Romance movies are back and better than ever in 2024, and the best projects of the year come from a variety of up-and-coming directors, as well as veterans of the genre. While romance is sometimes pigeonholed for having formulaic plots and predictable endings, this is a reductive take and disregards the many genre-bending romance films that have only become more popular in recent years. However, there’s still plenty of fun to be had in watching a good old-fashioned rom-com, formulaic or not. A mix of arthouse, blockbuster, and up-and-coming films round out the year’s new movies.
In recent years, romance movies have been looking at a more diverse range of relationships and have started shining a light on voices that had been overlooked for much of movie history. New filmmakers have been using their platforms to share their individual stories as well as universal ones that any audience member can relate to. When making a romance movie, filmmakers must remember the importance not only of the story but of the atmosphere and tone. These elements are just as vital in creating a romantic ambiance.
15 The Fall Guy
The Fall Guy 9
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PG-13ActionDramaThriller Where to Watch
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The Fall Guy is an action thriller from Bullet Train and Deadpool 2 director David Leitch. Ryan Gosling stars as a stuntman who is forced to find a missing movie star, investigate a conspiracy, and repair his relationship with the love of his life. The film was written by Drew Pearce and inspired by the 1980s TV series of the same name.
Director David Leitch Release Date May 3, 2024 Cast Ryan Gosling , Emily Blunt , Aaron Taylor-Johnson , Stephanie Hsu , Winston Duke , Hannah Waddingham , Teresa Palmer Runtime 126 Minutes
Rom-coms can sometimes be unfairly linked to only a female audience, but certain examples transcend those stereotypes by incorporating other elements into the story. Such is the case with The Fall Guy, which is not only one of the best rom-coms of the year but also one of the best action movies. Based on the 1980s TV series of the same name, The Fall Guy stars Ryan Gosling as Colt Seavers, a Hollywood stuntman who reluctantly goes back into the moviemaking world to help his ex-girlfriend, Jody (Emily Blunt), save her directorial debut by finding a missing actor.
The movie is a love letter to stunt performers in the movie business, but the love story between the characters is surprisingly as effective as all of the set pieces. Colt’s attempts to make up for the relationship he messed up and Jody’s weariness about going down the same road offer a fun dynamic between the two. Gosling and Blunt share wonderful chemistry together, and after a solid box-office run aided by strong word-of-mouth, The Fall Guy is breaking streaming records as one of the most crowd-pleasing movies of the year.
14 Love Lies Bleeding
Directed By Rose Glass
Love Lies Bleeding ActionAdventureCrime Where to Watch
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Love Lies Bleeding is an action crime film from A24. Directed by Rose Glass, Love Lies Bleeding centers on a gym employee, played by Kristen Stewart, and a bisexual bodybuilder (Katy O’Brian) as they discover how difficult the world of competitive bodybuilding is. The film also stars Jena Malone, Anna Baryshnikov, Dave Franco, and Ed Harris.
Director Rose Glass Release Date March 3, 2024 Cast Kristen Stewart , Katy O’Brian , Jena Malone , Anna Baryshnikov , Dave Franco , Ed Harris Runtime 104 Minutes
It is always captivating to see movies that are able to blend a genuinely engaging romance story with violence. It is a balance that it pulled off well in the striking crime movie Love Lies Bleeding. Kristen Stewart stars as Lou, a gym owner in a small town who is drawn to a bodybuilder named Jackie (Katy O’Brian) who is passing through town on the way to a competition in Las Vegas. The two quickly ignite a passionate affair only for violent reactions to put their newfound romance in jeopardy.
Similar to movies like True Romance, the violence adds to the intensity of the romance on screen, making for an enthralling journey for these two characters whose draw to each other is somewhere between charming and dangerous. The movie has an underlying threat that things could explode into bloody chaos at any moment. It makes for a stunning new feature from up-and-coming filmmaker Rose Glass, as well as a beautiful display from Stewart and O’Brian.
13 The Drive-Away Dolls
Directed By Ethan Coen
Drive-Away Dolls Comedy
From director Ethan Coen comes Drive-Away Dolls, a comedic road-show-styled film that stars two best friends that head out on a road trip that goes hilariously awry. Following Jamie’s recent break-up and her friend Marian’s inflexibility hitting its peak, the two decide to hit the road to Florida – until they accidentally run into a group of bumbling criminals.
