10 Romantic Movie Masterpieces With Great Acting, Ranked

6 days ago 16

Keira Knightley as Elizabeth touching foreheads with Matthew Macfadyen as Darcy in Pride and Prejudice.

Don’t you hate it when people don’t take romance seriously as a genre? In fact, romance films are often brushed off as fluffy stories where the guy gets the girl, and everything works out neatly in the end. Anyone who has actually paid attention, though, knows that making a love story work is not easy. Convincing viewers to believe in and root for a romance is actually one of the hardest things a film can do, because chemistry just can’t be faked.

It doesn’t really matter if the story ends in happiness or heartbreak, but if a romantic film isn’t able to make you feel any of it, what’s the point? This emotional connection almost always comes down to the actors and whether they can sell that illusion of longing and intimacy. When done right, though, romance is a genre that resonates with everyone. If you need a little more convincing, here are 10 romantic masterpieces with excellent performances, ranked.

10 ‘While You Were Sleeping’ (1995)

Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman smiling at each other in 'While You Were Sleeping'

While You Were Sleeping is a timeless classic. The film actually sneaks up on you with its compelling story and heartwarming performances. The narrative follows Sadra Bullock as Lucy Moderatz, a Chicago transit token collector who has a secret crush on a regular commuter, Peter (Peter Gallagher). Things take a turn when she ends up saving him from a tragic accident on Christmas Day and is accidentally mistaken for Peter’s fiancée after he slips into a coma. From there, she is pulled into the chaotic yet warm world of the Callaghan family. As Lucy grows close to Peter’s relatives, she forms an unexpected bond with his younger brother, Jack (Bill Pullman), and their slow-burning romance becomes the center of the story and Lucy’s inner conflict.

Bullock’s portrayal of the central character is what gives What You Were Sleeping its weight. The film’s premise had the potential to come off as contrived or unrealistic, but she plays Lucy with an awkward charm that makes everything feel instantly relatable. Pullman is the perfect counterpart with the sincerity he brings to his role. Lucy and Jack’s connection unfolds organically and is built on genuine respect and understanding, rather than an instant spark that the story fails to sustain. The rest of the Callaghan clan, including Glynis Johns as Peter and Jack’s grandmother, along with Peter Boyle as Ox, also deserve major props for making the world of the film feel lived-in. In the end, Lucy doesn’t just fall for Jack, she also finally feels like she belongs somewhere.

9 ‘Her’ (2013)

Joaquin Phoenix smiling with his hand to his face in Her

Sci-fi romances can feel a bit gimmicky, but Her is one of the most thoughtful explorations of love and loneliness you will ever see. The film is set in a near future and follows Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix), a writer who crafts intimate letters for strangers while struggling to deal with his own failing marriage. The story picks up when Theodore purchases a new operating system named Samantha, voiced by Scarlett Johansson, which marks the beginning of a relationship built on conversation and the blurring line between humanity and technology. What makes the film such a great watch is how intentional Theodore and Samantha’s bond feels.

Their connection grows through late-night discussions, inside jokes, and genuine emotional support. It’s a love story rooted in empathy and emotion rather than any kind of physical closeness. A narrative like this demands subtlety, and Phoenix delivers that perfectly. You can almost sense Theodore’s hesitation to let anyone in without much exposition. However, the most impressive part about Her is how Johansson completely dominates every scene she is in without ever appearing on screen. Her voice is more than enough to make Samantha feel alive, and her connection with Theodore feels real. Her isn’t a typical cautionary tale about technology. Instead, it uses it as the perfect backdrop to explore complex human relationships.

8 ‘La La Land’ (2016)

Emma Stone dancing with Ryan Gosling in La La Land.

Musicals aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but La La Land is a film that you just can’t miss. Damien Chazelle’s masterpiece is one of the most immersive modern cinematic experiences that tells an honest story about love, ambition, and the cost of choosing one over the other. The story follows Emma Stone as Mia, an aspiring actress desperate to land her big break. On the other hand, you have Ryan Gosling as Sebastian, a jazz pianist determined to preserve a style of music he feels the world is starting to forget about. The first time they cross paths isn’t the meet-cute you’d expect, but something keeps drawing Mia and Sebastian to each other. They soon fall in love and support each other through failures, successes, and imagine a life together.

