The Best Movies With Forbidden Love

Harper Brooks
Updated September 8, 2025 63.3K views 75 items

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Why are movies about forbidden love so engrossing, and why do they seem to strike a chord across all cultures and periods of history? Perhaps it's because we can identify with that type of yearning, even if we don't have those restrictions in our own lives. We've all wanted something we can't have, whether it's a partner, a promotion, a luxury car, or even a different kind of life. Desire like that leads to fantasy, and what is a movie but a fantasy at 24 frames per second?

The best forbidden love stories, whether old or recent, transport us to a world of romance and drama. No wonder so many are period pieces or take place in exotic locales. Remember, even the Italian setting of Romeo and Juliet would have been exotic to Shakespeare's audience in everyday England. So, take a look at this crowd-ranked list and review the most memorable movies about forbidden love, doomed affairs, failed flings, lovers on the run, and star-crossed romances. Then, vote up your favorites!

Most divisive: Twilight
Over 1.1K Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Movies With Forbidden Love
This list is dynamically ranked based on user voting. The order reflects the consensus of our voters and is not influenced by paid placements or editorial bias.
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