Director Ethan Coen Release Date February 23, 2024 Cast Margaret Qualley , Geraldine Viswanathan , Beanie Feldstein , Pedro Pascal , Colman Domingo , Bill Camp , Matt Damon
While the friends-to-lovers rom-com trope is a staple of the genre, it is quite unexpected that Oscar-winning filmmaker Ethan Coen developed his own take on the story. Drive-Away Dolls marks the first solo directorial effort Ethan has done without his brother Joel Coen, but it feels very much like a Coen Brothers movie. The movie follows Jamie (Margaret Qualley) and Marian (Geraldine Viswanathan), two best friends who embark on a road trip only to discover that there is something valuable in the trunk of their rental car that makes them a target.
The crime-comedy aspect of the movie makes for some of the biggest laughs, with the movie in a similar tone to the Coens’ The Big Lebowski and Burn After Reading, rather than the likes of No Country for Old Men. However, there is also some surprising sweetness to the story with the burgeoning romance between Jamie and Marian. It begins as a genuine friendship with Jamie trying to help Marian come out of her shell, but they begin to realize a stronger connection than either of them had anticipated.
12 Fly Me To The Moon
Directed By Greg Berlanti
Fly Me to the Moon (2024) ComedyRomance
A musician and an astronaut form an unexpected romance as she prepares for a lunar mission. Their relationship faces challenges due to the distance and personal issues, leading to a journey of love and self-discovery.
Director Greg Berlanti Release Date July 12, 2024 Cast Scarlett Johansson , Channing Tatum , Woody Harrelson , Ray Romano , Jim Rash , Anna Garcia , Donald Watkins , Noah Robbins , Christian Clemenson , Colin Woodell , Nick Dillenburg , Christian Zuber , Gene Jones , Joe Chrest , Stephanie Kurtzuba , Colin Jost , Dariusz Wolski , Peter Jacobson , Lauren Revard , Njema Williams , Gary Weeks , Todd Allen Durkin Runtime 132 Minutes Expand
Period rom-coms are rare, but Fly Me to the Moon has fun with its 1960s setting while also tying its romance story into one of the biggest world events of the era. Channing Tatum stars in the movie as Cole Davis, a launch director at NASA working on the seemingly impossible and highly dangerous task of getting American astronauts to the moon. As the support for the NASA space program begins to falter, marketing genius Kelly Jones (Scarlet Johansson) is brought in to help sell the mission to the American people and the politicians.
Fly Me to the Moon tells a charming and highly entertaining story of the space race, but the romance between the two high-profile stars will likely be a big draw for many audiences. Tatum and Johansson share wonderful chemistry with the cliche dynamic of two opposite personalities being forced to work together to find ways to feel fresh, especially when they find the necessities of their respective jobs in conflict with one another.
11 Greatest Hits
Directed By Ned Benson
The Greatest Hits (2024) ComedyDramaFantasy Where to Watch
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Harriet (Lucy Boynton) finds art imitating life when she discovers certain songs can transport her back in time – literally. While she relives the past through romantic memories of her former boyfriend (David Corenswet), her time-traveling collides with a burgeoning new love interest in the present (Justin H. Min). As she takes her journey through the hypnotic connection between music and memory, she wonders – even if she could change the past, should she?q
Director Ned Benson Release Date March 14, 2024 Cast David Corenswet , Lucy Boynton , Retta , Justin H. Min , Rory Keane , Jackson Kelly , Andie Ju , Austin Crute Runtime 87 Minutes
There are a lot of romance movies that attempt to incorporate fantasy elements into their story of love. While it can be difficult to pull off, Greatest Hits finds a way to make it fantastical but also relatable. The movie stars Lucy Boynton as Harriet, a young woman who is mourning the death of her boyfriend Max (David Corenswet) when she discovers that listening to certain songs can literally transport her back to key moments with him.
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The premise helps to set up a few intriguing elements of this story. There is the theme of music serving as a gateway to memories, with audiences being able to think about certain songs that seem to bring them back to a place in time. However, it also tells the difficult story of how Harriet is dealing with revisiting a romance that has no future, only memories. The conflict between being back with Max and the need to move on makes for a heartbreaking and complex love story.
10 Mother Of The Bride
Directed by Mark Waters
Mother of the Bride ComedyDramaRomance
Lana’s daughter Emma returns from abroad and drops a bombshell: she’s getting married. In Thailand. In a month! Things only get worse when Lana learns that the man who captured Emma’s heart is the son of the man who broke hers years ago.
Director Mark Waters Release Date May 9, 2024 Cast Brooke Shields , Benjamin Bratt , Miranda Cosgrove , Rachael Harris , Sean Teale , Chad Michael Murray , Michael McDonald , Wilson Cruz Runtime 88 Minutes
Brooke Shields’ best movies and TV shows are all part of her long and well-known career, and Mother of the Bride allowed her to return to the rom-com genre. Mother of the Bride is a fun film that delves into the topic of finding love later in life and reconnecting with an old flame. This rediscovery happens to Shields’ character, Lana, in the unexpected setting of her daughter’s wedding. It turns out that Lana’s daughter, Emma (Miranda Cosgrove), is marrying the son of Lana’s ex, Will (Benjamin Bratt).
