The good news for romance lovers is that Netflix has no shortage in that movie category. Granted, there are a lot more rom-coms on Netflix than romantic dramas, which makes it tricky if you’re looking for films that explore the more serious side of a relationship. But it’s important to have the option to laugh at love’s ridiculous moments as well.
This month, the new romantic additions to Netflix include Save the Last Dance, Fifty Shades of Grey, The Adjustment Bureau, and Eat Pray Love. These films are very different from each other, but they’ve earned their place on our roundup of the best romance movies on Netflix.
Looking for something else? Check out our list of the best rom-coms on Netflix, the best rom-coms on Hulu, and the best rom-coms on Amazon Prime Video.
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Save the Last Dance2001 -
Fifty Shades of Grey2015
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Eat Pray Love2010
Save the Last Dance (2001)
53%
6.2/10Julia Stiles headlines Save the Last Dance as Sara, a teenager whose life is unraveled following the death of her mother. Sara subsequently gives up on her dreams of being a ballerina, and moves in with her dad. She also transfers schools and becomes one of the few white students at a historically Black school.
That’s where Sara meets Derek (Sean Patrick Thomas), a talented dancer who helps encourage her to follow her dreams again. Derek has plenty of ambition of his own, and romantic sparks inevitably follow. However, Sara faces a backlash for dating Derek, even from her friend (and Derek’s sister), Chenille (Kerry Washington). That forces Sara to question whether she and Derek can have a future together.
Fifty Shades of Grey (2015)
46%
4.2/10There’s so much to unpack about the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy, including the way it transformed from Twilight fan fiction online into a bestselling novel series. Anastasia “Ana” Steele, as played by Madame Web star Dakota Johnson, is just an ordinary college student who gets to interview billionaire Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan), like that’s a normal thing that happens.
Naturally, Christian sweeps Ana off her feet with his world of wealth and privilege. It also turns out that Christian is into all kinds of sexual bondage games, in addition to his desire to control Ana. There’s a lot that Ana is willing to try, but Christian never stops pushing the limits of his power over her.
The Adjustment Bureau (2011)
60%
7.0/10What’s The Adjustment Bureau doing on a list of romance movies? That’s easy. This Philip K. Dick-inspired tale may be a sci-fi film, but the premise is all about a man, David Norris (Matt Damon), who is willing to literally fight fate because he loves a woman, Elise Sellas (Emily Blunt). What’s more romantic than that?
The Adjustment Bureau is the thing standing in the way of Dave’s relationship with Elise. They shape the destiny of humanity, and the Bureau will do almost anything to keep them apart. David has discovered the truth behind their machinations, but will it be enough to let him have a life with Elise?
Eat Pray Love (2010)
50%
5.8/10For a long time, Julia Roberts was the queen of the rom-coms. However, Eat Pray Love heads into more dramatic territory as Roberts plays Elizabeth “Liz” Gilbert, a woman who is completely unhappy in her marriage with Stephen (Billy Crudup). So much so that Liz starts an affair with David (James Franco) even before her divorce is finalized.
To find herself, Liz goes on an international journey that includes attempts to connect with her spiritual side. Among the men she encounters is Felipe (Dune: Part Two‘s Javier Bardem), who quickly finds a place in her heart. But can Liz overcome her fears and embrace a potential new life with Felipe?
Anyone But You (2023)
52%
6.2/10Thanks to Anyone but You, Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney are the breakout stars of 2024. And it was a rom-com that helped launch them to the stratosphere. Bea (Sweeney) and Ben (Glen Powell) start off the movie hot with an instant love connection. Their relationship quickly goes south over some miscommunication that leaves both blaming each other.
Less than a year later, Bea and Ben are reunited as guests for a destination wedding, and their distaste for each other is apparent. The only reason why they agree to pretend to be getting back together is to make Glen’s ex-girlfriend, Margaret (Charlee Fraser), jealous, and to keep Bea’s parents from pressuring her to reunite with her ex-fiancé, Jonathan (Darren Barnet). But as in all rom-coms, Bea and Ben’s renewed proximity means that sparks are going to fly.
Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
74%Nick Young (Herny Golding) might have left out some important information when he was courting Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) … like the fact that he comes from a fabulously wealthy family. Crazy Rich Asians’ title is not an exaggeration about Nick’s family, as they are practically royalty in Singapore. And just because Rachel didn’t know about Nick’s fortune doesn’t mean that the family will welcome her.
Astrid Leong-Teo (Gemma Chan), Nick’s cousin, is the only one who embraces Rachel. Everyone else thinks that Rachel is a gold digger, especially Nick’s mother, Eleanor Sung-Young (Michelle Yeoh). Eleanor even goes out of her way to damage the bond between Nick and Rachel in the hope of driving them apart before Nick can propose.
La La Land (2016)
93%Nearly a decade after its release, La La Land is still one of the most rousing musicals of the modern era. Sure, it didn’t win Best Picture at the Oscars, but it should have. And that’s down to the Oscar-winning performance of Emma Stone (Poor Things) as Mia, as well as Ryan Gosling’s turn as Sebastian. Mia and Sebastian both have impossible dreams, which may be even bigger than the passion that they have for each other.
While chasing their respective dreams, the duo start to lose some of the spark that made them work so well as a couple. That brings Mia and Sebastian to a turning point where they will have to choose between their aspirations and each other.
A Walk to Remember (2002)
35%
7.3/10You can almost always count on Nicholas Sparks stories to focus on the unshakable bonds of love — with a touch of bittersweet tragedy thrown in for good measure. A Walk to Remember, the adaptation of Sparks’ novel, is no exception. Shane West stars as Landon Carter, a delinquent teenager who is given a chance to remain in school if he starts tutoring other students and appears in the school play.
That’s where Jamie Sullivan (Mandy Moore) enters Landon’s life. She’s the daughter of Reverend Hegbert Sullivan (Peter Coyote), who is fiercely protective of Jamie. Although Jamie warns Landon not to fall in love with her, it’s easy to understand why he disregards that advice. But once Jamie’s secret comes out, then you’ll know why she gave Landon that warning.
All the Bright Places (2020)
61%
6.6/10Get ready for a tearjerker with All the Bright Places. Jennifer Niven co-wrote the adaptation of her own novel, which features Elle Fanning as Violet Markey. One year after the death of her sister, Violet seemingly contemplates suicide before Theodore “Theo” Finch (Dungeons & Dragons star Justice Smith) successfully talks her down and befriends her.
Over time, Theo and Violet become close even though their relationship causes some friction with her parents. However, Theo has some very serious emotional demons to face, and not even his connection to Violet may be enough to pull him back from the brink.
I Love Lizzy (2023)
6.4/10I Love Lizzy follows Jeff (Carlo Aquino), a young man who is on the verge of becoming a priest. While on vacation in the Philippines, Jeff becomes instantly attracted to his tour guide, Lizzy (Barbie Imperial); they soon open up to each other and share a bond.
This forces Jeff to question whether he is truly ready to become a priest or is willing to turn his back on that in the hope of finding a lasting love with Lizzy. However, Lizzy’s emotional baggage leads to tragedy, forcing Jeff to reevaluate his choices once again.
Love at First Sight (2023)
55%
6.8/10Love At First Sight is a bit of a misnomer, because Hadley Sullivan (Haley Lu Richardson) and Oliver Jones (Ben Hardy) don’t fall head over heels in love just because they’re two incredibly attractive people. Although that certainly had to have helped things along. Instead, Hadley and Oliver briefly meet at the airport before sitting next to each other on a long flight to England. And during the flight, they form a bond that surprises both of them.
Their connection is so strong that Hadley makes the decision to pursue Oliver even though they both have family drama that they need to face before they can determine if they can make a relationship between them into a reality.
