7 days ago
19 Romance Movies To Stream On Hulu To Get You In The Summer Lovin' Mood
Men: Rule + Shaw (2025)
Synopsis: "After a wild night, Shaw confesses her love for Rule, a rebellious tattoo artist, testing their friendship—will love bring them together or tear them apart?"
Trope(s): Bad boy / good girl, best friend's brother.
Who's in it?: Chase Stokes, Sydney Taylor, Alexander Ludwig, and Evan Mock
Why you should watch: The same studio that brought us After also brought us this book-to-screen adaptation. Also, a tatted-up Chase Stokes? Sign me up, please.
Lane (2023)
Synopsis: "Yas and Dom, two 20-somethings both reeling from bad break-ups, connect over the course of an eventful day in South London — helping each other deal with their nightmare exes, and potentially restoring their faith in romance."
Trope(s): Unexpected love.
Who's in it?: Vivian Oparah and David Jonsson
Why you should watch: If you only watch one movie on this list, let it be Rye Lane.
Dancing (1987)
Synopsis: "Spending the summer in a holiday camp with her family, Frances "Baby" Houseman falls in love with the camp's dance instructor, Johnny Castle."
Trope(s): Dancing (of the dirty variety), enemies to lovers.
Who's in it?: Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze
Why you should watch: Simply watch this movie just to hear Patrick Swayze say "Nobody puts Baby in the corner."
Sparks (2012)
Synopsis: "A young author's most heartfelt character steps off the pages of his new book and into his life in this romantic fantasy."
Trope(s): Manic-pixie-literal-dream girl, fish out of water.
Who's in it?: Paul Dano, Zoe Kazan, and Antonio Banderas.
Why you should watch: It's giving The Velveteen Rabbit, but less sad and more romantic.
With Benefits (2011)
Synopsis: "Determined to avoid Hollywood cliches, a couple embarks on a relationship built on sex without the problems of romance, but, of course, things get a little complicated..."
Trope(s): Friends to lovers <3
Who's in it?: Justin Timberlake, Mila Kunis, and Woody Harrelson.
Why you should watch: Remember that movie No Strings Attached? This is the better version of that movie with funnier dialogue.
A (2010)
Synopsis: "After a little white lie about losing her virginity gets out, a clean cut high school girl sees her reputation tarnished until she decides to use the rumor mill to advance her social and financial standing."
Trope(s): Childhood sweethearts.
Who's in it?: Emma Stone, Penn Badgley, Amanda Bynes, and Stanley Tucci.
Why you should watch: Penn Badgley has, and I cannot emphasize this enough, never looked hotter than he does in this movie.
7.27 Dresses (2008)
Synopsis: "A perennial bridesmaid who's unhappy that her little sister is marrying the man of her dreams, falls in love with a cynical wedding journalist who's covering the event"
Trope(s): Enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity.
Who's in it?: Katherine Heigl, James Marsden, Ed Burns, and Judy Greer.
Why you should watch: The montage of Jane (Katherine Heigl) trying on all 27 of her bridesmaids' dresses is canonically one of the best fashion scenes in cinema.
in Manhattan (2002)
Synopsis: "A senatorial candidate falls for a hotel maid whom he mistakes for a socialite in this glossy Cinderella story."
Trope(s): Mistaken identity, millionaire MMC, mistaken identity.
Who's in it?: Jennifer Lopez, Ralph Fiennes, and Tyler Posey
Why you should watch: Jenny from the block falls in love with a pre-evil Voldemort — need I say more?
9.(500) Days of Summer (2009)
Synopsis: "A romance between two young office employees is charted across its roller-coaster duration in this tale of love and heartbreak."
Trope(s): Manic-pixie-dream girl, he falls first (and harder).
Who's in it?: Zooey Deschanel, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Matthew Gray Gubler
Why you should watch: Some of the best music to ever be featured in a film: The Smiths, Hall & Oats, and, let us not forget, The Temper Trap!
