Best Romance Movies & Shows — Ranked by Ratings [2026]
TL;DR
The best romance movies of all time include Before Sunrise, Casablanca, Pride & Prejudice, In the Mood for Love, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. We ranked 17 titles by combining IMDb and RT scores. Install CineMan AI to see ratings and a taste-match score on every streaming title.
The best romance movies of all time, ranked by IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes scores, capture every shade of love — from first encounters to heartbreak, from sweeping period dramas to quiet modern connections. Romance is the genre that audiences return to most often, and the 17 films on this list have earned the highest composite scores from critics and audiences alike. We combined IMDb user ratings with Rotten Tomatoes consensus for a balanced ranking. If you want to know which romances will resonate with you, CineMan AI adds a personal taste-match score to every streaming title.
Top 17 Romance Movies of All Time
| # | Title | Year | IMDb | RT | Quick Take |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Before Sunrise | 1995 | 8.1 | 100% | Linklater captures the magic of one night of perfect conversation |
| 2 | Casablanca | 1942 | 8.5 | 99% | The definitive wartime love story with cinema's most iconic ending |
| 3 | Pride & Prejudice (2005) | 2005 | 7.8 | 87% | Wright's Austen adaptation is lush, witty, and deeply romantic |
| 4 | In the Mood for Love | 2000 | 8.1 | 92% | Wong Kar-wai's masterpiece is the most beautiful film about longing ever made |
| 5 | Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind | 2004 | 8.3 | 92% | Kaufman asks whether erasing love is worth the pain of keeping it |
| 6 | Before Sunset | 2004 | 8.1 | 95% | The sequel deepens everything the first film started, in real time |
| 7 | When Harry Met Sally | 1989 | 7.7 | 91% | Reiner and Ephron wrote the template for every modern rom-com |
| 8 | Call Me by Your Name | 2017 | 7.8 | 95% | Guadagnino's Italian summer romance is sensual and achingly beautiful |
| 9 | Roman Holiday | 1953 | 7.9 | 97% | Hepburn's debut is a timeless fairy-tale romance set in Rome |
| 10 | Portrait of a Lady on Fire | 2019 | 8.1 | 98% | Sciamma's period romance burns with quiet intensity and visual poetry |
| 11 | The Notebook | 2004 | 7.8 | 53% | Sparks' adaptation is a crowd-pleaser that divides critics and audiences |
| 12 | Carol | 2015 | 7.2 | 94% | Haynes directs Blanchett and Mara in a gorgeous 1950s love story |
| 13 | Amélie | 2001 | 8.3 | 89% | Jeunet's whimsical Parisian fairy tale is irresistibly charming |
| 14 | 10 Things I Hate About You | 1999 | 7.3 | 72% | Ledger and Stiles make Shakespeare's Shrew into a perfect teen romance |
| 15 | Brokeback Mountain | 2005 | 7.7 | 87% | Ang Lee's forbidden love story is devastating and beautifully restrained |
| 16 | Her | 2013 | 8.0 | 94% | Jonze explores love in the age of AI with tenderness and melancholy |
| 17 | Past Lives | 2023 | 7.8 | 96% | Song's debut about fate and missed connections is quietly profound |
How to Find Romance That Matches Your Taste
Romance spans everything from lighthearted rom-coms to devastating period dramas. The person who loves the playful banter of When Harry Met Sally may not connect with the quiet longing of In the Mood for Love. Epic sweeping romances, indie character studies, and teen love stories all target different emotional registers. Understanding what kind of love story you want is key.
CineMan AI helps by adding a personal taste-match score to every title on Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+. If you gravitate toward intimate, conversation-driven romance like the Before trilogy, CineMan will surface similar films with high match percentages.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best romance movie of all time?
Based on combined ratings, Before Sunrise (8.1 IMDb, 100% RT), Casablanca (8.5 IMDb, 99% RT), and In the Mood for Love (8.1 IMDb, 92% RT) are among the highest-rated romance films ever made.
What are the best romantic movies for date night?
When Harry Met Sally, Amelie, Pride and Prejudice, and 10 Things I Hate About You balance romance with humor. Install CineMan AI to find films you will both enjoy.
What romance movies are streaming right now?
Availability changes monthly. Install CineMan AI to see IMDb and RT ratings on every romance as you browse Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+.
How can I find romance movies that match my taste?
Install the free CineMan AI Chrome extension. It adds a personal taste-match score to every title on streaming platforms based on your viewing history.
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