10 Great Romance Movies Where An Older Woman Dates A Younger Man, According To Reddit
Love can look like many things whether that be a friendship, a family bond, or even a relationship that strays from the usual conventions seen of “acceptable” love. When looking for movies that showcase a romance where there is a large age gap between the two leads, viewers can be met with an ensemble of films that seek to sexualize and fetishize the age difference.
Domslayer992 was just one fan that had become tired of the representation of age gaps in romance movies. Therefore, they turned to Reddit users to recommend some movies that showcase this in a better light. These movies create some lovely onscreen representations of love between an older woman and a younger man.
Film Stars Don’t Die In Liverpool (2017)
The heartbreaking but wholesome story of Peter Turner and Hollywood film star Gloria Grahame is one to behold. Film Stars Don’t Die In Liverpool showcases the history of their love story through memories due to the return of her breast cancer. The romantic drama uses visual storytelling to create a lovely onscreen portrayal of a true romance that very much took till death do us part seriously.
Film Stars Don’t Die In Liverpool may be tragically sad but is labeled by many fans including throwaway23er56uz as “a great movie, based on, or maybe only inspired by, the real-life of Gloria Grahame”. It showcased the ups and downs of romance and paid very little attention to the obvious age gap between the pair. This is what made it such a heartwarming watch with the couple’s families even being supportive of their infectious love for one another.
White Palace (1990)
At first, White Palace looks as though it is going to be another stereotypical sleazy addition to the age gap romance movie. However, before it gets a chance to enter that world, the movie surprises its viewers and creates an endearing love story. White Palace sees a burst of chemistry when Max first meets Nora which soon leads to the couple being completely enamored with one another.
According to TheBigSalad84, the movie is “a good one that not enough people have seen”. White Palace creates a conversation that strays away from the stereotype that renders older characters uninterested in sex, whilst avoiding the seedy older woman/younger man complex.
The Graduate (1967)
The Graduate contains one of the most complicated love triangles in history, making the movie such a compelling watch. The relationship between Ms. Robinson and Ben is something of a power dynamic where she holds all the power. Unfortunately, this plays into the stereotypes of a relationship with a large age gap. Whilst the movie does adhere to those tropes, it also provides an insight into the impact of age gaps.
Domslayer992 found the movie to be a “great examination of age gap relationships and how being in different stages in life could affect the relationship dynamic” through showcasing the conflicting lives of Ben and Ms. Robinson. The movie provides interesting dialogue regarding the couples working dynamic and contrasting lifestyles.
The Reader (2008)
The Reader is a heart-wrenching story of love and betrayal that had fans hooked by its representation of love between Hanna and Michael. It impacts the audience when Hanna ends up betraying Michael due to the investment in their story.
The love story between the two saw them act as role models to one another, with Hanna embracing life for what it is and Michael becoming more mature throughout their relationship. Reddit user inquirerman was as enamored with Kate Winslet as Hanna expressing how The Reader is a “wonderful Movie. Kate Winslet is mmmmmmm”. The movie may not have the happy ending fans are after!
Man Of Steel (2013)
There are many ways the DCEU has changed since the release of Man Of Steel with the movie proving to be a hit with fans but many viewers failed to recognize the hidden age gap between Lois Lane and Superman. Like every superhero movie, the hero protects the girl and their romance is an unconditional one. It undergoes so many challenges and setbacks but showcases that love always wins.
The relationship wasn’t so much about the onscreen ages although some fans contested that Lois Lane is meant to be in her thirties. Clark, meanwhile, is just getting started in his career as Superman. Reddit user what_about_smee shared that they “doubt it’s meant to be noticeable”. The age gap adds another element of romance that acts as a welcome representation of love with an age gap.
Don Jon (2013)
Don Jon is a surprising movie that on the surface looks like a seedy romantic comedy. However, it is much more than that, especially in its representation of Esther and Don Jon. Esther and Don Jon represented one of the most open and honest portrayals of mutual understanding whilst also having a great sexual bond.
Their relationship showcased a healthy portrayal of love through non-judgment with each of the characters developing throughout their relationship. 22grande22 shared that “Don Jon is great”, especially in its representation of an older woman and younger man.
The Age Of Adaline (2015)
The Age Of Adaline is one fantasy romance movie that played with viewers’ heartstrings. It was Adaline’s relationship with Ellis that won the hearts of fans. The pair may have looked the same age but Adaline was over 100 years old when she fell desperately in love with Ellis. Unfortunately, his father was a previous love of hers.
The love between the pair was beautiful with something viewers would see in a Hollywood movie. Her love for Ellis is so strong that she broke her rule of dating, making it a heartwarming watch. Olivebranch99 shared that the movie “doesn’t get near enough recognition” especially for its romance that depicts an uplifting representation of love with an extremely large age gap.
I Could Never Be Your Woman (2007)
I Could Never Be Your Woman may be a hilarious romantic comedy but it also delves into the exact stereotypes that haunt older women who enter into a relationship with a younger man. Adam is one person that doesn’t care what others think about him, which leads to what is a healthy relationship between the pair. This forces Rosie to think of their relationship differently.
The movie removes the restraints age puts on love and makes for a wholesome, heartwarming, and hilarious watch. Many state that Michelle Pfeiffer and Paul Rudd make the perfect onscreen pair. The movie proved to be a hit with many like mitchkramer expressing that “with a cast of Paul Rudd, Michelle Pfieffer, Saoirse Ronan […] how could it be bad?” whilst also changing the way age gaps are shown in the world of romantic comedies.
The Proposal (2009)
Andrew Paxton is one of Ryan Reynold’s best roles to date with the movie employing the fake dating to dating trope alongside some seriously hilarious scenes but it was the chemistry between the pair that left fans completely captivated. Whilst the movie never made a huge deal about the age gap between them, fans like MarcDuan noticed that “he was her PA so clearly it was implied her character [was] at least 10 years his senior”.
The relationship between the two symbolized this very subtly by Margaret being much more put together than Andrew. But in the end, the iron sheet that sought to protect her from love was melted away. The pair’s onscreen chemistry mirrored in their healthy relationship which developed between them.
Harold And Maude (1971)
Harold And Maude are a perfect example of a great romance between an older woman and a younger man from the moment the pair meet. Through acts of service and personal affection, the pair develop a complete love for one another despite the huge age gap. The couple grasps the attention of viewers and highlights what a healthy relationship looks like.
Maude helped Harold move away from his somewhat boring life whilst Harold helped Maude to re-discover her youth. Ultimately, the movie ends in a tragedy but the time the pair spent together left viewers with a new outlook on relationships with an age gap. Fans like Uranus_Hz claim that “everyone should see this film”!
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