All Ryan Gosling Romance Movies, Ranked

While Valentine’s Day may be over, romance is still alive and well.

While some like to spend the holiday with their significant others, other people like spending it with the perfect boyfriend aka Ryan Gosling. And both ways of celebrating the holiday are totally valid! While romance in real life can have its moments of magic, there’s no boyfriend better than the characters Ryan brings to life.

While Ryan has the acting range for all genres from thrillers to musicals, he shines as a romantic lead. He’s the boyfriend every guy wants to be and every girl wants to date. From romantic comedies to tear jerking dramatic romances, we’ve ranked the romance movies starring Ryan from worst to best.

Worst: All Good Things (2010)

All Good Things has everything that should, in theory, make it an amazing film. It is based on the true story of convicted murderer and real estate heir Robert Durst, starring Ryan, Kirsten Dunst, and Frank Langella. However, the script left much to be desired as Ryan and Kirsten’s on-screen relationship deteriorates to the point that Kirsten’s character goes missing. Ryan’s character is under suspicion, but with true love in the backseat of potential narcissism, All Good Things lacks the emotional connection we desire from romance.

Song to Song (2017)

An examination into the messed up world of trying to break into the music industry, Song to Song’s star-studded cast should rank it higher on this list. Featuring Ryan alongside Rooney Mara, Michael Fassbender, Natalie Portman, and with appearances from Cate Blanchett, Lykke Li, Val Kilmer, and cameos from several household named musicians, the film’s existence is a surprise to anyone who hasn’t heard of it. However, its disconnected nature, fleeting relationships, and dark turns make it less enjoyable than one would expect. It is, at its center, still a love story, but when compared to Ryan’s other turns, it pales in comparison.

The Notebook (2004)

Often considered one of the greatest romances of all-time, The Notebook is an overrated tearjerker. With Ryan and Rachel McAdams at its helm, the 2004 film set the scene for what many millennials expected from their own love stories. We can’t discount it totally — it was one of Ryan’s earliest starring roles, putting him on the map as a romantic lead. However, it leans so heavily into romantic film tropes that over 20 years later, it’s no longer a favorite among Goslingheads. Even still, it executes every trope perfectly, showing that even if a Ryan Gosling film is a cheesy romance, it’s still worth a rewatch.

The Fall Guy (2024)

A recent addition to the catalogue of Ryan’s romantic turns, The Fall Guy is first an action comedy and second a romance. Ryan plays Colt, a stuntman and the ex-boyfriend of Emily Blunt’s Jody, a film director. Colt is hired to work on Jody’s first film, but not because she wants him back—instead, Colt is sent on a mission to find the missing actor he used to body double for. As the film production continues, Colt and Judy start to rekindle their romance, an unexpected side effect of Colt’s return to the industry, and we’re all the better for it. The Fall Guy has drama, romance, comedy, mystery, action — what doesn’t it have? All it’s missing is that special magical ingredient that makes a Ryan Gosling flick a must-see.

Blue Valentine (2010)

Before there was A Marriage Story, there was Blue Valentine. When the romance film came out, it was all the buzz — Ryan Gosling, Michelle Williams, and the story of a relationship coming together and falling apart. Both Ryan and Michelle were nominated for Golden Globes, proving their performances were top-notch. However, the film’s moody backdrop and serious tone failed to utilize Ryan’s trademark humor that makes him such a good leading man. The film reinforces stereotypes of the male “bum” who leeches off of his partner’s success, painting Ryan’s character’s hopeless romantic ideology that leads to a life of addiction as an incurable personality flaw. However, the script is still deeply moving; the Grizzly Bear score is unforgettable; Blue Valentine is a romantic story that doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of life.

Lars and the Real Girl (2007)

What Blue Valentine lacked, Lars and the Real Girl more than makes up for. A shining “dramedy,” the film is the only Ryan Gosling romance in which he doesn’t have an actual romantic counterpart. Instead, he falls for a lifelike doll named “Bianca,” who he introduces to his family, friends, and colleagues as his girlfriend. Of course, Lars has some inner trauma to deal with, making this film a complex picture of how people deal with grief, losing a parent, and how that can seep into their ability to form romantic connections. At the same time, its absurdity and lean into the romantic comedy genre are enough to place it in Ryan’s top three romance films.

Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011)

In Crazy, Stupid, Love, Ryan plays the boyfriend we all imagine he would be—a charming womanizer turned empathetic partner. The film first follows his budding friendship with Cal (Steve Carrell) as he teaches him how to reclaim his manliness and get back into the dating world. But in the process, he meets Emma Stone’s Hannah. As any Ryan Gosling fan will know, his chemistry with Emma is so strong one would think it’s real. And it’s also the type of relationship many romance lovers aspire to have. We all want the charming and confident bad boy with a deeply buried heart of gold, who turns himself into the perfect partner just for us. He is the Ryan we all want him to be, complete with spot-on comedic timing and abs that make him look “photoshopped.”

Best: La La Land (2016)

Five years after Crazy, Stupid, Love, Ryan and Emma reunited to bring us the romantic musical, La La Land. Although it didn’t win Best Picture at the Oscars (after a historic mix-up with Moonlight), it is still considered one of the greatest musical romance films of all time. With nods to its predecessors like Singin’ in the Rain and An American in Paris, La La Land celebrates old Hollywood while telling a modern and relatable love story. While it seems to be about the love between Ryan’s Seb and Emma’s Mia on the surface, it shows the complexities of how one’s love for their work, whether creative or not, can seep into and destroy romantic love. Despite being a visually stunning and seemingly upbeat musical, the source material and thematic undertones take a tragic turn anyone who’s ever been in love can relate to.