Even if just reading the phrase “indie folk” makes your teeth ache, it’s hard to resist this humble, diegetic indie-folk musical about two unnamed musicians who fall (slowly) into a fleeting emotional love affair that goes largely unspoken, but not unsung. Unassuming as it is, the movie charmed audiences far beyond its meager budget, spawning a stage play, earning an Oscar for Best Original Song and turning leads Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova into stars - and, briefly, a real-life couple.
Look, Netflix-and-chill is cool and all, but sometimes, you’re looking for something a little more substantial. That’s not to say a great cinematic romance can’t inflame the libido, but the best romantic films aim for the heart rather than the groyne. They all don’t follow the same pathway there, of course. Some try to win us over with gut-busting laughter, others with intense acts of passion. Some are sexy, some are silly, some are sad, and some are all things at once. In the UK, Netflix includes a little bit of everything under the umbrella category of ‘romance,’ whether it’s emotionally manipulative weepers, dramatic period pieces, lightweight romcoms or sci-fi love stories set in space, future Earth or post-zombie apocalypse. Here are our picks for the 25 best romantic films streaming right now on Netflix in the UK.
Recommended:
😍 The 100 best romantic films of all-time
🥰 The 70 best romcoms of all-time
😳 The 35 steamiest erotic thrillers
🤗 The best feelgood movies on Netflix UK