Not every film on Netflix is going to tug at your heartstrings, which is why we’ve compiled a list of the best romance films currently streaming on the platform. From a fictional town in New Jersey to the whimsical world of Amélie, these 12 films showcase how varied the definition of love truly is.
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Solid romance movies are hard to come by. Some are too cheesy and others lack substance. Plus, with Netflix offering thousands of titles to choose from, the search for a tug-at-your-heartstrings kind of movie can be daunting. Lucky for you, we have shed the tears and let out a collective “You went back to him?” groan to find the perfect list of romance movies. From a twisted love triangle to a parallel universe, here are our choices for the best romance flicks on Netflix to check out this month.
Nominated for five Oscars, Amélie tells the story of a timid woman (Audrey Tautou) who tries to see the beauty of the world around her. She makes it her life’s goal to change people’s lives for the better. Her quest for good leads her to learn more about her self-worth, and also to a young man (Mathieu Kassovitz), with whom she falls in love. The whimsical plot line and dreamy cinematography allow the film to take you on a fantastical journey through the trials and tribulations of love and finding yourself.
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Based on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 1986 musical, The Phantom of the Opera is a twisted love story that takes place inside an opera house in 1870. The story revolves around three characters: Christine (Emmy Rossum), the beautiful young singer; Raoul (Patrick Wilson), Christine’s childhood friend and soon-to-be lover; and The Phantom (Gerard Butler), a disfigured man hell-bent on making Christine his. The mesmerizing melodies joined with a slow-burning obsession make this movie enthralling until the very last crescendo.
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In Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, Nick (Michael Cera) is still in love with his ex-girlfriend Tris (Alexis Dziena). One night in a club, however, he is asked to pretend to be Norah’s (Kat Dennings) boyfriend, who happens to be friends with Tris. As the night progresses, their New York escapades and love of the same music draws them closer together. And though the blue-ribbon soundtrack is the thread running throughout the entirety of the film, it’s the chemistry between the two leads — particularly, the charming banter — that makes watching the whole affair unfold worthwhile.
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Alex Strangelove is a coming-of-age story about Alex Truelove (Daniel Doheny), a high-school student who is ready to lose his virginity to his girlfriend Claire (Madeline Weinstein). Things get complicated, however, when he meets Elliot (Antonio Marziale), a charming gay kid. This sends him on an emotional roller coaster, where his sexuality is blurred as his feelings for Elliot deepen. In the end, it’s a story of self-discovery and sexuality during an age where nothing makes sense — the well-cast ensemble and homages to teenage classics like Sixteen Candles are simply a plus.
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Growing up, Chris (Ryan Reynolds) was overweight, bullied, and in love with his best friend Jamie (Amy Smart). She was in love with him, too, but in a “just friends” kind of way. A decade later, Chris is skinnier, successful, and dating a pop star (Anna Faris). When their plans to go to Paris falls through, however, Chris takes Samantha to his hometown and runs into Jamie, only to fall back in love with his former crush within hours. This hilarious rom-com will have you in stitches until the end, that is, assuming you like your humor on the cruder side.
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In the Netflix original Ibiza, Harper (Gillian Jacobs) is sent to Spain for a business meeting, so she naturally brings her two best friends, Nikki (Vanessa Bayer) and Leah (Phoebe Robinson), to join along in the merriment. Harper meets a famous DJ, Leo (Richard Madden), and her friends convince her to throw caution — and her meeting — to the wind to go to Ibiza and find this man. It’s different from regular romance plots, but conventional nonetheless. With a trio of hysterical ladies, Ibiza will hit your funny bone, but not tear too hard at your heartstrings.
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Ali’s Wedding is proof that a single white lie can change your life forever. Ali (Osamah Sami) is the son of a prominent Muslim clergyman, whose only wish is for his son to become a doctor. When Ali lies about his exam results — spoiler: He failed — his life changes overnight. He is quickly arranged to be married, even though he has fallen for a Lebanese woman named Dianna (Helana Sawires). Ali’s Wedding may border on cliche at times, particularly when it comes cultural norms and issues of race, but the offbeat comedy still has its heart in the right place. If only we could say the same for other Australian comedies.
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Blue Valentine is a love story of the everyday struggle. It follows two people through their journey of falling in love, getting married, having a child, and falling out of love. Dean (Ryan Gosling) and Cindy (Michelle Williams) are a young, working-class married couple. You experience their hardships and their triumphs. In present day, Dean is pleading for their marriage to work, and Cindy is trying to decide if it’s worth it. This may not be a happy ending type romance, but it can’t always be happily ever after, right?
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This coming-of-age story set in London in the 1960s features a teenage girl, Jenny (Carey Mulligan), whose life changes when she falls for David (Peter Sarsgaard), a man twice her age. Jenny swoons at the attention of an older man and leaps at the chance to be introduced into his world. An Education explores the idea of finding love in an unlikely person and how that person could end up changing your life forever.
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Although the love story in Princess Diaries isn’t the most prevalent part of the movie, it still exists in a story where a young woman finds out she is actually a princess. Mia Thermopolis (Anne Hathaway) experiences the surprise of her life when her grandma (Julie Andrews) — whom she has never met — shows up and announces that she is the queen of Genovia and Mia is the princess. Mia must decide if she wants to take over the throne or just be a regular teenager. Plus, she has just realized she has feelings for her best friend’s brother. Mia may not be thinking of love at the moment, but those are the times when it finds you anyway.
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Written, directed, and produced by Spike Jonze, Her is not your average love story. Theodore, the main character, (Joaquin Phoenix) is a lonely man who spends most of his time playing video games. He decides to buy the brand new OS1, the world’s first artificially intelligent operating system. Her name is Samantha (voiced by Scarlett Johansson) and she is everything Theodore could want in a woman, but she isn’t real. Her explores what it would be like to fall in love with something you can’t see or touch.
