I’m a huge rom-com girl because I love love and seeing it told in a unique story that makes me chuckle gives me that dopamine hit I can’t resist. As much as I love rom-coms, I prefer those in the indie film category. This just means they’re not produced by the major Hollywood studios and may or may not see the super famous stars we see in the franchises. Indie films take creative liberties in their storytelling that I appreciate and seek out when I need a more thoughtful and unconventional take on love. Here are my top 5 favorite indie romance films that succeed in fulfilling that need:

*Author’s Note: This post contains NO spoilers.

5) Juno (2007)

Directed by: Jason Reitman | Produced by: Searchlight Pictures, Mr. Mudd, and Mandate Pictures, LLC | Cast: Elliot Page (Inception, Whip It), Michael Cera (Superbad, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World), Jason Bateman (Horrible Bosses, Identity Thief), Jennifer Garner (13 Going on 30, Daredevil), J.K. Simmons (Whiplash, Spider-Man), Allison Janney (The Help, The West Wing)

This is one of the few teen pregnancy stories I actually like because it’s not trying to be morally righteous by telling us the dangers of teen pregnancy. It just wants to show us how an oddball teen navigates pregnancy. She’s not the overtly sexualized girl with a horny boyfriend, she’s just a kid who acted irresponsibly out of “boredom” with a sweet, naive boy. In her attempt to to do the responsible thing, she finds some hard, adult truths in the process. It’s a quirky, wholesome, and honest way of depicting teen pregnancy without crucifying the teen.

4) Dinner in America (2020)

Directed by: Adam Carter Rehmeier | Produced by: Red Hour Productions, Atlas Industries, Bee Hive Productions LLC, Burn Later Productions, High Frequency Entertainment, and Covert Creative Group Inc. | Cast: Kyle Gallner (Smile, Jennifer’s Body), Emily Skeggs (The Miseducation of Cameron Post, Don’t Think Twice), Griffin Gluck (Big Time Adolescence, Just Go With It), Mary Lynn Rajskub (24, Julie & Julia), Hannah Marks (After Everything, Banana Split)

This is an “opposites attract” love story between a reckless punk guy and a loner, weirdo girl who saves him from being captured by the cops after he sets a house on fire. We would never expect these two to fall in love, but what begins as a desperate escape for one turns into a genuine connection for them both. They teach us that people from completely different worlds can find love through a mutual passion and understanding of being alone in the world. It’s a chaotic, hilarious, and charming telling of a “punk” love story makes you believe that there’s someone out there for everyone—you just have to be brave enough to see past their reckless side.

3) Anora (2024)

Directed by: Sean Baker | Produced by: FilmNation Entertainment and Cinereach | Cast: Mikey Madison (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Scream), Yura Borisov (The Poet, Compartment Number 6), Mark Eydelshteyn (Guest from the Future, Mr. & Mrs. Smith),

This is our R-rated Cinderella story for the modern age, where Cinderella is Ani, a stripper from New York and Prince Charming is Ivan, the entitled and immature son of a wealthy Russian oligarch. I knew that “sex sells” in Hollywood, but apparently sex also wins the Academy Award. However, it’s not the sex that earns this movie on my list, but the direction this love story when is used as a cover for chasing a life of luxury. It’s a messy, emotional, and vulnerable take on a rags-to-riches love story that teaches us to be honest about the kind of love we need and deserve beyond material desires.

2) Amélie (2001)

Directed by: Jean-Pierre Jeunet | Produced by: Claudie Ossard Productions, Canal+, UGC, MMC Independent, Tapioca Films, Victoires Productions, France 3, France 3 Cinéma, and Sofica Sofinergie 5 "| Cast: Audrey Tautou (The Da Vinci Code, Coco Before Chanel), Mathieu Kassovitz (Gothika, The Crimson Rivers)

This is a will-they-won’t they (French) love story between Amélie and Nino, two souls destined for each other, but kept apart by Amélie’s own fear of pursuing the love and happiness that she freely helps others find. The whimsical and child-like nature of Amélie and Nino are what makes this love story timeless because it has a certain “je ne sais quoi,” as the French say. It’s an adorable, pure, and enchanting love story that shows the love you put into the world will always come back to you tenfold, as long as you’re willing to get out of your own way.

1) Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

Directed by: Michel Gondry | Produced by: Focus Features, Anonymous Content, This is That Productions, and Blue Ruin | Cast: Jim Carrey (Bruce Almighty, The Truman Show), Kate Winslet (Titanic, The Holiday), Mark Ruffalo (Poor Things, The Avengers), Kirsten Dunst (Bring It On, The Virgin Suicides), Elijah Wood (The Lord of the Rings, The Faculty), Tom Wilkinson (The Full Monty, RocknRolla)

This is another “opposites attract” love story between a timid, shy guy and and an impulsive, outspoken woman who live in a universe where memory-erasing technology exists. The two meet on a train and form an unlikely connection that takes a strange turn when they discover a recording of one confessing the desire to erase the other from their memory. What earns this movie the number one spot on my list is its exploration of the impact that erasing someone from your memory can have on the very essence of your being. It’s a curious, introspective, and transformative love story that teaches us the value of our memories and that love, while risky and painful, also brings beauty, joy, and personal growth.

My Top 5 Indie Romance Films

5) Juno (2007)

4) Dinner in America (2020)

3) Anora (2024)

2) Amélie (2001)

1) Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

My Spa-Inspired Skincare Routine

5 Things to Consider Before Doing Psychedelics