When The Notebook hit the scene in 2004, it became a bit of a romance cult classic of sorts. With just a $29 million budget, the film brought in over $115 million at the box office. Based on Nicholas Sparks’ 1996 novel of the same name, the film follows an inseparable couple in the 1940s, who fall head over heels for one another despite their differing ways of life.
However, their love story is read from a notebook in the present day by an elderly man, who is reading the book to a nursing home resident. Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams star as the lead characters in a production, which received a mountain of praise. For fans of lovey-dovey storylines based on the relentless pursuit to be together, this Nick Cassavetes-directed flick is not the only of its kind. Romantic movies like The Notebook are thankfully in abundance and available for your next movie night.
If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)
IMDb: 7.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
Where to watch: PLEX, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movies & TV, Fandango at Home
If Beale Street Could Talk is a modern take on James Baldwin’s 1974 novel of the same name. With a screenplay written by Academy Award-winning director Barry Jenkins, the film follows lovers Clementine “Tine” Rivers (Kiki Layne) and Alonzo “Fonny” Hunt (Stephan James). The pair began their relationship as best friends in childhood before becoming lovers in adulthood. However, their relationship is put to the test when Fonny is wrongfully convicted of sexual assault. Tine is forced to confront the case head-on and do everything in her power to prove his innocence. Much like The Notebook, If Beale Street Could Talk is a story of how two lovers refuse to let anything stand in the way of their union.
The Photograph (2020)
IMDb: 6.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 75%
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movies & TV, Apple TV, Fandango at Home
The Photograph is another film that births an unsuspecting romance between a grieving daughter and a journalist. Michael Block (LaKeith Stanfield) is working on a story about late photographer, Christina Eames. Her daughter Mae (Issa Rae) agrees to meet with Michael and offers him archival material to help with his piece. Ironically, a photograph of a man piques the interest of Mae and Michael, bringing them together, while also uncovering a deep family secret about Christina and Mae.
Loving (2016)
IMDb: 7/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 88%
Where to watch: Google Play Movies & TV, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango at Home
Loving tells the real-life story of married couple Richard and Mildred Loving. This powerful film shows the struggle of the Lovings, who challenged America’s interracial marriage law in the late 1960s. Their arguments went all the way to the Supreme Court in a case famously known as Loving v. Virginia. They played a key role in invalidating state laws that banned interracial marriages. However, both Richard, a white man, and Mildred, a Black woman, were arrested following their wedding, which sparked their desire for change, though it was not easy, as Loving details.
Sylvie’s Love (2016)
IMDb: 6.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 94%
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
Sylvie’s Love is based in the 1957 New York summer as Robert (Nnamdi Asomugha), a saxophonist, spends late nights performing in a jazz quartet. He runs into Sylvie (Tessa Thompson) when he takes a part-time job at her father’s record store, where she also works. However, Sylvie has much bigger dreams of working in television as she awaits her fiance’s return from the war. Despite this, Sylvie and Robert embark on a whirlwind romance that ends as summer winds down. The pair go their separate ways, with Sylvie’s TV ambitions becoming a reality and Robert trying to remain relevant in the ever-changing musical climate. However, when they cross paths years later, the pair realizes that while life has changed, their feelings from that 1957 summer remain intact.
Waves (2019)
IMDb: 7.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 84%
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Apple TV, Fandango at Home
Waves is a troubling movie like the Notebook, in that it’s a love story that turns tragic when high school wrestling star Tyler (Kelvin Harrison Jr.). The young man is beloved amongst his friends, the sports community, and his girlfriend Alexis (Alexa Demie). His wrestling career is in jeopardy after he receives a serious shoulder injury, though he keeps it a secret and masks the pain by stealing his father’s painkillers. During one match, he is severely injured when his opponent slams him on the shoulder, bringing his wrestling dreams to an abrupt end. This sends Tyler spiraling and when Alexis shares that she’s pregnant, his life takes a turn that will lead to grave consequences. While this young romance doesn’t exactly have a warm and fuzzy ending, like The Notebook, Waves shows the perils of forbidden love.
The Fault in Our Stars (2014)
IMDb: 7.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 81%
Where to watch: Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Apple TV, Fandango at Home
The Fault in Our Stars is a tearjerker based on the 2012 novel of the same name that follows a teenage cancer patient Hazel (Shailene Woodley), who is in for the fight of her life. While seeking community in a cancer support group, she meets Gus (Ansel Elgort), who attends the meetings in support of his best friend, who is also battling the disease. Gus is also familiar with the devastating effects of cancer, having lost a leg during his own battle before going into remission. The pair become fast friends with a strong love for one another. Tragically, their respective conditions will render their time together incredibly short. This is one movie like The Notebook who want something bittersweet and so, so romantic.
The Time Traveler’s Wife (2009)
IMDb: 7.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 38%
Where to watch:
The Time Traveler’s Wife is just that. The tale follows Henry (Eric Bana), the doting husband who is trying to maintain his romantic relationship with his wife Clare, portrayed by The Notebook star Rachel McAdams. However, he faces a dilemma, having been born with an abnormal condition that causes him to time travel at random. Additionally, his time-traveling condition forces him into different periods while completely nude, further complicating his life.
