It’s that time of year again… when love and romance are in the air! For those of us that need that extra pick-me-up to get into the spirit of things, there’s the wonderful world of cinema and its plethora of romance movies. However, how does one decide what they are in the mood to watch romantic movies? We’ve got you covered!
In the spirit of sharing the love, we’ll provide several lists of romance movies you can borrow from the library. These lists will be organized by subgenres found in the romance movie genre and will also provide short descriptions of each genre to give you an idea of what kind of stories they will cover. Movie viewers should know that some materials listed can fit under more than one subgenre. They may also contain subject matter not suitable for children 18 years old and younger. With that said, let’s get started!
Chick flicks are usually associated with films targeted toward female audiences. Many make the mistake of identifying all romance movies as “chick flicks”; however, this is not the case. While many romance films target female audiences, it is not a defining characteristic. Meanwhile, a chick flick does not necessarily have to have any romance in it to be a chick flick.
Some examples of chick flicks include…
Historical romance, also known as epic romance, is a broad subgenre that typically has a historical period setting, with other characteristics such as war, revolution, and tragedy added for good measure.
Some good examples of historical romances include…
Paranormal romance is a popular subgenre where a human character is in a relationship with a supernatural creature. This subgenre originated in literature and made its way onto the movie screen in the early 2000s after the success of Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight Saga. Some famous tropes made popular by this subgenre include vampirism, time travel, ghosts, and psychic abilities.
Some examples of paranormal romance include…
A self-explanatory subgenre, action romance is a subgenre that combines romantic themes with action-packed ones.
Some examples include…
Romantic comedies are films with lighthearted, comedic plotlines centered on romantic ideals and tropes, such as true love overcoming all obstacles. The humor in romantic comedies tends to be verbal, low-key, and situational rather than physical, like slapstick (although those exist as well).
Some examples include…
Romantic dramas usually revolve around an obstacle, ranging from a war to a misunderstanding, that prevents true love between two people. Music is usually employed to indicate the emotional mood of the couple. The conclusion of a romantic drama doesn’t always indicate whether there is a final reunion between lovers.
Examples include…
Romantic fantasies are described as fantasy stories that use many of the same elements and conventions from the romance genre. Some of the films in this genre include many of the same elements and conventions as the chivalric romance genre (or Medieval prose and verse). One of the key features of romantic fantasies is that they focus on relationships: social, political, and romantic.
Examples include…
Romantic musicals, or musical romances, is a subgenre of films that feature romantic relationships whose stories are told partially through song and dance. The genre originated on Broadway and found its way into films due to the popularity of their productions.
Examples include…
Romantic thrillers are a subgenre that combines the elements of a romance film and the thriller genre. A thriller is not a genre with a precise definition and is mainly known for providing entertainment to viewers by making them uncomfortable with moments of suspense. With that in mind, thriller films can contain elements of many different genres, including the romance genre. That is why romantic thrillers are known for merging two or more genres together to make their stories.
Examples include:
