5 Romantic Drama Films To Watch After 'The Last Letter From Your Lover'
Get your tissue boxes ready.
Based on JoJo Moyes‘ novel of the same name, The Last Letter From Your Lover follows the love story of Jennifer Stirling (Shailene Woodley) and Anthony O’Hare (Callum Turner) in 1965. What starts out as an affair turns into a whirlwind romance.
Editor’s Note: This article contains spoilers for The Last Letter From Your Lover.
During Jennifer’s summer vacation with her husband Laurence Stirling (Joe Alwyn), financial journalist Anthony is assigned to interview Laurence for the paper. Due to Laurence’s busy schedule, Jennifer finds herself lonely and seeks the company of Anthony while her husband is away. Over time, the two develop a connection and secretly communicate with each other via love letters.
After returning to London, Anthony sends his final letter to Jennifer, proposing to run away to New York together. While waiting for her at the train station, Jennifer gets into a terrible car accident. Anthony leaves on his own, believing that Jennifer chose Laurence instead. Six months later, Jennifer recovers but is suffering from amnesia. Eventually, she starts to regain her memory after finding Anthony’s letters at home. Forced to stay in her marriage due to her social and financial state, Jennifer cannot be together with Anthony.
In present day, journalist Ellie Haworth (Felicity Jones) comes across Anthony’s final letter in her publication’s archives and decides to track down the writer and receiver. With the help of archivist Rory McCallan (Nabhaan Rizwan), Ellie discovers that Anthony and Jennifer are still alive but have not been in touch for years. Ellie is determined to reunite the two lovers, so she arranges for them to meet at Postman’s Park where they finally get their happily ever after.
For more tear-jerking titles to add to your watch list, we’ve gathered a list of similar romantic drama movies. From The Notebook to Me Before You, read on for our top picks.
Dear John (2010)
Director: Lasse Hallström
Cast: Channing Tatum, Amanda Seyfried
Where To Watch: Amazon Prime
Soldier John Tyree (Channing Tatum) is on leave in Charleston, South Carolina, where he meets college student Savannah Curtis (Amanda Seyfried) during her spring break. Over time, the two fall in love with each other, but John must go back to serve the United States Army Special Forces. To keep the romance alive, John and Savannah stay in touch by writing each other letters for the next seven years — but is that enough to sustain their relationship?
Me Before You (2016)
Director: Thea Sharrock
Cast: Emilia Clarke, Sam Claflin
Where To Watch: Amazon Prime
Louisa “Lou” Clark (Emilia Clarke) is all about spreading joy and positivity. After landing a job as a caregiver for a miserable wealthy banker named Will Traynor (Sam Claflin) who is paralyzed due to an accident, Lou becomes determined to change his perspective on life. Building an unbreakable bond as they spend more time together, their lives take a turn for the better in ways neither of them see coming.
Message in a Bottle (1999)
Director: Luis Mandoki
Cast: Kevin Costner, Robin Wright Penn
Where To Watch: Amazon Prime
Theresa Osborne (Robin Wright Penn), a reporter-turned-researcher for the Chicago Tribune, comes across a bottle on the beach in Cape Cod with a heartbreaking, anonymous love letter inside. When Theresa returns to work and shares the letter with her colleagues, the content of the letter gets published without her knowledge. Theresa decides to track down the writer of the letter: Garret Blake (Kevin Costner). Little does Theresa know that her work trip to find out more about Garret will make her fall in love with him.
One Day (2011)
Director: Lone Scherfig
Cast: Anne Hathaway, Jim Sturgess
Where To Watch: Amazon Prime, Netflix
Emma (Anne Hathaway) and Dexter (Jim Sturgess) are best friends who come from two completely different worlds. On the day of their college graduation, July 15, 1988, they make a pact to reunite every year on that same date. Over the next 20 years, Emma and Dexter witness each other’s growth and somehow always manage to share the same spark they’ve had since day one.
The Notebook (2004)
Director: Nick Cassavetes
Cast: Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams
Where To Watch: Amazon Prime, Netflix
In 1940s South Carolina, Allie Hamilton (Rachel McAdams) catches the attention of Noah Calhoun (Ryan Gosling) at their local carnival. Although Allie is on a date with another guy, Noah is persistent in asking her out. Allie finally caves in, and she and Noah embark on an unexpected summer romance. However, Allie’s parents do not approve of Noah, and they send Allie to New York earlier than expected. Forced to be split apart, Noah and Allie go on with their lives until they meet again a few years later.
