by Evie Summers
If 2025 has proven anything, it’s that audiences never tire of stories about love — whether it’s first love, lost love, or love that defies reason. This year’s movies and TV series have turned familiar feelings into new experiences, mixing humour, heartbreak, and a touch of fantasy.
Below are some of the best and most talked-about titles of the year so far — films and series that explore what it means to connect, forgive, and fall in love all over again, write experts of dating websites.
A Big Bold Beautiful Journey
Directed by Kogonada, this romantic fantasy stars Margot Robbie, Colin Farrell, Kevin Kline, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge. The film is as much about self-discovery as it is about romance. Two people from different worlds embark on a mysterious journey that blurs the line between reality and imagination.
The visuals are lush, dreamlike — think pastel skies, glowing forests, and the occasional surreal moment when memory and love overlap. Critics have called it “a meditation on destiny.” Viewers call it pure escapism.
Rating: 8.2/10
Why watch: Because sometimes the most beautiful love stories are the ones that feel like dreams.
June and John
Luc Besson’s June and John offers something different — part romantic comedy, part suspense. It follows a young couple whose whirlwind romance takes an unexpected turn when a dark secret comes to light.
Matilda Price and Luke Stanton Eddy deliver charming, believable performances that balance the film’s light and shadow. It’s quirky, unpredictable, and full of energy.
Rating: 7.6/10
Why watch: Because love stories with a hint of danger are often the most thrilling ones.
Wish You Were Here
Based on the bestselling novel by Renée Carlino, this film reminds audiences that love and loss often share the same heartbeat. Isabelle Fuhrman and Mena Massoud play two strangers who meet during one unforgettable night. When she tries to find him again, she discovers a secret that changes everything.
It’s emotional, raw, and quietly devastating — the kind of story that stays with you long after the credits roll. The film explores how grief can deepen love instead of destroying it.
Rating: 8.5/10
Why watch: Because everyone has that one person they never quite forget.
You’re Cordially Invited
Reese Witherspoon and Will Ferrell team up for a hilarious wedding comedy about two couples whose ceremonies get accidentally double-booked at the same luxury venue.
Chaos, rivalry, and unexpected chemistry unfold as both parties try to outdo each other. It’s witty, fast, and surprisingly sweet beneath the laughter.
Rating: 7.8/10
Why watch: For anyone who’s ever planned a wedding — or survived one.
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy
Renée Zellweger returns as everyone’s favourite messy, lovable Londoner. Now in her fifties, Bridget is juggling motherhood, dating apps, and self-doubt. The film captures the humour and heartbreak of midlife love with a warmth that feels timeless.
Old faces appear, new complications arrive, and Bridget proves that romance doesn’t come with an expiration date.
Rating: 8.1/10
Why watch: Because Bridget is still the most relatable romantic heroine of our time.
Romantic Series Worth Bingeing
Love for Love’s Sake
This South Korean fantasy miniseries is a visual poem about fate and devotion. Directed by Kim Kyun Ah, it tells the story of two young souls who keep meeting across lifetimes, always falling in love and always being torn apart.
The series blends modern Seoul with mythical elements — ancient talismans, forgotten promises, and parallel worlds. It’s tender, cinematic, and filled with haunting music.
Rating: 8.4/10
Why watch: For the beautiful mix of fantasy and heartache.
Love You to Death
A Spanish romantic dramedy with a surprisingly deep emotional core. Raúl, a man recently diagnosed with a serious illness, gets dumped by his girlfriend and reconnects with Marta, his childhood friend, who’s now pregnant and single.
What begins as a bittersweet reunion becomes an exploration of love’s ability to heal and forgive. It’s warm, honest, and often funny — the kind of show that makes you cry and laugh in the same scene.
Rating: 8.0/10
Why watch: Because it reminds us that even heartbreak can lead us home.
Spring of Youth
This Korean youth drama follows a group of friends navigating first love, identity, and the changing seasons of life. It’s gentle and nostalgic, filled with moments that feel lifted from real adolescence — missed chances, long glances, and small victories.
The writing is subtle, the cinematography soft and sun-lit. While it didn’t become a mainstream hit, it built a devoted fanbase that praises its sincerity and quiet emotional honesty.
Rating: 7.9/10
Why watch: Because young love, even when it ends, always teaches something lasting.
Trends in 2025 Romance
- Love meets fantasy.
Many of this year’s romances — A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, Love for Love’s Sake — embrace surrealism. The idea seems to be that love itself is magic, so why not show it that way? - Older heroines, new perspectives.
Movies like Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy remind us that dating, self-doubt, and emotional growth don’t stop at forty. Love stories now belong to everyone, not just the young. - Emotional realism.
While 2020s dating apps make romance look quick and disposable, 2025’s stories are the opposite. They slow things down — they show conversations, flaws, and healing. - International appeal.
Korean and Spanish romances continue to lead global streaming trends. They treat love less like a plot device and more like an art form, full of mood and subtlety.
For Every Mood
If you want something light and funny, You’re Cordially Invited will make you grin.
If you crave something epic and surreal, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey is a must.
If you’re in the mood for a tearjerker, Wish You Were Here delivers emotional catharsis.
If you want reflection and nostalgia, Spring of Youth is the gentle escape you need.
For those craving a deep, realistic look at love’s imperfections, Love You to Death feels both painful and comforting — like real life.
