20 Romantic Love Songs From Movie Musicals

Musical theater is one of the most complex and rich forms of art. Performing it involves a deep knowledge of literature, music, and dancing, and it has the power to move even the biggest skeptic. That’s why love songs are can be much more powerful in musicals than in regular movies, since the songs are driving the plot and making poignant moments of character development.

Movie musicals don’t necessarily need to be about romance in order to have great love songs. After all, love can be included in movies even if it’s not the central part. This list will draw the reader’s attention toward heartwarming (and sometimes heartbreaking) love songs in movie musicals.

20 “Without Love” – Hairspray (2007)

There have been two Hairspray movies, both of them brilliant, and both of them performed by incredible actors. The songs from this musical are classics by now, and “Without Love” is probably one of the most well-known songs, sung by Seaweed, Penny, Tracy, and Link.

What Makes It So Romantic

This song shows Seaweed and Link rescuing Penny and Tracy and the two couples confessing their love. The four of them describe love in different ways, and express how they could never live without each other. They also dispel all prejudices and insecurities their loved ones and families could have in the process.

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19 “All I Ask of You” – The Phantom of the Opera (2004)

One of the most iconic stories of the 20th century, without a doubt, impeccably adapted as a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, and later as a movie. The Phantom of the Opera‘s soundtrack is beautiful, and the song “All I Ask of You” is probably one of the best.

What Makes It So Romantic

“All I Ask of You” is sung by the protagonist Christine Daaé and one of her love interests, Raoul. The lyrics speak about a simple and true love, which makes sense, considering that the two of them have known each other since childhood. With the words “love me, that’s all I ask of you,” she’s expressing she wants nothing from him other than his affections, and as long as they have each other they don’t need anything else.

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18 “Come What May” – Moulin Rouge (2001)

“Come What May”, aside from being an incredibly romantic song, played a big role in Moulin Rouge. It signals a big turning point in the romantic relationship between Christian and Satine, and he includes the song in the musical he’s writing.

What Makes It So Romantic

“Come What May” is an unequivocal declaration of love, a bold gesture from Christian, whose love affair with Satine is forbidden. It’s also romantic because of how fleeting their time together is. She is in a weakened state when the song is revealed, but that doesn’t deter either of them. “I love you until the end of time / Come what may / Come what may / I will love you until my dying day.”

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17 “Come to Your Senses” – Tick, Tick… Boom! (2021)

Tick, Tick… Boom! is pretty much the perfect movie musical. As if the fact that it’s based on a Jonathan Larson musical wasn’t enough, this movie is directed by one of the greatest current musical writers, Lin-Manuel Miranda. The song “Come To Your Senses”, a song written by Larson himself, is performed by Vanessa Hudgens and Alexandra Shipp in this movie.

What Makes It So Romantic

This song is performed when Jonathan Larson is presenting the workshop for his musical, and in the movie, he had written it just 12 hours before the show. He wrote it for his girlfriend, Susan, after a huge fight, and when he hears it being performed, she comes to his mind and hears her sing it to him, and realizes that she had been asking him to stay with her all along.

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16 “When You’re Home” – In the Heights (2021)

“When You’re Home” is the sweetest welcome back song ever. In In the Heights, Benny and Nina, high school sweethearts, finally reunite when Nina comes back from her first year of college. The two of them have broken up in good terms after she left, but are still in love with each other. Benny lets her know that in this song.

RELATED: Best Movie Musicals of the 21st Century, So Far

What Makes It So Romantic

What’s so great about “When You’re Home” is how Benny goes into great detail about how much better his life is when Nina’s around. He recounts their best times together, and even when she begins to doubt herself, he reassures her that his love, and all their friends’ love for her will always be with her.

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15 “I Should Tell You” – Rent (2005)

Most characters in Rent are dealing with some kind of baggage that affects their relationships, but while some let it drag them down, others refuse to go down without a fight. Mimi always made it clear to Roger he was interested, but he hesitated and turned her away most of the time. That is, until the song “I Should Tell You”.

What Makes It So Romantic

A topic that’s prevalent in this musical is the characters’ struggle with HIV and AIDS, something Roger can’t quite come to terms with, and consequently makes him pull away from those who he loves. During “I Should Tell You”, Mimi confides in him that she’s also dealing with the disease, and urges him to allow himself to enjoy whatever time he has left. With her. They share everything they’re going through, and decide to see where their relationship goes.

