comedy mayhem. In the film, the setting is actually Redondo Beach, 70-odd miles south, but Ventura was the real-life stand-in for the pier scene . If you really want to get close to the action, check in to the Crowne Plaza Hotel Ventura Beach where Olive Hoover (Abigail Breslin) unleashes her superbly inappropriate ‘Super Freak’ on that unsuspecting beauty pageant. PDS

The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)

Destination: Machu Picchu, Peru Before becoming a doctor, rebranding as ‘Che’ and becoming the last word in revolutionary chic, Ernesto Guevara (Gael García Bernal) embarked on a roadtrip across South America with his old friend Alberto Granado that is faithfully recorded in Walter Salles’s excellent 2004 biopic. The pair visit the spectacular Incan citadel of Machu Picchu without once referring to ‘Lonely Planet’ and set about exchanging revolutionary ideas and posing for snapshots. If they’d had Instagram back in 1952, @Che would have been lapping up the likes. PDS

Local Hero (1983)

Destination: Pennan, Scotland

Home, as they say, is where the heart is, and in this enduring delight that means Scotland’s unspoiled east coast, with its tiny fishing villages, crystal-clear skies and mystical vibes. It’s here – the fictional seaside village of Ferness, specifically – that oil company exec (Peter Riegert) is sent with a brief to buy the place so it can be turned into a refinery. Unexpectedly, the villagers like the idea because, well, fishing is hard work. It’s a lovely comic twist that throws the whole film winningly off its axis. Any ‘Local Hero’ pilgrims should head for the village of Pennan in Aberdeenshire, Ferness’s real-life stand-in, and grab a selfie by that famous phonebox. PDS

Patagonia (2010)

Destination: Trelew, Patagonia, Argentina This gentle travelogue has Welsh photographer Rhys and his partner Gwen discovering the charms of Patagonia, where their guide (Matthew Rhys) introduces them to the region’s Welsh heritage and the chapels built by Welsh settlers. If you’re intrepid – or Welsh and fancy undertaking a similar pilgrimage – head for the Welsh town of Trelew in Argentina and saddle up for a horse ride into the dusty desert. Bizarrely, it’s exactly what Rhys was doing when he bumped into ‘Patagonia’ director Marc Evans location-scouting the film. PDS

Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter… and Spring (2003)

Destination: Juwangsan National Park , South Korea This lushly located Korean masterpiece exudes seriously serene vibes as it charts a young Buddhist monk’s rocky spiritual journey under the tutelage of his master across 40 or so years. Since the film came out in 2003, its location – a purpose-built floating monastery on Jusanji Lake in Juwangsan National Park – has gone from hidden secret to national treasure, with visitors making the trek to sit in the shade of its willow trees and get zen by its tranquil waters. It’s a tricky trek to get there, though: Juwangsan is one of Korea’s most inaccessible national parks and the hike to the lake is a real glute-burner. PDS

Roman Holiday (1953)

Destination: Rome, Italy Sly but chivalrous American journo Joe Bradley (Gregory Peck) shows Audrey Hepburn’s royal fugitive, Princess Ann, around the Eternal City in a classic romance that’s fizzier than a flute of prosecco. He takes her on a whirlwind Vespa tour of Rome’s famous tourist attractions – Joe isn’t one for the hipster haunts – taking in the Spanish Steps, the Mouth of Truth and the Colosseum. Other films have majored on the city’s jaded hedonism (‘La Dolce Vita’, ‘The Great Beauty’) and social ills (‘Bicycle Thieves’); this one just makes Rome feel like a dream. PDS

Seven Years in Tibet (1997)

Destination: Lhasa, Tibet

A Sun-In blond Brad Pitt plays Heinrich Harrer, an Austrian mountaineer who sets out to climb the Himalayan peak of Nanga Parbat in 1939 only to end up in a POW camp. He escapes, crosses the border into Tibet and becomes tutor to the Dalai Lama in Lhasa – then the Chinese plan an invasion and things get complicated. The film faced a couple of problems: Harrer turned out to be a Nazi IRL and Tibet itself was off-limits to the production. Scorsese had the same issue on ‘Kundun’ and recreated it in Morocco; here, it is Argentina and the Canadian Rockies. But director Jean-Jacques Annaud’s time in Tibet recce-ing the country pays off and he does a fine job capturing its rugged beauty on screen. PDS

The Piano (1993)

Destination: Karekare Beach, New Zealand If you’re looking for a beach holiday with a movie pilgrimage thrown in, head for New Zealand’s west coast where Jane Campion’s period drama is set. The gripping emotional journeys of Holly Hunter’s mute immigrant and her young daughter (Anna Paquin) as they deal with the harshness of nineteenth-century life steered the film to eight Oscar nominations. It was all filmed on the black sands of Karekare Beach, only 30 minutes’ drive from Auckland but stretched out at the foot of rugged cliffs in splendid isolation. If there was an Oscar for beaches, it’d be a shoo-in. PDS

Australia (2008)

Destination: East Kimberley, Western Australia

With its glorious shots of the outback and Hugh Jackman taking his kit off, Baz Luhrmann’s ‘Australia’ celebrates the continent’s rugged natural phenomena in all its forms. Sure, the film – an homage to the old westerns of John Ford – is a mite corny, but it showcases the scenery of Western Australia so beautifully, you’d think the tourist board funded it. And sure enough, they did: to the tune of $1 million. Luhrmann also filmed in Sydney and Queensland, but if you want the proper ‘Australia’ experience, head for Kununurra and from there the Kimberley, approximately a bazillion square miles of canyons, cattle stations and beaches. Saddle up. PDS

Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)

Destination: Barcelona, Spain

Set in a world full of beautiful people doing impossibly bohemian things at extreme short notice, ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’ is the life we’d all lead if we weren’t at home worrying about loo roll. It’s a seductive love letter to Catalonia and, in particular, a billboard for the beauties of Barcelona: as the title implies, the city itself shares top billing with Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson), two friends who fall under the spell of Javier Bardem’s artist while visiting. Needless to say, the movie is full of Barca landmarks, including Park Güell, the Miró Museum, Parc de la Ciutadella and the Sagrada Família, and they all look utterly dreamy. PDS

The World's Fastest Indian (2005)

Destination: Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, USA

This feelgood yarn has rough-around-the-edges Kiwi biker Burt Munro (Anthony Hopkins) travelling from New Zealand to Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats, aiming to beat the land speed record (just north of 200mph) on his trusty 1920 Indian Scout motorbike. A true story, it was filmed on location on an expansive salt pan in northwestern Utah that attracts petrolhead pilgrims to the annual Bonneville Speedway every summer. It also pops up in ‘Mad Men’, when a sweat-mottled Don Draper manages to blag a drive in a 1970 Chevelle SS, and ‘Independence Day’ . It’s another reason why anyone embarking on a movie-themed road trip should head straight for Utah. PDS

The Lost City Of Z (2016)

Destination: Tayrona National Park, Colombia Colombia has been South America’s go-to country for big-screen adventure since the days of ‘ Romancing the Stone’ and ‘The Mission’ in the ’80s. It offers a suitably mysterious landscape in James Grey’s dazzling epic about a British explorer (Charlie Hunnam) trying to find an undiscovered civilisation in the early twentieth century. Robert Pattinson joins him as a fellow military man with Ray Mears-like knowledge of the Amazon jungle. Grey and his crew used the Colombian Caribbean town of Santa Marta as a base, but you’ll need to head into the Tayrona National Park – the film’s Amazon scenes were filmed on the nearby Don Diego River – to follow in R-Patz’s and co’s boot prints. PDS  

Skyfall (2012)

Destination: Istanbul, Turkey There’s not many desirable locations that 007 hasn’t passed through over his 25 film outings. The Caribbean has been a popular pitstop, right from his first film outing in ‘Dr No’, while he’s ticked off more European capitals than a 19-year-old Interrailer. One of them, Istanbul, has hosted the big man three times and just about emerged unscathed. In ‘Skyfall’, Daniel Craig’s Bond takes us on a high-speed tour of the city’s vast and labyrinthine Grand Bazaar in pursuit of a mercenary with a vital hard drive. One day, he’ll go back and just have a nice browse instead. PDS

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004)

Destination: Lech, Austria Beyond James Bond, ski resorts are a rare sight in movies. After all, there’s only so much drama to be juiced from fondue evenings and teenagers necking pints, right? Wrong! Bridget Jones (Renée Zellweger), who could ring drama from an empty packet of ready salted, delivers her own inimitable brand when Mark Darcy (Colin Firth) whisks her off to the Austrian Alps, hurricaning down the slopes and into a pharmacy to request a pregnancy test in strangled German, worried that she is ‘mitt baby’. Hosting the mayhem is Lech, a resort that promises ‘200km of high alpine powder’ and at least one skiable chemist. PDS

Unrelated (2007)

Destination: Tuscany, Italy  A spiritual cousin to ‘The Green Ray’, another movie that sets a woman’s personal crisis against a woozy summer holiday backdrop, Joanna Hogg’s debut film has fortysomething Anna (Kathryn Worth) joining some friends at their villa in Tuscany where she finds herself gravitating towards their young public school-y offspring – led by Tom Hiddleston in his first film role. It’s all surprisingly edgy stuff and culminates in a barney for the ages but the setting is to die for: the holidaying families staying in villa on the San Fabiano Estate just outside Siena, a world of rolling hills and olive groves. It’s a real B&B so you can check in any time; you just might not want to leave. PDS

Out of Africa (1985)

Destination:   Chyulu Hills, Kenya

Your grandma’s favourite film has Danish farmer Karen Blixen (Meryl Streep) and Tiger Moth-flying big-game hunter Denys Finch Hatton (Robert Redford) falling in love on the Kenyan savannah, despite the presence of hungry lions and (irksomely) an actual Mr Blixen (the astonishing  Klaus Maria Brandauer). It all goes on for ages which allows for plenty of time to take in the sweeping African landscapes, replete with watering holes, green hills and the vast, sunbaked expanse of the Great Rift Valley. If you’re looking for the ‘Out of Africa’ experience, head for Kenya’s Chyulu Hills where the film was shot. PDS

The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-2003)

Destination: New Zealand 

The action is plentiful in the big-screen adaptation of JRR Tolkien’s magical ’Lord of the Rings’ epic, but the setting is jaw-dropping enough to still be a distraction. While Frodo and his fellowship battle their way across Middle-earth to return the One Ring to Mordor, the only place where it can be destroyed, New Zealand’s sweeping plains, lush forests and snowcapped mountains are in the background like an 11-hour advert for Tourism New Zealand. A one-way ticket to Rivendell via Auckland International, please. EWA

The Green Ray (1986)

Destination: St Jean-de-Luz, France

Sometimes a holiday isn’t enough. Secretary Delphine (played by director Éric Rohmer’s muse Marie Rivière) finds herself dumped and facing the prospect of being stuck in sweltering Paris for the summer ( quelle horreur! ). But trips to Cherbourg, the Alps and Biarritz only serve to make her feel more alienated – from smug couples, flirtatious singles, clueless tourists and the whole seething mass of humanity. Then, she finds a transcendent sunset in the Basque beach town of St Jean-de-Luz. Rohmer’s classic is not only a funny, magical exploration of human connection but a snapshot of a French summer – complete with dodgy holiday fashion. JM  

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ONE CHEL OF AN ADVENTURE

41 best travel movies: films that inspire wanderlust.

Looking for some awesome travel films to fuel your wanderlust? Check out this list of 41 of my favorite and best travel movies to add to your watch list:

41+ Wanderlust Travel Movies

Eat, Pray, Love

One of my favorite books and movie, Eat, Pray, Love is the ultimate wanderlust/travel to find yourself kind of movie!

Watch on: Amazon , Apple TV , Google Play

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

“When his job along with that of his co-worker are threatened, Walter takes action in the real world embarking on a global journey that turns into an adventure more extraordinary than anything he could have ever imagined.” – IMBd

Into the Wild

“After graduating from Emory University, top student and athlete Christopher McCandless abandons his possessions, gives his entire $24,000 savings account to charity and hitchhikes to Alaska to live in the wilderness. Along the way, Christopher encounters a series of characters that shape his life.” – IMDb

Photo from IMBd

Midnight in Paris

“This is a romantic comedy set in Paris about a family that goes there because of business, and two young people who are engaged to be married in the fall have experiences there that change their lives. It’s about a young man’s great love for a city, Paris, and the illusion people have that a life different from theirs would be much better.” – Apple TV

“ With the dissolution of her marriage and the death of her mother, Cheryl Strayed has lost all hope. After years of reckless, destructive behavior, she makes a rash decision. With absolutely no experience, driven only by sheer determination, Cheryl hikes more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail, alone. WILD powerfully captures the terrors and pleasures of one young woman forging ahead against all odds on a journey that maddens, strengthens, and ultimately heals her.” – Google Play

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“Richard (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a young American backpacker, willing to risk his life for just one thing: the mind-blowing rush he can only get from braving the ultimate adventure. After hearing the improbable tale of a secret island – the perfect beach, unsullied by tourists – Richard sets off on a journey to find paradise on Earth. But Richard soon discovers that what seems like paradise can hide a deadly secret. Now desperate to escape, Richard explores the hidden perils and dark places that lurk just beyond the shores of paradise” – Apple TV

Photo from IMDb

The Darjeeling Limited

“A year after their father’s death, three American brothers who haven’t spoken since the funeral embark on a soul-searching journey across India. Their “spiritual quest”, however, veers rapidly off-course and a new, unplanned journey suddenly begins.” – Google Play

“180° South: Conquerors of the Useless follows Jeff Johnson as he retraces the epic 1968 journey of his heroes Yvon Chouinard and Doug Tompkins to Patagonia. Along the way he gets shipwrecked off Easter Island, surfs the longest wave of his life – and prepares himself for a rare ascent of Cerro Corcovado. Jeff’s life turns when he meets up in a rainy hut with Chouinard and Tompkins who, once driven purely by a love of climbing and surfing, now value above all the experience of raw nature – and have come to Patagonia to spend their fortunes to protect it.” – Google Play

“Embark on the adventure of a lifetime in this visual masterpiece from Oscar winner Ang Lee*, based on the best-selling novel. After a cataclysmic shipwreck, an Indian boy named Pi finds himself stranded on a lifeboat with a ferocious Bengal tiger. Together, they face nature’s majestic grandeur and fury on an epic journey of discovery.” – Google Play

Life in a Day

“Life In A Day is a historic film capturing for future generations what it was like to be alive on the 24th of July, 2010. Executive produced by Ridley Scott and directed by Kevin Macdonald.” – on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Lost in Translation

“Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson star in this flat-out hilarious film about two Americans who develop a surprising friendship while venturing through Tokyo.” – Google Play

Maybe not a movie you’d normally find on a list of best travel movies, but I love Up! “Carl Fredrickson, a retired balloon salesman, is part rascal, part dreamer who is ready for his last chance at high-flying excitement. Tying thousands of balloons to his house, Carl sets off to the lost world of his childhood dreams. Unbeknownst to Carl, Russell, an overeager 8-year old Wildnerness Explorer who has never ventured beyond his backyard, is in the wrong place at the wrong time — Carl’s front porch! The world’s most unlikely duo reach new heights and meets fantastic friends like Dug, a dog with a special collar that allows him to speak, and Kevin, the rare 13-foot tall flightless bird. Stuck together in the wilds of the jungle, Carl realizes that sometimes life’s biggest adventures aren’t the ones you set out for.” – Google Play

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Up in the Air

“Ryan Bingham (Academy Award® winner, George Clooney) is truly living the high life. Flying all over the world on business, he never stops moving…until he meets Alex, a fellow passenger and learns that life isn’t about the journey, but the connections we make along the way.” – iTunes

Out of Africa

“Hoping to forge a better life, Denmark native Karen Blixen (Meryl Streep) enters into a marriage of convenience with a womanizing baron. But when the couple moves to Nairobi, Karen falls in love with a free-spirited hunter (Robert Redford) who can’t be tied down. Director Sydney Pollack’s lush period drama earned seven Academy Awards, including statues for Best Picture, Best Screenplay and Best Cinematography.” – Google Play

Roman Holiday

“Roman Holiday was nominated for ten Academy Awards®, and Audrey Hepburn captured an Oscar® for her portrayal of a modern-day princess rebelling against her royal obligations who explores Rome on her own. She meets Gregory Peck, an American newspaperman who, seeking an exclusive story, pretends ignorance of her true identity. But his plan falters as they fall in love. Eddie Albert contributes to the fun as Peck’s carefree cameraman pal.” – Google Play

Watch on: Sony Crackle (free) , Apple TV , Google Play

“From the producers of THE KING’S SPEECH comes this remarkable true story of Robyn Davidson, a young woman who leaves her urban life to trek through almost 2,000 miles of sprawling Australian desert . Along her journey of self-discovery, she meets National Geographic photographer Rick Smolan, who begins to photograph her life-changing voyage.” – Apple TV

Under the Tuscan Sun

“UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN follows San Francisco writer Frances Mayes (Diane Lane) to Italy as a good friend offers her a special gift — 10 days in Tuscany. Once there, she is captivated by its beauty and warmth, and impulsively buys an aging, but very charming, villa. Fully embracing new friends and local color, she finds herself immersed in a life-changing adventure filled with enough unexpected surprises, laughter, friendship, and romance to restore her new home — and her belief in second chances.” – Google Play

Before Sunrise

“Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy star as two young people who meet–and whose lives are forever changed–on a train from Budapest to Paris. They may have only one night, but when soul mates find each other, anything can happen Before Sunrise.” – iTunes

The Endless Summer

“They call it The Endless Summer, the ultimate surfing adventure, crossing the globe in search of the perfect wave. From the uncharted waters of West Africa, to the shark-filled seas of Australia , to the tropical paradise of Tahiti and beyond, two California surfers, Robert August and Mike Hynson, accomplish in a few months what most people never get to do in a lifetime – they live their dream.” – iTunes

Watch on: Amazon , Apple TV

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

“Two young American women, Vicky and Cristina come to Barcelona for a summer holiday. Vicky is sensible and engaged to be married; Cristina is emotionally and sexually adventurous.  In Barcelona, they’re drawn into a series of unconventional romantic entanglements with Juan Antonio, a charismatic painter, who is still involved with his tempestuous ex-wife Maria Elena. Set against the luscious Mediterranean sensuality of Barcelona, VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA is Woody Allen’s funny and open-minded celebration of love in all its configurations.” – Google Play

Two For the Road

“ On their third identical voyage from London to the French Riviera , Joanna Wallace (Audrey Hepburn) and husband Mark (Albert Finney) explore their 12-year marriage in a series of wry and illuminating flashbacks. They reminisce about the glorious beginning of their love affair, the early years of marriage and the events that led to their subsequent infidelities. As they try to understand their relationship, they must accept how they have changed if they are to rekindle their original love… The film is arguably one of the most stylistically influential movies from the ’60s.”

“From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes “Moana,” a sweeping, CG-animated feature film about an adventurous teenager who sails out on a daring mission to save her people. During her journey, Moana (voice of Auli’i Cravalho) meets the once-mighty demigod Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson), who guides her in her quest to become a master wayfinder. Together, they sail across the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous monsters and impossible odds, and along the way, Moana fulfills the ancient quest of her ancestors and discovers the one thing she’s always sought: her own identity.” – Disney

Watch on: Amazon , Apple TV , Google Play , or on Disney+

“John Krasinski (The Office) and Maya Rudolph (Saturday Night Live) star in the heartfelt film that explores the comedic twists and turns in one couple’s journey across contemporary America. Anticipating the birth of their first child, longtime couple Burt and Verona embark on an ambitious itinerary to visit friends and family in order to find their perfect home.” – Universal Studios

The Bucket List

 Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman star in the comedic drama The Bucket List, a touching, no- holds-barred adventure that shows it’s never too late to live life to its fullest. “Two terminally ill men escape from a cancer ward and head off on a road trip with a wish list of to-dos before they die.” – IMDb

“A five-year-old Indian boy is adopted by an Australian couple after getting lost hundreds of kilometers from home. 25 years later, he sets out to find his lost family.” – IMDb

Crazy Rich Asians

“This contemporary romantic comedy, based on a global bestseller, follows native New Yorker Rachel Chu to Singapore to meet her boyfriend’s family.” – IMDb

This is another movie that is not necessarily about travel, but after watching it, Singapore jumped to the top of my bucket list so I had to add it to this Best Travel Movie list!

Watch on: Amazon ,   Google Play , Hulu

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The Motorcycle Diaries

“Based on a true life story, The Motorcycle Diaries is an inspiring and thrilling adventure that traces the youthful origins of a revolutionary spirit. The film follows two daring friends, Ernesto “Che” Guevara (Gael Garcia Bernal, Y Tu Mama Tambien) and Alberto Granado (Rodrigo de la Serna), who hop on the back of a beat-up motorcycle for a breathtaking and exciting road trip across Latin America.” – Google Play

Letters to Juliet

“In Verona, Italy – the beautiful city where Romeo first met Juliet – there is a place where the heartbroken leave notes asking Juliet for her help. It’s there that aspiring writer Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) finds a 50-year-old letter that will change her life forever. As she sets off on a romantic journey of the heart with the letter’s author, Claire (Vanessa Redgrave), now a grandmother, and her handsome grandson (Christopher Egan), all three will discover that sometimes the greatest love story ever told is your own.” – Google Play

The Art of Travel

“Conner Layne  is about to embark on an adventure – just not the one he had planned. After discovering his fiance is having an affair with his best friend, he leaves her at the altar and heads off on his honeymoon alone. 

While experiencing the wonders that South America offers, he meets a friendly couple – Darlene and her husband, Christopher, who are planning a dangerous trip across the Darien Gap. Along with a ragtag group of foreigners, they venture on a 100-mile long journey through the undeveloped jungle that separates Panama and Columbia. Ready to leave his past behind, Conner joins the unknown for the quest of a lifetime.” – Apple TV

Rio + Rio 2

Laugh if you want, but after seeing this movie in theaters, I have been dying to go to Rio adn explore South America! 

Hector and The Search for Happiness

“Hector is a quirky psychiatrist who has become tired of his humdrum life, yet he’s offering advice to patients who are just not getting happier. So he embarks on a global quest in hopes of uncovering the elusive secret formula for true happiness.”

Couples Retreat

Couples Retreat is another romantic comedy movie that’s set in such a beautiful place, I just had to include it!

A Map for Saturday

“On a trip around the world, every day feels like Saturday. A MAP FOR SATURDAY reveals a world of long-term, solo travel through the stories of trekkers on four continents. The documentary finds backpackers helping neglected Thai tsunami victims. It explains why Nepal’s guesthouses are empty and Brazil’s stoplights are ignored. But at its core, SATURDAY tracks the emotional arc of extreme long-term travelers; teenagers and senior citizens who wondered, “What would it be like to travel the world?” Then did it.”

Watch on: Amazon

“Through the open country and desert lands, two bikers head from L.A to New Orleans , and along the way, meet a man who bridges a counter-culture gap they are unaware of.” – IMDb

“ONE WEEK tells the story of 20-something Ben Tyler (Joshua Jackson), who flees from an impending marriage, a ho-hum job, and a recent diagnosis in an attempt to live life to the fullest. His misguided road trip on a vintage motorcycle becomes an adventure of self-discovery set against the great Canadian landscape.”

Encounters at the End of the World

“Welcome to Antarctica – like you’ve never experienced it. You’ve seen the extraordinary marine life, the retreating glaciers and, of course, the penguins, but leave it to award-winning, iconoclastic filmmaker Werner Herzog (Grizzly Man, Rescue Dawn) to be the first to explore the South Pole’s most fascinating inhabitants…humans. In this one-of-kind documentary, Herzog turns his camera on a group of remarkable individuals, “professional dreamers” who work, play and struggle to survive in a harsh landscape of mesmerizing, otherworldly beauty – perhaps the last frontier on earth.”

“A powerful and inspirational story about family, friends, and the challenges we face. Martin Sheen plays Tom, an irascible American doctor who comes to France to collect the remains of his adult son (played by Emilio Estevez), killed in the Pyrenees while walking The Camino de Santiago, also known as The Way of Saint James. Rather than return home, Tom decides to embark on the historical pilgrimage to honor his son’s desire to finish the journey. What Tom doesn’t plan on, is the profound impact the journey will have on him. Inexperienced as a trekker, Tom soon discovers that he will not be alone on this journey.”

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

“An award-winning, all-star cast, led by Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith and Tom Wilkinson, lights up this “buoyant comedy laced with genuine emotion”. When seven cash-strapped seniors decide to “outsource” their retirement to a resort in far-off India, friendship and romance blossom in the most unexpected ways. Smart, life-affirming and genuinely charming, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is a “true classic that reminds us that it’s never too late to find love and a fresh beginning at any age”.”

The Tourist

“Frank (Johnny Depp), a mild-mannered American on vacation in Venice, Italy, is befriended by Elise (Angelina Jolie), a breathtakingly beautiful woman with a mysterious secret. Soon, their playful romantic dalliance turns into a complicated web of dangerous deceit as they are chased by Interpol, the Italian police, and Russian hit men in this suspense-filled, international action thriller.”

The Grand Budapest Hotel

“THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL recounts the adventures of legendary concierge Gustave H. and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend. The story involves the theft of a priceless painting; a raging battle for an enormous family fortune; and a desperate chase on motorcycles, trains, sleds, and skis – all against the back-drop of a suddenly and dramatically changing continent.”

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

“Resplendent in flamboyant ballgowns, looking down over the vast red Australian desert : for three showgirls it was the dream of a lifetime, a four week cabaret engagement in Alice Springs. The problem is simply getting there intact, along with their bus Priscilla.”

Phew! There ya go, my list of the 41 best travel movies to fuel your wanderlust! Any ones I missed?  Drop a comment below or  DM me on Instagram !

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34 Movies That Will Make You Want to Get Off the Couch and See the World

From "The Holiday" to "Romancing the Stone" to "Eat Pray Love," these travel movies will inspire some serious wanderlust.

There's nothing like an epic on-screen adventure to get you acquainted with some place new and dreaming up an enviable vacation itinerary. For me (and basically all my childhood friends), this first happened following a viewing of Disney's "The Lizzie McGuire Movie" back in 2003, when Hilary Duff's character traveled to Rome to live out every teen's parent-free European fantasy. Though I've graduated to more mature travel movies over the last 18 years, one thing hasn't changed: films with gorgeous backdrops give me an unruly case of wanderlust.

From classics like "Around the World in 80 Days" and "Roman Holiday" to modern masterpieces such as "Wild" and "Crazy Rich Asians," travel films tend to ignite a longing for freedom and excitement. Maybe it's the sight of beaches on your screen triggering a phenomenon known as Blue Mind , or maybe watching a couple of pals take to the open road for a life changing road trip just makes you want to feel unconfined. Whatever it is, sometimes a travel film is all you need to provoke that feeling. That's why we've rounded up, in no particular order, 34 of the best travel movies that inspire wanderlust. Maybe they'll be cause for a change of scenery — or maybe they'll incite the adventure of a lifetime.

