For far too long, romance audiences have been denied their fair share of movies. It’s always baffled us that Hollywood left so many amazing books (and all that money) on the shelf, especially as the genre exploded in popularity post-Twilight. It's a complaint that Tosca Musk, Joany Kane, and Jina Paneblanco heard and decided to respond to.
In 2017, the three businesswomen founded Passionflix, an independent streaming service and production company focused on creating romance films, frequently based on popular novels. They've adapted the likes of Jennifer L. Armentrout, Kristen Ashley, and Jodi Ellen Malpas. Coming soon will be movies based on books by Lisa Kleypas and Kylie Scott. It's no wonder Passionflix has enticed a dedicated fan base since its foundation. Here are some of the best movies that Passionflix has to offer.
Just Say When
If you're looking for a place to start out on Passionflix, how about kicking things off with a ten-minute long bite-sized romance short? Based on the story by Jill Shalvis (one she initially shared with fans in her newsletter—you can read it for free on her site here!), Just Say When follows James and Julia, a couple who have been together for several months.
He's besotted but is confused by the ways that Julia always sneaks out of his bed in the middle of the night. He wants more from their relationship. She's scared to commit after being hurt before. How can they get to their happy-ever-after in less than ten minutes?
The Trouble With Mistletoe
This full length movie is also based on a book by Jill Shalvis! Willa Davis is used to wrangling animals in her pet shop, but she's less skilled when it comes to men like Keane Winters.
He's looking for someone to help him with his great-aunt's evil cat, and he seems to have entirely forgotten that he knew Willa in high school. Playing cat sitter is one thing; love and all of its messy problems are quite another. But tis the season for romance...
Related: 9 Jill Shalvis Books to Make You Feel Warm and Cozy
Gabriel's Inferno 1
The Gabriel’s Inferno series started life as a Twilight fanfiction before exploding in popularity to become a bestselling erotic saga.
Professor Gabriel Emerson is a well respected Dante scholar with a dark sensual life outside of the classroom. He's used to getting what he wants and that now includes Julia Mitchell, his innocent grad student who immediately captures his colorful imagination. Their attraction is instant and he's ready to jeopardize his career to train her in the sensual delights of the mind and body alike.
The Protector
This suspenseful romance film is based on the novel by Jodi Ellen Malpas.
The world views Camille Logan as a spoiled daddy's girl who's never done a day's work in her life, but she wants to prove them all wrong. After a stint in rehab, she's ready to fight for a new life, but she finds herself at risk thanks to her father's ruthless business enemies.
Jake Sharp, an ex-SAS sniper, is hired to be her personal bodyguard. He soon finds out that Camille is not the woman he thought she was, and he'll sacrifice everything to keep her safe.
Resisting Roots
This sweet and sexy romance is based on the novel by Audrey Carlan. Yoga instructor Genevieve Harper is a blond bombshell whose life is burdened with the weight of responsibility as she raises her two siblings in the wake of their parents' tragic deaths. She has no time for love or anything frivolous, and that includes Trent Fox, the gorgeous baseball pro who's in town recuperating from an injury.
He's instantly smitten with Genevieve and wants private lessons, but she can't allow herself to be won over by him when she's responsible for so much. Can she make room for love?
Tangled
Emma Chase's romance novel is the inspiration for this rom-com. Drew is seemingly the perfect package: handsome, rich, successful, and a hit with the ladies. But then he gets the flu and, like many a man before him, turns into a whining mess who can't do anything for himself.
Enter his new colleague Katherine Brooks. She's ambitious and unwilling to let the extremely cocky Drew get in her way. If he wants to seduce her, he’ll have to play by her rules. He thinks he knows everything about women, but he’s about to learn the truth.
Seduction & Snacks
Based on the novel by Tara Sivec, this quirky romance film delivers a delicious plot. Single mom Claire grudgingly helps her best friend sell sex toys as she works to save up enough money to start her own business.
One night Claire runs into Carter, the one-night-stand who changed her life forever. However, he doesn't remember anything about her, except for her unique chocolate scent. Claire is eager to remind him of their encounter—after all, Carter now has a son, and they've got a lot of catching up to do.
Wicked
This fantasy romance is based on the book by Jennifer L. Armentrout. Four years ago, college student Ivy Morgan nearly lost everything at the hands of a violent creature. Now, she prowls the streets of the French Quarter hunting for Fae, eager to protect vulnerable humans like her younger self.
Ren Owens is the last person Ivy expected to see. He's a playboy who will only distract her from her work, but as the pair grow closer, she realizes that he's harboring secrets that could put everyone at jeopardy.
The Matchmaker's Playbook
This romantic comedy is just as much fun as the book by Rachel Van Dyken that it's based on. After a career-ending accident, former NFL recruit Ian Hunter is back on campus, but with a whole new occupation. He and his friends are the romantic masterminds behind Wingmen Inc., a dating service helping lovelorn guys to work their magic with women.
But his new client, Blake Olson, poses some tough prospects. She's desperate to land her crush and will do anything Ian asks of her, but as she begins her transformation, Ian realizes he's in danger of breaking his cardinal rule: don't fall for your client.
The Will
Based on a romance novel by Kristen Ashley, this sweet story gives us an unusual twist. When Josie Malone returns home for her grandmother's funeral, she discovers that she has been "left" in the old woman's will to a mysterious man named Jake Spear.
She's not thrilled about being forced together with the retired boxer, especially since she's spent so many years pushing everyone aside and living alone. But sometimes fate has different ideas, and one late woman's final wish could help them both to heal.