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14 “Somewhere” – West Side Story (1961)

Iconic musical by the late great Stephen Sondheim, West Side Story has been made into a movie more than once. With music by Leonard Bernstein, this story contains an incredible array of songs, and “Somewhere” is among the best of them. Although the composers weren’t all that thrilled about it.

What Makes It So Romantic

What’s so beautiful and romantic about this song is how it imagines a beautiful future for Maria and Tony. Both of them are devastated, but in their despair they realize being together is all they want, for however long they have. They imagine a time and a place where there’s no hurry, where they can be together and build a life in peace.

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13 “You’re the One That I Want” – Grease (1978)

An incredible, unforgettable performance by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John in Grease that continues to inspire people even decades later. Their rendition of “You’re the One that I Want” features them in their roles of Danny Zuko and Sandy Olsson, finally coming together.

What Makes It So Romantic

Summer romances are, usually, not meant to last, which only makes Danny and Sandy’s love all the more special. With this song, the two of them are expressing their genuine feelings for each other, and Sandy is telling Danny that she’s waiting for him, if he’s ready, because he’s the only one for her.

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12 “Never Enough” – The Greatest Showman (2017)

The Greatest Showman has it all: romance, adventure, life lessons, and unrequited love. When Barnum meets Jenny Lind, an incredibly talented and intelligent European singer, he hires her to go with him to the US to tour with his company. He thinks she agreed because it’s a good career move, but she might have an ulterior motive, as becomes evident in this song.

What Makes It So Romantic

Although Barnum and Jenny Lind never get together, the song Jenny sings to a then oblivious Barnum is an undeniable confession of feelings. In the song “Never Enough”, she’s telling him how, no matter what she has, it’ll never compare to having his love, and that’s the one thing she’ll never get.

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11 Beauty and the Beast – “Beauty and the Beast” (1991)

A song everyone will recognize, from a movie that appeals to all ages, for it is, after all a tale as old as time. Beauty and the Beast tells a fairy tale about a beautiful, incredibly smart young girl who falls in love with a prince turned beast. The song by the same name shares this timeless love story.

What Makes It So Romantic

Who said animated movies didn’t know romance? This song, performed by none other than Celine Dion, tells a story of redemption and learning, of looking beyond appearances, and never letting anyone tell you that love is wrong when it makes you happy.

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10 “I’ll Cover You” – Rent (2005)

The Rent movie, based on one of the best musicals of the last couple of decades, is known for having some of the most amazing rock songs ever featured in musicals. And some great ballads too, like the song “I’ll Cover You”. This is a love song performed by Angel and Collins, and their relationship, despite its ending, is probably the simplest and most beautiful in the movie.

What Makes It So Romantic

Angel and Collins, from the very beginning, know that their time together is limited, but they have never allowed this knowledge to keep them from loving with all their hearts. “I’ll Cover You” tells the story of Angel asking Collins to live with him and confessing his love, and Collins replying that he feels the same. Through the song they confess that they don’t have much, but as long as they have “sweet kisses” to give, they will be alright, and Collins swears that he will stay with Angel for as long as he has left.

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9 “Suddenly Seymour” – Little Shop of Horrors (1986)

Little Shop of Horrors, perhaps the most bizarre and original musical of the 20th century, is not really known for being a romantic story. But no one can deny that the bond between Audrey and Seymour is, in its essence, wholesome and sweet. And “Suddenly Seymour” really reflects their heartwarming relationship.

What Makes It So Romantic

Audrey and Seymour were friends for a long time before they got together, but Audrey was stuck in an abusive relationship. Seymour is the one that helped her see that she deserved better. Audrey sings this song about how she discovered, thanks to him, that a relationship is supposed to make her feel better about herself, lift her up instead of putting her down, and that love is not meant to hurt.

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8 “Falling Slowly” – Once (2007)

The Irish musical Once is, without a doubt, criminally underrated, but “Falling Slowly” at least received the kind of attention it deserved. In 2008, it won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, and was nominated for a Grammy. Aside from being an amazing song, it was a crucial element for a pivotal moment in the movie.

What Makes It So Romantic

The movie follows Guy and Girl, two people who are learning how to love again. They connect by collaborating in music, but “Falling Slowly” is the song that gets them both to lower their guard and realize they want to be together. It’s a song about starting over and daring to love, and it speaks directly to both protagonists.

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7 “I See The Light” – Tangled (2010)

Although Tangled is a very romantic and sweet movie, and there are many moments between Rapunzel and Flynn Rider, the song “I See the Light” might mark the most romantic moment in the film. They both have completely let their guards down and are willing to follow their hearts.

