Into Age-Gap Romances? Here Are the Latest Picks for You

We’ve come a long way in embracing different kinds of love, and you’ve probably seen that age-gap romances are all the rage right now. They’ve definitely stolen my heart, which is why I’m all about writing about them. If you’re into this trend, check out my recommendations for your next binge session!

Into Age-Gap Romances? Here Are the Latest Picks for You

Lonely Planet

I recently watched Lonely Planet, written and directed by Susannah Grant, a one-time Oscar and three-time Emmy nominee, starring Laura Dern as Katherine and Liam Hemsworth as Owen.

We see that Katherine is a successful author in her sixties, feeling guilty for getting distracted by a younger man, Owen, and creating a mess when she should have been focusing on finishing her half-written novel. The age gap between them adds an undeniable charm to their chemistry, making the romance both endearing and intense. What truly stands out, though, is the film's philosophy of the "Swing Route"—how people find hope in a big mess. 

To truly grasp this idea, you'd need to see the film, where Katherine, after finishing her book, realises that pushing Owen away was the mistake that ultimately guided her forward. Her path forward was accepting that her real mess was living in constant fear of losing focus on her writing—due to which she lost Owen and, similarly, her ex-husband, who had accused her of being more devoted to her work than anything else.

The film Lonely Planet could have easily been a romance between two people of the same age, but its real depth emerges from the contrast between a middle-aged woman struggling with emotional complexity, and a younger man who is emotionally grounded. Both characters unknowingly help each other to meet their true selves.

In A Family Affair

The next film on my list is In A Family Affair, directed by Richard LaGravenese, starring Nicole Kidman as Brooke, a successful middle-aged widow and author, much like Katherine, but with a key difference—Brooke knows how to balance both love and her career, and when she unexpectedly finds a spark with Chris, played by Zac Efron, a younger superstar actor, she decides to give love another chance. However, her daughter, portrayed by Joey King, finds it difficult to accept her mother dating someone her own age. 

This reaction looks natural, as Dr. Elena Touroni, a consultant psychologist also points out in a feature on age-gap relationships for BBC that "In many cultures, relationships with significant age differences are often viewed as unconventional or even unacceptable."

The film explores multiple perspectives on age-gap romance, from the viewpoint of the older, the mid, and the young age woman—but it never quite dives deeply into any of them. What resonated most, though, was Brooke’s journey as a widow who had stopped living for herself, putting all her focus on her child. The moment she senses love again, she starts to see herself differently—she looks in the mirror, wears dresses, and craves intimacy once more. It’s a reminder that while children are a lifelong responsibility, a woman’s happiness is her responsibility too, and the two don’t have to be mutually exclusive.

As I wrote earlier about how a woman’s happiness is her responsibility, even though there are hundreds more life-long commitments, The Deceitful Love by Pappi Corsicato, beautifully embodies this concept, but in a more delicate and layered way. 

The Deceitful Love

Monica Guerritore plays Gabriella, a 60-year-old business tycoon grappling with loneliness after being abandoned by her cheating husband and left alone by her three grown children. When Elia, a man half her age played by Giacomo Gianniott enters her life brings an unexpected romance into her world.

At first, Gabriella questions his intentions, wondering if her children were right about him being a gold-digger. Is he only after her wealth and status? But soon, she realises that her fears are not about the money, it’s about losing her independence. For her entire life, her path has been dictated by men, her father, her husband, and even her sons. But in Elia, she finds something different, a relationship that allows her to reclaim her sense of self. 

Moreover, the intimacy they share becomes a healing force, helping Gabriella reclaim her confidence after the trauma of infidelity. In Elia, she finds not just liberation, but the realisation that she is still desirable. 

That’s often the essence of many age-gap romances. Licensed psychotherapist Sarah Chotkowski, LICSW, explains for Brides that “for older women, dating younger men can be particularly appealing for several reasons, with one of the main factors being sexual liberation.”

In all three dramas, the couples ultimately unite, but what if the age-gap lovers embrace their feelings only to discover they can't be together? You already know the reasons—societal judgements and parental responsibilities often create barriers, right? 

The Idea of You

The Idea of You, an acclaimed novel written by Robinne Lee, is on the same lines, a non-traditional romance where the middle-aged couple falls in love but doesn't remain together. However, the film version of it, directed by Michael Showalter, has a happier ending for its audience.

The film features Anne Hathaway as Solène, a divorced art gallery owner in her 40s, and Nicholas Galitzine as Hayes, a member of the British boy band August Moon. Their paths cross in a flirtatious first meeting that quickly escalates into a passionate connection, where they find solace in each other's arms as they discuss their insecurities and the complexities of life. 

However, their relationship faces mounting complications: the media labels Solène as "just another cougar," Hayes becomes the target of online trolls, and Solène's daughter raises eyebrows at their relationship. Despite being aware that society often hates happy women, Solène struggles to maintain the relationship until her daughter graduates school and can lead a more normal life. Unlike the novel, the couple ultimately reunites after five years.

In an interview with TODAY.com, The Idea of You writer Lee expressed her intentions behind the story and her perspective on romance. She stated, "I wanted to show that not every story ends happily. Two people can be incredibly in love and the stars just don’t align. There are just other factors working against them. That doesn’t mean that they might not end up together sometime down the line, but the way I wrote the book meant that it wasn’t going to happen then and there."

I can’t help but recall similar themes in a few recent Hindi films, and I’m sure you’d agree. Take The Lunchbox, for instance—Saajan Fernandes never quite found the courage to confront Ila Singh and say, "I may not be the right age for you, but what we share in our hearts deserves another chance." 

And remember Darlings? Zulfi confesses his feelings for Shamshu, who is twice his age, and in a moment of reciprocation, she kisses him. While we don’t see them together in a traditional happy ending, I believe that, from a writer's perspective, it hints at potential for something more in the future. What are your thoughts?