Discover the streamer’s must-watch meet-cutes and melodramas.

The 12 best romance movies on Hulu to swoon over

Discover the streamer's must-watch meet-cutes and melodramas.

By Kevin Jacobsen

and Declan Gallagher

on May 7, 2026 9:25 a.m. ET

David Jonsson as Dom in 'Rye Lane'; Kristen Stewart as Abby and Mackenzie Davis as Harper in 'Happiest Season'; Mikey Madison as Ani in 'Anora'. Credit:

Courtesy of Sundance Institute; Hulu; Courtesy of Neon

The romance movie genre comes in all shapes and sizes. A good romantic comedy provides the kind of serotonin rush you sometimes need after a long day, while a well-acted romantic drama can move you to your core. Then there are films of different genres that nevertheless have an underlying current of passion, evoking those same soul-stirring emotions.

Hulu offers plenty of romantic movies to stream, catering to your desires for romance, from traditional dramas like *The Taste of Things* (2023) to holiday comedies like *Happiest Season* (2020). No matter what flavor of love you're looking for, you're bound to find something that gives you exactly what you need.

Ahead, we're recommending 12 of the best romance movies streaming on Hulu.**

All of Us Strangers (2022)

Andrew Scott as Adam and Paul Mescal as Harry in 'All of Us Strangers'.

Adam (Andrew Scott), a gay screenwriter, grapples with loneliness in his London apartment before meeting a handsome stranger in this melancholic romantic drama. Adam gets into a passionate romance with Harry (Paul Mescal), though he soon finds himself preoccupied upon visiting his childhood home and encountering his parents — who died when he was 12. Adam's longing for connection and intimacy is deeply felt, thanks to Scott's nakedly vulnerable performance and writer-director Andrew Haigh's sensitive touch.

"Haigh's film is more a tone poem on loss and love than a strictly linear narrative," EW's critic writes. "To let someone in and allow himself to accept love, Adam must first find the closure he's never had." —*Kevin Jacobsen*

Where to watch *All of Us Strangers*: Hulu******EW grade:** A–******Director:** Andrew Haigh******Cast:** Andrew Scott, Paul Mescal, Jamie Bell, Claire Foy

Anora (2024)

Mikey Madison as Ani in 'Anora'.

Courtesy of Neon

Sean Baker's modern-day Cinderella story begins as an audacious rom-com, only to subvert expectations by its conclusion. In a star-making performance, Mikey Madison plays Anora (or, as she prefers, Ani), an outgoing Brooklyn sex worker who enters a whirlwind romance with the son of a Russian oligarch. After his family hears about their impulsive decision to marry, they do everything in their power to break up the young couple, leading to a series of chaotic events. "Baker's film is a sex-positive, open-hearted love letter to gals like Anora," writes EW's critic, "those of big hearts and little means." —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Anora*: Hulu

**Director:** Sean Baker

**Cast:** Mikey Madison, Mark Eydelshteyn, Yura Borisov, Karren Karagulian, Vache Tovmasyan

Blue Is the Warmest Color (2013)

Léa Seydoux as Emma in 'Blue Is the Warmest Color'.

For young Adèle (Adèle Exarchopoulos), coming of age means understanding what (and who) she wants out of life. After meeting the alluring, blue-haired free spirit Emma (Léa Seydoux), they develop a passionate relationship with many ups and downs. This audacious romantic drama, raved for its raw depiction of burgeoning sexuality, was the hit of the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Palme d'Or. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Blue Is the Warmest Color*: Hulu

**Director:** Abdellatif Kechiche

**Cast:** Léa Seydoux, Adèle Exarchopoulos

Challengers (2024)

Mike Faist as Art Donaldson, Zendaya as Tashi Duncan, and Josh O'Connor as Patrick Zweig in 'Challengers'. Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures

Luca Guadagnino is one of the best directors working today who knows how to communicate desire and yearning in films such as *A Bigger Splash* (2015) and *Call Me by Your Name* (2017). This romantic dramedy is no exception, following three professional tennis players and their ever-evolving relationships with one another. When doubles partners Patrick Zweig (Josh O'Connor) and Art Donaldson (Mike Faist) meet star player Tashi Duncan (Zendaya), a messy love triangle is formed that changes the trajectory of each of their lives.

"*Challengers* is fresh, exhilarating, and energetic," writes EW's critic. "It pushes the boundaries of its devilishly fun packaging, exploring the power dynamics of sex, desire, and competition with a winking reminder that sometimes love is a zero-sum game." —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Challengers*: Hulu

**EW grade:** A–

**Director:** Luca Guadagnino

**Cast:** Zendaya, Josh O'Connor, Mike Faist

Fire Island (2022)

(From left to right): Bowen Yang as Howie, Joel Kim Booster as Noah, Tomás Matos as Keegan, Matt Rogers as Luke, Margaret Cho as Erin, and Torian Miller as Max in 'Fire Island'. Jeong Park/Searchlight Pictures

This entertaining rom-com updates Jane Austen's *Pride and Prejudice* with a modern gay perspective. Star and screenwriter Joel Kim Booster plays Noah, who goes on a yearly vacation to New York's gay hotspot, Fire Island, with his friends. This year, Erin (Margaret Cho) reveals she is selling the house they stay at every summer, marking the end of an era. Noah and his friends soon meet a more affluent bunch, leading to unexpected tensions and connections. The Emmy-nominated film deftly balances witty humor (the Marisa Tomei Heads-Up bit is not to be missed) and genuine poignancy. "When the actors and the storyline find their rhythm," writes EW's critic, "it's almost impossible not to be charmed." —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Fire Island*: Hulu

