Let’s Go To the movies
Somehow, love stories—unlike true love—seem to be timeless. No matter your age or relationship status, a good movie about love has a way of softening even the most cynical heart. Even a cynical romantic—someone utterly convinced that true love, soulmates, and love at first sight are nothing more than myths, urban legends, or maybe just fairy dust—still finds themselves watching. Alone. But with more than a little bit of hope. Because if Hollywood keeps spinning tales of grand gestures, second chances, and serendipitous encounters, maybe—just maybe—there’s something to it.
Whether you’re in the mood for a heartwarming love story that reaffirms your faith in happily-ever-after’s or a drama that reminds you why love is never simple, this list delivers something for every kind of romantic. From timeless classics to modern masterpieces, each movie here has been vetted, rated, and adored by audiences and critics alike. And because love (and scandal) is never just about the movies, we’ll also highlight how these films reflect real-life relationship dynamics—both the fairy-tale moments and the messy, complicated truths. Get ready to binge-watch your way through romance, one unforgettable story at a time.
A Brief History of Trusted Movie Review Sites
Rotten Tomatoes (1998): Famous for its "Tomatometer" scoring system, which aggregates critics' reviews, Rotten Tomatoes provides a quick and reliable way to gauge critical reception for films and TV shows.
IMDb (1990): The ultimate database for movie lovers, IMDb compiles everything from cast lists to user reviews, offering a broad look at audience opinions worldwide.
Metacritic (1999): Known for its weighted scoring system, Metacritic balances professional critic reviews with user feedback, making it a valuable tool for comparing overall reception.
But let’s be honest ratings can only tell us so much. What really makes a love story unforgettable? Is it the gut-wrenching drama, the sweeping romance, or the moments of laughter that mirror our own relationships? Over the coming weeks, we’ll break down not just the best-rated films but also the love lessons, scandals, and cinematic magic that make them worth watching.
Here are five of the top 20 dramatic and romantic comedy movies, according to Rotten Tomatoes.
After running multiple searches, I noticed that the results varied each time. However, these films consistently appeared among the highest-rated. Each week, we’ll unveil five more of the top 20 romantic dramas and comedies, based on the rankings from Rotten Tomatoes, IMDb, and Metacritic—three of the most trusted movie review platforms. Each of these sites has its own unique approach to rating films, offering a mix of critic and audience perspectives to help us determine which love stories truly stand the test of time.
Do you have a favorite romantic movie? Drop your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to know which love story stole (or broke) your heart!
Rotten Tomatoes Top Dramatic Love Stories
Casablanca (1942)
Overview: A former lover walks into Rick’s café in WWII-era Casablanca, reigniting old flames amid political intrigue.
Top Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid
Writer: Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein, Howard Koch
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 99%
The Notebook (2004)
Overview: A man recounts the tale of his enduring love with a woman from different social standings.
Top Cast: Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams, James Garner
Writer: Jeremy Leven, Jan Sardi (based on Nicholas Sparks’ novel)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 53%
Pride & Prejudice (2005)
Overview: Elizabeth Bennet meets Mr. Darcy, and their complicated relationship blossoms into love.
Top Cast: Keira Knightley, Matthew Macfadyen, Rosamund Pike
Writer: Deborah Moggach
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 86%
Titanic (1997)
Overview: A love affair blossoms aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic between a rich girl and a penniless artist.
Top Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane
Writer: James Cameron
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 87%
Atonement (2007)
Overview: A young girl’s lie alters the lives of two lovers, leading to tragedy and regret.
Top Cast: Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, Saoirse Ronan
Writer: Christopher Hampton (based on Ian McEwan’s novel)
Rotten Tomatoes Top Romantic Comedies
It Happened One Night (1934)
Overview: A spoiled heiress, running away from her family, is helped by a man who's actually a reporter in need of a story.
Top Cast: Clark Gable, Claudette Colbert, Walter Connolly
Writer: Robert Riskin (screenplay), Samuel Hopkins Adams (short story)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 99%
The Big Sick (2017)
Overview: A Pakistani comic and an American graduate student fall in love but struggle as their cultures clash.
Top Cast: Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Holly Hunter
Writer: Emily V. Gordon, Kumail Nanjiani
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%
The Philadelphia Story (1940)
Overview: A socialite's wedding plans are complicated by the simultaneous arrival of her ex-husband and a tabloid magazine journalist.
Top Cast: Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, James Stewart
Writer: Donald Ogden Stewart (screenplay), Philip Barry (play)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
Roman Holiday (1953)
Overview: A bored and sheltered princess escapes her guardians and falls in love with an American newsman in Rome.
Top Cast: Gregory Peck, Audrey Hepburn, Eddie Albert
Writer: Ian McLellan Hunter, John Dighton, Dalton Trumbo
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%
My Man Godfrey (1936)
Overview: A scatterbrained socialite hires a vagrant as a family butler, but there's more to Godfrey than meets the eye.
Top Cast: William Powell, Carole Lombard, Alice Brady
Writer: Morrie Ryskind (screenplay), Eric Hatch (screenplay and novel)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
These rankings include all the dramatic and romantic comedy movies going back to 1930’s. I saw many of them with my grandparents, when I truly believed in everlasting love. We’ll get to the movies made in the 1990’s and 2000’s. Until then take a chance on a love story by watching one of these classics.