'Thelma & Louise' (1991)

Widely regarded as one of the best road trip movies of all time, this buddy film follows best friends Thelma (Geena Davis) and Louise (Susan Sarandon) as they drive through the American Southwest after Louise kills a man in Arkansas.

'The Holiday' (2006)

A Hollywood movie trailer producer (Cameron Diaz) and a London reporter (Kate Winslet) decide to switch homes for a few weeks after finding out their respective boyfriends have been cheating on them. The results offer enough glamor shots of Los Angeles and cozy footage of England's countryside to make you want to pack up and head to either city immediately.

'Crazy Rich Asians' (2018)

Though this movie revolves around the conflict between New Yorker Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) and her boyfriend's wealthy family, "Crazy Rich Asians" could pass as a tourism film for Singapore . If the Southeast Asian country wasn't on your bucket list before, this film's dazzling shots of Singapore, specifically the acclaimed Marina Bay Sands Hotel , may convince you.

'Wild' (2014)

Based on a true story, "Wild" sees Cheryl Strayed (Reese Witherspoon) hike more than a thousand miles from California to Washington on the Pacific Crest Trail following her divorce and the death of her mother. On her journey, Cheryl treks through the Mojave Desert , the Sierra Nevada, and Mount Hood National Forest while reflecting on her life.

'Eat Pray Love' (2010)

After her divorce, Elizabeth (Julia Roberts) sets off to explore the world with hopes of finding herself in the process. Elizabeth's inspiring and uplifting journey takes her — and viewers — to Italy , India , and Indonesia where she discovers the pleasure of nourishment, prayer, and romance.

'La La Land' (2016)

Admittedly, this musical doesn't feature much traveling (save for a brief road trip to Mia's hometown in Nevada), but the dreamy, oversaturated shots of Los Angeles in nearly every scene are enough to make anyone want to book a flight to the City of Angels.

'Before Sunrise' (1995)

Two strangers meet aboard a train from Budapest. Jesse (Ethan Hawke) is hoping to catch a flight home to the United States while Céline (Julie Delpy) is en route to Paris . Instead of sticking to their plans, the two disembark in Vienna and spend the entire night exploring the city and falling in love. A viewing of this movie will leave you longing for an epic adventure in the picturesque Austrian capital .

'National Lampoon’s Vacation' (1983)

National Lampoon 's classic comedy series is now six films strong, but it was 1983's "Vacation" that started it all. Unlike the franchise's most famous film, "Christmas Vacation," the original movie sees the Griswolds actually hit the road for a trip to Walley World, an amusement park several states away. After you watch Chevy Chase's hilarious hijinks unfold in this film, let sequels "European Vacation" and "Vegas Vacation" inspire further travels.

'The Darjeeling Limited' (2007)

After the death of their father, three estranged brothers (Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, and Jason Schwartzman) decide to hop aboard a train in India called The Darjeeling Limited to reconnect and experience spiritual self-discovery. Viewers catch glimpses of the Indian countryside, Hindu temples, and eventually the Himalayas — but not without a few jokes along the way.

'Up' (2009)

Arguably the most heart-wrenching animated film of all time, "Up" earns a spot on our list thanks to adorably grumpy widower Carl Fredricksen's determination to fulfill his own wanderlust. With the help of thousands of balloons and a young sidekick named Russell, Carl and his house soar across the world on an incredible journey that culminates at Paradise Falls (based on Angel Falls in Venezuela).

'Raiders of the Lost Ark' (1981)

"Raiders" kicks off the iconic Indiana Jones series with a quest to find the fabled Ark of the Covenant. On his journey, Indy (Harrison Ford) makes stops in Nepal , Egypt , and the Aegean Sea , and, of course, famously runs from a giant rolling boulder in a temple in Peru . Follow up this film with its sequels, "Temple of Doom" (1984), "Last Crusade" (1989), and "Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" (2008), to see Indy travel to Jordan , the Amazon jungle, and beyond.

'Mamma Mia!' (2008)

Few movies offer the kind of gorgeously colorful beach imagery "Mamma Mia!" and its 2018 sequel, "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again" provide. If you haven't seen the films, you likely know them as "the movies with all the ABBA songs." But if you have seen them, you know they're actually about three men who travel to the impossibly beautiful, albeit fictional, Greek island of Kalokairi, each believing they're the father of a young bride-to-be.

'Nomadland' (2020)

After losing her job in the town of Empire, Nevada, Fern (Frances McDormand) decides to sell her belongings, buy a van, and drive across the country working odd jobs. Fern travels through deserts, small towns, and nomad communes where she works, makes new friends, and learns about life. If you've ever fantasized about dropping everything and taking to the open road, "Nomadland" will probably either convince or deter you.

'Romancing the Stone' (1984)

When New York City-based romance novelist Joan Wilder's sister is kidnapped in Cartagena , Joan (Kathleen Turner) ends up on a rescue-mission-turned-treasure-hunt with adventure-seeking Jack T. Colton (Michael Douglas). Don't be surprised if a viewing of this movie makes you want to trade in your annual beach vacation for a wild ride through the Colombian jungle .

'Paris, Je T’aime' (2006)

Paris, Je T'aime is different from the other films on this list in that it's not one film — it's 18 short films that all feature Paris as a central theme. Because the project is made up of 18 different stories in 18 different arrondissements around the city, viewers get a true, unfiltered sense of Paris, and may even find themselves inspired to visit lesser-known locales in the City of Light.

'The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert' (1994)

If you've ever longed to take a laughter-fueled road trip with your best friends, this film is worth a watch. In the flick, pals Tick (Hugo Weaving), Adam (Guy Pearce), and Bernadette (Terence Stamp) head out on a cross-country road trip through the Australian outback to perform their successful drag act in a new town. The trio takes up residence in an oversized tour bus called Priscilla, Queen of the Desert in this fun, ahead-of-its-time dramedy.

'RV' (2006)

While plenty of road trip movies have been made over the years, "RV" might be the only one that takes place in, well, an RV . Though the main characters in this movie face more bad luck than fun, family bonding, the film does feature generous desert , mountain , and wilderness scenery, as well as an all-star cast (Robin Williams, Kristin Chenoweth, Cheryl Hines, and Josh Hutcherson are just a few that appear).

'Point Break' (2015)

Yes, we're talking about the "Point Break" remake rather than the original film from 1991, but hear us out: the imagery in this movie inspires some serious wanderlust. The story takes viewers to several of the wildest places on Earth (Mexico's Cave of Swallows, Venezuela's Angel Falls, etc.) and though the plot is slightly different from the original (think eco-terrorism rather than bank robberies), it is quiet possibly the most visually stimulating travel movie ever made.

'Girls Trip' (2017)

When was the last time you took a trip with just your core group of girlfriends? A quick watch of this comedy will have you planning your next gal pal getaway faster than you can say "PTO." In the film, a group of friends (Queen Latifah, Tiffany Haddish, Regina Hall, and Jada Pinkett Smith) head to New Orleans , but you'll be ready to travel anywhere with your best buds after watching "Girls Trip" — even if it's just to the next town over.

'The Way' (2010)

After his son is killed walking the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route to Galicia, Spain, Tom Avery (Martin Sheen) sets out on the trail himself to retrieve his son's body. Along the way, Tom meets several other travelers who are walking the trail in hopes of changing their own lives for one reason or another. This inspiring film may just persuade you to make the famed pilgrimage yourself, or to book a similarly reflective trip.

'The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants' (2005)

If you were a teen or pre-teen in 2005, you have likely seen this movie and its 2008 sequel, and can attest that both inspire major wanderlust. The first film follows best friends Carmen, Lena, Bridget, and Tibby (who share a magical pair of jeans that fits them all perfectly) as they spend a summer in different parts of the world. Lena (Alexis Bledel) travels to Santorini, Greece , which makes for some seriously dreamy backdrops. In the sequel, the whole gang heads to Greece, but not before Bridget (Blake Lively) spends some time in Turkey .

'Up in the Air' (2009)

This George Clooney-led comedy-drama makes business travel and airports look glamorous — hospitable, even. Boasting just as many cityscape shots as it does plane scenes, "Up in the Air" will have you longing to be in the skies, jet setting off to some place new. Anna Kendrick and Vera Farmiga also star in this critically-acclaimed film about a man who lives out of a suitcase.

'Around the World in 80 Days' (1956)

If this classic adventure film doesn't inspire daydreams of traveling somewhere new, we're not sure what will. In 1872, Englishman Phileas Fogg makes a bet with several members of his gentleman's club that he can travel around the globe in just 80 days. On his journey, he and sidekick Jean Passepartout bring viewers along as they travel by gas balloon to France , Spain , Italy , India, Hong Kong , the United States , and more.

'Home Alone 2: Lost in New York' (1992)

The Home Alone movies usually fall under the comedy or holiday categories, but if you think about it, the second installment in the series is totally a travel movie. The film does a fantastic job of showing off the glamorous side of New York City , the place young Kevin McCallister accidentally ends up while the rest of his family vacations in Florida. From shots of the Rockefeller Christmas tree to the Manhattan skyline, this film is sure to inspire a trip to the Big Apple.

'Under the Tuscan Sun' (2003)

You won't find shots of northern Italy as serene as the ones in this feel-good film about independence, love, and friendship. After losing everything in her divorce, American writer Frances Mayes (Diane Lane) suddenly finds herself beginning a new life in the small Tuscan town of Cortona. And if you're anything like us, Googling "Tuscan villas for sale" will become a regular part of your life after watching this film.

'Angels & Demons' (2009)

Though "Angels & Demons" is classified as a thriller, it'll definitely make you want to head to Rome and dig up some history, both figuratively and literally. Based on the Dan Brown novel of the same name, the story follows Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) as he discovers secrets of the Vatican and faces off against the supposed Illuminati. If you're a fan, check out other Dan Brown adventure travel films, "The Da Vinci Code" (2006) and "Inferno" (2016).

'Easy Rider' (1969)

Our list features travel by plane, train , RV, and even hot air balloon , but "Easy Rider" is the only movie that follows a journey via motorcycle. In the film, drug smugglers Wyatt (Peter Fonda) and Billy (Dennis Hopper) ride from Los Angeles to New Orleans in hopes of reveling at Mardi Gras to celebrate their latest score. On their journey, they stop in several small towns, make a few friends, and unsuccessfully try to evade trouble.

'Out of Africa' (1985)

If Africa doesn't currently have a spot on your bucket list, this film might make you rethink that. Meryl Streep and Robert Redford star in this true story about Karen Blixen, a Danish woman who moves to Nairobi with her new husband, and builds a life there despite their many marital issues. "Out of Africa" features sweeping panoramic shots of Nairobi in nearly every scene, leaving it no wonder the drama won seven Academy Awards, including one for Best Cinematography.

'Johnson Family Vacation' (2004)

This family comedy starring Cedric the Entertainer, Vanessa Williams, and Solange Knowles follows the mildly dysfunctional Johnsons as they road trip to their family reunion in Missouri. On the drive, the family hilariously encounters just about every road trip cliché, from picking up a problematic hitchhiker to running out of gas, before making it to the reunion and performing a musical number to nab the coveted Family of the Year trophy.

'Midnight in Paris' (2011)

Set in present-day Paris , this Oscar-winning film is typically a favorite among art and literature lovers. At midnight each night, screenwriter Gil (Owen Wilson) is transported back in time through different eras of Paris, where he befriends Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Pablo Picasso, and even strikes up a romance with a 1920s woman named Adriana. The film offers plenty of inspiration for a culturally rich trip to France.

'The Parent Trap' (1998)

"The Parent Trap" is another film that may not immediately stand out as a travel flick, but once you take into account the film's many settings ( London , San Francisco, Napa Valley , and the northeastern U.S.), it's easy to see that this family classic has been a travel film all along. Plus, the main characters spend lots of time on planes, boats, and camping trips throughout the movie.

'The Talented Mr. Ripley' (1999)

Carefully spliced between disturbing revelations and suspenseful plot twists are luxurious shots of Italian beaches in this Matt Damon-led film. When Tom Ripley (Damon) is paid to travel to Italy and bring Dickie Greenleaf (Jude Law) back to the States by Dickie's father, Tom ends up befriending — and later becoming obsessed with — Dickie. Despite the plot quickly darkening, viewers are treated to bright, colorful scenes in Rome and glamorous seaside villages .

'Roman Holiday' (1953)

Romance? Check. Stunning visuals of Rome ? Check. Audrey Hepburn? Check. This classic travel comedy lands at the top of many movie buffs' all-time favorite lists, and for good reason. Bored with her mundane life as a European princess while on a trip to Rome, Ann (Hepburn) ditches her duties and hits the town with journalist Joe Bradley (Gregory Peck). The two take viewers on a tour of the Eternal City and fall in love in the process.

'Pee-wee’s Big Adventure' (1985)

Before you roll your eyes, take a moment to acknowledge that this film essentially sends happy-go-lucky Pee-wee Herman (Paul Reubens) on the great American road trip in search of his stolen bicycle. In this comedy for adults and children alike, Pee-wee stops at the Alamo, the Cabazon Dinosaur park in California , and Hollywood . Traveling by car, truck, and train, Pee-wee befriends a biker gang, competes in a rodeo, and of course, famously dances to "Tequila" before his journey is through.

Hillary Maglin is a digital editor who splits most of her time between New York City and Pittsburgh. You can find her on Instagram @hillarymaglin , where her DMs are always open to discuss travel gear, wine bars, and Taylor Swift's latest record.

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10 Romantic Time Travel Movies to Binge Watch: I’ll Love You to the End of Time

These are some of the best time travel romance movies!

Time travel as a genre is always fascinating in any medium, whether a book, movie, TV show or comic. The possibility of meeting anyone in existence, going to places long forgotten, and uncovering secrets of well-loved icons of the past and maybe even the future gives a special allure to time travel romance movies.

The fantastical direction this genre takes adds elements of magic, naivete, and touches of illusion, appealing to older and younger viewers alike. Add into this the sprinkle of romance, and you have me hooked.

If I get the chance to watch Shakespeare wooing a girl from the 21st century using poems that have become cult classics, I’m grabbing the popcorn and switching my phone off.

RELATED: 80 OF THE BEST ENTERTAINING TIME TRAVEL TV SHOWS YOU NEED TO WATCH

Like most people, I grew up watching time travel movies. Consequently, they have become my favorites. For example, we can all appreciate Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure or watching Hermione travel back in time to see herself punch Draco in the face. (Not only a win for Harry Potter fans but for girls all around.)

Meanwhile, Doctor Who (2005) is my first exposure to real romance and time travel. With the Doctor’s companions all falling for him, he initially only falls for Rose (Nine and Ten).

RELATED: 7 FUN AND ROMANTIC TIME TRAVEL ASIAN DRAMAS

As a result, it had millions of us hoping he would appear in our living rooms, ready to take us on our own adventure. Since then, there was no going back. There are just so many romantic time travel movies calling out to be binged.

Here is a list of my personal favorite romantic time travel movies that have thus far survived the test of time. However, I will admit this list is not exhaustive (limiting the films to 10 was difficult).

10 ROMANTIC TIME TRAVEL MOVIES TO BINGE WATCH

(In No Particular Order)

#1: ABOUT TIME (2013)

Without a doubt, this is a humorous and engaging retelling of a classic boy trying to win over a girl story. Tim wishes to change his life and get a girlfriend. With this intention, enter Mary.

Tom falls for her and is relentless and tenacious in his pursuit, all thanks to a family secret. The men in his family can travel through time! What a secret to have, and at 21, your options are endless.

About Time beautifully captures the fun-loving side of romance. And, as viewers, we see the benefits of having such a gift and just how painful the gift can be.

For this reason, we see the love between a man and woman and the close relationship between Tim and his father, played by the talented Bill Nighy . Have tissues ready, as poignant scenes will get you teary-eyed.

Content Note: This film is rated 12A in the UK for mild profanity, nudity, violence, and moderate love scenes. For the same reason, About Time is a mild rated R in the United States.

#2: THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE (2009)

This falls quite high on my list of must-watch romance films in general as it has sweeping romance and not to mention swoon-worthy Eric Bana as the protagonist. The film beautifully interweaves through different phases of time, keeping the viewer enthralled.

It follows the life of Clare (Rachel McAdams) and how she meets Henry (Eric Bana), or rather how he encounters her. Clare and Henry ‘meet’ in a library. Soon, they both know what Henry is and what he can do, which is being involuntarily thrown through time, forwards or backward.

The movie’s most interesting aspect is that, despite Henry being the traveler, Clare knows more about him. She’s even aware of their relationship during their ‘first meeting’.

You can assume this is not their first meeting without giving too much away. The story follows them through their life together, how his continued absence becomes a toll on Clare, and over time, it delves into the life of living with a time traveler.

Could you live with someone who knows your future? They will know exactly where your life together could end up. Instead of going for the fated lovers’ angle, this looks at how fate may have brought them together, but should they have walked away?

Content Note: This film is rated 12A in the UK for mild sensuality, nudity, and profanity. In the US, the film is rated PG-13.

#3: SOMEWHERE IN TIME (1980)

If you prefer sweet innocent love stories with classic romance, Somewhere in Time will be perfect for you.

Set in 1972, Christopher Reeve stars as student Richard Collier who travels to Mackinac Island to stay at the Grand Hotel, where he sees a portrait of a woman who he becomes enamored with.

He finds out she was a famous stage actress who has passed away. In this obsession with the picture, he finds a way to go back in time to meet her.

Using methods of self-hypnosis, he is able to get back to 1900 and meet Elise McKenna, but what fate is in store for two people with such a big ‘time’ difference? Get ready to fall in love with the characters, cinematography, music, and love stories all over again.

Fun tidbit: Somewhere in Time was nominated for an Oscar for best costume design.

Content Note : This film is rated PG for mild profanity and sensuality.

#4: THE LAKE HOUSE (2006) AND IL MARE (2002)

The Lake House is a somber story, showing love with a facet of yearning, similar to Somewhere in Time . Both have protagonists who are trapped in different times.

Kate Forrester (Sandra Bullock) moves to a new house, leaving behind a letter for the next tenant. The person who reads the letter, Alex Wyler (Keanu Reeves), realizes some unusual things are happening.

Events mentioned in the letter have yet to occur. They come to the realization that they are exactly two years apart, writing from different times.

This charming movie weaves a beautiful story that will appeal to anyone in a long-distance relationship. You will be able to relate to the dates they attempt to go on and how they try and share experiences with each other.

It will make you appreciate that you are at least a phone call away. The ending of the movie will have you on the edge of your seats, and the revelations revealed will make you want to believe in fate and kismet take your pick.

Special mention to the original movie Il Mare (2002), a Korean production and equally a must-watch if you don’t mind subtitles.

Content Note: This film is rated PG with mild profanity, alcohol, and drugs.

#5: BACK TO THE FUTURE PART III (1990)

If you are not familiar with this series, what are you doing? Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) and the iconic DeLorean made a generation of kids dream about hoverboards and Nike trainers.

This is the third installment of the series, giving more focus to the ‘Doc’ Emmett Brown (Christopher Lloyd).

Set against the backdrop of the 1885 old west (and true to the name), we get standoffs, brawls, and romance. Meanwhile, Marty travels to 1885 and is stuck because his car breaks down.

Of course, he has a run-in with ‘Mad Dog’ Biff Tannen and his unruly gang. (Trying to send Marty back with their limited resources makes you appreciate a lot of amenities we take for granted.)

In this process, Emmett meets a school teacher, Clara Clayton (Mary Steenburgen), who is a science geek just like him, and soon a romance blossoms.

It is surreal and sweet to see Doc so enamored and unable to figure out how to act. Furthermore, the romance breathes new life into his character and shows an angle we never thought we needed.

In the climax of the movie, there is a race against time to get the DeLorean fixed and Marty back to the present day. Ultimately, even as a sequel, Back to the Future Part III is brilliant.

Content Note: This film is rated PG with moderate profanity, mild sensuality, nudity, and violence.

#6: MIDNIGHT IN PARIS (2011)

‘ You’re in love with a fantasy.’ ‘I’m in love with you.’

Woody Allen does it again, giving us a spellbinding movie with sophisticated and witty characters. He portrays Paris in a way that will make you want to go there and explore.

Winner of an Oscar, Midnight in Paris follows Gil (Owen Wilson) and Inez (Rachel McAdams) on vacation in Paris, where he wishes to move after they marry.

However, his wife-to-be doesn’t see the magic of the city, hoping to settle in America instead. In the meantime, Gil struggles to write his first novel and takes a strange late-night stroll through Paris, getting an invite to a party that includes guests such as Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Gertrude, and many others who frequented the famous salon of Stein.

It is up to the audience to decide if this is time travel or just the fantasy of a desperate writer who is in love with the golden era of the ’20s. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie because it gave a glimpse of how some of my favorite writers would interact.

This is what other genres cannot do, transport and introduce characters and figures who we would love to meet. This charming film will have you falling in love with the characters and the dialogue.

The superb acting by Wilson portrays an awe-struck, enthusiastic writer who meets his heroes. There is no real story to follow, but rather more events that unfold and how the characters react to them. But life is like this sometimes: we don’t know where things are going until later on.

Content Note: This film is rated 12A  in the UK and PG-13 in the U.S. for mild profanity, sensuality, and nudity.

#7: 13 GOING ON 30 (2004)

13 Going on 30 is a reverse-coming-of-age time travel romantic comedy. Jenna (Jennifer Garner) makes a wish on her thirteenth birthday, wanting to be older after going through an embarrassing ordeal.

Jenna wishes to make her older, and it is fulfilled magically. She wakes up the next day to find she is weeks from her thirtieth birthday, has a dream job as a magazine editor, a car, and a very attractive boyfriend.

Everything that anyone could want, but she is still not happy, which pushes the story toward what she truly desires.

This approach is always fun to watch, including hilarious scenes where the protagonist tries to understand the new circumstances and her new body. I admit it’s nothing new in terms of what we can expect, but Garner portrays the character’s innocence and naivete so well.

We see beautiful shots of New York City, which will make you want to book your flight and get over there. However, the surprise in this movie is Mark Ruffalo, who plays Matt, the high school best friend.

Seeing him in this role will be new and a fresh take for fans of the Marvel world. One of the best moments in the movie is the Michael Jackson ‘Thriller’ dance which will leave you astounded and get you on your feet.

Content Note: This film is rated 12A in the UK and PG-13 in the U.S. for mild profanity and suggestive content.

#8: WINTER’S TALE (2014)

Winter’s Tale is set in 1895 on the streets of New York and is based on the novel of the same name. Peter Lake (Colin Farrell) is a seasoned thief who enters the home of Beverly Penn (Jessica Brown Findlay). Beverly catches him in the act.

They both fall in love, and she tells Peter a story about how everyone is born with a miracle inside them. This is the theme for the whole movie so keep this in mind while watching.

The movie boasts a lot of big stars: Russell Crowe, Will Smith, and William Hurt, who all play fantastical characters brilliantly. The story jumps to modern times showing us Peter again. But he has amnesia, setting the story for the rest of the movie. The search for his memories and lost story.

Romance like this is always beautiful to watch, even though the audience and characters know it will not be the happy ending we all hope for.

Fans of Downton Abbey will recognize Findlay as Lady Sybil Crawley, carrying off the character of Beverly competently, with a timeless beauty that is only enhanced because we know the fate of the character.

Farrell is exquisite as always, playing his role as an Irish thief so convincingly. There are many twists and turns to keep you entertained during the second half, which is worth the effort.

Content Note: This film is rated 12A in the UK and PG-13 in the U.S. for violence and sensuality.

#9: IF ONLY (2004)

If Only uses the winning formula that led Groundhog Day (1993) to success, where the day is on repeat. We have Samantha (Jennifer Love Hewitt) and Ian (Paul Nichols), who are a typical couple, showing the relationship and fights.

Tragedy strikes when Samantha has a car accident leaving a heartbroken and grief-stricken Ian. But fate gives him another chance to back in time to try and change events. He lives the same day again and, like any sensible hero, tries to alter the events leading up to her accident.

It’s a sweet story showing the importance of cherishing the people close to you. The film further makes you wonder about how you would react in this situation. Would you be able to change anything?

The story moves at a good pace, keeping audiences on edge as to whether Ian will succeed. Very beautiful moments occur between the two as Ian knows what will come.

He tries his hardest to make everything perfect (and take notes, guys – ahem, ahem). Tissues may be needed; you have been warned.

Content Note: This film is rated PG-13 for some sensual material.

#10: KATE & LEOPOLD (2001)

‘I’m not very good with men.’ ‘ Perhaps you haven’t found the right one.’

This time travel romance movie captures everyone’s heart because Leopold (Hugh Jackman) comes from 1876 and has a romantic, classic approach to love.

He has purity dripping from every glance and every word he speaks. It would make any girl fall head over heels for the chivalrous Leopold.

So, what chance does Kate (Meg Ryan) have? Leopold needs to marry someone for wealth, with a dwindling purse and big dreams to pursue. He enters a portal transporting him to modern times. This blows him away to see the sights and progress.

He meets Kate, a market researcher who is cynical but ambitious. They get close but inevitable differences arise, and he returns back to his time.

Kate & Leopold also provides well-written comedic scenes with Kate’s brother, an actor assuming Leopold is deep in character. For fans of epic romantic movies from the ’90s, this 2001 film is equally awesome. Plus, any fan of Jackman will enjoy seeing him in this swoony role.

Content Note: Rated PG-13 for brief strong language.

Did you find one of your favorite movies about time travel and love? If you had the chance to have one of these romances, which one would it be?

Top Photo Credit: Somewhere in Time (Universal Pictures)

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Book lover – reader and writer. Being a bookworm from an early age introduced me to all wonderful worlds, travelling from Narnia to Hogwarts. This became my hobby and passion leading me to pursue avenues where I can write not just for my enjoyment but also to progress my career. Some of my current obsessions include K-dramas, all things period - any BBC original adaptation. I am currently reading Dan Brown's new novel as well as "All men are Mortal" and re-reading "North and South" because you can never read enough about Mr.Thornton and Margaret!

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12 thoughts on “10 Romantic Time Travel Movies to Binge Watch: I’ll Love You to the End of Time”

Found some new ones for my list, so thanks! I love Hugh Jackson in Kate and Leopold – he plays it so straight it makes the whole thing so much funnier.

Though I haven’t seen it in a while now, I remember that I liked “Lake House,” and I just started to watch “About Time” last night. It’s nothing like I expected, but so far I quite like it! 🙂

Man, Rachel McAdams is all about that time travel life!

Oh, I hoped I’d find a new romantic time travel movie to add to my watched list, but I’m afraid I’ve already seen them all. Lovely curated list, tho!

