They may be cringy or so predictable, but until forever, romantic movies will remain a widely explored genre in mainstream entertainment. The reason for this is clear as day – people everywhere in the world can easily relate to love and romance, and a perfect depiction of these emotions unsurprisingly evokes widespread applause from viewers, the box office, and award bodies alike.
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In almost a century of its existence, the Oscars have awarded various films for their artistic productions. Arguably the most prestigious in the film industry, several movies have proven to be some of the most outstanding, and among genres like drama, thriller, and horror among others, romantic movies have always been a top recipient of accolades. All the way from the 90s till 2024, here are the top 10 romantic movies that won Oscars.
1. Titanic (1997)
In 1912, one of the world’s most tragic historical events occurred at the North Atlantic Ocean, birthing the production of diverse movies that have endeavored to replicate the events that occurred that fateful night. Among others, James Cameron brought in a different element of romance with Rose and Jack’s story, capturing the minds of enchanted lovers worldwide. This perspective of the tragedy gives us a relatable experience as viewers, and it remains one of the world’s most popular productions with iconic relevance. The 1997 movie is an 11-time Oscar award-winning masterpiece, which has garnered over 100 awards from other bodies. A blend of love and sorrow, “Titanic,” despite its horrific origins was of great appeal to global viewers, and its box office billion-dollar hit is a testament to its relevance.
2. Forrest Gump (1994)
For Forrest, life is blurry without the woman who makes him complete, and he chases her until the very end. Watching through the lens of an older Forrest Gump, this movie takes you on a journey through the life and times of the Alabama native. The character’s multidimensional thematic experiences of war, quest for love with Jenny, friendship, and perseverance define the very core of the movie, making it quite relatable and well-received by the public. Combining the interesting storyline from the original book written by Winston Groom with Robert Zemeckis’s amazing directing, this masterpiece was created. Alongside its six wins at the 1995 Academy Awards, “Forrest Gump” also bagged recognition from the Golden Globes, the American Film Institute, and the Saturn Awards, among others.
3. Shakespeare in Love (1998)
Romeo and Juliet remains one of the world’s greatest romance classics. While diverse productions have attempted a depiction of his tragic love story, “Shakespeare in Love” takes it up a notch by placing the renowned playwright himself, played by Joseph Fiennes in a tangled romcom with Viola, his love interest. Grossing over $289 million in Box Office earnings, the movie garnered relatively positive reviews from critics. While its success can be largely associated with the longstanding historical relevance of William Shakespeare, the production’s casting, amorous desires, and humorous undertones also influenced its global success. Out of 13 Oscar nominations, the film is a proud recipient of seven wins, with additional recognitions from BAFA, the Grammys, and Golden Globes, among a list of others.
4. West Side Story (1961)
“West Side Story,” in 1961 shattered existing records, grabbing 10 Academy Award wins while being named the highest-earning movie of the year! Directed by John Madden, the passionate musical was graced by top stars including Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer who acted in lead roles. Taking some narratives from Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet,” the film tells a story of love amidst hate. Entangled between their two gangster families, Maria and Tony have an enduring romance that eventually ends with a tragedy. However, their true love won in the end, as it resulted in the unprecedented union of both gangs at the end. Regarded as one of the best musical films in history, “West Side Story” is praised for its unique cinematography, casting, and sounds, attributes that earned the production 10 Oscar wins out of 11 nominations.
5. Gone with the Wind (1939)
When passion gets involved, things can get complicated and that is what happens in this twisted love story between a Civil War fighter, Ashley Wikes, the ambivalent Scarlett O’Hara of Georgia, and the charming Rhett Butler. This ten-time Oscar-winning classic, “Gone with the Wind,” directed by Victor Fleming was set back in 1861. The entire composition of the 1939 film is full of intricacies, which eventually resulted in a production of almost four hours! Its long-running time is one of its greatest criticisms to date. However, given that the movie itself was based on Margaret Mitchell’s periodic novel, the possibility of that length may have been unavoidable.
6. The Shape of Water (2017)
Award-winning film director and producer, Guillermo del Toro has sustained a reputation of being behind one of Hollywood’s biggest pictures, and “The Shape of Water ” is no exception. The widely acclaimed movie combines diverse themes of love, fantasy, and horror to produce a top, Oscar-worthy movie in 2017 with four wins. Receiving highly positive appraisals, the film made a huge break in dollars with its box office crossing over $190 million. Talk about finding your soulmate in the weirdest but most romantic situation. Although the intriguing romance between Elisa and the creature has been widely applauded, the movie’s representation of marginalized groups makes it even better.
7. From Here to Eternity (1953)
Fred Zinnemann brought together some of the industry’s biggest acts to act out James Jones’s 1951 novel, “From Here to Eternity.” Despite being set in a war period, the drama portrays the joys of love by exploring the affairs of three soldiers and their heartthrobs. For a book that was initially thought to be almost impossible to put into a movie, the investment of about $2 million absolutely paid off given that the actors brought A-game in performances. At the box office, film went on to pack over $30 million rising quickly to be one of the best motion pictures in the 50s. Out of 13 nominations, the cast and crew of the movie took eight awards at the 26th Academy Awards in 1954.
8. La La Land (2016)
Fairytales are most soothing and endearing — “La la Land” was almost one. This high-grossing Hollywood romance stars A-List actors, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone in an enthralling tale of love that also preaches the importance of staying true to your dreams notwithstanding circumstances. Directed by Damien Chazelle, this enchanting musical film not only holds viewers with an engrossing storyline, it delivers a widely unexpected ending that you wouldn’t expect from a story that should be fairytale-like. Complemented by commendable performances from the separated lovers, “La la Land” lives up to expectations in its commercial success, earning wide praise from film critics across the world. Among others, the film has received six Oscars, seven Golden Globes, and five British Academy Film Awards.
9. Casablanca (1942)
What happens when long-lost lovers meet? The hearts definitely flame up with passion, and this is the case with Blaine and Ilsa. “Casablanca’s long-standing reputation as one of America’s most celebrated, legendary movies is associated with its absolutely brilliant blend of romance and war. It’s way more than that. Its impeccable casting and intriguing storytelling, brought to life by a mix of top Hollywood writers proved to be a natural allure. An even more perfect and unforgettable feature was its cinematography. Despite being in black and white, the movie provided clear pictorial narratives that had viewers and critics. Given its earlier success, the three-time Oscar-winning movie became a predecessor for more remakes and adaptations which have, to a considerable extent, helped to maintain its iconic status for over 70 years.
10. The English Patient (1996)
Epic love dramas have a way of especially appealing to the audience, and the good thing is that when “The English Patient” was released in the late 90s, it did not disappoint. Following an unfortunate plane incident, Almasy is left badly burned and finds himself in Italy, in the care of a grieving nurse. While the character himself is oblivious to his origin at the beginning of the film, the entire drama shows us the interesting details of his heartfelt but dicey affair with Kathrine. Anthony Minghella’s efforts in creating this cinematic book adaptation were handsomely rewarded with grand commercial success upon its release in 1996. Grossing around $232 million in box office collection, “The English Patient” equally achieved great feats on Hollywood big award nights, going home with nine Oscars among others.
