When it comes to romance movies, there are a lot of subgenres to consider. Some movies deal with the nerd falling in love with the popular guy or finding love where it’s least expected. But what about the love that was always there from the beginning, but needed a jumpstart to help realize it was love?

These are the lifelong best friends who one day realize they’re in love with each other. As the story goes, one friend is either in love from the start and got friend-zoned or comes to realize that the one they truly loved was right in front of them. These movies may not always rate highly with audiences, but have become favorites when it comes to movies about long-overdue romances.

Update on April 8th, 2021 by Gabriela Silva: When a best friend has feelings for the other friend in a drama or even a comedy, it can lead to a tricky situation. In most cases, these feelings don’t become an issue until the introduction of another romantic character, and, sometimes, life situations bring these best friends closer to realizing their feelings for one another. There are plenty of friends-to-lovers movies out there to binge-watch.

12 13 Going On 30 (2004): 6.2  – Available to stream on HBO Max

13 Going on 30 is a teen classic when it comes to romance movies from the 2000s. Everyone secretly wishes to have “magic wishing dust” and the best-friend-turned-lovers story in this movie is a bit different. Jenna (Jennifer Garner) gets embarrassed by the popular girls at her 13th birthday and makes a wish to become “30, flirty, and thriving.”

She wakes up years later and is 30-years-old. She learns that she became distant and cold as an adult and cut ties with her best friend, Matty (Mark Ruffalo). She finds him to help figure out her past and despite him being engaged, they start to fall for one another.

11 Just Friends (2005): 6.2 – Available to buy on Amazon Prime Video

Ryan Reynolds is no stranger to romance movies and the title for the 2005 movie, Just Friends, explains it all. The comedy/romance helps define the meaning of being “friend-zoned.” Reynolds played the role of Chris Brander, an overweight high school student whose best friends with the most popular and gorgeous girl in school.

On graduation night, he confesses his love for her, only to be told he’s more friend material. Embarrassed, he leaves and vows to change himself. Ten years later and with a six-pack, he’s a record executive. A fluke accident lands him back home catching the eye of his former best friend.

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10 When We First Met (2018): 6.4 – Available to stream on Netflix

When We First Met is a friends-turned-lovers story that turns backward by the end of the movie. Noah Ashby (Adam DeVine) regrets never being able to woo his friend, Avery (Alexandra Daddario) at the Halloween party they met at in 2014.

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Three years later, she’s engaged to the man she met the day after the party. At their engagement party, Noah uses the photo booth from the Halloween party and is transported back to 2014. Noah is determined to win over Avery and succeeds. But he soon realizes things turned out the way they did for a reason.

9 The Duff (2015): 6.5 – Available to buy on Amazon Prime Video

The Duff isn’t necessarily a movie about best friends falling in love, but more of a rekindled friendship. Bianca (Mae Whitman) has lived next door to the popular football player since childhood, but as they grew older, their friendship died. Bianca learns at a party that she’s tagged as “The Duff,”  the Designated Ugly Fat Friend.

Outraged, she makes a deal with Wesley (Robbie Amell) to help him pass science, as long as he helps change her social status and get a date with her crush. They rekindle their friendship, but Bianca gets heartbroken by her crush and finds out that Wesley took his ex to their ‘spot.’ By the end, Wesley realizes that Bianca was always right for him.

8 Zack And Miri Make A Porno (2008): 6.5 – Available to buy on Amazon Prime Video

Don’t be fooled by the movie title. Zack and Miri Make a Porno falls under the category of best friends falling in love but in a sex comedy movie. Directed, edited, and written by Kevin Smith, the movie follows two roommates who have been best friends since first grade.

When they’re unable to pay their utilities, they resort to a different form of income. After the success of a video posted by teenage boys showing off Miri’s (Elizabeth Banks) underwear, they get inspired. They produce and star in pornographic movies with the rule that intercourse wouldn’t change their friendship. It ultimately does and they start to develop feelings for each other.

7 Brown Sugar (2002): 6.6 – Available to stream on Cinemax

The 2000s gave movie fans a plethora of content to watch. In 2002, Brown Sugar was a rom-com about two lifelong friends who through the trials and tribulations their careers and relationship. Sidney (Sanaa Lathan) is the editor-in-chief of a hip-hop magazine while Dre (Taye Diggs) is a talent scout at a record label.