What Makes It So Romantic

During this song, Rapunzel and Flynn bare their hearts to each other, and together come to the conclusion that everything they went through, everything they suffered without knowing why, was all so they could find each other. Now they finally “see the light” and the light is their life together.

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6 “City of Stars” – La La Land (2016)

A love story doesn’t have to last forever to be real, and La La Land proves this. This movie tells the story of two aspiring artists who fall in love and help each other achieve their artistic goals, but ironically that ends up pushing them apart. The song “City of Stars”, referring to Los Angeles, is sung several times throughout the movie, and follows the couple’s evolution.

What Makes It So Romantic

“City of Stars” is an ode that protagonists Mia and Seb sing to each other and to the city they believe will make their dreams come true. In different parts of the movie, they sing about what they want the most, which is success and love, and although it’s bittersweet, because they don’t end up finding it together, in the end, it represents their love, which was a huge part of their lives.

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5 “It Only Takes a Moment” – Hello, Dolly! (1969)

Hello, Dolly! is a 1969 musical movie that has the most incredible cast and crew imaginable. Directed by Gene Kelly, the cast includes Barbra Streisand, Walter Matthau, Michael Crawford, Marianne McAndrew, Louis Armstrong, and many more. So, of course the songs are some of the best in existence. “It Only Takes a Moment” is no exception.

RELATED: The Best Classic Hollywood Musicals (in Color), Ranked

What Makes It So Romantic

A song performed by Michael Crawford and Marianne McAndrew, who played Cornelius Hackl and Irene Molloy, “It Only Takes a Moment” is a sweet and exciting love song that praises love at first sight and the thrill that comes with it, and how “it only takes a moment” to fall in love if you meet the one.

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4 “Love You I Do” – Dreamgirls

Dreamgirls

Director

Bill Condon

Main Genre

Drama

Release Date

December 25, 2006

Cast

Jamie Foxx, Beyonce Knowles, Eddie Murphy, Danny Glover, Jennifer Hudson, Anika Noni Rose

Rating

PG-13

Genres

Drama, Documentary, Musical

Dreamgirls follows the lives of the girls in a singing group called “The Dreamettes”, and their successes, struggles, conflicts, and love lives. Particularly Effie, former lead singer, has a difficult time once they finally enter the entertainment industry, and both her ego and her heart suffer. She sings the song “Love You I Do” about that feeling.

What Makes It So Romantic

When Effie feels her lover and manager, Curtis, pulling away from her both personally and professionally, she sings “Love You I Do”, which marks an emotional moment in the film, since she recounts everything she loves about him and how he makes her feel.

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3 “Rewrite the Stars” – The Greatest Showman (2017)

Philip Carlyle, while not the genius himself, is one of the most creative characters in The Greatest Showman. He’s also incredibly bold, since he was from a rich family and left it all behind to, literally, join the circus. There, he falls in love with acrobat Anne Wheeler, but racial prejudice keeps them apart. In the song “Rewrite the Stars”, he tries to convince her not to throw it all away because of other people’s opinions.

What Makes It So Romantic

In this song, it becomes evident that Anne and Philip and hopelessly in love, and Philip asks Anne to imagine a world in which nothing stands in their way. Anne says that, while that’s lovely, it’s a pipe dream, but Philip insists that their love is strong enough to make that world a reality.

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2 “‘Till There Was You” – The Music Man (1962)

The Music Man, a movie adaptation of Meredith Willson’s 1957 Broadway musical, follows a love story between a con artist and one of his marks. Harold Hill wants to seduce librarian Marian Paroo for his own benefit, but life has other plans, as becomes evident in the song “‘Till There Was You”.

What Makes It So Romantic

Harold is a very charming man, he has to be, in his profession, but Marian is smarter than that. They both remain stubborn for a long time, for different reasons, but the song “‘Til There Was You” is how the audience realizes that Harold’s feelings for Marian are real, and will eventually be reciprocated.

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1 “When the Sun Goes Down” – In the Heights (2021)

This is one of the last songs featured in In the Heights, after the blackout, after Nina makes a decision that will change her life, and consequently, her relationship with Benny. “When the Sun Goes Down” is kind of a reprise of “When You’re Home”, the song Benny sings to her when she gets back from university, but this time, he’s saying goodbye to her.

What Makes It So Romantic

Although Benny is heartbroken by Nina’s decision, in this song, he’s letting her know he will never resent her for it and that he knows it’s the best for him. He also tells her he will wait for her, but doesn’t expect her to do the same. Nina, for her part, replies that he doesn’t have to worry, and swears that she will come back for him. It’s bittersweet, but hopeful.

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