1. The Notebook
Director: Nick Cassavetes
Netflix Rating: 7.8/10
Release Year: 2004
The Notebook is a romantic drama film released in 2004, based on Nicholas Sparks’ novel of the same name. It follows the story of Noah and Allie, two lovers whose relationship endures decades despite societal and personal obstacles. Narrated through a love letter, the movie explores themes of memory, love, and fate, ultimately illustrating the power of enduring affection. It stars Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams.
2. La La Land
Director: Damien Chazelle
Netflix Rating: 8.0/10
Release Year: 2016
La La Land (2016) is a critically acclaimed musical film directed by Damien Chazelle. Starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, it follows the love story of a jazz musician and an aspiring actress as they navigate their careers and relationship in Los Angeles. The film blends romance, music, and vibrant visuals, capturing the dreams and struggles of its characters. La La Land won numerous awards, including six Oscars.
3. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before
Director: Susan Johnson
Netflix Rating: 7.1/10
Release Year: 2018
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is a romantic comedy about Lara Jean Covey, a shy high schooler whose secret love letters are accidentally sent to all her past crushes. As a result, she enters a fake relationship with one of the recipients, Peter Kavinsky, to avoid embarrassment. As their charade progresses, Lara Jean finds herself developing real feelings for Peter, navigating love, friendship, and self-discovery.
4. Pride and Prejudice
Director: Joe Wright
Netflix Rating: 7.8/10
Release Year: 2005
Pride and Prejudice is a romantic drama based on Jane Austen’s novel. Set in 19th-century England, it follows Elizabeth Bennet, an intelligent and independent young woman, as she navigates societal expectations and family pressures. She develops a complicated relationship with the wealthy, aloof Mr. Darcy, who initially appears arrogant but proves to be honorable, ultimately leading to a transformative romance.
5. The Kissing Booth
Director: Vince Marcello
Netflix Rating: 6.0/10
Release Year: 2018
The Kissing Booth is a romantic comedy about Elle Evans, a high school student who sets up a kissing booth for a fundraiser at her school’s carnival. However, things take a turn when she ends up kissing her best friend Lee’s older brother, Noah, a popular but rebellious teenager. Their unexpected romance complicates Elle’s friendship with Lee, as she navigates love, loyalty, and personal growth.
6. A Walk to Remember
Director: Adam Shankman
Netflix Rating: 7.4/10
Release Year: 2002
A Walk to Remember is a 2002 romantic drama based on Nicholas Sparks’ novel. It follows Landon, a rebellious high school student, who unexpectedly falls in love with Jamie, a sweet, religious girl. As their bond deepens, Jamie reveals she is battling a terminal illness. Their love story, marked by transformation, faith, and heartache, teaches Landon profound life lessons, leading to a life-changing journey of love and loss.
7. Always Be My Maybe
Director: Nahnatchka Khan
Netflix Rating: 6.8/10
Release Year: 2019
Always Be My Maybe is a romantic comedy about childhood friends, Sasha and Marcus, who reconnect after years apart. Sasha is a successful chef in Los Angeles, while Marcus is still living in their hometown and working with his father. As they rekindle their friendship, old feelings resurface, complicating their lives. The film explores love, growth, and second chances, with humorous and heartfelt moments.
8. Set It Up
Director: Claire Scanlon
Netflix Rating: 6.5/10
Release Year: 2018
Set It Up (2018) is a romantic comedy about two overworked assistants, Harper and Charlie, who plot to set up their demanding bosses, Kirsten and Rick, in hopes of getting some free time for themselves. As they execute their plan, sparks fly between them, leading to unexpected romance and personal growth. The film combines humor, charm, and the challenges of balancing work and relationships.
9. The Half of It
Director: Alice Wu
Netflix Rating: 7.0/10
Release Year: 2020
The Half of It is a coming-of-age drama about Ellie Chu, a shy, intelligent high school student who helps a jock named Paul write love letters to his crush, Aster. As Ellie becomes more emotionally involved with Aster, she struggles with her own feelings while navigating friendship, identity, and unspoken desires. The film explores themes of love, self-discovery, and the complexities of human connection.
10. Someone Great
Director: Jennifer Kaytin Robinson
Netflix Rating: 6.2/10
Release Year: 2019
Someone Great follows Jenny, a woman who navigates a tough breakup after her long-term relationship ends just before she moves across the country for her dream job. With the help of her two best friends, she embarks on one final adventure through New York City, confronting love, loss, and the challenges of moving forward in life. It’s a heartfelt and humorous exploration of friendship and healing.
11. The Spectacular Now
Director: James Ponsoldt
Netflix Rating: 7.1/10
Release Year: 2013
The Spectacular Now follows Sutter Keely, a charismatic high school senior with a carefree attitude, who unexpectedly forms a relationship with Aimee Finecky, a shy, introverted classmate. As their bond deepens, Sutter confronts his own personal struggles, including his fractured family and fear of growing up. The film explores themes of love, self-discovery, and the challenges of transitioning to adulthood.
12. The Last Letter from Your Lover
Director: Augustine Frizzell
Netflix Rating: 6.7/10
Release Year: 2021
The Last Letter from Your Lover is a romantic drama that intertwines two love stories across decades. The first follows Jennifer, a woman in the 1960s who embarks on a passionate affair with a married man, while the second, set in the present day, involves Ellie, a journalist who uncovers their letters and becomes captivated by their forbidden romance. The film explores love, secrets, and the passage of time.
13. To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You
Director: Michael Fimognari
Netflix Rating: 6.0/10
Release Year: 2020
To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You follows Lara Jean Covey as she navigates the complications of her relationship with Peter Kavinsky after she confesses her feelings to him. However, when John Ambrose McClaren, a former recipient of her love letters, reappears, Lara Jean faces tough choices about love, trust, and the future, leading her to realize the complexities of her heart.
