There is nothing more beautiful than falling in love. The romance genre is one of the most timeless in film you could have. From a soul-crushing breakup montage to the grand kiss in the rain, falling in love on-screen is an art mastered by some of the best in the industry today. In order for a romance movie to work, the characters have to have a certain draw to them that has audiences rooting for a happily ever after. Well, no one does it quite like Rachel McAdams.
McAdams has definitely cemented herself as one of the main faces of the romance genre. No matter who she shares the screen with, if it is romance, sparks are sure to fly. She’s likable, her characters are complex and relatable, and the chemistry she has with her costars is through the roof. From the romance movie of all romance movies in The Notebook to newer rom-coms like Aloha, here is how we have ranked McAdams’ romance movies based on her chemistry with her love interest.
9 Aloha
Aloha has Bradley Cooper’s character having an eye out for McAdams’ character. How perfect. Aloha is a romantic comedy that came out in 2015. In this film, Brian, a military contractor, goes to Oahu and finds himself rekindling an old relationship with Tracy, played by McAdams. However, not everything could be that easy. Tracy is married, and Brian is also developing feelings for fighter pilot Allison Ng (played by Emma Stone).
8 Every Thing Will Be Fine
McAdams is the kind of actress that can have chemistry with every actor she is paired up with. The German-Canadian-Swedish romance drama Every Thing Will Be Fine is just one of many. McAdams stars alongside James Franco in this film. Franco plays a troubled Tomas Eldan. When Tomas accidentally kills a child, his life begins to fall apart, including his relationship with his girlfriend Sara, played by McAdams.
7 Midnight in Paris
Midnight in Paris is a fantasy romance movie that came out in 2011. This film has a pretty quirky plot, making McAdams and Owen Wilson perfect for their roles. In this film, Wilson plays an up-and-coming writer named Gil. Gil goes on a trip to Paris with his fiancée Inez (McAdams) when he gets thrown into the time of the 1920s at midnight every night. Soon enough, he falls in love with the time period and its art and music that his current life does not seem as appealing as it once was.
6 Wedding Crashers
Wilson and McAdams have done it again. With these two in a rom-com, they are truly a sight to see. Wedding Crashers came out in 2005, and follows Jeremy (Vince Vaughn) and John (Wilson), who are certified wedding crashers. However, for a certain high-profile wedding, the two make it their mission to make the most of the event. There, John forms a thriving connection with bridesmaid Claire (McAdams). Both Wilson and McAdams are dynamic actors in a variety of genres and when they are paired together, you get something like Wedding Crashers.
5 The Vow
Promises are made, not meant to be broken. Throughout his career, Channing Tatum has had “heartthrob” written all over him. Pair him with the queen of romance, Rachel McAdams? Count all of us in! 2012’s The Vow has the best romance trope you could ask for. We follow Paige (McAdams) and Leo (Tatum) right during the peak of their simple and passionate marriage when tragedy strikes. An accident leaves Paige unable to remember the last few years of her life, including the existence of her husband. Would their love prevail despite the new obstacles that stand in their way? Tatum and McAdams have something special in this heartbreaking love story.
4 The Time Traveler’s Wife
2009 gave us the pairing between Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana in the science fiction romance film The Time Traveler’s Wife. If you are a fan of romance movies in general, The Time Traveler’s Wife is a solid choice for any and all occasions. In this film, Henry (Bana) uncontrollably travels through time. When he meets his soulmate in Claire (McAdams), their relationship is even more complicated because he is constantly moving through time into different phases of their relationship, and they just can’t seem to line up. Chemistry is a must with a plot like this one, so it is no surprise that McAdams and Bana are in sync, even if their characters are not.
3 Disobedience
Although this one might not be the first film to come to mind when we mention Rachel McAdams’ romance movies, make sure you do not overlook it. In 2017, McAdams and Rachel Weisz starred in the romance drama Disobedience. This one is a case of forbidden love that has existed since their childhood. The two women reunite and rekindle the chemistry they had when they were younger, now exploring love and lust as adults. McAdams and Weisz take on these roles like second nature and as an audience, we believed in every second of it.
2 About Time
Mixing some supernatural elements into a romance movie is one of the best decisions ever made. In 2013, McAdams teamed up with Domhnall Gleeson in the fantasy romance movie About Time. About Time is pretty much a masterpiece. The film follows Tim (Gleeson), a young man who discovers that he has the unbelievable ability to travel through time, learning how to correct some of his past mistakes and piece together the future he always wanted. On that journey, he crosses paths with Mary (McAdams), and they begin to navigate life together. McAdams and Gleeson are the perfect balance of charming and charismatic that makes sure that there is never a dull moment in their love story.
1 The Notebook
Sitting at the top of the romance movie throne is, as always, The Notebook. The Notebook is the film adaptation of Nicolas Sparks’s novel of the same name. The film came out in 2004 and pretty much established a blueprint for every romance movie and real-life romantic experience coming after. The film follows Ally (McAdams) and Noah, played by Ryan Gosling, who have a whirlwind romance over the summer when their social status, physical distance, and life paths draw them apart.
The two are not kept apart for long when they find their lives crashing back into each other. Gosling and McAdams create magic on screen with their portrayal of passion, love, and unrelenting tension between their two characters. Want pure romance? This is the film for you.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
