When it comes to romance movies, there are a lot of subgenres to consider. Some movies deal with the nerd falling in dear with the popular guy or finding dearest where information technology'south to the lowest degree expected. But what about the love that was always there from the starting time, only needed a jumpstart to help realize it was love?

These are the lifelong all-time friends who one mean solar day realize they're in dearest with each other. As the story goes, one friend is either in love from the kickoff 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, just have become favorites when it comes to movies about long-overdue romances.

Updated on April 14th, 2022 by Danielle Bruncati:Best friends to lovers are i of the oldest tropes out there and all the same fans merely can't get enough of it. In contempo years, the friends-to-lovers trope has become even more diverse telling love stories centered on people of colour and even aforementioned-sex couples. While mainstream romantic comedies might have shied away from this trope in contempo years, the streamers and independent filmmakers take double-downed on it with great success.

16 Single All The Way (2021) – 6.one

Bachelor On Netflix

Single All The Waymade history as Netflix's first-ever aforementioned-sex Christmas movie. The story beings when Peter (Michael Urie) discovers his boyfriend is married correct before he's set to have him home for the holidays. Not wanting to show up lone, he convinces his best friend Nick (Philemon Chambers) to go with him.

While Peter and Nick have had one awkward kiss in the by, they remain strictly platonic friends. At least, that'due south until Nick starts noticing how great Peter is when he's effectually his family unit. It takes Peter a fleck of time to figure out his feelings merely when he does, these two reunite in an ballsy romantic gesture.

xv xiii Going On 30 (2004) – 6.2

Available On HBO Max

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

She wakes up years later and is xxx-years-old. She learns that she became afar and cold every bit an adult and cut ties with her best friend, Matty (Mark Ruffalo). She finds him to help figure out her by and despite him beingness engaged, they start to fall for ane another.

14 Just Friends (2005) – 6.ii

Available On HBO Max

Ryan Reynolds is no stranger to romance movies and the title for the 2005 movie, Just Friends, explains it all. The one-act/romance helps ascertain the pregnant of beingness "friend-zoned." Reynolds played the role of Chris Brander, an overweight high schoolhouse pupil whose best friends with the almost pop and gorgeous girl in school.

On graduation night, he confesses his love for her, only to be told he's more friend textile. Embarrassed, he leaves and vows to alter himself. 10 years later and with a 6-pack, he'southward a tape executive. A fluke accident lands him back habitation communicable the center of his erstwhile all-time friend.

xiii When We First Met (2018) – half-dozen.four

Bachelor 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.

Iii years after, she'due south engaged to the man she met the day after the political party. At their engagement party, Noah uses the photo booth from the Halloween political party and is transported back to 2014. Noah is determined to win over Avery and succeeds. Simply he before long realizes things turned out the way they did for a reason.

12 The Duff (2015) – 6.five

Available On Netflix

The Duff isn't necessarily a flick almost all-time friends falling in love, but more of a rekindled friendship. Bianca (Mae Whitman) has lived next door to the popular football game player since childhood, but every bit they grew older, their friendship died. Bianca learns at a political party that she'due south tagged equally "The Duff,"  the Designated Ugly Fatty Friend.

Outraged, she makes a deal with Wesley (Robbie Amell) to help him pass science, as long as he helps alter her social status and become a appointment with her crush. They rekindle their friendship, merely 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.

xi Zack And Miri Make A Porno (2008) – 6.5

Available On Tubi

Don't exist fooled by the movie title.Zack and Miri Make a Pornofalls under the category of best friends falling in love simply in a sexual activity comedy moving-picture show. Directed, edited, and written by Kevin Smith, the movie follows ii roommates who take been all-time friends since starting time grade.

When they're unable to pay their utilities, they resort to a different grade of income. Later the success of a video posted by teenage boys showing off Miri'south (Elizabeth Banks) underwear, they go inspired. They produce and star in pornographic movies with the rule that intercourse wouldn't change their friendship. Information technology ultimately does and they beginning to develop feelings for each other.

10 Plus 1 (2019) – 6.6

Bachelor On Hulu

Plus 1is an underrated independent romantic comedy that was a major success at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2019. It follows best friends from college Ben Rex (Jack Quaid) and Alice Mori (Maya Erskine) who decide to suffer a crazy summer wedding flavour together past being each other'south plus-ones.

Their program originally starts as a mode for them to go on each other company and act as wingmen at the weddings. However, Alice ends upwards falling for Ben start which complicates matters. Unable to be around him as a friend, Alice begins to pull abroad until Ben comes to his senses.