Of course, it doesn’t take long for Will and Lana to reconnect and start feeling the sparks that brought them together many years ago. Mother of the Bride doesn’t break boundaries in its storytelling, but it’s a classic rom-com that hits all the right beats and provides a satisfying ending. It’s obvious that the actors are having fun throughout the film, encouraging the audience to kick back and enjoy the beautiful setting and hilarious miscommunications of the narrative.
9 This is Me… Now: A Love Story
Directed by Dave Meyers
This is Me…Now: A Love Story PG-13BiographyDramaMusical
This is Me… Now: A Love Story, a musical drama film that explores a journey of self-love through the eyes of writer and performer Jennifer Lopez. Following the release of her album of the same name, Lopez takes a grandiose, dramatized look at her journey on screen to explore where she came from and where she is now.
Director Dave Meyers Release Date February 16, 2024 Cast Jennifer Lopez Runtime 105 Minutes
Jennifer Lopez’s conceptual love story to herself and her career, This is Me… Now: A Love Story, made a splash and circulated the internet when the first trailer was dropped. An ambitious project that dramatizes a fantastical version of Lopez’s life, the movie also revolves around the star’s real-life relationship with Ben Affleck and her other romantic relationships in the past few decades. The high-intensity choreography and musical numbers received praise from critics, and though the story’s throughline is loose, this isn’t the most important part of the movie.
When watching This is Me… Now: A Love Story, it’s important for the audience to sit back and suspend their disbelief to enjoy the full scope of the project. The film never intended to fall into the familiar narrative boxes that most blockbusters capitulate to, and this can be polarizing. However, once viewers let go of their expectations, the story is moving and demonstrates how much work Lopez put into it. By the end, she had created a cohesive product, visually and thematically, and this was no easy feat.
8 Five Blind Dates
Directed by Shawn Seet
Five Blind Dates Not Yet RatedRomantic Comedy Where to Watch
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Five Blind Dates is a romantic comedy movie directed by Shawn Seet and released on Amazon Prime Video in 2024. A young woman named Lia returns home for her sister’s engagement party, where, during a family lunch, she meets a fortune teller. Her future is laid bare when the teller informs her that one of the men she’ll meet during her following five dates will be her soulmate, leading her family to set her up with potential suitors.
Director Shawn Seet Release Date February 13, 2024 Cast Philip Lynch , Shuang Hu , Ilai Swindells
This new Australian rom-com stars Shuang Hu as Lia, a young woman who’s told that the person she’ll spend the rest of her life with will be one of the next five people she goes on a date with. It’s a charming premise that evolves into a heart-warming movie full of every pitfall and trope of dating the audience can think of. Hu anchors the film well, boldly harrowing the best and worst dates anyone has ever gone on. However, by the end of the movie, her laborious search for love might just pay off.
Part of the reason that Lia feels so much pressure to find her one true love is because her younger sister is getting married, and she doesn’t want to let down her family’s high expectations. Her desire to be a good daughter, combined with her failing business venture, pushes Lia to try things she never expected and put herself out there. However, in a romantic twist, the person that she’s been waiting for might be someone she already knows.
7 Upgraded
Directed by Carlson Young
Upgraded RRomantic Comedy Where to Watch
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Upgraded is a romantic comedy film by director Carlson Young. Camila Mendes stars as Ana, a young artist brought to London during her internship along with her handsome and wealthy boss, William.
Director Carlson Young Release Date February 9, 2024 Cast Camila Mendes , Archie Renaux , Marisa Tomei , Lena Olin , Anthony Head , Saoirse-Monica Jackson Where To Stream Prime Video
Camila Mendes’ Ana has a chance encounter on a flight after being upgraded to first-class and meets the man of her dreams, William (Archie Renaux) in Upgraded. Though the movie has been described as a modern Cinderella tale, it makes strides to show that Ana isn’t a helpless damsel in distress and has a full life and career outside her relationship with William. However, that doesn’t stop Upgraded from including plenty of swoon-worthy moments between the couple and putting Mendes in dresses worthy of a princess.
Upgraded might see the central couple get together in the end, but it has many other positive messages throughout the story. One of the main themes is honesty, shown when Ana pretends to be the rich director of an auction house. William is impressed by this, but he cares more about her as a person than any high-profile job. Instead of being rewarded for her deception, Ana ends up finding success when she decides to own up to her lies and show people the real her.
