Nothing screams a cozy night in quite like a good romance movie with the one you love or as a solo indulgence. With so many streaming platforms at our disposal, each with its own select user fee, it’s hard not to spend an arm and a leg to tame that love story fix. However, viewers who know where to look can find some of their favorite go-tos for free. Fortunately, the number of no-charge streaming options has soared in recent years. Those willing to sit through an ad or five will find plenty of options to watch.
Oldie, but goodie, YouTube just so happens to be one of these options. YouTube has a plethora of free movies to choose from. While obvious favorites like The Twilight Saga and forgotten cult classics like Cry, Baby abound, there are far more options for those looking for a classic screwball or drama on the streaming site. Here are some of the best romance movies you can stream for free on YouTube.
9
‘Just Like Heaven’ (2005)
Recently widowed architect, David Abbott (Mark Ruffalo), thinks he has found a new lease on life when he finds the perfect, charming apartment to rebuild his life in. Yet its previous tenant, Dr. Elizabeth Masterson (Reese Witherspoon), haunts the home, convinced she is not dead but in a coma after a car crash. He tries to get Elizabeth to move on, but the more time they spend together, the more he falls in love. When he learns she is telling the truth, David has to rush to try to save Elizabeth’s life.
Witherspoon and Ruffalo make a surprisingly engaging pairing, with their chemistry helping sell Just Like Heaven’s fantastical premise. The movie also delivers the right amount of quirky comedy with emotional beats, making it an easy film to pick up, but deceptive in how much it draws you in. It can be predictable, but romance isn’t always about re-inventing the wheel, and the sweet story will have fans overlooking the film’s reliance on familiar tropes. Watch on YouTube.
8
‘Something’s Gotta Give’ (2003)
In Something’s Gotta Give, an unlikely connection develops between a wealthy music executive who only dates younger women, Harry Sanborn (Jack Nicholson), and a successful playwright, Erica Barry (Diane Keaton), who has long sworn off love. Never seeing each other as romantic partners, a heart attack leaves Harry in the care of Erica at her beach home, where the two begin to develop feelings as she watches over him. Complicating matters, a young doctor, Dr. Julian Mercer (Keanu Reeves), also develops romantic feelings for Erica.
A phenomenal cast leads this acclaimed romantic drama that shows how love can flourish at any age. Director Nancy Meyers (The Parent Trap, What Women Want) also brings that comforting warmth and dialogue-driven humor her films are known for. It often feels like love is something to be romanticized by younger generations, but Something’s Gotta Give stands firm against that notion with a compelling story that will appeal to romance fans of all ages. Watch on YouTube.
7
‘Bed of Roses’ (1996)
A quintessential ’90s romance that maintains a cult following to this day, Bed of Roses follows tightly wound company woman Lisa Walker (Mary Stuart Masterson), who slowly falls in love with a mild-mannered florist, Lewis Farrell (Christian Slater). What starts as Lewis anonymously sending Lisa flowers after hearing an emotional voicemail from her becomes the spark that brings the two together.
There is something endearing about 90s romance for its unapologetically warm and welcoming spirit, and Bed of Roses embodies it perhaps more than any movie of the era. This one is all sorts of dreamy, from getting caught in the rain to candlelight dinners; it presents love as remarkable and healing. Those wanting a romance movie that just feels like a warm hug and is drenched in nostalgia will swoon over this one. Watch on YouTube.
6
‘Fools Rush in’ (1997)
New York architect Alex Whitman (Matthew Perry) has a one-night stand with passionate photographer Isabel Fuentes (Salma Hayek) on his visit to Las Vegas. Months later, Isabel shows up again to let Alex know she is pregnant with his child. The two decide to marry in order to raise the child together. But as the saying goes, only fools rush in, and their cultural and personal differences lead to fights and heartbreak before they can fully realize their true feelings for each other.
Cute and wholesome in its delivery of an unexpected romance, the movie thrives on the chemistry between Matthew Perry and Salma Hayek. While the movie has the warmth of other ’90s titles, it also offers some clever exploration of cultural differences between the two leads that many real-life couples can relate to. For Friends fans, it is also a great way to revisit Matthew Perry’s legacy on screen beyond the iconic sitcom. Watch on YouTube.
