Top 20 Romantic Movies Even Guys Love

A good first step in making a romantic movie even guys will love is casting Adam Sandler. What guy isn’t going to be at least a little interested in a romcom starring the guy who brought us “Happy Gilmore?” Next, throw in the ridiculously loveable Drew Barrymore, make the film genuinely heartwarming and hilarious and guys will be lining up with their girlfriends to check it out. The pair won us over in 1998 with “The Wedding Singer” and six years later they did it again with “50 First Dates.” Watching Sandler’s devotion to Barrymore’s character, a woman with no short term memory as a result of a car accident, might even make your man try a little harder in the romance department.

Made in six weeks for just over $4 million, “Four Weddings and a Funeral” was a huge hit - surprising everyone with over $240 million at the box office and a Best Picture Oscar nomination. Sure, more guys probably went to see the $378 million-grossing “True Lies” in 1994, but plenty of dudes had to have seen “Four Weddings” for it to make that much money. And the truth is, we’re pretty sure most of those guys were happy they did. It didn’t have a fight scene on a Harrier jet or an awkward Jamie Lee Curtis striptease. But “Four Weddings” had funny wedding rings, an endearing Hugh Grant, lots of laughs, and a declaration of love in the rain. Even guys can’t resist that.

He likes action and adventure and she likes romance, so what’s a couple to do? This is like the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup of movies. One day an action-adventure movie fell into a romantic comedy and “Romancing the Stone” was the result. And just like said chocolate and peanut butter cups of deliciousness, the film is an almost perfect combination of action, laughs, and romance. Murder, kidnapping, drug lords, antiquities smugglers, and a treasure map set the action in motion while Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner bring on the romance. This 80s hit makes for a fun movie night for all.

Most romance movies don’t start out with a guy marrying a call girl then killing her pimp and taking off with a bag filled with cocaine the pimp had previously stolen from a couple of pushers. But ones written by Quentin Tarantino do - which is what “True Romance” is. Tarantino changed his mind about directing the film and eventually sold the script to help finance his directorial debut, “Reservoir Dogs,” which came out the year before. The movie is violent and energetic and replete with some iconic Tarantino dialogue. As much as “True Romance” is a romantic movie even guys love, it could also be deemed a crime movie even girls like. But whatever you call it, you should definitely see it.

With several interconnected love stories, “Love Actually” really does have something for everyone regardless of gender. Who wouldn’t smile over Sam’s crush on Joanna, complete with a rom-com classic dash through the airport? Or maybe your heart is warmed by Jamie learning Portuguese for the woman he loves - or maybe it's angered by Harry’s emotional infidelity. And on the happier end of the spectrum, you don’t have to be the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom to appreciate David and Natalie’s romantic journey. Male or female, there’s gonna be at least one of the stories and character arcs that you relate to in one way or another.

In the 90s you could put Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan in almost any movie together and men and women would love it - and how could the newer generation of filmgoers feel any different? Their chemistry and ability to bring the rom and the com was evident in both “You’ve Got Mail” and, of course, 1993’s “Sleepless in Seattle.” And even though their characters don’t meet in person until the very end of the movie, we’re all rooting for them the entire time. What guy or girl doesn’t have a huge smile come over their face when Hanks and his son walk out of that elevator atop the Empire State Building?

After a breakup, who among us hasn’t taken a moment to wonder why it - along with the relationships before it - failed? Was it us? Was it them? That’s the journey Rob Gordon goes on in 2000’s “High Fidelity.” Played wonderfully by John Cusack, Rob’s journey is aided by some great music and Top 5 lists as well as a constant breaking of the fourth wall as Cusack talks right to the audience. Telling the story from the guy’s perspective might make it more accessible to a male audience, but a movie this good is gonna be a hit with both sexes regardless. Rotten Tomatoes even ranked it the 14th best romantic comedy of all time.

There’s no exact formula to guarantee a romantic comedy appeals to both men and women, but we’re thinking that casting Sandra Bullock sure gives you better odds of success. In this movie she stars as Lucy, a transit token taker with a big crush on Peter, a rider she sees every day. When he ends up in a coma, a series of misunderstandings leads to her posing as his fiancee, only to eventually fall for his brother Jack instead. It’s nothing groundbreaking, but Bullock’s appeal is able to elevate the material. The movie was also a huge hit back in 1995, grossing over $180 million and scoring an impressive A grade from the CinemaScore audience poll. Don’t sleep on this one.

From the kid with a crush on his babysitter to the divorced dad getting awkwardly back into the dating world, to the ridiculously handsome player with all the right moves. 2011’s “Crazy, Stupid, Love” gives guys multiple romantic vantage points from which to enjoy the film. And enjoy it they do. This is a well-written movie with some quality laughs and characters that draw you in and make you care. The film was a hit with audiences at the box office as well as with critics like the LA Times, writing that it “conjures up the bittersweet magic of first loves, lasting loves, lost loves and all the loves in between.”