A long time ago there lived a scientist who would hardly ever venture outside. His life was a lonely one, with long days of research and experiments. It was his ambition to create a potion to see into the future. He had over years collected hundreds of herbs and combined them in various ways until eventually, he was on the brink of a breakthrough…

Where am I able to find the remainder of this story? One mustn’t dangle a carrot expecting no one to bite! Rachel

All these are lovely —- another good one is “1994 Timecop” with Jean-Claude Van Damme and Mia Sara — thriller & romance

I can’t seem to find the movie which was based on a short story “ Christopher Frame “ a photo restorer who time travels ,.falls in love and stays there , tried to lookup but there is no information about it ,I can’t remember the name of the movie or episode either for the love of God ,If anyone knows about it please let me know ,thanks

Another outstanding time travel movie is the 1998 Hallmark Hall of Fame production “The Love Letter”, starring Campbell Scott and Jennifer Jason Leigh. Aired in the late 90s, it’s about an engaged civil war buff who finds hidden letters in an old desk which were written by an unmarried woman in 1863. He is compelled to respond to her and even though he lives in the late 20th century she receives his letters and they begin a correspondence through time. This obviously causes a big problem for his life with his fiance. It’s an excellent movie based on a short story by Jack Finney. Finney is the author of two great time travel novels, Time And Again and From Time to Time.

Hi Everybody, I read through the candidates for best time travel romance, all of which I have seen. I agree with your choices, but not exactly in that order. Although they were all great movies, it is “Somewhere in Time” that takes the number one spot. I was happy to see that at least you gave them the 3rd spot, but, in reality, it was the one movie that expressed so beautifully the concept that love transcends time and in the end, true love brings them together as they slip off into eternity.

There is one more movie to which I would give honorable mention. That is the 1979 movie “Time After Time” where the prolific writer HG Wells pursues Jack the Ripper into the future where Hubert (Malcolm Mcdowell) meets Mary Steenburgen and falls in love. This is another great movie. Thanks, DAD

Hi Dad! I agree with you that Somewhere in Time is the best time-travel romance movie. 🙂 Such a beautiful film!

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• Hot Topics Romance & Beaches

8 Best Romantic Travel Movies

• By Aren Bergstrom
• On May 25, 2020
• Read Time 7 mins

Home / Africa & Middle East / 8 Best Romantic Travel Movies

When you envision a romantic travel night out, you probably imagine sipping cocktails under the stars while your feet dip into the waters of the South Pacific in Bora Bora, or sharing oysters and champagne in a chic bistro in Montmartre, Paris, not sitting on your couch at home. But date nights ain’t what they used to be and Bora Bora and Paris are currently not possibilities for a romantic travel night. So a night at home watching a romantic movie will have to do.

In order to help you sort the wheat from the chaff when it comes to romantic travel movies, we’ve shared the following eight recommendations. As we have with our other travel movie lists , we’ve avoided most of the typical suggestions, so don’t go looking for Under the Tuscan Sun. Instead, we’ve chosen good movies, first and foremost, while also understanding that there’s more to romance than fairy tale endings and generic romantic comedies. If you and your partner are missing travel, hopefully, these movies help satisfy your wanderlust while providing the sort of romantic atmosphere that’s necessary for date night.

What are the best romantic travel movies?

Before sunrise (and before sunset and before midnight).

It’s fitting that we have Before Sunrise at the top of the list, because not only is it the best romantic travel movie of all time, but it’s one of the most romantic movies, period. This 1995 independent drama from Richard Linklaker follows Jesse, a young American played by Ethan Hawke on vacation in Europe who starts up a flirtation with Celine, a pretty young Frenchwoman played by Julie Delpy, on a train in Austria. He convinces her to get off the train with him and spend 24 hours with him in Vienna as he waits for his flight back home the next morning. As they wander around the Austrian capital visiting landmarks and local bars, they get to know each other, discuss the meaning of life, and fall in love. Before Sunrise condenses the early, exciting moments of a relationship into one day set against one of the loveliest backdrops imaginable. The sequels, Before Sunset, set in Paris nine years later, and Before Midnight, set another nine years later in Greece, expand the story and delve deeper into the relationship between Jesse and Celine, but the original has the greatest romantic power.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Romance isn’t the main focus of this comedic drama about a group of English retirees (Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith, Penelope Wilton, Tom Wilkinson, Ronald Pickup, Celia Imrie) who move to Jaipur, India to live in the titular retirement home run by an eager young entrepreneur (Dev Patel). But the movie is about the possibility for renewal in a place away from home, which includes the chance for having a fulfilling romance late in life. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel showcases the rejuvenating potential of travel as well as the beautiful colours of Rajasthan. The all-star cast puts on an acting clinic, while the various romantic subplots are satisfying without being reductive. This is a genuine crowd-pleaser that celebrates age, travel, and love, which makes it perfect for a romantic travel movie night.

Call Me by Your Name

This romantic coming-of-age story is about as sultry as movies get on this list. Set in Italy in 1983, it follows a young American, Elio (Timothée Chalamet), who is spending the summer with his parents in a rented villa. His father’s student, Oliver (Armie Hammer), comes to stay with them and over the course of the summer, Elio and Oliver find themselves falling for each other. Call Me by Your Name basks in the beauty of everything on screen, from the sunny orchards of Northern Italy to the sumptuous meals the characters enjoy to the physical beauty of the actors themselves. The movie won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay and was nominated for a whole host of others, including Best Picture, but its soundtrack, framed around two songs by Sufjan Stevens and featuring classical pieces by John Adams and Ryuichi Sakamoto and Euro-pop hits by Giorgio Moroder, is maybe its most appealing element. It’s a great romantic movie option that’ll whisk you across the world.

Lost in Translation

A travel movie classic, Lost in Translation follows two lonely Americans, Bob (Bill Murray) and Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson), who draw close to each other while staying in the same hotel over a few weeks in Tokyo. While the film isn’t a conventional romance—the characters never become a couple—the movie beautifully captures romantic yearning and the way that companionship is often the most necessary aspect of love. It also revels in the neon-soaked nightlife of Tokyo, with memorable scenes set in karaoke bars and hotel lounges. Few movies better capture the modern ennui of looking for companionship in a modern city far from home.

Midnight in Paris

One of Woody Allen’s most beloved movies, Midnight in Paris follows a nebbish screenwriter (Owen Wilson) who travels to Paris with his negging fiancée (Rachel McAdams) only to discover a means of travelling back to the 1920s to hang out with famous writers and artists such as Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrud Stein, and Salvador Dalí. Midnight in Paris wraps up romantic frustration with artistic nostalgia for the Lost Generation, which manages to capture America’s particular romantic obsession with Paris. If you’re overcome with romantic nostalgia when reading Hemingway or Fitzgerald, this is the movie for you.

Out of Africa

Perhaps the most obvious entry on this list, Out of Africa is the Best Picture-winning adaptation of Karen Blixen’s memoir about living in Kenya in the early decades of the 20th century and her romance with a handsome American big game hunter. Meryl Streep plays Blixen in the film, while Robert Redford plays her lover, Denys Finch Hatton. In many ways Out of Africa is a classic forbidden romance played out against the backdrop of the beautiful African savanna, so while the romance itself may be very conventional, the setting is anything but.

Roman Holiday

This romantic comedy classic from 1953 has Audrey Hepburn playing a rebellious princess that escapes from her royal entourage while in Rome in order to experience a bit of life as a commoner. While on her own, she meets Gregory Peck’s jaded reporter, who doesn’t recognize her, and the two fall in love as they explore Rome’s most famous landmarks together, including the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, and the Colosseum. The movie was so popular it inspired a host of copycat romantic travel movies in the 1950s, but there’s only one Roman Holiday, which is as memorable a travel romance as you’ll find. The iconic image of Hepburn and Peck riding a Vespa through Rome captures the romantic allure of exploring a foreign city while in love.

This little-seen 2013 movie is based on Robyn Davidson’s memoir about her 2,700km (1,700m) trek across the Australian Outback from Alice Springs to the Indian Ocean with nothing but her dog and four camels in tow. Mia Wasikowska plays Robyn in the film, which largely plays as a showcase of Australia’s natural beauty. Adam Driver also stars as the National Geographic photographer Rick Smolan who famously photographed her journey back in 1977, and hooked up with her in the process. The romantic moments between Robyn and Rick are nice depictions of romantic admiration, but the real star here is the landscape, which has rarely been as vivid on film.

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Aren Bergstrom

Globetrotting Editor - You might say that Aren was destined to become a Globetrotter after his family took him to Germany two times before he was four. If that wasn’t enough, a term spent in Sweden as a young teenager and a trek across Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand confirmed that destiny. An independent writer, director, and film critic, Aren has travelled across Asia, Europe, and South America. His favourite travel experience was visiting the major cities of Japan’s largest island, Honshu, but his love for food, drink, and film will take him anywhere that boasts great art and culture.

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The 60 Best Romantic Movies

Empire counts down the best romantic movies of all time.

Nothing is as swoon-worthy as a movie romance – beautiful people, saying beautiful things to each other, often in beautiful locations, all wrapped up in a happy ending. It’s almost impossible not to fall head-over-heels for a film that perfectly captures what it feels like to fall head-over-heels for another person – whether it’s the high-stakes drama of The Notebook , the kinetic rush of Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World , or the musical outpourings of The Wedding Singer . We’ve channelled our inner romantics to present Empire ’s list of the 60 Best Romantic Movies – one filled with grand gestures , heart-swelling forbidden romances, the cutest of meet-cutes, and dreamy dates . Dig in.

60. Happiest Season

Clea Duvall’s Christmas-set comedy follows couple Harper (Mackenzie Davis) and Abby (Kristen Stewart) as they visit Harper’s family home for the holidays. The only problem? Harper’s family don’t know she’s gay, and definitely don’t know that her and Abby are dating. Stewart is magnetic, putting her jumpy energy to perfect use in the romcom setting, and an excellent supporting cast including Daniel Levy as Abby’s friend John, Alison Brie as Harper’s sister and Aubrey Plaza as an ex-girlfriend mean every plot strand is engaging and entertaining.

59. Love Actually

What, exactly, was Richard Curtis trying to say with Love Actually ? It’s alright to deliver secret love messages to your newly-wed best mate’s wife? Husbands will eventually cheat on you with younger mistresses? It’s somehow okay to keep calling Martine McCutcheon fat even though she categorically isn’t? Who cares: it’s (mostly) good fun, it’s the only decent Christmas film for the last 15 years, and the airport-dash finale smooths over all the sour bits. Plus the final scene with Bill Nighy and his manager is guaranteed to thaw a frozen heart!

Can you make pottery sexy? Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore can. Jerry Zucker, better known as one third of the Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker comedy trio, mixes laughter with just the right amount of tears, and Swayze is the ideal romantic hero, who comes back after he’s murdered to check on his grieving ex. Much more than a trivia question answer (‘for which film did Whoopi Goldberg win an Oscar?’), Ghost wins at life, and life after death.

57. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

99.percent of romance films would be better off with a few kung fu fights and bass guitar battles, and Edgar Wright ’s hyper-stylised graphic novel adaptation is packed with them. The titular Canadian slacker literally fights off the past lovers of new beau Ramona Flowers, facing her seven evil exes in Street Fighter -inspired brawls where the ultimate special moves are the powers of love and self-respect.

56. Love, Simon

Director Greg Berlanti is better known right now as the big boss of the Arrowverse on US TV (and approximately 736 other shows), but his second film is a subtle, funny exploration of a young man's romantic journey. Simon ( Nick Robinson ) has been hiding being gay from his classmates and family (even though they're understanding and loving), but when his secret is discovered and he's threatened with exposure, he decides to embrace the love of another young guy who reaches out clandestinely.

55. Bridget Jones’s Diary

Renee Zellweger ’s heroine was way ahead of her time on the big pants and novelty Christmas jumper front, but elsewhere this loose adaptation of Helen Fielding’s novel-in-diary-entries is a time portal to the early 00s: Hugh Grant and Colin Firth at peak dreaminess, gags about 'Saddam Hussein’s arse', and the pre-internet concept of actually keeping a physical diary.

54. The Wedding Singer

More discerning cineastes might choose Punch-Drunk Love as Adam Sandler ’s best romance film — but the rest of us will stick with The Wedding Singer , Billy Idol cameo and all. Sandler and Drew Barrymore make a charming will-they-won’t-they couple, and it goes one step further than the typical catch-them-at-the-airport climax by getting all parties onto the plane for a big ol’ singalong.

53. Cyrano De Bergerac

“Mon nez! C’est enorme!” Gerard Depardieu ’s casting as the unrequited romantic of Edmond Rostand’ classic play is (ahem) right on the nose, and director Jean-Paul Rappeneau just lets him rip: chewing the scenery one moment and tugging the heartstrings the next. His tour-de-force performance is larger than life: much like the facial proboscis that keeps him from his great love Roxane. Until it doesn’t after all, and everyone lives happily ever after. The definitive version of the story, but Steve Martin ’s Americanised Roxanne , released three years earlier, gives it a run for its money.

52. Sliding Doors

Peter Howitt’s high concept romantic comedy might hinge on how much you’re wanting double the Gwyneth Paltrow , but she still manages to make you root for her (and at no point tries to to sell you magic vagina eggs). She’s Helen, who catches a tube train – or doesn’t – and the film follows the romantic misadventures across parallel storylines. It refuses to rely on the gimmick, and both Paltrow and John Hannah make respectably adorable leads.

51. The Notebook

The high-water mark of Nicholas Sparks adaptations, this sweeping weepie aims firmly for the tear-ducts. Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams are the young lovers separated through the years by prejudice, World War II, and eventually dementia in a film meticulously designed to leave viewers drowning in a pool of their own tears.

50. A Star Is Born

It might be the third remake of this story – after Janet Gaynor and Fredric March in 1937, Judy Garland and James Mason in 1954 and Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson in 1976 – but the love still feels brand new. Bradley Cooper marks his directorial debut and also stars as leading man Jackson Maine here, a hardened, alcoholic country musician who mentors and very quickly falls in love with a rising star of a singer, Ally, played by Lady Gaga in a major dramatic turn. There’s heaps of chemistry between the two, as much in music and lyrics as through whispered sweet nothings. As with many great loves, there’s also great sorrow – but that only makes the romance all the more affecting.

49. Titanic

Yes, yes, we all know that Jack could’ve easily fit on the floating door. Geometric frustrations aside, James Cameron ’s spectacular disaster movie is anchored by a cheesy but gripping class-busting love affair that gives a human scale to the catastrophe. Bonus points for quite literally the steamiest sex scene ever committed to film.

48. William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet

Shakespeare: the dead English guy with the massive ruff knew how to write a good romance, even if he over-did it on the downer endings. Baz Luhrmann brought his explosive visual pizzazz to the original star-crossed lovers, decking the Montagues and Capulets out with Hawaiian shirts, pistols, and a colour scheme that even most nineties pop groups would describe as 'a bit garish’.

47. Palm Springs

Sarah (Cristin Milioti) and Nyles (Andy Samberg) end up stuck in “one of those infinite time-loop situations” on Sarah’s sister’s nightmarish wedding day in this inventive, hilarious take on the Groundhog Day concept. The pair uncover each other’s secrets, attempt to escape the loop, try to avoid a mysterious assassin that always tracks them down by the end of the night, and find that even endlessly experiencing the same day over and over can be pretty enjoyable when you’re doing it with the right person.

46. The 40 Year-Old Virgin

Judd Apatow ’s cinematic debut tore a new patch in the Hollywood landscape like a wax strip off Steve Carell ’s exceedingly hairy chest. The 40-Year-Old-Virgin defined the next decade of mainstream American comedy (crude, largely improvised, ultimately sweet), an era perfectly characterised by Andy's charming search for true love, peppered with eye-wateringly sharp gags.

45. Sleepless in Seattle

These days far-flung romances between people who have never met result in dramatic Catfish confrontations on MTV. But in 1993, Nora Ephron spun it into an exceedingly wholesome rom-com where the grieving Sam ( Tom Hanks , 'sleepless in Seattle') and unsatisfied Annie ( Meg Ryan , 'bored in Baltimore') form a bond through radio broadcasts and typewritten letters. It’s somewhat less heartwarming for poor Walter, whose fiancée ditches him for someone she’s never laid eyes on.

44. Truly, Madly, Deeply

Think Ghost , but British. And without the pottery. It’s the heartbreaking story of Nina ( Juliet Stevenson ), grieving the loss of boyfriend Jamie ( Alan Rickman ) when he returns to her life in supernatural form. [Anthony Minghella]( [https://www.empireonline.com/people/anthony-minghella/{href='https://www.empireonline.com/people/anthony-minghella/(' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer'} carefully navigates the conflicted feelings and romantic interludes, and uses the tale to explore the truth behind the pair’s prior relationship. It’s not often we see Rickman in particular in a purely romantic role (and even here, he has shades), but the pair burn with chemistry.

Pixar quietly delivers emotional devastation in the opening five minutes of Up , a mini-masterpiece of an ordinary, extraordinary love-filled lifetime between soulmates Carl and Ellie. But the rest of Carl’s South American adventure as a pensioner is also shot through with a sense of romance. Don’t even bring up the scrapbook scene, which offers the animation studio’s most profound meditation on what true love really looks like.

42. The African Queen

A Hollywood classic with one foot in Britain and the Ealing Comedy tradition, The African Queen manages to make a romance out of a WWI suicide mission. Katharine Hepburn is the Methodist missionary who convinces rough-and-ready captain Humphrey Bogart to refit his steamboat for a dangerous journey down the Ulanga River for a torpedo attack against the Germans. And who wouldn’t be seduced by a line like that? John Huston directed when he could be distracted from shooting the local fauna – if Clint Eastwood ’s biopic White Hunter, Black Heart is to be believed.

Todd Haynes never lets the lush period setting get in the way of the story for this one, which sees Phyllis Nagy adapt a Patricia Highsmith novel in which – surprise! – no one is murdered. It’s soulful and settled, while never denying the churning emotions between young photographer Therese ( Rooney Mara ) and the glamorous, tragic Carol ( Cate Blanchett ).

40. The Big Sick

Undoubtedly the best screen romance where half of the couple spends most of the runtime in a coma. Kumail Nanjiani and his wife Emily V. Gordon adapted the rocky, illness-stricken beginnings of their own real-life relationship into a contemporary culture-clash rom-com with life-or-death stakes. Less crude than most Judd Apatow-poduced films, while still boasting a belter 9/11 gag.

39. Say Anything

Cameron Crowe made his directorial debut with the film after proving he had a keen ear for realistic and memorable dialogue in previous work. John Cusack is the instantly iconic Lloyd Dobler, while Ione Skye is more than a capable romantic foyle. John Mahoney (who recently died) is the secret weapon as the father of Skye’s Diane Court. It’s clear-eyed about the torturous path that love can take and features moments that linger longer than most, including the much-referenced boombox scene.

38. Supernova

Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci play Sam and Tusker, a couple on a road trip to visit family and friends, in Harry Macqueen’s beautifully shot, extraordinarily moving romantic drama Supernova . Firth and Tucci’s real-life friendship translates into a quiet, tender, utterly convincing chemistry as their journey progresses, and as Tusker’s struggle with early onset dementia worsens. With the pair’s shared history that Macqueen so impeccably weaves through the script beginning to fade from his memory, they must make a devastating decision.

37. Dirty Dancing

Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze's sizzling chemistry steams up the screen in this eighties banger-laden ode to summer flings, pissing off your parents, and doing whatever it takes to end up in the ludicrously buff arms of a fit dance instructor. Warning: don’t attempt the famous climactic lift unless you’re ripped like Swayze.

36. Shaun of the Dead

Edgar Wright’s big-screen debut still has heart and brains like any other rom-com, but smears it across the faces of hundreds of zombie extras. A film about choosing to commit to your girlfriend, growing out of your twenties and ditching the dregs of your record collection (“The Batman soundtrack? Throw it!”), Shaun of the Dead is Richard Curtis put through a mincer.

35. (500) Days Of Summer

Though it occasionally leans a little too heavily on the guy's side of a relationship, Summer remains a fantastic exploration of human connection. Stand-out moments include Joseph Gordon-Levitt's Tom in a giant post-coital dance number, and great work from Zooey Deschanel as his titular paramour.

34. Manhattan

Currently undergoing a process of being critically downgraded thanks to its protagonist’s far from comfortable fixation on a much younger woman, Manhattan still has loads to offer. As much as it’s about off-kilter interpersonal relationships, it’s also, famously and arguably much more successfully, Woody Allen’s most passionate love letter to the city of New York and the music of George Gershwin. "New York was his town, and it always would be," is the line he lands on at the beginning, as Rhapsody in Blue explodes into life and fireworks illuminate the skyline. And it’s a hard heart that resists being swept along.

33. Paterson

Some would think to write off Paterson as simply That Film Where Adam Driver Drives A Bus And Writes Poetry. But some would be wrong. At its core is the deep, if sometimes troubled relationship between Driver's Paterson and Golshifteh Farahani Laura. This is love, Jim Jarmusch-style.

32. La La Land

There are two romances going on here: the one between Ryan Gosling ’s ivory-tinkling musician Sebastian and Emma Stone ’s wide-eyed actress Mia, and the one between director Damien Chazelle and his beloved city of Los Angeles. Beyond the jazz-splaining is a charming, toe-tapping (and yes, swooningly romantic) musical — just beware its heart-shattering encore.

31. Roxanne

Not many romantic comedies starring Steve Martin can claim to be based on an 1897 verse play…. In fact, this is the one, which adapts and updates Cyrano de Bergerac for an eighties audience. Martin is CD “Charlie” Bales, who pines for Daryl Hannah ’s Roxanne, but despite an abundance of charisma, is held back by his large nose. When he helps a fireman friend woo her, complications arise… There is much mistaken identity and frustrations on the path to true love, but even though you know where the story is headed, the light touch and sheer charm of the cast carries it.

30. Secretary

Long before Fifty Shades whipped audiences into a frenzy, there was Steven Shainberg's odd indie romance. James Spader (because of cause it's him, and he's even called Mr. Grey!) is the boss who hires the troubled Lee Holloway (a bedraggled Maggie Gyllenhaal, who slowly blossoms into luminosity) and discovers a kindred spirit in kink. But it's more than cheap S&M titillation, showing two damaged people finding deep, comforting love with each other.

Musician-turned-director John Carney brings a lyrical reality to this story of a street busker/hoover repairman (Glen Hansard) and a flower-flogging immigrant (Markéta Irglová), who meet on the street and end up making beautiful music together. The soundtrack became a huge hit, and the romance is grounded in detail.

28. The Philadelphia Story

A triumphant comeback for Katharine Hepburn after a string of disappointments. The original Broadway play was written specifically for her, and she oversaw its adaptation with the support of Howard Hughes. The film sees her torn between accepting the affections of Cary Grant or James Stewart – and if the idea of that love triangle wasn’t already tantalising enough, it’s actually a square (quadrangle?) since John Howard is in there too. George Cukor’s breezy direction captures the immense fun that all involved were apparently enjoying in real life.

27. The Shape Of Water

Only Guillermo del Toro could propose a romance between a human woman and the Creature from the Black Lagoon and elevate it beyond something you’d find on Pornhub. Sally Hawkins is endlessly charming as Elisa, effortlessly selling her wide-eyed attraction to Doug Jones ’ scaly, egg-scoffing leading ‘man’. It’s so heart-floodingly romantic, you’ll forget about the cat corpses left in its wake.

Joaquin Phoenix falling for an Alex-alike operating system in the near future? You could scoff, but Spike Jonze and his cast (including Scarlett Johansson as the phone-based crush) make it work with real emotion. It's the Black Mirror movie you never knew your heart desired.

25. Notting Hill

Richard Curtis’ Four Weddings follow-up is pure fantasy: its romance between an everyman and a Hollywood star is only slightly more believable than the concept of affording a flat in Notting Hill from the profits of a second-hand book shop. But the film’s charms are irresistible — Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts at career peaks, a Curtis script packed with classic lines (“I’m just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her”), and some stonking product placement for Horse & Hound magazine.

24. Cold War

Polish auteur Pawel Pawlikowski returns with a sophisticated, devastating love affair that spans countries and decades in Cold War . Zula (Joanna Kulig) sings, Winter (Tomasz Kot) listens, they connect. The attraction is instant, but the unstable political landscape tears their relationship apart time and time over. In jazz clubs and work camps, they cross crowds to find each other in a glorious black and white romantic portrait of a lifetime – that somehow is still under 90 minutes.

23. God’s Own Country

Johnny (Josh O’Connor), the twentysomething son of an ailing sheep farmer (Ian Hart), doesn’t expect much from his life in rural Yorkshire beyond several pints and an anonymous bunk-up. But his perfunctory existence is turned upside-down when Romanian farmhand Gheorghe (Alec Secareanu) arrives for lambing season. A dig into the nature of humanity from Francis Lee, a director already fluent in the language of brutality and tenderness. A stunning love story that in its finest moments is pure poetry.

22. Long Shot

Playing off the idea of the unlikely couple, Long Shot delivers more laughs and more authentic emotion than you might think. It's thanks to some sparky, easy chemistry between Charlize Theron and Seth Rogen as the central pair. Director Jonathan Levine has a history of finding joy in odd places, while the script from Liz Hannah and Dan Sterling is sharp. This is one that deserved a better reception at the box office.

21. Call Me By Your Name

First real love on one side, unexpected feelings on the other. Luca Guadagnino ’s look at love has rightfully been showered with praise and Oscar nominations. Teenager Elio ( Timothée Chalamet ), juggling at least one girlfriend, finds himself developing a deeper relationship with Oliver ( Armie Hammer ), who has arrived at the family’s summer home to become his father’s research assistant. Theirs is a carefully drawn connection, shot in sun-dappled, beautiful countryside locales. See it also for Michael Stuhlbarg ’s wonderful performance as Elio’s father, acting the hell out of a relatively small role. It’s a peach.

20. Gone With The Wind

Strap in for an extended romp through the tumult of the American Civil War and beyond via the tale of Scarlett O’Hara, a Southern Belle who’ll do whatever she needs and marry whoever she likes to get what she wants. A true Hollywood epic, with iconic performances from Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable — just prepare yourself for the shockingly crude language (“Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn ”) and bum-numbing four-hour runtime.

19. 10 Things I Hate About You

The film that raised the bar for teenage romantic gestures everywhere: hijack a marching band or don’t even bother. Julia Stiles delivers maximum snark and Heath Ledger is his bad-boy best alongside a cherubic Joseph Gordon-Levitt in this high school Shakespeare adaptation, featuring angsty adolescent poetry, pop-punk perfection on the soundtrack, and the ugliest prom dress ever.

18. An Affair To Remember

A classic romance with a valuable lesson: look both ways before crossing the road. Cary Grant’s Nickie and Deborah Kerr ’s Terry are conflicted lovers who fall for each other on a cruise. There’s one problem – they both have partners back at home to return to. The pair make a pact to meet at the top of the Empire State Building after six months if they still like each other, but Terry misses the reunion after being hit by a car. Like a Green Cross Code video, but with way more emotional impact.

