Vishnu Warrier
Age is just a number, they say. And this seems very true when we talk about love. Honestly, why do we love a person? Do we think and fall in love? No, we don’t. It’s just a feeling that strikes you. It’s just so many things that make us truly love a person. You love a person for the way they walk, talk, smell, smile, and most importantly, for who they are.
We don’t often really care about age but age differences bring in a lot of complexities to relationships and there are many films that have explored such relationships. Here’s a look at the list of top age gap romance movies ever where despite the age disparity, passions fly. You can watch some of these best age gap movies on Netflix, Hulu or Amazon Prime.
20. The Rebound (2009)
Directed by Bart Freundlich, ‘The Rebound’ stars Catherine Zeta-Jones and Justin Bartha. The film follows 40-year-old Sandy (Zeta-Jones), who divorces her husband after finding out that he is cheating on her. Moving to a different city, she soon finds herself falling for Aram Finklestein (Justin Bartha), the new 25-year-old nanny of her two kids.
The two soon start dating following a sexual encounter, and everything moves along just fine. However, things get complicated when Sandy finds out that she is pregnant. Is parenting with a 15-year gap between the parents even possible? ‘The Rebound’ is a binge-worthy rom-com that doesn’t require you to apply your brain. It can be streamed on Prime.
19. Breathe In (2013)
In Drake Doremus’s family drama that isn’t, high school music teacher Keith Reynolds’ happy married life starts to fall apart after Sophie, a foreign exchange student, arrives to stay with his family for a semester. As Keith and Sophie bond over mutual interests and a platonic romance is established, ‘Breathe In’ takes the form of a psychological drama propelled by desire. Starring Guy Pearce, Felicity Jones, Mackenzie Davis, and Amy Ryan, the fine-tuned, beautifully tragic film can be streamed on Tubi.
18. Liberal Arts (2012)
Directed by Josh Radnor, ‘Liberal Arts’ is a romantic comedy that explores the unlikely romantic relationship between 35-year-old introverted college adviser Jesse (Josh Radnor) and 19-year-old sophomore Zibby (Elizabeth Olsen). An age gap in a relationship isn’t easy to tackle, and ‘Liberal Arts’ offers a heartwarming way to showcase that. While Zibby is comfortable with the relationship, Jesse tends to deny his feelings for the sake of his age. Can he be true to himself and Zibby and give himself and true love a chance? ‘Liberal Arts’ is a cute rom-com that you can watch on Prime.
17. An Education (2009)
Lone Scherfig’s ‘An Education’ follows a 16-year-old schoolgirl, Jenny (Carey Mulligan), who, at the brink of womanhood, meets 30-something David (Peter Sarsgaard), who introduces her to a world of concert glitterati. As Jenny’s family waits for her to go to Oxford, she finds herself tempted by something else entirely. Will her decision to be with David make her or mar her? Winner of a BAFTA and nominated for three Academy Awards, among other accolades, ‘An Education’ is a must-watch coming-of-age drama underscored by brilliant performances. You can watch it on Prime.
16. Frankie and Johnny (1991)
The age disparity aspect isn’t the central focus of the film here, but it’s clear that Johnny is a middle-aged man and Frankie is a much younger woman. Starring the great Al Pacino and the gorgeous Michelle Pfeiffer, the film depicts the relationship between a lonely middle-aged man who has just been released from prison and gets a job at a cafe where he meets and falls in love with a young waitress who is yet to recover from the heartbreak of her last relationship. It’s a lovely film that is full of warmth and coziness with a rare realistic tone in a genre otherwise known for being downright cheesy and stupid. You can watch the film on Prime.
15. Crazy Heart (2009)
Based on the 1987 novel by Thomas Cobb, which was inspired by the life of country singer Hank Thompson, ‘Crazy Heart’ follows a 57-year-old country singer, Otis “Bad” Blake (Jeff Bridges), who has passed his prime and is currently making do by singing in bars. When he meets Jean Craddock (Maggie Gyllenhaal), a young journalist, and the two get into a relationship, he decides to bring his life back on track.
However, considering his long past with addiction and an estranged self devoid of responsibilities, putting himself in check might not be as easy as it seems and feels. Winner of two Academy Awards and two Golden Globes, along with many other awards, ‘Crazy Heart’ offers a brilliant performance by Bridges, who single-handedly takes the story to its fruition. You can watch the drama unfold on Prime.