The word “classic” is thrown around a lot when it comes to movies - often incorrectly. But with “Casablanca” not only is it an apt term, it almost feels like an understatement for how popular, significant, and beloved this 1942 film has become in the last 80+ years. The stunningly beautiful and talented Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart - possibly the greatest Hollywood star of all time - carry this film to perfect heights of intrigue and romance. They might not end up together in the end, but they’re still one of the greatest onscreen love stories of all time. If you don’t watch this movie you’ll regret it. SB : Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon, and for the rest of your life.

Woody Allen’s seminal romantic comedy about the banality of life and the perplexing nature of human relationships is one of the director’s all-time best. The film is an intellectual examination of love and sexuality that ignores all of the conventions of the modern rom-com. From breaking the fourth wall and giving his characters mental subtitles to the simple fact that the protagonists don’t end up together, “Annie Hall” is truly a unique cinematic experience. Perhaps that’s why men and women alike continue to find it so appealing.

Honestly, who doesn’t love this movie? A subtle sci-fi rom-com unlike any you’ve ever seen, “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” is set in a world where people can have their painful memories erased. Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet are fantastic in the lead roles, with equally strong supporting performances from Mark Ruffalo, Elijah Wood, and Kirsten Dunst. A critical and commercial success, the film is sweet and hilarious, quirky and heartfelt, and above all a wholly unique story about two people falling in and out of love. You can lock this one in as your next date night movie.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is an absolute revelation in this film, turning in a sweet and salty performance that has something for everyone. While your male companion will probably be more focused on the always-lovely Zooey Deschanel, that doesn’t mean he won’t enjoy all the other quirks this film has to offer. The movie has a nonlinear narrative unlike any you’ve seen before, skipping to different points in the tumultuous relationship between the titular Summer and Tom, an aspiring architect working at a run-of-the-mill greeting card company. “500 Days of Summer” is dripping in style and wit and will definitely have you examining your own relationship by the time the credits roll.

If you enjoy watching talented actors walk around European cities discussing life and love, then this film trilogy is for you. After a serendipitous meeting aboard a European train, a young American backpacker and a vacationing French student decide to spend the day together wandering the streets of Vienna. As the years – and films – roll by, the two struggle to bridge the gap between their very different lives. Jesse and Céline have the love story many wish they had. Being able to watch their story unfold over the course of three decades is an absolute treat. Grab your significant other and settle in for one of the most romantic film series ever made.

Try to watch this movie without busting a gut laughing. Go ahead, we dare you. The film tells the story of Buttercup and Westley, two star-crossed lovers who will do anything to be together. “The Princess Bride” is the definition of an 80s classic. The film is peppered with fantastically hilarious and wholly original moments the likes of which haven’t been matched since. Carey Elwes and Robin Wright lead a stellar cast whose strengths are on full display from start to finish. Honestly, if your man doesn’t enjoy this film then he is beyond saving.

Guys and musicals don’t always mix, but director Damien Chazelle’s Los Angeles set flick about an aspiring actress and her tumultuous relationship with an up-and-coming jazz musician doesn’t feel like a musical. The film explores the tenuous nature of going after your dreams, something we can all relate to. “La La Land” is visually stunning and jam-packed with star performances lead by Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, the latter of which took home an Academy Award for her performance. If you still haven’t seen this film, we recommend dropping everything and dashing home immediately. No seriously, go!

The best films are the ones that can stand the test of time. “When Harry Met Sally…” is as good now as it was when it was first released. A sharp-witted rom-com starring two actors at the top of their game, the film made millions, won numerous awards, and is consistently ranked among the funniest movies of all time. However, that’s not why guys love it. The film avoids the typical pitfalls of the romantic comedy genre and puts forth a number of relationship-related issues that had previously been ignored on screen. In the end, the film is a warm reminder of the fact that if you fail, you can always try again.

When Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson headline a film you can bet your bottom dollar that both sexes will be down to see it. “Lost in Translation” is the story of a fading movie star who travels to Tokyo to shoot a commercial. While there, he strikes up a relationship with a young, newly married woman. Directed by Sofia Coppola, the film is a beautifully shot and well-acted dramedy that was nominated for four Academy Awards. The chemistry between Murray and Johansson is palpable and will grab your attention every time they appear on screen together. This is a must-watch for any and all movie buffs.

When recent college grad Benjamin Braddock returns home to devise a plan for his future, his world is turned upside down when he enters into an adulterous affair with a much older woman, Mrs. Robinson. A classic of 60s cinema, “The Graduate” is far from your typical love story, as an awkward love triangle soon develops between Benjamin, Mrs. Robinson, and her daughter, Elaine. The film turned Dustin Hoffman and the folk-rock due Simon & Garfunkel into household names and was nominated for seven Academy Awards. As of 2007, the film is ranked 17th on the American Film Institute’s list of the 100 Greatest Movies of All Time. So yeah, it’s worth checking out.

James Cameron’s semi-fictionalized retelling of one of the greatest shipwrecks in history broke all kinds of records when it was first released. Aided considerably by two star-making performances from Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, the film pushed the boundaries of what could be accomplished on the silver screen. From the sets, to the effects, and everything in between, the film has a little something for everyone, which makes sense, because it appears as if the whole world saw it when it came out. And if you don’t believe us, go check how much money it took home at the box office. We’ll give you a hint: it’s more than $2 billion.