9 Brown Carbohydrate (2002) – half-dozen.half dozen

Available On Amazon Prime number Video

The 2000s gave picture fans a plethora of content to lookout man. In 2002, Brown Sugarwas a rom-com about two lifelong friends who through the trials and tribulations of 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 all-time 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.

8 The F Word (2013) – 6.eight

Bachelor On Amazon Prime Video

Harry Potter role player, Daniel Radcliffe gets a shot at beloved in the romantic comedy, The F Give-and-take. 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).

They become friends merely 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 swain becomes strained so does Wallace and Altar'southward friendship/relationship. Volition either of them make the leap to commit?

7 Ever Be My Maybe (2019) – 6.8

Available On Netflix

Randall Park and Ali Wong non only star inAlways Be My Maybebut they also co-wrote the picture show with Michael Golamco. Park and Wong play Marcus and Sasha, two childhood best friends who drifted apart later an awkward night on their graduation nighttime.

When Sasha returns to San Francisco a decade later, she reconnects with Marcus. While things are still awkward betwixt these two childhood all-time friends, there's no denying their chemistry. Their friends-to-lovers dear story is ane of the virtually relatable portrayals of the trope.

vi Yesterday (2019) – 6.8

Available On Hulu

When Jack Malik (Himesh Patel) wakes upwardly after an blow that happened during a worldwide coma, he's the only one who remembers The Beatles. A once struggling songwriter, Jack decides to re-innovate The Beatle's songs into popular culture past recording them equally the sole artist.

In the midst of Jack's rise to fame, he'due south likewise got into a relationship pickle when his all-time friend Ellie (Lily James) tells him she loves him as he'southward getting ready to continue tour. Things get worse for these best friends before it gets better, simply soon Jack realizes his feelings for Ellie and they become their happily e'er afters at the end ofYesterday.

five One Twenty-four hour period (2011) – 7

Available On Hulu

One Twenty-four hoursis a romantic drama movie that's based on a novel of the same name. This motion picture existence tagged as a drama is an understatement and information technology takes audiences on a rollercoaster of emotions that centers around two main characters who run across on July 15th. After a steamy night together, they decide to just be friends.

Every year they run into on the same mean solar day and both characters go through a whirlwind of life changes, careers, and relationships, fifty-fifty battling addiction. Forth the way, they e'er had feelings for each other. One 24-hour interval they realize they're in love and get married, but don't expect this motion picture to terminate happily ever subsequently.

iv Some Kind Of Wonderful (1987) – seven.one

Available On Paramount+

Some Kind of Wonderful is an oldie but classic in the all-time friends turned lovers story. The 1987 motion picture takes identify in the suburbs of Los Angeles centering around iii teens. Keith (Eric Stoltz) is an aspiring artist and all-time friend of tomboy Watts (Mary Stuart Masterson).

Keith becomes enamored by the school's popular daughter. 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 before long realize who he really has feelings for.

iii Love, Rosie (2014) – 7.2

Available On Hulu

Dear, Rosie is some other romance moving-picture show that will accept audiences teetering on the edge of emotions. Starring Lily Collins and Sam Claflin as Rosie and Alex, information technology follows their tumultuous journey to love. Alex and Rosie have been best friends forever. One drunken night, Alex confesses his feelings. Rosie's demeanor the adjacent day makes him think she only wants to be friends.

Rosie and Alex find new partners and Rosie becomes pregnant. As years go by, they're still friends and Alex becomes a begetter. 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 Beloved & Basketball (2000) – 7.2

Available On HBO Max

Love & Basketball is a staple motion-picture show that's always playing on Television set and for good reason. This love story is a bit dissimilar, seeing equally the primary 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 game stars.

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

ane When Harry Met Emerge (1989) – 7.6

Available On HBO Max

The 1989 film, When Harry Met Sally might well be the offset of the question, "Tin can men and women ever just be friends?" The motion-picture show 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 beingness able to stay friends due to sex getting in the style.

Leaving on bad terms, the main characters remeet, years afterward, on a flying. They conclude they can't exist friends due to the rising dilemma. Merely after remeeting again, they develop a friendship. Along the way, through failed relationships and bubbling feelings, they realize they loved each other all forth.

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About The Author

Gabriela Silva (478 Articles Published)

Gabriela Silva is a List writer for Screen Rant with feel in all things television, motion picture and pop civilization. A graduate of Fordham Academy with previous years feel interning for Platitude Magazine. With her passion for movies, television and entertainment, she's interviewed some keen actors from Cress Williams of 'Black Lightning' to Tati Gabrielle from 'Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.' Her love for amusement reaches a broad range of interests from 90s thriller movies, guilty pleasance teen dramas, action-packed MCU movies to popular K-dramas. You'll most probable find her binge-watching a new tv show or movies on Netflix into the early forenoon.

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