(2024)
Synopsis: "Dandelion, a struggling but determined singer-songwriter in a downward spiral, reluctantly takes a last-ditch effort gig where she meets Casey, a guitarist who walked away from his dream long ago. As Dandelion joins Casey's eclectic and nomadic group of struggling musicians, the two kindred spirits make music together and strike up an intoxicating whirlwind romance that leads Dandelion to a deeper appreciation of her artistic journey and the discovery of a voice that is authentically her own."
Trope(s): Opposites attract.
Who's in it?: KiKi Layne and Thomas Doherty
Why you should watch: OK, I lied. If you can only watch TWO movies on this list, let it be Rye Lane and Dandelion.
Hating Game (2021)
Synopsis: "Resolving to achieve professional success without compromising her ethics, Lucy embarks on a ruthless game of one-upmanship against cold and efficient nemesis Joshua, a rivalry that is complicated by her growing attraction to him."
Trope(s): Office romance, enemies-to-lovers.
Who's in it?: Lucy Hale and Austin Stowell.
Why you should watch: A romance between two rivals who work at a publishing house? A booktoker's dream come true.
(2022)
Synopsis: "When an aspiring young artist is forced to join her high school track team, she uses it as an opportunity to pursue the girl she's been harboring a long-time crush on. But she soon finds herself falling for an unexpected teammate."
Trope(s): WLW, secret admirer.
Who's in it?: Rowan Blanchard, Auli'i Cravalho, and Megan Mullally
Why you should watch: The perfect high school romance to watch if you wanna kick up your feet and giggle at the screen.
Island (2022)
Synopsis: "A group of queer best friends gather in Fire Island Pines for their annual week of love and laughter, but a sudden change of events might make this their last summer in gay paradise."
Trope(s): MLM, enemies-to-lovers.
Who's in it?: Joel Kim Booster, Bowen Yang, Matt Rogers, and Margaret Cho
Why you should watch: This is one of my fave Pride & Prejudice adaptations (second only to the 2005 film directed by Joe Wright).
Broken Hearts Gallery (2020)
Synopsis: "A brokenhearted New York museum curator begins a collection of things connected to break-ups and writes about it on her blog."
Trope(s): Strangers-to-friends-to-lovers, grumpy / sunshine.
Who's in it?: Geraldine Viswanathan, Dacre Montgomery, and Molly Gordon
Why you should watch: I wish that Broken Heart Galleries actually existed, but, since they don't, this is the next best thing!
Again (2023)
Synopsis: "A romantic comedy about finding love where you least expect it featuring new songs by Celine Dion."
Trope(s): Second-chance romance, love after loss.
Who's in it?: Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Sam Heughan, and Celine Dion
Why you should watch: For fans of Celine Dion AND Jamie from Outlander.
+ / & Juliet (1996 and 2013)
Synopsis: Like you don't already know.
Trope(s): Forbidden love, love at first sight.
Who's in it?: 1996: Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes / 2013: Douglass Booth and Hailee Steinfeld
Why you should watch: The most iconic love story of all two different variations!
Last Song (2010)
Synopsis: "A rebellious teen and her brother are shipped off to spend the summer with their recently-divorced dad — but just when she is ready to sulk away the season, love arrives."
Trope(s): Grumpy / sunshine, second chance romance.
Who's in it?: Miley Cyrus, Liam Hemsworth, and Greg Kinnear
Why you should watch: In case you're in the mood to swoon AND cry!
True Loves (2023)
Synopsis: "Emma and Jesse are living the perfect life together, until Jesse disappears in a tragic helicopter crash on their first wedding anniversary. Four years later, Emma finds happiness again as she's about to marry her best friend. However, when Jesse miraculously resurfaces, Emma soon finds herself torn between two great loves."
Trope(s): Best friends to lovers, love triangle.
Who's in it?: Phillipa Soo, Simu Liu, and Luke Bracey
Why you should watch: To live vicariously through Phillipa Soo, who gets to kiss both Simu AND Luke.
Anything...(1989)
Synopsis: "John Cusack stars as an aimless high-school graduate who tries to win the hand of the class brain in this teen classic.
Trope(s): Opposites attract.
Who's in it?: John Cusack and Ione Skye
Why you should watch: This film is required viewing for everyone who considers themselves a fan of romantic cinema.
Stream these romance hits on Hulu.
