Loved ‘A Big Bold Beautiful Journey’? Stream these romantic fantasy movies next
Loved ‘A Big Bold Beautiful Journey’? Stream these romantic fantasy movies next
From cursed stars to time loops, these love stories go beyond the usual.
I caught “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey” in theaters over the weekend, and while it’s a little uneven, I have to admit… I’m a total sucker for a love story with a fantasy twist. There’s just something about romance colliding with time loops, curses, magical creatures, or alternate realities that hits me (I am a softy though so that explains some of it). And honestly, we’re living in a golden era of streaming when it comes to these kinds of movies. So, if you’re in the mood for love, but want it with a little magic on the side, here are seven romantic fantasy movies you can stream right now without leaving your couch.
Top 7 romantic fantasy movies on streaming right now
No. 7: ‘Ruby Sparks’ (2012) | Rent with Prime Video
“Ruby Sparks” takes a familiar idea (the writer who falls for his own fictional character) and turns it into something way sharper and weirder than you expect. Paul Dano plays a struggling novelist who suddenly writes a dream girl into existence… literally. One day, she’s on the page. Next, she’s making him breakfast in his kitchen. It’s got a whimsical setup, but the movie digs into way messier questions about control, fantasy, and what it actually means to love someone. Zoe Kazan (who also wrote the script) plays Ruby with this unpredictable mix of sweetness and volatility, and the movie never lets you get too comfortable. It’s romantic, definitely, but also doesn’t shy away from bigger questions that will have you thinking about this movie a few days after you watch it.
Ruby Sparks
Calvin is a young novelist who achieved phenomenal success early in his career but is now struggling with his writing – as well as his romantic life. Finally, he makes a breakthrough and creates a character named Ruby who inspires him. When Calvin finds Ruby, in the flesh, sitting on his couch about a week later, he is completely flabbergasted that his words have turned into a living, breathing person.
No. 6: ‘Love and Monsters’ (2020) | Paramount+
Everyone could use some post-apocalyptic love. That’s what you’ll get in “Love and Monsters,” where the world has been overrun by giant mutated creatures. The movie follows Joel (Dylan O’Brien), a guy who decides to leave the safety of his bunker and travel 80 miles through monster-infested territory… just to reunite with his high school girlfriend. The romance is what kicks it off, but the movie really shines because of Joel’s growth along the way. It’s part road trip, part survival story, and it manages to feel sweet and hopeful without getting too cheesy along the way.
Love and Monsters
Seven years since the Monsterpocalypse began, Joel Dawson has been living underground in order to survive. But after reconnecting over radio with his high school girlfriend Aimee, Joel decides to venture out to reunite with her, despite all the dangerous monsters that stand in his way.
No. 5: ‘Stardust’ (2007) | Rent with Prime Video
“Stardust” doesn’t get mentioned nearly enough when people talk about great fantasy films. Based on the Neil Gaiman novel, it’s a swashbuckling, sky-sailing fairy tale that blends romance, magic, and adventure in a way that actually works. The story follows a young man named Tristan who promises to retrieve a fallen star for the girl he thinks he loves… only to find that the star is a woman (Claire Danes), and a lot of other people want her for far more sinister reasons. The cast is stacked too: Michelle Pfeiffer as a soul-sucking witch, Robert De Niro as a cross-dressing sky pirate, and Mark Strong doing his best villain work. It’s whimsical without being corny, and the love story really works.
Stardust
In a countryside town bordering on a magical land, a young man makes a promise to his beloved that he’ll retrieve a fallen star by venturing into the magical realm. His journey takes him into a world beyond his wildest dreams and reveals his true identity.
No. 4: ‘EverAfter’ (1998) | Disney+
“EverAfter” is one of those Cinderella retellings that actually brings something new to the table. Set in Renaissance-era France, it trades fairy godmothers and magic pumpkins for a grounded, feminist twist on the classic story. Drew Barrymore plays Danielle, a sharp, strong-willed young woman who isn’t waiting around to be rescued. She’s too busy saving herself (and others). The movie leans into romance and courtly drama, but it’s got a surprising amount of bite too, especially in how it treats class, power, and personal agency. And while it skips the magic spells, there’s still a fairy-tale vibe to the whole thing. You’ve got sword fights, secret identities, and Leonardo da Vinci acting as a kind of fairy godfather stand-in. It’s charming, heartfelt, and way more layered than it first appears.
EverAfter
Danielle, a vibrant young woman, was forced into servitude after the death of her father when she was a young girl. Danielle’s stepmother, Rodmilla, is a heartless woman who forces Danielle to do the cooking and cleaning, while she tries to marry off the eldest of her two daughters to the prince. But Danielle’s life takes a wonderful turn when, under the guise of a visiting royal, she meets the charming Prince Henry.
No. 3: ‘About Time’ (2013) | Rent with Prime Video
“About Time” starts off feeling like a sweet, slightly quirky romantic comedy, but it doesn’t stay that way. It’s about a young man named Tim who finds out from his dad that the men in their family can travel through time. At first, he uses it to fix awkward moments and win over the girl of his dreams (played by Rachel McAdams), but the story slowly shifts into something much more emotional, taking on family, loss, and learning how to appreciate everyday life. Domhnall Gleeson brings this quiet charm to the role, and Bill Nighy, as his father, delivers one of the most quietly devastating performances in any time-travel movie. The fantasy premise is simple, but what the movie does with it feels kind of profound.
About Time
The night after another unsatisfactory New Year’s party, Tim’s father reveals to him that the men in their family have the ability to travel through time. They can’t change history, but they can change what happens and has happened in their own lives. Thus begins the start of a lesson in learning to appreciate life itself as it is, as it comes, and most importantly, the people living alongside us.
No. 2: ‘Palm Springs’ (2020) | Hulu
It’s tough to find a new angle on wedding comedies, but “Palm Springs” somehow pulls it off and then some. Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti play two reluctant wedding guests who end up stuck in a time loop, reliving the same chaotic day in the desert over and over. The movie leans into the absurdity, but it also gets at some real questions about purpose, connection, and what it means to move forward when life feels stuck. Samberg and Milioti are perfect together. They’re funny, messy, and unexpectedly moving, and put all together, this was one of my favorite movies of 2020 and easily one of the most original romantic fantasies in years.
Palm Springs
When carefree Nyles and reluctant maid of honor Sarah have a chance encounter at a Palm Springs wedding, things get complicated when they find themselves unable to escape the venue, themselves, or each other.
No. 1: ‘The Princess Bride’ (1987) | Disney+
“The Princess Bride” hits every note you want it to: it’s a fairy tale, a love story, a swashbuckling adventure, and a comedy that still holds up almost 40 years later. Directed by Rob Reiner and based on the novel by William Goldman (who also wrote the screenplay), it follows the epic journey of Westley and Buttercup through cliffs, swamps, sword fights, and Rodents of Unusual Size. But the real magic is in how the movie refuses to take itself too seriously. It’s full of quotable one-liners, self-aware winks, and over-the-top performances from a stacked cast that includes Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, and André the Giant. Beneath all the jokes and fantasy, though, it’s a genuinely romantic movie that believes in true love. If you’ve never seen it, you’re in for a treat. If you have, it’s probably time to rewatch.
The Princess Bride
In this enchantingly cracked fairy tale, the beautiful Princess Buttercup and the dashing Westley must overcome staggering odds to find happiness amid six-fingered swordsmen, murderous princes, Sicilians and rodents of unusual size. But even death can’t stop these true lovebirds from triumphing.
This is an endlessly quotable classic. It’s a perfect blend of comedy, fantasy, action, and love conquering all odds.