The Twenty Most Romantic
Movies of all Time
Well, the results are in! Over 1,000 of you voted in our Most
Romantic Movies Poll, nominating over 375 different films. The movies you consider
romantic range from Sleepless in Seattle to Armageddon, proving that romance
is in the eye of the beholder (and that there are a heck of a lot of good sappy movies out
there!) Meg Ryan easily heads the list of most romantic actresses, starring in four movies
in the top 20 (and several that closely missed). As for male leads, Tom Hanks, Richard
Gere, Humphrey Bogart and Patrick Swayze all show up in two movies each on our list --
giving us no definitive romantic actor (though it seems we do like them tall, dark and
handsome!) One last tidbit: Nora Ephron is responsible for writing and/or directing three
out of the top 20 (Sleepless, When Harry Met Sally, and You've Got Mail).
Got your video store cards ready? Here are the 20 Most Romantic Films of All Time!
1. Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
Romantic Leads: Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan
"This movie restored my faith in the magic of romance. Maybe we DO have destinies and
maybe fate DOES intervene." --treilly
"I love how Tom Hanks' son knew the whole time that Meg Ryan was the one." --andytheangel
2. Titanic (1997)
Romantic Leads: Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet
"Everyone dreams of finding that perfect love and feeling that instant spark. And the
scene where the elderly couple lies in bed together, holding each other and waiting to
die, kills me!" --chastitylives
Buy the movie!
3. Gone with the Wind (1939)
Romantic Leads: Clark Gable and Vivian Leigh
"We all want to be Scarlett O'Hara and have men surrounding us -- plus in the long
dresses from that era, you'd never have to shave your legs!" --mpteck
4. Casablanca (1942)
Romantic Leads: Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman
"I love the tragedy of it all, the sheer drama, Ingrid Bergman's sad eyes and
beautiful face. It's all about -- heartwrenchingly -- not getting everything you
want." --eegrato
"In the end, knowing your love is returned is enough, even if fate keeps you
apart." --jlmarlia
Buy the movie!Buy the movie!
5. Pretty Woman (1990)
Romantic Leads: Richard Gere, Julia Roberts
"Each of us is a diamond in the rough; we need the right person to make us shine.
This movie gives you hope in your own dreams of finding Mr. Right." --astro86
"Nice reworking if the 'hooker with a heart of gold' format. It gives a nods to independence while also fulfilling the fantasy of being swept away by the knight in shining armor." --astarte100
6. When Harry Met Sally (1989)
Romantic Leads: Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan
"My favorite part of the movie is at the New Year's Eve celebration, when Billy
Crystal runs all the way to see Meg Ryan -- what he says is fabulous: 'When you finally
figure out you love someone, you don't want to spend another minute without that person!'
(Or something like that!)" --dhardman
7. Ghost (1990)
Romantic Leads: Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore
"I love it because it's about a love that lasts beyond death (what a couple!)"
--rozey.chris
"True love never dies." --kclester
8. An Affair to Remember (1957)
Romantic Leads: Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr
"I just melt when Cary Grant finds out why Deborah Kerr didn't meet him atop the
empire State Building. I cry every time I see it!" -- brendajbw
"It touches me every time I see it. How stubborn they were -- but still ended up with each other." --dlyn
9. Romeo and Juliet (1968, 1996)
Romantic Leads: Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey (1968 version); Leonardo DiCaprio and
Clare Daines (1996 version)
"This movie left me speechless. It didn't matter that you already knew the ending
before it started." --missred80
Buy the movie!(1968
version)
Buy the movie! (1996
version)
10. City of Angels (1998)
Romantic Leads: Nicholas Cage and Meg Ryan
"It is very moving that someone would give up his eternal life just to be with
you." --Mary F.
"It really touches you and makes you feel lucky to be in love and be able to share your world with the person that you love." --tbelk
"One moment with someone you love is better than an eternity without them!" --cocoa66
11. You've Got Mail (1998)
Romantic Leads: Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan
"That's the way a lot of people meet in today's world. I myself may have met my
certain someone on the Internet -- and not met him in person yet!" --jamfax20
"The chemistry between Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks is perfect. If
I ever received some of the messages that tom Hanks sent to Meg Ryan, I would just melt in
my seat." --wokamura
Buy the movie!
12. Love Story (1970)
Romantic Leads: Ryan O'Neal, Ali MacGraw "It shows the true meaning of unconditional
love -- to take care of someone." --chatty1patty
Buy the movie!
13. Somewhere in Time (1980)
Romantic Leads: Christopher Reeves and Jane Seymour
"This movie tugs at my heartstrings and reinforces my belief that some people are
destined to be together -- even through many lifetimes." --mookie0813
14. The Bridges of Madison County (1995)
Romantic Leads: Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep
"Every married woman has that fantasy, just not the opportunity. Only mature women
will appreciate this movie; younger girls don't have enough life experience to truly
understand it." --astro86
"Sometimes the best movies don't have happy endings." --brendajbw
15. Dirty Dancing (1987)
Romantic Leads: Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey
"A bad boy and a good girl is always romantic!" WDsmom "This movie is also
about being true to your heart. It is also about seeing the beauty that lies in someone
who is different." --mimitrue
16. While You Were Sleeping (1995)
Romantic Leads: Bill Pullman and Sandra Bullock
"There's hope for lonely people in big cities!" --Maria F.
"When you have a crush on someone, you don't notice who your true love is. I love how truthful this movie is and how it all turned out well in the end!" --browneyes
Romantic Leads: Harry Connick, Jr. and Sandra Bullock
"Shows that even though you can be emotionally crushed by love, there are still
people who care about you and who love you even more." --Leah H.
"I just really like movies that make you bawl over 'mushy' love stuff!" --jenniferdoney
"Even when you think you have it all, you can lose it at a moment's notice. But you can pick up the pieces and move on!" --jamfox20
18. My Best Friend's Wedding (1997)
Romantic Leads: Dermot Mulroney and Julia Roberts
"I loved this one precisely because it didn't have a happy ending -- but it did! So
Julia didn't get the guy -- that ended up being totally okay. And it has a great
soundtrack!" --eegrato
"True love is about letting the other go, no matter what the cost." --Baby-5
19. Sabrina (1954, 1995)
Romantic Leads: Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn and William Holden (1954 version);
Harrison Ford, Julia Ormond, Greg Kinnear (1995 version)
"A crush built around an ideal gives way to unexpected true love." --mmhg
"Cinderella can win! And the Prince might need to smarten up!" --Maria F.
Buy the movie! (1954
version)
Buy the movie! (1995
version)
20. An Officer and a Gentleman (1982)
Romantic Leads: Richard Gere and Debra Winger
"Debra Winger is saved from a dreary life in a factory -- and those Navy dress whites!" --PuseyKat