When Dre is set to marry another woman, Sidney doesn’t know how to act accordingly with her best friend. As Dre gets married and starts a new business venture, jealousy sparks when Sidney gets her own proposal. The two friends play a tug-and-war battle about how they really feel about each other.

6 The F Word (2013): 6.8 – Available to stream on Amazon Prime Video

Harry Potter actor, Daniel Radcliffe gets a shot at love in the romantic comedy, The F Word. Wallace (Radcliffe) is down on his luck living with his sister and a nephew in Toronto. After his best friend coerces him to socialize and attend a party, he meets Chantry (Zoe Kazan).

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They become friends but Chantry has a long-term boyfriend. As time passes, Wallace knows he has deep feelings for her and Chantry feels something too. As Chantry’s relationship with her boyfriend becomes strained so does Wallace and Chantry’s friendship/relationship. Will either of them make the leap to commit?

5 One Day (2011): 7 – Available to stream on HBO Max

One Day is a romantic drama movie that’s based on a novel of the same name. This movie being tagged as a drama is an understatement and it takes audiences on a rollercoaster of emotions that centers around two main characters who meet on July 15th. After a steamy night together, they decide to just be friends.

Every year they meet on the same day and both characters go through a whirlwind of life changes, careers, and relationships, even battling with addiction. Along the way, they always had feelings for each other. One day they realize they’re in love and get married, but don’t expect this movie to end happily ever after.

4 Some Kind Of Wonderful (1987): 7.1 – Available to stream on Amazon Prime Video

Some Kind of Wonderful is an oldie but classic in the best friends turned lovers story. The 1987 movie takes place in the suburbs of Los Angeles centering around three teens. Keith (Eric Stoltz) is an aspiring artist and best friends with tomboy, Watts (Mary Stuart Masterson).

Keith becomes enamored by the school’s popular girl. When she finally breaks up with her boyfriend, he swoops in and asks her on a date. Watts realizes her feelings for her best friend run much deeper than she expected. Watts has no choice but to be a good friend and help Keith on his date. Keith might soon realize who he really has feelings for.

3 Love, Rosie (2014): 7.2 – Available to stream on Paramount+ and Pluto TV

Love, Rosie is another romance movie that will have audiences teetering on the edge with emotions. Starring Lily Collins and Sam Claflin as Rosie and Alex, it follows their tumultuous journey to love. Alex and Rosie have been best friends since forever. One drunken night, Alex confesses his feelings. Rosie’s demeanor the next day makes him think she just wants to be friends.

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Rosie and Alex find new partners and Rosie becomes pregnant. As years go by, they’re still friends and Alex becomes a father. Both have failed marriages and turn to each other. Alex realizes that Rosie didn’t remember his confession and by the end, they share a long-awaited kiss.

2 Love & Basketball (2000): 7.2 – Available to buy on Amazon Prime Video

Love & Basketball is a staple movie that’s always playing on TV and for good reason. This love story is a bit different, seeing as the main characters do date on and off. Monica Wright (Sanaa Lathan) and Quincy McCall (Omar Epps) have known each other since childhood and both have the drive to become professional basketball stars.

The two do become sweethearts in 1981, but along the way, they split but remain friends. Each struggles with their path to success and at one point, they rekindle their love. They drift apart again and go their separate ways, but stay in contact. Don’t worry, though, this one has a happy ending.

1 When Harry Met Sally (1989): 7.6 – Available to stream on Showtime

The 1989 movie, When Harry Met Sally might well be the beginning of the question, “Can men and women ever just be friends?” The movie revolves around the two main characters and their chance encounters over several years. It all starts on a cross-country drive that raises the dilemma of men and women not being able to stay friends due to sex getting in the way.

Leaving on bad terms, the main characters remeet, years later, on a flight. They conclude they can’t be friends due to the rising dilemma. But after remeeting again, they develop a friendship. Along the way, through failed relationships and bubbling feelings, they realize they loved each other all along.

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About The Author


Gabriela Silva
(477 Articles Published)

Gabriela Silva is a List writer for Screen Rant with experience in all things television, film and pop culture. A graduate of Fordham University with previous years experience interning for Cliché Magazine.

With her passion for movies, television and entertainment, she’s interviewed some great actors from Cress Williams of ‘Black Lightning’ to Tati Gabrielle from ‘Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.’

Her love for entertainment reaches a broad range of interests from 90s thriller movies, guilty pleasure teen dramas, action-packed MCU movies to popular K-dramas. You’ll most likely find her binge-watching a new television show or movies on Netflix into the early morning.

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