Is there something hotter than two young Hollywood stars in love? We think not. And when it comes to romance, there are few hotter stories than that of Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart. From their high school days in Aberdeenshire, to their BFF status today, these two have truly made something special. And as fans of the ‘Twilight’ saga know, the heart wants what it wants, and sometimes, two can be better than one. So it should come as no great surprise that many of our top-rated films this year are about to hit the big screen, proving once again that love conquers all. Here are our top picks for the most romantic movies of the year.
Pride And Prejudice
One of the most beloved stories of all time is that of Jane Austen’s Pride And Prejudice. This timeless tale pits two wealthy bachelors, Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bennett, against each other in a battle of wits and wills. While the film adaptation starring Joe Wright and Lesley Manville is arguably the most cinematic Pride And Prejudice yet, it doesn’t hold a candle to the original. Perhaps it’s the story’s timeless nature, or the fact that it’s simply impossible to film an engaging conversation with someone who is constantly interrupted by beeps and boops from a cell phone. Or maybe it’s because these two great actors, Sienna Miller and Tom Hardy, simply make the story more believable. Whatever it is, we’ve always had a soft spot in our hearts for the Pride And Prejudice movie. It’s the perfect story of a rich man’s contempt for the poor, a classic example of an arranged marriage, and it gives us a glimpse into the Regency England that James Marsh so beautifully captured in his 1995 novel. In the end, we’re inspired by the story to ask Mr. Darcy (or Mr. McGregor, as he’s called in the book): “Will you marry me?”
The Hunger Games
While some of our readers may believe that we favor the rich and famous, we really can’t help but root for the underdogs, in this case, the tesseract-hunting Peeta Mellark and his valiant but doomed attempt at romance with Katniss Everdeen. Based on the incredibly popular novel by Suzanne Collins, Gary Ross’s The Hunger Games pits sixteen contestants against one another in a fight to the death. With each episode, one contestant is selected to represent District 12 as a ‘tribute’, forced to fight to the death with other people’s children. Katniss is the epitome of the fierce, independent woman we look up to, and Peeta is the vulnerable, romantic dreamer. In the end, we’re forced to choose between the ‘survival of the fittest’ and our first impulse—to protect the weak. While tragic circumstances may have turned these two against each other, you’d have to be a cold-hearted bastard not to root for the sweet, albeit hopeless, Peeta. Sometimes, the underdog can be smarter, stronger, and more appealing than we give them credit for. In the end, we’re left feeling a little bit of sympathy for both…and a lot of hope that they’ll find happiness together despite their differences. We can’t help but believe that given half a chance, Peeta would prove to be a far better partner than Mr. Galvan (Donald Sutherland) ever was. He’d fight for her, protect her, and hopefully, she’d see the error of her ways and thank him for being so loyal.
Love And Breakfast
If you thought that Pride And Prejudice was the only movie on this list, then you’re sadly mistaken. We couldn’t leave out the delicious, and a little bit messy, story of love and breakfast, as told by Woody Allen in his 2005 comedy-drama, Match Point. On the surface, this film seems to be just another relationship comedy starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. But dig a bit deeper, and you’ll find that this is one of Allen’s most personal films. After an absence of 30 years, the godfather of comedy revisits his relationship with his muse, Dominique, and the way they navigate their romantic and professional entanglements. In the end, we’re left feeling all kinds of feels for these two desperate, yet loving, people. While this movie isn’t exactly heart-wrenching, it does leave you thinking about the way you would behave in a similar situation.
The Danish Girl
Finally, let’s not forget about the stunning Annette Bening, who returns to our screens in her role as the great photographer, Louise Brooks. In The Danish Girl, Bening plays the part of a woman who, after struggling with her gender identity for most of her life, decides to undergo a sex change operation. The film, which also stars Eddie Redmayne and Hayley Atwell, is based on the book of the same name, written by Liane Moriarty. In it, Brooks is a self-made millionaire who owns a successful art gallery. During a visit to Copenhagen to purchase a painting, she meets up with a childhood friend, Dr. Vanska (Bening), who has become the foremost surgical sex-reassignment expert in Europe. She agrees to Brooks’s grandiose plan (and Vanska’s request for a retainer) in order to realize her dream of becoming a woman again. This film is the perfect example of a story that is made more amazing by Bening’s phenomenal, Oscar-nominated performance. While the storyline may not seem like the most romantic one, the fact that it deals with a subject so many of our readers are likely to be familiar with makes it that much more appealing. It also helps that director Rosa Salazar gives the story an often-overlooked ingredient that makes it so much more appealing: diversity. Not only does it feature a black actress in a prominent role, but it also stars an Asian woman, amongst others, as part of the supporting cast. In the end, we’re glad that Bening chose to bring this story to the big screen, and we hope that it helps to open up more opportunities for aspiring women in the arts. So, while this may not be one of Allen’s most romantic movies, it’s certainly one of his most influential ones.
There are many other great romance movies out there that we didn’t have room for on this list. But we hope this gives you a good idea of the type of films we love to recommend. Do you have a favorite romantic comedy? We’d love to hear about it!