15 Passionate Movies like The Notebook

Whenever someone says “romantic drama,” The Notebook (2004) by Nicholas Sparks immediately comes to mind. The Notebook was originally a novel, of course, but it wasn’t long before it got its own movie of the same name.

Ever since, the Nicholas Sparks adaptation became a hit around the world, inspiring many more romantic dramas like The Notebook, each with its own love story, each either a romantic drama or a romantic comedy.

Nicholas Sparks’ movie of the same name has seen the success that is easy to understand.

In short, it is a love story taking place during World War II, which separates Noah and Allie when he goes off to serve in the world war. Years later, he returns only to find out that she is about to get married. As you can imagine, the young love gets reawakened.

Ever since The Notebook, movie fans have been searching for other films like The Notebook. There are plenty, with brilliant actors like Ryan Reynolds, Shane West, Mandy Moore, and Gerard Butler, and many other great names.

Below I’ve hand picked 15 other movies to check out if you’re a fan of The Notebook.

Dear John (2010)

The first on our list of movies like The Notebook is Dear John, which is a love story about a soldier, John Tyree, who falls in love with an idealistic college student Savannah. Like the Notebook, there is a strong romance that starts immediately, but once again, it gets interrupted because of the war.

The romantic relationship is forced to continue via love letters, hence the name of the movie Dear John, with only rare face-to-face meetings. However, the correspondence also leads to a major plot twist that no one could predict.

The film stars Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried.

The Time Traveler’s Wife (2009)

The Time Traveler’s Wife is not among the regular romantic films, and it certainly differs from Nicholas Sparks’ adaptation quite strongly.

It is still a love story, while some believe it belongs among the tragic love stories and is a must-watch movie, however. For that it takes a well-deserved spot on this list.

The story revolves around Henry, a man who has a genetic disorder that causes him to travel through time unpredictably, and Claire (Rachel McAdams), his wife. Claire has to deal with Henry’s common and prolonged disappearances, and eventually, she also starts to wish for a baby, so that a part of him would stay with her when he is gone.

The film stars Eric Bana, Rachel McAdams, Hailey McCann, and others.

I Want You Back (2022)

The next on our list of romance movies like The Notebook is I Want You Back, featuring Peter and Emily, two total strangers dumped by their significant others on the same weekend.

After they meet, the young couple can understand each other’s pain, and that is what ties them together, and before long, the love story unfolds.

Especially after the young lovers find out that their former partners have moved on, each seeking their own romantic future.

The film stars Jenny Slate, Charlie Day, Gina Rodriguez, Isabel May, and others.

Water For Elephants (2011)

One of the best movies like The Notebook is Water For Elephants, by director Richard LaGravenese. However, this is not your straightforward romance movie.

The film follows Jacob Jankowski, a veterinary student who runs away after a terrible tragedy, and joins a traveling circus. There, he meets Marlena, one of the performers, after becoming the circus’ animal caretaker.

While not his dream job, he stays as a passionate love affair quickly starts. The only problem is that Marlena is married.

The film stars Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon, and Christoph Waltz.

Dirty Dancing (1987)

If you want more movies like The Notebook, Dirty Dancing is one of the best that you will find, even though it came out over a decade and a half earlier.

Still a great movie, it follows Baby, who seeks to enjoy her youth while it lasts, only to end up spending yet another summer stuck with her parents. However, her luck turns around when she meets a young man called Johnny, a local dance instructor who enlists her as his new partner.

The film stars Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Grey, Cynthia Rhodes, Kelly Bishop, and others.

The Longest Ride (2015)

We cannot talk about romantic movies like The Notebook without mentioning The Longest Ride, directed by George Tillman Jr.

The movie’s romantic lead is Luke (Scott Eastwood), a former bull-riding champion who is with Sophia (Britt Robertson), an art student who seeks to move to New York, while he wishes to get back into the rodeo circuit.

As the couple closes in on the breaking point, an elderly man whose decades-long romance with his wife helps them find inspiration.

Apart from nice-looking location shots, the film also features a beautiful story that makes The Longest Ride definitely worth watching.

