10 Romantic Movies That Can Be Called Masterpieces, Ranked

While it’s undeniable that love tales are often universal, not all cinematic gems are created equally — some, more than others, sweep audiences off their feet with grand declarations and scores; others, on the other hand, break their hearts with nothing more than stolen glances and restraint. Romance has understandably become a cornerstone of cinema since the beginning of time, but what exactly is it that elevates a film to something truly transcendent? We explore some of the romantic masterpieces that linger and challenge audiences — the ones that stir something deep and lasting in us and stick after the credits roll. From aching slow burns to forbidden desires, these are 10 romantic films that have risen beyond just telling moving stories to actually becoming romance masterpieces. Each of them can be called a masterwork in its own right.
10

‘It Happened One Night’ (1934)

Directed by Frank Capra

Image via Columbia Pictures

Far from merely just another romantic comedy, Frank Capra’s It Happened One Night is the gold standard by which all others are often measured, setting the benchmark for the genre and remaining a fun watch all these years later. The story follows Ellie Andrews (Claudette Colbert), who escapes her controlling father and embarks on a cross-country adventure. However, she ends up meeting Peter Warne (Clarke Gable), a reporter who offers to help her in exchange for an exclusive story. Anchored by Capra’s incredible direction, It Happened One Night’s genius lies in the effortless way it balances comedy and romance, and the undeniable chemistry between the two leads. Beyond its charm, though, this rom-com masterpiece offers subtle commentary on class and gender, with Ellie’s transformative journey, which elevates the film to higher levels, at its center.

‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’ (2004)

Directed by Michel Gondry

Image via Focus Features

Directed by Michel Gondry, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is the kind of film that burrows deeply into the hearts and minds of those who dare to watch it. At its center is an ex-couple made of introvert Joel (Jim Carrey), and the impulsively unpredictable Clementine (Kate Winslet). As their relationship implodes, Clementine undergoes a procedure to erase all memories, leading him to do the same. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind stands out because of its genre fluidity and creativity; it’s not your typical love story, nor does it romanticize love and heartbreak. Instead, Gondry’s film embraces the regrets and longing that come with real connection and the flawed characters at its center. Add that to the incredible performances at its center — Carrey in a deeply affecting, career-defining dramatic role (right next to The Truman Show), and Winslet as the unforgettable and mercurial lead — plus the incredible chemistry, and it’s easy to see how Gondry’s film has become a touchstone in romantic cinema.

‘Brokeback Mountain’ (2005)

Directed by Ang Lee

Image via Focus Features

Based on Annie Proulx’s short story, Ang Lee’s modern classic Brokeback Mountain has redefined the romance genre and had a lasting impact. Making for a haunting meditation on longing and regret set against the breathtaking expanses of the American West, it follows Ennis (Heath Ledger) and Jack (Jake Gyllenhaal), two ranch hands whose unexpected and forbidden romance spans decades, altering the course of their lives forever. In addition to its soul-shattering central performances, Brokeback Mountain remains impactful for many reasons, chief among them is its poignant depiction of the life-changing, profoundly transformative bond between two men in a world that refuses to accept them. The leads’ relationship is shaped by fear, shame, and repression. However, it is not sensationalized or melodramatized — instead, Brokeback Mountain delivers a quietly devastating portrait of love held captive by societal constraints.

‘Titanic’ (1997)

Directed by James Cameron

Image via 20th Century Studios

Like it or not, James Cameron’s sweeping Titanic has become a cultural touchstone ever since it was released in 1997. Set against the backdrop of one of history’s most infamous disasters, the film follows the passionate but ill-fated love affair between Leonardo DiCaprio’s penniless artist Jack Dawson and Kate Winslet’s upper-class Rose DeWitt Bukater. Titanic has become a defining cinematic masterpiece that touched the hearts of many for a handful of reasons, starting with the way it juggles and perfectly incorporates universal themes of love, loss, class struggle, and the fleeting nature and unpredictability of life. Beyond all this and an iconic soundtrack, the romance epic set new standards for visual effects and production design, with groundbreaking scenes and sequences that have ingrained it in popular culture forever.

Titanic

Release Date

December 19, 1997

Runtime

3h 14m

‘Before Sunrise’ (1995)

Directed by Richard Linklater

Image via Columbia Pictures

For those on the lookout for a movie that perfectly captures the fleeting magic of romantic connection most realistically and humanely, Richard Linklater’s Before Sunrise (and the entire Before Trilogy) is an essential watch. Starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy as two young travelers who meet by chance on a train to Vienna, the film unfolds their spontaneous and intimate encounter as they spend a single night wandering the city together before Jesse’s flight home. Like many of Linklater’s works, Before Sunrise thrives in its simplicity, lack of subplots, and dramatic twists. It’s great because its charm lies in familiarity: for the most part, it’s just two people talking, exploring, and falling in love as time quietly slips away. With stunning cinematography that captures the enchanting beauty of Vienna, Linklater’s movie features some of the most intriguing and philosophical discussions on love, life, and connection. It’s not surprising that it stands as a contemporary classic and heartfelt love letter that, by effortlessly blending realism and idealism, reminds us that the most transformative experiences are often those that come to an end.

‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire’ (2019)

Directed by Céline Sciamma

Image via Pyramide Films

Céline Sciamma’s historical romance Portrait of a Lady on Fire transports audiences to a windswept island in late 18th-century France, where Noémie Merlant’s painter Marianne is commissioned to secretly create a portrait of Héloïse (Adèle Haenel), an aristocratic young woman unwilling to pose. Like Brokeback Mountain, it explores a love that exists in secrecy and defiance of societal expectations. Portrait of a Lady on Fire is true to its central premise in the sense that every frame looks like a painting, composed with exquisite care and rich with symbolism. But that’s not all that makes this must-see romance so powerful; Sciamma’s feature is a standout in the genre thanks to its larger-than-life depiction of longing and restraint. The profound intimacy and palpable chemistry between its leads elevate it into a timeless meditation on love, memory, the act of seeing and being seen.

‘Pride and Prejudice’ (2005)

Directed by Joe Wright

Image via Focus Features

Few period epics have achieved the enduring appeal of Joe Wright’s Pride and Prejudice. The iconic Jane Austen adaptation breathes new life into the classic romance, blending breathtaking visuals with incredible performances and introducing the iconic tale to newer generations. At the heart of the film, which sweeps viewers into the misty English countryside of the early 19th century, is the iconic enemies-to-lovers bond between witty and independent Elizabeth Bennet (Keira Knightley) and the reserved and quietly magnetic Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfayden). Pride and Prejudice thrives on restraint, holding as much through lingering glances and hesitant gestures (we’re looking at you, hand flex) as it holds through dialogue. Beyond its breathtaking cinematography, what truly sets this adaptation apart is how deeply intimate it is. It’s a film that understands the power of what goes unsaid and lets the tension build until it spills over. Wright’s contemporary epic is far from just a beautiful love story: it’s a true meditation on pride, vulnerability, and the desire to be understood, elevated by palpable chemistry that sweeps viewers off their feet.

Pride and Prejudice

Release Date

November 23, 2005

Director

Joe Wright

‘Brief Encounter’ (1945)

Directed by David Lean

Image via Eagle-Lion Films

David Lean’s Brief Encounter is not your typical sweeping romance; instead of shouting its feelings from the rooftops, it sighs them into the steam and lets them hang in the air. Adapted from Noël Coward’s play, the movie distills the essence of forbidden love into a heartbreakingly intimate story set against the backdrop of a rain-soaked English railway station, following a chance meeting that sparks an unexpected connection. Lean’s meditation on the quiet courage it takes to choose integrity over passion unfolds almost entirely through Laura’s perspective, capturing the internal struggle of a woman torn between duty and desire. Of course, it also benefits from the filmmaker’s delicate direction and evocative Rachmaninoff score, which elevate a modest story into something timeless and devastating. Rather than relying on grand declarations, this must-watch romantic masterpiece shows how the most profound romances can be the ones that never fully unfold.

Brief Encounter

Release Date

August 24, 1946

Runtime

86 Minutes

Celia Johnson

Laura Jesson

Trevor Howard

Dr. Alec Harvey

Stanley Holloway

Albert Godby

‘In the Mood for Love’ (2000)

Directed by Wong Kar-wai

Image via Block 2 Pictures

Wong Kar-wai’s In the Mood for Love crafts a warm and humid world where time seems to slow down and every glance and paused conversation brims with longing. With Mr. Chow (Tony Leung) and Mrs. Chan (Maggie Cheung) at its center, the movie focuses on two souls bound by shared betrayal after discovering their spouses are having an affair. As the movie unfolds, they navigate the delicate line between companionship and desire without fully crossing it. In the Mood for Love is an essential romance masterwork that examines missed opportunities and memory, lingering long after the credits roll. Whether it’s the beautifully restrained performances, the evocative visuals, or the haunting score, Kar-wai’s arthouse film turns everyday moments into profound expressions of love and the mundane into the poetic. It’s the perfect pick for those who have ever fallen for someone at the wrong time or in the wrong place.

‘Casablanca’ (1942)

Directed by Michael Curtiz

Image via Warner Bros.

The gold standard for cinematic romance and cool, Michael Curtiz’s Casablanca is the trailblazing film that redefined love on the silver screen. Released in 1942, this timeless romance masterpiece offers a meditation on sacrifice, fate, and the lingering ache of “what if?” set against the backdrop of WWII Morocco. The film focuses on the iconic love triangle between Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman), and Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid), whose reunion in Rick’s Café Américain reignites past passions amid the threat of war. Filled with plenty of unforgettable lines that have become part of cinematic legend and legendary performances that continue to captivate audiences, Casablanca endures as an emotionally resonant, timeless tale of love, loss, and courage. Its enduring power lies in many key aspects, but essentially in the way it captures the complexity of human relationships amid the chaos of war, with an evocative atmosphere and memorable scenes to match.

Casablanca

Release Date

January 15, 1943

Runtime

102 minutes

Humphrey Bogart

Rick Blaine

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