Romance movies can be sweet, dramatic, and even heart-breaking. But one thing they have in common is that they can make us a little envious of those too-good-to-be-true love stories. This is even truer for those whirlwind romances that take place in exotic, beautiful places. Not only can they make us want to get swept away by a charming stranger, but can also inspire us to run off to another country for a little while.
From the historic beauty of Italy, to the gorgeous beaches of Bora Bora, to the exciting colors of India, there are romance movies to transport us to them all. While we can’t jump on the next plane to paradise every time we want to, watching attractive actors fall in love in them is the next best thing.
Here are 10 romance movies that take place in beautiful destinations!
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10 The Proposal
The Proposal is a romantic comedy (that’s very heavy on the comedy) featuring Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, and Betty White. Margaret is the workaholic and emotionally unavailable boss of Andrew, her assistant that she always bulldozes. When she finds out she violated the terms of her work visa, she forces Andrew to marry her in order to get a green card. But, before it’s official, they go to Alaska to celebrate Andrew’s “Gammy’s” birthday, where Margaret is introduced to his entire family. The two must pretend to be fiancés that are deeply in love to fool not only his family, but the persistent immigration agent that is investigating them. The majority of the film takes place in Pitka, Alaska, which shows off the breathtaking scenery of the rugged Alaskan wilderness.
9 Couples Retreat
Couples Retreat follows four different couples and their vastly different love stories at a luxurious, all-inclusive resort that is meant to bring couples together. One couple, Jason and Cynthia, are thinking of getting a divorce, and that retreat is their last ditch effort to save their marriage. The next, Dave and Ronnie, tag along for a fun getaway, but soon realize that they’ve been taking each other for granted, and they are not as happy as they pretend to be. Another, Lucy and Joey, are only staying together until their teenage daughter graduates and accidentally find a spark that they thought was lost long ago. Finally, Shane, who is recently divorced, brings his new girlfriend Trudy, but finds that he is not quite over his marriage yet. The resort is in Bora Bora, and the gorgeous beaches, oceans, and impressive resort itself are on full display throughout the movie.
8 Midnight in Paris
Midnight in Paris doesn’t just transport us to Paris, but also Paris in the roaring 1920’s. Gil, a successful screenwriter turned struggling novelist, travels to France with his fiancé and her family. He is immediately enamored with Paris and dreams of living there, but his fiancé, Inez, dismisses it as unrealistic. While he’s walking alone at midnight, an old time car stops and offers him a ride, taking him back in time to 1920, where he meets all manner of famous writers and artists of the time. He also meets Adriana, Picasso’s muse, and begins to develop feelings for her, despite his engagement. Gil must then choose between the nostalgia of the past and the realism of the present. The film depicts both modern day and past Paris in a beautifully romantic light, the same way that Gil views it.
7 Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Forgetting Sarah Marshall follows Peter, who is heartbroken after his famous girlfriend, Sarah, breaks up with him. On a whim, he takes a trip to Hawaii to try and take his mind off of everything, only to find that Sarah is there with her new musician boyfriend. While Peter is trying to deal with seeing his ex-girlfriend everywhere, he also makes new friends, tries new experiences, and even hits it off with his charming hotel receptionist, Rachel. Peter and Rachel’s relationship starts to blossom, but Sarah always seems to be in the way. Peter has to make a choice between holding on to his old relationship or embracing his new one.
The movie takes place in Oahu, Hawaii and not only shows off all the beautiful scenery of the tropical paradise, but also all the enviable activities that can be done there, like attending Luau’s, relaxing at beach bonfires, and taking surfing lessons.
6 Crazy Rich Asians
Crazy Rich Asians is a visually stunning movie about a long-term couple, Rachel and Nick, who travel to Nick’s homeland of Singapore for his best friend’s wedding. Just as they board the plane to leave and surprisingly move to first class, Nick reveals to Rachel that he and his family are secretly incredibly wealthy. The secrets continue to unravel when Rachel meets Nick’s family and finds out that they don’t approve of her, going as far as forbidding him to marry her. Though Nick doesn’t care as much about his family’s approval, Rachel tries her best to win them over. Soon, she realizes that her efforts may have been in vain all along.
The movie gives the audience a chance to take in the magnificent cityscape, locations, and nature in tropical Singapore. The wedding that’s featured in the climax is easily one of the most enchanting weddings that has ever graced the big screen.
5 The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel revolves around a large cast including several British retirees that move to India to live in the “luxurious” Marigold Hotel for various reasons. However, when they arrive, they realize that the advertisements for the retirement home were misleading, and it’s actually in pretty poor shape. They decide to make the best of it and pursue different relationships and passions that they never would have otherwise. The story also follows Sonny, the struggling manager of the hotel as he does his best to keep it running. He has a girlfriend named Sunaina, but his mother doesn’t approve of her, causing more issues. The movie is located in Jaipur, India and proves just how colorful, lively, and beautiful India can be.
4 Letters to Juliet
Letters to Juliet is a touching romance about a writer named Sophie who travels to Verona, Italy with her fiancé, Victor. While she is swept up by the charm of it all, Victor spends his time researching the restaurants for the one that he is about to open back in New York. Alone, Sophie stumbles across the Secretaries of Juliet, who write back to all the people that leave letters to Juliet at her courtyard. Sophie joins them and comes across one that she truly connects with from a woman named Claire. She meets Claire and her grandson, Charlie, in order to help Claire find her long-lost love. In the process, Sophie is forced to confront her own romantic life, as well.
As the backdrop for Shakespeare’s famous Romeo and Juliet, it’s no wonder that Verona oozes romance and allure. Combined with the sweetness of the story, it can melt even the coldest heart in the audience.
3 P.S. I Love You
P.S. I Love You is the biggest tear-jerker on this list. It explores Holly’s journey to navigating her grief after her husband, Gerry, dies from a brain tumor. Because he knew what was to come, he was able to write Holly notes and set up activities for her to try and help her move on from him. Because of all the flashbacks that she has throughout the movie as well as his touching letters, it feels like Gerry is there the entire time. With his guidance, she takes small steps to starting a new life that she can be happy with. One of those biggest steps is taking a trip to Gerry’s homeland, Ireland, the place where they first met. Holly visits all the important places to her and Gerry, showing off the alluring landscape that the Irish countryside boasts.
2 Eat, Pray, Love
Eat, Pray, Love has three awe-inspiring destinations in one movie: Italy, India, and Indonesia. The settings themselves play an important role in the movie, teaching the main character, Elizabeth, about different aspects of herself. After a messy divorce, Elizabeth decides to go on a tour of the world to find herself. In Italy, she relearns the joy of food and new friends. In India, she learns the importance of spirituality and being reflective of herself. Finally, in Indonesia, she learns that maybe it’s okay to love again when she meets Felipe. The cultures and beauty of each destination, as well as the people she finds there, are the reason that Elizabeth grows and finds peace within herself.
1 Mamma Mia!
One of the most iconic destination romance movies is Mamma Mia!, which also seconds as a fun ABBA musical. It follows Sophie as she invites three men she has never met to her wedding with the intention of finding out who her real father is. The men don’t know what she’s trying to do and her mother, Donna, is unaware of their presence until she accidentally stumbles upon where Sophie has been hiding them. Donna is forced to confront her past and possible lingering feelings while Sophie struggles to keep herself and her wedding together amidst all the drama that she caused.
Mamma Mia! takes place on the fictional island Kalokairi, but was shot in two of the always colorful Greek Islands, Skopelos and Skiathos.