5
‘Penelope’ (2006)
Penelope tells the story of a family cursed by their ancestors’ decision not to accept a pair of young lovers. In the present day, Penelope (Christina Ricci), an aristocratic heiress, is born with a pig snout as a result. The only way to break the curse is to find her true love, someone who will wholeheartedly accept her, snout and all. Her well-meaning, but utterly misguided parents hide her from the world for years… that is, until sometime after her 18th birthday, when they decide to take her love life into their own hands. Their attempts to set her up with a fellow blueblood, however, go horribly awry, leading Penelope to strike off on her own in search of acceptance.
Released during the height of fable fantasy fervor, this modern take on classic fairy tale tropes is nothing short of delightful. A message of acceptance lies hidden beneath the overtures of classism. Plus, this cast reads like an understated who’s who, from Catherine O’Hara as Penelope’s mother to James McAvoy as a kind but subterfuge-slinging suitor to Peter Dinklage and Reese Witherspoon as newfound friends Penelope meets along the way. Watch on YouTube.
4
‘Ball of Fire’ (1941)
Ball of Fire is a classic screwball comedy featuring Barbara Stanwyck and Gary Cooper. The story centers around a group of bachelors (and one widower) who live and work together in a prim and proper pad. Desperate to understand and learn some more modern colloquialisms to add to the work, the youngest of them, Professor Potts, a grammarian in American slang, turns to Katherine “Sugarpuss” O’Shea for advice. A nightclub performer by trade, she only agrees to stay after finding herself on the run from police as a result of her mob boyfriend’s shenanigans. The pair, of course, takes a liking to each other.
This title perfectly encapsulates Stanwyck’s character, a firecracker with a silver tongue for ‘modern’ American colloquialisms. Obvious references to the fable of Snow White aside, this juxtaposition of stuffiness and flamboyance makes for some incredible screwball shenanigans. The chemistry between the two leads is rife. A common matter in romantic comedies, the couple’s attempts to save each other are, of course, what ultimately keep them apart for so long. Watch on YouTube.
3
‘Listen to Your Heart’ (2010)
In Listen to Your Heart, struggling songwriter Danny Foster has a chance meeting with a deaf woman working at a diner, whom he instantly falls in love with. Protective of her daughter and distrustful of Danny, Sam’s mother, Victoria, pushes back and tries to set Sam up with someone she sees as more suitable for Sam’s needs. Yet, the two slowly become inseparable and soon become companions during the most challenging moments of their lives.
There is something to be said about a romance movie that can capture an entire lifetime of love; it is one of the main reasons The Notebook remains a fan favorite 20 years after its release. Listen to Your Heart presents a wide swathe of a remarkable romance, but it also approaches it with positivity and authenticity that is as infectious as it is gut-wrenching. A lot transpires in Matt Thompson’s Listen to Your Heart, and viewers are best to go in blind to ensure the maximum impact of its highly emotional twists and turns. Watch on YouTube.
2
‘Shirin in Love’ (2014)
Shirin (Nazanin Boniadi) is going through the steps expected by her and her family as a mid-twenty-something Iranian-American woman living in Los Angeles. Expected to marry a wealthy surgeon, Shirin finds that her life is missing something. It is a chance to meet a man named William, who begins to open the young woman’s eyes to another world beyond her forced expectations. Rachel’s reclusive nature forces her to get closer to William to better understand the creative, and love begins to bloom, much to the disdain of Shirin’s family.
While Shirin in Love highlights the skills of actor Nazanin Boniadi, the movie also touches on deeper universal themes of community and expectations that will resonate with many viewers. At the same time, the movie offers an authentic and engaging view of the Iranian-American community in Los Angeles, giving it a unique edge over other films. Shirin in Love also shucks some expected rom-com tropes through its exploration of traditions and witty script. Watch on YouTube.
1
‘Charade’ (1963)
Regina “Reggie” Lampert (Audrey Hepburn) is not left with much time to mourn the death of her husband after she learns he was involved in stealing a considerable sum of gold along with three other men. While unaware of her husband’s riches, the remaining three men hunt her down for the share of money they want to claim for themselves. Peter Joshua (Cary Grant), one of her husband’s war buddies, seems empathetic and helpful to Reggie, and the two begin to have feelings for each other.
Fans of classic cinema will adore the pairing of Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn, whose on-screen chemistry propels the caper. For those wanting a few extra thrills and intrigue, with romance incorporated, Charade is the perfect mash-up of genres, certain to please. Capturing that romantic 60s aesthetic, the movie boasts a witty script and still charms decades after its release. Watch on YouTube.
Diving deep into YouTube’s free movies reveals plenty of gems and classics. These movies are certain to hit that sweet spot of romance, comedy, and drama, but let us know what your favorite finds on YouTube are.
Source link
Add Comment