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The Best Movies About Rekindled Romance 

Ranker Film
Updated June 17, 2019 90 votes 24 voters 1.2k views 32 items

List Rules Vote up your favorite films where an old flame is reignited.

Is there anything better than a rekindled romance in movies? Whether it's by war, jealousy, deception or simply bad luck, we all respond to the tragedy of a romance cut short. Whether it's in real life or the movies, we mourn for the beautiful love that could have been.

Every once in a while, though, we get a second chance. The top movies on this rekindled romance movie list prove that it's never too late to be with that perfect person. Whether you're separated by distance or, as in Lake House, by time, there's always hope that you'll be reunited.

The characters in this list of the best rekindled romance movies find their love again in different ways. Sometimes they've been searching for them for years, sometimes they find them by accident. Not all of these stories end well. Whether it's a movie about reuniting ex lovers or rekindling any kind of lost love, there's something here for everyone.

So vote for the greatest rekindled romance movies and don't forget to add anything that's missing!

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list ordered by
1
The Notebook is listed (or ranked) 1 on the list The Best Movies About Rekindled Romance
Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, James Garner

Released: 2004

Directed by: Nick Cassavetes

The Notebook is a 2004 American romantic drama film directed by Nick Cassavetes and based on the novel of the same name by Nicholas Sparks. The film stars Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams as a ...more
2
The Princess Bride is listed (or ranked) 2 on the list The Best Movies About Rekindled Romance
Billy Crystal, Robin Wright, André the Giant

Released: 1987

Directed by: Rob Reiner

The Princess Bride is a 1987 American romantic comedy fantasy adventure film directed and co-produced by Rob Reiner. It was adapted by William Goldman from his 1973 novel of the same name. The ...more
3
Casablanca is listed (or ranked) 3 on the list The Best Movies About Rekindled Romance
Ingrid Bergman, Humphrey Bogart, Peter Lorre

Released: 1942

Directed by: Michael Curtiz

Casablanca is a 1942 American romantic drama film directed by Michael Curtiz and based on Murray Burnett and Joan Alison's unproduced stage play Everybody Comes to Rick's. The film stars ...more
4
The Time Traveler's Wife... is listed (or ranked) 4 on the list The Best Movies About Rekindled Romance
Rachel McAdams, Eric Bana, Ron Livingston

Released: 2009

Directed by: Robert Schwentke

The Time Traveler's Wife is a 2009 American romantic science fiction drama film directed by Robert Schwentke. The story follows Henry DeTamble, a Chicago librarian with a paranormal genetic ...more
5
13 Going on 30 is listed (or ranked) 5 on the list The Best Movies About Rekindled Romance
Jennifer Garner, Ashley Benson, Mark Ruffalo

Released: 2004

Directed by: Gary Winick

13 Going on 30 is a 2004 American romantic comedy fantasy film written by Josh Goldsmith and Cathy Yuspa, and directed by Gary Winick. Starring Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo, Judy Greer, Andy ...more
6
Atonement is listed (or ranked) 6 on the list The Best Movies About Rekindled Romance
Keira Knightley, Benedict Cumberbatch, Saoirse Ronan

Released: 2007

Directed by: Joe Wright

Atonement is a 2007 British romantic drama film directed by Joe Wright and based on Ian McEwan's 2001 novel of the same name. The film stars James McAvoy, Keira Knightley, Saoirse Ronan, Romola ...more
7
Before Sunset is listed (or ranked) 7 on the list The Best Movies About Rekindled Romance
Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Vernon Dobtcheff

Released: 2004

Directed by: Richard Linklater

Before Sunset is a 2004 American romantic drama film, the sequel to Before Sunrise. Like its predecessor, the film was directed by Richard Linklater. He shares screenplay credit with actors ...more
8
Brief Encounter is listed (or ranked) 8 on the list The Best Movies About Rekindled Romance
Trevor Howard, Celia Johnson, Stanley Holloway

Released: 1945

Directed by: David Lean

Brief Encounter is a 1945 British film directed by David Lean about British suburban life, centering on Laura, a married woman with children whose conventional life becomes increasingly ...more
9
Cold Mountain is listed (or ranked) 9 on the list The Best Movies About Rekindled Romance
Natalie Portman, Nicole Kidman, Jude Law

Released: 2003

Directed by: Anthony Minghella

Cold Mountain is a 2003 epic drama film written and directed by Anthony Minghella. The film is based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Charles Frazier. It stars Jude Law, Nicole ...more
10
Ghost is listed (or ranked) 10 on the list The Best Movies About Rekindled Romance
Demi Moore, Whoopi Goldberg, Patrick Swayze

Released: 1990

Directed by: Jerry Zucker

Ghost is a 1990 American romantic fantasy/crime thriller film starring Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore, Tony Goldwyn, and Whoopi Goldberg. It was written by Bruce Joel Rubin and directed by Jerry ...more
11
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is listed (or ranked) 11 on the list The Best Movies About Rekindled Romance
Robert Downey Jr., Val Kilmer, Michelle Monaghan

Released: 2005

Directed by: Shane Black

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a 2005 American neo-noir dark comedy film written and directed by Shane Black, and starring Robert Downey, Jr., Val Kilmer, Michelle Monaghan and Corbin Bernsen. The ...more
12
Mr. Wonderful is listed (or ranked) 12 on the list The Best Movies About Rekindled Romance
Mary-Louise Parker, Matt Dillon, William Hurt

