Top 20 Greatest Romantic Period Films

Tragic and hopeful at the same time, “Jane Eyre” is one of the quintessential works of English literature. There have been many film adaptations, but the 2011 version has got to be our favorite. It stars Mia Wasikowska, who absolutely embodies the strength and struggle of the titular heroine. Her love interest, Mr. Rochester, is played by Michael Fassbender. The film delves into the novel’s interiority, particularly when it comes to the main romantic relationship. The chemistry between Wasikowska and Fassbender is tinged with equal parts vigor and restraint, their yearning almost tangible.

Novelist Kazuo Ishiguro knows a little something about romance. And “The Remains of the Day” might be one of his most romantic works ever. The 1993 film version of the book is directed by James Ivory, who also knows a little something about romance. The result is magical. The movie focuses on James Stevens, the butler of a fine house in Britain post-World War II, and his relationship with the estate’s former housekeeper Miss Kenton. The story follows their meeting and subsequent friendship, largely through the lens of flashbacks. The two fall in love subtly, almost so subtly you don’t even notice until it’s too obvious to miss.

We dare you not to fall in love with Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman in this movie. If you ask us, it’s almost impossible! The story takes place in turn of the century Paris, but with the aesthetic upped to the nth degree. It’s a Baz Luhrmann flick, what do you expect? McGregor plays Christian, an idealistic writer who develops feelings for Kidman’s Satine, a performer and courtesan. The stars are set against this couple from the jump, but the forbidden quality to their romance makes it all the better. When you add songs into the mix, it’s hard not to fall for the film right alongside Christian and Satine.

When you think of Martin Scorsese, you probably think of gangster movies. But the man’s got a lot more range than that. He also made one of the most romantic movies of all time with “The Age of Innocence.” It takes place in the mid-to-late 1800s in New York, and focuses on a love triangle of sorts between an attorney, his socialite fiancée (later wife), and her cousin whom he develops feelings for. Scorsese does a wonderful job at visualizing the yearning and different dynamics between members of the triangle. And with a cast that includes Daniel Day-Lewis, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Winona Ryder, you’re in for some stellar performances.

When it’s a Jane Austen adaptation, you know it’s about to be good. And “Persuasion” is no different. We’re not talking about the 2022 Netflix version, but the 1995 BBC film with Amanda Root and Ciarán Hinds. “Persuasion” introduces us to Anne Elliot eight years after she turned down the proposal of Frederick Wentworth. When Wentworth returns, she begins to wonder if she made the right decision or not. What follows is a slew of long, lingering looks across crowded rooms and unparalleled yearning. All good Austen texts capture a romantic melancholy, and this version of “Persuasion” represents the peak of that power.

Often considered one of the best movies to come from the partnership between James Ivory and Ismail Merchant, “Howard’s End” has everything you want from a British period romance. There’s class conflict, forbidden love, and gorgeous production design. The film’s primary love affair is between Emma Thompson’s Margaret Schlegel and Anthony Hopkins’ Henry Wilcox. The chemistry between the two isn’t all swoons and heart flutters, but rather built on a mutual respect that flourishes over the course of the story. But don’t worry, there’s still plenty of swooning to be found, and romance abounding throughout.

On its face, “The Piano” might not seem to scream romance. Jane Campion’s film stars Holly Hunter as Ada, a woman who does not speak. She’s forced to leave her native Scotland for New Zealand to marry Sam Neill’s Alisdair Stewart. The new land is grueling and unwelcoming to the colonizers, and things don’t start off sunny, to say the least. But throughout the film, Hunter’s character develops a scorching hot relationship with George Baines, played by Harvey Keitel. Don’t get us wrong. Things are still rather bleak for our heroine for much of the story, even with romance in the picture. But Hunter and Keitel’s raw sexual chemistry leaves us reeling every time.

