The Best Romantic Movies on Disney+ Right Now (October 2023)

Run Time: 1 hr 43 min | Director: Jon Turteltaub

Cast: Sandra Bullock, Bill Pullman, Peter Gallagher, Peter Boyle

A classic of the rom-com genre, While You Were Sleeping stars the always-charming Sandra Bullock as a daydreaming ticket collector with a crush on a regular (Peter Gallagher) who winds up getting mistaken for his fiance when he falls into a coma. Stuck in the lie, she bonds with the family, especially his brother (the also-always-charming Bill Pullman) in what has become one of the hallmarks of the Christmas romance genre. — Haleigh Foutch

Run Time: 1 hr 41 min | Director: Peter Sohn

Cast: Leah Lewis, Mamoudou Athie, Ronnie del Carmen, Shila Ommi

With a story of forbidden love akin to Romeo and Juliet, Elemental follows fire element Ember Lumen (Leah Lewis) and water element Wade Ripple (Mamoudou Athie) in a world populated by nature’s elements as they battle societal barriers to find the justice their love deserves. Using Disney’s brand of important moral lessons through delightfully endearing animation, Elemental excels at discussing themes of segregation and discrimination but never loses sight of the magical childlike wonder at its heart. With typically terrific animation, this story of love and hope is brought to life by a triumphant voice cast that also includes the likes of Ronnie del Carmen and Shila Ommi. Heartwarming from start to finish, Elemental is a poignant life lesson wrapped up in a cute and cuddly package. – Jake Hodges

Run Time: 1 hr 34 min | Director: Jeffrey Hornaday

Cast: Sarah Hyland, Matt Prokop, Sasha Pieterse, Vanessa Morgan

Sarah Hyland (Modern Family) and Matt Prokop co-star in the adorable teen romantic comedy Geek Charming, directed by Jeffrey Hornaday and written by Elizabeth Hackett and Hilary Galanoy. Geek Charming unfolds as the popular girl, (Hyland) determined to maintain her status, and the nerdy artist (Prokop), wishing to shine a light on the high school class system, team up to achieve their goals before ultimately falling in love. Truly a Disney Channel Original Film of its time, the fashion of Geek Charming is a delightful time capsule of the era, highlighted by the YA royalty supporting cast that includes Sasha Pieterse (Pretty Little Liars) and Vanessa Morgan (Riverdale). – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 2 hr 2 min | Director: Andy Tennant

Cast: Drew Barrymore, Anjelica Huston, Dougray Scott, Patrick Godfrey

Ever After: A Cinderella Story is a grounded spin on the classic Brothers Grimm fairytale, eschewing the magical aspects and placing the story firmly in a realistic version of Renaissance-era France. (The movie even goes so far as to feature the folklore-gathering brothers as characters just to scold them about their whimsical liberties.) In this version of the fable, glass slippers and fairy godmothers are replaced with the politics of royal marriages and the heavy weight of balancing duty with one’s true desires. Drew Barrymore (50 First Dates) shines in the role of our Cinderella stand-in, Danielle, while Dougray Scott (Hitman) has a ball as the stouthearted Prince Henry of France. The two are magnetic on-screen, and you root for their inevitable happy ending the whole movie.

Run Time: 1 hr 39 min | Director: Anya Adams

Cast: Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Milo Manheim, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Margaret Cho, Chelah Horsdal

Writer Anthony Lombardo and director Anya Adams lay on the 80s movie references in their cute family film, Prom Pact. A charming romantic comedy film geared at teens, Prom Pact places star Peyton Elizabeth Lee (Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.) in a love triangle with her nemesis, the school jock Graham Lansing (Blake Draper), and her best friend Ben (Milo Manheim). Deliberately invoking John Hughes classics, Prom Pact leans into the cheese and cliches while featuring brilliant comedians like Margaret Cho and Wendi McLendon-Covey (The Goldbergs). Altogether, Prom Pact embraces the genre on which it is built while carving a new path for modern audiences to enjoy. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 1 hr 34 min | ​​Genre: Documentary | Director: Sara Dosa

Fire of Love is a passion fueled documentary written, directed, and produced by Sara Dosa, chronicling the heartbreaking — and life-ending — quest of professional volcanologists and married couple Katia Krafft and Maurice Krafft. Narrated by Miranda July, Fire of Love is part tribute to the romance burning within the French explorers and part a revelation of previously unseen explosive volcanic imagery, including pristine hours of film and photography. A groundbreaking documentary film, Fire of Love pays homage to the Kraffts, poetically unraveling their obsession and determination in the face of danger to expose a stunning collection of spectacular and unique glimpses at our planet. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 1 hr 47 min | Director: Julie Anne Robinson

Cast: Miley Cyrus, Liam Hemsworth, Greg Kinnear

Co-starring actor and singer Miley Cyrus with Liam Hemsworth (The Hunger Games), The Last Song is a gorgeously shot melodic romance about family, heartbreak, and finding yourself. Co-written by romance icon Nicholas Sparks alongside newcomer Jeff Van Wie, The Last Song is an early addition to the Sparks subgenre, which would go on to include Safe Haven and The Longest Ride. Highlighted by Cyrus’ musical talent, as well as her undeniable chemistry with Hemsworth, whom she was involved with in real life at the time, The Last Song is an enjoyable tear-jerking heartwarmer. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 2 hrs 8 min | Director: Nancy Meyers

