Top 10 Must-See American Romantic Movies

Me Before You follows the heartfelt story of 26-year-old Louisa Clark, a lively and colorful young woman from a quaint English village. Although she has a vibrant personality, Lou struggles with a lack of direction and dreams of her own while working hard to support her struggling family.

Lou's new job caring for Will Traynor, a young, wealthy banker left paralyzed from the waist down after a tragic accident, becomes a turning point in both of their lives. Once a carefree adventurer, Will now lives in bitterness and has given up on life. Their unlikely encounter transforms both their hearts and futures.

The film achieved great success, grossing $208 million worldwide against a $20 million budget. It won the Favorite Dramatic Movie at the 43rd People’s Choice Awards.

DETAILS:

Director: Thea Sharrock

Cast: Emilia Clarke, Sam Claflin, Janet McTeer

Duration: 1 hour 46 minutes

Release Year: 2016

IMDB Rating: 7.4

Tomatometer: 54%

Audience Score: 73%

The Fault in Our Stars is a romantic drama with elements of humor, adapted from the 2012 bestselling novel by John Green.

The story follows Hazel Grace Lancaster, a 16-year-old girl battling cancer. Despite her illness, Hazel is encouraged by her parents to attend a support group for other young cancer patients. There, she meets Augustus Waters, a charming young man who she unexpectedly falls in love with. Together, they navigate the struggles of their health conditions while forming a deep, emotional bond that becomes a beautiful love story.

The film received widespread acclaim, particularly for Shailene Woodley’s performance and the movie's emotional depth. It was also a commercial success, topping the box office on its opening weekend and grossing $300 million worldwide, on a budget of just $12 million. The film was later released on Blu-Ray and DVD on September 16, 2014.

DETAILS:

Director: Josh Boone

Cast: Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort, Nat Wolff

Duration: 2 hours 6 minutes

Release Year: 2014

IMDB Rating: 7.7

Tomatometer: 81%

Audience Score: 85%

Starstruck follows Christopher Wilde, a famous pop star living in California with a massive fan following. Jessica Olson, a young girl from Michigan, lives with her parents and sister, Sara, who is a devoted fan of Christopher and dreams of meeting her idol.

One day, Jessica’s family travels to California to visit her grandmother. Sara is determined to meet Christopher, believing that he will fall for her when they meet. However, during his girlfriend's birthday party, Jessica accidentally bumps into Chris while he's trying to avoid the paparazzi. Surprisingly, it's Jessica’s unapologetic attitude that draws Chris to her.

As Chris takes Jessica on a tour of California, she begins to see a different side of the pop star, and slowly, she starts to develop feelings for him. But, to protect his career, Chris is forced to deny knowing Jessica. What happens next in Starstruck? Tune in to find out!

DETAILS:
Director: Michael Grossman
Cast: Sterling Knight, Danielle Campbell, Maggie Castle
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Release Year: 2010
IMDB: 6.1

Grey's Anatomy is considered the best medical drama series, holding 208 episodes and 55 awards. Set in a hospital in Seattle, the show follows the lives of interns and residents as they strive to balance their personal lives with the demanding training required to become skilled doctors.

The plot centers on Meredith Grey, a surgical resident, and her relationships with her colleagues and staff at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. From her days as an intern to becoming an attending surgeon, Meredith’s journey intertwines with the lives of the people around her. How will the story unfold? Watch Grey’s Anatomy to find out.

DETAILS:

Director: Shonda Rhimes

Cast: Ellen Pompeo, Chandra Wilson, James Pickens Jr.

Duration: 384 episodes

Release Year: 2005

IMDB: 7.5

Tomatometer: 84%

Audience Score: 77%

The Notebook tells a heartwarming love story narrated by an elderly man. Every day, he reads the tale of Allie Hamilton and Noah Calhoun to his wife in a nursing home.

Allie and Noah first meet by chance during a festival and instantly fall in love. However, Allie’s parents disapprove of Noah because of his poor background, leading them to separate the young lovers. After years of unanswered letters from Noah, Allie reluctantly becomes engaged to Lon, a charming young man. But when Allie still cannot forget Noah, she visits him, and their passion rekindles. Will Allie choose her fiancé, or will she follow her heart and return to her first love?

The Notebook received mixed reviews but was a box-office success, earning multiple nominations and winning several awards, including eight Teen Choice Awards, a Satellite Award, and an MTV Movie Award. The film gained a massive following and, on November 11, 2012, ABC Family aired an extended version with additional deleted scenes.