**EW grade:** B

**Director:** Andrew Ahn

**Cast:** Joel Kim Booster, Bowen Yang, Conrad Ricamora, James Scully, Margaret Cho

Good Luck to You, Leo Grande (2022)

Daryl McCormack as Leo Grande and Emma Thompson as Nancy Stokes in 'Good Luck to You, Leo Grande'. Searchlight Pictures

This compelling, well-structured drama does something most unusual for any movie: It’s exclusively concerned with a middle-aged woman's sexual pleasure. Emma Thompson plays an inexperienced widow who hires the titular escort (Daryl McCormack) to make all of her intimate fantasies come true, but after several meetings, their relationship takes on a deeper meaning. —*Declan Gallagher*

Where to watch *Good Luck to You, Leo Grande*: Hulu

**EW grade: **B+

**Director:** Sophie Hyde

**Cast:** Emma Thompson, Daryl McCormack

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Happiest Season (2020)

Kristen Stewart as Abby and Mackenzie Davis as Harper in 'Happiest Season'. Lacey Terrell/TriStar Pictures

Clea DuVall (*But I'm a Cheerleader*) directed this charming holiday comedy with a script by Mary Holland. It stars Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis as Abby and Harper, a lesbian couple who return to Harper's parents' home for the holidays, where they face some unanticipated obstacles from her family of conservative politicians. That may sound heavy, but the cast and quips keep this romance movie light. —*D.G.*

Where to watch *Happiest Season*: Hulu

**EW grade:** B+

**Director: **Clea DuVall

**Cast: **Kristen Stewart, Mackenzie Davis, Mary Steenburgen, Aubrey Plaza, Alison Brie

A Nice Indian Boy (2025)

Karan Soni as Naveen Gavaskar and Jonathan Groff as Jay Kurundkar in 'A Nice Indian Boy'.

Courtesy of Levantine Films

When you're gay and come from a relatively traditional family, the pressure to please them while satisfying your own needs can be a difficult juggling act. Naveen (Karan Soni) struggles with this all-too-real feeling, as he frets over having to introduce his parents to his fiancé, Jay (Jonathan Groff), while presuming his parents do not accept him for who he is. With a heartfelt message about love and acceptance (especially for oneself), *A Nice Indian Boy* is a well-observed rom-com bolstered by a charming ensemble cast. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *A Nice Indian Boy*: Hulu

**Director:** Roshan Sethi

**Cast:** Karan Soni, Jonathan Groff, Sunita Mani, Zarna Garg, Harish Patel

Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)

Tilda Swinton as Eve and Tom Hiddleston as Adam in 'Only Lovers Left Alive'. Gordon A. Timpen/Sony Pictures Classics

Amid the trend of melodramatic, *Twilight*-inspired, vampire-led romance in the early-2010s, Jim Jarmusch's moody independent drama was a breath of fresh air. Tom Hiddleston and Tilda Swinton are perfectly cast as centuries-old married vampires Adam and Eve, whose quiet life is interrupted by the arrival of Eve's reckless sister, Ava (Mia Wasikowska). With its deliberately meditative pace, the film may not be intended as a four-quadrant crowdpleaser, but its examination of eternal love and devotion makes it a stimulating alternative romance for the modern age. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Only Lovers Left Alive*: Hulu

**Director:** Jim Jarmusch

**Cast:** Tilda Swinton, Tom Hiddleston, Mia Wasikowska, Anton Yelchin, Jeffrey Wright

Rye Lane (2023)

David Jonsson as Dom and Vivian Oparah as Yas in 'Rye Lane'.

Searchlight Pictures/20th Century Studios

Raine Allen Miller's loving homage to Richard Curtis comedies and the *Before* trilogy stars David Jonsson and Vivian Oparah as two recently heartbroken Londoners who bond (and, yes, fall in love) during a patient stroll around the city. *Rye Lane *is both one of the best and most underseen titles on this list, and we suggest you watch it as soon as possible. —*D.G.*

Where to watch *Rye Lane*: Hulu

**Director: **Raine Allen Miller

**Cast: **David Jonsson, Vivian Oparah

Sanctuary (2023)

Margaret Qualley as Rebecca Marin and Christopher Abbott as Hal Porterfield in 'Sanctuary'.

*Poor Things* (2023) costars Margaret Qualley and Christopher Abbott ground this well-considered, over-the-top two-hander about one exceptionally weird night in a luxury hotel suite. The movie is constantly morphing and folding in on both itself and the audience, so it’s best to go in blind. You’ll be rewarded with one of the riskiest and most interesting romantic dramedies in recent memory. —*D.G.*

Where to watch *Sanctuary*: Hulu

**Director:** Zachary Wigon

**Cast:** Margaret Qualley, Christopher Abbott

The Taste of Things (2023)

Juliette Binoche as Eugénie in 'The Taste of Things'.

IFC Films/Courtesy Everett

Juliette Binoche and Benoît Magimel star in this scrumptious French romantic drama about the deep connection between a chef and a food connoisseur in 19th-century France. While in a happy relationship for many years, Dodin (Magimel) wishes to take things one step further by proposing to Eugénie (Binoche), but she's content to maintain their current dynamic. Gorgeously acted and filmed, *The Taste of Things* demonstrates the close link between romantic love and the culinary arts, providing a rich sensorial experience for the audience. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *The Taste of Things*: Hulu

**Director:** Trần Anh Hùng

**Cast:** Juliette Binoche, Benoît Magimel

- Movie Reviews & Recommendations

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW Movie”