In both real life and the movies we watch, love is portrayed as an eternal mystery that bewitches us and cripples us, and still keeps us coming back for more. Perhaps no other genre of film is more saturated with such tales than the romance genre. With countless formulas – boy-meets-girl, tragic romances, happily-ever-afters, enemies-turned-lovers, and fake dating tropes – being repackaged over and over again, finding a movie that presents love and relationships in their most authentic form while also satisfying viewers is a difficult task to accomplish.
And yet, there are some genuinely remarkable and popular cult classics that have risen to achieve enormous praise over the years. The Princess Bride with its whip-smart dialogue and characters you can’t help but root for; Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and its emotionally complex take on memory; or Before Sunrise with its perfect depiction of the giddy rush you get when you find new love. These movies are relatable and devastating at the same time.
Hidden among these romance movies are also some lesser-known cult classics that are well worth your time. Movies that may not have been blessed with the same blockbuster success but have managed to earn themselves a devoted fan following due to their artful, poetic, and humbling portrayals of love and intimacy. The 10 cult classic romance movies in this list are very different from each other but memorable in every way possible.
10 Harold and Maude (1971)
A romantic black comedy-drama directed by Hal Ashby, Harold & Maude centers around Harold, a young man obsessed with death, and Maude, a free-spirited 79-year-old woman. Desperate to break free from the life his wealthy socialite mother has fashioned for him, he gets into all sorts of trouble. When he meets Maude at a funeral mass, they begin a wild and unconventional courtship where Harold falls for Maude and Maude teaches Harold to embrace life and stop dwelling in darkness.
A Relationship Beyond Convention
Though ahead of its time, Harold & Maude endures because it challenges social norms and age stereotypes with empathy, wit, and sheer ridiculousness. Ruth Gordan is a delight as the vibrant Maude, who is livelier than men half her age. Her chemistry with Bud Cort is genuinely sweet, heartfelt and eccentric. Their whimsical humor and poignant reflections on life make them thoughtful. Even though Harold & Maude failed critically and commercially, it gained a massive cult following over a decade after its release.
9 Chungking Express (1994)
One of the greatest treasures of Wong Kar-wai’s filmography and of the 1990s, Chungking Express is an arthouse romance that centers around a melancholic cop who numbs his recent heartbreak by falling for a counter girl at a restaurant he visits often. Meanwhile, another policeman struggles to let go of his flight attendant ex-girlfriend. As they cross paths in the intoxicating sprawl of Hong Kong, their life takes them in dizzying directions.
Crafts a Portrait of Urban Solitude
Wong’s movies are known for concentrating more on themes, environment, characters, and soundtrack rather than the story itself. That’s what makes them so poetic. Chungking Express creates a bittersweet snapshot of men adrift in their bittersweet but vibrant surroundings. Shot candidly and set against the backdrop of an energetic metropolis, this cult favorite is considered to be the most nostalgic and achingly romantic anthologies of all time.
8 Romeo + Juliet (1996)
Romeo + Juliet is director Baz Luhrmann’s visual modernization of William Shakespeare’s classic tragedy of the same name. In it, star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet are still very much caught amidst the rivalry between their families – the Montagues and Capulets. Except this time, they inhabit a heightened, stylized, neon-soaked postmodern city of Verona Beach, which only magnified their passion and tragedy to epic proportions.
Period Tale Made Relevant
With frenzied camerawork and a pumping rock soundtrack, Luhrmann infuses Shakespeare’s play with vibrancy and energy to suit the new generation of viewers. The movie stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes as the titular characters; they set the screen on fire with their portrayal of two impetuous youth forced to resist their infatuation with each other. Fun but never flippant, it grossed over $147 million and earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Art Direction/Set Decoration.
7 Buffalo ‘66 (1998)
A controversial but cult-favorite classic directed by Vincent Gallo, who also leads the movie, Buffalo ‘66 is an offbeat love story that centers around Gallo’s small-time crook, Billy Brown. Fresh out of prison, he’s preparing himself to pay a visit to his parents, who are unaware of his unscrupulous ways. He kidnaps Layla, a young tap dancer, and brings her home as his pretend-wife. Both Billy and Layla are unprepared for the emotions about to unleash within them.
A Visually Stylish and Intriguing Indie
A romance that seethes with subversion and sublimity, Buffalo ‘66 is one of the best independent films ever made. In Billy, Gallo imbues a sensitive soul scarred by toxic masculinity; although awkward at first, he ends up rediscovering what it means to be passionate. Opposite him is Christina Ricci, beguiling as ever, who forms a nuanced, intimate, and unlikely bond with a former criminal. The movie may not be everybody’s cup of tea, but it triumphs as a passion project that celebrates humanity.
6 In the Mood for Love (2000)
Another Wong Kar-Wai romance, In the Mood for Love transports you to 1960s Hong Kong and introduces you to Chow Mo-wan, a journalist, and Su Li-zhen, a secretary at a shipping company, who live in adjacent apartments. Both their spouses are preoccupied with work, and after they suspect them of infidelity, they gravitate towards each other and form a delicate friendship. Despite growing close, they never cross the line.