DETAILS:

Director: Nick Cassavetes

Cast: Gena Rowlands, James Garner, Rachel McAdams

Duration: 2 hours 3 minutes

Release Year: 2004

IMDB: 7.8

Tomatometer: 53%

Audience Score: 85%

Titanic is a timeless classic directed by James Cameron, based on the true events of 1912 when the massive ship Titanic collided with an iceberg and sank into the Atlantic Ocean. The story focuses on the tragic romance between Jack, a poor artist (played by Leonardo DiCaprio), and Rose, a young woman (Kate Winslet) forced into an engagement with a wealthy man to save her family from financial ruin.

Two individuals from different social classes meet aboard the ill-fated ship, Titanic, and their deep, heartfelt love leaves a lasting impression on the audience. This romantic film has moved countless viewers to tears while imparting a profound moral lesson.

Premiering at the Tokyo International Film Festival on November 1, 1997, and officially released on December 19, 1997, Titanic achieved remarkable success both commercially and critically. The film was nominated for fourteen Academy Awards and won eleven, including Best Picture and Best Director, matching the record set by Ben Hur (1959) for the most Oscars won by a film. With earnings surpassing $1.84 billion, Titanic became the first film to gross over $1 billion worldwide.

DETAILS::
Director: James Cameron
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane
Duration: 3 hours 14 minutes
Release Year: 1997
IMDB: 7.8
Tomatometer: 89%
Audience: 69%

The plot of The Adventures of Robin Hood follows the story of Robin Hood (Errol Flynn), a nobleman from Locksley. When Prince John, the brother of King Richard, plots to steal the throne while the king is away, Robin does everything in his power to thwart the plan. He is pursued and becomes an outlaw, eventually seeking refuge in Sherwood Forest.

There, Robin gathers a group of like-minded individuals and becomes their leader, known as Robin Hood. He commands them to rob from the rich and give to the poor, all while maintaining his loyalty to King Richard. At the same time, he harbors a deep love for Maid Marian (Olivia de Havilland), a beautiful woman he has loved since childhood.

The Adventures of Robin Hood has received critical acclaim since its release. In 1995, the film was selected by the United States Library of Congress for preservation due to its "cultural, historical, or aesthetic significance." It was also chosen for inclusion in the National Film Registry.

DETAILS:
Directors: Michael Curtiz, William Keighley
Cast: Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Basil Rathbone
Duration: 1 hour 42 minutes
Release Year: 1938
IMDB: 7.9
Tomatometer: 100%
Audience: 89%

Bridgerton revolves around the eight close-knit siblings of the Bridgerton family as they navigate love and happiness within London's high society. Based on the bestselling novels by Julia Quinn, the series dives into the romantic lives of the Bridgertons and their interactions with London's elite.

Bridgerton is an American period drama streaming on Netflix. The show, which was created by Shonda Rhimes, premiered on Netflix on December 25, 2020. The first season, consisting of 8 episodes, received positive reviews.

With a viewership of 82 million households, it became the most-watched series on Netflix. The show reached number one in 76 countries. In January 2021, the series released its second season, and in April 2021, creator Chris Van Dusen announced the renewal for a third and fourth season.

DETAILS:

Director: Chris Van Dusen

Cast: Phoebe Dynevor, Regé-Jean Page, Nicola Coughlan

Duration: 16 episodes

Release Year: 2020

IMDB: 7.3

Tomatometer: 88%
Audience: 72%

New Girl stands out with its vibrant young cast offering a fresh take on modern relationships. The story follows Jess Day, an awkward, quirky woman in her late 20s who, after a breakup with her first love, begins living with three male roommates. Jess is goofy, optimistic, vulnerable, and has an unshakable belief in people, even when she probably shouldn't.

Despite her awkwardness and occasional clumsiness, Jess fully embraces her unique personality. While she easily forms friendships with women, she struggles with romantic relationships, particularly with men—especially when at home. New Girl has received widespread praise for its charming, offbeat humor and relatable characters.

DETAILS:
Director: Elizabeth Meriwether
Cast: Zooey Deschanel, Jake Johnson, Max Greenfield
Duration: 146 episodes
Release Year: 2011 - 2018
IMDB: 7.7
Tomatometer: 95%

Audience: 83%

The Shape of Water is a captivating tale set in an alternate world during the Cold War era in 1962. The story follows a mute janitor working at a secretive government laboratory, who forms a deep bond with an amphibious man being held captive. As their connection grows, she hatches a daring plan to help him escape.

The film premiered in the main competition at the 74th Venice International Film Festival on August 31, 2017, where it won the prestigious Golden Lion for Best Film. It also featured at the Toronto International Film Festival later that year. Critics hailed The Shape of Water as Guillermo del Toro's finest work since Pan's Labyrinth, with particular praise for the performance of Sally Hawkins.

DETAILS:
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Cast: Sally Hawkins, Octavia Spencer, Michael Shannon
Duration: 2h 03m
Release Year: 2017
IMDB: 7.3
Tomatometer: 92%
Audience: 72%