Cast: Lindsay Lohan, Dennis Quaid, Natasha Richardson, Elaine Hendrix

Nancy Meyers, filmmaking queen of the romance genre, directed the remake of The Parent Trap. Starring a young Lindsay Lohan as a couple of twins separated at birth intent on reuniting their parents, The Parent Trap defined a generation. The Parent Trap is a quintessential late 90s film that made Lohan a household name. Co-starring with the young actress is Dennis Quaid and the late Natasha Richardson as the parents and a deliciously evil performance from Elaine Hendrix (Dynasty) as Meredith. Even as a modern adaptation of a classic story, The Parent Trap is a beautifully touching tale of family, love, and fighting to stay together. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 1 hr 47 min | Director: Kevin Lima

Cast: Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden, Timothy Spall, Idina Menzel, Susan Sarandon

Enchanted is, well, positively enchanting. With a resume that includes masterpieces like Arrival and Sharp Objects, Enchanted is still one of Amy Adams’ best and most memorable projects. The film centers around Giselle, a beautiful princess who is banished from her fairytale land and thrown into the streets of New York City. There, she meets a cynical divorce attorney named Robert (Patrick Dempsey). They couldn’t be more different, but you know what they say: opposites attract. The two have undeniable chemistry and soon find themselves asking if it could be true love. Enchanted both pokes fun at and pays tribute to the classic Disney romances we all know and love, giving us smart writing, a sweet love story, and a truly epic soundtrack. – Taylor Gates

Run Time: 2 hr 6 min | Director: Sam Raimi

Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Rachel McAdams

Could it have worked out between them if things had been different? This is a question I’m sure many of us have asked ourselves and one that Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) gets the rare opportunity to explore with his longtime love Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams) in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The film centers around Doctor Strange protecting America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez), a teen who can travel the multiverse, from Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen), who wants to steal said powers to get back and protect her twin sons. Along the way, he’ll encounter Christine and need her help. Though it may not be a traditional love story, it certainly is a compelling one. – Taylor Gates

Run Time: 1 hr 45 min | Director: P. J. Hogan

Cast: Isla Fisher, Hugh Dancy, Krysten Ritter

In pursuit of her dream job at a fashion magazine, Rebecca Bloomwood (Isla Fisher) nabs a writing position at a finance magazine. The only problem is that she’s an extreme shopaholic with a mountain of debt and creditors calling her every day. At least her boss is an extremely handsome British man (Hugh Dancy). When she starts to fall for him, she tries everything she can to keep her shopping addiction hidden. While Confessions of a Shopaholic is a fun rom-com full of great fashion, the movie also speaks to consumerism, materialism, and the destructive nature addiction has on the people around you. – Meredith Loftus

Run Time: 1 hr 38 min | Director: Kenny Ortega

Cast: Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel

High School Musical is one of the crown jewels of the mid-00s DCOM dynasty – and with good reason. The songs are certified bops, the choreography is magnetic, and the actors became overnight stars from it. Centering this musical is a love story described as a modern-day Romeo & Juliet. When high school basketball star Troy (Zac Efron) and the nerdy new student Gabriella (Vanessa Hudgens) audition for their school musical, the entire high school status quo turns on its head. Though the message of having multiple interests and breaking free of cliques is a little on the nose, the love story between Troy and Gabriella has audiences soarin’, flyin’. – Meredith Loftus

Run Time: 1 hr 51 min | Director: Jim Fall

Cast: Hilary Duff, Adam Lamberg, Yani Gellman, Alex Borstein

The Lizzie McGuire series finishes in spectacular international fashion in The Lizzie McGuire Movie. Lizzie (Hilary Duff) and her classmates set off on a graduation trip to Rome, where she meets Italian pop singer Paolo (Yani Gellman). He claims that Lizzie looks identical to his former singing partner and asks Lizzie to pretend to be her for an awards show. While Paolo whisks her away, Gordo (Adam Lamberg) is left behind to take the fall for her. Once Lizzie is exposed to the truth about Paolo, she finally sees her best guy friend in a new light. Lizzie and Gordo have seen each other through the highs and lows of junior high, but the way they finally get together is the stuff dreams are made of! – Meredith Loftus

Run Time: 1 hr 28 min | Director: Robert Iscove

Cast: Whitney Houston, Brandy, Paolo Montalban, Jason Alexander, Whoopi Goldberg, Bernadette Peters

