25 of the most swoon-worthy romance movies of all time

Brokeback Mountain

This somewhat controversial (at the time of its release) love story isn’t your typical boy meets girl meet cute and they ride off into the sunset after a series of mix-ups that eventually lead them to each other. This is the story of boy meet boy — or rather man meets man.

Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) and ranch hand Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) are hired to heard cattle one season and one late night while working on Brokeback Mountain the cowboys begin a love affair. The movie was set between 1963 to 1983 when being gay was still taboo, especially for men of this occupation, so the two keep up this secret affair by meeting on Brokeback Mountian every year for 20 years. Their love is undeniable, erotic and just downright heartbreaking. They can’t tell anyone, including their wives — played by Michelle Williams and Anne Hathaway. Unfortunately, one half of the couple wants more than the other (or is at least willing to admit it)  and eventually, they part.

This isn’t going to be a love story with a happy ending, unlike most of the others on this list but it’s raw, emotional and absolutely real to the struggles of the gay and lesbian community at that time, which was why it was so well received when the movie was released.

Fun Fact: Brokeback Mountian lost the Best Picture Oscar to Crash in a highly controversial upset the year it was nominated. Also worth noting — Michelle Williams and Heath Ledger were a couple in real life during the filming of this movie.

Release date: December 9, 2005