Honestly, a good romance or breakup movie is what you really need in your life when you are either on a high or miserable on the couch after a breakup. Such stories help us understand that love is complicated, lovely, funny, and at times, it breaks your heart. These films, which can be either sad and make you cry or funny and make you laugh, cover the gamut of human relationships. You can watch these 10 best romantic and breakup movies right away, in no particular order, here, because I like to keep you guessing.
10. Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011)
Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, and Emma Stone shine in this contemporary classic of heartbreak, redemption, and second chances. Between Carell’s haplessly charming dad and Gosling’s suave-talking charm, the movie has both its laughs and its poignant lessons. And, yes, the shirtless Ryan Gosling moment is worthy of legendary status.
9. The Notebook (2004)
Nicholas Sparks’ most memorable love tale never fails to enchant. Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling’s on-screen chemistry literally leaps off the screen, and their tale of love tested by time and fate has caused audiences to tear up for over 20 years. Rain, passion, and dest, in this one has it all.
8. La La Land (2016)
Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling reunite for this visually stunning, bittersweet musical about chasing dreams and the sacrifices love sometimes demands. The vibrant colors, unforgettable soundtrack, and gut-punch of an ending make this one of the most beautiful heartbreak stories on film.
7. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
What if you could just erase your ex from your mind? Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet lead us on an off-kilter, emotional adventure that questions whether forgetting is truly the solution. It’s innovative, unadorned, and ultimately a reminder that even hurts make love real.
6. Someone Great (2019)
Gina Rodriguez stars in this Netflix hit about recovering from a breakup and finding yourself with the assistance of your closest friends. Hilarious, tear-jerking, and empowering, it shows us that the end can be the beginning—and that girlfriends are the best love story.
5. Mamma Mia! (2008)
ABBA bops, Greek island atmosphere, and Meryl Streep’s charm, this musical is sunshine in a bottle. Although it’s about love in all its complicated forms, it’s also about moving on, giving up, and loving life. And what better antidote to your blues than singing along to “Dancing Queen.”
4. 500 Days of Summer (2010)
Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel present us with one of the most sincere portrayals of contemporary relationships. Told in a nonlinear fashion, this “not a love story” reveals the ups and downs of love from both perspectives. Realistic, humorous, and poignant, it’s a reminder that each relationship has something to teach us.
3. Bridesmaids (2011)
This comedy, starring Kristen Wiig, is about something bigger than love; it’s about finding and losing yourself, the chaos of friendship, and learning to laugh your way through it. Amidst food poisoning montages and wedding-day catastrophes, it’s a laugh-out-loud yet tender reminder that life can unravel in more directions than one and that laughter can mend the pieces.
2. Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
Constance Wu and Henry Golding star in this sparkling rom-com in Singapore. It’s full of romance, epic visuals, and family drama, all in one. The mind-blowing wedding scene alone is worth watching, and Michelle Yeoh’s tour-de-force performance gives depth to a tale of love, culture, and identity.
1. The First Wives Club (1996)
Diane Keaton, Bette Midler, and Goldie Hawn unite for one of the greatest revenge comedies ever made. This side-splitting, empowering tale shows that sometimes the biggest love story isn’t romance, it’s friendship. Filled with sass, shade, and quotable one-liners, it’s the ultimate break-up movie to remind you that happiness and power can come at any time in your life.
At the end of the day, romance and breakup movies are more than entertainment; they’re a mirror for our own love stories, the ones that lift, break our hearts, and teach us how to keep moving forward. So whether you’re swooning, crying, or laughing until your stomach hurts, there’s a film on this list that will feel just right.