Cover Here are our top picks for the most romantic movies on Netflix

To help you plan your Valentine’s Day movie marathon, we’ve put together a list of the best romantic movies to binge-watch on Netflix—whether you’re looking for a classic, in need of a good laugh, or simply after a feel-good movie

This article was originally published on February 11, 2020 and was updated on February 8, 2022.


Fortunately, Hong Kong’s social distancing restrictions allow for brunches, lunches and afternoon tea, so with Valentine’s Day looming, you can still plan a romantic outing for the day of love. 

If you’d rather stay home, plan a meal—whether you whip up a chef-worthy dinner or order takeout—then line up a couple of these films and see where your date night takes you.

Don’t miss: Valentine’s Day 2022: The Best Desserts and Sweets to Eat in Hong Kong

1. Pride & Prejudice (2005)

Before Bridgertonthere was Pride & Prejudice.

The 2005 adaptation of Jane Austen’s 1813 novel brings this enduring classic to the big screen, starring Keira Knightley as the fierce and opinionated Elizabeth “Lizzie” Bennett and Matthew Macfadyen as her elusive, stiff-upper-lipped love interest Mr Darcy. The film follows Lizzie and her four sisters as they face pressures—from family and society—to wed in 19th century England.

Fans of the romance genre will love the sparks beneath the two leads, while those interested in period dramas will enjoy the film’s sumptuous costumes and beautiful visuals.

Fun fact: the movie marked Academy Award-nominated Carey Mulligan’s silver screen debut: she plays one of Elizabeth’s younger sisters. 

Watch it here

2. He’s Just Not That Into You (2009)

The star-studded rom-com He’s Just Not That Into You is based on the 2004 self-help book of the same name, which was in turn inspired by a line from an episode of much-loved TV romantic dramedy Sex and the City.

Set in modern-day Baltimore, the film follows Ginnifer Goodwin's Gigi along with her four friends—played by Jennifer Aniston, Scarlett Johansson, Drew Barrymore and Jennifer Connelly—as they navigate through struggles in their romantic lives. For Gigi in particular, she must learn to decode the behaviours of her love interests, including her friend Alex, portrayed by Justin Long.

The ensemble cast also includes other Hollywood heavyweights (and heartthrobs) like Bradley Cooper and Ben Affleck.

Watch it here

3. Valentine’s Day (2010)

Those in search of a light-hearted chick flick would enjoy Valentine’s Day, a rom-com directed by Garry Marshall of 1990’s Pretty Woman and the 2000s Princess Diaries franchise fame. 

Featuring an ensemble cast, the plot follows a group of young Los Angeles urbanites as they traverse through the pressures and expectations that arise from the holiday. Cue breakups, make-ups, tears, joy, and everything in between. The film stars Ashton Kutcher, Jessica Alba, Julia Roberts, Jennifer Garner, Bradley Cooper, Patrick Dempsey and more.

Watch it here

4. Flipped (2010)

This coming-of-age tale, based on the 2001 young adult novel of the same name, follows the story of the timid Bryce Loski (Callan McAuliffe) and oddball Juli Barker (Madeline Caroll). The two meet as children in 1950s American suburbia, where Juli falls for Bryce—a feeling that's unrequited. He tries his best to distance himself from her, and six years later, Juli finally moves on. This, of course, is just about when Bryce realises he may have made a mistake. Ah, young love! 

Watch it here

5. Friends With Benefits (2011)

Friends with Benefits is a rom-com that offers what it says on the tin—with a Hollywood twist, of course. 

Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake play Jamie and Dylan, who meet in New York, become fast friends, then agree to enter a strictly physical relationship. Romantic feelings inevitably start to develop, though with twists and turns that keep the audience guessing.

Kunis and Timberlake have been praised by critics for their on-screen chemistry—if you’re after a cheery film dominated by plenty of raunchy humour, this is a solid option.

 

Watch it here

6. Love, Rosie (2014)

“From best friends to lovers” is a common trope in romantic film and literature. If you’re into the genre, give Love, Rosie a spin.

Based on the 2004 bestselling novel Where Rainbows End by Cecilia Ahern, the film stars Lily Collins and Sam Clafin as childhood best friends Alex and Rosie.

The two soon become separated by distance, as Alex and his family move from Dublin to the US. They reunite years later—can their friendship thrive and turn into something more? 

Watch it here

7. La La Land (2016)

La La Land is a crowd-pleaser for many reasons: it’s a visually vibrant musical feast, starring two attractive leads whose characters fall in love.

In the Academy Award-winning movie, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone respectively play a pianist and actress trying their best to make it in Tinseltown. Cue spontaneous song and dance, beautiful cinematography and plenty of romance. 

Watch it here

8. To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018)

Based on the 2014 book of the same name by Jenny Han, teen comedy-drama To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before follows the journey of high schooler Lara Jean Covey (Lana Condor).

Lara writes letters to boys she once liked—only to never send them. After her sister Kitty sent them on her behalf without her knowledge, Lara ends up in a fake relationship with one of her letters’ recipients, Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centino). 

Watch it here

9. Falling Inn Love (2019)

Falling Inn Love sees San Francisco-based designer Gabriela Diaz (Christina Milian) accidentally winning a contest to run a crumbling inn across the world in New Zealand.

Eager to renovate and sell the house fast, she asks Kiwi restoration expert Jake Taylor (Adam Demos) for help. As they bond and rebuild the inn, Gabriela finds herself hesitant to leave. It’s a will-they, won't-they kind of comedy drama that requires little brainpower but satisfies the audience of the genre with a happy ending. 

Watch it here

10. Always Be My Maybe (2019)

Comedians Ali Wong and Randall Park star in Always Be My Maybe, which chronicles the lives of two childhood sweethearts with unfinished business.

Expect plenty of humour and some heart-warming moments, too.

Watch it here

Read also: 11 Asian-Led Shows and Movies to Watch on Netflix

11. Love Hard (2021)

Online dating comes with many pitfalls—but what if a bad match turns out to be serendipitous?

Love Hard follows the story of Natalie (Nina Dobrev), who matches with a guy, Josh (Jimmy O Yang), on a dating app. She soon realises she’d been catfished, however. In a plot twist, she strikes a deal with Josh to pretend to be his girlfriend while he promises to connect her with the guy whose photos he had used in his fake profile. 

Watch it here

Don’t miss: ‘Love Hard’ Star Jimmy O Yang is the New Romantic Leading Man to Fall in Love With

Topics