17. Crazy, Stupid, Love.

It was a love affair for the ages – the world, and Ryan Gosling's abs. Okay, so it also marks the beginning of a double act (Gosling and Emma Stone) that would go on to Oscar-winning musical effect with La La Land . Frank and honest, it's also warm and witty, showcasing Steve Carell's separated dad searching for new love (or lust) even as his daughter (Stone) kicks off her own relationship with the very player (Gosling) he's taking advice from.

16. Pretty Woman

Julia Roberts became instant rom-com royalty playing Vivian, the hooker with a heart of gold who enters a different kind of transaction with Richard Gere ’s uptight businessman Edward. She gets a makeover and a white knight fairytale ending, he discovers true love and a new perspective on relationships. Just don’t think too hard about the sexual politics.

15. The Apartment

Billy Wilder at the height of his powers guides Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine through a film that explores not just burgeoning attraction, but also loneliness, despair and finding yourself in a world that thinks nothing of you. The result was five Oscars (including Best Picture) from 10 nominations, all of them well-earned. Lemmon is CC Baxter, currying favour with his bosses by letting use his pad as their spot for liaisons. But upon meeting elevator operator Fran Kubelik and saving her life, complicated love blossoms. It’ll win over the hardest heart.

14. Groundhog Day

Sarcastic weatherman Phil Connors gets stuck in a time loop where he’s forced to become his best self in order to be worthy of wooing co-worker Rita, while also managing to sleep with half of Punxsutawney along the way. Sarcastic weatherman Phil Connors gets stuck in a time loop where he’s forced to become his best self in order to be worthy of wooing co-worker Rita, while also managing to sleep with half of Punxsutawney along the way.

13. Brokeback Mountain

“I wish I knew how to quit you…” Searing performances from Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal and sensitive direction by Ang Lee (who won an Oscar for his work) combine to create an instant, memorable classic that hinges on tender talk and taboo (for the time it's set, at least) longing. The tale of two cowboys who slowly fall for each other is powerful because it’s so perfectly performed by an impressive ensemble that also includes Michelle Williams and Anne Hathaway .

12. Breakfast at Tiffany’s

Leaving aside some of the more problematic elements that emerge when the film is viewed with a modern eye, Tiffany’s is powered by Audrey Hepburn ’s nuclear-level charm as Holly Golightly, the socialite with an eye for a new neighbour and a dark past. Hepburn has commented about how tricky she found it to play Holly, but you’d never know it from the film, which grabs your attention and rarely lets go.

Jean-Pierre Jeunet ’s ultra-quirky, hyper-stylised romance couldn’t be more Gallic if it whacked you with a baguette and draped a string of garlic around your neck. For the whimsy-tolerant it’s rich and bold, with a fruity finish in Audrey Tautou ’s charming lead performance. For others, it may be Simply Too French.

10. Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind

With a Charlie Kaufman script and Michel Gondry behind the camera, Eternal Sunshine dispenses with romantic conventions for ponderous ruminations on love, memory, and painful emotion. The non-linear narrative front-loads the break-up scenes, later offering a warmer look at the happy days of the relationship between Joel ( Jim Carrey ) and Clementine ( Kate Winslet ), who make the drastic decision to forget each other entirely through a memory-erasing procedure.

9. Jerry Maguire

Cameron Crowe’s genre mash-up combines the pure joy of falling head over heels in love with the thrills of, erm, sports management deals. It’s more romantic than it sounds, delivering two of cinema’s greatest ever declarations of love within fifteen seconds: Tom Cruise ’s “you complete me” dovetailing neatly into Renee Zellweger’s “you had me at hello”.

8. Before Sunset

Leave it to Richard Linklater to experiment with the format and find something new to say about how love evolves across the years. A follow-up to 1995’s Before Sunrise , it catches up with Ethan Hawke ’s Jesse and Julie Delpy ’s Celine nine years later for more walking, talking and romance. Written by the cast with their director, it feels like it emerged organically instead of being forced into existence. And it’s warm, witty and real when dealing with affairs of the heart, for good and ill.

7. Annie Hall

How far Woody Allen’s private life can be extricated from his work is still an ongoing conversation, but viewed in a cultural vacuum (if such a thing is possible or even advisable), Annie Hall stands as one of the finest rom-coms ever made. Diane Keaton is the titular Annie, the laid-back lover of neurotic stand-up comic Alvy. The film avoids emotional grandstanding and instead focuses on the minuscule everyday moments that bring flashes of muted joy and disappointment on a daily basis, topped with fourth-wall-breaking gags and wry asides. It’s unlikely to win new fans, but hard to forget for those who have already seen it.

6. True Romance

That title’s not ironic — underneath the cocaine, the murders, and Gary Oldman ’s dreadlocked Drexl, Tony Scott ’s Tarantino-penned crime saga has a raw, beating heart in Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette ’s ride-or-die lovers. The film that changed the meaning of ‘three little words’ from “I love you” to “you’re so cool… you’re so cool… you’re so cool…”

5. The Princess Bride

Rob Reiner ’s cult classic flings sickly fairytale tropes off the Cliffs of Insanity on its way to happily ever after. The swashbuckling romance between Princess Buttercup and her faithful farmhand-turned-pirate Westley is so witty, feisty, and engaging that even 10 year-old boys don’t mind the kissing bit. Relationship goals: find a partner that you’d hurl yourself down the world’s longest hill for.

4. Four Weddings and a Funeral

In one fell swoop Richard Curtis made the jump from Blackadder to the big-screen, propelled Hugh Grant and Mike Newell ’s careers, and defined a whole new era of British rom-coms. Four Weddings and a Funeral delivers on the bittersweet promise of its title, balancing foul-mouthed dialogue with chocolate box London locales, all topped off with a rain-soaked feel-good finale.

3. Brief Encounter

With its ‘a stable husband is better than a passionate lover’ message (hey, it was the 1940s), Brief Encounter is both achingly romantic and poignantly melancholic. Laura and Alec’s first grit-eyed conversation on the train platform is perhaps the original meet-cute, but the duo’s profound connection faces scrutiny from the social mores of the era. The end of the affair is enough to leave you with more than just a speck of dust in your eye.

2. Casablanca

Humphrey Bogart. Ingrid Bergman. One iconic gin joint. Set against the backdrop of World War II, the story of emotionally bruised bar owner Rick and the return of Ilsa, the old flame who left him emotionally distant, is univeraslly regarded as one of the all-time greats. Its central love story is bittersweet, with a sacrificial pay-off that only bolsters its emotional impact. When you’ve seen it once, you’ll be desperate to play it again.

1. When Harry Met Sally

It can be hard to find something new to say about Rob Reiner and Nora Ephron ’s romantic classic, because it has topped lists and been so praised in the past. How it hits you in both the heart and the funny bone is just part of why this one works, putting together Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal ’s initially unlikely lovers. There are the endlessly quotable exchanges, Carrie Fisher stealing scenes like she’s wearing a mask and a striped jumper and the sort of lasting impact that so many movies in the genre have failed to match before or since.

The 50 Greatest Romantic Movies of All Time

It’s the closest thing there is to a universal genre. That’s because, with rare exceptions, everyone falls in love, or at least wants to. And when you think about it, almost every movie is a love story. Thrillers, comedies, sci-fi — no matter what the form, the spectacle of two people falling in love in the middle of it has always been what makes the world of movies go round. That’s why choosing the greatest movie love stories presents a special challenge. Because really, what isn’t a contender? In a way, though, we kept our criteria simple. We were looking for grand passion, for chemistry and heat and all that good stuff. Yet there’s an ineffable quality that elevates a truly great movie romance. Let’s call it the Swoon Factor. It’s about the swoon that happens onscreen; it’s about the swoon that happens between the audience and the screen. What follows are the 50 films that, more than any others, got our hearts racing.     

Dirty Dancing (1987)

Set in 1963 but oh-so-’80s in its idea of hairstyles and heartthrobs, this sexy summer-camp romance defied its critics to become a classic. Nicknaming Jennifer Grey’s character “Baby” went a long way to illustrate what’s really going on here: The teenage daughter of conservative Jewish parents is forever being infantilized by her folks, until she meets a slightly older — but undeniably adult — dance teacher (Patrick Swayze) who shows her the time of her life. Corrupted by rock ’n’ roll, Baby grows up fast, getting over her initial shyness (“I carried a watermelon”) while rehearsing with her seductive instructor, who practices a racy new style of close-contact, ultra-suggestive moves that can only be read as carnal. Like “Rebel Without a Cause” and “Grease” before it, the movie plays on the fantasy of an off-limits attraction between Baby and the bad boy. — Peter Debruge

Trouble in Paradise (1932)

In this gold-standard screwball caper comedy, a gentleman thief, a lady pickpocket and a Parisian heiress form an elegant triangle, the preferred shape of Ernst Lubitsch — that sublime architect of romantic instability — who loved to test how seemingly solid couples might respond to a good romantic upset. Here, the temptation isn’t merely sentimental, as there’s a potential fortune on the line. What’s more, Gaston Monescu (Herbert Marshall) and Lily (Miriam Hopkins) make clear from the moment they meet that each is perfectly capable of robbing the other blind. She boosts his wallet, he knicks her garter (we needn’t see the deed to be scandalized). The movie came out before the Production Code, and it sparkles with the kind of naughty innuendo that was soon prohibited in Hollywood, but which Lubitsch was sophisticated enough to suggest even behind closed doors. — PD

Splash (1984)

A man falls in love with a mermaid: What could be simpler, or sweeter, than that? Yet Tom Hanks, in the movie that made him a movie star, does not go lightly into his communion with a woman who’s half-fish. Ron Howard’s landmark comedy was one of the first films to demonstrate that a high-concept premise could be executed in a way that was artful and classic: a throwback to the Hollywood that used fantasy to put us in touch with reality. Daryl Hannah, as Madison the red-tailed mermaid, acts with a dazed curiosity and eagerness that’s irresistible, and Hanks turns his disgruntlement into a profound expression of love’s challenge – namely, that we can’t choose who we love, but we can choose to embrace the love that chose us. — Owen Gleiberman

The Bridges of Madison County (1995)

Amid a career of macho performances, Clint Eastwood tapped into his sensitive side to deliver one of his most indelible characters in Robert Kincaid, a National Geographic photographer on assignment in Iowa, who stops by a farmhouse to ask for directions. He’s greeted by Francesca, a lonely war bride who offers to show him around (an Italian-accented Meryl Streep, who says so much in her silent gestures, like the way she absentmindedly touches herself in the places she wants to be caressed). It’s no big surprise that this dissatisfied housewife develops feelings for this stranger. More touching is Kincaid’s admission that he’s fallen for Francesca, too, but knows she has no intention of leaving her family. Still, that doesn’t stop him from trying. “This kind of certainty comes but just once in a lifetime,” he tells her. The sight of Kincaid looking desperate in the rain, the downpour likely masking tears, is so radically counter-Eastwood, you’ve gotta believe it. — PD

The Notebook (2004)

In the two decades since “The Notebook,” Ryan Gosling has cultivated his image as a chiseled heartthrob to such a degree that he seemed the perfect choice to play a live-action Ken doll in the “Barbie” movie. But back when director Nick Cassavetes was casting the role of Noah Calhoun, he saw the actor (and former Mouseketeer) differently — as someone both relatable and reckless enough to chase his dream girl (Rachel McAdams’ Allie) up a Ferris wheel. No matter what Allie does, he keeps on loving her in the best possible version Hollywood can make of a Nicholas Sparks novel. The secret formula here comes in catching up with Noah and Allie half a century later, as played by screen legends James Garner and Gena Rowlands, coupled with the tear-jerky reason we’ve been reliving all their most romantic memories. — PD

All That Heaven Allows (1955)

The colors gush in Douglas Sirk’s lush 1950s melodrama, about a New England widow, Cary (Jane Wyman), who falls for the studly but respectful hunk (Rock Hudson) who tends the trees at her house. It may be love, but her two grown children — and nearly the entire community — are disapproving of Cary’s feelings, pressuring her to break off the relationship. Seen today, neither the age difference nor the class divide seem like deal-breakers, which makes Cary’s sacrifice seem all the more futile. (Years later, Todd Haynes updated the dynamic with a Black gardener and a still-living gay husband in “Far from Heaven.”) During the 1950s, Hudson carved out a niche as a sensitive leading man, to the point that he’s almost pathetic here (consider the state of him in the final scene). Others may try to meddle, but in the end, it’s her decision alone whom she loves. — PD

The Sound of Music (1965)

You might ask: How romantic could a musical this notoriously G-rated and squeaky-clean really be? But if “The Sound of Music” has incandescent songs, as well as a singular true-life story about the Von Trapp Family Singers (seven motherless Austrian children returned to vitality through the life force of Julie Andrews’ nun-turned-governess Maria), the movie’s secret weapon is its love story. Andrews, while she’s certainly playing the soul of goodness, invests her slow-blooming affection for Christopher Plummer’s Capt. Von Trapp with an almost forbidden sense of broken decorum. And Plummer, who looks like he belongs in a far darker movie, plays the captain as a lost man literally coming back to existence. When these two dance and realize, at the very same moment, that they’ve fallen in love, it’s one of the most electrifying scenes in movie history. — OG

Once (2007)

It’s not unusual to see a musical scale the heights of romantic passion. What’s different about John Carney’s film is that it’s a small-scale, non-stylized, kitchen-sink indie drama, yet in its lo-fi and platonic way it uses songs to create the majesty and devotion of a musical daydream. On the sidewalks of Dublin, a 30ish busker (Glenn Hansard) strums a guitar with a worn-out hole where the pick board should be. Most folks pass him by, but a girl (Markéte Irglová) lingers. They’re drawn into each other’s orbit, and though we never learn their names, a romance — or is it? — begins to play out in the songs they sing together. They both have other relationships, yet ”Once” tells the delicate tale of how, through song, these two save each other. As they give themselves over to numbers like “When Your Mind’s Made Up,” the movie swoons, and you will too. — OG

Pretty Woman (1990)

Some think of it as the ultimate guilty-pleasure rom-com. Others say that its story of a wealthy businessman (Richard Gere) who hires an escort (Julia Roberts) for a week to be his public romantic partner represents Hollywood at it most reprehensibly sexist. The truth, however, falls right in between. “Pretty Woman” only got tagged with the guilty-pleasure label because it came out at the dawn of the modern rom-com era (it sparkles like Tracy and Hepburn next to a lot of the films that came afterward). And as far as morality goes, it’s not the movie that’s sexist. It’s the world of high-gloss commodification that Vivian, played by Roberts not just with the boldest smile of her era but with the vivacity that turned her into a singular movie star, must navigate. Look closely at the dance of chemistry and arbitration between Roberts and Gere, and you’ll see that “Pretty Woman,” in its slickly-packaged-by-director-Garry Marshall way, is nothing less than a screwball celebration of the politics of love. — OG

Mississippi Masala (1991)

Mira Nair took a pioneering risk in depicting the romance between Demetrius (Denzel Washington), a blue-collar Black carpet cleaner, and Mina (Sarita Choudhury), a young Indian woman whose family fled Uganda to the American South. Set in Greenwood, Miss., where locals helped the creative team finesse the authenticity of the movie’s dialogue and detail, Nair’s contemporary interracial romance confronts the pushback of both the African American and South Asian communities to Demetrius and Mina’s relationship. But unlike Sidney Poitier social drama “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner,” her parents’ reaction makes up just a fraction of the script, which gives complex backstories to each side of the couple. It’s also incredibly sexy, whether they’re chatting by phone in separate beds or sharing the same one in the movie’s scorching love scene. The movie argues for colorblindness while celebrating both cultures, modeling a relationship never before seen on screen. — PD

Say Anything (1989)

“Optimism is a revolutionary act,” writer-director Cameron Crowe quips in the commentary for his late-’80s teenage touchstone. That kind of radical confidence drives high school senior Lloyd Dobler (John Cusack), who musters the nerve to ask out valedictorian Diane Court (Ione Skye), even though all his peers think she’s out of his league. At first, Lloyd may seem like a nobody when compared to his most-likely-to-succeed sweetheart, but over time, he proves to be loyal, decent and unflappably sincere — qualities that made him the model boyfriend for kids of the ’80s. The clincher: Even when dumped, he shows up with a boombox, blasting Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes” outside her window. The gesture became an iconic declaration of love for a generation … and still holds up, even if the technology is obsolete. — PD

The Way We Were (1973)

Today, it would probably be a rom-com about opposites attracting: Katie (Barbra Streisand), a wisecracking Marxist Jewish political activist, and Hubbell (Robert Redford), a debonair WASP writer born with the entitlement not to have to worry about “causes.” But 50 years ago, when the story was filmed by director Sydney Pollack not as a comedy but as a romantic drama of tumultuous love-hate passion, the film, in its high-end soap-opera way, seemed to be expressing something new in the culture — the way that love, after the 1960s, was no longer going to be asking people to stay in their ethnic lanes. “The Way We Were” is a hefty slice of middlebrow Hollywood corn, yet the irresistible tug of it is that Streisand and Redford embody their characters on a level of romantic mythology. And let’s not forget the power of that title song! As sung by Streisand, it’s the incarnation of nostalgic beauty. — OG

Carol (2015)

Movies that involve romantic stories of same-sex couples are inevitably placed in a category called “gay” or “queer” or whatever, often by their biggest fans. Yet if you think about it for five seconds, that’s a retrograde way of putting movies into boxes. The director Todd Haynes has made several masterpieces (“Far From Heaven,” “Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story”), but he has never made a drama more darkly romantic and enticing, more seductive in its suspense, more mired in the agonizing compulsion of love than this lavishly mesmerizing adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s 1952 novel “The Price of Salt.” During the Christmas shopping season, Therese (Rooney Mara), a New York department-store clerk, meets Carol, a woman of the world played by Cate Blanchett with a femme fatale swagger just this side of threatening. Their relationship will be fraught with the drama of divorce, blackmail, a private detective, and other elements that, as staged by Haynes, acquire the heightened quality of a vintage film noir. The final scene, set in the bar of the Oak Room, features one of the most transporting locked-gazes-across-a-crowded-room moments you’ll ever see. — OG

The Bodyguard (1992)

Is there anything more romantic than someone jumping in front of a bullet for you? Technically, that’s Frank Farmer’s job, but by the time Kevin Costner’s clean-cut, ex-Secret Service agent leaps in to protect endangered diva Rachel Marron (Whitney Houston) — on Oscar night, no less — we know he’s acting out of love more than duty. Frank sweeps both audiences and Rachel off their feet much earlier in the film, during a concert meltdown where he lifts her up and carries her through the mob — a chivalrous image immortalized on the film’s poster. Amazingly enough, “The Bodyguard” never made a big deal of its interracial romance, and that itself was a big deal. Powered by one of the all-time great soundtracks, the pop blockbuster is a classy entry in the oft-smarmy category of R-rated ’90s thrillers. Recent talks of a remake raise the question of which couple could out-sizzle Costner and Houston. — PD

Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927)

Marriage, they say, has its ups and downs. But it’s doubtful that any movie has ever dramatized the ebb and flow of feeling in a relationship with the primal power of F.W. Murnau’s silent classic. In outline, it could almost be a murderous film noir: A man — known only as The Man (George O’Brien), and haunted by better times with his wife, known only as The Wife (Janet Gaynor) — leaves the farmhouse where they live with their child to be with a woman from the city (Margaret Livingston). She wants him to drown The Wife, and part of the film’s shock is that he nearly does. But “Sunrise” proceeds as a series of shocks, which have the effect of jolting love back to life. Shot as a kind of sensuous living daydream, it is the cinema’s most profound and stirring roller-coaster of passion, an affirmation of what it means for two people to be meant for each other. — OG

The Princess Bride (1987)

Presented as a beloved fairy tale passed down between generations, screenwriter William Goldman’s tongue-in-cheek riff on classic adventure tales takes the best parts of nearly a century of cinematic love stories and remixes them for the home-video set (the goal was to get through to media-savvy audiences who thought they’d seen it all). Starting with two impossibly beautiful leads in Cary Elwes and Robin Wright, he builds a legend of swashbuckling pirates, dangerous rescues and well-earned revenge, describing it all (via kindly narrator Peter Falk) as the ultimate example of the form. That’s an impossible tall order — a genre-straddling smorgasbord the studio didn’t know how to market at the time — which director Rob Reiner miraculously achieves by enlisting an astonishing ensemble. Everyone from Billy Crystal to Christopher Guest, Wallace Shawn to Andre the Giant assemble to support the sacrifice Westley makes to save his beloved Buttercup from marrying the wrong guy. — PD

Past Lives (2023)

Two men and a woman sit at a bar, and before the audience knows anything about them, we try to figure out what their relationship is. Who belongs with whom? That we can’t entirely tell is key to what makes Celine Song’s remarkable drama such a haunting fable of love’s enigma. It turns out that Nora (Greta Lee), a New Yorker born and raised until the age of 12 in South Korea, is married to Arthur (John Magaro), a mouthy homegrown American she met at a writers’ retreat. The other man, Hae Sung (Teo Yoo), is the childhood friend Nora has maintained ties with; he’s at once her past, the spirit of her homeland, and maybe her romantic partner in another avenue of existence. “Past Lives” is a movie that will strike chords of recognition in any true romantic, as it’s about the secret journey that love takes: a communion that may occur in this life, or that may just be waiting for the next one. — OG

Beauty and the Beast (1946)

It’s one of the most poetic distillations of romantic desire in all of movies; you could also call it the “Splash” of its day. Jean Marais plays the Beast, who in Jean Cocteau’s film is a kind of delicate aristocrat with the face of a courtly lion. Josette Day is Belle, who ends up imprisoned in the Beast’s castle to work off a debt accrued by her father. What follows is an intricate fairy tale of deception and magic, built around the luminous ingenuity of Cocteau’s visual effects. Yet the most magical thing about it is the bond that develops between Belle and her disarmingly chivalrous captor/lover, a character so touching in his passion that when Greta Garbo saw the movie, it’s reported that she reacted to his death at the end by crying out, “Give me back my Beast!” — OG

Love & Basketball (2000)

The title of this Y2K sports classic references two very different games, and the rules aren’t fair in either one. After discovering that they both love basketball, Monica cockily challenges childhood friend Quincy to a match (later, famously, she’ll play for his heart). Monica wins that first bout, but he winds up injuring her — an early sign that the dynamic is different when two sexes occupy the court at the same time. That gap widens as they grow up (into Omar Epps and Sanaa Lathan). He finds it relatively easy to follow in the footsteps of his NBA-pro dad, whereas there’s no equivalent path for female players. Writer-director Gina Prince-Bythewood empathizes with Monica, who watches fame go to her old friend’s head. Per the formula, audiences are conditioned to root for the romance to work out, but basketball occupies a bigger part of Monica’s heart, and the movie finds the perfect solution. — PD

Call Me by Your Name (2017)

Italian director Luca Guadagnino (“I Am Love”) turned André Aciman’s ecstatic, wildly overwritten novel of a formative first love between teenage Elio (Timothée Chalamet) and his father’s slightly older — but still relatively inexperienced — teaching assistant, Oliver (Armie Hammer), into a sensual summer dream. There’s an intensity to the sights, sensations and emotions that imprints itself on audiences, such that Elio’s memories become our own. One needn’t be gay to recognize the significance that such an all-consuming early infatuation can leave on a young person’s romantic identity, though the movie offers a welcome message to all who’ve struggled to come to terms with their own sexuality in the eloquent heart-to-heart between the boy and his surprisingly understanding dad: “How you live your life is your business. Just remember, our hearts and our bodies are given to us only once,” he says. “Don’t kill it and with it the joy you’ve felt.” — PD

Vertigo (1958)

For a director who was known as the thrillingly precise and methodical Master of Suspense, Alfred Hitchcock was not shy about portraying romantic rapture. A number of his films (“To Catch a Thief,” “Notorious,” “Rear Window”) are entrancing love stories, but in “Vertigo” he dove deep into an almost private zone of love-as-fetishistic-obsession. James Stewart’s middle-aged detective falls for the woman he’s hired to follow — played, with a depressive carnality, by Kim Novak, who also plays the woman’s shop-girl look-alike, who Stewart then feels compelled to transform into the first woman. No classic Hollywood movie balances love on the precipice of kink and danger the way this one does, which is why “Vertigo” opened the door to everything from “Blue Velvet” to the career of Brian De Palma. — OG

La La Land (2016)

Damien Chazelle’s glorious, heartrending, bittersweet musical does an extraordinary job of retro-fitting the song-and-dance pleasures of vintage Hollywood into the sunlit freeway landscape of contemporary Los Angeles. Yet the film’s most radical feature is the way it brings Mia (Emma Stone), an aspiring actress, together with Seb (Ryan Gosling), a jazz pianist drowning in his own purity, and celebrates their union with intoxicating affection — only to show you how their love crashes on the shores of warring egos. What lifts “La La Land” into the realm of transcendently moving love stories is that it presents a happy ending that almost happened, and that could have happened if only life had turned out a bit different. — OG

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

Dramatically speaking, the most exciting part of a relationship occurs either during the time a couple is falling in love or else at the moment it’s falling apart. Screenwriter Charlie Kaufman incorporates both aspects — albeit as endangered flashbacks — while exploring a fantasy that anyone who’s been through the emotional wringer of a relationship can identify with: What if you could erase all traces of an ex from your memory? Director Michel Gondry proved the perfect partner to visualize the sketchy sci-fi apparatus that makes a brain scrub possible for Joel (Jim Carrey), who realizes halfway through that, however painful, he can’t live without any trace of his soulmate, Clementine (Kate Winslet), the manic free spirit with the Kool-Aid-colored hair. As Joel tries to hold on to the good times while his mind’s being wiped, Kaufman allows audiences to absorb their best memories and make them our own. — PD

Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)

Hugh Grant stammered his way into our hearts, fumbling and fluttering his eyelids the whole way, in a delightfully English rom-com from screenwriter Richard Curtis (who juggled no fewer than eight couples in his 2003 directorial debut “Love Actually”). This more streamlined love story starts where practically every Jane Austen story ends: at the altar. Grant’s not the one getting hitched at those opening nuptials, though he does fall hard for an American guest played by Andie MacDowell. Their courtship is unconventional (it amounts to shagging anytime their friends tie the knot), but the chemistry is undeniable. When it’s time for Charles and Carrie to get married, however, each of them says their vows with someone else. So how do they wind up together? It’s the little surprises that delight. — PD

Out of Sight (1998)

