You’re not alone if you’ve ever swooned over Hardin and Tessa’s turbulent love story in After (2019). This steamy romance franchise—based on Anna Todd’s viral Wattpad series—captured hearts with its blend of passionate chemistry, emotional rollercoasters, and the messy beauty of young love. But once the credits roll, the craving for more intense, drama-filled romances kicks in. Whether you’re drawn to forbidden relationships, angst-ridden conflicts, or love stories that leave you breathless, we’ve curated a list of 15 movies like After that’ll keep your heart racing.
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What Makes After So Popular?
After follows Tessa Young, a college freshman who falls for the brooding, tattooed bad boy Hardin Scott. Their relationship is a whirlwind of heated arguments, tearful confessions, and moments of vulnerability that blur the line between love and obsession. The film’s success lies in its unapologetic embrace of melodrama, relatable coming-of-age struggles, and the magnetic tension between its leads. Fans adore how it balances romantic idealism with raw, flawed characters—making it a guilty pleasure that’s hard to quit.
If you’re hooked on the series’ mix of passion, emotional stakes, and flawed yet lovable characters, these 15 films will hit the same sweet spot.
15 Movies Like After You Should Watch
1. The Kissing Booth (2018)
Summary: High school student Elle Evans (Joey King) has always played by the rules—until she falls for her best friend’s rebellious older brother, Noah Flynn (Jacob Elordi). Their secret romance ignites jealousy, tests friendships, and forces Elle to confront her desires in this fizzy, drama-packed rom-com.
Movie Details: Directed by Vince Marcello, The Kissing Booth premiered on Netflix in 2018, clocking in at 1 hour 45 minutes. Despite its mixed critical reception, Joey King and Jacob Elordi’s electric chemistry propelled the film into a franchise.
Box Office & Ratings: While critics panned it (17% on Rotten Tomatoes), audiences adored its guilty-pleasure charm (83% audience score). Though exact box office figures aren’t public, its massive streaming success led to two sequels. IMDb rating: 6.1/10.
Where to Watch: Netflix
Why Watch It: Like After, it’s a rollercoaster of teenage passion, bad-boy allure, and messy emotional conflicts. Perfect for fans of love stories that blur friendship and desire.
2. Through My Window (2022)
Summary: Raquel (Clara Galle) has spent years obsessing over her mysterious neighbor, Artemis (Julio Peña). When they finally connect, their fiery relationship faces secrecy, family drama, and emotional scars in this Spanish romance.
Movie Details: Directed by Marçal Forés, this 2022 Netflix film runs for 1 hour 53 minutes. The leads’ sizzling dynamic turned it into a trilogy, with sequels released in 2023.
Box Office & Ratings: Though critics were lukewarm (56% on Rotten Tomatoes), it became a global hit for Netflix, praised for its slow-burn tension. IMDb rating: 5.5/10.
Where to Watch: Netflix
Why Watch It: The obsessive love and emotional barriers mirror After’s intensity, with a side of European flair.
3. Beautiful Disaster (2023)
Summary: Abby (Virginia Gardner), a disciplined college student, bets bad-boy fighter Travis (Dylan Sprouse) that he can’t survive a month without hookups. Sparks fly as their bet turns into a chaotic, all-consuming romance.
Movie Details: Directed by Roger Kumble, this 2023 adaptation of Jamie McGuire’s novel spans 1 hour 35 minutes. Dylan Sprouse’s rugged charm drives the film’s appeal.
Box Office & Ratings: Grossing $10 million globally, it earned mixed reviews (4.6/10 IMDb) but found fans for its “bad boy redemption” trope.
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video
Why Watch It: Travis’s rebellious persona and Abby’s guarded heart mirror Hardin and Tessa’s dynamic, with plenty of angst and steam.
4. Five Feet Apart (2019)
Summary: Stella (Haley Lu Richardson) and Will (Cole Sprouse), two cystic fibrosis patients, fall in love despite being forbidden to touch. Their stolen moments and shared mortality create a bittersweet, life-affirming bond.
Movie Details: Directed by Justin Baldoni, this 1-hour 56-minute tearjerker co-stars Haley Lu Richardson and Cole Sprouse, whose chemistry anchors the emotional core.
Box Office & Ratings: Grossing $91 million worldwide, it holds a 54% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes but an 83% audience score. IMDb rating: 7.2/10.
