Timeless Love Stories: Romance Classics From The 1990s

Noura Haddad
Noura HaddadDecember 14, 2025
The 1990s was a decade that saw the release of some of the most iconic and enduring romance films of all time. From sweeping historical epics to intimate, character-driven dramas, the decade offered a diverse range of love stories that continue to captivate audiences today. Whether you're a fan of classic fairy tales, poignant dramas, or quirky comedies, there's something for everyone in this collection of timeless romance classics.

One of the defining characteristics of 1990s romance films is their emphasis on emotional depth and complexity. Many of these movies feature richly drawn characters, nuanced relationships, and thoughtful explorations of the human heart. They're not just about grand romantic gestures or fairy tale endings, but about the messy, often painful realities of love and relationships.

The 1990s also saw the emergence of new voices and perspectives in the romance genre, from the innovative storytelling of Wong Kar-wai to the sensitive, character-driven dramas of Ang Lee. These filmmakers brought a fresh energy and creativity to the genre, pushing the boundaries of what romance films could say and do.

In this collection, we've gathered some of the most beloved and enduring romance films of the 1990s, each one a testament to the power of love to transform and transcend. Whether you're in the mood for a nostalgic trip back in time or a new discovery, these movies are sure to delight, inspire, and maybe even break your heart a little. So sit back, get cozy, and let the romance begin.
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
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Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge

#1

Raj is a rich, carefree, happy-go-lucky second generation NRI. Simran is the daughter of Chaudhary Baldev Singh, who in spite of being an NRI is very strict about adherence to Indian values. Simran has left for India to be married to her childhood fiancé. Raj leaves for India with a mission at his hands, to claim his lady love under the noses of her whole family. Thus begins a saga.

1995190 min
ComedyDramaRomance
8.5
4521 votes
Forrest Gump
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Forrest Gump

#2

A man with a low IQ has accomplished great things in his life and been present during significant historic events—in each case, far exceeding what anyone imagined he could do. But despite all he has achieved, his one true love eludes him.

1994142 min
ComedyDramaRomance
8.5
28935 votes
Before Sunrise
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Before Sunrise

#3

An unexpected meeting on a train leads two travelers to spend an evening wandering through Vienna. As the night unfolds, they share stories and conversations about life and love, exploring new ideas while a quiet intimacy grows between them, knowing it may be their only night together.

1995101 min
DramaRomance
8.0
4493 votes
Chungking Express
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Chungking Express

#4

Two melancholic Hong Kong policemen fall in love: one with a mysterious underworld figure, the other with a beautiful and ethereal server at a late-night restaurant.

1994103 min
DramaComedyRomance
8.0
2069 votes
The Postman
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The Postman

#5

Simple Italian postman learns to love poetry while delivering mail to a famous poet; he uses this to woo local beauty Beatrice.

1994109 min
ComedyDramaRomance
7.9
1185 votes
Three Colors: Red
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Three Colors: Red

#6

Part-time model Valentine unexpectedly befriends a retired judge after she runs over his dog. At first, the grumpy man shows no concern about the dog, and Valentine decides to keep it. But the two form a bond when she returns to his house and catches him listening to his neighbors’ phone calls.

1994100 min
DramaMysteryRomance
7.9
1499 votes
Titanic
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Titanic

#7

101-year-old Rose DeWitt Bukater tells the story of her life aboard the Titanic, 84 years later. A young Rose boards the ship with her mother and fiancé. Meanwhile, Jack Dawson and Fabrizio De Rossi win third-class tickets aboard the ship. Rose tells the whole story from Titanic's departure through to its death—on its first and last voyage—on April 15, 1912.

1997194 min
DramaRomance
7.9
26479 votes
Comrades, Almost a Love Story
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Comrades, Almost a Love Story

#8

Jun arrives in Hong Kong from mainland China, hoping to be able to earn enough money to marry his girlfriend back home. He meets the streetwise Qiao and they become friends. As friendship turns into love, problems develop, and although they seem meant for each other they somehow keep missing out.

1996118 min
DramaRomance
7.8
165 votes
Love Letter
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Love Letter

#9

Hiroko attends the memorial service of her fiancé, Itsuki Fujii, who died in a mountain-climbing incident. Although Itsuki's mother says that their old house is gone, Hiroko records the address listed under his name in his yearbook and sends him a letter. Surprisingly, she receives a reply, and discovers it came from his old classmate, a girl who also happens to be called Itsuki Fujii.

1995117 min
DramaRomance
7.8
236 votes
Christmas in August
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Christmas in August

#10

It's a sweltering summer, but Jung-won, a terminally ill, thirty-something photographer, is already in the winter of his life when he begins a tentative romance with a young traffic cop who doesn't know about his condition. Is their relationship doomed before it even begins?

199897 min
DramaRomance
7.8
86 votes
Beauty and the Beast
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Beauty and the Beast

#11

Follow the adventures of Belle, a bright young woman who finds herself in the castle of a prince who's been turned into a mysterious beast. With the help of the castle's enchanted staff, Belle soon learns the most important lesson of all -- that true beauty comes from within.

199184 min
RomanceFamilyAnimation
7.7
10395 votes
Edward Scissorhands
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Edward Scissorhands

#12

A small suburban town receives a visit from a castaway unfinished science experiment named Edward.

1990105 min
FantasyDramaRomance
7.7
13448 votes
The Bridges of Madison County
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The Bridges of Madison County

#13

Photographer Robert Kincaid wanders into the life of housewife Francesca Johnson for four days in the 1960s.

1995135 min
DramaRomance
7.7
2287 votes
Notre Dame de Paris
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Notre Dame de Paris

#14

A musical adaptation of Victor Hugo's novel "Notre Dame de Paris" which follows the gypsy dancer Esmeralda and the three men who vie for her love: the kind hunchback Quadimodo, the twisted priest Frollo, and the unfaithful soldier Phoebus.

1999150 min
MusicDramaRomance
8.2
85 votes
To Live
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To Live

#15

Married couple Fugui and Jiazhen endure tumultuous events in mid-20th century mainland China as their personal fortunes move from wealthy landownership to peasantry.

1994133 min
DramaRomanceWar
8.1
350 votes
Lilies
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Lilies

#16

1952: Bishop Bilodeau visits a prison to hear the confession of Simon, a boyhood friend jailed for murder 40 years ago. However, once there, Bilodeau finds himself forced to watch a play put on by Simon and the other inmates depicting the two men's youths. As the play progresses, the tragic truth of Simon's crime comes to light.

199796 min
DramaRomance
8.1
55 votes

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