In terms of sheer sex appeal, it’s hard to top the chemistry between George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez, who play an incorrigible bank robber and the U.S Marshall tasked with apprehending him in Steven Soderbergh’s sultry, time-skipping Elmore Leonard adaptation. It’s steamy from the start, as a prison break leaves cop and quarry stuffed in a trunk together — a cozy way to get acquainted. Four years after “Pulp Fiction,” the picture came at a moment when Soderbergh was experimenting with film editing and features several nifty innovations, including an unconventional love scene that turns up the heat by cutting between flirtation and payoff. In one thread, Jack Foley and Karen Sisco roleplay in the hotel bar, pretending to be strangers. Skipping ahead, it teases glimpses of the “time out” where all this cocktail talk is headed: a striptease upstairs, in which the pair put aside their differences long enough to make love. — PD

The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988)

Great as he is, we don’t tend of think of Daniel Day-Lewis as an overwhelmingly romantic movie star. In Philip Kaufman’s heady, intoxicating, high-wire adaptation of the Milan Kundera novel, he plays Tomas, a character who is very much a fickle Lothario — a randy physician in 1960s Prague who bounces from one conquest to the next, though he does have a regular thing going with Sabine (Lena Olin), an artist who likes to spice their lovemaking with mirrors and bowler hats. But then Tomas meets Tereza (Juliette Binoche), whose gravity pulls him down to earth. And then the Soviet tanks come rolling in, blowing up all their lives. When that happens, “The Unbearable Lightness of Being” becomes one of the most seriously moving love stories in cinema, a tale of three lost souls yearning to connect, to survive, to unlock love’s mystery. — OG

A Star Is Born (1954)

For 30 years, the Judy Garland/James Mason version of “A Star Is Born” was tainted by the messy circumstances of its making. The script kept getting rewritten, Garland was a notoriously unstable presence on set, and when the movie premiered in New York, it was three hours long — but executives at Warner Bros. then chopped it by half an hour, without so much as consulting the director, George Cukor. Yet when the movie was re-released in the ’80s, its reputation was elevated in a way that’s comparable to what happened with Hitchcock’s “Vertigo.” A world of moviegoers discovered that Cukor had crafted one of the most darkly entrancing love stories ever made. Its haunted spirit of rapture and loss is incarnated in Garland’s performance of “The Man That Got Away,” in Mason’s jaw-dropping drunken slap of Garland during a scene set at the Oscars, and in the tragic finale, which touches the secret heart of love: the faith necessary to sustain it. — OG

The Remains of the Day (1993)

Repression and strict social restraints are constantly keeping lovers apart in the works of director James Ivory, producer Ismail Merchant and screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, who together made a career’s worth of exquisitely nuanced literary adaptations frequently (and often unfairly) lumped in with lesser, made-for-TV costume dramas. While “A Room with a View” and “Maurice” are more overtly passionate, the trio’s take on Kazuo Ishiguro’s celebrated novel offers a heartbreaking portrayal of a couple kept apart by codes beyond their control. In this case, a butler (Anthony Hopkins) born and raised to serve the English aristocracy is so mindful of his place that he can’t bring himself to tell the housekeeper he adores (Emma Thompson) his true feelings. It’s wrenching to watch this docile attendant struggle between emotions for a colleague and devotion to his job, and yet, between the lines, and in these two masterful performances, are written volumes. — PD

Sid and Nancy (1986)

The director Alex Cox brought off something singularly audacious by centering a punk biopic on Sid Vicious, the Sex Pistols’ bassist and all-around showman-fuckup who was so dissolute most of the time that he could barely play his instrument or keep from nodding out. Yet the ultimate audacity of Cox’s film is that it dares to present Vicious’s relationship with Nancy Spungen, the torn-fishnet groupie from suburban Pennsylvania who turned him into a heroin addict, as if they were the Tristan and Isolde of the rock ‘n’ roll gutter. As Sid, Gary Oldman gives what may still be his greatest performance, and Chloe Webb, as Nancy, gives what is simply one of the most powerful performances in the history of cinema. Her Nancy is a caterwauling liar and junkie, such a damaged shard of a human being that it tears your heart apart just to behold her. Nancy and Sid are barely functional narcissist addicts, yet their love affair is fused on an animal level; they need each other to live, and to die. “Sid and Nancy” is raw and exhilarating — the greatest of all music biopics, and (not so incidentally) the most romantic. — OG

Moonlight (2016)

Told through poetic glimpses over three separate chapters in the life of its main character, “Moonlight” doesn’t feel like a love story at first. Director Barry Jenkins introduces Chiron at age 10, too young to recognize his own homosexuality, and yet already being teased as soft by his peers. In the middle segment, the boy meets Kevin, with whom he starts to explore his feelings, only to have that possibility derailed by bullying. Subverting stereotypes at every turn, the movie gives this lost soul a second chance in the final stretch, focusing on a tender, tentative reunion between Chiron (bulked up and thick-skinned from his time in prison) and his former crush. By this point, audiences are so invested in the character that “Moonlight” broke free of the rigid box that confines most queer stories to LGBT audiences, making it a crossover success and historic Oscar winner. — PD

The Apartment (1960)

The dialogue still zings and the heartbreak still stings in Billy Wilder’s ahead-of-its-time depiction of two Manhattan office drones who are both exploited by the same manager: Jack Lemmon plays ultra-cynical insurance salesman Bud Baxter, while Shirley MacLaine is Fran Kubelik, the elevator girl who brightens his days … but loves his boss. The plot (which involves Bud lending his place to higher-ups to schtup their secretaries) anticipates the #MeToo movement, while also acknowledging the reality that well-intentioned workers frequently fall for their colleagues. Bud goes about it the relatively respectful way, while Fran’s plight illustrates how unfair the world can be to those who mix business and pleasure. For audiences that love “Mad Men,” but identify with the underdog, the movie poses a wonderfully adult conundrum — one which forces Bud to decide between personal ethics and professional ambition, knowing it could all go sideways for him, career-wise. — PD

An Officer and a Gentleman (1982)

In the New Hollywood ’70s, a great many aspects of classic big-screen romance — the unabashed yearning, the sparkle, the lock-step gender roles — began to fall by the wayside. There was a lot of chatter about how romance itself was fading out of the culture. But that’s part of what made “An Officer and a Gentleman” loom so large. In its meticulous throwback of a story about a drifter, played with pinpoint narcissistic glamour by Richard Gere, who enlists in the Navy and falls for one of the “Puget Sound Debs” (Debra Winger) who want to marry a future jet pilot, the movie seemed to bring back, for the post-feminist era, the kind of shamelessly ardent love story that had fallen out of fashion. It helped that director Taylor Hackford infused it all with a contempo grittiness. As a basic-training movie, “Officer” anticipated much of ”Full Metal Jacket,” but what makes it indelible is the hungry desire enacted by Debra Winger, whose gaze of soulful adoration brings Gere fully alive as a romantic actor. — OG

In the Mood for Love (2000)

Cinema could hardly conjure a more lovely or elegant couple than cigarette-smoking Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung, who floats through stairwells in form-fitting cheongsams. Operating on the wisp of a plot, improvised and evolved over nearly a year, Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai denies these two beautiful avatars a conventional romance. They play neighbors who discover that their spouses are having an affair, and rather than sink to the same level, they indulge in a bit of imaginative detective work, reenacting how their partners might have met. This thin outline leaves near-infinite room for Wong to evoke a subjective range of responses from his audience, using the full range of cinematic tools — color, costume, gesture, music — to solicit a different reading from each viewer. Your mileage may vary, but keep in mind: Wong’s a feel-maker as much as a filmmaker, rewriting the rules via this elliptical dance between unrequited lovers. — PD

Moonstruck (1987)

At early test screenings, audiences weren’t falling for Norman Jewison’s now-classic New York romance the way they were supposed to, until he laid the tune “When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie…” over the opening credits. Cher tamped down her natural glamour to embody pragmatic Italian-American widow Loretta Castorini, who’s ready to settle for Johnny’s (Danny Aiello) passionless marriage proposal when she meets his brother Ronnie, played by a hot-blooded Nicolas Cage. Let’s just say, Ronnie gives this sensible Catholic woman reason to go to confession. The script by John Patrick Shanley is all but bursting with culturally specific detail, from drool-worthy dishes to unusual superstitions, but it’s the colorful ensemble — family members who want what’s best for Loretta — that ultimately serves to validate her seemingly reckless choice. After a lifetime of listening to her head, she finally decides to follow her heart. That’s amore! — PD

City Lights (1931)

Charlie Chaplin stubbornly resisted the film industry’s embrace of sound, releasing this silent treasure into a sea of talkies. Cinema may have gone a different direction, but his stubborn adherence to pantomime (plus his obsessive need to reshoot every shot until perfect) makes this love story seem all the more timeless, as Chaplin’s signature character, the Tramp, falls for a blind flower seller (Virginia Cherrill). She mistakes him for a wealthy man, and the Tramp allows her to go on imagining him that way in the most poetic version of a familiar rom-com trope ever committed to film: At some point, he’ll have to come clean. Will she still love him when she discovers the truth? The final scene, in which she recognizes the vulnerable fool after her vision has been restored, not by sight but by contact, ranks among the medium’s most romantic. — PD

Bonnie and Clyde (1967)

Of the many qualities that made it a revolutionary movie, two stand above all others. The first, and most talked about, is how violent it was — the bystander shot through the eye, the climactic slow-motion blood ballet, and everything else that rubbed the audience’s nose in what being a criminal really meant. But the other quality that defined “Bonnie and Clyde” was how shockingly sultry and romantic it was. The ads for the movie said, “They’re young. They’re in love. And they kill people.” The subtext was that something in the connection between Faye Dunaway’s torrid hunger and Warren Beatty’s vulnerable stud glamour was itself so dangerous that it was lethal. Just check out the two stars’ faces as they exchange one last look before being strafed to death by a hail of bullets. That look is the essence of true love. — OG

The 'Before' Trilogy (1995, 2004, 2013)

Taken by itself, 1995’s “Before Sunrise” represents the perfect encapsulation of young love: Two strangers meet on a train, get off together in Vienna and spend the night walking and talking (there’s some debate as to whether they make love, as the movie’s too modest to show it). Nine years later, director Richard Linklater delivered one of the most satisfying sequels of all time in “Before Sunset,” reuniting with his two characters, Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Céline (Julie Delpy), in Paris. Their time is once again limited, but now, the conversation deals with their regrets. But the attraction remains, and the movie ends with the implication they wind up together. But is it happily ever after? Linklater and company caught up with the pair once again with “Before Midnight,” and the movie finds them together, but dissatisfied, acknowledging the challenges that confront couples after nearly a decade together. It was impossible to guess when they first met how deep this relationship would go, and still anybody’s guess how it will end. — PD

Annie Hall (1977)

“I lurve you,” says Woody Allen’s Alvy Singer, coming about as close as he can to declaring his feelings for Annie Hall (Diane Keaton), the beguiling thrift-shop space cadet who charmed the world with her la-di-da innocence. Allen’s late-’70s classic was, at the time, a new kind of love story — the saga of a “relationship,” which is to say a partnership not truly built to last. And maybe Alvy Singer had to say “lurve” instead of “love” because, deep down, he wasn’t really sure that he could commit himself to the L-word. Yet the magic of “Annie Hall” is that is channeled how an entire generation had come to regard love in the age of therapeutic navel-gazing: as something intoxicating yet transient, rooted in a seems-like-old-times nostalgia that felt more at home looking back than forward. — OG

Jerry Maguire (1996)

Tom Cruise had always been a solo vessel — a cruise missile of a movie star. It was Cameron Crowe’s inspiration, in casting Cruise as a sports agent who gets tossed out of the game and has to reinvent himself as a better person in order to come back, to pair Cruise with Renée Zellweger, an unknown actor who did not come off like some female-movie-star equivalent of Tom Cruise. She had a homespun allure that seemed to be calling his cockiness, his very stardom, on the carpet. The beauty of the line “You complete me” is that Cruise seemed, at last, to be letting down the guard of a dozen years of mega-stardom. The beauty of “You had me at hello” is that it reminds us of how easy love is when it’s real. — OG

Roman Holiday (1953)

Audrey Hepburn plays the fed-up crown princess of an unspecified country in this escapist romp through the Eternal City. The project kicked off a seven-picture run with Paramount, during which she may as well have been the queen of Hollywood romances: “Sabrina,” “Funny Face,” “My Fair Lady” and more. Suffocating under the obligations of her position, she sneaks out during a European tour, landing in the hands of Gregory Peck’s dishonest (yet honorable) American newspaperman. He thinks he’s hit the jackpot, betting his editor he can deliver an exclusive interview with the princess — but he doesn’t gamble on falling for the dame. Their whirlwind romance lasts but a day, but in that time, the reporter gives Ann/Anya/Audrey a taste of freedom. She plays it coy for most of the movie, but the closeup on her face at the end says it all. — PD

Gone with the Wind (1939)

The scene where Clark Gable carries Vivien Leigh up the stairs, with intimations of (to put it mildly) erotic coercion, would not pass muster today. Yet that scene, and others that rhyme with it, are part of what make the most epic of Old Hollywood love stories one of the most darkly complicated and enthralling of Old Hollywood love stories. Leigh’s Scarlett O’Hara is fierce, strong, manipulative — the Southern belle as aristocratic vixen — and so she and Rhett Butler are destined to turn love into a battle that’s doomed to end in a draw. But what heat and light their fireworks give off! “Gone with the Wind” is a movie that’s now seen as “problematic,” yet one of the most seemingly imperfect things about it — the alternating currents of sex and anger, devotion and contempt that fuel the central relationship — is what makes it such a tumultuous classic. — OG

The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964)

A couple needn’t end up together for a love story to stand the test of time. In the case of Jacques Demy’s bittersweet musical, there’s a relatable quality to the way circumstances keep a working-class French couple from their happily ever after. That downbeat fate serves to balance the bright colors and bold choice of delivering every line of dialogue, no matter how banal, through song. That recitative strategy is common enough in opera, but downright revolutionary on film, still fresh and highly unusual all these years later. Naive young Geneviève (Catherine Deneuve, doll-like at 19) sells umbrellas in the family shop. Guy (Nino Castelnuovo) fixes cars at a nearby garage. They seem destined to be together, until military service calls him away. Michel Legrand’s score leans into the melancholy what might have been in what feels like a snow globe rendering of real life. — PD

Brokeback Mountain (2005)

It’s a queer love story set entirely in the closet. Yet by dramatizing the inner lives of two cowboys who find a romantic home on the range in early 1960s Wyoming, Ang Lee’s breathtaking adaptation of the Annie Proulx short story undermined every expectation of contemporary audiences. In showing us two men who discover a love that they themselves think is forbidden, the film dramatizes how prejudice can worm its way into the very fabric of people’s lives; it also demonstrates that the myth of the straight-as-an-arrow American macho he-man is just that – a myth. At the same time, our yearning for Ennis and Jack to make a life for themselves becomes overwhelming in its heartbreak. The performances of Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger are indelible — and, in Ledger’s case, miraculous, as he turns the muffled, barely articulate Ennis into a living metaphor for a love that cannot speak its name. — OG

Ghost (1990)

It’s a love story, a ghost story, a corporate crime story, a pottery story, and a movie in which Whoopi Goldberg plays the world’s funniest cut-up mystic. But who would have guessed that just four months after “Pretty Woman,” it would be the headiest romantic movie of its year? The director, Jerry Zucker, was a veteran of the “Airplane!” troupe, yet somehow he juggled all these elements to touch a chord of pure fairy-tale rapture, spinning out the story of a New York banker who’s killed by a mugger and returns as a ghost to protect his artist girlfriend. The way Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore bond across the ectoplasmic divide is at once thrilling and moving (true love, it seems, knows no restrictions, from either physics or the spirit world). The film turned the Righteous Brothers’ “Unchained Melody” into a retro smash, but only because of how it tapped the film’s emotions: intimate, operatic, quavering with devotion. — OG

Brief Encounter (1945)

It all began with a little piece of grit in her eye. Fortunately — or not — for Laura Jesson (Celia Johnson), a doctor was present to remove the offending particle, and when her vision cleared, there he stood, Dr. Alec Harvey (Trevor Howard), handsome and kind. The train station where this meeting happens serves as a kind of romantic purgatory, with each locomotive that steams through reminding Laura and Alec of their obligations to their actual partners. But every Thursday, they meet in town, too weak to resist the growing love between them — feelings which the conservative forces of the time could not condone, but which spoke to a human experience too widespread to go ignored. And so David Lean’s slender, achingly honest film has stood for years, staunchly refusing to judge two would-be adulterous souls, letting audiences in on a secret that even their spouses don’t suspect. — PD

A Star Is Born (2018)

It’s a seesawing Hollywood love story that’s been told on the big screen close to half a dozen times, yet never more powerfully or artfully than by Bradley Cooper in his astonishing directorial debut. From the bombastic kitsch of the 1976 Streisand/Kristofferson version, Cooper borrowed the idea of turning the central character into a rock ‘n’ roll star, and his performance as Jackson Maine — a half-deaf drunken burnout, running on fumes, even though he’s able to fool the world into thinking he’s still a rock god — grounds the soap-opera story in something disarmingly earthy and real. When Jackson meets Ally (Lady Gaga), a budding singer-songwriter, and invites her onstage to sing “Shallow,” you will get chills the way few romantic movies have given them to you — and the tremors don’t let up, as the two get on a serpentine roller-coaster of love vs. jealousy, arena rock vs. dance pop, and tragedy slipping into redemption. — OG

Moulin Rouge! (2001)

Baz Luhrmann’s visionary jukebox musical is in love with a lot of things: the look and feel of faux 1890s sound-stage Paris (that nightclub windmill etched in light), the epiphany of pop songs like Elton John’s “Your Song” when they pop up in what should be the wrong place (but then why does it feel so right?). Mostly, though, the film is in love with Christian and Satine, the romantic bohemians played by Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman, who summon gazes of such doomed longing that the film’s ultimate love affair seems to be with love itself — the unearthly kind, the kind that lives as an impossible dream. — OG

To Catch a Thief (1955)

From “The Awful Truth” to “An Affair to Remember,” Cary Grant enjoyed a two-decade run as Hollywood’s most dapper leading man, romancing everyone from Katharine Hepburn to Ingrid Bergman, sometimes multiple times over. But it was paired with impossibly elegant star (and future princess) Grace Kelly that Grant sparkled brightest, playing a notorious jewel thief who finds Kelly’s wealthy American tourist even more irresistible than her invaluable diamond necklace. Like a well-practiced cat burglar, this sprightly Hitchcock movie tiptoes so lightly it hardly touches the ground, sweeping audiences away to the chicest of locations on the French Riviera. Whether it’s the scene of Kelly’s gems outdazzling a fireworks show (she stands in the shadow while her diamonds glisten in full view of Grant) or the hilltop picnic overlooking Monaco, the vibrant full-color fling gave landlocked Americans a fizzy Mediterranean fantasy featuring the most distinguished couple imaginable. — PD

Titanic (1997)

The swooniest romantic movie of its time, and also the most sublime, James Cameron’s ocean disaster epic is the rare Hollywood blockbuster that achieves a larger-than-life quality. Yet its secret weapon as a love story is the too-often-unacknowledged deftness of its storytelling. As Jack and Rose, the sweethearts from opposite sides of the class divide, Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet have an effervescent chemistry, yet they’re playing starry-eyed youths caught in a puppy-love fling. The implication is that their union might last just about as long as the Titanic’s voyage — were it not for that fateful iceberg. In “Titanic,” it’s disaster itself that elevates love into something timeless. — OG

Casablanca (1942)

It was often said that in the 20th century, the movies taught people how to fall in love. You certainly know that watching “Casablanca.” In all of cinema, there is no love connection more pure, more impassioned, more haunted by the past, more alive in the present, more complicated by circumstance than the one between Rick (Humphrey Bogart), the expatriate owner of a shady Moroccan nightclub and gambling den, and Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman), the woman he fell in love with in Paris in 1940, only to be abandoned by her for mysterious reasons. Do they still love each other? The answer to that is as simple as listening to Sam (Dooley Wilson), the saloon pianist, play “As Time Goes By” and hearing that it’s really about how a kiss is just a kiss…for all time. Yet if Michael Curtiz’s ageless Hollywood classic celebrates what love is, it’s also about the deepest level of what love means : not just rapture but sacrifice, devotion to the other, a giving over of oneself to something larger. “Casablanca” remains the ultimate big-screen romance, in part because Bogart and Bergman show us that love is a force within us powerful enough to connect to — and save — the world. — OG

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The 45 Best Romantic Movies of All Time

For your next date night.

Every item on this page was chosen by a Town & Country editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

When Harry Met Sally

This 1989 classic (written by Nora Ephron and directed by Rob Reiner) is a genuine, heartfelt, and hilarious portrait of the evolution of a relationship. Harry and Sally (Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal) start off as apathetic acquaintances forced to share a cross-country drive from Chicago to New York in 1977. Over the next 12 years, and thanks to a few serendipitous run-ins, they develop a deep friendship, and then, of course, something more—because as Harry says in the beginning, "men and women can't be friends because the sex part always gets in the way." There are so many gems in this film: Carrie Fisher as Sally's best friend Marie, an iconic soundtrack by Harry Connick Jr., autumn in New York as a backdrop. And who can forget that scene in Katz's Deli?

If Beale Street Could Talk

Based on the James Baldwin novel, this film takes place in 1970s Harlem and tells the story of a young couple, Tish and Fonny (played by KiKi Layne and Stephan James), whose dreams for their future are shattered when Fonny is wrongfully accused and sent to jail, leaving Tish and their unborn child behind. Barry Jenkins ( Moonlight ) directed the movie, while Regina King, who plays Tish's mother, won an Oscar for her supporting role.

West Side Story

Sixty years later, West Side Story still remains one of the most iconic retellings of Romeo & Juliet . Here, Renaissance-era Verona is traded for 1950s New York, where our star-crossed lovers Tony and Maria (Richard Beymer and Natalie Wood) are caught between warring teenage gangs, the Jets and the Sharks. This film adaptation of the 1957 Broadway musical was a critical and commercial hit, and took home 10 Academy Awards, including the ones for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actress (for Rita Moreno). Watch this now in preparation for the Steven Spielberg remake, set to be released this December.

In the first of Luca Guadagnino's Desire trilogy (which ended with Call Me By Your Name ), Tilda Swinton is the wife of a Milanese aristocrat who doesn't quite fit into the moneyed stratosphere she has married into, with all of its codes, restrictions, and formalities. Having the resplendent Marisa Berenson as a mother-in-law only adds to the pressure. At a dinner party, she meets a young chef and they soon begin a passionate love affair. Tilda Swinton's sublime performance is reason enough to watch this film, but so is getting a glimpse inside the sumptuous lives (and the fabulous clothes!) of Italy's upper class (the Recchis were based on the aristocratic Castellini Baldissera family, whose homes were used as sets for the movie).

Before Midnight

The first two films in this Richard Linklater trilogy, Before Sunrise and Before Sunset , get more attention in the romance genre but Before Midnight is remarkable as a portrait of what love means after several years of marriage. By now, we've seen Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke's Celine and Jesse fall in love in Vienna and rekindle their romance Paris. There's an idealistic tinge to those films, while Before Midnight catches up with them as a married couple with children. Throughout the film, they bicker and they grapple with parenting, career crossroads, and what it means to be committed to one another through life's travails — and perhaps that's the most romantic thing of all.

Our Souls at Night

Adapted from the novel by Kent Haruf, Our Souls at Night marks the fourth collaboration between Jane Fonda and Robert Redford. They play Addie and Louis, longtime neighbors in a small Colorado town, and both widowed. One night, Addie visits Louis and suggests they sleep together, platonically, as a way to counter their loneliness. Eventually, a romance blossoms between these two septuagenarians, complicated by their adult children (Addie's son and Louis's daughter, played by Matthias Schoenaerts and Judy Greer) who show up and exhume painful family histories. Through it all, Our Souls at Night is an endearing portrait of love, loss, grief, and companionship.

Sylvie's Love

Tessa Thompson takes a break from world domination on Westworld (and trades sleek CEO attire for period costume) for this charming movie, set in 1950s Harlem. While working in her father's record shop, Sylvie meets jazz saxophonist Robert (Nnamdi Asomugha). Even though she is engaged, the two fall in love, only to have their relationship cut short by Robert's move to Paris in pursuit of his career. Five years later, the two run into each other and get another chance to try again.

Heartbreaker (L'Arnacoeur)

In this French romantic comedy, Alex (Romain Duris) breaks hearts for a living: he gets hired by concerned third parties to seduce women and get them to break up their no-good significant others, but only when the woman in question isn't happy but doesn't know it yet. Vanessa Paradis plays Juliette, whose wealthy father greatly disapproves of her choice in fiancé and hires Alex to break them up before their wedding in ten days. In order to get close, Alex poses as her hired bodyguard—hilarity ensues and inevitably, the two fall for each other. That the film takes place in glittery Monte Carlo makes it all the more fun.

It's been 50 years since Ali MacGraw and Ryan O'Neal brought us this tragic story about a rich, preppy Harvard athlete who falls in love with a working-class Radcliffe College student, and gives up everything, including his cushy inheritance, to be with her. Factor in a terminal illness, plus this famous line, "Love means never having to say you're sorry," and it's not hard to see why Love Story is still so popular more than half a century later.

Say Anything

In Cameron Crowe's directorial debut, a middling student (John Cusack) and the class valedictorian (Ione Skye) fall for each other after their high school graduation. Say Anything will remind anyone of young summer romance, and of course there's that boombox scene, the gold standard for all teenage declarations of love.

Prepare to be absolutely gutted by this 2012 French film, directed by Michael Haneke, which won the Palme d'Or at Cannes that year. Two French icons, Emmanuelle Riva ( Hiroshima mon amour ) and Jean-Louis Trintignant ( And God Created Woman ) play elderly couple Anne and Georges, who are both retired piano teachers. When Anne suffers a stroke that paralyzes one side of her body, Georges becomes her caretaker, and will do whatever it takes to keep his promise to his wife that he won't her to a nursing home.

Black Orpheus

The tragic tale of Orpheus and Eurydice is reimagined in a new setting: the favelas of Brazil during Carnaval. For those in need of a Greek myth refresher: after his wife Eurydice dies from a snake bite, Orpheus, the legendary musician and son of Apollo, goes to Hades to see her. Hades, moved by Orpheus's lyre, tells him he can have Eurydice again, but she must follow him out of the cave and Orpheus must never look back until they are both back in the light. Afraid the god may have deceived him, Orpheus looks back before they are both out of the underworld and his wife is lost to Hades forever. This 1959 adaptation, which won the Palme d'Or at Cannes, also introduced the world to bossa nova , thanks to Luiz Bonfá's hauntingly beautiful classic: "Manhã de Carnaval."

