Top 20 Best Romance Movies of the 1990s

Meeting a partner on the internet isn’t really a big deal now. But back in the nineties, “You’ve Got Mail” turned the concept into a delightful romantic comedy. Rivals Joe and Kathleen can barely tolerate each other in person, unaware they’re falling for one another after being connected in a chatroom. Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan’s third on screen pairing is as irresistible as ever. Whether you side with Joe or Kathleen, you’ll still be holding out hope for them to be together. Fond memories of AOL greetings aside, this film has charm to spare and plenty of chemistry between the two leads.

Forget the plot. Sometimes, all you need is heart — and a killer soundtrack. “The Bodyguard” is far from a critical darling, but the chemistry between Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston is undeniable. The contrast between their personalities only adds to the romantic tension. The lead duo’s star power launched “The Bodyguard” to its cultural stronghold, helped along by the powerful soundtrack. Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” is so good, it’s hard to believe it’s a cover, and two other songs got nods from the Academy Awards. With romance, action, and melodrama, “The Bodyguard” is for sure a nineties classic.

Love can be complicated — especially if one part of the couple is an angel who has fallen for a human. Seth’s feelings for Maggie defy explanation, going against his very nature. This sets him up on a journey to learn what it is to be human. With its thought-provoking premise, “City of Angels” shows us why every emotion we experience is a gift. Seth and Maggie’s connection brims with warmth as the angel finds his heaven on earth. Considering Meg Ryan’s celebrated rom-com filmography, you might think the film is lighthearted. But take our advice and keep a box of tissues by your side for this one.

After winning hearts with “The Wedding Singer,” Drew Barrymore followed up with this take on a Cinderella story. Moving away from the more fantastical elements of the fairy tale, “Ever After” focuses on the dynamic between lead pair Danielle and Prince Henry. The plot reimagines the heroine beyond looking for a Prince Charming. Danielle’s arc of self-empowerment is complemented by Henry’s presence, balancing the film’s themes of love and independence. With impressive cinematography, set design, and dialogue that can make your heart flutter, “Ever After” ticks all the right boxes. Although not without substantial themes, the film also contains enough sweet material to leave us waiting for our own “glass slipper” moment.

Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant at the height of their powers – what more could you want? The budding romance between a travel bookshop owner and a big-name actress plays out with heartwarming charm. Instead of larger-than-life landscapes or elaborate backdrops, the film makes a small corner in Notting Hill feel like the most romantic place to be. Sure, you’ve got the classic meet-cute and whimsical rom-com humor, but “Notting Hill” also tackles some of the complexities of making such a relationship work. And with a memorable supporting cast and no shortage of memorable moments, the film is sure to stick with you through the decades.

We aren’t always on Jules’ side, but we can’t help but have a soft spot for this nineties rom com. Julia Roberts’ character realizes she’s in love with her friend, but there’s a problem — he’s getting married, and Jules becomes the maid of honor. Her increasingly desperate attempts to break apart Michael and Kimmy largely falter. As the film continues, Jules finally comes to accept the fact that her friend’s heart belongs to someone else. Although the general outline sounds cynical, it ends up reinforcing why certain couples are meant to be. Add a star-studded cast and standout supporting performance from Rupert Everett, and you’ve got a certified nineties hit.

In order to hide a relationship with his gay American partner, a Taiwanese immigrant marries his Chinese tenant. There’s no shortage of jokes, but “The Wedding Banquet” also deals with its premise with grace and respect. The movie’s core purpose is to see its characters as real people. Through it all, we learn that you can’t deny your feelings — you have to embrace them. Director Ang Lee would later be praised for exploring LGBTQ+ stories in 2005’s “Brokeback Mountain.” However, Lee made strides a decade earlier with this charming tale of unconventional romance.

This Bollywood musical romance both broke new ground for the Indian film business and struck a chord in the audience’s heart. Many young viewers continue to identify with the story of Raj and Simran. The pair represents the struggle between keeping traditional practices alive and following your heart. Their whirlwind romance takes them all the way from the European continent to the heart of India. With an abundance of gorgeous sights, remarkable dance sequences, and the sizzling chemistry between stars Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, “DDLJ” easily takes the breath away. Its soundtrack contributes to its winning quality, showing us what it’s like to fall in love in real time.

Once you’ve checked out “As Good as It Gets,” it’s easy to see how Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt came away with Academy Awards. Melvin is a misanthropic, openly prejudiced, and overall rude man. Carol shows up to change him forever. As Melvin puts it, she makes him want to be a better man. Underneath all its quirky material, the film portrays how falling for the right person can bring the best out of anyone. Thanks to its mix of wholesome sentiment and sharp writing, you’ll find your heart swelling twice its size by the end of its runtime.

Everyone craves companionship — even the president of the United States. Still, finding love is a lot more complicated with the entire country’s eyes on you. Split between its political backdrop and a classic case of boy meets girl, “The American President” prioritizes its romantic premise. The lead pair tries to keep their relationship afloat as everyone bets against them. With an engaging power struggle in the mix, the film’s romantic overtones are balanced with its dramatic beats. The surprisingly sharp political content is also a plus. The film went on to inspire elements of the popular show “The West Wing.”