Throughout history, royals haven’t necessarily always been known to marry for love. In that regard, Queen Victoria was one of the lucky ones. “The Young Victoria” chronicles the courtship and union between the long-reigning queen and her eventual husband, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. We get a full view of her and Albert’s love affair, starting from its earlier days before she became monarch. Actors Emily Blunt and Rupert Friend have an excellent rapport, and the production design makes you feel as though you’ve actually entered Victorian England. It’s a gorgeous film to behold, and one that honors the romance between the couple.

If given the choice between home and a new world, which would you choose? That’s one of the questions put forth in “Brooklyn,” John Crowley’s 1950s period film starring Saoirse Ronan. She plays Eilis, an Irish woman who moves to Brooklyn and quickly falls in love with a young man. But things take a turn when she must suddenly return to Ireland. There, another man piques her interest, and she must decide which life she wants to live. Both love interests have great chemistry with the protagonist, and the difficulty of the choice she has to make tugs at your heartstrings. Meanwhile, the costumes and designs are lush and rich, and Ronan delivers a star-making performance.

Ang Lee’s 2005 film is a masterpiece, and one that many feel should have won Best Picture at the Oscars. But we won’t get into that now. This heartbreaking love story takes place in the American West over two decades, spanning from the 1960s into the 1980s. It captures every time period with care – the same sort of care it lends to the relationship at its center. The romance between Jack and Ennis is one that is fraught with emotion, but the film never loses sight of the connection that started everything. Jake Gyllenhaal and the late Heath Ledger are both superb, helping to create one of the best romances of the 2000s.

Adapted from an 18th century French novel, “Dangerous Liaisons” features a cast of ‘90s all-stars in Glenn Close, John Malkovich, Michelle Pfeiffer, Keanu Reeves, and Uma Thurman. The period drama delves into the romantic entanglements and political upheaval of pre-revolution France. And it includes enough plotting, intimacy, and revenge to satisfy the cinematic appetites of all moviegoers (over the age of 17 that is). Earning seven Academy Award nominations and winning three, the wicked narrative and robust characters make for highly entertaining viewing, guaranteed to steam up your next movie session.

“Atonement” is set in the years before, during, and after WWII and features a trio of heartbreaking performances from James McAvoy, Keira Knightley, and Saoirse Ronan. The story revolves around two lovers, Robbie and Cecilia, whose passion for one another is equaled only by the jealousy of Cecilia’s younger sister, Briony. Briony’s envy causes her to commit a tragic act of deceit, one with far reaching consequences for all involved. Despite this act of cruelty, the film still manages to instill a sense of hope and desire in viewers, who pine for a happy ending for Robbie and Cecilia. Leigh Paatsch of Australia’s Herald Sun called it a “superb drama”, one that works “devastating wonders upon an unsuspecting audience.” We agree.

The ambition of “Gone with the Wind’s” production was matched only by its larger-than-life narrative. It tells the tale of Scarlett O'Hara, a Civil War-era plantation owner who pines for love while being beset on all sides by tragedy. It features iconic performances from lead actors Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable, whose on-screen chemistry led to both receiving Oscar nominations (only Leigh would win). Thus, the film has transcended the medium to become one of history’s most enduring tales of romance found and lost. Nominated for a then record 13 Academy Awards - of which it won 8 - “Gone with the Wind” has been a fixture on “Greatest Films of All-Time” lists for decades. It remains one of the most popular romantic period films ever made.

Adapted from Thomas Hardy’s 1874 novel of the same name, “Far from the Madding Crowd” is a costume drama of the highest order. Featuring the talents of Carey Mulligan, Matthias Schoenaerts, and Michael Sheen, it explores the highs and lows of searching for love and financial security in Victorian England. At the center of it all is Bathsheba Everdene, who finds herself falling for three very different men. Director Thomas Vinterberg has crafted a world of intense passions and swoon-worthy characters one would expect from a period piece of this nature. However, the film still manages to surprise thanks to the addition of a number of steamy scenes not found in the original source material.

