Overview
A heartwarming exploration of love in all its forms during the festive season.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- witty
- warm
- bittersweet
- christmas viewing
- holiday gatherings
What critics said
Critics broadly admired the film's warmth, humor, and charismatic ensemble while finding its many storylines overstuffed and uneven.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film follows numerous connected romantic and familial plots across London and France during the weeks before Christmas.
Christmas parties, music, school performances, airport reunions, and holiday preparations organize the film's intersecting stories.
Grief, infidelity, and unrequited love coexist with Billy Mack's crude comeback campaign and Colin's outrageous romantic expedition.
The Prime Minister pursues a household servant, while Harry's workplace attraction threatens his marriage and Sarah's office romance is shaped by family obligations.
Films like Love Actually, and why
Valentine's Day
Interwoven romantic storylines follow multiple London characters through relationship complications.
New Year's Eve
A sprawling ensemble romance connects several couples and emotional story threads.
Notting Hill
Richard Curtis-style romantic comedy combines wit, sentiment, and intersecting relationships.
The Holiday
Christmas setting, multiple couples, and bittersweet romantic entanglements create a similar holiday ensemble.
Movie Details
- Director
- Richard Curtis
- Release Date
- 2003-09-07
- Runtime
- 135 min
- Rating
- 7.1 / 10 (7583)
Cast
- Hugh Grant
- Alan Rickman
- Emma Thompson
- Liam Neeson
- Martine McCutcheon
- Colin Firth
- Bill Nighy
- Laura Linney
- Lúcia Moniz
- Andrew Lincoln
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo, Starz Amazon Channel, Starz, Starz Apple TV channel, Starz Roku Premium Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Love Actually about?
- A warm, unruly Christmas mosaic where Londoners confront the exhilaration, absurdity, grief, and compromises of love.
- What is Love Actually like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Love Actually as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Love Actually violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Love Actually.
- What did critics think of Love Actually?
- Critics broadly admired the film's warmth, humor, and charismatic ensemble while finding its many storylines overstuffed and uneven.
- Which films are like Love Actually?
- Films with a similar feel include Valentine's Day, New Year's Eve, Notting Hill, and The Holiday.
- How long is Love Actually?
- Love Actually runs 135 minutes.
- Where can I watch Love Actually?
- In United States, Love Actually streams on Philo, Starz Amazon Channel, Starz, Starz Apple TV channel, Starz Roku Premium Channel.
