Whether it be their tender and touching storyline or relatable characters, the romance genre in film almost always makes for an entertaining viewing experience. While many films in the category have captured our attention these days, there is something timeless about charming vintage love stories that make them all the more sentimental.
With that being said, the 1960s, also known as the New Hollywood era, were a particularly good decade for romance films, even though Spaghetti Westerns still dominated the industry. In the ’60s, the genre encompassed incredible love stories that went from the ordinary to the slightly more experimental, ranging from romance crime dramas likePierrot le Fouto rom-coms such asThe Apartment. Without further ado,these are the best romance movies of the 1960s, ranked from great to greatest.
10’Pierrot le Fou' (1965)
Director: Jean-Luc Godard
Alongside theiconic romance crime filmBreathless, which could also take a spot on this list,Jean-Luc Godard’s most famous work isPierrot le Fou, which is also a visually striking French New Wave movie in the genre. Based on the 1962 novelObsessionbyLionel White,Pierrot le Foufocuses on a man (Paul Belmondo) who escapes his dull society and travels withAnna Karina’s Marianne, a girl chased by hitmen, from Paris to the Mediterranean Sea.
Aside from its stunning imagery, beautiful color, and top-notch direction,the 1965 featurePierrot le Foualso benefits from a highly engaging storyline, perfect for those who are into the genre, on top of the fantastic performances from both leads. Furthermore, Godard’s undeniably stunning filmmaking effort perfectly blends romance, crime, and comedy, resulting in many charming moments between the two characters.
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9’West Side Story' (1961)
Director: Jerome Robbins, Robert Wise
Robert WiseandJerome Robbins' Oscar-winningWest Side Storyendures as a beloved and iconic watch for good reason. The movie is anadaptation of the Broadway musicalof the same name and was inspired byShakespeare’s classic playRomeo and Juliet. In the crime drama, two teenagers (Natalie WoodandRichard Beymer) from rival gangs in New York City fall in love. However, escalating tensions between their friends lead to a tragic end.
Not only wasWest Side Storya critical success, garnering a lot of acclaim at the Academy Awards — where it took home 10 out of 11 Oscars — but it also was a commercial achiever. Wise’s film wasthe second highest-grossing feature of 1961 in the US and Canada, earning over $43,700,000. With top-tier execution, a superb soundtrack, and incredible dance sequences,West Side Storyis regarded as one of the best and most influential musicals ever made. Added to the list of all its remakes and adaptations isSteven Spielberg’s 2021 film of the same name.
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8’Charade' (1963)
Director: Stanley Donen
Among the best films starring the elegant and talentedAudrey HepburnisCharade, a mystery romantic comedy byStanley Donenwhere the superstar acts opposite the equally legendaryCary Grant. Romance and suspense unfold in Paris as a woman is pursued by several men who seek a fortune stolen by her murdered husband. The question is: who can Regina Lampert trust?
Donen’s movie is the perfect pick for those who are looking to watch a greatHitchcockian movie not directed byAlfred Hitchcock, as its plot, execution, and particularly Grant’s character are similar to other films by the iconic director. The film truly feels like an homage to Hitchcock’s incredible work, even going so far as featuring a very Hitchcockian poster design, too. All in all,the Golden Age of Hollywood romance filmCharadeis entertaining and well-crafted, benefiting greatly from its comedy elements, absorbing screenplay, and great performances.
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7’The Graduate' (1967)
Director: Mike Nichols
Adapted from the 1963 novel of the same name byCharlesWebb,The Graduateis a fan-favorite 1960s romanceto this day. WithDustin Hoffmanat its center, the story follows 21-year-old Benjamin Braddock, a college graduate who finds himself torn between his older and more mature lover, Mrs. Robinson (AnneBancroft), and her daughter (KatharineRoss), whom he ends up falling for.
LikeWest Side Story,The Graduatewas very commercially and critically successful, quickly becomingthe highest-grossing film of 1967. Given its accurate portrayal of postgraduate struggles and anxieties and the alienation that comes with it — something that wasn’t very much depicted on screen, at least not in a similar way —Mike Nichols' movie was a groundbreaking film when it was released. Blending comedy and romance,The Graduateis guaranteed to provide audiences with an enjoyable time in front of the screen.
