Top 10 Romantic Movies: Modern (After 1975)
These movies cover all the love clichés – and keep us coming back time and time again. Whether it’s the story of a slain lover who comes back as a spirit to warn his lady, the tale of a young man who makes the ultimate sacrifice for a woman he just met, or the account of two best friends finally falling in love, romantic movies can’t be beat. So grab any one of these choices – and probably a box of tissues – and settle in for a romantic night with your beloved. In honor of Valentine’s Day, WatchMojo.com counts down our picks for the top 10 modern romantic films. For this list, we’ve decided to stick to movies that were released after 1975.
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Top 10 Romantic Movies: Modern (After 1975)
Top 10 Romantic Movies: Modern (After 1975)
These movies cover all the love clichés – and keep us coming back time and time again. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 modern romantic films.
And by modern, we mean since 1975.
#10 – “Moonstruck” (1987)
With mainstream success and three Oscars to its name, this bittersweet rom-com manages to be one of the ‘80s’ most engaging movies, thanks to star power from Cher and Nic Cage. The singer-turned-Oscar-winning-actress plays a woman who falls for her dull fiancé’s fiery brother. Set against the infidelity in her own parents’ marriage, this is one movie that proves true love can be painful.#9 – “Love Actually” (2003)
A perennial favorite on Christmastime must-watch lists, this British flick tells love stories from many perspectives. With new love, unrequited love, lost love and the love between families, this star-studded film is touching, funny, sad, and silly all at the same time. And, if you don’t giggle at a smitten Hugh Grant dancing, or reach for tissues because of Liam Neeson’s bond with his son, you’re dead inside.#8 – “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” (2004)
Take romance, add sci-fi, and you’ve got a poignant tale that proves love conquers all – even with obstacles like memory erasure in the mix. The film recounts Jim Carrey’s and Kate Winslet’s happy and not-so-happy times together in reverse, and in using this unique storytelling device it asks – and answers – the question: is it better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all?#7 – “Ghost” (1990)
This film is another case where love conquers all, even in death. After Sam is murdered in a seemingly random shooting, he struggles to communicate with his grieving love through a hilarious local psychic-slash-swindler. Aside from driving home the idea that nothing gets in the way of true love, this film has one of the most romantic movie scenes in history – who knew clay could be so sexy?#6 – “Pretty Woman” (1990)
A fairytale for the modern woman, this flick made Julia Roberts a star thanks to her effervescent portrayal of a prostitute. Though the film was originally written as a dark tale of sex and drugs, the blossoming affair between Roberts and Richard Gere was a runaway hit that featured many legendary scenes. The moral of this story? True love changes a person, usually for the better.#5 – “Dirty Dancing” (1987)
Swayze wasn’t the king of romantic movies for nothin’, with two entries on this list. With everything stacked against them, dancer Johnny Castle and young Baby Houseman strike up a scorching secret romance. Emblematic of the ‘80s, “Dirty Dancing” reminds us of the passion of first loves. Plus, let’s face it: every woman wants a man to fight for her and lift her in the air.#4 – “When Harry Met Sally...” (1989)
Slow and steady wins the race, and the bond Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan build is the perfect foundation for a lasting romance. Framed by interviews with older couples about their relationships, this timeless tale proves that – no, men and women cannot be just friends. It’s a tough choice between this and “Sleepless in Seattle,” but which is more romantic to you: stalking a stranger from across the country, or falling for your best friend?#3 – “The Notebook” (2004)
True love gets under your skin and stays there… Forever. This Nicholas Sparks story is both beautiful and sexy, bolstered by star-making performances from Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams. This one has it all: forbidden romance, class differences, cute other men, elderly people, kisses in the rain. Try to choose just one scene as the most romantic, and you’ll be deliberating for a while.#2 – “Annie Hall” (1977)
Almost everyone’s favorite Woody Allen flick, this is a witty story of male-female relationships from the man’s perspective – except that man is a highly-neurotic Jewish New Yorker. Representative of changing attitudes towards love and marriage in the ‘70s, this semi-autobiographical film is a reminder that no matter how hard you try, sometimes people just grow apart.#1 – “Titanic” (1997)
With killer special effects, historical interest and bittersweet, illicit romance, this is the type of movie anyone can enjoy – and almost everyone did, based on the box-office returns. With thrilling chemistry from Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, this story stands the test of time. And, while Jack and Rose’s moment together may have been brief, their youthful excitement, passion and sacrifice make theirs one of cinema’s most enduring love affairs.Do you agree with our list? Which is your favorite modern romance flick? For more great top 10s, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.
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