14. American Beauty (1999)
Perhaps a controversial pick. The relationship between Lester and Angela in ‘American Beauty’ isn’t really romantic. Lester is suffering from a mid-life crisis and is basically bored with his life. Out of this sheer nothingness in life, Lester gets infatuated with Angela, his teenage daughter’s best friend. Lester begins to fantasize about her in his dreams, and you can feel a kind of sexual tension between the two. But the beauty of the story lies in how Lester’s seemingly absurd infatuation leads him into the gateway of his own self. He finds meaning in life, accepts hopelessness, and realizes what it really means to exist, but perhaps it’s all too late now. You can watch ‘American Beauty’ on Paramount+.
13. Notes on a Scandal (2006)
A disturbing little film about a school teacher who falls for one of her teenage students. Soon, they both start having a passionate affair. But things get complex when an older teacher, who also romantic designs on her, viciously exposes her for having an affair after blackmailing her for a time. Cate Blanchett is superb as the vulnerable teacher, knowing what she is doing is wrong, but then is stunned at the level of treachery the older woman, brilliantly played by Judi Dench, who lashes out at her. It is a sensual film, but it is downright frightening at times. You can stream it on Max.
12. Lolita (1962)
Stanley Kubrick‘s bizarrely romantic black comedy drama tells the story of a middle-aged man who is sexually attracted to a gorgeous teenager. Humbert is offered by a sexually frustrated widow to stay at her house, which he initially declines but accepts after he sees her teenage daughter. The film is certainly not on the level of Kubrick’s greatest works, but it is still an excellent work with a bizarrely eccentric tone that has always been one of Kubrick’s trademarks. The film was controversial for its bold subject and tone and wasn’t well received by critics at the time, but it has now developed a fan following among Kubrickians. ‘Lolita’ can be streamed on Tubi.
11. Copenhagen (2014)
This indie gem is a coming-of-age drama that tells the story of a young man who arrives in Copenhagen in order to discover the true identity of his father and his mysterious past. However, he feels stranded in an alien country and soon meets a young waitress who offers help as a guide and translator so that they can track down his grandfather’s address. Through their journey, they learn about themselves and each other and begin to develop strong feelings for each other, but the man soon realizes that the woman he’s fallen in love with is a school-going kid almost half his age. ‘Copenhagen’ is a memorable journey into discovering your frailties, weaknesses, fears, and how one person could bring about a magical change in our lives. The film can be streamed on Tubi.
10. Harold and Maude (1971)
‘Harold and Maude’ has an almost creepy storyline. A 20-year-old obsessed with suicide meets an optimistic 80-year-old, and they develop a romantic relationship. The awkward tone the film maintains throughout is quite fascinating, and the way it depicts such a strange and unusual relationship with such warmth, humor, and humanity is simply astounding. The film did not sit well with audiences and critics back when it was released in 1971 for very obvious reasons, but it has managed to attain a strong cult following among cinephiles, and after frequent revisits and revaluation, critics have considered the film to be one of the funniest films ever made. ‘Harold and Maude’ can be streamed on Prime.
9. The Graduate (1967)
The one entry, I assume, that wouldn’t surprise our readers. ‘The Graduate’ defined romance and sexuality for a generation, and it continues to resonate in the way it captures the madness, frailties, and excitement of youth. ‘The Graduate’ tells the story of a 21-year-old Benjamin Braddock, with no aim in life, who is seduced by the wife of his father’s business partner. They develop an unlikely relationship, but things take a turn when the ever-confused Benjamin falls in love with her daughter. The film is a funny, honest depiction of youth, romance, and the inherent uncertainties of human relationships and destiny. It’s sad, hilarious, and so beautifully emotional. It can be streamed on Tubi.
8. As Good As It Gets (1997)
Age is just a number for the great Jack Nicholson. The man defines charisma and just oozes class here in every frame he’s in. He was 60 when he did this film, but not for a moment did you feel any kind of awkwardness here when he was dating a 34-year-old Helen Hunt in the film. That’s what flamboyance and charisma are all about. ‘As Good As It Gets’ is a sweet little romantic comedy that tells the story of a misanthropic, annoying, obsessive-compulsive writer, played by Nicholson, who has to take care of his neighbor’s dog. He falls in love with a waitress, almost half his age, who is a single mother with a chronically ill son. The film beautifully establishes the characters and their relationships, taking its time to build the story. It’s wonderfully made with some fine performances by Nicholson and Hunt, both of who won the Academy Award for Best Actor and Best Actress, respectively. The film can be watched on Max.
