15 Best Romance Movies of 2024

Romance Movies are back and better than ever in 2024, and the best projects of the year come from a variety of up-and-coming directors, as well as veterans of the genre. While Romance is sometimes pigeonholed for formulaic plots and predictable endings, This is a reductive take and disregards the many genre-bending romance films that have only become more popular in recent years. However, it’s still a lot of fun to watch a good old-fashioned rom-com, formulaic or not. A mix of arthouse, blockbuster and up-and-coming films make up the new movies of the year.

In recent years, Romance movies have been looking for a more diverse range of relationships and have started shining a light on voices that have been overlooked. For much of movie history. New filmmakers have used their platforms to share their individual stories and universal ones that every audience member can relate to. When making a romance movie, filmmakers must remember the importance not only of the story but of the atmosphere and tone. These elements are just as vital in creating a romantic ambiance.

15

The autumn guy

Rom-coms can sometimes be unfairly linked to only a female audience, but certain examples overturn these stereotypes by incorporating other elements into the story. Such is the case with The autumn guyWhich is not only one of the best rom-coms of the year but also one of the best action movies. Based on the 1980s television series of the same name, The autumn guy Star Ryan Gosling as Colt Seavers, a Hollywood stuntman who reluctantly goes back into the movie-making world to help his ex-girlfriend, Jody (Emily Blunt), salvage her directorial debut by finding a missing actor.

The movie is a love letter to stunt performers in the movie business, however The love story between the characters is surprisingly as effective as all the set pieces. Colt’s attempts to make up for the relationship he messed up and Jody’s fatigue about going down the same road offer a fun dynamic between the two. Gosling and Blunt share wonderful chemistry together, and after a solid box-office run with strong word-of-mouth, The autumn guy is breaking streaming records as one of the most crowd-pleasing movies of the year.

14

Love reads bleeding

Directed by Rose Glass

It’s always captivating to see movies that can blend a truly engaging romance story with violence. It’s a balance that it pulled off well in the striking crime movie Love reads bleeding. Kristen Stewart stars as Lou, a small-town gym owner who is attracted to a bodybuilder named Jackie (Katie O’Brien) who is passing through town on her way to a competition in Las Vegas. The two quickly ignite a passionate affair only for violent reactions to put their newfound romance in jeopardy.

Similar to movies like True romance, The violence adds to the intensity of the romance on screenWhich makes for an exciting journey for the two characters whose attraction to each other is somewhere between charming and dangerous. The movie has an underlying threat that things could explode into bloody chaos at any moment. It makes for a stunning new feature from up-and-coming filmmaker Rose Glass, as well as a beautiful display from Stewart and O’Brien.

13

The Drive-Off Dolls

Directed by Ethan Coen

While the friends-to-lovers rom-com trope is a staple of the genre, it’s quite unexpected that Oscar-winning filmmaker Ethan Coen developed his own take on the story. Drive-away dolls is the first solo directorial effort that Ethan has done without his brother Joel Coen, but it feels very much like a Coen Brothers movie. The movie follows Jamie (Margaret Qualley) and Marian (Geraldine Viswanathan), two best friends who take a road trip only to discover that there is something valuable in the trunk of their rental car that makes them a target.

The crime-comedy aspect of the movie makes for some of the biggest laughs, with the movie in a similar tone to the Coens’ The Big Lebowski And Burn after readingRather than the likes of No country for old people. however, There is also some surprising sweetness to the story with the budding romance between Jamie and Marian. It begins as a genuine friendship with Jamie trying to help Marian come out of her shell, but they begin to realize a stronger connection than either of them anticipated.

12

Fly me to the moon

Directed by Greg Berlanti

Period rom-coms are rare, however Fly me to the moon Has fun with its 1960s setting while also tying its romance story into one of the era’s biggest world events. Channing Tatum stars in the movie as Cole Davis, a launch director at NASA working on the seemingly impossible and highly dangerous task of getting American astronauts to the moon. When support for the NASA space program begins to fall, sales genius Kelly Jones (Scarlett Johansson) is brought in to help sell the mission to the American people and the politicians.

Fly me to the moon Tells a charming and highly entertaining story of the space race, but the romance between the two high-profile stars will probably be a big draw for many audiences. Tatum and Johansson share wonderful chemistry with the cliche dynamic of two opposite personalities forced to work together to find ways to feel freshEspecially when they find the needs of their respective jobs in conflict with one another.

11

Greatest save

Directed by Ned Benson

There are a lot of romance movies that attempt to incorporate fantasy elements into their love story. Although it may be difficult to get away, Greatest save Find a way to make it fantastic but also relatable. The movie stars Lucy Boynton as Harriet, a young woman grieving the death of her boyfriend Max (David Corenswet) when she discovers that listening to certain songs can literally transport her back to key moments with him.

