Whether popular classics or hidden, long-forgotten gems, there are always a myriad of incredible romances to stream for free. There are countless tropes that make up the fabric of the stories, and while the genre might not be for everybody, there's one thing that's mandatory for it to earn the romance credit: There must be a happy ending for the main couple. So, no, Romeo and Juliet is not a romance. But a classic like 13 Going on 30 sure is.
From new book-to-screen adaptations like The Hating Game to early 2000s treasures like She's the Man, here are the 10 best romance movies streaming for free on platforms like Plex, Hoopla, and more.
Letters to Juliet (2010)
As one of the most romantic films with two relationships at the center, Letters to Juliet is a must-watch. Set in the beautifully picturesque Verona and various other locations in Italy, the film is both a second chance romance and a tender strangers to lovers that leaves a mark. Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) responds to a lost letter tucked in the crevices of Juliet's wall, allowing the late Vanessa Redgrave's Claire to make contact with her in order to follow her heart back to her long-lost love. As the search for Lorenzo commences, Sophie and Claire's nephew, Charlie, quietly fall for one another in the background. With a gorgeous soundtrack, thrilling banter, and heart-melting love declarations, every frame is what romantic comedy dreams are made of.
Mr. Malcolm's List (2022)
As a fantastic and incredibly thoughtful book-to-screen adaptation with a refreshingly inclusive cast, Mr. Malcolm's List is a gorgeous historical romance and an absolute joy ride from start to finish. Featuring stunning, swoonworthy shots in every frame, the romance between Freida Pinto's Selina and Sope Dirisu's Mr. Jeremy Malcolm quietly develops with the type slow burn tension that's so deliciously enamoring. Every beat of the film feels earned, and the entire cast, along with the platonic relationships, make it an adaptation to remember.
Serendipity (2001)
Inarguably one of the most romantic movies to exist, Serendipity is not only a rom-com staple, but it's essential Christmas-time viewing as well. When Sara and Jonathan meet and are quickly enamored by each other, they decide to leave their next meeting/date to fate, adding their phone numbers to a five-dollar bill and Sara's favorite book. It's not until years later, when Jonathan is preparing for his wedding, that we learn he keeps remembering the woman from the department store he met years ago. As fate allows, a search commences, and all the signs lead them back to one another, proving that invisible threads and serendipitous meetings happen for a reason.
Northanger Abbey (2007)
A little spooky and entirely cozy, Northanger Abbey is not only an underrated Jane Austen adaptation, but it's a quaint little romance that deserves more hype. Starring Felicity Jones as Catherine Morland and JJ Feild as Henry Tilney, the delightful love story is set primarily in Bath and features a stunning portrayal of the strangers to friends to lovers trope. Directed by Jon Jones, the adaptation is a charming feature that checks every period drama box while simultaneously delivering something intriguing for those who generally aren't fans of the historical setting.
She's the Man (2006)
She's the Man is now a classic rom-com for countless reasons. Starring Amanda Bynes and Channing Tatum, the Twelfth Night adaptation hits every evocative trope with the type of humor that still holds up. With hilariously quotable lines like "I'm allergic to the sun" and "my favorite's gouda," the college-based film has something for every kind of viewer. And to top things off, the romance that develops between Viola and Duke genuinely feels earned at the end, eliciting butterflies and every giddy emotion that only amazing romances are capable of.
13 Going on 30 (2004)
As the quintessential childhood-best-friends-to-lovers romance, 13 Going on 30 still holds up gorgeously. When a heartbroken Jenna makes a wish on her thirteenth birthday to fast forward through time, she learns that the thirties aren't all their cracked up to be, except for one part of it, which is reuniting with her best friend Matty. With sweet and captivating chemistry between Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo, the angsty yet poignant love story shines from beginning to end, telling a story that still manages to hold up today.
Emma (2020)
There are a number of Emma adaptations at this point, and Autumn de Wilde's is among the best. Colorful and whimsically shot, it tells Jane Austen's story through a beautifully vibrant lens while allowing the chemistry between Anya Taylor-Joy and Johnny Flynn to shine as Emma and Mr. Knightley. The age gap, friends-to-lovers romance features plenty of delicious banter and a tender appreciation for each other's good qualities and bad. In addition, the lighter approach to the film allows for some relatable and gif-worthy moments to shine, making it as hilarious as it is romantic.
Ella Enchanted (2004)
Fantasy, a musical, and romance? What more could anyone want than the dazzling and star-studded Ella Enchanted? Cursed to obedience from birth, Anne Hathaway's Ella embarks on a quest to undo the stripping of her agency, falling in love with Hugh Dancy's Prince Char in the process. Achingly romantic and surprisingly nostalgic, there's something special about the movie that boils down to the costumes, the music, and the cast adding a charming veil to every scene. Criminally underrated, it's one that deserves far more hype.
Plus One (2019)
An underrated friends-to-lovers story, starring Jack Quaid and Maya Erskine, Plus One sizzles with banter and chemistry from beginning to end, even with its flaws. Opposites attract in more ways than one, as both Ben and Alice have their demons. However, when they decide to be each other's plus ones at the weddings they're invited to, sparks torch, taking their friendship from platonic to achingly romantic in a way that's fully organic. With sweet moments and hilarious bits of banter, too, Plus One is the type of rom-com that even fans outside of the genre could appreciate.
The Hating Game (2021)
Based on Sally Thorne's novel of the same name, The Hating Game is a worthy adaptation and an even better workplace rivals romance. Starring Lucy Hale and Austin Stowell as Lucy and Josh, the movie is stacked with the best tropes, longing, and plenty of antics to make you wish it were a trilogy of sorts. So many of the best contemporary romance novels follow a similar pattern of rivals becoming lovers, meaning there's a reason it's so popular. Here, we have the perfect office romance that gradually morphs into something bigger and better.
Where To Watch The 10 Best Free Romance Movies Online
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