Even after almost two decades since its release in 2004, The Notebook is still the undefeated top choice when it comes to heart-wrenching romantic dramas. Adapted from the book of the same name by Nicholas Sparks, who is known for his heartwarming, emotional works about love, this movie was brought to the screen by Nick Cassavetes.
The Notebook is an idyllic tale of an unbreakable bond formed between two lovers hailing from vastly different economic backgrounds. Despite many thorns in their relationship, like the social disparity between the young pair to unconsenting parents, this story shows how love is powerful enough to overcome anything that comes in between.
Admirers of the story, both from the book and the movie, have often wondered if the romance unfurling between Noah and Allie was inspired by a true incident. This author, Nicholas Sparks, has commented about how he based their characters on his then-wife’s grandparents, whose own love story stood afoot for a strong sixty years.
Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling are a sizzling pair on screen with their undeniable chemistry. James Garner plays the hopeful older version of Noah in the future, and Gena Rowlands, James Marsden, and Kevin Connolly also star make remarkable appearances in the movie.
Read Also: The Notebook Ending Explained: Not All Love Stories End On A Good Note
The Notebook: A Story of Love and Separation
Set in the wartime 1940s, The Notebook begins in a small town where we are introduced to a passionate young man Noah who falls in love with the out-of-towner Allie, from a rich family. After a brief period of him pursuing her and her declining his advances, the young teenage couple does fall devastatingly in love.
But when Allie moves away, and Noah goes off to the war, the lovers drift apart, Noah thinking she never wrote him back and Allie believing he forgot about her. Years later, when circumstances are different, and both seem to have gone their separate ways, their paths coincide, bringing their seemingly perfect lives to a halt.
Will these two parted lovebirds conquer all that comes between them? The movie comes to a beautiful end, with Noah reading out their enchanting saga to an old lady who doesn’t seem to remember who he is, showing us all that true love indeed stands the test of time.
Read Also: Is The Notebook Movie Based On A True Story?
Movies Like The Notebook To Watch
What starts as a boy chasing the girl’s innocent rom-com turns into a tale of two lovers separated by fate and reunited by chance that will leave you in tears. The movie leaves us with quite a few memorable and incredibly intimate moments like the ‘kiss in the rain’ and the ‘dancing in the street scenes.
And, of course, once you are done watching this impassioned story and left craving for more, this list right here will help you choose your next romantic drama for the upcoming movie night.
A Walk to Remember (2002)
Mandy Moore and Shane West created this timeless coming-of-age movie about two North Carolina teens forced into proximity. When the school’s resident troublemaker, Landon, gets into trouble and is forced to participate in the school play with the Reverand’s daughter, Jamie, the two start a tumultuous relationship.
With time, Landon falls for Jamie, who is hiding a devastating secret, one that might cause excruciating pain to both in the relationship. But Landon will do all to make Jamie happy, the person who changed his life and view of it completely, even if that means completing her wishlist before it’s too late.
Another one of Nicholas Sparks heartfelt romances, this beautiful movie showcases the entangled lives of two individuals who are so seemingly so different yet alike on the inside. Watch The Walk to Remember now on Amazon Prime Video.
Read Also: How to Watch A Walk to Remember? Streaming Guide
La La Land
La La Land is a romantic musical that won several Oscars in 2019 and is a movie loved by everyone. The movie features Ryan Gosling as Sebastian and Emma Stone as Mia. Both of them are struggling in the industry to fulfill their dreams of becoming a jazz pianist and an actress. The two coincidentally meet each other, and they get into a relationship. Frequent ups and downs pave the way for them to discover themselves. To know more, watch the movie, and you’ll surely fall in love with everything.
Me Before You (2016)
An adaptation of the novel by Jojo Moyes, Me Before You is a bitter-sweet tale about living life despite the unexpected circumstances thrown at us. Emilia Clarke’s Louisa is a bubbly, eccentric fashionista who imparts the lesson of making the best out of what you have despite having enormous dreams of her own with no means of achieving them.
When she meets the sulking, rigid Will (Sam Claflin), who suffers from paralysis post a bike accident, their relationship transforms from that of a caretaker and a patient to friendship and, eventually, love. And just like The Notebook, this movie also ends with a profound letter from Will to Louisa, encouraging her to make the most of her life, as unlike The Notebook, the two lovers were not fated to be together forever. Watch Me Before You now on Amazon Prime Video or Apple TV.
Read Also: Me Before You Ending Explained: What Went Down?
Dear John
Dear John is a 2010 romantic drama starring Channing Tatum as John Tyree and Amanda Seyfried as Savannah Curtis. John meets Savannah during a break from his Armed Forces. After that, they go out on several dates and they fall in love. Lots of drama takes place in their relationships involving family and friends. Due to this, their relationship takes various turns. To know more, we would recommend you to watch the movie.
The English Patient (1996)
This Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche starring war epic was brought to the big screen by Anthony Minghella, inspired by the 1992 novel of the same name by Michael Ondaatje. Set in the vast flaming hot expanses of the Sahara during World War II, a burned man, Laszlo de Almasy, is found and tended to by Hana, a nurse at the monastery.
A beautifully told story in the form of a film, The English Patient is a perfect re-telling of a passionate yet fated-to-be-ruined love affair that ended up with 9 big wins at the Academy Awards. The cinematography is so idyllic, and you will take it with you as the story unravels around the world, while the rustic timeline and the background music all make it a fine-tuned masterpiece that is definitely worth a watch.
