Everything I learned I learned from the movies,” Audrey Hepburn once said. Indeed, movies have a profound impact on our lives. They give us countless hours of entertainment, and a fantastical escape from the mundane reality of everyday life. But there’s a lot you can learn about love from romantic movies too.

You know that warm fuzzy feeling. It’s kind of like that feeling you get when you receive a heart-warming message from a close friend, or see a puppy hug a kitten.

This research comes linked with the concept of embodied cognition, which refers to the idea that emotional experiences can influence physical sensations. This means that the inexplicably tender and heartfelt nature of romantic movies can help promote a sense of affection between couples that watch them together.

Sure, the rose-tinted world of romantic movies bear a vast wealth of cliches that the average cynic would probably scoff at. But sometimes, these movies can pose as a manual that guides you through true love.

You’ll discover that in a relationship, timing is everything. You will fall for the most unlikely person. You will notice that every first kiss is magic. You will learn to be generous with your feelings and give it your all in a relationship. You will learn that it is best to accept your partner for his/her flaws, and that it is better to let go of past fights for a better future. And most of all, you will learn that open and honest communication will help you avoid the huge mess that is the middle hour in most romantic comedies. Even if you’re not huge fan of romantic movies, the best ones have a way of getting to you. That’s because they’re good romantic movies, full stop, with rich dialogue, nuanced characters, and narratives so compelling they may even feel real.

From the old classics to the new classics, here’s the best romantic movies to fall in love with

romantic movies

Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)

In Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Holly (Audrey Hepburn), a young woman living in New York City, begins to fall in love with her new neighbour in her apartment building, a young man named Paul (George Peppard). The pair try to pursue their romantic connection while Holly tries to work around her other endeavours. On the best romantic movies ever.

Titanic (1997)

Incorporating both historical and fictionalized aspects, this romantic movie is based on accounts of the sinking of the Titanic, and stars Leonardo DiCaprio ( Jack) and Kate Winslet (Rose) as members of different social classes who fall in love aboard the ship during its ill-fated maiden voyage.

When Harry Met Sally (1989)

Harry (Billy Crystal) and Sally (Meg Ryan) hate each other at first. But after a series of random run-ins over the course of 10 years, a friendship forms—then an unexpected romance. The final scene in this romantic movie, at the New Year’s Eve party, still gives me chills.

Notting Hill (1999)

A bookstore owner’s (Hugh Grant) humdrum existence is flipped upside down when a famous American movie star (Julia Roberts) appears suddenly in his shop. The two start a love affair but soon must reconcile how they can move forward because their lifestyles are so vastly different.

Pretty Woman (1990)

A romantic movie list wishful Julia Roberts is asinine. A man (Richard Gere) in a legal but hurtful business needs an escort for some social events and hires a beautiful prostitute he meets (Julia Roberts)…. only to fall in love.

The Notebook (2004)

The film stars Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams as a young couple who fall in love in the 1940s. A poor yet passionate young man falls in love with a rich young woman, giving her a sense of freedom, but they are soon separated because of their social differences. Their story is read from a notebook in the present day by an elderly man (played by James Garner), telling the tale to his love nursing home resident (Gena Rowlands).

Ghost (1990)

Sam Wheat (Patrick Swayze) was murdered during a date with his girlfriend Molly (Demi Moore). Sam’s spirit, in a mysterious manner, remains on Earth, unseen to living people. After following his murderer, Sam realizes that his death was not an accident, and that Molly is in danger. One of the most viewed romantic movies for couples.

A Star Is Born (2018)

Bradley Cooper directed and cowrote this remake of A Star Is Born, which centres on a weathering, alcoholic rock star, Jackson (Cooper), who meets and falls in love with an aspiring singer named Ally (Lady Gaga). As her fame begins to eclipse his, Jackson sinks further and further into addiction and depression.

So the next time you’re at a loss for what to do on date night, consider cuddling up with your loved one at home, and popping in a copy of When Harry Met Sally, or any other selection from the multitude of romantic movies out there. You may emerge at the end as a stronger couple because of it.