Where to Watch: Hulu
Why Watch It: The high-stakes romance and emotional vulnerability echo After’s intensity but with a poignant twist.
5. Midnight Sun (2018)
Summary: Katie (Bella Thorne), a teenager with a life-threatening sensitivity to sunlight, falls for Charlie (Patrick Schwarzenegger) during secret nighttime outings. Their love blossoms under the stars, but her condition threatens their future.
Movie Details: Directed by Scott Speer, this 2018 drama runs for 1 hour 31 minutes. Bella Thorne’s heartfelt performance elevates the tragic romance.
Box Office & Ratings: Earning $22 million globally, it has a 4.9/10 IMDb score but resonates with fans of doomed love stories.
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video
Why Watch It: Like After, it’s a mix of youthful passion and heart-wrenching obstacles, perfect for hopeless romantics.
6. The Fault in Our Stars (2014)
Summary: Hazel (Shailene Woodley) and Gus (Ansel Elgort), two teens battling cancer, find love and purpose in their limited time together. Their journey—filled with humor, pain, and raw honesty—redefines what it means to live fully.
Movie Details: Directed by Josh Boone, this 2014 adaptation of John Green’s novel spans 2 hours and 6 minutes. Woodley and Elgort’s performances earned widespread acclaim.
Box Office & Ratings: A blockbuster hit with $307 million worldwide, it holds an 81% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes. IMDb rating: 7.7/10.
Where to Watch: Disney+
Why Watch It: Its blend of tragic romance and emotional depth rivals After’s most gripping moments.
7. Endless Love (2014)
Summary: Jade (Gabriella Wilde), a sheltered rich girl, falls for David (Alex Pettyfer), a charismatic mechanic. Their obsessive love faces parental disapproval and societal judgment, spiraling into dangerous territory.
Movie Details: Directed by Shana Feste, this 2014 remake runs for 1 hour 44 minutes. Alex Pettyfer’s brooding charisma drives the film’s melodrama.
Box Office & Ratings: Grossing $34 million, it holds a 15% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes but a 50% audience score. IMDb rating: 6.3/10.
Where to Watch: Hulu
Why Watch It: The toxic yet magnetic relationship mirrors Hardin and Tessa’s dynamic, focusing on class divides.
8. A Walk to Remember (2002)
Summary: Rebellious Landon (Shane West) falls for Jamie (Mandy Moore), a shy, religious girl hiding a tragic secret. Their love transforms him, but her illness tests their bond in this classic tearjerker.
Movie Details: Directed by Adam Shankman, this 2002 adaptation of Nicholas Sparks’ novel spans 1 hour 41 minutes. Mandy Moore’s performance remains iconic.
Box Office & Ratings: Grossing $47 million, it holds a 27% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes but a 74% audience score. IMDb rating: 7.3/10.
Where to Watch: Netflix
Why Watch It: The bad-boy-meets-angel trope and emotional sacrifices align with After’s themes of redemption through love.
9. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018)
Summary: Lara Jean (Lana Condor) navigates fake-dating her sister’s ex, Peter (Noah Centineo), in this charming rom-com. Their arrangement blurs into real feelings, but secrets and insecurities threaten their bond.
Movie Details: Directed by Susan Johnson, this 2018 Netflix film runs for 1 hour 39 minutes. Lana Condor and Noah Centineo became overnight stars.
Box Office & Ratings: A streaming sensation, it holds a 96% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes. IMDb rating: 7.1/10.
Where to Watch: Netflix
Why Watch It: While lighter than After, it captures the thrill and confusion of young love with irresistible charm.
10. If I Stay (2014)
Summary: A gifted cellist, Mia (Chloë Grace Moretz), faces a life-or-death decision after a car crash. Through flashbacks, she relives her passionate romance with musician Adam (Jamie Blackley), questioning whether love is worth fighting for.
Movie Details: Directed by R.J. Cutler, this 2014 drama spans 1 hour 46 minutes. Chloë Grace Moretz’s raw performance anchors the film.
Box Office & Ratings: Grossing $78 million, it holds a 36% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes but a 67% audience score. IMDb rating: 6.8/10.
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video
Why Watch It: The high-stakes emotional conflict and flashback-driven narrative echo After’s dramatic tension.