The Noel Diary (2022)
63%
6.1/10Although it may be implied by the title, The Noel Diary is not a movie about the famous Christmas carol, The First Noel. Instead, it’s a literal diary by Noel Ellis (Essence Atkins), a woman who is unknowingly the common factor connecting Jake Turner (Justin Hartley) and Rachel Campbell (Barrett Doss).
Jake is back in his hometown to handle his late mother’s estate when he meets Rachel, a woman who is looking for Noel, the woman who may be her birth mother. Because Noel was once Jake’s nanny, he realizes that his estranged father, Scott Turner (James Remar), may have answers. And as Jake helps Rachel find what she’s looking for, they may find something even greater together.
Ehrengard: The Art of Seduction (2023)
The title character of Ehrengard: The Art of Seduction is played by Alice Bier Zanden, and she seems to be completely immune to the charms of a painter, Cazotte (Mikkel Boe Følsgaard). Cazotte is so eager to win Ehrengard’s heart that he agrees to help the Grand Duchess (Sidse Babett Knudsen) by giving her son, Prince Lothar (Emil Aron Dorph), some pointers on seducing women so he can have an heir.
Unfortunately for Cazotte, Lothar is a quick study. That leads to all sorts of problems for the royal family. And Ehrengard remains frustratingly out of Cazotte’s reach and in the arms of another man.
No Limit (2022)
5.8/10Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between (2022)
54%
5.1/10It feels like you need to take a deep breath before saying the name Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between. In this Netflix Original movie, Talia Ryder stars as Clare, a high school senior who has had a difficult time connecting with anyone because her family constantly moves. Enter Aidan (Jordan Fisher), a teenager who breaks through Clare’s emotional barriers.
To convince Clare to give romance a chance, Aidan proposes that they set an end date for their relationship with an epic final date. But when the date finally arrives, Clare has to wonder if Aidan’s elaborate plans are really meant to keep them together.
Lady Chatterley's Lover (2022)
67%
6.6/10For the better part of a century, D. H. Lawrence’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover has been adapted again and again for film, television, and even radio. Netflix’s movie is the latest adaptation, and it features Emma Corrin in the title role of Constance “Connie” Reid, the wife of Matthew Duckett’s Sir Clifford Chatterley.
When Clifford returns home from World War I as a paraplegic, the passion goes out of his marriage with Connie despite her best efforts. But when Connie begins a torrid affair with a gamekeeper, Oliver Mellors (Jack O’Connell), it may cost Lady Chatterley her title, her wealth, and even her husband.
Faraway (2023)
Sometimes, you just need a break from life. When her mother passes away and her husband doesn’t show up to the funeral, it’s the last straw for Zeynep (Naomi Krauss). She’s already dealing with stress at work, an aging father at home, a husband who is clearly too preoccupied with his job for her, and a typical closed off teenage daughter.
So, she takes things into her own hands and decides to drive off to a home in Croatia that her mother bought before her death. But when she arrives, the owner of the villa Josip (Goran Bogdan) is still living there. This could pose a problem, or could it? Faraway is a romantic drama with elements of comedy and feel-good heartwarming moments that fans have likened to movies like Mamma Mia.
Most Eligible Bachelor (2021)
6.1/10Along for the Ride (2022)
Phantom Thread (2017)
90%
7.5/10
A Christmas Prince (2017)
66%
5.8/10
Malcolm & Marie (2021)
53%
6.7/10To All the Boys I've Loved Before (2018)
64%
7.1/10To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You (2020)
54%
6.0/10To All the Boys: Always and Forever (2021)
65%
6.3/10The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society (2018)
65%
7.4/10Marriage Story (2019)
94%
7.9/10Always Be My Maybe (2019)
64%
6.8/10Someone Great (2019)
63%
6.2/10
Set It Up (2018)
The Incredible Jessica James (2017)
72%
6.5/10Nappily Ever After (2018)
63%
6.4/10Related topics: Netflix | Hulu | Amazon Prime | More streaming services
