If you adored the heartfelt romance, emotional journey, and opposites-attract chemistry between Cassie and Luke in Netflix’s smash hit Purple Hearts, you’re probably craving more swoon-worthy love stories to get lost in. Well, you’re in luck! We’ve rounded up 18 of the best movies like Purple Hearts that deliver all the feels.
From fake relationships that turn into the real deal, to love that blossoms against the odds during wartime, to heartstring-tugging Nicholas Sparks adaptations, these films have everything Purple Hearts fans could want. So grab some tissues, get cozy, and prepare to fall head over heels for these must-watch romantic dramas and comedies.
1. Redeeming Love (2022)
Redeeming Love is a sweeping historical romance based on the bestselling novel by Francine Rivers. Like Cassie in Purple Hearts, the heroine Angel (Abigail Cowen) has a troubled past, having been sold into prostitution as a child. She’s closed off her heart, believing it can never be mended.
But when the virtuous Michael Hosea (Tom Lewis) enters her life, a powerful love story unfolds as he vows to marry her and help her heal, no matter how much she resists. Redeeming Love delivers soaring emotion, lush period detail, and an epic romance that will make you believe in the power of love to overcome any obstacle[1].
2. Dear John (2010)
For Purple Hearts fans craving another heart-wrenching military love story, Dear John is a must-see. Based on the Nicholas Sparks novel, it follows the long-distance relationship between soldier John Tyree (Channing Tatum) and college student Savannah Curtis (Amanda Seyfried) as they exchange letters while he’s deployed.
Like Cassie and Luke, John and Savannah face major challenges in their relationship, from the strain of being apart to John re-enlisting after 9/11. Dear John packs an emotional punch with its depiction of love, sacrifice, and the difficulty of sustaining a romance during wartime. Keep the Kleenex handy for this one[8].
3. The Lucky One (2012)
The Lucky One is another Nicholas Sparks adaptation that shares major themes with Purple Hearts. Zac Efron stars as Logan, a Marine who finds a photo of a woman while serving in Iraq and believes it’s his good luck charm. When he returns home, he tracks down the woman, Beth (Taylor Schilling), and takes a job at her family’s dog kennel.
As Logan and Beth fall for each other, complications arise in the form of Beth’s jealous ex-husband. Like Purple Hearts, The Lucky One depicts a veteran adjusting to civilian life and finding unexpected love. It delivers Sparks’ signature blend of romance, drama, and a lush Southern setting[6].
4. The Vow (2012)
If you loved the theme of a relationship being tested by hardship in Purple Hearts, then get your tissues ready for The Vow. Inspired by a true story, the film stars Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum as Paige and Leo, a happily married couple whose lives are turned upside down when a car accident leaves Paige with severe memory loss. She can’t remember Leo or their marriage at all.
Determined to win back the love of his life, Leo fights to recreate their romance from scratch and make Paige fall for him all over again. The Vow is a tearjerker that will make you believe in the enduring power of love, no matter the odds.
5. The Longest Ride (2015)
Yet another Nicholas Sparks adaptation, The Longest Ride parallels the love stories of two couples in different eras – a modern-day romance between bull rider Luke (Scott Eastwood) and college student Sophia (Britt Robertson), and the 1940s courtship of Ira (Jack Huston) and Ruth (Oona Chaplin), told through flashbacks.
As both relationships face challenges, the wisdom Ira imparts to Sophia inspires her and Luke to fight for their love. The Longest Ride has the epic feel and heartfelt emotion Purple Hearts fans will eat up, with a multi-generational story that adds an extra layer of depth.
6. The Last Song (2010)
Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth star in The Last Song, based on the Nicholas Sparks novel. Cyrus plays surly teen Ronnie, who’s forced to spend the summer with her estranged father (Greg Kinnear). Romance is the last thing on her mind, until she meets Will (Hemsworth), a charming volleyball player who melts her defenses.
But like Cassie and Luke, Ronnie and Will are from different worlds, and their relationship is tested by disapproving parents, jealous exes, and Ronnie’s own emotional walls. With its rebellious heroine, dreamy love interest, and themes of forgiveness and second chances, The Last Song is perfect for Purple Hearts fans. Fun fact: It’s also where Cyrus and Hemsworth’s real-life love story began!
7. Safe Haven (2013)
Sensing a Nicholas Sparks theme here? The master of the romantic drama delivers again with Safe Haven, starring Julianne Hough as Katie, a woman with a mysterious past who lands in a small North Carolina town. When she falls for widowed father Alex (Josh Duhamel), she finally starts to imagine a happy future.
But dark secrets from Katie’s history soon catch up with her, threatening her new life and relationship. Safe Haven has major Purple Hearts vibes with its complicated heroine, swoon-worthy single dad love interest, and high-stakes romance against the odds.
8. The Choice (2016)
In this Nicholas Sparks adaptation, Teresa Palmer and Benjamin Walker star as Gabby and Travis, next-door neighbors who can’t stand each other at first. Sound familiar, Purple Hearts fans? Naturally, all that tension turns into major chemistry, and Gabby soon finds herself torn between Travis and her long-term boyfriend Ryan (Tom Welling).
But The Choice takes a heart-wrenching turn that tests the strength of Gabby and Travis’s love. It’s a romance that spans years and packs an emotional gut-punch, delivering everything Purple Hearts fans could want in a love story.
9. The Best of Me (2014)
High school sweethearts get a second chance at love in The Best of Me, based on, you guessed it, a Nicholas Sparks novel. Michelle Monaghan and James Marsden star as Amanda and Dawson, who reunite in their hometown after 20 years apart.
