Scribbling Down 10 Alternate Movie Picks
Get your tissues ready; The Notebook is a wonderful romantic movie but it’s also one tinged with sadness too. Well written and heavily regarded as a quintessential film to check out, it’s a tricky ask to find similar films.
However, we’ve combed through the archives and saved you the hassle with our top picks for alternate viewing. As usual, let us know your thoughts about our picks in the comments below!
A Walk to Remember (2002)
Directed by Adam Shankman, A Walk to Remember is a romantic drama about Landon Carter, a popular student with no defined plans for the future. His opposite number is Jamie Sullivan, a reverend’s daughter who has great ambitions but not much chance to realize them. After Landon is mandated to participate in the school play, he gets to know Jamie and they develop a deep and transformative love.
Both films are based on Nicholas Sparks novels and share a similar romantic-drama theme. They both involve a love story with characters from different social circles and feature stories of deep love that persists in the face of significant challenges.
The Fault in Our Stars (2014)
The Fault in Our Stars follows Hazel Grace Lancaster, a 16-year-old cancer patient who is forced by her parents to attend a support group, where she meets and falls in love with Augustus Waters, an ex-basketball player and amputee.
Much like The Notebook, The Fault In Our Stars centers on a profound and transformative love that endures despite tragic circumstances. The stories involve the protagonists’ journey of love and loss, with both incorporating elements of heartbreak and sacrifice.
My Sassy Girl (2001)
Directed by Kwak Jae-yong, My Sassy Girl is a South Korean romantic comedy about a college student who rescues a drunk girl on a subway, and the two end up falling in love. The relationship, however, is anything but stable.
Although different in tone, both films explore the theme of young love that is both passionate and challenging. They involve the protagonists going through a series of ups and downs but also maintaining their connection through it all.
Your Name (2016)
Directed by Makoto Shinkai, “Your Name” is a wonderful Japanese anime about two teenagers, Mitsuha and Taki, who discover they can swap bodies. They build a connection by leaving notes for one another until they wish to meet. Only, a celestial event complicates things.
Much like The Notebook, Your Name feature a deep emotional connection between the main characters and involves elements of longing and missed connections. They both also contain a supernatural or extraordinary element to their narratives.
About Time (2013)
Directed by Richard Curtis, About Time tells the story of Tim Lake, who discovers he can travel in time and change what happens (and has happened) in his own life. He uses his powers to improve his love life and win over the woman of his dreams.
Both movies depict enduring love stories with a touch of the fantastical; time travel in About Time and an unforgettable love story spanning decades in The Notebook. They both highlight the theme of love enduring despite life’s challenges and complexities.
P.S. I Love You (2007)
P.S. I Love You follows a young widow called Holly who discovers that her late husband has left her 10 messages intended to help ease her pain and start a new life.
Both movies are real tearjerkers and showcase love stories that transcend death, with lovers communicating posthumously (P.S. I Love You through letters, The NotebooK through a journal). They also deal with themes of loss, love and the healing power of time.
La La Land (2016)
Damien Chazelle’s La La Land is a musical romantic drama about Mia, an aspiring actress, and Sebastian, a dedicated jazz musician, who are struggling to make ends meet in Los Angeles. Their dreams threaten to tear them apart but they find solace in one another.
Much like The Notebook, La La Land centers on a passionate love story where the main characters’ dreams and aspirations play significant roles in their relationship. They explore the theme of love in the context of pursuing one’s ambitions and the sacrifices that need to be made sometimes to make that happen.
The Lake House (2006)
The Lake House is a romantic drama involving a magic mailbox that allows a doctor and an architect to correspond two years apart. As a result, they fall in love and try to unravel the mystery behind their extraordinary romance before it’s too late.
Both movies depict love stories with a touch of the supernatural (a mailbox in The Lake House and enduring love through a debilitating illness in The Notebook).
Titanic (1997)
Arguably one of James Cameron’s best movies, Titanic is a thrilling and well written romantic drama that tells the tragic (and fictional) love story of Jack and Rose, two people from different social classes who fall in love on the ill-fated voyage of the Titanic.
Both films feature a love story that crosses social boundaries and withstands the test of time. They are stories of deep love and passion that certainly leave a lasting impact.
Interestingly, both films also share the same story structure of the tale being retold from the perspective of an older character remembering their past.
Atonement (2007)
Directed by Joe Wright, Atonement is a romantic war drama that centers on the life of young Briony Tallis, who changes the course of several lives when she accuses her older sister’s lover of a crime he didn’t commit. As the story unfolds, it becomes a deep reflection on the harsh consequences of misjudgment.
Much like The Notebook, Atonement is a period drama that centers on a love story hindered by misunderstandings. They explore themes of regret, lost time, and the power of love, all whilst being presented with older versions of their protagonists reflecting on the past.
There we have it, our list of best movies that are similar to The Notebook. What do you think about our picks? Did one of your favourites make the list? Let us know in the comments below!