The “Clench Your Chest” Romantic Movie List We All Need Right Now And Why

This year has been everything from heartbreaking, to scary, to stress/anxiety-including, to a call to reprioritizing, to a long-overdue awakening, etc etc. You name it, 2020 has brought it with a vengeance. I think that when we take necessary breaks from facing the important realities of this time it’s easy to just go temporarily numb. Maybe that’s just me but likely not. And while I never lose sight of my extreme privileges, I tend to forget to remind myself of all the really beautiful parts of life. But honestly, my imagination can feel like a dangerous thing. Like there’s a warning sign that goes off in my head that too much optimism will lead to inevitable heartache. However, a couple of weeks ago I was watching something (and for the life of me I can’t remember what it was) and it hit me in a way that the light, happy comedies I otherwise consume, hadn’t. It was a real, true, and beautiful love story. I was overcome with a very welcomed happy cry that reminded me in a visceral way that those parts of life are crucial to be reminded of. Those “clench-your-chest-you-are-feeling-so-many happy-feelings” kind of stories. So I thought why not rally the team to put together a list of movies that have done that for us. Emily (the true romance movie expert) had SO MANY incredible recs that I hadn’t heard of but after watching the trailers (many of which took my breath away) now NEED to watch.

Ok, my emotional dissertation is over and now we can focus on some movies that are going to get you in touch with that pretty special part of being human…LOVE (or even just some straight-up lust;)). It’s honest to goodness emotional medicine, I promise.

So since there are SO many, I have linked the titles to their trailers for you to get a taste if you haven’t seen it before. Also, some of these movies could work in more than one category but for post length purposes, we decided to stick to only one per movie (I know it’s cruel). All I have to say is get ready for your movie list to get very long!

Emily’s Picks



Shakespeare in LoveTitanicEternal Sunshine of the Spotless MindThe NotebookBrokeback MountainRomeo + JulietHow to Lose a Guy In 10 Days



The Team’s Picks (With Some Endorsements to Emily’s:))



Romeo + Juliet

If you want to cry your eyes out, while also simultaneously feeling super swept up in a cinematic romance may I please recommend Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet. Added motivation? Young Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes. That is all. – Sara

Garden State

I saw this movie when I was 16 (I honestly had to use a “How Old Was I When” calculator for this. My brain is deteriorating.) Anyway, I felt changed by this movie and the sweet chemistry between Zach Braff and Natalie Portman still makes my heart burst. Ugh and the airport scene. Go watch now. – Jess

Sleepless In Seattle

Empire State Building scene. What’s more iconic than that? Oh, the fact that it’s with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan:) – Jess

Love and Basketball

This movie is all about passion and a life long love. It takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions. It’s sweet, heartbreaking, maddening, and joyous (plus pretty sexy). If you’ve never seen it do yourself a favor and watch it this weekend because it’s absolutely a classic. – Jess

When Harry Met Sally

This movie is so iconic and all-around amazing and if you haven’t seen it (or if it’s been a while) I HIGHLY recommend you give it a rewatch. It will make you feel unbelievably good and also will make you want to marry your best friend. Enjoy! – Mallory

You’ve Got Mail

Another Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan home run in the sweet romantic movie game. It’s pretty impossible to not feel happy after watching it. – Jess

How to Lose a Guy In 10 Days

The bathroom scene! – Jess

10 Things I Hate About You

My boy Chase is a big movie person, meaning he’s seen all the “classics” that the world has deemed legendary. Me on the other hand, well, I’ve seen movies like Mean Girls and Clueless more times than the number of years I’ve been alive. So, given that information, I have to say this movie passed the boyfriend test, meaning I made Chase watch it and HE ACTUALLY LIKED IT. That’s how you know it’s good, when people you think are not the target audience actually enjoy it. Try watching it with your S.O. or movie critic best friend bc this flick is a crowd-fricken-pleaser – Mallory

Also, Ten Things I Hate About You – Rebellious girl meets school bad boy, it’s a recipe for success. Heath Ledger and his accent make my heart beat fast, and his tender heart under all that rough persona makes me melt just thinking about it. – Sara

P.S. We all voted and this is our desert island romance. It just has it all!

