Time Out's 100 Greatest Romance Films: From 'Brief Encounter' to 'When Harry Met Sally'

Time Out has released its ranking of the 100 most romantic films ever made, voted on by over 100 filmmakers, actors, and writers. The top ten list includes a diverse range of films, from classic wartime dramas to contemporary science-fiction romances. At number one is David Lean's 1945 'Brief Encounter,' starring Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard, which tells the story of a married couple who fall in love after a chance meeting but choose duty over passion. The film is praised for its restraint and emotional depth. Other entries include Wong Kar-wai's 'In the Mood for Love' (2000), Ang Lee's 'Brokeback Mountain' (2005), Michael Curtiz's 'Casablanca' (1942), Michel Gondry's 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' (2004), Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's 'A Matter of Life and Death' (1946), Woody Allen's 'Annie Hall' (1977), Hal Ashby's 'Harold and Maude' (1971), Billy Wilder's 'The Apartment' (1960), and Rob Reiner's 'When Harry Met Sally...' (1989). The list highlights films that explore love in unconventional ways, often avoiding tidy happy endings in favor of more complex emotional truths. The ranking reflects a broad range of cinematic styles, from screwball comedy to melodrama, and underscores the enduring appeal of romance as a genre that can encompass tragedy, humor, and everything in between.