Binging a series of romance movies on a cold, rainy day is the best way to stay comfortable and entertained. While there is a great sense of comfort that comes with rewatching a well-known romance film, the genre’s hidden gems are just as worthy of attention. These films have their small, passionate fan base but have otherwise been overlooked in the romance genre for too long.
The best hidden gem romance movies have honest depictions of love, highlighting the mix of complicated emotions felt in relationships, as seen in movies likeLove Jones,Return to Me, and newer releases such asStay The Night. The best hidden gem romance films to watch on a rainy day range in tone, from heartbreaking dramas to charming comedies, meaning there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Witty and heartfelt,Stay the Nightdepicts the deep emotional connection that forms between two individuals who weren’t expecting it. What starts as an attempt at a one-night stand between Grace (Andrea Bang) and Carter (Joe Scarpellino) transforms into something more meaningful. Released within the past few years,Stay the Nighthas come and gone without making much noise, as its simple narrative and slower pace cause it to get lost within the romance genre.
Still, whileStay the Nightisn’t necessarily groundbreaking, its sweet and patient love story is ideal for a rainy day spent indoors. Avoiding grand romantic gestures and convenient plot points, the film takes its time to build up its central romance.Stay the Nightallows Grace and Carter to gradually develop a connection that produces something meaningful and real, which fans of a gripping slow burn are sure to appreciate.
Though a devastating loss is at the center ofReturn to Me, the romantic dramedy never feels heavy. The movie follows Minnie Driver’s Grace Briggs as she is dealing with insecurities and is reluctant to fall in love due to a recent heart transplant. However, everything changes when she begins to fall in love with a patron at her restaurant (David Duchovny).
Return to Meis largely lighthearted and charming, but it also contains a lot of heart and doesn’t have to do much to get a tearful response from audiences.
Grace and Duchovny’s Bob have a strange and bittersweet connection that complicates how they’ll move forward with a relationship.Return to Meis largely lighthearted and charming, but it also contains a lot of heart and doesn’t have to do much to get a tearful response from audiences.WhileReturn to Meis mostly a standard romance film, it is elevated thanks to Driver and Duchovny’s strong chemistryand the entertaining group of supporting characters that help guide Grace and Bob towards a happy ending.
Ali Wong and Randall Park are known for their comedic personalities, and it’s their experience in the comedy genre that transforms the simplicity ofAlways Be My Maybeinto something refreshing and rare. The film relies heavily on many of the romance genre’s most overused tropes, but its script —co-written by Michael Golamco, Wong, and Park— keeps it from ever feeling uninspired.Always Be My Maybecenters around the rekindled connection of childhood friends Marcus (Park) and Sasha (Wong).
After having grown apart from one another over the years, the two reunite as adults and must confront the possibility of a romantic relationship with each other. Ofthe best romance movies of the 2010s,Always Be My Maybeis among those most overlooked, which is unfortunate considering Wong and Park’s romantic and comedic chemistry is off the charts. Their lively energy is endearing and prevents the movie from being just another friends-to-lovers rom-com.
Falling out of love with someone is a strange experience, andTake This Waltzdoes its best to capture the range of emotions associated with such a feeling and put it to the screen. The film revolves around freelance writer Margot (Michelle Williams) and the unexpected romantic connection she shares with another man (Luke Kirby). The undeniable bond between the two forces Margot to reexamine her unexciting marriage with her husband, Lou (Seth Rogen).
Combining humor and heartbreak,Take This Waltzprovides a unique examination of a marriage on the declineand the isolation Margot feels following the life changes she makes. The performances in the film effectively get audiences swept up in the unfolding drama, with Williams being a clear standout. Though it may not be amongMichelle Williams' best dramatic work,Take This Waltzis still a hidden gem that should be watched on the next rainy day.
Set in the 1960s,Down with Lovepays homage to romantic comedies of the era and pokes fun at the attitudes surrounding sexual liberation and women’s independence. The film stars Renée Zellweger as a feminist author who writes a book that advises women to move away from a dependence on men. Ewan McGregor co-stars as a journalist who is intent on proving Zellweger’s character to be a fraud.
Zellweger has led a handful of romance filmsthroughout her career, and thoughDown with Lovehas gained a cult following in the years since its release, it remains sorely overlooked.It’s a fun and colorful hidden gem that easily brightens up a gloomy day. The stylish and campy aesthetic of the film is not only reminiscent of the ’60s films that inspired it, but it also acts as the perfect backdrop for Zellweger and McGregor’s playful on-screen dynamic.
Having had a limited release before being available through video on demand, it’s no wonderBlue Jayhas become a hidden gem since its 2016 release. Mark Duplass and Sarah Paulson carry the film on their own astwo high school sweethearts reuniting years later. Several romance movies have a shared setup, and at the start of the film, most audiences are expecting Jim (Duplass) and Amanda (Paulson) to confess some lingering romantic feelings.
However, what setsBlue Jayapart from other movies with a similar narrative isits ability to make an intimate and raw love story feel relatable. Jim and Amanda’s realistic connection elicits a strong sense of nostalgia that will have audiences reminiscing on their formative first loves as well.Paulson delivers one of her best performancesin the film and has a palpable on-screen chemistry with Duplass that serves their wholesome reunion well.
Void of overused romance tropes and cliché writing,Love Jonesis a moody and mature romantic dramedy that’s essential viewing for a rainy day. The film follows two young artists,poet Darius Lovehall (Larenz Tate) and photographer Nina Mosley (Nia Long), as they bond over their shared interestsand navigate their equally passionate and complicated relationship. As they’re unsure of whether to pursue a deeper connection with one another, most of their dynamic is full of jealousy and confusion.
Despite being a hidden gem, Love Jones is a ’90s rom-com that never gets old.
This sets Darius and Nina’s relationship apart from the endearing whirlwind romance typically seen in the genre’s more well-known films. Despite being a hidden gem,Love Jonesis a'90s rom-com that never gets old. Released at a time when many films centered around Black characters focused on violence and criminal activity,Love Jones' spotlighting of ambition and young love is incredibly refreshing and fails to age.
While fluffy and somewhat unrealistic romance movies are certainly comforting watches on a gloomy day, there’s a lot to appreciate about a beautifully painful romantic drama as well.Only Youis one of the latter films, as it tells a poignant story abouttwo individuals whose lives are unexpectedly changed after meeting one another by chance.Laia Costa and Josh O’Connor lead the film as the passionate couple, Elena and Jake.
Only Youhas a 96% rating onRotten Tomatoes.
The characters of Elena and Jake feel lived in, largely thanks to O’Connor and Costa’s brilliant performances, which adds to the film’s overall appeal. WhileOnly You’s intimate love story is personal and specific, Harry Wootliff’s writing and the cast’s performances make the couple’s emotional journey feel universal. Despite the specificity of their hardships,Only Youremains inviting and garners an emotional response from audiences as a result.
