TV & Movies

9 Of The Best Romantic Movies On Netflix NZ

Written by: Elizabeth Barry

If you’re looking for a good flick for date night or you’re just a sucker for a love story, have we found some movies for you.

Netflix has been serving up some seriously good romance movies, including their iconic originals that see Lindsay Lohan in every romance trope imaginable, plus the classics you can watch over and over.

So let’s dive in to the best romantic movies on Netflix to suit a bunch of tastes.

Crazy, Stupid, Love

This movie is a very fun watch that has an excellent cast to match, with Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore and Emma Stone all starring. The plot sounds gimmicky, but stick with it for an energetic story with some surprising twists thrown in. Carell plays Cal who is blindsided when his wife (Moore) wants a divorce. He is taken under the wing of Gosling who shows him how to be a hit with the ladies. How does Emma Stone fit in? Well, add it to your watch list, grab your snacks and find out.

To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before

If you’ve dismissed this movie so far because it’s a teen rom-com, it’s time to put aside your bias and add it to your watch list, because this is a seriously good watch. It follows high schooler Lara Jean who has secret letters she has written to past loves made public, which forces her to deal with the fallout. The best part about this movie (and the other movies in the series) is the characters, which are earnest and relatable. There’s a reason it has a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, so queue it up for your viewing pleasure.

Irish Wish

If you love romantic movies that don’t take themselves too seriously, this is definitely one for you. Think of it like a fantasy-romance combined, with the joy that is Lindsay Lohan. Irish Wish sees Lohan play book editor Maddie who is attending her best friend’s wedding to the man she is in love with, when a chance wish on an ancient stone changes everything. Go into this expecting a bit of fun, a lot of cheesy romance and an enjoyable ride.

Her

This movie is a little different from standard romantic movies, but in our AI-driven world, who am I to judge? Released in 2013 and with a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Her follows Joaquin Phoenix as Theodore, a man who develops a relationship with his AI operating system (voiced by Scarlett Johansson). The film is fascinating and creepy, but ultimately still a romance because they do fall in love. If you’re looking for a touch of sci-fi with your romantic movies, this is one to check out.

Past Lives

This movie will get you right in the feels and is the perfect watch for date night. Past Lives follows childhood friends Nora and Hae Sung over the course of 24 years as they grapple with their changing relationship. You are taken through moments of their life, which keeps you engaged and is honestly a bit too real and tragic. Get a tissue box ready alongside your popcorn.

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Falling Inn Love

If you want to see Netflix’s take on a romantic New Zealand, here is your chance. Falling Inn Love sees American Gabriela (Christina Milian) win a New Zealand inn and move over to enjoy it, but then discovers she needs to do extensive renovations. Oh, I wonder if there is any burly local man around to help? If you can forgive the cheesy tropes, the bad accents and the predictable plot, this is a very wholesome movie that is charming and feel-good.

Silver Linings Playbook

This is a movie about complicated love and messy relationships, and also about mental health. It stars Bradley Cooper as Pat who has just spent time in a mental health facility and is estranged from his wife, when he meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence). The movie is sharp and raw and Cooper and Lawrence have such great chemistry together. It does deal with some heavy topics around mental health, so here is your trigger warning, but if you’re looking for a dramatic love story to dive head-first into, this is it.

Pride & Prejudice

 
How do you do such a classic novel justice on the silver screen, especially when it has been created so many times already? Trust me when I say that this 2005 adaptation starring Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet does an incredible job at it. If you escaped reading this novel in high school English, the plot follows the daughters of the Bennet family as they are looking for love and husbands, led by their mother Mrs Bennet. It centres particularly on the love story between Elizabeth and Mr Darcy. This film captures their story oh-so-well and you are guaranteed to fall in love with their love. Stream it here.
 

The Theory Of Everything

Talk about heartbreaking. If you want to cry, this is the movie to put on. This period romantic drama tells the story of Stephen Hawking in the first three decades of his life. It shows him meeting and falling in love with his first wife Jane, and tragically, his diagnosis of motor neurone disease. Knowing who Stephen Hawking becomes makes this movie so much more powerful because it gives such an intimate portrayal of his life. Trust me, this one will get you right in the feels.

Main image credit: Netflix

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