Released: 1993

Directed by: Anthony Minghella

Mr. Wonderful is a 1993 romantic comedy film directed by Academy Award winning director Anthony Minghella. The film stars Matt Dillon, Annabella Sciorra, and features one of the few appearances ...more
13
Pearl Harbor is listed (or ranked) 13 on the list The Best Movies About Rekindled Romance
Kate Beckinsale, Jennifer Garner, Ben Affleck

Released: 2001

Directed by: Michael Bay

Pearl Harbor is a 2001 American war film with romance and action elements directed by Michael Bay, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and written by Randall Wallace. It features an ensemble cast, ...more
14
Indiana Jones and the Ra... is listed (or ranked) 14 on the list The Best Movies About Rekindled Romance
Harrison Ford, Alfred Molina, Karen Allen

Released: 1981

Directed by: Steven Spielberg

Raiders of the Lost Ark is a 1981 American adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg. The screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan was from a story by George Lucas and Philip Kaufman. It was produced by ...more
15
Serendipity is listed (or ranked) 15 on the list The Best Movies About Rekindled Romance
Kate Beckinsale, John Cusack, Bridget Moynahan

Released: 2001

Directed by: Peter Chelsom

Serendipity is a 2001 American romantic comedy film, starring John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale. It was written by Marc Klein and directed by Peter Chelsom. The music score is composed by Alan ...more
16
Sweet Home Alabama is listed (or ranked) 16 on the list The Best Movies About Rekindled Romance
Reese Witherspoon, Matthew McConaughey, Dakota Fanning

Released: 2002

Directed by: Andy Tennant

Sweet Home Alabama is a 2002 American romantic comedy film directed by Andy Tennant, starring Reese Witherspoon, Josh Lucas, Patrick Dempsey and Candice Bergen. The film was released by ...more
17
There's Something About ... is listed (or ranked) 17 on the list The Best Movies About Rekindled Romance
Cameron Diaz, Sarah Silverman, Ben Stiller

Released: 1998

Directed by: Peter Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly

There's Something About Mary is a 1998 comedy film, directed by the Farrelly brothers, Bobby and Peter. It stars Cameron Diaz, Matt Dillon and Ben Stiller, and it is a combination of romantic ...more
18
The Lake House is listed (or ranked) 18 on the list The Best Movies About Rekindled Romance
Sandra Bullock, Keanu Reeves, Christopher Plummer

Released: 2006

Directed by: Alejandro Agresti

The Lake House is a 2006 American romantic drama directed by Alejandro Agresti and starring Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock and Christopher Plummer. It was written by David Auburn. The film is a ...more
19
The Parent Trap is listed (or ranked) 19 on the list The Best Movies About Rekindled Romance
Maureen O'Hara, John Mills, Hayley Mills

Released: 1961

Directed by: David Swift

The Parent Trap is a 1961 Walt Disney film. It stars Hayley Mills, Maureen O'Hara and Brian Keith in a story about teenage twins on a quest to reunite their divorced parents. The screenplay by ...more
20
The Parent Trap is listed (or ranked) 20 on the list The Best Movies About Rekindled Romance
Lindsay Lohan, Dennis Quaid, Kat Graham

Released: 1998

Directed by: Nancy Meyers

The Parent Trap is a 1998 romantic comedy film co-written and directed by Nancy Meyers, and produced and co-written by Charles Shyer. It is the second adaptation of Erich Kästner's German ...more
21
The Story of Us is listed (or ranked) 21 on the list The Best Movies About Rekindled Romance
The Story of Us Michelle Pfeiffer, Bruce Willis, Betty White

Released: 1999

Directed by: Rob Reiner

The Story of Us is a 1999 American romantic comedy drama film directed by Rob Reiner, and starring Bruce Willis and Michelle Pfeiffer as a couple married for 15 years. The depiction of the ...more
22
The Way We Were is listed (or ranked) 22 on the list The Best Movies About Rekindled Romance
Barbra Streisand, Robert Redford, James Woods

Released: 1973

Directed by: Sydney Pollack

The Way We Were is a 1973 American romantic drama film, starring Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford, and directed by Sydney Pollack. The screenplay by Arthur Laurents was based on his college ...more
23
Wicker Park is listed (or ranked) 23 on the list The Best Movies About Rekindled Romance
Diane Kruger, Rose Byrne, Jessica Paré

Released: 2004

Directed by: Paul McGuigan

Wicker Park is a 2004 American psychological drama/romantic mystery film directed by Paul McGuigan and starring Josh Hartnett, Rose Byrne, Diane Kruger and Matthew Lillard. The film is a remake ...more
24
Same Time, Next Year is listed (or ranked) 24 on the list The Best Movies About Rekindled Romance
Alan Alda, Ellen Burstyn, Ivan Bonar

Released: 1978

Directed by: Robert Mulligan

Same Time, Next Year is a 1978 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Robert Mulligan. The screenplay by Bernard Slade is based on his 1975 play of the same title. The film stars Alan ...more
25
It's Complicated is listed (or ranked) 25 on the list The Best Movies About Rekindled Romance
Meryl Streep, Oprah Winfrey, Alec Baldwin

Released: 2009

Directed by: Nancy Meyers

It's Complicated is a 2009 American romantic comedy film written and directed by Nancy Meyers. It stars Meryl Streep as a successful bakery owner and single mother of three who starts a secret ...more