Wong Kar-Wai’s Exquisitely Shot Romance
Made with his aesthetic touch, In the Mood for Love emerges as Wong’s most haunting yet hushed piece of work of all time. He creates a sumptuous atmosphere of temptation and repression, with Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung delivering equally mesmerizing turns as neighbors denying themselves something real for the sake of staying honest to their respective partners. And yet, every glance, every gesture, throbs with longing. An epic of proportions, the movie won hearts for its exploration of romance.
5 Punch-Drunk Love (2002)
In one of his dramatic roles, Adam Sandler shines as Barry Egan, a hypochondriac, miserable and lonely business owner with seven overly aggressive sisters who make fun of him every chance they get. One of his sisters’ friends, Lena Leonard, arranges a meeting with Barry and the two hit it off. At the same time, Barry tries to cope with his anxiety by calling a phone-sex line. Little does he know, it could damage the potential romance he has with Lena.
Creates a Portrait of Two Outcasts
Punch-Drunk Love is written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, who is known for fabricating the most eccentric protagonists and giving them raw heartsickness. Sandler abandons comedy to deliver his career-best performance as Barry, who is suffocated but relentlessly hopeful. Emily Watson matches his freak and acts as a soothing balm to his anxious self. Most of the scenes seem surreal but they are bursting with romance. A cult gem through and through, Punch-Drunk Love is worth your time.
4 True Romance (1993)
In True Romance, Christian Slater plays down-on-his-luck, Elvis-obsessed Clarence Worley, who meets a sex worker named Alabama Whitman and falls in love with her. They get married at the City Hall and Clarence confronts Alabama’s pimp about it but ends up killing him. He also steals a suitcase which he assumes contains Alabama’s belongings only to find out it’s filled with cocaine. The couple not only plans to turn the drugs for profit but are also on the run from a mob boss.
A High-Octane Tale of Love
A pulpy crime romance adapted by director Tony Scott from a script written by Quentin Tarantino, True Romance combines both their talents to spin a gritty yarn of criminal passion. The memorable dialogue and kinetic pace paired with the sweet and sincere connection between Slater and Patricia Arquette is what gives the film its cult heart. Their commitment and devotion to their reckless roles is incredible. Moreover, the movie also stars Dennis Hopper, Val Kilmer, Gary Oldman, Brad Pitt, and Christopher Walken as supporting actors.
3 Submarine (2010)
Written and directed by Richard Ayoade in his feature directorial debut, Submarine tells the story of a precocious 15-year-old Oliver Tate, who embarks on a romantic journey during the summer of a lifetime. After falling for his classmate, Jordana Bevan, he hatches a plan to make sure he loses his virginity before the term ends. At home, Oliver is troubled by his parents’ relationship and tries to repair it for them.
Funny and Relatable Dissection of Youth
Submarine is adapted from Joe Dunthorne’s 2008 novel of the same name, which is a coming-of-age story with no shortage of humor and heart. Ayoade sticks to the source material and captures youthful confusion, the ridiculousness of growing up, and literary ambition with ease. His attention to period detail as well as his devotion to bring out the best from Craig Roberts and Yasmin Paige, who are still newcomers, is worth admiring. Though not as popular, this indie is a cult classic.
2 Like Crazy (2011)
In Like Crazy, Anna, a British exchange student, is attending college in Los Angeles. She falls for Jacob, an American student. They spend the summer after graduating together and Anna ends up overstaying her visa, which eventually leads to her being separated from Jacob. When she attempts to return to the States, she is denied entry and the two must give a long-distance relationship a shot. Their passion, hope, anger, and trust are put to the test.
Celebrates the Joys and Pains of Loving Someone
Starring Anton Yelchin and Felicity Jones in career-making turns as Jacob and Anna, Like Crazy paints an emotional portrait of love and commitment put under strain. The two share a palpable chemistry; their conversations and interactions seem natural and honest. But when oceans separate them, there is sacrifice and longing. An award-season darling, the movie was praised by critics as “the most infectious love story in decades.”
1 Ruby Sparks (2012)
A fantasy romance directed by Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton, Ruby Sparks follows Calvin Weir-Fields, a successful novelist who spirals into madness when his creativity runs dry and he is unable to pen anything down for his next novel. That is until one day, when he dreams up the perfect girl – Ruby Sparks. His joy at being able to shape her with his words is immense but soon, Ruby evolves into her own person outside of Calvin’s control.
Deconstructs the Idea of Romance
Ruby Sparks is just as clever and moving as it is underrated. It may seem like an indie romance on the surface, but really, it is an exploration of obsession and ownership versus freedom and individuality in a relationship. Paul Dano and Zoe Kazan are superb as the writer and his creation, who glide down the slippery slope of love before landing perfectly well. Witty and charming, Ruby Sparks will remain a cult favorite for decades to come.
