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It’s officially the season of love, and whether you have a valentine, are spending time with friends, or riding solo, I’ve curated the perfect list of romance films to get you into the spirit of love.
When Harry Met Sally (1989)
We’re starting strong with the iconic film When Harry Met Sally, directed by Rob Reiner. The film tells the story of Harry (Billy Crystal) and Sally (Meg Ryan), two college graduates who share a car ride from Chicago to New York. From there, they begin to weave in and out of each other's lives in a series of missed chances.
This film feels like the blueprint for the perfect rom-com, and it feels realistic. Two longtime friends who can't get their timing right? I don't doubt that there's plenty of people who can relate to this dynamic.
This is one of my all-time favourite films; the chemistry between Ryan and Crystal is beautiful, and their banter is charming, like that of old-time friends. If you’re in the mood for a classic friends-to-lovers rom-com, look no further.
Before Sunrise (1995)
Before Sunrise is a romance film directed by Richard Linklater starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, who play Jesse and Celine, two strangers meeting on a train who decide to disembark in Vienna and spend the day exploring the city before they have to separate come sunrise.
This is a film for true romantics, those who believe in love at first sight, because that’s what these characters experience. Before Sunrise is about young love, the art of connection and true intimacy, which feels lost these days. It’s the first part of a trilogy that takes us through the lives of the characters at different points in their lives. While the other films have their moments, neither quite compares to the feeling of the first.
Past Lives (2023)
This next film is a romantic drama filled with angst and heartache, but also plenty of love. Past Lives is a 2023 film directed by Celine Song. It explores Nora (Greta Lee) and Hae Sung (Teo Yoo), two childhood friends separated after Nora’s family moves from South Korea to Canada. Many years later, they meet again, and it brings up complicated feelings of past and present lives.
Past Lives is the kind of film that leaves you asking, “What if?” It’s introspective and tells the story of the lives you could've lived compared to the one you are living. If you want to end the night in tears while questioning all of your past choices, this is the one to watch.
The Notebook (2004)
What kind of list would this be without The Notebook? This well-loved film features Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, and is directed by Nick Cassavetes. In 1940s Carolina, a young Noah and Allie fall in love and are heartbroken when they’re forced to separate due to her parents. After Noah returns from the war, the two haven’t forgotten their love, despite Allie now being engaged.
If you’ve seen The Notebook already, you know how it’s filled with yearning, heartbreak and passionate love. It’s the perfect film for the day of love. If you haven’t seen it, then this Valentine’s Day is the best opportunity to see what all the hype is about.
Roman Holiday (1953)
Taking things back with Roman Holiday, this romantic comedy was directed by William Wyler and stars Hollywood starlet Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck. The film follows European princess Ann, who escapes her guards and wanders the streets of Rome. She’s soon found by American reporter Joe Bradley, who tries to get an exclusive with the princess, but ends up finding more than he was looking for.
Roman Holiday is a classic for a good reason, and it is a rom-com in every sense of the word. It’s filled with old Hollywood humour and electric chemistry between Hepburn and Peck. This is the kind of film that makes you yearn for a meet-cute or a whirlwind European summer romance.
Eternity (2025)
Eternity first premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in 2025 and was released in November of that year. Directed by David Freyne, the film stars a main cast of Elizabeth Olsen, Miles Teller, and Callum Turner. When Joan dies and goes to the afterlife, she’s confronted with the choice of spending eternity with her husband of sixty years or her first husband, who died in the war and spent decades waiting for her.
This film really draws you in with the premise alone. The idea of having to choose between your lost love and your current love seems impossible. In my opinion, the film handles it well, acknowledging the nuances of having a spouse pass, then choosing to love again. If you want a film that’ll make you belly laugh while swooning from Turner’s charm and Miles’s sincerity, this is a must-watch.
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003)
Directed by Donald Petrie, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days stars Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey. Andie Anderson runs an experiment for her magazine column and attempts to have a guy lose interest in 10 days; the guy she chooses is Ben Lowry. An executive who has his own bet going that he can make any woman fall in love with him in 10 days. Unaware of one another’s plans, Andie and Ben play an intense game that becomes complicated when they start to develop feelings.
This film is without a doubt in my top five best rom-coms of all time; it’s filled with unimaginable situations and hilarious moments. The push and pull between the characters is fascinating to watch, especially because Andie and Ben are playing opposite games. Watching the genuine connection grow through all the trickery is heartwarming and leaves you begging for them to put aside their egos and just be happy.
There you have it, my carefully handcrafted list of some heartwarming or wrenching romance films to entertain you this Valentine’s Day. Whether you choose a few or decide to make it a marathon, you’re sure to end the night believing true love is real.