Silver Linings Playbook

In this 2012 David O. Russell movie, Pat (Bradley Cooper) has lost his job and his wife, and, after a brief stint in a mental institution for his bipolar disorder, has moved back in with his parents (Robert De Niro and Jacki Weaver). He soon meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), a widow who offers to help Pat win his wife back if he'll do her one favor: be her partner in an upcoming dance competition. Adapted from Michael Quick's 2008 novel, Silver Linings Playbook was nominated for numerous awards, and won Lawrence her first Best Actress Oscar.

To All the Boys I've Loved Before

This 2018 Netflix original (and the first of three films in the series) is an adaptation of Jenny Han's popular YA novels about a shy teen, Lara Jean (Lana Condor), who writes a love letter to each of her past crushes. They're never meant to be sent but her mischievous little sister mails them out. Yes, this is a teen flick, but To All the Boys I've Loved Before is so wonderfully nostalgic that it appeals to everyone. Plus, the movie gets extra points for its Asian-American lead.

Blue is the Warmest Color

This French film, which was the first to win a Palme d'Or at Cannes for both the director and lead actresses (Léa Seydoux and Adèle Exarchopoulos), was controversial for its graphic, and very long, lesbian sex scenes. But that's obviously not what makes this such a great movie. Blue is the Warmest Color is a heartbreaking coming-of-age tale about an introverted teenage girl, Adèle (Exarchopoulos), who discovers love, sexuality, identity, and heartbreak for the first time, after meeting the enigmatic artist Emma (Seydoux).

Loving is based on the true story of Richard and Mildred Loving, the plaintiffs at the center of Loving vs. Virginia , a landmark Supreme Court decision in 1967 that invalidated state laws prohibiting interracial marriage. Ruth Negga and Joel Edgarton were nominated for numerous awards for their portrayal of this real-life couple who were willing to risk everything to be with each other.

As much as this Damian Chazelle-directed musical film is about love—between an aspiring actress (Emma Stone) and a budding jazz musician (Ryan Gosling)— La La Land , which earned its director and leading actress Academy Awards, is also a love letter to L.A. and a beautiful tale about following your dreams—and the sacrifices that come with it.

Who hasn't, at one point or another, quoted a line from this 1942 classic? Filmed and set during World War II, Casablanca ranks as one of the greatest films in history. Humphrey Bogart plays American expat Rick Blaine, who owns a nightclub in Vichy-controlled Casablanca frequented by everyone from German officials to refugees trying to escape to America. One night, his former lover Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) appears with her husband Victor (Paul Henreid), a fugitive Czech Resistance leader—they are in need of transit letters, which Rick has, that would allow them to travel freely through German-occupied territory. And so Rick must choose between winning back his lover or helping her escape with her husband.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

If you could erase all memories of a relationship that ended in heartbreak, would you? That's the central philosophical question of this unique story starring Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet. After learning that his girlfriend Clementine has erased all of her memories of their relationship, Joel undergoes the same procedure. During the process, he re-lives their past, including all the happy memories, and begins to forget the woman he loves.

Notting Hill

Nineties rom-com queen Julia Roberts goes meta in this 1999 classic, where she plays a Hollywood actress with whom Hugh Grant's character, a recently divorced independent book store owner in the titular London neighborhood, falls in love. Her high profile life, one full of tabloid scandals and relentless paparazzi, presents plenty of obstacles for their relationship. But, this being a Hollywood fairy tale, the couple find a way to live happily ever after.

Leena Kim is an editor at Town & Country , where she covers travel, jewelry, education, weddings, and culture.

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29 of the Best Romantic Movies on Netflix to Fall in Love With Right Now

By Samantha Vincenty

If you’re pining for the best romantic movies on Netflix, you’ve come to the right place. Maybe you’re looking for a sweet and predictable tale, some seriously steamy scenes, or a  love story that’s slightly unhinged but honestly still relatable. (Or perhaps you just want something on-brand to watch for inspiration as you simultaneously scroll through  dating apps for someone to play the love interest in  your story.)  Listen, we’re not here to judge your taste in streamable rom-coms; we’re just here to help you decide what to watch next, so that an hour from now you can be deeply engrossed in one of the best romantic comedy movies on Netflix instead of still scrolling through titles and watching a dozen trailers.

We scoured Netflix for the top romantic movies and settled on these 29 films—from classics like  She’s Gotta Have It to more recent romance movies like  Love in the Villa . There are some familiar favorites and a few you may have never heard of before. And yes, there’s a feel-good holiday love story or two, because how could we not? Obviously this isn’t an exhaustive list of every sappy movie on the platform, but we’re pretty confident that our choices for the best romantic movies on Netflix won’t disappoint. You might laugh, you may cry, and you’ll probably swoon over some of the lead characters.

So whether you’re gearing up for a movie night with your friends, your partner, or yourself, grab your  favorite snacks and get in your  comfiest loungewear , because it’s time for a marathon of the best romantic comedies on Netflix (plus some romantic dramas thrown in for good measure). If you’ve already worked your way through this list (impressive!) and you’re still looking for more romance to stream, check out our recommendations for  the sexiest movies on Hulu and  cute Christmas movies on Hulu .

1.   Lady Chatterley’s Lover (2022)

Emma Corrin shines as an aristocratic newlywed woman who enters an affair with a gamekeeper (Jack O’Connell) after her war-traumatized husband urges her to seek a sperm donor. Netflix’s spin on D.H. Lawrence’s steamy novel delivers big time on the “ hot sex scenes ” front as we watch the two grow closer—and get more and more naked—onscreen, and the gorgeous English countryside setting is romantic in and of itself. 

2.   Last Letter from Your Lover (2021)

Not sure whether you’re in the mood for a period drama or more of a modern rom-com vibe? You’ll get both in this adaption of a Jojo Moyes novel. Jennifer (Shailene Woodley) is a woman in the 1960s with an awful husband (Joe Alwyn). She ends up falling in love with a reporter (Callum Turner), and, decades later, present-day journalist Ellie (Felicity Jones) tracks the mystery of the lovebirds’ torrid letters with help from her cute coworker (Nabhaan Rizwan).

3.   Love in the Villa   (2022)

By Sara Coughlin

By Jessica Kasparian

By Katie Camero

When a freshly-dumped Minneapolis woman (Kat Graham) goes on the Italian vacation she’d planned with her ex, she finds that her lodging was also rented to a gruff British lad (Tom Hopper). Does  Love in the Villa follow the typical beats of a Lifetime-esque movie? Sure, but watching these two extremely hot, charismatic people develop crushes on each other—in Verona, no less!—goes down smoother than a fine glass of Barolo if you’re in the mood for a comfort watch.

4.   Single All the Way (2021)  

Peter (Michael Urie) can’t wait to finally bring someone home to meet his family for Christmas, and then he finds out the guy he’s been dating has a wife. Ugh. So he brings home his best friend Nick (Philemon Chambers) instead. His mom is set on setting him up with a local trainer, but the rest of his family has their eyes on Nick. It’s a lot of festive family meddling with an ensemble cast (um, hello, Jennifer Coolidge and Kathy Najimy), plus a fantastic musical number. In other words, we think this is one of the best rom-coms on Netflix. 

5.   Really Love (2020)

If  Really Love was just a 90-minute excuse to stare at Kofi Siriboe, that would be completely fine. But this story of a DC painter (Siriboe) and Georgetown law student (Yootha Wong-Loi-Sing), who fall in love as their careers pull them in different directions, is reminiscent of ’90s indie romantic dramas in the best way. The movie is also something of a valentine to Black Washington, DC—from kisses outside of Ben’s Chili Bowl to a DC go-go performance. 

6.   A Secret Love   (2020)

This documentary might not be the first thing you think of when it comes to romantic movies, but trust us: Terry and Pat’s story is a testament to the power of true, lasting love. The lesbian couple stayed in closet for more than 60 years until they felt people and—most important—their family would finally support their relationship. Unflinchingly honest interviews with their loved ones, and the film’s reminders of how oppressive anti-LGBTQ viewpoints can be, keep Terry and Pat’s sweet tale very, very real. 

7.   Love Hard   (2021)

Dating columnist Natalie (Nina Dobrev) flies to Lake Placid to surprise a guy she met on an app—only to learn she’s been catfished by Josh (Jimmy O. Yang). She eventually agrees to pose as his girlfriend for Christmas with his family if he sets her up with the hot guy from the dating-app photos (Darren Barnet), and a love triangle ensues. If it weren’t for Josh’s sweet, normal parents (whom he lives with) or his kind face and insecure demeanor, this story would be more creepy than endearing. But if you can suspend your disbelief (we assume you can if you’re reading this list), the holiday rom-com is a cut above many in the genre: Yang’s comic timing and charm sell Josh’s appeal, and the reimagined, less problematic version of “Baby It’s Cold Outside” is an instant-classic scene. 

8.   Rumor Has It (2005)

If you thought your family had drama, just wait. When Sarah (Jennifer Aniston) and her boyfriend Jeff (Mark Ruffalo) go home for her younger sister’s wedding, Sarah picks up on a rumor that her family was the inspiration for  The Graduate —specifically, that her late mom had a fling with a man named Beau Burroughs (Kevin Costner), who  also had an affair with her grandmother (Shirley MacLaine). Sarah goes searching for answers and ends up tempted by Beau herself, making her realize just how supremely messed up her family is and how hard it is to know what you really want in a relationship. 

9.   Desperados (2020)  

Wesley (Nasim Pedrad) is justifiably pissed after she’s ghosted by Jared (Robbie Amell), a seemingly perfect guy she’s been dating. So she sends a truly unhinged email telling him off—and then gets a call that he’s actually in a hospital in Mexico. Naturally, Wesley drags her friends with her to Mexico to try to delete the email before he gets out of the hospital (as one does). It’s a funny, ridiculous, and at times even touching look at what we’ll do when we’re very  very ready for love.

10.   Holidate (2020)  

Yup, we got another holiday romance movie on the list. In this one, Sloane (Emma Roberts) meets the similarly not-interested-in-dating-at-the-moment Jackson (Luke Bracey) and they agree to be each other’s non-sexual plus-ones for the holidays. But as the year goes on, it gets predictably messier to find the line between fake date and real date. Also, Kristin Chenoweth stars as the awesomely single aunt, which is reason enough to tune in. 

11.   The Half of It (2020)

Ellie Chu (Leah Lewis) lives with her widowed father in a remote town. She’s approached by Paul Munsky (Daniel Diemer), a typical high school jock, to write love letters to his crush, Aster Flores (Alexxis Lemire)—whom Ellie is secretly in love with. Friendships are tested and love triangles are formed in this LGBTQ coming-of-age story.

12.   To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018)

In this Netflix original, Lara Jean Covey ( Lana Condor) writes secret love letters—which she never sends—to her most major past and present loves. One night her younger sister discovers them and mails them out. Lara Jean’s life goes haywire as she’s suddenly confronted by her crushes. Unexpectedly, Lara Jean gets closer to one—Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo)—and it might actually work out. This is the first of three movies, so you may want to prepare for a full movie marathon.

13.   Someone Great (2019)

Jenny Young (Gina Rodriguez) and Nate Davis (Lakeith Stanfield) have been in a relationship for nine years. But when Jenny gets a job in San Francisco, they break up. Jenny  deals with her heartbreak by surrounding herself with her friends for one final girls’ night out in New York City.

14.   Always Be My Maybe (2019)

Sasha Tran (Ali Wong) and Marcus Kim (Randall Park) are childhood  best friends who date in their teens. Sixteen years after their breakup, Sasha is a successful chef and engaged, while Marcus is in an amateur band and still living with his dad. But when Sasha breaks up with her fiancé, she finds herself growing closer to Marcus. (There’s also an LOL-funny cameo by Keanu Reeves, in which he plays a ridiculous version of himself.)

15.   The Lovebirds (2020)

Jibran (Kumail Nanjiani) and Leilani ( Issa Rae ) are on the brink of breaking up. And to make the situation worse, they’re suddenly thrown into a chaotic murder mystery. As they figure out the case, they have to also figure out how they—and their relationship—can survive. It’s equal parts funny, heartwarming, and action-packed.

16.   All the Bright Places (2020)

This coming-of-age film follows Theodore Finch (Justice Smith), who is dealing with mental illness, and Violet Markey (Elle Fanning), who is coping with her sister’s death . The two must learn how to make their relationship work without letting the scars of their past get in the way of their love.

17.   Set It Up (2018)

Harper Moore (Zoey Deutch) and Charlie Young (Glen Powell) are two assistants with  workaholic bosses (played by Lucy Liu and Taye Diggs). In an attempt to get their bosses off their backs, Harper and Charlie set them up. And wouldn’t you know, the assistants start to fall in love with each other too.

18.   She’s Gotta Have It (1986)

Nola Darling (Tracy Camilla Johns) can’t decide what kind of man to date, so she does what any sensible person would do and  dates three men at the same time. But what happens when the three men find out about each other? This Spike Lee–directed film, which feels apt for the online dating generation, was certainly ahead of its time. (After you’ve streamed the film, watch the 2017 Netflix series for an updated version of the classic.)

19.   Marriage Story (2019)

This Academy Award–nominated film involves theater director Charlie Barber (Adam Driver) and his wife, Nicole (Scarlett Johansson), who’s an actress. The movie depicts their divorce and accompanying emotions such as  anger , denial, and grief. You might think it a strange choice to be on our list of best romantic movies on Netflix, but its realistic portrayal of  long-term love , divorce, and tender moments makes it a satisfying film.

20.   Irreplaceable You (2018)  

Abbie (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) and Sam (Michiel Huisman) are childhood friends who grew up to fall in love and get engaged. But when Abbie is diagnosed with cancer, she sets out to find a new love for Sam. She also forms friendships with other patients who teach her how to focus on living, even in the midst of a  terminal illness .

21.   The Incredible Jessica James (2017)

Jessica James (Jessica Williams) is a fiercely independent struggling playwright in New York City  trying to get over her ex in the age of social media. She’s set up on a blind date with Boone (Chris O’Dowd), who is also struggling after a breakup. The two hit it off and attempt to figure out what love looks like after heartbreak.

22.   The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (2018)

In post-WWII London, novelist Juliet Ashton (Lily James) receives a fan letter from a book club based in Guernsey, an island located off the Normandy coast. Juliet leaves the city (and her fiancé) to meet Dawsey Adams (Michiel Huisman), the main letter writer, and the rest of the book club. Once there, Juliet becomes close with the island’s quirky residents and grows particularly fond of Dawsey (if you know what we mean).

23.   Juanita (2019)

Juanita (Alfre Woodard) feels mentally exhausted from life. Between the long days at work, babysitting her granddaughter at night, and visiting her son in prison, Juanita has  no time for herself. So she leaves Ohio to spend some alone time in Butte, Montana. There, Juanita is finally free to focus on her needs, make new friends, and even find romance.

24.   Work It (2020)

High schooler Quinn Ackerman (Sabrina Carpenter) really wants to go to Duke University. In an attempt to diversify her college application, Quinn creates a new dance team at school. There is one big problem with her plan: Quinn just isn’t a great dancer. She seeks out former high school dance champion Jake Taylor (Jordan Fisher) for extra lessons, and sparks fly between the two.

25.   Love, Guaranteed (2020)

Despite going on nearly 1,000 dates using the Love, Guaranteed dating service, Nick (Damon Wayans Jr.) is still single. Disgruntled by what he perceives as false advertising, Nick sues the company, but his claim becomes shaky as he grows closer to his lawyer (Rachel Leigh Cook). You can expect plenty of witty banter and a predictably sweet ending in this feel-good movie.

26.   Feel the Beat (2020)

April (Sofia Carson) is an aspiring New York City dancer who returns to her small hometown after having a very embarrassing Broadway audition. She starts  teaching ballet at her old studio in an attempt to coach her students into a dance competition that will hopefully revive her career. April isn’t always the most likable person, but you can’t help but hope that her dreams of Broadway and her budding romance with Nick (Wolfgang Novogratz) work out.

27.   Lingua Franca (2019)

Olivia (Isabel Sandoval) is a transgender Filipina who hopes to get married and get her green card so she can stay in America. She works as a live-in caregiver for an older woman in Brooklyn and soon finds love with the woman’s grandson, Alex (Eamon Farren). The two develop a sweet relationship, which they try to make work amid their own personal challenges with immigration, alcoholism, and  anxiety .

28.   Mr. Right (2015)

Reeling from a breakup, Martha McKay (Anna Kendrick) reluctantly agrees to go on a date with Francis (Sam Rockwell), who picks her up at a convenience store. Their first date goes pretty well, until Francis confesses that he’s actually a hitman who targets the people who hire him. Predictably, Martha gets swept up in Francis’s drama and has to determine whether their relationship is worth the danger.

29.   Love Wedding Repeat (2020)

When visiting his sister Hayley (Eleanor Tomlinson) in Italy, Jack (Sam Claflin) nearly kisses Dina (Olivia Munn). The moment is interrupted, but the two reconnect several years later at Hayley’s  wedding , where they admit they’ve harbored a crush on each other the whole time. The film shows different scenarios about how things could play out, and you’ll have to watch to see if Dina and Jack ultimately end up together.

• I Highly Recommend Romance Novels If You're Really Going Through It  
• What to Watch on Netflix Next Time You're Feeling Stressed
• 11 Netflix Movies & TV Shows That Have Super Hot LGBTQ Sex Scenes

SELF does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional.

The 25 Best Time Travel Movies to Whisk You Away from Reality

Who wouldn't love a time machine right about now?

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Meet Cute (2022)

Kaley Cuoco and Pete Davidson co-star in Peacock's Meet Cute , a delightful and often dark rom-com based around time travel. Feeling suicidal, Sheila (Cuoco) finds a time machine in a nail salon and decides to go back in time 24 hours. While re-living her first date with Gary (Davidson) again and again, Sheila loses touch with reality and might have destroyed any chance she had with him.

A Wrinkle in Time (2018)

High schooler Meg Murry travels through time and space in search of her missing astrophysicist father (Chris Pine). On her journey, Meg meets Mrs. Which (Oprah Winfrey), Mrs. Whatsit (Reese Witherspoon), and Mrs. Who (Mindy Kaling), as well as a whole host of dangerous beings.

The Time Traveler's Wife (2009)

Based on Audrey Niffenegger's 2003 novel of the same name, The Time Traveler's Wife tells the story of Henry (Eric Bana), a librarian who is able to randomly travel through time. After meeting Clare (Rachel McAdams) as a child, Henry later develops a romantic relationship with her. HBO's recent adaptation starring Theo James and Rose Leslie has reignited the debate regarding whether or not the story promotes grooming , or if it's a timeless romance.

Back to the Future (1985)

'80s classic Back to the Future has stood the test of time, and spawned two equally entertaining sequels. In the first film, Marty McFly is sent to the 1950s in his friend Doc Brown's time machine, a super cool DeLorean. Marty meets his parents as teenagers, and his presence risks changing history forever.

See You Yesterday (2019)

Netflix's See You Yesterday follows science prodigy C.J. (Eden Duncan-Smith), who invents time traveling backpacks. Along with her best friend Sebastian, C.J. uses her invention to go back in time to stop her brother from being murdered by a racist police officer. However, she's also forced to face up to the limitations and consequences of time travel.

About Time (2013)

Tim (Domhnall Gleeson) inherits the ability to time travel from his father, and decides to use the gift to find love. After a failed attempt at romance, Tim meets Mary (Rachel McAdams), but due to several time travel-related mishaps, romance isn't instantaneous for the pair. Written and directed by rom-com aficionado Richard Curtis.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

James Cameron's follow-up to 1984's The Terminator was a smash-hit that cemented the franchise's popularity. In the sequel, a killer T-1000 Terminator is sent back in time by Skynet to kill the future leader of the resistance, the son of Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), John (Edward Furlong). At the same time, the resistance sends a reprogrammed T-800 Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) back to protect Connor.

Hot Tub Time Machine (2010)

Four miserable friends reunite after one of them nearly dies. To cheer themselves up, they decide to spend some time together at a ski resort. Unfortunately, the resort's hot tub isn't what it seems, and they accidentally end up traveling back to 1986. The four friends scramble to find a way back to present day. Starring John Cusack and Craig Robinson.

12 Monkeys (1995)

After a deadly virus destroys humanity in 1996, survivors are forced underground. Decades later, prisoner James (Bruce Willis) agrees to go back in time to find the original virus, so that scientists can work on a cure. However, he arrives too early in 1990, and is promptly institutionalized, where he meets Jeffrey (Brad Pitt), an anti-corporate environmentalist. From there, the mystery only gets more intriguing.

Looper (2012)

In the future, time travel is used by the mob to assassinate people, who are sent back in time and killed by assassins known as "loopers." Joe's (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) older self (Bruce Willis) is sent back to be eliminated, but manages to escape before he is killed. Thus begins a twisty time travel epic, that also stars Emily Blunt.

Tenet (2020)

The Protagonist ( John David Washington ), a former CIA agent, is tasked with stopping World War III. Learning to bend time, he attempts to prevent the destruction of the world. Robert Pattinson and Elizabeth Debicki co-star.

Last Night in Soho (2021)

Aspiring fashion designer Eloise (Thomasin McKenzie) manages to travel back to the 1960s, where she meets singer "Sandie" ( Anya Taylor-Joy ). What starts as a glamorous encounter with the past soon becomings a horrifying nightmare. Co-starring Matt Smith.

Déjà Vu (2006)

A top secret organization has developed the ability to see four days into the past, in order to catch criminals. While hunting a terrorist, ATF agent Doug (Denzel Washington) realizes that this new technology might allow him to stop crimes from happening altogether.

Source Code (2011)

An unusual riff on the time travel movie, Source Code stars Jake Gyllenhaal as Army Captain Colter, who is trying to identify the person responsible for bombing a commuter train. Re-living an eight minute re-creation of the moments leading up to the explosion, Colter is stuck in a terrifying loop, until he can solve the mystery.

Mirai (2018)

A young boy called Kun runs away from home, as he feels neglected by his family after the arrival of his little sister, Mirai. Kun accidentally discovers a time travel portal in a magic garden, and is transported into the past, where he meets his mother as a child. Later, he travels to the future, where he finds his sister as an adult, and completely changes his outlook in the process.

Safety Not Guaranteed (2012)

Aubrey Plaza stars as an aspiring journalist whose latest assignment involves a mysterious classified ad about time travel. "You'll get paid after we get back. Must bring your own weapons. I have only done this once before. SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED," the ad reads. Mark Duplass co-stars.

Groundhog Day (1993)

Although Groundhog Day is technically a "time loop" movie, it wouldn't feel right to leave it off the list. Phil (Bill Murray) is a disgruntled weatherman sent to cover the annual Groundhog Day event in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. When he wakes up the next day, he realizes that he's re-living February 2, which happens again and again, until he figures out how to stop it.

Needle in a Timestack (2021)

The wonderful Cynthia Erivo stars alongside Orlando Bloom, Leslie Odom Jr., and Freida Pinto in this romantic sci-fi flick. In the future, the wealthy are able to partake in "time jaunting," but the ripples from these changes often cause timelines to warp and change. Needle in a Timestack focuses on a happily married couple whose relationship is jeopardized by an ex intent on changing history.

The Lake House (2006)

Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves star in this completely cheesy but endlessly loveable rom-com that defies time. Architect Alex (Reeves) and doctor Kate (Bullock) write letters to one another via a mailbox at a lake house where they both live at separate times. Despite the time difference, they're able to communicate with one another and forge a relationship via this magical postal system that transcends time.

Predestination (2015)

Ethan Hawke stars as an agent tasked with stopping a deadly attack before it happens, via time travel. Traveling back to 1975, he attempts to find and stop a bomber in New York, but his mission is far from simple. When he returns to the future, his life only gets more complicated.

Amy Mackelden is a freelance writer, editor, and disability activist. Her bylines include Harper's BAZAAR, Nicki Swift, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, ELLE, The Independent, Bustle, Healthline, and HelloGiggles. She co-edited The Emma Press Anthology of Illness , and previously spent all of her money on Kylie Cosmetics.

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The 50 Best Romantic Movies of All Time, Ranked

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The romance genre has been a staple of fiction since long before the first movies were made. Love's one of those rare universal themes, after all, and both romantics and cynics have always been able to find - and enjoy - different stories about fictional characters falling in (or out of) love. And like many broad genres, it's possible to combine romantic storylines with various other tried and true genres, which can add extra emotional engagement to a story, or otherwise ensure it attracts a wider audience.

Depending on one's definition of "romance," it might well be one of the most well-represented genres in cinema, thanks to the popularity of romantic subplots. However, when it comes to deciding the greatest romance movies of all time, it's best to focus on those films where the romance-focused aspect of the story feels like a priority . What follows are some of the best movies that emphasize - and thereby epitomize - the romance genre, and are ranked below from great to greatest.

50 'Notorious' (1946)

Directed by alfred hitchcock.

The words “romance” and “ Alfred Hitchcock ” don’t tend to go together in the minds of most, given the director was best known for making thrillers, dark comedies, and crime movies. But Alfred Hitchcock's great films were often accessible and broadly appealing, and part of this sometimes meant including romance elements. With something like Notorious , those romance elements actually appear in a surprisingly prominent way, with the thriller/mystery stuff almost taking a backseat to the romance at times.

Notorious takes place in the wake of World War II, and follows the way a romantic bond between two people threatens to undermine an attempt to unearth a high-ranking Nazi hiding out in Brazil. It’s a film that expertly looks at love while also being a gripping spy movie and one of the best post-World War II films made immediately after the conclusion of the war itself.

Notorious (1946)

Watch on Tubi

49 'Trouble in Paradise' (1932)

Directed by ernst lubitsch.

Ranking among the greatest movies of the 1930s , Trouble in Paradise may well be more than 90 years old, but much of it feels pretty well timeless. It blends a crime-related storyline with romance and comedy in a way that still feels rather fresh and engaging, following a man and woman who are romantically involved and make their money through pickpocketing.

Complications ensue when a love triangle ends up developing, since the man begins to fall in love with a wealthy woman the pair have set their sights on as their next target. Trouble in Paradise sees the somewhat underrated Ernst Lubitsch firing on all cylinders as a filmmaker , and it’s easy to see how a film like this proved influential for the genres it tackles in the decades since its release.

Rent on FlixFling

48 'Silver Linings Playbook' (2012)

Directed by david o. russell.

Silver Linings Playbook might be fairly recent in the overall scheme of things, but it still feels good enough to label as something of a modern classic that future decades will hopefully be kind to (admittedly, it can be hard to know for sure how a film will age and be viewed in the years to come). It centers on a troubled man being released from a psychiatric hospital and moving back in with his parents, all the while trying to reconnect with his ex-wife, yet finds a connection between him and another woman complicates matters.

It was a significant movie for its two stars, showing that Bradley Cooper could do more than just be in The Hangover movies while working in tandem with a very different mainstream hit - The Hunger Games - to demonstrate that Jennifer Lawrence was a force to be reckoned with. Those two plus a great supporting cast that includes Robert De Niro , Jacki Weaver , and Chris Tucker make Silver Linings Playbook an approachable and engaging film, and one that blends comedy, romance, and drama genres well.