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

There’s an original premise (paying to have someone erased from your mind in a medical procedure??? I don’t hate that!) and Jim Carrey is like…attractive? It’s refreshing to see him play a character that’s not centered around making faces and sounds, and obviously Kate Winslet is just SO GOOD. A classic!!! – Caitlin

Pretty Woman

Hollywood in the 80s never looked so good. Julia Roberts is an absolute vision, especially in this dress and Richard Geere is a stud. It’s pure eye candy and so sweet. – Ryann

Breakfast at Tiffany’s

The movie that made me fall in love with Audrey Hepburn and fashion for that matter (I even cut my hair into a pixie cut in high school to be more like her). The love story is wildly romantic but staring in awe at Audrey’s poise and style is my fav part. – Ryann

The Princess Bride

AHHH. AN ALL-TIME FAVORITE. Is this a kissing story? NO, tiny Fred Savage, it isn’t, and that’s why it’s so great!!! Like, yes, sure, romance is central to the plot, but there’s also adventure and action and a great supporting cast and it’s just essential viewing because it’s SO QUOTABLE. 10/10!!! – Caitlin

Emily’s Picks



Definitely, MaybeThe VowYesterdayLa La LandSisterhood of the Traveling PantsBefore We Go One DayRuby Sparks



The Team’s Picks



The Big Sick

This movie made me laugh SO hard, and then cry SO hard, and then laugh even HARDER. It was such a great film, based on Kumail Nanjiani and his wife’s own real story! I’ll also throw in The Lovebirds here, since it also has Kumail in it (alongside Issa Rae), which is more comedy than romance. But a really fun movie. – Sara

How Do You Know

Reese Witherspoon dates Owen Wilson, an asshole athlete, while Paul Rudd, a kindhearted CEO (??? A little suspension of disbelief here HAH) pines over her and deals with accusations of fraud and potential prison time. I just watched this last weekend and it’s great for turning your brain off for a second. – Caitlin

Pride & Prejudice

I have to admit, most of the romance movies I like are either teens almost kissing, or people in period costumes almost kissing. The almost kissing bit is super important – we’re talking TENSION people. Pride & Prejudice is THE classic period romance. If you don’t swoon when Matthew Macfadyen says “you have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love–I love–I love you” do YOU even have a soul???? – Sara

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

This is clearly a beautiful love story of friendship and sisterhood but for the purposes of this post… Kostas, Kostas, Kostas. Need I say more? – Jess

Legally Blonde

THIS IS MY DESERT ISLAND MOVIE. (The sequel is my actual favorite, but there’s less “romance” there, so we’re going to go with this one, okay?!) It has everything: an iconic lead, women helping women, perseverance, self-love messaging, Elle Woods ends up with a TRULY NICE PERSON at the end, and it passes the Bechdel test!!! It has everything I need in a film!!! – Caitlin

The Incredible Jessica James

Am I partial to the name? Sure:) But this is a love story in two parts. One with Jessica herself and one with a man. It’s empowering, sweet and it will make your day better. – Jess

The Half Of It

I LOVED THIS MOVIE. It’s not the relationship you’re expecting, but it’s the relationship you NEED. It’s light (but deep), sweet, and just makes you smile. – Sara

Plus One

Em actually recommended this in a Link Up last year and it’s SO GOOD. Maya Erskine and Jack Quaid (yes, like, the son of Dennis, just so you don’t spend half the movie being like “who does this guy remind me of???“) have such good chemistry and it’s not a super cliche storyline. Honestly, I’m not sure why this one isn’t more popular because it’s GREAT. – Caitlin

Nappily Ever After

OH MY GOSH I love a movie with a strong female lead (so much so that one of my categories on Netflix is literally “movies with a strong female lead” HAH) and this one is no exception! Basically, Sanaa Lathan ~has it all~ and is just waiting on her boyfriend to propose, but he doesn’t — so she dumps him and shaves her head. The ending is SO GOOD and definitely will scratch your “I want to see films with a successful lady in them” itch