The premise helps set up a few intriguing elements of this story. There is the theme of music serving as a gateway to memories, with audiences able to think of certain songs that seem to bring them back to a place in time. However, it also tells the difficult story of how Harriet is dealing with revisiting a romance that has no future, only memories. The conflict between being back with Max and the need to move on makes for a heartbreaking and complex love story.

10

Game Mother of the Bride

Directed by Mark Waters

Brooke Shields’ best movies and TV shows are all part of her long and well-known career, and mother of the bride Allowing you to return to the rom-com genre. mother of the bride is a fun film that delves into the theme of finding love later in life and reconnecting with an old flame. The rediscovery happens to Shields’ character, Lana, in the unexpected setting of her daughter’s wedding. It turns out that Lana’s daughter, Emma (Miranda Cosgrove), is married to the son of Lana’s ex, Will (Benjamin Bratt).

Of course, it doesn’t take long for Will and Lana to bond and begin to feel the sparks that brought them together so many years ago. mother of the bride It doesn’t break boundaries in its storytelling, but it is a classic rom-com That hits all the right beats and provides a satisfying ending. It’s obvious that the actors are having fun throughout the film, encouraging the audience to step back and enjoy the beautiful setting and hilarious miscommunications of the story.

9

This Is Me… Now: A Love Story

Directed by Dave Meyers

Jennifer Lopez’s conceptual love story to herself and her career, This Is Me… Now: A Love StoryMade a splash and circulated the internet when the first trailer dropped. An ambitious project that dramatizes a fantastical version of Lopez’s life, the movie also revolves around the star’s real-life relationship with Ben Affleck and her other romantic relationships over the past few decades. The high-intensity choreography and musical numbers received praise from critics, and although the sad story is loose, it is not the most important part of the movie.

When watching This Is Me… Now: A Love StoryIt is important for the audience to sit back and suspend their disbelief to enjoy the full scope of the project. The film never intended to fall into the familiar narrative boxes that most blockbusters capitulate to, And that can be polarizing. However, once viewers let go of their expectations, the story is moving and demonstrates how much work Lopez put into it. In the end, she created a cohesive product, visually and thematically, and this was no easy task.

8

Five blind dates

Directed by Shawn Seet

The new Australian rom-com stars Shuang Hu as Lia, a young woman who says the person she will spend the rest of her life with will be one of the next five people she goes on a date with. It’s a charming premise that evolves into a heart-warming movie full of every pitfall and trap of dating the audience can think of. Hu anchors the film well, bravely harrowing the best and worst dates anyone has ever gone on. however, At the end of the movie, her laborious search for love might just pay off.

Part of the reason Leah feels so much pressure to find her one true love is because her younger sister is getting married, and she doesn’t want to give up on her family’s high expectations. Her desire to be a good daughter, combined with her failed business venture, pushes Leah to try things she never expected and put herself out there. however, In a romantic twist, the person she’s been waiting for may be someone she already knows.

7

Upgraded

Directed by Carlson Young

Camila Mendes’ Ana has a chance encounter on a flight after being upgraded to first-class and meets the man of her dreams, William (Archie Renaux) in Upgraded. Although the movie is described as a modern Cinderella Indeed, it makes strides to show that Ana is not a helpless damsel in distress And has a full life and career outside of her relationship with William. However, this does not stop Upgraded From including plenty of swoon-worthy moments between the couple and putting Mendes in dresses worthy of a princess.

Upgraded Could see the main couple getting together in the end, but it has many other positive messages throughout the story. One of the main themes is honesty, shown when Ana pretends to be the wealthy director of an auction house. William is impressed by this, but he cares more about her as a person than any high-profile job. Instead of being rewarded for her deception, Ana ends up finding success when she decides to hide her lies And show people the real you.

6

Turtles all the way down

Directed by Hannah Marks

Of all the movies and TV shows based on John Green’s books, Turtles all the way down is one of the best. Green’s stories are almost always about the harrowing experience of living through adolescence and how it is an impossible time for any young person, made more challenging by people’s struggles. Aza (Isabela Merced) is the film’s protagonist who must navigate her growing feelings of maturity and confusion While dealing with her obsessive-compulsive disorder.

One of Aza’s biggest worries is her ability to build romantic relationships like other people her age. This comes into play when Davis (Felix Mallard) enters the picture, and so attempts to express her feelings for him. However, the most important person in her life is Daisy (Cree), Aza’s best friend and support system as she engages with the world. Turtles all the way down is an honest and empathetic look at how romance unfolds when people struggle with their mental health And reminds the viewer that the first details of young people in love are not always successful, but they are important.

