Best Love Movies of All Time – Top 15 Hollywood Classics

Do you think there could ever be that one list of the best love movies of all time that everyone would agree with? Well, chances of you finding one like that are pretty bleak. Different movies appeal to different people for different reasons. So when we set out to create a list of the best love movies of all time, it wasn’t easy.
After going through tons of reviews, taking inputs from critics, movie buffs, and throwing in some of our favourites too, we narrowed down our list to 15 romantic Hollywood movies that you just can’t afford to miss. If you have watched some of the movies (or all) already, you would agree. If you haven’t then you better gear up for your next movie marathon. Here we go.
The Very Best Love Movies Of All Time:
1. Titanic (1997)
Let’s start the list with what can be probably considered as the best love movie of all time. Directed by James Cameron, this one is truly something special and has garnered appreciation worldwide. It tells a story of Rose, a rich young aristocratic woman who falls in love with Jack, a simple yet poor artist, aboard the famous ship Titanic. If you have not watched this film yet, you surely have lived under a rock for a long time.
2. Casablanca (1942)
This is a classic. Set against the backdrop of World War II, and released during the World War II phase, it tells the story of a couple pursued by the Nazis. When the lady seeks help from her former flame, he is faced with a tough choice – his love for his old flame vs him helping her husband escape from the Germans. The rapport shared by the characters, the intensity of their concealed emotions, and the iconic one liners all make this winner on our list of best love movies of all time something that only romantic dreams are made of.
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3. The English Patient (1996)
Another love movie set against the backdrop of World War II. This one is based on the 1992 Booker Prize winning novel of the same name written by Michael Ondaatje. It tells the tale of an English explorer who develops an illicit affair with his married colleague on an exploration expedition. He is eventually assaulted by the lady’s husband, and is thus left in a state of amnesia. Just like the book, this film drew a positive response from critics as well as the general audience at large.
4. The Notebook (2004)
This one needs no introduction. It is one of the best love movies of all time and has a cult following of sorts. It is based on Nicholas Sparks’ novel of the same name, and tells the heart-touching story of a man narrating a love story to a woman who is battling dementia. This one will surely give you the feels and is a must watch!
5. Gone With The Wind (1939)
It is the oldest on our list of best love movies of all time. It is a classic love triangle and tells the story of a woman who has to choose between two men who hold significant importance in her life. And all of this happens against the backdrop of the American Civil War. This movie is based on the critically acclaimed romantic novel of the same name written by Margaret Mitchell.
6. Roman Holiday (1953)
It is sweet, cute and adorable. In this film, you see a overly sheltered princess break away from her boring lifestyle to explore the streets of Rome. In the process, she bumps into an American whom she falls in love with. It is considered to be one of the finest romantic movies of all time, and is a classic.
7. Her (2013)
If you have a thing for neo-romanticism, and would rather give the conventional romantic plot-lines a miss, then here is a film for you. It is an unlikely love story of a lonely man falling in love with an intuitive and intelligent digital personal voice assistant. The plot is more complex than it seems, and was well appreciated for its nature of being fresh and relatable in today’s era of modern technology; a solid contender on our list of the best love movies of all time.
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8. Notting Hill (1999)
This one tells the tale of an average British guy who literally bumps into a popular Hollywood actress by chance only to realise later that she has deeply fallen in love with him. It’s a movie with a message that says it loud and clear that we all are worthy of the love we seek and desire. The film struck a chord with audience thanks to this message and remains one of the best sweet romantic films of all times.
9. The Artist (2011)
It is one of the most critically acclaimed film of the 21st century, which is for most part a silent film in black and white. The story is set in the era of Hollywood that saw a transition of films from being silent to full-fledged talkies. Against this backdrop, it tells a tale of a popular actor and his love interest (a film extra). This film IS a masterpiece. No wonder it won a total of 94 awards!
10. West Side Story (1961)
This film is based on a theatrical musical, which in turn was inspired by the timeless love story of Romeo and Juliet. This romantic tale is presented with a modern take and the plot has two love-birds of rival street gangs falling in love with each other. The movie is melancholic in nature yet considered one of the best love movies of all times.
11. An American In Paris (1951)
It is a love quadrangle film with the central plot focussing on an American expatriate living in Paris, who falls in love with a local French girl. The girl is already engaged, and the American is himself pursued by a rich heiress. It is a story of characters torn between various choices, which they have to make in fraction of time. It is an interesting romantic film that you should definitely watch.
12. An Affair To Remember (1957)
As the name suggests, it is a story of two audacious individuals who meet on a Transatlantic ocean liner and decide to have an affair. The two have their respective commitments but still decide to meet exactly after six months. What might seem a flimsy love story turns out to be a touching tale of love and sacrifice. The film is considered one of the best love movies of all time and we strongly recommend that you watch it if you haven’t already.
13. The Way We Were (1973)
What sets this one apart is the wonderful presentation style. The movie is partly shown in flashback, and the story spans across nearly 20 years. The film follows the tempestuous relationship of young woman inclined towards politics and the guy she loves who has no interest in politics at all. We see the rise and fall of their love that all occurs just because of the way they are. One of the best love movies of all times and a must watch.
14. My Fair Lady (1965)
This one features the oh-so-pretty Audrey Hepburn. In this romantic movie, we see a phonetics professor who agrees to teach a flower girl to be more presentable in the high society. Through the course of the film, they both grow close to each other and eventually fall in love. It is a cute amorous film that is undeniably one of the best love movies of all times.
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15. Doctor Zhivago (1965)
This one is based on the famous novel of the same name written by Boris Pasternak. It is set against the backdrop of Russian revolution and World War 1 and tells the fiery love story of a married physician and a poet who falls in love with a political activist’s wife. The film was known for its poignant take on love and is #7 in American Film Institute’s list of greatest love stories ever.
What’s your take on our list? Did we miss out any of your favourites?
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