There's just something swoon-worthy about period pieces. Maybe it's the star-crossed love in these stories that wins over movie-watchers. Or perhaps it's the rules of courtship, keeping the couples – and audiences – on the edge of their seats as the characters patiently woo one another. The best period romantic movies feature memorable figures fighting to stay together despite differences in class and societal norms. This is a list of the top romantic period movies including everything from Pride & Prejudice to The English Patient to Ever After.
What films will you find on this list of the best period romance films? The modern classic Titanic – set against the backdrop of the real-life disaster – finds Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Rose (Kate Winslet) falling in love despite their very different stations in life. James Cameron's tear-jerking film took home a whopping 11 Academy Awards.
Gone with the Wind may have been set in the Civil War, but its primary plot was focused on love rather than war. The headstrong Scarlett O'Hara and dashing Rhett Butler fought, kissed, and smoldered their way through this timeless epic. Other good films found on this best period romances list include The New World, First Knight and Sense and Sensibility.
Which romance story makes you swoon? Give the best movies a thumbs up and share some of your favorite scenes in the comments section.1
820253Pride & Prejudice
Keira Knightley, Carey MulliganReleased: 2005
Directed by: Joe Wright
Pride & Prejudice is a 2005 British romance film directed by Joe Wright and based on Jane... more on Wikipedia
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15155Persuasion
Ciarán Hinds, Fiona ShawReleased: 1995
Directed by: Roger Michell
Persuasion is a 1995 period drama film directed by Roger Michell and based on Jane Austen's... more on Wikipedia3
18183Little Women
Kirsten Dunst, Christian BaleReleased: 1994
Directed by: Gillian Armstrong
Little Women is a 1994 American drama film directed by Gillian Armstrong. The screenplay by... more on Wikipedia4
363221Sense and Sensibility
Kate Winslet, Hugh LaurieReleased: 1995
Directed by: Ang Lee
Sense and Sensibility is a 1995 British–American period drama film directed by Ang Lee and... more on Wikipedia5
9225Emma.
Anya Taylor-Joy, Josh O'ConnorReleased: 2020
Directed by: Autumn de Wilde
Emma. is a 2020 British comedy-drama film directed by Autumn de Wilde, based on the 1815 novel... more on Wikipedia6
310208Jane Eyre
Michael Fassbender, Judi DenchReleased: 2011
Directed by: Cary Fukunaga
Jane Eyre is a 2011 British romantic drama film directed by Cary Fukunaga and starring Mia... more on Wikipedia7
371285Titanic
Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate WinsletReleased: 1997
Directed by: James Cameron
Titanic is a 1997 American epic romance and disaster film directed by James Cameron. A... more on Wikipedia8
273226Atonement
Keira Knightley, Benedict CumberbatchReleased: 2007
Directed by: Joe Wright
Atonement is a 2007 British romantic drama film directed by Joe Wright and based on Ian... more on Wikipedia9
279235Ever After
Drew Barrymore, Anjelica HustonReleased: 1998
Directed by: Andy Tennant
Ever After is a 1998 American romantic comedy-drama film inspired by the fairy tale... more on Wikipedia10
250213Gone with the Wind
Clark Gable, Vivien LeighReleased: 1939
Directed by: Sam Wood, George Cukor, Victor Fleming
Gone with the Wind is a 1939 American epic historical romance film adapted from Margaret... more on Wikipedia11
196163The Young Victoria
Emily Blunt, Mark StrongReleased: 2009
Directed by: Jean-Marc Vallée
The Young Victoria is a 2009 British-American period drama film directed by Jean-Marc Vallée... more on Wikipedia12
197168Far from the Madding Crowd
Carey Mulligan, Michael SheenReleased: 2014
Directed by: Thomas Vinterberg
Far from the Madding Crowd is a 2015 drama film directed by Thomas Vinterberg based on the... more on Wikipedia13
345The Illusionist
Jessica Biel, Edward NortonReleased: 2006
Directed by: Neil Burger
The Illusionist is a 2006 American period drama film written and directed by Neil Burger and... more on Wikipedia14
3711Life Is Beautiful
Roberto Benigni, Horst BuchholzReleased: 1997
Directed by: Roberto Benigni
Life Is Beautiful is a 1997 Italian tragicomedy comedy-drama film directed by and starring... more on Wikipedia15
348The Painted Veil
Naomi Watts, Edward NortonReleased: 2006
Directed by: John Curran
The Painted Veil is a 2006 American drama film directed by John Curran. The screenplay by Ron... more on Wikipedia16
328The Count of Monte Cristo
Henry Cavill, Jim CaviezelReleased: 2002
Directed by: Kevin Reynolds
The Count of Monte Cristo is a 2002 adventure film directed by Kevin Reynolds. The film is an... more on Wikipedia17
4522The Great Gatsby
Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey MaguireReleased: 2013
Directed by: Baz Luhrmann
The Great Gatsby is a 2013 romantic drama film directed by Baz Luhrmann, based on the 1925... more on Wikipedia18
3815Edward Scissorhands
Johnny Depp, Winona RyderReleased: 1990
Directed by: Tim Burton
Edward Scissorhands is a 1990 American romantic dark fantasy film directed by Tim Burton. An... more on Wikipedia19
307Somewhere in Time
Jane Seymour, Christopher PlummerReleased: 1980
Directed by: Jeannot Szwarc
Somewhere in Time is a 1980 romantic fantasy film directed by Jeannot Szwarc. It is a film... more on Wikipedia20
6043The Light Between Oceans
Michael Fassbender, Alicia VikanderDirected by: Derek Cianfrance
The Light Between Oceans is a 2016 romantic period drama film written and directed by Derek... more on Wikipedia21
4224Moulin Rouge!
Nicole Kidman, Ozzy OsbourneReleased: 2001
Directed by: Baz Luhrmann
Moulin Rouge! is a 2001 Australian–American pastiche-jukebox musical film directed, produced,... more on Wikipedia22
5639Doctor Zhivago
Omar Sharif, Julie ChristieReleased: 1965
Directed by: David Lean
Doctor Zhivago is a British-American 1965 epic dramaromance film directed by David Lean,... more on Wikipedia23
278Romeo and Juliet
Laurence Olivier, Michael YorkReleased: 1968
Directed by: Franco Zeffirelli
Romeo and Juliet is a 1968 British-Italian romance film based on the tragic play of the same... more on Wikipedia24
257The Remains of the Day
Lena Headey, Anthony HopkinsReleased: 1993
Directed by: James Ivory
The Remains of the Day is a 1993 Merchant Ivory film adapted by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala from the... more on Wikipedia25
7468If Beale Street Could Talk
Kiki Layne, Stephan JamesReleased: 2018
Directed by: Barry Jenkins
If Beale Street Could Talk is a 2018 American drama film directed by Barry Jenkins, based on... more on Wikipedia
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