Shakespeare in Love” broke the mold at the 71st Academy Awards when it took home seven Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay. You see, period rom-coms don’t typically receive recognition from the Academy. It’s even harder when they’re facing stiff competition in the Best Picture category from war films (“Saving Private Ryan”, “The Thin Red Line”) Holocaust films (“Life Is Beautiful”) and straightforward historical dramas (“Elizabeth”). “Shakespeare in Love” topped them all, and in so doing became one of the most instantly recognizable romantic period films of all time. The chemistry between Gwyneth Paltrow and Joseph Fiennes keeps the movie, which is “not constrained by worries about literary or historical accuracy," grounded and steeped in an abundance of charm.

It has an eye-catching 97% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and seven Academy Award nominations to its name (including a win for writer and star Emma Thompson). So one could argue that “Sense and Sensibility” eclipsed the popularity of the seminal 1811 novel it’s based on. In true Austinian fashion, passions run hot throughout the film, as the Dashwood sisters attempt to secure a future for themselves through marriage. While “Sense and Sensibility” occasionally veers towards the comedic, it’s first and foremost a period drama; exploring themes of class, gender and relationships in 19th century England. With its whimsical setting, dreamy cast, and flurry of unbridled emotions, it’s easy to see why it’s so beloved.

It was helmed by director David Lean, whose prowess for delivering cinematic epics of magnanimous proportions is the stuff of Hollywood legend. And indeed, “Doctor Zhivago” managed to encapsulate the drama and romance of its source material in the way only a truly great film can. A sweeping historical romance, it’s set in Russia and follows Yuri Zhivago. The married doctor must overcome the hurdles of WWI, the Russian Revolution, and the subsequent Russian Civil War. Through it all, he dreams of being with his one true love Lara, a married woman. “Doctor Zhivago” was one of the defining films of the 1960s, taking home five Academy Awards and later coming in at number 7 on AFI’s list of 100 Years... 100 Passions.

“The English Patient” cracked the top 20 of 1996’s highest grossing films and took home nine Oscars, making it a rare period romance that achieved massive critical and commercial success. It tells the story of a badly burned man recounting his life’s story to a nurse at the end of WWII. Through flashbacks, it’s revealed that the man, Count László de Almásy, fell in love with a married woman and that the two shared an epic and passionate romance. There’s no shortage of steamy scenes and intense action, and Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche deliver timeless performances as the aforementioned doomed couple. Roger Ebert called it a “poetic, evocative film” and we’re hard pressed to argue with him!

What can we say about James Cameron’s groundbreaking 1997 film that hasn’t already been said? The romance between Leonardo DiCaprio’s Jack Dawson and Kate Winslet’s Rose DeWitt Bukater would’ve likely still enthralled viewers even if it hadn’t taken place aboard the titular vessel. After all, it’s the stuff of cinematic legend. There are simply too many iconic scenes to choose from; from Rose sitting for Jack, to the pair dancing, to that heartbreaking scene in which he sacrifices himself. The romance at the heart of “Titanic” has gone on to inspire countless young lovers to share a tender embrace on the bows of ships the world over.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“Bright Star” (2009)
The Poet & His Muse

“Bright Star” (2009)
Apparition

“If Beale Street Could Talk” (2018)
A Beautiful Film with a Score to Match

“If Beale Street Could Talk” (2018)
Annapurna Pictures

“La Reine Margot” (1994)
An Affair That Ends In Tragedy

“La Reine Margot” (1994)
AMLF

A romantic period piece adapted from a Jane Austen novel starring Keira Knightley? It doesn’t get much better than that! “Pride and Prejudice” is probably Austen’s most well-known novel, with a setting, characters and themes that her work will forever be synonymous with. The 2005 film adaptation is no different. Knightley shines as protagonist Elizabeth Bennet, whose search for love weaves her in and out of the life of the stoic yet handsome Mr. Darcy. Nominated for four Academy Awards, “Pride & Prejudice” garnered rave reviews from critics, cementing its place as one of the 21st century’s definitive romantic films.