Like The Notebook, this is a story told across two different timelines, both so incredibly crafted that you end up wanting more of its sensuality. Available on Amazon Prime Video, watch The English Patient now.
The Last Song
The Last Song is a coming-of-age film starring Miley Cyrus (Ronnie) and Liam Hemsworth (Will Blake Lee). Ronnie plays a rebellious character who is into music. She meets Will while doing volunteer work, where she starts developing feelings for him. The movie deals with various issues that teenagers go through. It also explores their passion and their figuring out what they want.
The Longest Ride (2015)
Set across two different timelines interlacing in the story, The Longest Ride is one of the many screen adaptations of Nicholas Sparks’ works. As Luke and Sophia fall in love and drift apart owing to their conflicting careers, an old man Sophia reads the letters of his lover to comes to the aid of their failing relationship.
The audience is also taken on a journey through the life of Ira and Ruth, whose story inspires the young couple about the sacrifices one makes for the benefit of the other in a relationship. With a couple of melancholic moments with bouts of frustration, anger, understanding, and art, this movie is not worth missing.
Watch The Longest Ride starring Scott Eastwood, Britt Robertson, Alan Alda, and Oona Chaplin with Jack Huston, is now available to watch on Google Play Movies and YouTube.
Read Also: All Movies Based on Nicholas Sparks’ Novels Ranked
The Fault in Our Stars (2014)
Every teenage girl’s go-to movie for some heartfelt romance and tear-jerking separation in the 2010s, The Fault in Our Stars is an adaptation of John Green’s work of the same name. Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort come together to create this topical movie with an emotional and sorrowful foreshadowing about a young girl suffering from cancer.
Hazel’s everyday secluded life takes a turn for excitement when she meets the quirky Augustus Waters at a support group. This coming-of-age film explores the beautiful journey of first love with occasional pangs of heart-wrenching twists and an idyllic trip to Amsterdam before circumstances degrade and one of them leaves the other forever. Watch The Fault in Our Stars now on Disney Plus or Apple TV.
Read Also: The Fault In Our Stars Ending Explained: The Last Words!
Atonement (2007)
Joe Wright’s Atonement follows the story of a young thirteen-year-old aspiring novelist Briony who falsely accuses her sister’s secret lover of a crime he didn’t commit. What ensues is a dark story built on the misconstrued events of the past with severe consequences that impact every single character.
The all-star cast of Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, Saoirse Ronan, and Romola Garai not only elevates the film but presents it as a cinematically complex movie that was acclaimed by many. With layers upon layers of classy, timeless, intriguing romance with a complex relationship between sisters, this Academy Award winner is something you can’t miss out on. Watch Atonement now on Amazon Prime Video.
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Say Anything? (1989)
Cameron Crowe makes his directorial debut with this 1989 romantic classic, Say Anything?, which stars John Cusack and Ione Skye as the main leads. A picture painted with uncertainties and relying on her young love to weather the storm; this movie is a critically acclaimed coming-of-age story about an innocent first love.
Llyod is a high-aiming optimist who is on a quest to make the high-school beauty Diane fall in love with him, but when her father disapproves of their relationship, it might take more than just love to conquer all and be together. And not to mention that the iconic boombox under the window scene comes from this movie itself, which has millions of unrelenting romantics across the world wanting to be declared their love in this way. Watch Say Anything? Now on Disney Plus or Apple TV.
Read Also: Where Is Say Anything Filmed? Locations Revealed
The Choice (2016)
Another tear-jerker adapted from the works of Nicholas Sparks, The Choice is an American romantic drama that recounts the age-old story of overcoming all to be with the one you love. Gabby and Travis don’t particularly like each upon their first encounter, but things change when they become new pup parents, which draws them together.
But Gabby has a boyfriend, who visits their small coastal town to propose, which leaves Gabby at a crossroads and with a burdening decision to make. The Choice, now available to watch on Amazon Prime Video, stars Teresa Palmer and Benjamin Walker in the lead roles.
Read Also: The Choice Filming Locations: Where Was The Nicholas Sparks Adaptation Filmed?
The Lake House (2006)
A story of romance with a little touch of mystery, all coming across through letters exchanged between lovers, The Lake House is a tale of love between Kate and Alex, their fates tied by a lake house. Bringing together Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reaves together one more time, this movie is a portrayal of genuine acting and heartfelt emotions that might have you choking up with tears by the end of it.
Even though, unlike The Notebook, this movie doesn’t have a content ending as the two lovers never get to reunite, it is just as emotion-packed and expands on the lonely lives the two protagonists lead without each other. Catch The Lake House now on Apple TV.
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P.S. I Love You (2007)
When we are talking about heartfelt love letters between lovers, like in The Notebook, it is impossible to leave out the 2007 romantic drama P.S. I Love You. After the death of her husband, Holly starts receiving letters left by him for her to stay strong and hopeful on her remaining journey of life.
Cecelia Ahern’s debut novel is beautifully translated onto the screen by Richard LaGravenese, starring Gerard Butler and Hilary Swank along with Jeffrey Dean Morgan. This story teaches the viewers a soulful lesson about holding on and letting go, all packed into an endearing story of love and loss. Watch P.S. I Love You now on Google Play Movies or YouTube.
Read Also: Where is PS I Love You Filmed? All The Filming Locations