6 Turtles All the Way Down
Directed by Hannah Marks
Turtles All The Way Down PG-13 Where to Watch
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It’s not easy being Aza, but she’s trying… trying to be a good daughter, a good friend, and a good student, all while navigating an endless barrage of invasive, obsessive thoughts that she cannot control. When she reconnects with Davis, her childhood crush, Aza is confronted with fundamental questions about her potential for love, happiness, friendship, and hope.
Director Hannah Marks Release Date May 2, 2024
Of all the movies and TV shows based on John Green’s books, Turtles All The Way Down is one of the best. Green’s stories are almost always about the harrowing experience of living through adolescence and how it’s an impossible period for every young person, made more challenging by people’s struggles. Aza (Isabela Merced) is the protagonist of the film who must navigate her growing feelings of maturity and confusion while dealing with her obsessive-compulsive disorder.
One of Aza’s biggest worries is her ability to build romantic relationships like other people her age. This comes into play when Davis (Felix Mallard) enters the picture, and Aza attempts to express her feelings for him. However, the most important person in her life is Daisy (Cree), Aza’s best friend and support system as she engages with the world. Turtles All The Way Down is an honest and empathetic look at how romance unfolds when people are struggling with their mental health and reminds the viewer that young people’s first forays into love aren’t always successful, but they’re important.
5 Música
Directed by Rudy Mancuso
Música PG-13ComedyRomance Where to Watch
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Based on writer, director, and star Rudy Mancuso, Música is a coming-of-age love story that follows an aspiring creator with synesthesia who must come to terms with an uncertain future while navigating the pressures of love, family, and his Brazilian culture.
Director Rudy Mancuso Release Date April 4, 2024 Cast Rudy Mancuso , Camila Mendes , Francesca Reale , Maria Mancuso , J.B. Smoove Runtime 91 Minutes
Mendes has been all over the romantic comedy genre, pivoting from her teen TV drama roots in Riverdale and being taken more seriously as a leading lady in cinema. In Música, she plays Isabella, the love interest of Rudy, played by the director and co-writer of the movie, Rudy Mancuso. In his directorial debut, Mancuso takes on a lot with his many roles in the production, but he balances them well, and the outcome is a personal and joyous product. As the title suggests, Música is in conversation with music, sounds, and everyday moments that become beautiful compositions.
Rudy is a lost young man who’s simultaneously aggravated and enamored with his desire to make music and hear it everywhere he goes. When he meets Isabella, she’s one of the few people who understands what he’s going through and supports his dreams. Embracing magical realism and utilizing allusions to great movie musicals, Música isn’t alone in tackling its themes and stylization, but it’s still an original work. In the landscape of romance films coming out in the 2020s, it’s different enough to be instantly memorable.
4 Lisa Frankenstein
Directed by Zelda Williams
Lisa Frankenstein PG-13ComedyFantasyHorror Where to Watch
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Lisa Frankenstein is a comedic fantasy-horror film by first-time director Zelda Williams and is a twist on the classic Frankenstein formula. Set in 1989, a high school outcast named Lisa accidentally revives a handsome corpse from the Victorian era and resolves to rebuild him into the perfect man.
Director Zelda Williams Release Date February 9, 2024 Writers Diablo Cody Cast Kathryn Newton , Cole Sprouse , Liza Soberano , Henry Eikenberry , Joe Chrest , Carla Gugino
Unfortunately, Lisa Frankenstein suffered a similar fate at the box office as Diablo Cody’s cult classic, Jennifer’s Body. Cody wrote Lisa Frankenstein and stated that the movies take place in the same off-beat universe. However, even though Jennifer’s Body has come to be known as a masterpiece despite its critical and commercial failure, Lisa Frankenstein still went under the radar in 2024. As the years go by, the film will likely be reevaluated the same way Cody’s other work has, receiving a resurgence in popularity.
The love between Lisa (Kathryn Newton) and The Creature (Cole Sprouse) is an unlikely one, as The Creature is a reanimated corpse, but Lisa takes it upon herself to help him assimilate into the living world. With campy aesthetics and plenty of referential humor to slasher flicks of the 1980s, Lisa Frankenstein never falls into sappy territory, preferring instead to keep the story moving with fast-paced dialogue and tongue-in-cheek humor. Appealing to viewers looking for a morbid take on burgeoning teenage love, Lisa Frankenstein is the perfect movie for romance like no other.
