Whether it is love at first sight or some fairytale happy ending, romance movies have always had a reputation for being a little too delusional.
As much as we love that, sometimes we just want to find some grounded and authentic portrayal of love. Here are 10 of the most realistic romance movies you should check out at least once.
10. Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (2004)
Though the movie borrows heavily on science fiction elements, we can’t disagree that ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’ is one of the most unique explorations of love and memory.
After a messy breakup, two lovers decide to undergo a medical procedure that can erase each other from their memory forever. Just the decision to erase someone’s memory feels so brutally real. Every bad breakup finds itself reflected in this movie.
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9. Her (2013)
Somehow, this 2013 movie managed to predict so many realities of the digital age. It tells the story of Theodore Twombly, a man who develops a romantic relationship with an AI software.
It raises so many questions surrounding love in the digital age, especially around the rise in parasocial relationships. And these questions only grow more and more relevant over the years.
8. The Big Sick (2017)
The reason why ‘The Big Sick’ seems so real is that it is rooted in a real-life love story. Written by the couple Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon, the script draws directly from their interracial relationship and the challenges they faced together.
The film explores so many themes that we often don’t see in rom-coms. From cultural clashes and family expectations to a tragic illness and questions of identity, ‘The Big Sick’ is one of the most authentic portrayals of modern romance.
7. The Spectacular Now (2013)
From the writer of ‘500 Days of Summer’, ‘The Spectacular Now’ remains one of the most underrated coming-of-age romance movies. On the surface, it might feel like your typical teen flick. He is the bad boy who loves to party, and she is the nice girl who loves to read.
But what makes this movie so remarkable is that it doesn’t stop at a meet-cute and a happy ending where they get together. Instead, it takes the time to show all the struggles that come with growing up and finding the courage to be vulnerable and brave at the same time.
6. Like Crazy (2011)
Romance movies have shown us the power of love overcoming so many hurdles. One thing it missed out on is immigration laws. When a British student falls for an American student, she overstays her visa and gets banned from the States.
While navigating the customs process, Anna and Jacob try their best to stay together. It is a bittersweet but very real portrayal of a long-distance relationship, showing how distance can sometimes be the biggest test of love.
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5. When Harry Met Sally (1989)
Two things that remain unforgettable about ‘When Harry Met Sally’ are the electric chemistry between Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan, and the realistic portrayal of romance, showing how love evolves from a platonic to romantic relationship.
Two best friends, Harry and Sally, try to answer whether a man and a woman can ever be just friends. The typical rom-com somehow has a surprisingly nuanced and timeless portrayal of what happens when the person you fall in love with is your best friend.
4. Once (2007)
The Irish musical movie ‘Once’ tells the story of a Guy and a Girl, two young and hopeful musicians. Guy is a street performer who makes a living by fixing vacuum cleaners, and Girl is a flower seller whose true love is the piano.
The two struggling artists meet and work together in hopes of landing a music contract and develop feelings for each other. Through these two unnamed protagonists, ‘Once’ explores the complexities of love and identity that is grounded and whimsical at the same time.
3. Marriage Story (2019)
The title says it all. The ‘Marriage Story’ chronicles the relationship of a couple facing a messy divorce and custody issues surrounding their son. But it doesn’t shy away from showing its ugliest sides.
The awkward and shocking first declaration, the emotional toll of a legal battle, life-altering decisions, and finally, the tragic acceptance. ‘Marriage Story’ is one of the most brutally real portrayals of divorce.
2. Blue Valentine (2010)
Romance movies often overlook the fact that love unfolds in different stages. There is the intense and overwhelming excitement that comes with young love. But then there are the everyday acts of commitment that require so much more than just passion.
‘Blue Valentine’ captures both. It depicts a couple struggling to save their marriage while raising their daughter, comparing the beginning of their relationship to the painful reality they face in the present.
1. The ‘Before’ Trilogy
The premise of ‘Before Sunrise’ sounds almost too good to be true. After meeting on a train, two strangers, Jesse and Celine, decide to get off at Vienna and spend the entire day together. Yet, the movie remains one of the most realistic romance portrayals because it doesn’t stop there.
Across 18 years, the trilogy follows the couple through different stages of their life and relationship to show all that goes beyond that first meet-cute to truly make love survive the test of time. In every single movie, it strips down the characters to their most grounded and authentic portrayal, where we just get to see them talk.
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