However, the cracks in their relationship start to show when their respective careers pull them in opposite directions. La La Land isn’t melodramatic in its portrayal of the constant sacrifices Mia and Sebastian have to make. The film allows their connection to unravel through the smallest of missed moments and slow-building resentment. Stone and Gosling portray their characters with the kind of vulnerability and raw intensity that their arcs demand. This is what makes the film’s final arc work, because you feel truly invested in these characters’ lives and where their passions ultimately take them. La La Land doesn’t give the audience a fairytale romance that’s meant to last forever, but that doesn’t make Mia and Sebastian’s story any less meaningful.

7 ‘Love Actually’ (2003)

Emma Thompson and Alan Rickman in Love Actually

Love Actually is technically a Christmas movie, but if you ask me, it’s the perfect romantic comedy for all seasons. The story unfolds over the five weeks leading up to Christmas in London and moves between ten intersecting storylines that showcase romance in all its messy, complicated, and beautiful glory. The film doesn’t build toward a single emotional climax because some stories end happily while others leave you feeling completely heartbroken. That’s the entire point, though, because Love Actually sets out to show all the forms in which love presents itself.

However, the story is only able to strike a tonal balance thanks to its brilliant ensemble cast featuring Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant, Alan Rickman, Liam Neeson, Laura Linney, Martine McCutcheon, and more. Each storyline feels distinct because the actors commit to their roles in the best possible way. This turns what could have easily felt like throwaway sketches into small tales that anyone, anywhere can resonate with. This emotional variety is the film’s strength, and it would have been impossible to achieve without the honest, moving performances that Love Actually is still cherished for to this day.

6 ‘Before Sunrise’ (1995)

Some might argue that Before Sunrise is a film where nothing happens, but that’s part of its appeal. Richard Linklater’s romantic drama is one of those very few movies that actually feel like real life, as it tells the simple story of two strangers meeting by chance and getting to know each other over the course of a single night. The story follows Jesse (Ethan Hawke), an American traveler passing through Europe, and Céline (Julie Delpy), a French student returning home. Their connection unfolds almost entirely through conversation after they meet on a train and get off in Vienna together.

Jesse and Céline stroll through the city’s streets talking about anything and everything, with the deadline of Jesse’s morning flight looming over them. The film’s realistic intimacy is unlike any other. The conversations between the central characters are awkward at times and perfectly capture the feeling of getting to know someone you know you might fall for. Hawke and Delpy share a natural chemistry that makes you feel like you’re eavesdropping on real people instead of watching a scripted romance. The film doesn’t end with a dramatic confession. When Jesse and Céline decide not to exchange contact information and instead agree to meet again in six months, the moment is ripe with possibility, and of course, it sets the stage for one of the greatest film trilogies of all time.

5 ‘When Harry Met Sally’ (1989)

Billy Crystal looking at Meg Ryan who is looking at the camera in When Harry Met Sally.

When Harry Met Sally is the ultimate romantic comedy with a story that never gets old. It’s the perfect modern take on the classic question of whether men and women can ever really just be friends. However, Rob Reiner doesn’t rush to give the audience an answer as he takes them through Harry Burns (Billy Crystal) and Sally Albright's (Meg Ryan) journey over twelve years. The two first cross paths during a tense road trip together, after which, they keep bumping into each other in New York City, slightly older and wiser every time. The structure could have easily gotten tedious, but Crystal and Ryan make this passage of time feel meaningful with their performances.

Not to mention Nora Ephron’s brilliant writing makes these complicated conversations flow as naturally as ever. Harry and Sally go from completely hating each other to slowly becoming friends and eventually falling in love, and every phase of their life feels honest, even if it is messy. By the time Harry finally declares that he wants to spend his life with Sally, you almost see it coming, but that doesn’t make the moment any less swoon-worthy. The film attempts to convey that love is as much about emotional readiness as it is about chemistry.

4 ‘Pride and Prejudice’ (2005)

Elizabeth (Keira Knightley) and Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen) stare intimately in Pride and Prejudice.

Joe Wright’s adaptation of Pride & Prejudice has set the benchmark for what a romantic period piece should be. The film follows Keira Knightley as the sharp-witted, opinionated Elizabeth Bennet, who is against the idea of marrying without love. Matthew Macfadyen plays the socially awkward and snobbish Mr. Darcy, whom Elizabeth instantly dislikes. The two immediately get off on the wrong foot, and their dynamic is shaped by mutual irritation and misunderstanding. Of course, that sets the stage for the perfect enemies-to-lovers storyline as Elizabeth and Darcy go through a kind of emotional growth that feels relatable to this day. Knightley’s layered portrayal of Elizabeth is one of the greatest things about the film.

