Cuddle up with 8 heartwarming romances

Everyone loves love. This meddlesome force of human nature can make some people turn into a giddy puddle or go stir-crazy. No wonder its effects are so entertaining and exhilarating to behold – even from the comfort of your couch. Whether you’ve loved or been loved, there’s something so intoxicatingly enjoyable about watching people squirm, strive and triumph when it comes to the game of love.  

To celebrate love in all its fullness from heartache to heart-shaped chocolate boxes… here are 8 romantic movies with just enough rose-tinted magic to make your heart flutter and in some cases soar.   

Anyone But You 

Ever since Top Gun: Maverick it seems that Glen Powell is everywhere – even spotted in Cape Town! Anyone But You finds the ever-charming actor as a co-star to the equally popular Sydney Sweeney in a sweet (and steamy) romcom. After an amazing first date goes horribly wrong, fate forces Bea and Ben together as they reunite and attempt to fool a wedding party into believing they are in fact a couple.   

This fun, sexy and spirited romcom comes from the people who brought us Easy A and Friends with Benefits. A blast of fire and ice to the tune of Natasha Bedingfield, Anyone But You sizzles with co-lead chemistry as a couple wage war with each other on the thin line between love and hate. 

A Cinderella Story

Hilary Duff was a Hollywood it-girl in the early 2000s, cast as the lead in a string of teen comedies. Best known for A Cinderella Story, Duff plays Sam, a student who must contend with a wicked stepmother and stepsisters in order to take a chance on love with a secret pen pal at a Halloween party. Set in Los Angeles, the beloved fairy tale gets a modern update as a high school romcom. 

A crowd-pleasing comfort movie, you can expect lighthearted and fluffy teen romance with a happily ever after. Hilary Duff is perfectly cast as an innocent “Cinderella” opposite her Prince in Chad Michael Murray, with both delivering on charming, fun and heartfelt romance. 

Bewitched 

Will Ferrell is not the first person you expect to play a romantic lead but more than earns his place opposite Nicole Kidman in Bewitched. This fantasy romcom from Nora Ephron finds an egocentric actor meet his match when he inadvertently casts a witch in a remake of a classic sitcom.  

While not really a remake, this upbeat romcom has an unlikely yet hilarious pairing, who are supported by Shirley MacLaine, Michael Caine and Jason Schwartzman. Poking fun at the razzle-dazzle of Hollywood, Ferrell goes way over the top in one of his most purposefully loathsome and full-charged performances yet. As cute as a button, it’s the beautiful Kidman who tames the wooly beast.  

Four Christmases 

As Love, Actually made abundantly clear, Christmas and love go hand-in-hand. When Brad and Kate’s exotic holiday hits a snag, the couple tries to visit all four of their divorced parents for Four Christmases. Taking a page from Meet the Parents, this holly jolly romcom stars the surprise pairing of Vince Vaughn and Reece Witherspoon. They enjoy great chemistry with the adorable Witherspoon flexing her comedic chops and Vaughn’s motormouth summoning up charm. 

If you’re looking for a sweet, lighthearted and fun romcom about family dynamics and holiday shenanigans, Four Christmases fits the bill. A star-studded cast of legends land many slapstick and silly scenes in this entertaining and funny movie. 

City of Angels 

When you think of Nicolas Cage and Meg Ryan, it’s difficult not to summon up the classic 90s romantic fantasy City of Angels. Loosely based on the philosophical fantasy romance Wings of Desire, this brooding and wistful remake centres on an angel who wants to become human when he falls in love with a surgeon.  

Set in Los Angeles, the Hollywood version features strong performances from Cage and Ryan with a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack to match its epic visuals. Tapping into its thought-provoking fantasy concept about love between an angel and a mortal, this heartwarming tale gently peels away layers around the nature of our human connection and the spiritual dimension.  

He’s Just Not That Into You 

As the title suggests, He’s Just Not That Into You deals with the cold hard facts of love. This isn’t just any romantic comedy, getting to grips with the complexities of love as several stories play out. A stellar cast grapples with characters who are each discovering the truth that that special someone just isn’t interested. Awkward. 

He’s Just Not That Into You is a fun, funny and smart romcom that goes beyond the cliches to wrestle with some prickly and refreshingly honest relationship situations. An all-star cast lights up this modern romance featuring: Jennifer Aniston, Ben Affleck, Bradley Cooper, Scarlett Johansson, Ginnifer Goodwin, Drew Barrymore, Justin Long and Jennifer Connelly.  

Valentine’s Day 

As you’d expect, Valentine’s Day is a heart-shaped romance comedy of interlaced love stories taking place on a beautiful February 14th day in Los Angeles. A charming, lighthearted and promising Hallmark card of a movie, this entertaining and stellar romcom offers an abundance of quintessential Valentine’s love stories for the true romantics.  

Wrapped in a big red bow and best served with some choccies and a glass of wine, it doesn’t get much more star-studded than this fun ensemble romance. Valentine’s Day features Julia Roberts, Bradley Cooper, Jamie Foxx, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Biel, Patrick Dempsey, Kathy Bates, Topher Grace, Jennifer Garner, Ashton Kutcher, Queen Latifah and Shirley Maclaine. 

Two Weeks Notice 

In the screwball-style romcom, Two Weeks Notice, Hugh Grant stars opposite Sandra Bullock as a corporate boss and billionaire who becomes increasingly dependent on his environmental lawyer turned “personal assistant”. When she hires her replacement and threatens to leave his side, she begins to have second thoughts.  

Hugh Grant is always that offhandedly charming and foppish British guy when it comes to romantic movies. His unassuming swagger is second nature and has become a defining trademark. Expect oodles of charm in Two Weeks Notice as Grant and Bullock thrive on sharp banter, lighthearted romance and fun slapstick humour.