Some romance movies delve into the realms of fantastical worlds that their characters create in their own minds. One of the most fantastical ideas that take up many of the thoughts of all people is that of falling in love, or the thoughts about their loved ones. It is no surprise that the art of portraying romance in cinematic form often lends itself towards the fantasy genre.
From the completely ridiculous to the slightly fantastical but grounded by their depth of romance, romantic fantasy has a long history with cinema and a varying degree of success at the box office over that time. These are some of the best films that find a marriage between the two.
7About Time (2013)
One of the more recent attempts at blending these two great genres came in the form ofAbout Time. In it, a young man’s father informs him that all the men in their family can travel back in time. He decides to use this newfound ability to try and find love and, after some mishaps and false starts, he manages to do so.
Related:Best Romance Movies Of The 2010s
About Timeis a delightful movie that seamlessly manages to introduce fantastical elements into the real world. The fantasy slips away as the leading character’s life begins to become that which he always dreamed of. After reaching that point, there was almost no need for his powers anymore, showing the beauty of real life in a fantastical film.
6Enchanted (2007)
In a different sort of fantasy world, Amy Adams plays Giselle, a girl who is banished from the fairy-tale world of Andalasia by the Queen before she has a chance to marry her Prince. As a result, she finds herself in modern-day New York City, struggling to adapt to the real world. She meets divorce lawyer Robert and decides there might be a different kind of prince out there for her.
With hilariously fun performances and memorable songs, this blending of not just romance and fantasy, but also live-action and animation, is perfect for the whole family. There’s even a recently released sequel titledDisenchantedon Disney Plus.
5The Shape Of Water (2017)
It isn’t unheard of for a romantic movie to win theOscar Best Picture award, but a romantic fantasy/sci-fi film is a lot less appealing to the Academy Awards. Fortunately, they picked up onThe Shape Of Waterdespite the unusual love story it tells between a woman and an alien which vaguely resembles a fish.
The strange love story between a mute janitor and fish might be easy to mock for the initial premise, but the hugely talented directionfrom Guillermo Del Toroand the powerhouse performance by Sally Hawkins help show the tender side of this story. It’s a beautiful watch that shows how open and honest love can be when much of the dialogue is stripped back. Raw emotion powered this film into becoming only the second fantasy movie to win Best Picture.
4Beauty And The Beast (1991)
A Disney classic, perhaps it is easier to accept the fantastical elements of a romantic story when it comes in animated form. Nevertheless,Beauty and the Beasttakes a local village girl who feels unusual on the inside and puts her in the clutches of a man who turned into a beast on the outside. Could a woman like that ever fall for a beast like him?
Related:Best Forbidden Love Romance Movies
It’s literallya tale as old as time, and whatever age the viewer is, this is a story that will always engage. It was the first animated film to be nominated for the Best Picture Oscar, and deservedly so for the immensely talented animation, direction, and music.
3Palm Springs (2020)
Palm Springsis aGroundhog Daystyle film, but it is reinventedto add to the romantic aspect. The idea of aGroundhog Daystyle of film is that they involve a person or people experiencing the same day over again. Often, the character trapped in the loop will come to realize that love is one of the most important aspects of life.
InPalm Springs, this is taken even further, with two disenfranchised people finding themselves in the loop at a wedding. They go through various stages of grief over their predicament and have very different approaches, but they realize at the end of the day that each other is what they really want more than anything. With amazing performances by Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti,Palm Springsis a fantastical, beautifully romanced movie.
2Your Name. (2016)
Your Nameis arecent anime work, not made by Studio Ghibli. While Ghibli has a great history with both fantasy and romance, there is no film in their repertoire that has seamlessly blended the two together asYour Namedid.
Two people begin waking up in each other’s bodies, one a boy in Tokyo and the other a girl in the Japanese countryside. They begin adjusting and finding ways to live the other’s life, and eventually fall in love as well. A beautiful tale told with breathtaking animation,Your Nameis a must-watch for anime fans.
1The Bishop’s Wife (1947)
One of the most classic examples of romance and fantasy being blended together, Cary Grant plays an angel sent from heaven to help a Bishop fix his problems. While the Bishop wanted help from heaven with the building of a cathedral, the angel arrives and wins the affection of the Bishop’s wife, reminding the Bishop of how much he loves her.
The Bishop’s Wifeis a charming and excellent example of fantastical elements helping to fix the problems of somebody who has already found true love previously. Despite being nearly ninety years old, it is a memorable film that truly does not age, and still remains heartwarming today.