11. A Cinderella Story (2004)
Summary: Sam (Hilary Duff), a diner worker, secretly romances her school’s popular quarterback (Chad Michael Murray) via texts. Their modern fairy tale faces lies and social hierarchies in this early 2000s gem.
Movie Details: Directed by Mark Rosman, this 2004 rom-com runs for 1 hour 35 minutes. Hilary Duff and Chad Michael Murray’s chemistry defined a generation.
Box Office & Ratings: Grossing $70 million, it holds a 5.9/10 IMDb score but remains a cult classic for its nostalgic charm.
Where to Watch: Hulu
Why Watch It: The secret-identity trope and class-driven romance align with After’s themes of love against the odds.
12. Remember Me (2010)
Summary: Tyler (Robert Pattinson), a troubled artist, falls for Ally (Emilie de Ravin), whose tragic past intertwines with his family’s secrets. Their relationship heals old wounds until a shocking twist changes everything.
Movie Details: This 2010 drama spans 1 hour 53 minutes, directed by Allen Colter. Pattinson’s brooding performance adds depth to the tragic narrative.
Box Office & Ratings: Grossing $56 million, it holds a 28% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes but a 74% audience score. IMDb rating: 7.2/10.
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video
Why Watch It: The emotional complexity and dark twists resonate with After fans who crave layered storytelling.
13. The Notebook (2004)
Summary: Noah (Ryan Gosling) and Allie (Rachel McAdams), lovers from different worlds, reunite after years apart. Their epic romance is told through flashbacks, battles, class divides, memory loss, and societal expectations.
Movie Details: Directed by Nick Cassavetes, this 2004 adaptation of Nicholas Sparks’ novel runs for 2 hours and 4 minutes. Gosling and McAdams’ chemistry is legendary.
Box Office & Ratings: Grossing $115 million, it holds a 53% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes but an 85% audience score. IMDb rating: 7.8/10.
Where to Watch: Netflix
Why Watch It: The passionate, decades-spanning love story mirrors After’s intensity but with a timeless appeal.
14. Dear John (2010)
Summary: Soldier John (Channing Tatum) and college student Savannah (Amanda Seyfried) fall deeply in love, but war and distance test their bond. Letters keep them connected until a heartbreaking choice arises.
Movie Details: Directed by Lasse Hallström, this 2010 drama spans 1 hour 48 minutes. Tatum and Seyfried’s tender performances drive the emotional core.
Box Office & Ratings: Grossing $115 million, it holds a 29% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes but a 66% audience score. IMDb rating: 6.3/10.
Where to Watch: Hulu
Why Watch It: The themes of longing and sacrifice parallel After’s exploration of love’s challenges.
15. Cruel Intentions (1999)
Summary: Step-siblings Sebastian (Ryan Phillippe) and Kathryn (Sarah Michelle Gellar) make a twisted bet to seduce an innocent girl (Reese Witherspoon). What starts as a game becomes a dangerous web of desire and manipulation.
Movie Details: Directed by Roger Kumble, this 1999 cult classic runs for 1 hour 37 minutes. The cast’s sharp performances and dark wit define the film.
Box Office & Ratings: Grossing $76 million, it holds a 55% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes but an 81% audience score. IMDb rating: 6.9/10.
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video
Why Watch It: The toxic relationships and psychological drama offer a darker, edgier take on After’s themes.
FAQ Section
Is After based on a book?
Yes! The movie adaptations of Anna Todd’s After series began as One Direction fan fiction on Wattpad.
Are there more movies in the After series?
Yes—After We Collided (2020), After We Fell (2021), and After Ever Happy (2022) continue Tessa and Hardin’s saga.
Where can I watch movies similar to After?
Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video are goldmines for romance dramas. Check our list for specific platforms!
What are the best romance movies with a toxic love story?
After, Cruel Intentions (1999) and Endless Love (2014) explore passionate but flawed relationships.
Conclusion
Whether you’re Team Hardin or just here for the drama, these 15 movies like After, deliver the same intoxicating mix of love, heartbreak, and emotional chaos. From classic tearjerkers (A Walk to Remember) to modern guilty pleasures (Through My Window), there’s a romance here for every mood.
Share your favorite picks in the comments—or grab some popcorn and start streaming! 💕