14. The Vow
Director: Michael Sucsy
Netflix Rating: 6.8/10
Release Year: 2012
The Vow (2012) is a romantic drama about Paige (Rachel McAdams) and Leo (Channing Tatum), a married couple whose life is turned upside down when Paige suffers a memory loss following a car accident. Unable to remember Leo or their life together, Leo strives to win her heart again, while Paige struggles to reconcile her past with her present. The film explores love, memory, and the power of commitment.
15. The Girl Before
Director: Lisa Brühlmann
Netflix Rating: 6.2/10
Release Year: 2021
The Girl Before is a psychological thriller based on the novel by J.P. Delaney. The story follows two women, Emma and Jane, who live in a minimalist, high-tech house designed by an enigmatic architect. As Jane moves into the same house years later, she uncovers eerie parallels between her life and Emma’s, leading to dark secrets and a tense mystery involving the house’s twisted past.
16. Notting Hill
Director: Roger Michell
Netflix Rating: 7.7/10
Release Year: 1999
Notting Hill is a romantic comedy about William Thacker, a humble bookstore owner in London’s trendy Notting Hill district. His life changes when he meets Anna Scott, a famous American actress. Despite their different worlds, they form a connection. As they navigate the challenges of their relationship, including paparazzi and personal insecurities, they find love in unexpected places. The film explores fame, love, and the complexities of relationships.
17. The Fault in Our Stars
Director: Josh Boone
Netflix Rating: 7.7/10
Release Year: 2014
The Fault in Our Stars follows Hazel Grace, a 16-year-old cancer survivor, who meets Augustus Waters, a charming and witty cancer patient, at a support group. As they bond over their love for literature, particularly a book about a cancer-stricken girl, their relationship deepens. Together, they face the challenges of life, love, and loss, grappling with the reality of their illnesses and finding meaning in their brief time together.
18. Your Place or Mine
Director: Aline Brosh McKenna
Netflix Rating: 6.1/10
Release Year: 2023
Your Place or Mine is a romantic comedy about two lifelong friends, Debbie and Peter, who swap homes for a week to explore their lives from a new perspective. While staying in each other’s spaces, they begin to reconsider their long-held feelings for one another. The movie explores themes of love, friendship, and personal growth, blending humor and heartwarming moments as they navigate new beginnings.
19. The Holiday
Director: Nancy Meyers
Netflix Rating: 6.9/10
Release Year: 2006
Two women, Iris (Kate Winslet) and Amanda (Cameron Diaz), swap homes for the holidays to escape their romantic troubles. Iris, from England, finds herself in a luxurious Los Angeles home, while Amanda, from LA, ends up in a charming countryside cottage in Surrey. Both women unexpectedly find love with local men—while learning life-changing lessons about relationships, self-discovery, and healing.
20. Love, Rosie
Director: Christian Ditter
Netflix Rating: 7.0/10
Release Year: 2014
Love, Rosie follows the lifelong friendship of Rosie and Alex, two childhood friends who share an undeniable connection but are separated by circumstances. After a series of misunderstandings, missed opportunities, and romantic entanglements, they navigate life’s challenges while realizing that they might have been meant for each other all along. A heartfelt tale of love, timing, and fate.
21. Midnight Sun
Director: Scott Speer
Netflix Rating: 6.6/10
Release Year: 2018
Midnight Sun is a romantic drama about Katie Price, a young woman with a rare condition that makes her highly sensitive to sunlight. Living a sheltered life, she secretly dreams of a normal life. When she meets Charlie, a charming boy, their love story begins. Despite her health challenges, Katie navigates a journey of love, self-discovery, and the fleeting beauty of life. The film explores themes of hope and living fully in the face of adversity.
22. The Proposal
Director: Anne Fletcher
Netflix Rating: 6.7/10
Release Year: 2009
The Proposal (2009) is a romantic comedy about a high-powered book editor, Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock), who faces deportation to Canada. To avoid this, she convinces her assistant, Andrew (Ryan Reynolds), to marry her. They travel to his hometown in Alaska, where sparks fly as they navigate family dynamics and unexpected emotions. As their fake relationship becomes more complicated, love unexpectedly blossoms.
23. The Theory of Everything
Director: James Marsh
Netflix Rating: 7.7/10
Release Year: 2014
The Theory of Everything (2014) is a biographical drama about renowned physicist Stephen Hawking. The film chronicles his early years, diagnosis of ALS, groundbreaking scientific achievements, and personal life, focusing on his relationship with his first wife, Jane. As Hawking defies the odds of his disease, the story highlights his perseverance, intellectual brilliance, and the emotional toll of his condition.
24. A Cinderella Story
Director: Mark Rosman
Netflix Rating: 6.2/10
Release Year: 2004
“A Cinderella Story” (2004) follows Sam Montgomery, a high school senior who faces a difficult life living with her wicked stepmother and stepsisters. After meeting a charming boy, Austin, online, they make plans to meet in person at a dance. Mistaken identities and misunderstandings ensue, but true love prevails as Sam finds her voice, self-worth, and a chance at happiness with Austin.
25. Someone Great
Director: Jennifer Kaytin Robinson
Netflix Rating: 6.2/10
Release Year: 2019
Someone Great follows Jenny, a woman reeling from a breakup with her long-term boyfriend, who is preparing to move across the country for a new job. With the help of her best friends, Erin and Blair, she embarks on one last adventure in New York City before her life changes. The film explores love, friendship, and personal growth, offering a heartfelt, humorous journey of self-discovery and letting go.