Waking up from a coma to discover you have a surprise fiancée is confusing to say the least. In this classic romantic escapade, that is exactly Peter’s predicament. He doesn’t remember this Lucy being his fiancée – probably because she’s been keeping up the charade to his family. Peter’s family assumes he doesn’t remember Lucy because he has amnesia, and the situation just gets more complicated from there, as Lucy has already fallen for Peter’s brother while he was comatose. Between the absolute train wreck of a wedding, and the bewildering love triangle between the three, this is a film that’ll keep you guessing, and yelling at the screen, right up until the end – just what we want from our rom-coms.

Forbidden love is something that can shake you to your core and change your life forever, and few stories show that as tenderly and starkly as this novel-turned-movie starring Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep. When brother and sister Michael and Carolyn travel to Iowa to take care of their late mother’s estate, they find out about a whirlwind affair that she had decades ago. They not only discover new things about their parents’ relationship, but themselves as well. It’s a deeply emotional tale that proves that sometimes, love just isn’t enough, and that you might have to set yourself and your feelings aside for something bigger.

Love is not always the picturesque scenario we want it to be, and this heartbreaking film about love and war shows that all too well. In the dying days of World War II in Italy, an amnesiac patient gradually discloses his tragic story and memories to a French-Canadian nurse and a Canadian intelligence agent. A somber and tragic tale with many twists and turns, this movie quite brutally reveals that love can’t solve everything. While this film may be an absolute tearjerker, it reminds us to treasure what we have, because you never know when it will be gone.

It’s not often that your 8-year-old son tries to set you up, but that’s what happens in this intercity love story. When widower Sam’s son Jonah convinces him to talk about his deceased wife on the radio, it melts the hearts of women all over the country and they start writing to him. However, Jonah thinks that the baseball-loving Annie is the woman of his father’s dreams and tries to bring them together, though wires get frustratingly crossed. While Hanks and Ryan gave us three classic rom-coms in the ‘90s, “Sleepless in Seattle” stands out because of its truly epic final rooftop scene. All the feels for this one!

Back when Hugh Grant was everyone’s dream, he could steal hearts like nobody’s business. In this romance with a splash of comedy, the awkward and bashful British lad Charles contemplates love and life over several social engagements where he seems to run into the same woman. Carrie and Charles share great chemistry, but things are… complicated. We see their relationship grow and develop over the course of the titular weddings and funeral, though the last two nuptials are theirs – to different people. Hey, who said love was easy?

This film completes us! Tom Cruise acts the part of the loveable – if not slightly misguided – sports agent Jerry Maguire in this classic cheese-filled romantic drama. Making a few fumbles along the way, Jerry tries to convince the woman he loves that he can provide for her and her son, while also trying to juggle the complicated world of athlete contract negotiations. Though the two worlds often clash, he finds a way to make it all work in the end. With great chemistry and banter between Tom Cruise and Renée Zellweger, and some truly memorable quotes, this movie had us at hello.

Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke’s chemistry in this steamy tale of love at first sight is absolutely supercharged. Sparks fly as strangers Jesse and Céline meet on a train in Europe and spend a day getting to know each other. The only problem? They’re both set to leave Vienna for two different destinations and will probably never see each other again. Seeing these two grow more and more attached over the span of the whirlwind day they spend together is seriously magical, and this tale of impulsive, crazy love still gives us chills. If you like it, be sure to look out for the other two films in the trilogy!

A film in which Julia Roberts plays a sex worker with a heart of gold, “Pretty Woman” is a classic fish out of water story with a schmaltzy, but smile-inducing happy ending. When corporate hot-shot Edward Lewis, played by Richard Gere, ends up hiring Vivian Ward, played by Roberts, to play the role of his escort for a week, he gets more than he bargained for — he falls in love. While Julia Roberts owned the ‘90s with other romances like “Notting Hill,” in the end the film that helped revitalize the rom-com genre stands out as her best. Plus, who could forget that steamy bathtub scene?

This mournful romance is truly out of this world, captivating us with its heartbreaking concept and iconic moments. In a love story that transcends life itself, a banker uncovers a financial secret and is then killed in a mugging, leaving his beloved Molly behind and in danger. Coming back as a ghost, Sam communicates with her through a psychic and keeps her from harm. With the clairvoyant’s help, they are able to share some tender moments. While it can seem corny at times, “Ghost” – and its iconic pottery scene between Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze – is a movie that lives on.

The love story that’s almost as big as the titular ship, this film never ceases to melt our hearts. If you haven’t seen “Titanic,” prepare to be teary-eyed after that heart-wrenching goodbye between Jack and Rose. And if you are familiar with the film, you know the waterworks are coming. Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet’s chemistry is striking, and is complemented perfectly by the absolutely gorgeous set design and cinematography. No matter how many times we watch it, we’ll still scream at Jack to keep holding on, just like we keep holding onto this timeless love story after all these years.