As they rekindle their romance, they must confront the issues that drove them apart in the first place, from class differences to family dysfunction. The Best of Me delivers both sweet nostalgia and mature love, with the kind of emotional depth and heartstring-tugging moments Purple Hearts fans crave.
10. The Notebook (2004)
The ultimate Nicholas Sparks adaptation, The Notebook is a swoony romance for the ages. In 1940s South Carolina, mill worker Noah (Ryan Gosling) and rich girl Allie (Rachel McAdams) fall madly in love despite the odds stacked against them. But their romance is thwarted by disapproving parents and World War II.
Years later, Allie is engaged to another man when Noah re-enters her life, forcing her to choose between duty and her one true love. With its epic scope, heartbreaking twists and turns, and sheer romantic power, The Notebook is a must-watch for any Purple Hearts fan.
11. A Walk to Remember (2002)
Another beloved Nicholas Sparks adaptation, A Walk to Remember stars Shane West as Landon, a popular bad boy, and Mandy Moore as Jamie, a shy minister’s daughter. When Landon is forced to do community service with Jamie, he’s surprised to fall for her.
But their romance faces the ultimate test when a tragic secret threatens to tear them apart. Like Purple Hearts, A Walk to Remember proves that love can bring together the most unlikely pair and overcome any hardship. Just make sure you have plenty of tissues on hand for this tearjerker.
12. The Last Letter From Your Lover (2021)
Based on the novel by Jojo Moyes, The Last Letter From Your Lover tells the stories of two passionate but star-crossed romances in different eras. In the 1960s, socialite Jennifer (Shailene Woodley) begins an affair with journalist Anthony (Callum Turner), despite being married to a wealthy industrialist.
In the present day, journalist Ellie (Felicity Jones) discovers their love letters and becomes determined to uncover how their romance ended. With its dual timelines, forbidden love, and lush period detail, The Last Letter From Your Lover is a must-watch for fans of sweeping, emotional romances like Purple Hearts.
13. Forever My Girl (2018)
Forever My Girl stars Alex Roe as Liam, a country music superstar who returns to his small hometown after years away and discovers that his high school sweetheart Josie (Jessica Rothe) has been raising their young daughter. As Liam and Josie reconnect, old wounds reopen and new secrets come to light.
Can Liam prove he’s changed and win back the family he never knew he had? With its Southern setting, country music backdrop, and themes of forgiveness and second chances, Forever My Girl has major Purple Hearts vibes.
14. Five Feet Apart (2019)
For a heart-wrenching romance that’s more on the teen drama side, check out Five Feet Apart. Cole Sprouse and Haley Lu Richardson star as Will and Stella, two young cystic fibrosis patients who fall in love while in the hospital. Due to their illnesses, they must stay six feet apart at all times to avoid cross-infection.
As their connection deepens, they rebel against the restrictions keeping them apart, even if it puts their health at risk. Like Purple Hearts, Five Feet Apart depicts a love that faces seemingly insurmountable odds, with the added gut-punch of the characters’ life-threatening illnesses.
15. The Fault in Our Stars (2014)
Based on the bestselling novel by John Green, The Fault in Our Stars is a tearjerker romance between two witty, soulful teenagers who meet in a cancer support group. Shailene Woodley plays Hazel, who’s reluctant to open her heart as she faces a terminal diagnosis. But the charming Augustus (Ansel Elgort) is determined to show her how to truly live.
As they fall in love, Hazel and Gus grapple with the big questions of life, death, and leaving a meaningful legacy. The Fault in Our Stars shares Purple Hearts‘ themes of love in the face of adversity and making the most of the time you have.
16. Me Before You (2016)
Based on the Jojo Moyes novel, Me Before You stars Emilia Clarke as Lou, a quirky small-town girl who takes a job as a caregiver for Will (Sam Claflin), a wealthy quadriplegic. At first, the cynical Will resists Lou’s attempts to lift his spirits. But her irrepressible joy and zest for life eventually win him over, leading to a soul-stirring romance.
However, Will has a heartbreaking plan that even Lou may not be able to change. Like Purple Hearts, Me Before You grapples with heavy themes and moral dilemmas, ultimately delivering an emotional love story about two people who change each other’s lives.
17. The Mountain Between Us (2017)
For a romance that’s part survival story, check out The Mountain Between Us. Kate Winslet and Idris Elba star as Alex and Ben, two strangers who charter a plane together when their flights are canceled. When the plane crashes in a remote wilderness area, the two must rely on each other to survive the harsh elements and perilous terrain.
Along the way, they form a deep bond and unexpected romance. Like Purple Hearts, The Mountain Between Us throws together two very different people in an extreme situation, forcing them to confront their own demons while falling in love.
18. Nights in Rodanthe (2008)
We’ll close out this list with one last Nicholas Sparks adaptation. Nights in Rodanthe stars Diane Lane as Adrienne, a woman who’s retreated to a coastal inn to escape her troubled marriage. There, she meets Paul (Richard Gere), a surgeon haunted by a past tragedy.
As a major storm hits the coast, Adrienne and Paul turn to each other for comfort and forge a deep, life-changing connection. But reality soon threatens the cocoon of their romantic weekend. Like Purple Hearts, Nights in Rodanthe explores what happens when love comes along at a complicated time and two wounded hearts must decide whether to risk opening up again.
That was a deep dive into some of the most romantic, heartstring-tugging love stories to watch if you’re craving more movies like Purple Hearts. Whether you’re in the mood for a Nicholas Sparks weepie, a steamy historical romance, or a bittersweet drama about love against the odds, there’s a film on this list for you.
So queue up your watchlist, grab some snacks and tissues, and prepare to swoon, sob, and fall in love all over again. And if you’ve got your own favorite movies like Purple Hearts, share them in the comments so we can keep the romance flowing. Happy watching!