The film stars Scott Eastwood and Britt Robertson.

Blue Valentine (2010)

A young married couple, Dean (Ryan Gosling) and Cindy (Michelle Williams) live a quiet and seemingly normal life. But, under the surface, they have a love-hate relationship that is leading their marriage toward its end.

He lacks ambition, while she is retreating in self-absorption, which sends their marriage spiraling down.

While the emotional conflict does make Blue Valentine seem like one of the movies similar to The Notebook, the lost love makes it the wrong movie for those seeking a happy ending.

The film stars Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling.

Remember me (2010)

One of the best films like The Notebook is Remember Me, a heart-wrenching film about a young man named Tyler (Robert Pattinson), who had a difficult relationship with his father, following a family tragedy.

He is acting out, thinking that no one understands him, until he meets Ally.

While her presence, warmth, and spirit are having a positive impact, their relationship still gets threatened by emerging secrets.

The film stars Robert Pattinson and Emilie de Ravin.

Safe Haven (2013)

I saw many movies like The Notebook, including Safe Haven, a story about a girl called Kate, who is seeking to start a new life in a small town in North Carolina. While she is initially trying to keep to herself, the warm and loving community quickly wins her over.

With the help of a widower Alex, as well as his children, she learns to love and trust again. However, things take a turn after a stranger shows up and starts asking questions.

The film stars Josh Duhamel and Julianne Hough.

Sweet November (2001)

Another of the best romantic movies like The Notebook is Sweet November. The story revolves around Nelson and Sara, who have nothing in common but are still intrigued by one another. While neither is ready to commit, they still kick off a love affair with very specific rules.

They agree to do a “trial month” and then go their separate ways. No pressure, no expectations, and no strings attached. Of course, things don’t quite go that way for them.

The film stars Keanu Reeves and Charlize Theron.

The Lake House (2006)

This is one of the more curious fantasy romance films that you can find on Amazon Prime Video. It is a movie about a relationship that forms between an architect who owns a house on the lake, and a doctor who lived in that same house two years earlier.

With two years separating them, they can only communicate by passing letters into the mailbox, which transports them in time.

Despite this “little hiccup,” the pair still falls for one another. The only question is, can they ever be together?

The film stars Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock.

Bright Star (2009)

Bright Star is a movie about a woman called Fanny, who falls hopelessly in love with a young poet. At first, it starts with her being intrigued by him, but after reading his poetry, she falls deeply in love with him.

However, the frail poet, who will one day be known as the great John Keats, has struggled a lot through life, and he wouldn’t allow himself to act on his feelings because he had no money to support a wife.

The film stars Ben Whishaw and Abbie Cornish.

Me and Earl and A Dying Girl (2015)

There are many more movies like The Notebook, such as Me and Earl and a Dying Girl. It is about Greg, a high school student who tends to avoid social connections, apart from his friend, Earl.

However, after his mother insists that he spends time with a cancer-stricken girl, Rachel, things take a turn and lead to a true friendship.

However, with the life of the little girl on the line, it will also take you on an emotional rollercoaster that you won’t soon forget.

The film stars Olivia Cooke, RJ Cyler, and Thomas Mann.

Just Like Heaven

David moves into a new apartment only to find it haunted by a spirit of a girl called Elizabeth, who doesn’t believe that she is a ghost. However, as the two find a way to tolerate one another, they also try to figure out what happened to her.

It turns out that she was in a car accident that put her in a coma, and now the question is, how to get her to wake up.

But, while the strange couple is trying to wrap their heads around the problem, they also start falling in love.

The film stars Reese Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo.

Love and Basketball (2000)

Love and Basketball is a film about high school sweethearts, Monica and Quincy, both of whom became professional basketball players, with dreams of playing in a professional basketball league since they were kids.

They separate after Quincy’s relationship with his father deteriorates, but they meet again for one more game, years later. This time, however, they don’t only end up playing basketball, but go back into the sweet and sporty love story that got interrupted years back.

The film stars Sanaa Lathan, Omar Epps, Dennis Haysbert, and others.