5

Music

Directed by Rudy Mancuso

Mendes was all over the romantic comedy genre, pivoting from her teen TV drama roots Riverdale And be taken more seriously as a leading lady in cinema. in MusicShe plays Isabella, the love interest of Rudy, played by the film’s director and co-writer, Rudy Mancuso. In his directorial debut, Mancuso takes his many roles in the production, But he balances them well, and the result is a personal and joyful product. As the title says, Music Is in conversation with music, sounds, and everyday moments that become beautiful compositions.

Rudy is a lost young man who is simultaneously aggravated and preoccupied with his desire to make music and listen to it everywhere he goes. When he meets Isabella, she is one of the few people who understands what he is going through and supports his dreams. Embracing magical realism and using allusions to great movie musicals, Music Is not alone in tackling its themes and stylization, but it is still an original work. In the landscape of romance films coming out in the 2020s, it’s different enough to be instantly memorable.

4

Lisa Frankenstein

Directed by Zelda Williams

unfortunately, Lisa Frankenstein Suffering a similar fate at the box office as Diablo Cody’s cult classic, Jennifer’s body. Cody wrote Lisa Frankenstein And stated that the movies take place in the same off-beat universe. But, though Jennifer’s body became known as a masterpiece despite its critical and commercial failure, Lisa Frankenstein After going under the radar in 2024. As the years go by, the film will likely be reevaluated the same as Cody’s other work has, received a resurgence in popularity.

The love between Lisa (Kathryn Newton) and the creature (Cole Sprouse) is unlikely, because the creature is a reanimated corpse, but Lisa takes it upon herself to help him assimilate into the living world. With cameo aesthetics and plenty of referential humor to slasher flicks of the 1980s, Lisa Frankenstein Never falls into sappy territory, preferring instead to keep the story moving with fast-paced dialogue and tongue-in-cheek humor. Appealing to viewers looking for a morbid take on burgeoning teenage love, Lisa Frankenstein is the perfect movie for romance like no other.

3

The thought of you

Directed by Michael Showalter

The thought of you is the latest in a long line of movies based on books with roots in fan fiction. Robinne Lee wrote the novel of the same name, and The thought of you Movie makes changes to the book. However, these alterations make the plot align with traditional romance narratives. In Lee’s work, Solène and Hayes do not end up together, As the purpose of the story is to explore how Solene finds joy again and rediscovers her passions as she enters middle age. While this happens in the movie, the plot sticks to the classic “HEA,” or “Happily Ever After.”

Most audience members who search out movies like The thought of you Want to be lifted by a sweet conclusion, but this is not the only reason why the project has made such a splash. Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine star as the lead couple, And although the sex scenes are not graphic, they show enough for the viewer to draw comparisons to the intimate scenes of the novel. As blockbuster films have shied away from explorations of sexuality in their stories, it’s refreshing to see it celebrated in The thought of you.

2

Hit man

Directed by Richard Linklater

Richard Linklater has directed some of the most romantic movies of all time, The Before trilogyBut his latest movie, Hit manis unlike his other projects. Starring Adria Arjona and Glen Powell, who have already had a high-profile year at the box office, the story unfolds when Gary (Powell) falls in love with Madison (Arjona) while working on a police sting. In the same way as classic as Bonnie and Clyde, Hit man See your main couple get too deep into a life of crime and start living out their fantasies together.

Watching Hit man Is fun until the very end, and it has its fair share of steamy moments like Pavel and Arjona have amazing chemistry. Watching Gary transform into the man he thinks Madison wants, only to love her so much that he has to reveal the real him, is a surprisingly moving moment for a movie that sticks to its comedic and action-based roots. However, the film succeeds because of its commitment to its central relationship and the sincerity with which each actor plays their character.

1

Challengers

Directed by Luca Guadagnino

Challengers is a sports thriller, a psychological drama and a love story between three people with conflicting personalities. All three types of genre are suitable descriptors. It is little that Challengers It is not, however As Zendaya’s Tashi says in the movie, it’s all about relationships. While tennis may take center stage and serve as the playing field for the characters to vent their anger and aggression, the audience cares about the interpersonal relationships driving the story forward. When Tashi, Art (Mike Faist) and Patrick (Josh O’Connor) become intertwined at a young age, their lives are never the same.

Not only is the film well-made, flawlessly paced and heart-pounding, with a score that could be played in a nightclub, but it also takes on groundbreaking subject matter for a high-profile romance film. The central love triangle in the movie leans more towards polyamory and explores the underlying feelings of attraction between Art and Patrick as much as their mutual desire for Tashi. Each angle of the intersecting relationship gets enough time to be fleshed out and challenges the limitations of what a typical Romance Movie is usually characterized by.