Metro.Style Staff Picks: Our Favorite Romantic Movies Of All Time

There are too many ways to tell a love story, that's why romantic comedy and romantic drama films are aplenty. They depict the realities of life and love, and speak to us in different ways. They make us laugh and/or cry, but what's great is that they leave us with some realizations as the credits start rolling in.  

Now, who doesn't love a feel-good or even a heartbreaking romantic movie? We all do! And we are in the mood for some romantic throwback films this Valentine's. Scroll down for the list of our all-time favorites.

 

(500) Days of Summer (2009) - Grace Libero-Cruz, People & Living section editor

 

 

"Can you believe it's been almost a decade since this romantic comedy-drama film was released? It's been that long, but it feels just like yesterday when people were raving about how offbeat it was. As mentioned in the official trailer, 'This is a story of boy meets girl. The boy, Tom Hansen, grew up believing that he'd never be truly happy until the day he met The One. The girl, Summer Finn, did not share this belief. You should know upfront, this is not a love story.'

I love Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zoeey Deschanel; I think they perfectly suit the characters in the movie and were able to portray each other's personal struggles beautifully. They're such a fresh pairing, and their chemistry is palpable. The movie's title itself is intriguing, too; summer (the season) calls to mind happy memories when, in fact, this movie presents a bittersweet story.

Aside from the plotline, what are also commendable about (500) Days of Summer is the way the story is told in a manner that isn't chronological, much like how we tend to recall events that happened in the past, capturing the crucial scenes that led to the beginning of the end. The cinematography is interestingly clever and creative. I especially love the 'Expectations vs Reality' split screen scene. Oh, and Regina Spektor's 'Us' just further set the mood of this film." 

 

 

Notting Hill (1999) - Judy Arias, managing editor

 

 

"Notting Hill was the first rom-com I've seen. I was 10 or 11. And back then, I know that I'm also just a girl, dreaming of meeting my William Thacker someday. (I still do now. Lol)

It's the story of William (Hugh Grant), a bookstore owner and Anna (Julia Roberts), a famous American actress. Unbeknownst to him, he falls for Hollywood's princess after a chance meeting in his travel bookshop—in Notting Hill. 

A love story in beautiful London, charming one-liners from screenwriter Richard Curtis (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Love Actually), Julia Roberts (because she is Julia Roberts), and the eternal charm of 90s Hugh Grant—it's a movie that sends the most cliche message but it's so true: nothing is impossible."

 

 

Love Actually (2003) - Butchie Peña, art director

 

 

"Love Actually may or may not be the quintessential rom-com for all as it has 7 mini endearing love stories in it—love for a good loyal friend; love for your best friend's wife; love that can't push through because of a family impediment; puppy love; a wife's love for an erring husband; love despite language and cultural barrier; and a funny unexpected love for the head of a state.

I just loved it the first time and became my top-of-mind rom-com of all time that I never fail to watch during the holidays."

 

 

Easy A (2010) - Jovi Figueroa, contributing writer

 

 

"There are really so many reasons to love Easy A. One, that Emma Stone (as Olive Penderghast) is a beautiful, hilarious woman that can carry any role on her back and own it. Two, that when every other chick flick would star bitchy antagonists that would go out of their way to ruin the main character's reputation, Olive would literally go out of her way to ruin her own. Talk about empowering yourself! And three, who wouldn't go out of the movie with the theme song 'Pocketful of Sunshine' playing endlessly on their minds and hearts? Catch yourself laughing to Olive's nerdy antics and falling in love with a younger Penn Badgley (as Woodchuck Todd) when he still wasn't the creepy stalker we all came to love and hate."

 

 

La La Land (2016) - Hershey Neri, staff writer

 

 

"I'm a huge sucker for musicals, so it's no surprise when I found myself buying movie tickets to La La Land more than three times. Probably one of the best modern-day rom-com musicals, La La Land is the story of Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) and Mia (Emma Stone), two dreamers brought together by their common desire—to do what they love for a living. But while they work hard in achieving their dreams, they are faced with decisions that eventually rip them apart.

It's a beautifully tragic tale on hope and young love, proving that while you don't always end up with your first love, every relationship happens for a reason."

 

 

Annie Hall (1977) - Joan Ko, multimedia producer

 

 

"How could a movie discussing about the mortality of a love affair qualify as a rom-com film? Two words: Woody. Allen. As an actor, his character pretty much defines all of us when it comes to love—dumbing down what we know is right to make room for our 'feelings,' overthinking and always nervous. As the director, he brought everything in perfect order. There is truth in his arguments about our idea of a perfect relationship and points of how we screw things up when we leave our blind sides open. 

There is no happy ending in this movie, but it has brought a lot of happiness in me because of how flawless the characters have depicted such a flawed movie couple in the most sensible, relatable way, and because of its smart and provocative form of saying "Love is hard only when you choose to make it so." If these are not points you see and feel in rom-com movies, I don't know what are."

 

 

Josie and the Pussycats (2001) - Sara de los Reyes, staff writer

 

 

"It's not exactly my all-time favorite romantic comedy (and doesn't strictly fall into the genre), but it sure is one of the most unique ones I've seen to date! 

2001's Josie and the Pussycats was everything my pre-teen self needed: girl power, "friendship lasts forever" vibes, punk-pop hits, the BEST onstage costumes, 00s pop culture Easter eggs, and sparkly chemistry between the good-looking cast—not just the lead and her love interest.

Of course, being a story mainly about a band, its soundtrack was jump-around-your-room fun, and I cannot emphasize enough how much I ended up falling in love with movies for their music. Rachel Leigh Cook singing her heart out to "3 Small Words" and "You Don't See Me" remain a must in my iTunes playlist 18 years after I first heard them. 

And that kiss at the end! My my was it worth the build up. The moment became #goals for any grade school-aged girl like me with dreams of becoming a rockstar one day. And as an adult, who's to stay it can't still be?"

 

Have you seen these films, too? How about you, what's your favorite romantic movie of all time?