3 The Idea of You
Directed by Michael Showalter
The Idea of You RDrama
Based on the acclaimed, contemporary love story of the same name, The Idea of You centers on Solène (Anne Hathaway), a 40-year-old single mom who begins an unexpected romance with 24-year-old Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine), the lead singer of August Moon, the hottest boy band on the planet. When Solène must step in to chaperone her teenage daughter’s trip to the Coachella Music Festival after her ex bails at the last minute, she has a chance encounter with Hayes and there is an instant, undeniable spark. As they begin a whirlwind romance, it isn’t long before Hayes’ superstar status poses unavoidable challenges to their relationship, and Solène soon discovers that life in the glare of his spotlight might be more than she bargained for.
Director Michael Showalter Release Date May 2, 2024 Writers Robinne Lee , Michael Showalter , Jennifer Westfeldt Cast Anne Hathaway Nicholas Galitzine , Ella Rubin , Annie Mumolo , Reid Scott , Perry Mattfeld , Jordan Aaron Hall , Mathilda Gianopoulos
The Idea of You is the latest in a long line of movies based on books with roots in fan fiction. Robinne Lee penned the novel of the same name, and The Idea of You movie makes changes to the book. However, these alterations make the plot align with traditional romance narratives. In Lee’s work, Solène and Hayes don’t end up together, as the story’s purpose is to explore how Solène finds joy again and rediscovers her desires as she enters middle age. While this happens in the movie, the plot sticks to the classic “HEA,” or “happily ever after.”
Most audience members who seek out movies like The Idea of You want to be uplifted by a sweet conclusion, but that’s not the only reason the project has made such a splash. Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine star as the main couple, and though the sex scenes aren’t graphic, they do show enough for the viewer to draw comparisons to the novel’s intimate scenes. As blockbuster films have been leaning away from explorations of sexuality in their stories, it’s refreshing to see it celebrated in The Idea of You.
2 Hit Man
Directed by Richard Linklater
Hit Man RActionComedy Where to Watch
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From director Richard Linklater comes Hit Man, a 2023 action comedy film based on a Texas Monthly article of the same name. Undercover and trying to catch a group of criminals, a Houston police officer poses as a hitman until he falls for a woman on assignment. Finding himself diving deeper into the world of crime, the Houston officer finds it increasingly difficult to escape his new undercover persona.
Director Richard Linklater Release Date September 5, 2023 Writers Richard Linklater , Glen Powell Cast Glen Powell , Adria Arjona , Austin Amelio , Retta , Molly Bernard
Richard Linklater has directed some of the most romantic movies of all time, the Before Trilogy, but his latest movie, Hit Man, is unlike his other projects. Starring Adria Arjona and Glen Powell, who’s been having a high-profile year at the box office, the story unfolds as Gary (Powell) falls in love with Madison (Arjona) while working on a police sting. In the same vein as classics like Bonnie and Clyde, Hit Man sees its central couple get in too deep with a life of crime and start living out their fantasies together.
Watching Hit Man is fun until the very end, and it has its fair share of steamy moments as Powell and Arjona have amazing chemistry. Watching Gary transform himself to be the man he thinks Madison wants, only to love her so much that he must reveal the real him, is a surprisingly touching moment for a movie that sticks to its comedic and action-based roots. However, the film succeeds because of its dedication to its central relationship and the sincerity with which each actor plays their character.
1 Challengers
Directed by Luca Guadagnino
Challengers RComedyDramaRomanceSports
Challengers is a romantic sports comedy film by director Luca Guadagnino. The film stars Zendaya as a retired Tennis legend who, while trying to coach her husband and lead him to victory in an upcoming Tennis match, discovers his coming opponent is her ex-lover.
Director Luca Guadagnino Release Date April 26, 2024 Writers Justin Kuritzkes Cast Zendaya , Josh O’Connor , Mike Faist , Darnell Appling , Bryan Doo , Shane T Harris
Challengers is a sports thriller, a psychological drama, and a love story between three people with conflicting personalities. All three genre types are apt descriptors. There’s little that Challengers isn’t, but as Zendaya’s Tashi says in the movie, it’s all about relationships. While tennis might take center stage and serve as the playing field for the characters to work out their anger and pent-up aggression, the audience cares about the interpersonal relationships driving the story forward. When Tashi, Art (Mike Faist), and Patrick (Josh O’Connor) become intertwined at a young age, they’re lives are never the same.
Not only is the film well-made, flawlessly paced, and heart-pounding, with a score that could be played at a nightclub, but it also takes on groundbreaking subject matter for a high-profile romance film. The central love triangle in the movie leans more toward polyamory and explores the underlying feelings of attraction between Art and Patrick as much as it does their mutual desire for Tashi. Each angle of the intersecting relationship gets ample time to be fleshed out and challenges the limitations of what a typical romance movie is usually characterized by.