Who doesn’t love a good romance movie? These films can either be a big hit or a total miss. It is easy for movies in this genre to be overly cheesy and, therefore, cringe-worthy to watch, yet at the same time, if done correctly, they can be beautiful and tear-inducing. What are some of the most beautiful romantic movie quotes of all time? What are some of the absolute worst? Read on to find out!
Romantic: “OUR LOVE IS LIKE THE WIND, I CAN’T SEE IT, BUT I CAN FEEL IT.”
This tear-jerking line comes from A Walk to Remember. It’s a genuine challenge to hear this quote recited in the film without bursting into tears. A Walk to Remember, starring Mandy Moore and Shane West, tells the story of two high school teens who form a romantic connection despite the fact that they are total opposites.
West’s character is your stereotypical bad boy, while Moore plays a devout Christian who wouldn’t commit sin if her life depended on it. Tragic circumstances beyond their control come their way, and it causes their faith to be tested. This final line in the film makes it all come together perfectly, and although the movie is cheesy and faulty at times, this quote wraps it all up in the most beautiful way.
Cringy: “YOU HAVE NICE LEGS LISA, HAHA. I’M TIRED, I’M WASTED, I LOVE YOU, DARLING.”
This wonderful quote comes from The Room. This film is notorious for being a bit of a mess, but creator Tommy Wiseau deserves major credit for making a movie that is impossibly entertaining.
A movie of which we still quote regularly to this day. One of the funniest and most cringy lines from the film, (which is saying a lot because there are a ton of cringy lines in this one), is this quote. It’s hard not to laugh here but that’s what makes The Room so incredible.
Romantic: “IS IT BETTER TO SPEAK OR DIE?”
This beautiful quote comes from Call Me By Your Name. The indie romance film centers around Elio and Oliver, who are played brilliantly by Timothee Chalamet and Armie Hammer. The quote asks, is it better to reveal one’s true feelings and confess your love while being vulnerable to heartache, or is it better to simply perish?
Because revealing your love for someone is often more terrifying than death. So which one is better? Which one causes less harm? It is a quote that makes you think while at the same time, it causes your heart to hurt.
Cringy: “SHUT UP, JUST SHUT UP. YOU HAD ME AT HELLO.”
This famous movie quote comes from Jerry Maguire. Although this is a lovely line to say in theory, it has become so popularized and parodied that at this point, it is just cringy. This sometimes happens when a certain thing becomes overly popularized, and instead of swooning, we get to a point where we just roll our eyes.
This is not to say that Jerry Maguire isn’t an incredible movie that deserves all the love it can get, because it is a classic. It’s just this particular line is a bit too cheesy to be considered romantic as opposed to cringy.
Romantic: “WHEN YOU REALIZE THAT YOU WANT TO SPEND THE REST OF YOUR LIFE WITH SOMEONE, YOU WANT THAT MOMENT TO START AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.”
This classic quote comes from When Harry Met Sally. It is so beautiful because the line is said by a character who is terrified of commitment and settling down. Yet despite his fears, he is able to overcome them because of his love for his best friend, Sally, is stronger than his doubts and worries.
This line also feels like the perfect payoff to complete the iconic film because we wait impatiently throughout the entire movie to see Harry and Sally finally confess their feelings. It’s a lovely quote, and it is hard not to feel good inside after hearing it.
Cringy: “CAN I SAY SOMETHING CRAZY? WILL YOU MARRY ME?”
Hans says this line to Anna in Frozen. Although we LOVE the musical number that this line comes from in the song “Love is an Open Door,” the fact that these two characters decide to get married after only about an hour of knowing each other is pretty cringy.
Granted, this is how audiences are supposed to feel because one of the big themes in this Disney film is to never marry a man you just met. Yet knowing what we know about Hans, it’s hard not to cringe whenever he says this line at the end of the musical number.
Romantic: “AS YOU WISH.”
This epic line comes from The Princess Bride. In the movie, there are two characters named Buttercup and Westley who have developed a relationship where Westley does whatever Buttercup asks of him. (She is a high maintenance type of woman, so needless to say, she asks for a lot).
Every time she asks Westley for something, he responds with, “As you wish.” What he really means is, “I love you.” It is regarded as one of the most romantic film quotes of all time, and for good reason.
Cringy: “IF YOU’RE A BIRD, I’M A BIRD.”
Cringe!!!
This quote is from The Notebook. Although this is a beautiful movie by and large and one of the most classic romantic films of our generation, it is fair to say there are a ton of cringe-inducing moments scattered throughout this film based on Nicholas Sparks’ novel. The line simply feels out of place and forced. Who on earth talks like this? No one we’ve ever met.
Romantic: “YOUR HAIR IS WINTER FIRE, JANUARY EMBERS. MY HEART BURNS THERE TOO.”
This line comes from IT. When we think of Stephen King’s work, romance is usually the last thing to come to mind. King is famous for writing horror novels and his film adaptations are most often meant to scare rather than make you swoon. Yet what most people don’t realize is King’s incredible ability to write romance.
IT and IT: Chapter 2 are both filled with beautiful moments charged with romantic affection and adoration. This is most apparent in the relationship between Ben Hanscom and Beverly Marsh. Ben writes his friend Beverly this haiku and sends it to her anonymously just to make her happy. Needless to say, it works.
Cringy: “I LOVE YOU, YOU BELONG TO ME!”
This quote is from Breakfast at Tiffany’s. While this movie is undoubtedly iconic and Audrey Hepburn shines in this film like never before, this specific line is wildly outdated and cringe-worthy.
It is said by Paul as he forcefully (and rather angrily) tries to convince Holly that she belongs to him. Holly Golightly is a free spirit, so the thought of being tied down to someone terrifies her, and Paul acts way too possessive in this scene for it to be considered romantic in today’s day and age.