The Graduate
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6’Yearning' (1964)
Director: Mikio Naruse
Despite not being as popular as other movies on this list,Mikio Naruse’smust-see East Asian romance dramasurely deserves a spot on this list. The movie centers around a 19-year-old widow whose deceased husband’s family plans to drive her out of the shop that she runs in the family’s house after a bombing raid destroys it and her husband’s life in war.
Emotional and utterly moving,Naruse’s melodrama of forbidden love (as the same suggests) is nothing short of incredible. Meditating on repressed love and the devastating consequences of World War II,Yearningmakes for a thoughtful watch throughout, especially considering how utterly reflective it is and how it incites audiences into reflecting on the fragility of life.
5’La Notte' (1961)
Director: Michelangelo Antonioni
If you’re on the lookout forheartbreaking films about broken marriages,Michelangelo Antonioni’s movie may be the right choice. The absorbing black and whiteLa Notteis set against the backdrop of stunning Milan and depicts a single night in the lives of a novelist (Marcello Mastroianni) and his wife (Jeanne Moreau) as they make their way through various social groups.
What’s so great about Antonioni’s film (aStanleyKubrickfavorite) is, among many other aspects, how realistic and genuine its heart-wrenching storyline feels. This Golden Bear-winning feature deals with topics of loneliness and isolation compellingly while being an all-around well-crafted picture. Anyone who enjoys it must be sure to check out the other installments in the trilogy, which includeL’AvventuraandL’Eclicesse.
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4’The Sound of Music' (1965)
Director: Robert Wise
The second Robert Wise film on this list is another iconic musical,The Sound of Music. LikeWest Side Story,The Sound of Musicis an adaptation of an already existing production: this time, a stage play based on the 1949 memoirThe Story of the Trapp Family SingersbyMaria von Trapp. Set in 1930s Austria, the musical biopic follows a young girl who is sent to become a governess to the seven children of a widowed man by her convent.
With five Oscars under its belt, including Best Picture and Best Director,The Sound of Musicis a must-see for all cinephiles. What’s more, it is ranked as the fifty-fifth greatest American feature of all time and the fourth-greatest film musical,according to the American Film Institute. Itsamazing photography and unforgettable songs are part ofThe Sound of Music’s appeal, cementing the timeless classic as one of the most important films in movie history.
The Sound of Music
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3’The Umbrellas of Cherbourg' (1964)
Director: Jacques Demy
Like Godard,JacquesDemywas one of the most iconic filmmakers from the French New Wave movement. Among his most popular cinematic works areThe Young Girls of RochefortandThe Umbrellas of Cherbourg, both titles that can easily be featured on this list. The latter, however, is a bit more fit for the romance title.The Umbrellas of CherbourgstarsCatherineDeneuvein one of her most iconic performances and sees a young girl separated from her lover given the war.
Demy’s incredible work was nominated for five Oscars, including Best Original Score (not surprising, considering how great of a musical it is), Best Foreign-Language Film, and Best Original Screenplay. With enchanting pastel-colored world-building,The Umbrellas of Cherbourgis undoubtedly a must-see in the musical genre and endures one of the best French films of all time.
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
2’La Jetée' (1962)
Director: Chris Marker
Told through still images and set during the wake of WWII’s devastation in Paris,La Jetéeis a groundbreaking flick about time traveling that tells the story of a man who is forced to go back and forth, in and out of time, to find a solution to the world’s doomed fate, which includes decreasing stock of food, medicine, and energies.
Avant-garde French filmmaker Chris Marker’sblack-and-white short film broke ground in cinemaand delivered a compelling tale of love, time, and memories, highlighting the complexity of the past in a way that still sticks with many today. The post-apocalyptic imagery on top of the soundscapes it features are two of the most poignant aspects ofthe experimentalLa Jetée, which is arguably one of the best time travel films ever made.
1’The Apartment' (1960)
Director: Billy Wilder
No “best romance movie” list would be complete withoutBilly Wilder’sThe Apartment, a delightful watch by the iconic filmmaker. It follows an insurance clerk, played byJackLemmon, who allows his senior coworkers to use his apartment to engage in extramarital activities in hopes of climbing a corporate ladder. The twist? He falls for an elevator operator (the charming ShirleyMacLaine) but then discovers that she is having an affair with the head of personnel, played byFredMacMurray.
Often recognized as one of the best films ever made,the Oscar-nominatedThe Apartmentis certainly an essential romance film of the 1960s. In addition to being extremely well executed and an overall incredible achievement in the romantic comedy genre,The Apartmentalso succeeds in satirizing corporate culture.
