What makes a good romance movie? It can depend on the person, but through my extensive research (aka binging a ton of rom-coms), I’ve found that the best plots are more than just a couple in love. So here are the four best romance movies of all time.
#1, “10 Things I Hate About You.”
The only thing I hate about this movie is that I don’t hate it, not even a little, not at all. (I had to make that joke, it was too perfect.) But all jokes aside, this movie is the epitome of the 2000s rom-com. I mean, give me a more 2000s plot than Patrick, a notorious bad boy, getting paid to take out Kat, the girl no one will date, all so that her sister can go to prom.
Patrick’s job is not as easy as it sounds, however, because Kat is not the typical 2000s female lead. In fact, she defies many stereotypes about women in the 2000s era. She is loud and messy and opinionated, and she is unapologetic for it. The inspiration behind the movie is Shakespeare’s “Taming of the Shrew,” but while Katherine from the play allows herself to be tamed, Kat does no such thing.
At the same time, Kat’s younger sister, Bianca, is trying to decide between the hot senior guy who paid to go out with her and the sweet sophomore guy who tutors her in French. The romance in this movie is peak, but so is the music and the comedy. The perfect rom-com combination.
#2, “Crazy Rich Asians.”
The ultimate movie to watch on an airplane (you’ll see why), this movie is one of the sweetest romances I’ve ever watched. Rachel, a Chinese professor in New York, agrees to meet her boyfriend Nick’s family in Singapore, only to find out on the way that he’s rich. Like multiple private houses, controlling a ton of hotels and owning the airline they fly out on type of rich.
With the family’s money and status comes rude friends, judgy cousins and unaccepting mothers. Rachel does her best to ignore all of the backlash she faces simply because she’s dating Nick, but as the pressure builds, Rachel starts to feel the effect.
There’s no will-they won’t-they get together in this movie. Instead, you’re wondering if Nick’s family is ever gonna accept Rachel, and what the couple is going to do if they don’t. While the suspense keeps you on the edge of your seat, you get to witness the true romance of Rachel and Nick fighting for each other, instead of the cliche trope of fighting feelings that are obvious to everyone except them.
#3, “She’s the Man.”
This is one of my favorite movies I have ever watched. It currently holds a spot amongst my Letterboxed favorites, and probably will forever. The jokes, plot, romance and characters are unmatched, and I will never be tired of watching it.
Viola is one of the starters on the girls’ soccer team at her high school, until the team gets cut due to a lack of practice time. So, to prove to her ex-boyfriend that she’s just as good as the guys, she takes her twin brother Sebastien’s spot at his new boarding school, posing as him. Viola, aka Sebastien, faces a lot of issues at her new school, but she also starts to form a friendship with her super-hot, soccer-starter roommate, who has no idea she’s a girl. Between extra soccer lessons, a kissing booth fiasco and crazy side characters trying to prove Viola isn’t really Sebastien, you won’t be bored for a second while watching this movie.
#4, “The Proposal.”
We all know the cliched trope of a boss and his secretary falling in love, and we’re all tired of it. But you know what’s 10 times better? A boss and HER secretary falling in love, while preparing to enter a fake marriage so that she doesn’t get deported to Canada. Oh, and they’re enemies. Is there anything better? (There’s not.)
But seriously, this movie is the absolute best. You get to watch the two coworkers become closer and start to catch feelings, while also trying to convince his family they’re in love for real. With a distrustful father and a sweet but slightly crazy grandma complicating things, there’s never a dull moment in this movie. You’ll be laughing and crying by the end.
