From happy stories to cathartic cry-fests, here’s some of the best romantic movies you can stream right now on Neon, picked by Jenna Guillaume.
17 Again (2009)
WATCH ON NEONZac Efron shows off his comedic timing,, playing a 37-year-old man who wakes up to find he’s back in his 17-year-old body. While initially it seems like a second chance at life, it turns out to be an opportunity to reconnect with his children and remember all the things he loves about his wife. Thankfully, the movie uses the quirky premise for humour without ever crossing too far into ‘creep’ territory, and the romance plot is rather sweet.
The Big Sick (2017)
WATCH ON NEONA quiet kind of rom-com starring Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Holly Hunter and Ray Romano. Co-written by Nanjiani and his wife Emily V Gordon, and based on their real love story, The Big Sick is about two people enjoying the honeymoon phase of their relationship when one of them gets very, very sick. As you’d expect from such a story, there’s a lot of emotional moments, but it’s the warm humour and affection infused in every scene that makes it really special.
Clueless (1995)
WATCH ON NEONOne of the most quotable movies of all time, one of the best teen movies of all time, and one of the best Jane Austen adaptations of all time…let’s face it, Clueless is actually one of the best movies of all time. Amy Heckerling takes one of Austen’s most divisive heroines — the snobbish and self-centered Emma Woodhouse — and transforms her into a bubbly and likeable (if totally clueless) Beverly Hills teen. Alicia Silverstone and Paul Rudd are totally classic together in the lead roles, but the costumes and dialogue are what really make the movie memorable.
Leap Year (2010)
WATCH ON NEONStarring Amy Adams and Matthew Goode, Leap Year features the kind of ridiculous scenario you only find in rom-coms. An American real estate agent travels to Ireland to propose to her boyfriend on February 29, because of an Irish tradition dictating that a man can’t refuse a proposal on a leap day. But her plans go awry and she ends up on a roadtrip with a grumpy Irish innkeeper, who is of course much sweeter than he first appears. It’s all more charming than it probably should be.
Love Actually (2003)
WATCH ON NEONRichard Curtis’ ode to love and Christmas is divisive, with many haters—but even more fans. While some parts of the film haven’t aged well, it’s hard not to smile (and occasionally cry) as the interconnected love stories of a group of Londoners unfold. It features one of the most iconic British casts of all time—with Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant, Keira Knightley, Andrew Lincoln, Liam Neeson and even Mr Bean (aka Rowan Atkinson).
The Lucky One (2012)
WATCH ON NEONBased on a Nicholas Sparks novel, you know what you’re going to get off that fact alone: pretty, white people falling in love, with a good dose of angst, some steamy scenes, and probably a death or two. The Lucky One checks all the boxes, and it’s not a particularly great movie, but it’s perfect for when you’re in the mood to cry and/or ogle Zac Efron, who plays a US marine who tracks down the woman in a photo he finds while in duty in Iraq.
The Notebook (2004)
WATCH ON NEONFor better or worse, The Notebook is one of the most popular romance movies of all time. The chemistry between Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams is scorching hot, the pair playing teenage sweethearts who are kept apart by her meddling family. and reunite years later. It’s definitely the best movie based on a Nicholas Sparks novel (of which there are many).
The Wedding Singer (1998)
WATCH ON NEONThis affectionate satire of the 80s (made when the decade was surprisingly close to the present, in hindsight) is perhaps Adam Sandler’s best movie, and certainly his best pairing with Drew Barrymore (they’ve done three movies together in total). Here the duo play Robbie, the titular wedding singer who has just been dumped, and Julia, a waitress who is engaged to the wrong man. What better way to heal their hearts than with one another? The movie gets bonus points for the alarmingly sweet song Robbie sings at the end that has since become a staple at actual, real-life weddings.
