Each year, there comes a time in the fall when you can go to your favorite streaming service, look through the options for 20 minutes, and then turn off the TV without watching anything. If you are experiencing this at present, and you want to find the top romantic films of 2026, then this list will help prevent you from scrolling.
2026 was a great year for this type of film. There was a huge-budget adaptation of a gothic story, a comedy set during a couple’s wedding week starring two of the Internet’s most popular people, several rom-coms that immediately hit the number one spot on the streaming service’s list of most viewed films, and of course, many book-to-film adaptations of romance stories.
Here are all of the romantic films I think are worth seeing. I’ve also included some notes about which type of person will enjoy each film since what constitutes best varies greatly based on your mood. For example, a film for a date night would be different from one to make you cry on the couch or one to partially view while doing chores like folding laundry.
The way I made my choices was by looking at critics’ round-ups, what was being streamed, and what people were actually watching. I then narrowed it down to movies that I would personally recommend to a friend. Ratings are based on individual opinions, and many of the movies here have had differing reactions from different viewers.
I have attempted to indicate the different types of reactions to each movie. Additionally, release dates and availability via streaming services can vary, so please confirm where each movie is available in your area prior to viewing.
Table of Contents
Wuthering Heights
No other movie of 2026 has captured the essence of romance like Emerald Fennell’s version of Emily Brontë’s novel. Fennell is an award-winning writer/director who has previously directed Promising Young Woman and Saltburn. She knows how to create films that will be talked about at work tomorrow morning. For her latest project, she directs Margot Robbie as Cathy and Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff on the moors of Yorkshire.
The film is rated “R” and will be approximately 2 hours long. It has a stylized approach to the subject matter of the film, and does not have the feel of a polite costume drama. The reviews for the film have been mixed; therefore, if you decide to view the film, you should expect an original, stylized version of the story. Do not expect to see a faithful, tasteful version of the story. If you are looking for a topic to debate after viewing the film, then this film may be a good choice. However, if you are looking for a relaxed night out, then this film is probably not what you are looking for.
The Drama
The film I would suggest for you and your partner to watch together would be the one that gets into both of your heads. The Drama features Zendaya and Robert Pattinson as an engaged couple who have their wedding week disrupted by a sudden event. The movie was written and directed by Kristoffer Borgli, the Norwegian filmmaker who wrote and directed Dream Scenario. Ari Aster produced The Drama, which means it will probably feel like an A24 film with existential dread (in a good way).
This movie has a running time of approximately 1 hour and 46 minutes. As such, the speed at which it progresses is very fast. The reason why people find this film appealing is due to the way that the film takes a standard wedding planning plotline and transforms it into a situation filled with suspense and uncertainty.
Instead of being romanticized in nature, the film is much more focused on creating situations where viewers will be asking themselves What did I miss? Consequently, this film can serve as an excellent icebreaker for conversations. Furthermore, the film is considered to have produced some of the most discussed romantic relationships.
People We Meet on Vacation
On those evenings when you are looking for something easy-going, there is no need to make things complicated. What you need is a comfortable, relaxing film that has a happy resolution and some great views. This Netflix version of the story does just that. Emily Bader and Tom Blyth are Poppy and Alex. They have been best friends since high school. They both attend different colleges in different states, but every summer they go on trips together. Eventually, they realize that maybe love will be their next destination.
This movie was rated PG-13, has a run time of less than two hours, and was one of the most popular romantic movies available through Netflix during the first six months of 2026.
While the format is traditional, the traditional aspect of the movie is what makes it so appealing. The backdrops for the travel scenes are beautiful. There is a natural chemistry between the lead actors, and the gradual transition from being close friends to having romantic feelings for each other is a type of story that will keep viewers interested in this genre. Critics did not provide positive reviews of the movie (it received a Metacritic rating of approximately 50); however, the audience members did not seem to care about those negative reviews. In conclusion, think of this movie as a low-risk, high-reward option.
Office Romance
If you are looking for an adult comedy rather than yet another romantic comedy about teenagers, Office Romance is the natural choice. Jennifer Lopez stars as Jackie, the CEO of an airline, and Brett Goldstein (who co-authored the screenplay) stars as Daniel, a recent hire in the legal department. They both attempt to deny their relationship to each other before ultimately succumbing to the raunchy sex scenes and subsequent ramifications of those actions.
This film is rated R, approximately 1 hour 54 minutes in length, and is more sexually explicit and adult in nature than most rom-coms found on streaming services. The statistics prove that this movie has been very popular. It was viewed by 58.4 million people on Netflix. If you are looking for films that have good banter, workplace drama, and two lead characters that seem to love fighting with each other, then I would highly recommend watching this film on Friday night. However, I wouldn’t suggest watching it with your parents.
The Love Hypothesis
The Love Hypothesis, based on Ali Hazelwood’s best-selling novel and featuring Lili Reinhart, was released on Prime Video. It received positive reviews from critics. TV Insider stated that this is how you should adapt a romance novel into a film. Additionally, TV Insider called Ali Hazelwood a rom-com queen. Anyone who has read the book will recognize the premise of the story: two individuals create a fake relationship at an academic institution; however, they ultimately develop genuine feelings for one another.
This is a film that will appeal to people who like the trope and have the ability to see how charmingly it was done. It is not as dark as Reminders of Him, nor is it as gothic as Wuthering Heights. Therefore, I think that this film can be viewed as a happy medium for those times when you are unsure as to what type of film you would prefer. For anyone who has had bad experiences watching films based upon books in the past, I believe that this film is a very safe option.
Also worth a look
There are other titles you may find interesting based upon your personal preferences. Prime Video has released Your Fault: London, a follow-up to last year’s English-language version of Culpa Mia that is in line with the same forbidden romance plot. You, Me & Tuscany features Halle Bailey as the female lead in her first romantic comedy role since The Little Mermaid. While both of these films did not receive much critical praise, they do have a fan base.