The beloved 1997 TV musical movie Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella is having a big cultural moment, but it’s not just nostalgia that makes this gem worth revisiting. Starring Brandy as the iconic princess – the first Black performer to play the role on screen, Cinderella surrounds the 90s pop queen with an ensemble of veteran screen and stage performers, including Whoopi Goldberg and Victor Garber as the King and Queen, Bernadette Peters as Cinderella’s cruel stepmother, and of course, a glowing and glittering Whitney Houston as her fairy godmother. The result is a bonafide musical production, completely committed to the pageantry, spectacle, and showmanship, with some damn good singers belting out Rodgers and Hammerstein’s gorgeous melodies. Cinderella‘s charms endure, not just for the nostalgic flashback factor, not just because it was a revolutionary moment in color-blind casting, but because it’s a total treat to watch. — Haleigh Foutch

Run Time: 1 hr 37 min | Director: Gil Junger

Cast: Julia Stiles, Heath Ledger, Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Yes, really! The 1999 film 10 Things I Hate About You was released by Disney’s more adult-centric arm Touchstone Pictures, and Disney has seen fit to stick this delightful and sneakily sharp teen romance on Disney+ for your viewing pleasure. Loosely based on William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, the film stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt as a new student named Cameron who is smitten with a girl named Bianca (Larisa Oleynik), but who needs to find a way to get around her father’s strict rules for dating—which state that Bianca can start dating once her older, more “alternative” sister Kat (Julia Stiles) does. Cameron’s fix? Hire the school bad boy Patrick (Heath Ledger) to go out with Kat. Things take a turn when Patrick turns out to be a mighty fine gentleman, Bianca turns out to kind of suck, and Patrick and Kat genuinely hit it off. The movie’s sweet, funny, and boasts a killer 90s soundtrack, so do yourself a favor and throw this one on for nostalgia’s sake. – Adam Chitwood

Run Time: 1 hr 30 min | Director: Ron Clements and John Musker

Cast: Robin Williams, Scott Weinger, Linda Larkin

The iconic 1992 animated film Aladdin still works incredibly well today. The story chronicles a lowly street rat who falls for a princess then gets a genie to help him pretend to be a well-to-do gentlemen of note, in order to make her fall in love with him. It’s incredibly charming, aided by gorgeous animation, excellent songs by Alan Menken, Howard Ashman, and Tim Rice, and of course an unforgettable Robin Williams performance. It’s a classic for a reason. — Adam Chitwood

Run Time: 1 hr 58 min | Director: Peyton Reed

Cast: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas

Ant-Man and the Wasp is the closest thing to a romance movie the MCU has made so far, with all due respect to Tony and Pepper. The MCU movie tasked with following up Avengers: Endgame, the Ant-Man sequel provided a much-needed jolt of levity and love in the Thanos-devastated cinematic universe, picking up with Paul Rudd‘s Scott Lang and Evangeline Lilly‘s Hope Van Dyne as they settle into their roles as co-heroes and more than flirty friends. The film goes all-in on the lovefest by staging a mission to rescue Janet Van Dyne (Michelle Pfieffer), Hope’s long-lost mother, from the Quantum Realm, setting up some particularly emotional stakes for Hank Pym (Michael Douglas). Ant-Man and the Wasp is sweet, colorful, and breezy; a warm hangout movie with a flourish of romance that also happens to have one of the best stingers in MCU history. — Haleigh Foutch

Run Time: 1 hr 24 min | Director: Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise

Cast: Paige O’Hara, Robby Benson, Richard White

A tale as old as time, indeed, but time hasn’t made undisputed classic Beauty and the Beast any less gorgeous. The first animated film to be nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award—and with good reason—Beauty and the Beast stars Paige O’Hara as Belle, an intelligent young woman imprisoned by a prince cursed with the body of a monster (Robby Benson). The synopsis alone certainly sounds like something would’ve aged poorly, but there’s just something to Beauty and the Beast that makes it one of Disney’s most enduring stories. This is due in no small part to some of the best work ever produced by legendary duo lyricist Howard Ashman and composer Alan Menken. The magic is still there. — Vinnie Mancuso

Run Time: 1 hr 32 min | Director: Sam Weisman

Cast: Brendan Frasier, Leslie Mann, Thomas Hayden Church, Richard Roundtree

Pure screwball goofiness from start to finish, George of the Jungle is a throwback romantic adventure that works almost entirely thanks to the singular and relentless charms of Brendan Fraser. At the peak of his innocent fish-out-of-water schtick, Fraser lights up the screen as the cartoonish character, conjuring up some breezy chemistry with Leslie Mann‘s Ursula Stanhope. Cute as a button, relentlessly pleasant, and refreshingly willing to have a laugh at itself, the 1997 adaptation didn’t fare well with critics when it landed, but it’s a whole lot more fun than you’re probably remembering. — Haleigh Foutch

Run Time: 1 hr 45 min | Director: Brad Bird

Cast: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Spencer Fox

Bob and Helen Parr, aka Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl, are marriage goals. They’re mom and dad goals. They’re just goals. The super-powered parents fight off crime while keeping their family happy and healthy, and making it look good thanks to the stunning animation from the folks at Pixar in one of their most beloved films. Brad Bird‘s original animated superhero story is action-packed and full of genre thrills, but it’s the Parr family, and specifically, Bob and Helen’s marriage, that give the film such enduring heart. — Haleigh Foutch