Silver Linings Playbook

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47 'Wings' (1927)

Directed by william a. wellman.

Serving as a bit of a genre-buster, Wings is a romance film, a melodrama, a World War I movie , and also something of an action movie, given how many dogfighting sequences are featured. It centers on two fighter pilots who are both in love with the same woman, and how this eventually threatens their friendship, all the while they also have to deal with the dangers of serving in World War I.

It’s understandably old-fashioned, but that’s a word that can be thrown at most movies that are almost a century old. So long as one’s okay with silent movies and some pacing that feels a little slow by modern standards, Wings has a ton to offer, with a simple but effective romantic narrative, and action set pieces that genuinely hold up extremely well.

Wings (1927)

46 'the lady eve' (1941), directed by preston sturges.

Preston Sturges may not have directed many movies, but the ones he did make were generally winners, to the point where it’s possible to say he was a quality-over-quantity type of filmmaker. The Lady Eve is rightly considered one of his best and most enjoyable efforts ( even by the oftentimes dour Paul Schrader ), following a female con artist who targets a wealthy man, falls for him, has her con exposed, gets dumped by the man, and then tries to win him back by posing as a different person altogether.

If that all sounds a little screwball comedy to you, that’s because The Lady Eve is one! It takes a premise that's perfect for this old-school and endearing style of comedy and runs with it for a fast-paced and entertaining 97 minutes, with the romantic heart of the film ultimately shining just as much as the broader comedic elements.

The Lady Eve

Rent on Apple TV

45 'Closer' (2004)

Directed by mike nichols.

Those who are after a nice or pleasant movie probably won’t find it with Closer , which is a surprisingly dark and emotionally intense romance film . It takes an approach that might normally be played for comedy – a tangling of romantic partners when two couples clash and form a complex web of infidelity and lies – but looks at the ramifications of doing such a thing with grit and plenty of hard feelings.

Closer is, therefore, something of a miserable movie, but it’s also captivating and admirable for how brutally honest it gets in its exploration of the hazards of love. Also helping things immensely is the fact that the four lead actors here all give genuinely great performances , with Julia Roberts , Jude Law , Natalie Portman , and Clive Owen all getting ample opportunities to shine.

44 'The Man Who Loved Women' (1977)

Directed by françois truffaut.

A movie about love that’s well-loved by Wes Anderson , The Man Who Loved Women feels like one of the more under-appreciated efforts from French filmmaker François Truffaut (best known for The 400 Blows ). The Man Who Loved Women begins with the titular man’s funeral, and a series of flashbacks play out among all who are gathered there… most of them being women the man was once involved with in some romantic capacity.

It's a cinematic eulogy for a flawed womanizer, and though his behavior is hard to admire or agree with, it doesn’t really feel like The Man Who Loved Women is glorifying its protagonist. It gets a good deal of mileage from its neat structure and never feels boring thanks to the various episodic misadventures one gets to continually see play out in flashback. Any fan of Truffaut ought to give it a shot, as it’s one of his most distinctive films.

43 'A Scene at the Sea' (1991)

Directed by takeshi kitano.

Though it revolves around a relationship, A Scene at the Sea is hard to place into a genre, simply because it screams “slice of life” more than just about any other film out there . Indeed, it mostly plays out by the seaside, with the very simple story centering on two young hearing-impaired people who are a couple, and what happens when one of them develops an interest in surfing.

In that sense, A Scene at the Sea eventually morphs into a sports movie of sorts, all the while being genuinely sweet/quietly romantic, and showcasing a gentle sense of humor every now and then for good measure. It’s warm and endearing as a film, and certainly different from many other movies directed by Takeshi Kitano , given he’s most well-known for directing numerous violent gangster/yakuza movies .

Buy on Amazon

42 'Challengers' (2024)

Directed by luca guadagnino.

Sure, Challengers is a very recent movie, and there’s always a risk of calling something an all-time great when the dust hasn’t yet settled, and it still feels like a film’s reputation could grow or shrink. But, for now, Challengers does feel like a modern classic and is yet another great entry within the vast and always exciting filmography of Luca Guadagnino , who’s one of the most exciting filmmakers working today.

To describe the plot of Challengers might not make it sound very exciting, given it is, ostensibly, a “love triangle movie.” But in combining this concept with an inventive structure, exciting tennis sequences, expressive and honest performances, and a true sense of visual style , Challengers ends up being even better than the sum of its already very good parts. It’s a romance film that’s able to do things differently, and most of the risks pay off, making it likely that it will continue to feel like a great romantic movie well into the future.

Challengers

Watch in Cinemas

41 'A Star Is Born' (1954)

Directed by george cukor.

There are many versions of A Star Is Born , and it’s probably more a matter of personal taste which one’s considered the best. The 1954 version could, however, be the best when judged as a romance film, because the relationship at the film’s core just feels extra passionate, tragic, and achingly real here, with both Judy Garland and James Mason giving – arguably – the greatest performances of their respective careers.

Like any other A Star Is Born , the plot here contrasts a young woman’s rise to fame with an older man’s fall from it, and the way they try to stick by each other, even if life seems to have vastly different plans for them. Beautifully shot and also containing numerous great musical sequences, 1954’s A Star Is Born is excellent all around, and one of the best tragic romance films ever made .

A Star Is Born (1954)

40 'jules and jim' (1962).

Alongside Jean-Luc Godard , François Truffaut was perhaps the most famous of all French directors in the history of cinema (coincidentally, Goddard and Truffaut apparently didn’t get along , but that’s another story). Truffaut is likely best known for 1959’s The 400 Blows , a coming-of-age drama, but many of his films are definable as romantic dramedies, and in the latter category, Jules and Jim is one of his very best.

The two titular characters are friends living lives defined by youth and a carefree attitude (the whole thing taking place before World War I increases the sense of optimism), with both also falling for the same young woman, Catherine. Jules and Jim has a certain energy and vibrancy to it that prevents it from ever feeling too downbeat, though it’s perhaps one of the less outwardly comedic movies about romance that Truffaut made . Nevertheless, it should strike a chord for those who are young, those who remember being young, or those who still sometimes feel young at heart.

Jules and Jim

39 'the band wagon' (1953), directed by vincente minnelli.

Vincente Minnelli had a few types of movies that he generally stuck to making, and did them all very well. He could make melodramas, he was adept at romantic comedies, and he was perhaps most well-regarded for his classic musicals. The Band Wagon keeps things light overall, certainly staying away from melodrama but seeing Minnelli take on the romance, comedy, and musical genres all at once, and succeeding immensely .

It's a somewhat underappreciated movie, honestly scratching the same itch as better-known light-hearted musicals from the time, like Singin’ in the Rain and An American in Paris (Minnelli himself directed the latter, too). The Band Wagon is all about a doomed play that a fading film star takes part in to revitalize his career, but it’s all good-natured, much of it’s played for laughs, and there’s very little drama. It’s colorful, charming, funny, and has Fred Astaire at his toe-tapping best. What’s not to like?

38 'Farewell to the Ark' (1984)

Directed by shūji terayama.

You can try to summarize Farewell to the Ark , if you want, but most attempts will be in vain. Broadly speaking, it does revolve around, let’s say, complicated love and desire, as well as loneliness, being haunted by the past, the fleeting nature of memory, the mysteries of time, and insanity. It also all takes place in a small locale so bizarre that it makes the town of Twin Peaks look like Normal, Illinois (yes, that’s the name of a real town ; one assumes it’s quite normal there).

Farewell to the Ark isn’t, therefore, a traditional romance, but it looks at an unusual side of life while also unpacking complicated – yet relatable – themes within what could be called the fantasy genre. It’s obscure, haunting, calming, mysterious, nightmarish, and kind of beautiful all at once . It offers an experience that’s impossible to put into words but is certainly something; words and thoughts fail, but the feelings it’s able to cause are undeniable.

37 'The Earrings of Madame de…' (1953)

Directed by max ophüls.

Given its status as a classic, it’s safe to say that there are a great many fans of The Earrings of Madame de… , but Wes Anderson ranks among the most high-profile . He’s got good taste, because this classic French romance/drama film takes a simple premise and milks a great deal of thematic complexity out of it, being about the consequences that follow the selling of an important pair of earrings for the purpose of getting out of some gambling debt.

The characters of The Earrings of Madame de… are generally wealthy, but nevertheless miserable in many ways, and find the privileges of their way of life diminish because of the continually building incidents the initial act of selling leads to. It might not sound gripping on paper, but its look at class and love – or lack thereof – is surprisingly riveting, and the control displayed when telling the central story is admirable, making the whole thing also feel timeless.

The Earrings of Madame de…

Watch on Max

36 'Tropical Malady' (2004)

Directed by apichatpong weerasethakul.

One of the more underrated romance/drama films of its decade , Tropical Malady is a film of two halves: one quite digestible, and the other more mysterious and open to interpretation. The first half of the movie follows a slow-building romance between two men in Thailand, while the second half shifts gears and mostly seems to be – at least on the surface – about tracking down a shaman in the jungle.

Whether one wants to take both stories separately or look into how the second one might thematically reference aspects of the first (albeit in a darker way), Tropical Malady is interesting, unsettling, and quite haunting , however you want to cut it. Apichatpong Weerasethakul ’s style is one that can be difficult to get a handle on, but Tropical Malady is probably the ideal entry point, with later films of his like Syndromes and a Century and Memoria also being compelling while having similar strange vibes.

Watch on Kanopy

35 'Eat Drink Man Woman' (1994)

Directed by ang lee.

A Taiwanese/U.S. co-production with an Asian-led cast , Eat Drink Man Woman can count itself among the greatest within Ang Lee’s body of work, which is no small task. In essence, the plot of the film is rather simple, following three daughters of a widowed chef, exploring the bonds they have with their father and the ups and downs of all their love lives.

Eat Drink Man Woman is sometimes funny and sometimes a little heavy, but keeps things tonally balanced well while also successfully exploring the trials and tribulations of trying to make a relationship work while one is a young adult. Those in the mood for a great romantic dramedy ought to check it out, but fair warning: it’s the sort of movie best watched on a full stomach, because there’s so much delicious-looking food on-screen throughout that Eat Drink Man Woman is likely to make one feel starving by the end of it otherwise.

Watch on Hoopla

34 'Past Lives' (2023)

Directed by celine song.

Past Lives is a sad sort of romance movie, intently focused on exploring what could have been rather than building up something that will presumably exist once the credits start rolling. The plot revolves around two adults who were once childhood friends reconnecting and perhaps feeling some sort of connection beyond friendship… which could cause complications, given that one of them has settled down and is herself married.

It's a slow film and an oftentimes quiet one, but Past Lives has the capacity to sneak up on you and prove disarming and surprisingly devastating . It’s a movie that needs one’s complete attention to really work, but those who can get on the film’s level will find it to be emotional like little else out there, with its overall mood and capacity to feel heartbreaking adding up to make it one of the very best releases of the 2020s so far .

33 'The Lovers on the Bridge' (1991)

Directed by leos carax.

Like Past Lives , The Lovers on the Bridge is another rather sad romance film, but unlike Past Lives , The Lovers on the Bridge is more soul-crushing and despairing than quietly bittersweet. It’s one of the more ambitious and in-your-face efforts from the always-interesting Leos Carax , and tells the story of two troubled vagrants who fall in love, all the while dealing with their respective lives falling apart in different ways.

There’s a grimness to The Lovers on the Bridge that makes it an oftentimes difficult movie to watch, and though it deals with love at its center, it definitely doesn’t feel like the kind of romance film that would make for a good date movie. It’s a movie that’s unapologetic about depicting hardships felt by the main characters and showing the more desperate/angry side of love , which is indeed a feeling that can itself inspire strong emotions, both good and bad.

Rent on Amazon

32 'Annie Hall' (1977)

Directed by woody allen.

Annie Hall is something of a landmark movie, distinguishing itself for being one of the most romance-focused movies to win Best Picture at the Oscars, and also for being one of the funniest Best Picture winners in Oscar history. Like a good many films about love, the storyline at its center is simple, with Annie Hall running for just over 90 minutes and showing how two people fall in - and then out of - love while living in New York City.

Plenty of great romantic movies are honest about love, but few released so long ago were quite as to the point and cutting as Annie Hall managed to be. It’s not exactly a cynical movie, and neither could it be called anti-love, but it’s keener than many romance films to show the upsetting side of love , and the way that sometimes, things just don’t work out, even if there’s nothing by way of a fiery meltdown or vicious confrontation to conclude things.

31 'All of Us Strangers' (2023)

Directed by andrew haigh.

An intoxicating blend of low fantasy, romance, and very hard-hitting drama that feels as though it could one day become a classic, All of Us Strangers is something truly special, and a film that lives up to the critical praise thrown its way. The story follows a man who finds himself reconnecting – somehow – with his long-dead parents, meeting them and discussing how his life turned out around the same time he also meets a younger man, and strikes up a relationship with him.

All of Us Strangers explores loneliness, love, and the way childhood shapes a person, all in a remarkably organic way while never coming across as silly or over-ambitious (and there are many points where the film could’ve gone off the rails in lesser hands). It’s emotional throughout, hitting particularly hard in the final act , and also features amazing performances from a surprisingly small cast of just four main actors: Andrew Scott , Paul Mescal , Jamie Bell , and Claire Foy .

All of Us Strangers

21 Best Romantic Movies About Summer Love That Could Be You This Vacation

By Isis Briones and Kara K. Nesvig

There’s nothing more perfect than falling in love during the summer. School is out, the weather is better than ever, and it’s as if you have the entire world at your fingertips. You’re free to live in the moment and anything is possible. That’s its beauty and downfall. Reality always finds a way to catch up to you. Once the season fades, your obligations — whether it’s another semester or a new job — invade your life once again. But no matter where life takes you, that shouldn’t affect true love.

From major highs to heart-breaking lows, here are some intense on-screen summer romances that sum up what it means to fall in love this season. Not only is each movie gut-wrenchingly beautiful, they thankfully all have one thing in common: a summer love that lasts. Sorry for the spoilers, but at least you know they all have happy endings. Our picks include classics staring icons such as Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday to Disney Channel nostalgia faves like Camp Rock to more recent flicks including Netflix 's wildly popular The Kissing Booth , there's a romantic movie for whatever mood you're in. So whether you're single and just wanting to watch a summer courtship to get you in your feels or looking for a film during a night in with your partner, here are 21 best romantic movies about summer love.

The Last Song

Not only did Ronnie Miller ( Miley Cyrus ) and Will Blakelee ( Liam Hemsworth ) end up together after long walks on the beach, but this was the very beginning of Miam . Are the flashbacks hitting you yet?

The Kissing Booth

The Kissing Booth has taken Netflix — and our lives — by storm, and for good reason: it’s a super-sweet high school romance about a girl (Joey King) who’s crushing on her best friend’s older brother. It’ll have you hoping for a summer fling. Ah, young love.

Need we tell you more? Though the bulk of the film takes place during senior year at Rydell high, Danny Zuko (John Trovolta) and Sandy Olsson (Olivia Newton-John)'s romance started in the summer, and they will seriously make you want a '50s-inspired date. It doesn’t get more magical than a drive-in movie under the stars on a warm night. Throw in the movie’s classic tracks and you’ll be singing “You’re the One That I Want” to your special someone in no time.

This isn’t your typical Nicholas Sparks story. The romance is epic, but it’s the plot twists that will get you. Erin Tierney, who’s real name is Katie Feldman (Julianne Hough) runs away after the attempted murder of her abusive, alcoholic husband. She meets widowed father Alex Wheatley (Josh Duhamel), and they fall in love despite their complicated pasts. Isn’t that what it’s all about?

By Sara Delgado

By Kara Nesvig

Southside with You

The best part of Southside with You, which depicts a first date between two young college students in Chicago, is that it’s based on a real story — you may have heard of Barack and Michelle Obama? We thought so. This movie is all about how the iconic duo fell in love one summer day.

Savannah Lynn Curtis (Amanda Seyfried) and John Tyree (Channing Tatum) prove that there’s no fighting true love. It only took two weeks for the two to fall for one another, but life always gets in the way. Even with John’s deployment and the endless miles that separate them, you’ll see that people who are meant to be together always find a way back to one another.

Dirty Dancing

This is proof that not all family vacations are dull, especially when you meet an attractive dance instructor. Aside from giving you major resort envy, Baby Houseman (Jennifer Grey) and Johnny Castle’s (Patrick Swayze) steamy dance moves will totally make you want to sign up for a class this summer with or without a date. Go ahead, have the time of your life.

500 Days of Summer

The romance between Summer Finn (Zooey Deschanel) and Tom Hansen (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) isn’t necessarily a happy ending, but there’s a lot to learn from the movie’s expectations vs. reality scenarios. Sometimes no matter how badly you want something, it’s just not going to happen — and that's one of life’s hardest lessons that summer love birds definitely need to hear.

A Walk to Remember

Time and love aren’t mutually exclusive. Jamie Sullivan (Mandy Moore) and Landon Carter (Shane West) experience more love in a few short summer months than some people do in a lifetime. This is the throwback romance of all time and no matter how many times you’ve seen it, tissues are still very much needed.

Call Me by Your Name

Call Me by Your Name, based on a novel of the same name, is the story of Elio (Timothée Chalamet) and doctoral student Oliver (Armie Hammer), who’s staying with Elio’s family in Italy. They develop feelings for each other over the course of the summer, and their relationship is an important “coming-of-age” story for each character, especially the quiet, introverted Elio.

Teenage Francie heads to the beach one day and decides she’s going to become a surfer, despite the fact that it’s not “what girls do” and that she’s never surfed before. As she learns the ins and outs of catching waves in sunny California, she also falls in love with a surfer boy called “Moondoggie.” The movie is part of the whole genre of surf/beach party movies popular during the late '50s and '60s and has a special place in our hearts.

Say Anything

If you haven’t seen this beloved ‘80s classic, what are you waiting for? Summer is the ideal time to watch it. Lloyd falls for Diane after their graduation and spends the summer trying to win her (and her overprotective dad) over before she leaves to study in England. You’ll have “In Your Eyes” in your head for weeks after.

High School Musical 3

Gabriella Montez ( Vanessa Hudgens ) and Troy Bolton ( Zac Efron ) are off to college in the final movie of the iconic franchise, but heading off to different schools doesn’t necessarily mean breaking up. Take cues from the Disney couple: it’s worth making things work. At the very least, have a killer prom night.

This flick has its fair share of summer love, including the relationships between young Sophie and Sky on their beautiful island in Greece and the romance between her mother, Donna, and Sophie’s three possible fathers. The upcoming sequel is supposed to give us more information about Donna’s life before Sophie, and tells the tale of how she met and fell in love with Harry, Sam, and Bill — and found herself in the process. (Also, it’s kind of always summer in Greece, isn’t it?)

Moonrise Kingdom

Sam and Suzy don’t fit in, and that makes them perfect for each other. The two 12-year-olds fall in love and run away together to an idyllic place they call Moonrise Kingdom, but their journey doesn’t quite work out as they planned. (Don’t worry, a storm doesn’t destroy their hideaway and they do have a happy ending!)

Aquamarine (Sara Paxton) has one goal: find love on land to prove to her father that it exists. After bae-watching on the beach with new pals Claire Brown (Emma Roberts) and Hailey Rogers (Jojo), Aqua has her eye on the handsome Raymond (Jake McDorman). Even though they spend a lot of her time chasing after him, the friendship the girls develop is its own kind of love story.

Plenty can happen at summer camp! Just ask Mitchie Torres (Demi Lovato) and Shane Gray (Joe Jonas). This was also the beginning of Demi and Joe’s real-life relationship. Bonus: their duet automatically makes this movie a must-watch replay. Get ready for major throwback feels.

The Notebook

Last but certainly not least. The iconic story between Allie Hamilton (Rachel McAdams) and Noah Calhoun (Ryan Gosling) really hits the spot. A summer love will always have a special place in your heart and you never know when that person can pop back in your life again.

Roman Holiday

Let’s throw it back a bit, shall we? Roman Holiday is a classic film about a dissatisfied princess, played by the one and only Audrey Hepburn, who wants to experience freedom. She finds it with an American journalist — if only for a few days — during a beautiful summer in Rome.

Chasing Liberty

She’s the president’s sheltered daughter who just wants to experience life without bodyguards. He’s an undercover Secret Service agent masquerading as a regular guy. They fall in love, though she doesn’t know he’s actually protecting her as she travels across Europe. Relatable, right? Well, the whole “First Daughter” bit may not be, but the love story totally is.

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

This ‘00s classic is technically about friendship and how four very different besties spend a summer apart, but it also contains an unforgettable love story — one that happens to unfold in picturesque Greece. Lena (Alexis Bledel) and Kostos meet when she goes to visit her family in Santorini, and while their relationship may be rocky at first considering how they meet, it’s clearly meant to be.

By Teen Vogue Style Team

The 50 best romantic movies of all time

2. Disappearing Acts

3. The Notebook

4. Love & Basketball

5. Love Jones

7. Sleepless in Seattle

8. The Sound of Music

9. Fire & Ice

10. Jason's Lyric

11. Beauty and the Beast

12. The Bodyguard

13. A Mom for Christmas

14. Never Been Kissed

16. Nine Months

17. Basic Instinct

18. The Wedding Singer

19. Original Sin

20. 50 First Dates

21. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days

22. Indecent Proposal

23. Coming to America

24. When Harry Met Sally...

25. Teen Wolf

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10 best romance movies of all time, ranked

Love has always been the subject of art, whether it’s paintings, poems, or music – and film is no exception. Since the medium’s inception, romance has been part of the numerous stories it has tried to tell and reimagine on the big screen. Whether it’s classic tales of star-crossed lovers, sweet romantic comedies, or emotional narratives of heartache, love and its many aspects are something filmmakers have and will continue to try to capture through films.

10. Moonstruck (1987)

9. the notebook (2004), 8. when harry met sally (1989), 7. pride & prejudice (2005), 6. eternal sunshine of the spotless mind (2004), 5. portrait of a lady on fire (2019), 4. before sunrise (1995), 3. titanic (1997), 2. in the mood for love (2000), 1. casablanca (1942).

The best romance movies are successful reflections and explorations of the power of love to both inspire joy and cause devastating pain. From the ill-fated affair in Titanic to the intimate beginning in Before Sunrise , these top romantic movies are perfect for viewers in all phases of their lives and relationships. So snuggle up with a loved one or enjoy a quiet night alone, as these romance movies certainly tell some of the greatest love stories ever told.

Moonstruck is a widely beloved movie from the 1980s that’s set in Brooklyn’s Italian-American community. Here, the usually pragmatic Loretta Castorini (Cher) accepts a marriage proposal from her dull, but dependable boyfriend, Johnny Cammareri (Danny Aiello). When she meets his estranged younger brother, Ronny (Nicolas Cage), however, she unexpectedly falls in love. She later learns that she isn’t the only one in the family dealing with complicated relationships and messy feelings.

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Directed by Norman Jewison, Moonstruck is a funny and surprisingly insightful celebration of love and all the chaos that comes with it. Cher and Cage steal the show with their electric chemistry, delivering unforgettable over-the-top performances that would set the tone for the rest of the film. Cage, in particular, shines as the passionate Ronny, with the actor chewing the scenery and reminding viewers that love is supposed to be imperfect.

The most popular adaptation of a Nicholas Sparks novel, The Notebook is an achingly romantic drama that tells the love story of Allie Hamilton (Rachel McAdams) and Noah Calhoun ( Barbie ‘s Ryan Gosling), two young lovers from different social backgrounds in 1940s South Carolina. Their passionate summer romance is abruptly ended by Allie’s wealthy parents, who disapprove of Noah’s lower social status. Years later, Allie is engaged to a successful lawyer named Lon (James Marsden), but when she learns that Noah has restored the old house he once promised to fix up for her, she visits him, rekindling their romance.

Director Nick Cassavetes uses the novel’s jumps between the past and present to showcase Allie and Noah’s romance and create story that spans a lifetime. Their arcs are perfectly captured by Gosling and McAdams as the unforgettable pair, with their performances undoubtedly revisited by fans countless times over the years. Unabashedly cheesy, intense, and tear-jerking, The Notebook is a quintessential entry in the genre.

Can men and women just be friends? When Harry Met Sally tries to answer this question through the story of two people who meet during a cross-country drive from Chicago to New York following college graduation. Harry Burns (Billy Crystal) and Sally Albright (Meg Ryan) initially dislike each other, but their feelings change over the next decade through sporadic encounters. A career change, some breakups, and several parties later, and Harry and Sally’s undeniable chemistry seeps into their once platonic friendship.

Directed by Rob Reiner, When Harry Met Sally uses its unusual structure to tell a slow-burn love story that will have audiences rooting for the film’s iconic climactic moment. Bolstered by sharp and humorous dialogue, the will-they-or-won’t-they narrative highlights how love can truly take its time before one fateful night changes everything. The classic ’80s rom-com is undoubtedly a nostalgic reminder for those whose first time seeing this film was a formative experience.

Pride & Prejudice is a gorgeous adaptation of Jane Austen’s eponymous classic novel that’s centered on the members of the Bennet family, particularly the strong-willed Elizabeth Bennet (Keira Knightley). As the eldest daughter, her parents are starting to pressure her to find a suitable husband, and she’s skeptical until she meets the upper-class Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen). Their first meeting is full of misunderstandings and mutual disdain, stemming from Darcy’s aloofness and Elizabeth’s quick judgments. However, as they interact more, they begin to see past their initial prejudices.

Director Joe Wright’s adaptation stays true to Austen’s work while also adding a modern spin that made the 2005 film appealing to younger audiences. Knightley, fresh off her work in the Pirates of the Caribbean series, is wonderfully paired with the then-unknown Macfadyen ( Succession ‘s Tom Wambsgans). With their incredible performances paired with the film’s lush and vibrant settings, it’s not surprising that Pride & Prejudice remains the definitive adaptation of Austen’s novel.

Director Michel Gondry’s Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind blends romance and sci-fi in mind-bending and heartbreaking ways through the story of Joel Barish (Jim Carrey) and Clementine Kruczynski (Kate Winslet). Although the film begins with them meeting as strangers on a train, viewers later learn that they are two former lovers who decided to erase each other from their memories after a painful breakup.

The cult film is an arresting breakup movie , low sci-fi flick, and so much more. It makes viewers question the things that endure beyond memories, and whether it’s possible to find someone again. Its twisty story is told with a nonlinear narrative that hits like a gut punch once fans realize what’s going on, and its bittersweet ending promises that all hope is not lost even when people make the worst mistakes in their relationships. Despite showcasing an ambitious blend of genres and a nontraditional approach to storytelling, Eternal Sunshine manages to be a painfully relatable and distinctly human story.