You can almost feel her constantly thinking and reassessing every move as her prejudices about Darcy come crashing down. She is independent and yet still vulnerable, and that’s why you keep rooting for her. Darcy, on the other hand, goes through a completely unexpected transformation as he allows himself to fall for Elizabeth. Wright’s vision is grounded, compared to more polished Austen adaptations. The director creates a world where nothing is perfect, and in doing so, the atmosphere of Pride & Prejudice feels extremely intimate and almost personal.

3 ‘Titanic’ (1997)

Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) telling Rose (Kate Winsley) that he's with her, through and through, in 'Titanic'

James Cameron’s Titanic is the definition of a romantic epic. The film is set against the tragic backdrop of the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912 and takes the audience through Rose (Kate Winslet) and Jack’s (Leonardo DiCaprio) once-in-a-lifetime love story. Despite belonging to completely different social classes, Rose and Jack are drawn to each other. Their whirlwind romance is exciting and electric. With Jack, Rose sees the possibility of a life that’s not defined by wealth and status, and that gives real weight to their connection. However, you also know that their time together might be limited because of the disaster that is inevitably coming. The first half of the Titanic focuses on Rose and Jack’s personal journeys and how they challenge each other’s worldview. Jack encourages Rose to take risks, and in turn, she gives him a sense of meaning that goes beyond just survival.

Winslet and DiCaprio were the perfect actors to bring this timeless love story to life with their effortless chemistry and nuanced performances. Of course, the film’s tone takes a drastic turn in the second half when the vessel hits the ice-berg. That’s when the story expands to show how the tragedy impacted passengers across every class. Cameron really lingers on the small details, like the Irish mother taking her children back to their cabin and putting them to sleep after they aren’t able to find a boat, or the musicians continuing to play as the ship goes down. Watching all of this is painful as it is, but the tragic end of Jack and Rose’s story after their desperate attempts to keep holding on to each other delivers a heartbreak like no other. Titanic hits hard because of this layering of personal loss with a historical catastrophe, and that’s why it’s still one of the most emotionally powerful films of all time.

2 ‘Gone with the Wind’ (1939)

Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh as Rhett Butler and Scarlett O'Hara, standing together in Gone With the Wind

Gone with the Wind is another romantic epic that’s in a league of its own. The film is set against the American Civil War and Reconstruction and tells the story of the stubborn and fierce Scarlett O’Hara (Vivien Leigh), who is obsessed with Ashley Wilkes (Leslie Howard), even after he marries his cousin Melanie (Olivia de Havilland). Enter Rhett Butler (Clark Gable), a charming, cynical outsider who sees through Scarlett and isn’t afraid to challenge her. Gone with the Wind isn’t a typical romance that solely focuses on its male and female leads falling for each other. In fact, the story is more about growing up than it is about anything else.

Scarlett initially comes off as spoiled and manipulative, but we get to watch her be completely reshaped by war and loss, and Leigh pulls that growth off with the kind of finesse that today’s stars can only dream of. Her romance with Rhett is never idealized, and their connection is rooted in friction rather than some mindless fantasy. Gone with the Wind continues to polarize audiences with its ending, but it serves as an extremely real portrayal of how, sometimes, you really have to fight for the love you want. Gable and Leigh’s strong performances have practically immortalized their characters and created one of the most complex love stories in film history.

1 ‘Casablanca’ (1942)

Ilsa and Rick about to kiss in Casablanca

Casablanca is a movie-goer’s dream. The film is a romance, a war drama, a political thriller, and a character study all at once, and somehow, it works perfectly. The story takes place during World War II in the Vichy-controlled city of Casablanca and follows American expatriate and cafe owner Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart). Now, Rick pretends to be cynical and detached, but that facade comes crashing down when his former lover, Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman), walks back into his life with her husband, Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid). This sets the stage for one of the greatest, most emotionally intense love triangles of all time. As Rick grapples with his past, he is forced to choose between getting his lost love back and doing what he knows is right in a war-torn world with Laszlo’s resistance work hanging in the balance.

Casablanca is one of those films that doesn’t spend much time explaining its conflict. Instead, it trusts its audience to pick up on every pause and meaningful glance. The great thing about the film is how it humanizes all three leads and gives each of them redeeming qualities. Rick and Ilsa’s chemistry is obviously the heart of the film, but Victor’s bravery makes him the perfect piece in the triangle. Casablanca is an emotionally honest film that doesn’t try to tie everything into a neat little bow. It gives you romance and heartbreak that linger long after the credits roll.