Are you looking to watch movies like 365 Days? You’re in the right place. 365 Days was a popular 2020 Polish erotic thriller that was about a guy who kidnaps a woman and gives her 365 days to fall in love with him. 365 Days set a new bar for what a romantic drama can entail, combining a gripping storyline with passionate encounters, and creating a genre of its own that delves into the depths of desire, power, and the complexities of human relationships.
In this article, we dive into a carefully curated list of movies that match, if not surpass, the intensity and allure of 365 Days. Let’s dive in!
1. The Notebook
| Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Genre | Romantic drama |
| Director | Nick Cassavetes |
The story revolves around Noah Calhoun and Allie Nelson, who fall in love in the 1940s. The film stars Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams as the young couple.
The plot of the story is set in the pre-and post-World War II era. Noah and Allie spend a wonderful summer together, but her family and the socio-economic realities of the time prevent them from being together. Although Noah attempts to keep in contact with Allie after they are forced to separate, his letters go unanswered.
2. Doctor Zhivago
| Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Year | 1965 |
| Genre | Historical, Romantic |
| Director | David Lean |
The story is set in Russia during World War I and the Russian Civil War. The film stars Omar Sharif as Yuri Zhivago, a married physician and poet whose life is altered by the Russian Revolution and subsequent civil war, and Julie Christie as his love interest Lara Antipova.
The plot of the story revolves around Yuri Zhivago, who is married to Tonya, the daughter of a professor. However, he falls in love with Lara Antipova, a political activist’s wife, and experiences hardship during World War I and then the October Revolution.
3. Dangerous Liaisons
| Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Year | 1988 |
| Genre | Romantic drama |
| Director | Stephen Frears |
Set in pre-Revolution Paris, the story focuses on the devious Marquise de Merteuil and Vicomte de Valmont, two aristocrats who delight in seducing and tarnishing others’ reputations. The plot unfolds with Merteuil seeking revenge against her former lover, the Comte de Bastide, by plotting the downfall of his young, innocent fiancée Cécile de Volanges.
She enlists the help of Valmont, who is himself scheming to seduce the virtuous Madame de Tourvel. Intrigued by Valmont’s audacity, Merteuil makes a bet: if Valmont can seduce Tourvel and provide proof, she will sleep with him. Embracing the challenge, Valmont sets his plans in motion, igniting a tale of manipulation, intrigue, and the consequences of their reckless games.
4. Out of Africa
| Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Year | 1985 |
| Genre | Romantic drama |
| Director | Sydney Pollack |
Karen Blixen, a wealthy Danish woman, moves to British East Africa in 1913 and marries Baron Bror Blixen for convenience. Initially planning to set up a dairy ranch, Karen is dismayed to find that Bror has instead invested her money in a coffee farm at an unsuitable elevation.
While Bror is more interested in game hunting safaris, Karen develops a deep love for Africa, its people, and the stunning landscapes of the Ngong Hills and Great Rift Valley. Despite the challenges with the coffee farm and adapting to her new life, Karen’s journey in Africa becomes one of personal growth and discovery amidst the backdrop of early 20th-century colonial Africa.
5. Casablanca
| Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Year | 1942 |
| Genre | Romantic drama |
| Director | Michael Curtiz |
The plot of the story revolves around Rick’s former lover Ilsa Lund, who unexpectedly arrives in Casablanca with her husband, Victor Laszlo, a Czech resistance leader. Rick and Ilsa had a brief love affair in Paris before the war, but Ilsa left him without explanation. Now, Rick must choose between his love for Ilsa and his desire to help Laszlo escape to continue his fight against the Nazis.
6. After
| Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Year | 2019 |
| Genre | Romantic drama |
| Director | Jenny Gage |
The plot of the story begins with Tessa moving into her dorm room with the help of her mother and boyfriend, Noah. She meets her new roommate Steph and Steph’s girlfriend Tristan, and shares a brief encounter with Steph’s friend, Hardin Scott. The following day, Tessa attends a party where she meets Hardin again and plays truth or dare with him and his friends. Later, Hardin attempts to kiss Tessa, but she rejects his advances and leaves. The story follows Tessa and Hardin’s relationship as they navigate their feelings for each other and the challenges that come with it.
7. Basic Instinct
| Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Year | 1992 |
| Genre | Neo-noir erotic thriller |
| Director | Paul Verhoeven |
Basic Instinct follows San Francisco police detective Nick Curran, played by Michael Douglas, as he investigates the brutal murder of a wealthy rock star. During the course of the investigation, Curran becomes entangled in a passionate and intense relationship with Catherine Tramell, played by Sharon Stone, an enigmatic writer, and the prime suspect.
8. Femme Fatale
| Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Year | 2002 |
| Genre | Erotic thriller |
| Director | Brian De Palma |
In the 2002 film Femme Fatale, Laure Ash, an international con artist and thief, steals a valuable diamond jewel called ‘Eye of the Serpent’ during an exhibition at the Cannes 2001 Festival. She double-crosses her partners-in-crime and makes off with the diamonds to Paris where she accidentally assumes the identity of a distraught woman who commits suicide and then leaves the country.
9. Call Me By Your Name
| Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Year | 2017 |
| Genre | Romantic drama |
| Director | Luca Guadagnino |
In the 2017 romantic drama film Call Me by Your Name, directed by Luca Guadagnino, Elio Perlman, a 17-year-old boy, falls in love with Oliver, a 24-year-old graduate student who is working as an intern for Elio’s father. The story is set in 1983 in northern Italy and is based on the novel of the same name by André Aciman.
10. Friends With Benefits
| Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Year | 2011 |
| Genre | Romantic comedy |
| Director | Will Gluck |
Dylan Harper (played by Justin Timberlake) and Jamie Rellis (played by Mila Kunis) meet in New York City and agree to have a purely casual sexual relationship. They naively believe that sex will not lead to complications in their friendship, but over time, they begin to develop deep feelings for each other. However, they deny their feelings each time they are together. The film also features Patricia Clarkson, Jenna Elfman, Bryan Greenberg, Nolan Gould, Richard Jenkins, and Woody Harrelson in supporting roles.
Conclusion:
Each movie on our list offers its own unique flavor of romance and excitement, echoing the intense emotional rollercoaster that 365 Days so brilliantly delivers. From stories of forbidden love to narratives that explore the depths of desire and power dynamics, these films are a testament to the diverse ways romance and drama can be portrayed on the big screen. They are more than just movies; they are immersive experiences that evoke strong emotions and leave lasting impressions.
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