Portrait of a Lady on Fire is a deeply emotional romantic drama that unfolds on a distant island in Brittany in the late 18th century, where Marianne (Noémie Merlant) has been commissioned to create a wedding portrait of Héloïse (Adèle Haenel). The young painter and reluctant bride take long walks together, with Héloïse unaware that Marianne must observe her by day and secretly paint her by night. When the two begin to fall in love, they’re agonizingly aware of how little time they have before Héloïse’s wedding.

Director Céline Sciamma’s work received broad acclaim for its exquisite cinematography, with the use of natural light and the careful composition of each frame creating a series of breathtaking moments that complement the couple’s story. There’s also a deliberate pace that lets the characters’ arcs take its time while underscoring how this affair will likely end. The 2019 movie would go on to make history by becoming the first film directed by a woman to win the Queer Palm prize at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival.

The first installment in director Richard Linklater’s renowned Before trilogy, Before Sunrise is a romantic drama with a deceptively simple premise. The story begins on a train traveling through Europe, where American traveler Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and French student Céline (Julie Delpy) strike up a conversation. Jesse is on his way to Vienna to catch a flight back to the U.S., while Céline is heading to Paris. Drawn to each other, they decide on a whim to disembark in Vienna and spend the night exploring the city together.

Before Sunrise and the two movies that follow it, Before Sunset and Before Midnight , are known for their minimalistic plots. The 1995 movie is mostly dialogue-driven, relying heavily on a well-written script, immaculate on-screen chemistry between Hawke and Delpy, and the warm romantic atmosphere of asetting where anything seems possible. Now remembered as one of the best movies of the 1990s , Before Sunrise is the perfect portrait of what it feels like to fall in love within one fleeting day.

Titanic is a film that needs no introduction. Director James Cameron’s blockbuster is an epic romance and disaster film that mixes historical events with a fictional love story set against the backdrop of the ill-fated maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic. The film tells the story of Rose DeWitt Bukater (Kate Winslet), a high-society woman engaged to the wealthy, but arrogant Cal Hockley (Billy Zane). Rose, who feels trapped in her privileged, yet stifling life, meets Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio), a penniless artist who introduces her to a world of freedom and adventure, on the ship. Their romance blossoms, only to tragically end when an iceberg appears and sinks the ship.

There are numerous reasons why Titanic became a cultural touchstone. It was known for its remarkable technical achievements, including its recreation of the ship, the realistic portrayal of its sinking, and the use of then-cutting-edge CGI that set new standards in filmmaking. There was also the iconic soundtrack by James Horner, as well as Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On , which has become synonymous with the movie itself. At its core, it’s Jack and Rose’s passionate and devastating romance that has made the 1997 film such a timeless masterpiece.

One of the best movies in the Criterion Collection , In the Mood for Love is director Wong Kar-wai’s crowning achievement. Set in 1960s Hong Kong, it’s centered on two neighbors, Mr. Chow (Tony Leung) and Mrs. Chan (Maggie Cheung), who form an unexpected bond after suspecting that their spouses are having an affair. Both are trapped in loveless marriages and find comfort in each other’s company, yet they vow to keep their relationship platonic to avoid falling into the same situation as their unfaithful partners. Their frequent, casual encounters evolve into shared moments of quiet understanding and unspoken emotions, but they maintain a stubborn distance despite clearly falling for each other.

In the Mood for Love is a study in restraint, with the main characters’ intense and growing emotions captured in stolen glances and brief touches. Their forbidden love is brought to life by Kar-wai’s unique direction, who uses slow pacing, rich colors, and intricate compositions to reveal their longing. Even their small actions of avoiding each other in narrow alleyways and dimly lit noodle shops speak volumes about their romance. The film offers a one-of-a-kind craftsmanship that reflects Asian culture and cinema.

“We’ll always have Paris.” Casablanca is a timeless romantic drama directed by Michael Curtiz. The rewatchable and endlessly quotable film is consistently mentioned not just as the best in the genre, but as one of the greatest films ever made. Set during World War II, the 1942 movie is centered on Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), a cynical American expatriate who runs a nightclub and gambling den. When Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman), a former lover, walks into his club with her husband, Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid), Rick’s carefully maintained distance shatters.

Casablanca is a classic in every sense of the word. it features a familiar story of true love and great sacrifice during an important time in history, and stars the most famous actors of its time. Bogart’s portrayal of Rick Blaine is one of cinema’s most iconic performances, with his transition from a jaded, self-serving nightclub owner to a heroic figure being an excellent use of the trope. Bergman’s Ilsa Lund is equally compelling, with the chemistry between her and Bogart being palpable and believable enough to sell their characters’ tortured romance. The 1942 film isn’t just something for cinephiles to seek out, but for any average viewer who enjoys a fantastic love story.

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Best romantic getaways in the u.s. for 2024.

Sometimes it's necessary to take a break from the stresses of real life and spend quality time with the person you love. And what better way to do that than to travel? To help you and your sweetheart plan the ideal romantic retreat, whether it's for an anniversary or just because, U.S. News considered ambiance, privacy and access to couple-friendly activities to rank the best romantic getaways in the USA. Use this list to pick your next one-on-one vacation, and vote for your favorite locales below. Looking to stay even closer to home? Check out these romantic weekend getaways by state .

Kaua'i

Napa valley, charleston, sc, big sky, mt, amelia island, adirondacks, martha's vineyard, jackson hole.

Kaua'i offers many distinct ways for both thrill-seeking and sun-worshipping couples to up the romance factor. You and your sweetheart can lounge on secluded beaches , relax in a private luxury villa or go on a kayaking adventure along the picture-perfect Napali Coast. For even more opportunities to marvel at nature, check out Kaua'i's scenic state parks like Koke'e and Waimea Canyon. Once you've tackled the Hawaiian island's trails hand in hand, consider booking a private helicopter tour for a bird's-eye view you and your better half will never forget.

Few things are more romantic than sharing a remote island with your beau. Lanai's exclusivity can make it feel like the two of you are alone with the Hawaiian island breeze. Head to a luxury hotel or resort to indulge in high-end cuisine and soak up some sun by the pool before exploring the tiny island's landscape side by side. For a memorable hike that requires little effort, follow the short trail from the Four Seasons Resort Lanai to the Pu'upehe overlook. Also known as "Sweetheart Rock," this landmark offers stunning views of Hulopo'e Bay, especially at sunset.

Brimming with rolling vineyards , cozy wine caverns, chic restaurants and top-notch hotels, this wine lover's paradise 60 miles north of San Francisco is the ultimate romantic getaway. Wine enthusiasts can sip Napa's award-winning reds at intimate venues like O'Brien Estate and Jarvis Estate or while savoring gourmet cuisine on the Napa Valley Wine Train. When couples need a break from being wined and dined, they can explore the scenic Napa River via kayak, take to the skies on a hot air balloon ride, or visit the town of Calistoga in northern Napa Valley for its spas and hot springs.

Another ideal retreat for wine connoisseurs , Sonoma is known to be more laid back than its neighbor, Napa, and boasts more than 425 wineries. However, strolling through vineyard vines isn't the only must-do activity for twosomes. Outdoor lovers will want to explore regional parks such as Taylor Mountain (for its trails) and North Sonoma Mountain (to enjoy a picnic surrounded by the peaks of Santa Rosa and the Sonoma Valley). Plenty of Sonoma's hotels offer spa treatments, but what could be more memorable than a massage in a 22-foot wine barrel? Book side-by-side treatments at Magical Massage for a one-of-a-kind experience.

A low-key getaway, Charleston, South Carolina, is filled with pastel-hued historic homes, art galleries and tasty Lowcountry cuisine (perfect for foodie couples). To dial up the romance, take in the sights from a horse-drawn carriage or sign up for a sunset harbor cruise just for two. For a quiet shoreside escape free from crowds, head to one of the nearby beaches like Sullivan's Island. Accommodations range from beachfront resorts to charming bed-and-breakfasts but keep in mind you'll likely have to pay a pretty penny for a stay in the historic district.

It's easy to proclaim your love when you're suspended atop red rocks and looking out upon miles of colorful Arizona landscape. After working up a sweat hiking Sedona's sandstone buttes, bring those romantic vibes indoors for a couples massage at one of the city's world-renowned wellness retreats . Or, if you and your amour prefer relaxing with a glass of vino, save time for a self-guided tour of the Verde Valley Wine Trail, which boasts 15 venues ranging from small tasting rooms to vast wineries sprawling along the banks of Oak Creek. At night, hold your loved one close and gaze at the star-filled sky.

Travel to Big Sur for its windswept coastline and rugged mystique. This peaceful destination carved out of the California coast offers a couple of luxurious hotels, but nature is the real star in Big Sur. Outdoor enthusiasts can hike the area's redwood-lined trails and admire picturesque Pfeiffer Beach before setting up a tent and roughing it beneath the stars. For an atmospheric picnic, head to Sand Dollar Beach, where couples can admire the scenery sans the crowds. For a more upscale outing, take a day trip to Carmel-by-the-Sea for its art galleries and fairy tale cottages.

Let Big Sky's vast terrain, fresh air and rustic romance carry you and your loved one away from the ins and outs of everyday life. Every winter, couples flock to this Montana destination for its top-notch ski resort (complete with a heated chairlift), though the offseason has its charms, too (think: fly fishing on scenic rivers, hiking under an endless blue sky or taking a road trip to Yellowstone National Park.) For a curated Montana experience, spring for an all-inclusive ranch, where you'll find private cabins, homegrown cuisine and personalized service.

What could be more romantic than a sunrise beachfront horseback ride for two? Or a private sunset cruise aboard a 40-foot catamaran? You and your love can experience this and more on Amelia Island, one of Florida's Atlantic coast barrier islands. Hop on bikes and explore the scenic Amelia Island Trail, or pedal to downtown Fernandina Beach for its Victorian-style architecture, antique shops and galleries. After a day spent sightseeing, pamper weary muscles with a couples massage at one of the luxury resorts that call the island home.

This tiny Massachusetts island exudes New England charm. Stroll arm in arm with your sweetheart down cobblestone streets, unwind on white sand beaches and snap selfies in front of iconic lighthouses, such as Brant Point Lighthouse and Great Point Lighthouse. Then, grab a lobster roll to share from one of the island's premier seafood restaurants, and revel in the extraordinary Atlantic Ocean views from the Sconset Bluff Walk. When you're ready to retire for the night, you'll have your pick of quaint Nantucket inns.

Whether you time your trip for summer boating, fall leaf peeping or snow season, upstate New York makes for an intimate setting. Depending on when you visit, you can bond with your beloved on a sleigh ride, a paddling trip or a scenic hike, where you'll be treated to awe-inspiring views of the Adirondacks' forests, lakes and mountains. When you're adventured out, bop between some of New York's most iconic small towns, including Saranac Lake and Lake Placid, for local dining and shopping. What's more, you can choose from accommodations ranging from luxe lodges packed with amenities to secluded wooden cabins for two.

Savannah, Georgia, is tailor-made for a weekend getaway. Spanish moss hangs over sidewalks that lead past hundreds of historic homes. The lively River Street area features a bevy of shopping, dining and nightlife options, while nearby islands provide a relaxing respite. Meanwhile, Forsyth Park provides the ultimate romantic backdrop for memorable couples photos, and if you're feeling brave, you can hold each other tight during a ghost tour at the hauntingly beautiful Bonaventure Cemetery. For charming digs in the heart of the city, hang your hat at one of Savannah's charming bed-and-breakfast accommodations, or rent a snug carriage house.

If your ideal romantic escape entails a lazy agenda, shingle-covered beach houses and quaint towns, Martha's Vineyard is just the place. On this Massachusetts island, you can relax on quiet beaches, sample decadent fare at upscale restaurants and explore the historic Edgartown Lighthouse, which offers incredible views of the harbor and neighboring Chappaquiddick Island. On a warm, sunny day, venture to Oak Bluffs, where you'll find charming gingerbread cottages at The Campground. For the ultimate romantic retreat, book a stay at one of the island's top hotels, some of which offer complimentary bike rentals, beach chairs and continental breakfast to guests.

Reconnect with your sweetie during a getaway to Jackson Hole. This piece of Wyoming paradise is ideal for all kinds of outdoor pursuits, including hiking and skiing. Should you need to soothe your aching muscles after an active day, go for a dip in the Granite Hot Springs, Astoria Hot Springs or your high-end resort's outdoor hot tub. Whether your dream romantic vacation includes horseback riding through the majestic Grand Teton National Park, sipping wine by a crackling fireplace or unwinding at a world-class spa, Jackson Hole is the perfect place for you and your other half.

For lovebirds who enjoy skiing and cuddling up by a fireplace, Aspen is the perfect place for a romantic getaway. Spend your days sharing ski lifts in the snow-capped mountains before partaking in the highly touted après ski scene. If you arrive during the warmer months, take advantage of superb hiking and scenic gondola rides. Then, retreat to one of the many hotels and resorts that offer glitzy accommodations for two – not to mention some must-visit spas . If you're not ready to turn in just yet, Aspen's nightlife options include plenty of live music venues, clubs and cocktail lounges.

With 40 miles of protected seashore, this region of Massachusetts offers plenty of space for that long walk on the beach. And the slow pace of Cape Cod means you don't have to focus on the hustle and bustle of daily life – you can spend quality time together swimming, biking and eating fresh seafood instead. Cape Cod is also home to a handful of breweries and wineries, so you can toast to your special someone during a tasting. Splurge on one of the Cape's five-star accommodations for spectacular ocean views and sumptuous amenities like soaking tubs for two, in-room fireplaces and private balconies.

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Most romantic movies ever: 25 greatest films ranked from worst to best

Posted: February 13, 2024 | Last updated: February 13, 2024

Most Romantic Movies Ever: 25 greatest films ranked from worst to best

Hollywood’s greatest romantic movies don’t feature all cooing and kissing, if you think about it. Before Love Can Conquer All, there must be struggle, redemption, confusing mishaps, mayhem and sometimes a sinking boat.

But in many surprising cases, love doesn’t win out. Remember, Doctor Yuri Zhivago dies of a heart attack just moments after he finally rediscovers Lara after three hours of frozen, bloody Russian hell on screen. Sebastian and Mia end up married to other people at the end of “La La Land” and, as everybody by now has heard, Rhett Butler didn’t give a damn about Scarlett O’Hara as soon as the wind was gone.

But the unhappy ending is sometimes what makes a romantic masterpiece so thrilling. Consider the denouement of our #1 choice for Most Romantic Movie Ever: “Casablanca.” Rick doesn’t escape with Isla on the plane in the fog at the end. He pulls out a gun and even kills a man while trying to force her to escape with her husband without him, telling her that she’ll later regret her decision if she stays behind: “Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of your life.” In “Casablanca,” Rick expresses his grand love by making the greatest sacrifice of all.

Tour our photo gallery above of the 25 most romantic films ever, ranked worst to best. Our list includes “Titanic,” “Gone with the Wind,” “Slumdog Millionaire,” “La La Land,” “Moulin Rouge,” “Brokeback Mountain” and more.

25. “Roman Holiday” (1953)

Audrey Hepburn turned into an overnight sensation thanks to her star turn as Princess Ann in “Roman Holiday.” About a princess escaping her royal duties and getting into mischief with an American reporter, Joe (Gregory Peck), “Roman Holiday” is a delightful comedy about quickly forming a connection with someone and giving each other what you need the most. The film ends in bittersweet and realistic fashion, but that just makes the time we spend with Ann and Joe that much more endearing. Hepburn won an Academy Award for her performance, while the film won Best Writing, Motion Picture Story and Best Black-and-White Costume Design.

24. “Carol” (2015)

Based on Patricia Highsmith’s 1952 novel “The Price of Salt,” Todd Haynes’ “Carol” has been embraced by the LGBTQ community for telling the rare tale of a lesbian May-December relationship with a happy ending. It’s about a shy sales clerk Therese (Rooney Mara) who falls for a confident, mature shopper, Carol (Cate Blanchett) and it successfully captures the intimacy of these characters believing they’re the only two people in uncaring world. “Carol” earned six Oscar nominations.

23. “The Notebook” (2004)

“The Notebook” is a classic tearjerker about a poor guy and a rich heiress falling in love despite being from differing social classes. Noah (Ryan Gosling) and Allie (Rachel McAdams) are unjustly separated for many years, which makes their ultimate reunion triumphant. The movie’s final, present-day scenes make it so special, causing audiences to reach for their hankies every time.

22. “Dirty Dancing” (1987)

Since 1987, misty-eyed moviegoers have had the times of their lives watching Johnny and Baby fall in love at a leafy vacation resort in “Dirty Dancing.” Strapping young waiter Johnny (Patrick Swayze) helps to teach haughty rich girl Baby (Jennifer Grey) how to dance rather naughtily, setting off sparks between them that ignite Baby’s disapproving father with fury. Its trademark dance lift is still referenced frequently across pop culture today.

21. “Peggy Sue Got Married” (1986)

When Peggy Sue (Kathleen Turner) is hurled back in time, she gets the chance to derail a high-school romance she knows will end up as a disastrous marriage. But, hey, she decides to take the ride anyway so she can recapture the old thrill of romantic abandon with Charlie (Nicolas Cage). The script is one of Francis Ford Coppola’s finest, the musical score makes your heart soar. The story’s finale is poignantly perfect – and so is the hilariously mischievous performance by Turner, who won a Golden Globe and earned an Oscar nomination for her career-best role.

20. “Beauty and the Beast” (1991)

A prince who is turned into a beast must learn to love another person, but how can he get the defiant, book-smart Belle to overlook his hideous looks? It’s a tale as old as time and a joyous film experience every time you watch it, thanks largely those music chestnuts “Beauty and the Beast,” “Be Our Guest” and “Belle.” The Disney classic was the first animated film to be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars.

19. “The Princess Bride” (1987)

Lowly farmhand Westley (Cary Elwes) will risk life and limb to be with damsel Buttercup (Robin Wright). Playing with the tropes of classic fairy tales, “The Princess Bride” is fearlessly romantic and “inconceivably” quotable at that. The Rob Reiner film was not a box office success when it was released in 1987, but it has since earned cult classic status.

18. “Love and Basketball” (2000)

“Love & Basketball” is as much about two people’s affection for playing hoops as it is about the intimate relationship they form over many years as they compete against each other for fun – and against a fiercely competitive world for real. When they ultimately end up with other romantic partners, “Love & Basketball” reaches its adrenalin high as Monica (Sanaa Lathan) decides to win Quincy (Omar Epps) back by proposing one more match-up.

“I’ll play you one-on-one,” she says.

“For what?” he asks.

“Your heart.”

17. “Pretty Woman” (1990)

“Pretty Woman” made Julia Roberts a sudden superstar. About a rich playboy (Richard Gere) and a “hooker with a heart of gold” (Roberts), it’s a charming tale about two people rescuing each other. It features a killer soundtrack and and an electrifying rapport between its costars.

16. “Crazy Rich Asians” (2018)

The one truly wacky thing about “Crazy Rich Asians” is the response of Rachel (Constance Wu), a New York economics professor, when she travels to Singapore with her boyfriend Nick (Henry Golding) and discovers that his local family is insanely wealthy: she’s outraged. Oh, well, all good movies must have conflict and she has a good reason for being miffed. If Rachel and Nick ever tie the knot, his family expects him to live in Singapore so he can chair the family biz. Nick never told Rachel she might have to give up Balducci’s, Greenwich Village boutiques and her prestigious job someday. Worse, Nick’s mom is a real dragon who doesn’t like Rachel one bit. Happily, “Crazy Rich Asians” is a comedy that’s a hoot to watch and it inevitably wins your – and the dragon’s — heart.

15. “Love Actually” (2003)

A Christmas tradition in many households, “Love Actually” features an all-star cast who experience some version of love in the film’s multiple vignettes. The most well-known is Andrew Lincoln’s, who holds big cue cards outside Keira Knightley’s house, silently expressing his love for her. The film is a cozy examination of love in the modern age at Yuletide, packed with multiple Oscar winners and nominees, paving the way for director Garry Marshall’s next all-star holiday films and more.

14. “If Beale Street Could Talk” (2018)

Barry Jenkins’ graceful adaptation of James Baldwin’s novel is a lyrical ode to love through the prism of the African-American experience in 1970s New York. Tish (Kiki Layne) and Fonny’s (Stephan James) adoring looks at each other are felt deeply throughout the film, and the flashbacks to how they met make us root for Tish as she later struggles to free Fonny when he’s wrongly put in prison. Regina King won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress as Fonny’s fearless mom.

13. “Moulin Rouge!” (2001)

Baz Luhrmann’s “Moulin Rouge!” is an unabashed tribute to truth, beauty, freedom, and love. The unexpected romance between young poet Christian (Ewan McGregor) and a Parisian nightclub courtesan Satine  (Nicole Kidman) is both dizzying and heart-wrenching. The soundtrack is comprised of covers of popular songs that express their aching passion for each other. Unforgettable: McGregor’s gorgeous rendition of “Your Song.”

12. “Sleepless in Seattle” (1993)

Sam (Tom Hanks) and Annie (Meg Ryan) spend most of “Sleepless in Seattle” apart, but that is exactly what makes the film such a fun journey. After the widowed Sam calls into a radio program professing his love for his deceased wife, a curious Annie starts to pursue him, and Sam’s plucky son Jonah does whatever he can to get them together. And he eventually succeeds in the film’s peak scene atop the Empire State Building.

11. “Moonstruck” (1987)

Cher caused her critics to “Snap out of it” after witnessing her winning performance as Italian American widow Loretta Castorini in Norman Jewison’s “Moonstruck.” After getting engaged to her new boyfriend, Johnny (Danny Aiello), she starts to develop feelings for his brother, Ronny (Nicolas Cage), who is more on the wild side. The Oscar-winning screenplay by John Patrick Shanley is filled with fun witticisms. Loretta’s parents (Olympia Dukakis and Vincent Gardenia) provide some of the film’s best lines, including“When you love them, they drive you crazy because they know they can!”

10. “Doctor Zhivago” (1965)

Sweeping and epic as the best David Lean films, “Doctor Zhivago” is set against the backdrop of the Russian Revolution. Yuri Zhivago (Omar Sharif) and Lara Antipova (Julie Christie), both engaged to other people, fall in love with each other after being placed in the same army regiment, but they are separated by the cruelties of war. Gorgeously framed and passionately told, “Doctor Zhivago” endures as a classic that won five Oscars despite losing Best Picture and Director to “The Sound of Music.”

9. “La La Land” (2016)

Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling were a perfect cinematic match in Damien Chazelle’s dazzling musical about the fools who dream in Los Angeles. Whether soaring through the air in a planetarium or exchanging a longing glance at Seb’s, Stone and Gosling proved that even doomed love can be marvelous. Yes, it lost Best Picture to “Moonlight” in a shocking Oscar screw-up, but “La La Land” still prevailed with six wins.

8. “Brokeback Mountain” (2005)

Ang Lee’s “Brokeback Mountain” was hugely controversial because it dared to depict typically macho roles – cowboys – in love. Ennis del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) desperately want to remain together, but they must battle the deeply felt homophobia of the early ‘60s. “Brokeback Mountain” was also doomed in the Oscar Best Picture race, losing to “Crash” even after “Brokeback” won more than two-dozen Best Picture trophies from various groups prior to the Academy Awards.

7. “Slumdog Millionaire” (2008)

“Slumdog Millionaire” is one of Oscar’s most rousing Best Picture winners, celebrating two of mankind’s most important quests: love and money. But its male hero Jamal (Dev Patel) doesn’t appear on India’s TV version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” in order to win the cash jackpot. He seeks love’s fortune as reward. He knows that his lost love Latika (Freido Pinto) will probably be watching and they may be reunited. The film’s finale is a perfect payoff set to music and dance.

6. “Gone with the Wind” (1939)

“Gone with the Wind” arrived in 1939 in glorious Technicolor and audiences were swept up in the epic love story of the two strong-willed characters — Scarlett O’Hara (Vivien Leigh) and Rhett Butler (Clark Gable). Based on Margaret Mitchell’s best-selling book, “Gone with the Wind” became the biggest box-office success in history and set a new record at the Oscars, winning eight, including Best Picture (over “The Wizard of Oz” and “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington”).

5. “It Happened One Night” (1935)

“It Happened One Night” is really the one the started it all. The film, which won the elusive “Big Five” Academy Awards (), set the mold for decades of romantic comedies to come, centering on a rich heiress named Ellie (Claudette Colbert) on the run to be with a man her father disapproves of, and a working class reporter named Peter (Clark Gable) who is hoping for a good scoop. They gradually form a love connection, turning the whole situation into a love triangle full of misunderstandings. Its classic scenes include Ellie flashing a leg while hitchhiking and Peter revealing his bare chest to Ellie. It won all top five Oscars: Best Picture, Director, Actor, Actress and Screenplay

4. “When Harry Met Sally” (1989)

Can men and women ever be friends? That is the thesis at the heart of “When Harry Met Sally,” starring Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan as the titular characters, who have mutual friends and go on a road-trip together, getting on each other’s nerves and examining relationships. Their chance encounters over the following years show the duo inching toward real, compatible romance, and Crystal and Ryan’s chemistry makes you want them to be together forever. Working from a dynamite screenplay written by Nora Ephron (“I’ll have what she’s having”), “When Harry Met Sally” has endured through the years as a whip-smart, lovable romantic comedy you could put on anytime.

3. “Titanic” (1997)

James Cameron’s “Titanic” was a formative experience for film-goers who couldn’t get enough of the doomed love story of Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Rose (Kate Winslet). The difference in social class  makes their story of star-crossed lovers all the more compelling as the romantic grandeur of the Titanic gives way to epic tragedy. “Titanic” tied the record for most Oscar victories (11), including Best Picture and Song (“My Heart Will Go On”).

2. “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” (2004)

Indie quirk never felt as wonderfully charming and innovative as “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.” The film centers on soft-spoken Joel (Jim Carrey) and free-spirited Clementine (Kate Winslet), who develop a relationship that soon goes sour, to the extent that they both agree to a new surgery allowing memories of each other to be erased. The ensuing procedure finds Joel wanting to preserve the good memories, a beautiful reminder that even the worst of relationships had some goodness attached to them at one point, and that it’s possible to work through problems. Carrey and Winslet give some of the best performances of their career as a couple destined to disagree but also destined to be together.

1. “Casablanca” (1942)

You must remember this. The legacy of “Casablanca” continues nearly 80 years later, with new generations of film lovers gripped by Humphrey Bogart’s Rick still carrying a flame for Ingrid Bergman’s Ilsa, years after their Paris affair. Things become complicated when Rick must decide whether to help Ilsa and her new husband escape to America during the turmoil of World War II. Like many of the other films listed here, their romance is all the more intense and compelling because it is forbidden. It is a film about sacrifice, and as Rick and Ilsa part ways, knowing it’s in each other’s best interest, we feel the heartache but understand it was always to be. “Casablanca” won the Oscars for Best Picture, Director and Screenplay.

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