7. Last Tango in Paris (1972)
Bernardo Bertolucci’s magnum opus is one of the most controversial films ever made. The film focuses on a man recovering from his wife’s death who develops an anonymous sexual relationship with a much younger woman. The film is a profoundly liberating piece of pure erotic cinema that just melts you in its gorgeously painful depiction of the human condition. It’s so emotionally raw, dark, and tragic beyond words. The film has Marlon Brando delivering one of the greatest acting performances of all time. You can stream it on Vudu.
6. The Reader (2008)
‘The Reader’ tells the story of a boy who develops a sexual relationship with an older woman. They first meet when the boy feels sick while traveling in a tram and later meet up in her apartment, where she seduces him, and they make love. They begin to see each other more frequently in her apartment, and she insists he reads literary works he’s studying after they make love every time. However, her past comes back to haunt her, and this wrecks their relationship, leaving a lasting impact on the two. ‘The Reader’ is a gorgeously flawed masterpiece that so beautifully depicts an enigmatic relationship fraught with simmering rage and implosive madness. You can stream ‘The Reader’ on Prime.
5. Lost in Translation (2003)
‘Lost in Translation’ is a sweetly melancholic tale of love, loneliness, and ennui. The film depicts the relationship between a middle-aged American actor and a much younger American woman who happens to meet in a hotel in Tokyo. They are seemingly lost in a world and culture so alien to them and begin to discover themselves in each other despite their age difference. These are two souls stuck in very different phases of life, and yet they seem to have some sort of a connection between them. Their relationship seems platonic, but it has a very ambiguous tone, and we could never really know what Bob whispered in Charlotte’s ear, and perhaps that’s the beauty of life. To experience it, you can watch ‘Lost in Translation’ on Max.
4. The Piano Teacher (2001)
It’s impossible to pen down a Michael Haneke film for such a short write-up. So, let’s just get straight to the point. ‘The Piano Teacher’ explores a disturbing sexual relationship between a middle-aged piano teacher and her handsome young student. Erika’s mother controls her sexual life, and this has turned her into a shattered soul with sadomasochistic fantasies, including self-mutilation. Her tumultuous relationship with Walter changes radically, and he becomes disgusted with her. This shatters Erika and she throws herself into the darkest abyss of human existence. ‘The Piano Teacher’ is a film that will disturb, devastate, and move you in ways you haven’t been before. You can stream it on Max.
3. Manhattan (1979)
Woody Allen‘s ‘Manhattan’ is a film that changed my understanding and perceptions of human relationships and the beautiful absurdities of human nature. Like any other Woody Allen film, this is so much more than just a cute little romantic comedy. The film centers around Allen’s character, Issac, a divorced New Yorker who is in a relationship with a high school girl, Tracy. The problem is that Issac considers himself to be far too mature to be in a relationship with this little girl, so he ends up falling in love with a woman of his age, the mistress of his best buddy. But things don’t work out, and Issac soon realizes that Tracy was his true love, that she loved him with all her heart despite his arrogance and narcissism. But perhaps life is just a beautifully wrapped-up box of missed chances, and it’s this realization that makes ‘Manhattan’ so profoundly moving. You can watch it on Tubi.
2. Three Colors: Red (1994)
There is something so inexplicably magical about the way Kieslowski just strikes you on an emotional level. ‘Red’ was my first ever Kieslowski film, and I was completely in awe of its beauty. The film depicts the relationship between a young woman and a cynical old judge who spies on the people around him by listening to their conversations. At first, their worlds seem vastly different, but there’s something between them that will later develop into a deeply intimate bond. Their relationship isn’t explicitly romantic, but you do get a feeling that they could be lovers, and Kieslowski hints to us that in many scenes, most notably in that beautiful scene where Jean-Louis Trintignant’s character says goodbye to Valentine, and they both place their hands on the car’s window before he drives away. It’s a simple scene but speaks volumes of the intimacy of their relationship. You can watch the movie on Max.
1. A Short Film About Love (1988)
‘A Short Film About Love’ is a film that has grown on me tremendously with time. The way Kieslowski manages to portray the sheer tenderness of love here is simply beyond words. The film explores the relationship between a teenage boy and an older promiscuous woman whom he spies on from his window. She does not believe in love and is way beyond the naivety of a teenager who thinks he’s in love but is only infatuated with her. She dismisses his feelings but later begins to see his love. The ‘Dekalog’ version of the film has a slightly better ending, in my opinion, with the boy realizing that it was not love and just a mere sexual fantasy. This was far more powerful and tragic than the more fairytale-ish ending of the movie. However, it remains one of the greatest romantic films ever made.
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