Do you believe in love? Like real, all-caps, happily ever after, fairy tale L-O-V-E? So do we. That kind of perfect romance might not always seem possible in real life (unless your name is Meghan Markle, that is), but in the movies, we always get our happily ever after. If your current love life isn't quite the fairy tale you'd like it to be, head to the theater: 2019 has been full of movies that will fill that will make your heart flutter once again. And if you are lucky in love, well get ready to keep swooning. Here are the best romantic movies that came out in 2019, in order of release date.
'What Men Want'
Release date: February 8
Starring: Taraji P. Henson, Aldis Hodge, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Phoebe Robinson, and Tracy Morgan
Take a fairly problematic early aughts rom-com, gender swap it, add Taraji P. Henson and you have...a movie we actually want to see, that's what. What Men Want promises classic rom-com vibes with a modern twist.
'Berlin, I Love You'
Release date: February 8
Starring: SO MANY PEOPLE. Helen Mirren, Keira Knightley, Mickey Rourke, Diego Luna, Jim Sturgess, Dianna Agron, Rafaëlle Cohen, Jenna Dewan, Toni Garrn, Sibel Kekilli ,Hannelore Elsner, Robert Stadlober, and Luke Wilson, to name a few.
The movie, told in short vignettes and featuring a massive ensemble cast, is the latest installment of the Cities of Love, series created by Emmanuel Benbihy.
'Isn't It Romantic'
Release date: February 14
Starring: Rebel Wilson, Liam Hemsworth, Adam DeVine, and Priyanka Chopra
This one is kind of the anti-rom-com, but with its meta take on the genre, it's also packed full of all things lovey dovey (including the kind you can laugh at the ridiculousness of).
'The Aftermath'
Release date: March 15
Starring: Keira Knightley, Alexander Skarsgård, and Jason Clarke
Leave it to Keira Knightley to break our hearts and make us believe in once-in-a-lifetime romance all while wearing gorgeous period costumes. If you enjoyed crying over Atonement, The Aftermath is for you.
'Five Feet Apart'
Release date: March 15
Starring: Haley Lu Richardson and Cole Sprouse
Did The Fault in Our Stars make you cry tears of love mixed in with your tears of sadness? Were you into that? Then you should check out Five Feet Apart, which takes The Fault in Our Stars' winning formula and adds Cole Sprouse, just to up the ante.
'After'
Release date: April 12
Starring: Josephine Langford and Hero Fiennes-Tiffin
Based on a viral series of Harry Styles fan fiction (no joke), After is a gut-wrenching look at first love—and what comes...after.
'Long Shot'
Release date: May 3
Starring: Seth Rogen, Charlize Theron, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Andy Serkis, June Diane Raphael, Bob Odenkirk, and Alexander Skarsgård
This rom-com starring Seth Rogen and Charlize Theron follows a journalist (Rogen) who ends up working on the campaign of his former babysitter/childhood crush (Theron) when she decides t o run for president.
'The Last Summer'
Release date: May 3
Starring: KJ Apa, Maia Mitchell, Jacob Latimore, Halston Sage, Sosie Bacon, Wolfgang Novogratz, Gabrielle Anwar, Ed Quinn, Jacob McCarth, Mario Revolori, Gage Golightly, Norman Johnson, Jr., and Tyler Posey
With a cast that's a who's who of young Hollywood and a classic coming-of-age love story plot (high school grads dealing with changes to their relationships and friendships before parting ways for college), The Last Summer is the kind of romantic movie that will make you remember your first love.
'The Sun Is Also a Star'
Release date: May 17
Starring: Yara Shahidi and Charles Melton
Based on the YA novel of the same name, The Sun Is Also a Star, tells the story of two young people, Nastasha and Daniel, in New York who meet and fall for each other, but struggle to keep their romance going as Natasha’s family faces deportation.
'Aladdin'
Release date: May 24
Starring: Will Smith, Mena Massoud, Naomi Scott, Marwan Kenzari, Navid Negahban, Nasim Pedrad, Billy Magnussen, and Numan Acar
It's not the tale as old as time, but it is a tale as old as time. Aladdin and Jasmine's story was romantic AF as an animated movie, so we can't even picture the enchantment we'll experience with the live-action version.
'Always Be My Maybe'
Release date: May 31
Starring: Ali Wong, Randall Park, Daniel Dae Kim, Charlyne Yi, and Keanu Reeves
This Netflix rom-com follows two childhood best friends who meet again and fall in love as adults—adults in very different socioeconomic situations.
'Murder Mystery'
Release date: June 14
Starring: Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston, Luke Evans, Gemma Arterton, Adeel Akhtar, and Terence Stamp
Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler teamed up for this Netflix rom-com about a married couple who go on a long-awaited "honeymoon" in Europe and end up the prime suspects in a series of murders.
'Yesterday'
Release date: June 28
Starring: Himesh Patel, Lily James, Ed Sheeran, and Kate McKinnon
This Danny Boyle-directed rom-com follows a struggling musician who wakes up one day to find that he's the only person who remembers The Beatles—and naturally starts taking credit for their songs.
'Falling Inn Love'
Release date: August 29
Starring: Christina Milian, Adam Demos, and Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman
Netflix ruled the rom-com in 2019. In this loved-up movie, a San Franciscan enters a contest to "Win an Inn" overlooking New Zealand's countryside—and wins. While there, she also finds love, of course.
'Portrait of a Lady on Fire'
Release date: September 18
Starring: Noémie Merlant and Adèle Haenel
This period drama won the Queer Palm at Cannes and is by far one of the most romantic movies of the entire year. Set in 1770, Portrait of a Lady on Fire tells the story of the young daughter of a French countess who finds herself attracted to the female artist painting her wedding portrait.
'The Zoya Factor'
Release date: September 20
Starring: Sonam Kapoor and Dulquer Salmaan
This Indian Hindi-language rom-com is a Bollywood delight about a girl named Zoya Solanki who becomes a lucky charm for the Indian Cricket team during the 2011 Cricket World Cup.
'Let It Snow'
Release date: November 8
Starring: Isabela Merced, Shameik Moore, Kiernan Shipka, Odeya Rush, Liv Hewson, Mitchell Hope, Jacob Batalon, and Joan Cusack
This holiday, ensemble romance will give you major Love, Actually vibes. Plus, it's based on a book cowritten by John Green, aka the scribe behind tearjerker romance The Fault in Our Stars.
'Last Christmas'
Release date: November 15
Starring: Emilia Clarke, Henry Golding, Emma Thompson, and Michelle Yeoh
This rom-com, set in London, stars Emilia Clarke and Henry Golding. Details about the plot are hush-hush, but it sounds like it *might* be inspired by the iconic Christmas song of the same name.
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