With the chilly weather outside, it might be easy to feel a little cold, a little lonely. The only cure of course is a cup of hot cocoa as you tuck yourself into bed and turn on a heartwarming romance film. And truly, who does on-screen romance better than Egyptians? We’ve got you covered with some of our favourite Egyptian romance movies that will keep you warm this winter (and perhaps stop you from texting him again)...

Bibo W Beshir

2011

Directed by Bassem AliWhat can we say about this film except CHEMISTRY? When a basketball coach (played by Asser Yassin) moves into a flat with a drum player (Menna Shalaby), they’re unaware that they’re flat mates. Yet when they meet and fall in love, that’s when the shenanigans, as they say, ensue. The main couple’s quirky interactions had us shipping them the moment they met.

Rasael El Bahr

2010

Directed by Dawood Abdel Sayed

Starring Basma and Asser Yassin, the story follows two lonely and lost souls, Nora and Yehia, who find solace in keeping one another company and slowly fall in love. Set in Alexandria, we simply can’t resist romance under the rain.

Abo Aly

2005

Directed by Ahmed Nader GalalOn the run from a crime they didn’t commit, Hassan and Salma have to get over their dislike for one another to have each others’ back. We know an enemies-to-lovers plot when we see it. Mona Zaki and Karim Abdelaziz have remarkable chemistry and on screen rapport that makes this one a 2000s goodie.

Teer Enta

2009

Directed by Ahmed El GendyStarring Ahmed Mekky and Donia Samir Ghanem, the story follows Baheeg who is utterly infatuated with his crush Laila - unfortunately, he’s not one for confrontation. After making a deal with a genie, he is on a quest to sweep her off her feet. Their romance blossoms when Baheeg is just himself around her and well don’t we all swoon when we hear ‘Dance Me To The End of Love’ playing at their wedding.

Eza’et Hob

2011

Directed by Ahmed Samir FaragLaila (Menna Shalaby) and Hassan (Sherif Salama) seem to be fish out of the water when it comes to the modern dating scene. Taking their friends’ advice, they decide to let go of their traditions and just go with the flow, taking an all-too-relatable tumble down the baffling dating scene.

Africano

2001

Directed by Amr Arafa What can we say other than the iconic scene where they declare their love by jumping off a waterfall? After moving to South Africa to inherit his uncle’s theme park, Badr (Ahmed El Sakka) meets Gamila (Mona Zaki) who is rough around the edges and well… they don’t get off to the best of starts. But as much as this film grows on us after each rewatch, Badr grows on Gamila in a slow burn that we can’t resist.

Noor Einy

2010

Directed by Wael Ehssan Starring Tamer Hosny and Menna Shalaby, this musical follows Ahmed as he falls in love at first sight with Sara, who lost her eyesight after a car crash. Besides pulling pretty hard on our heartstrings, the movie delivers a romance playlist that we still seek out whenever we feel that love is in the air.

Zarf Tarek

2006

Directed by Wael Ehssan A story of star crossed lovers, this romcom stars Ahmed Helmy as Tarek, a mobile operator who is tasked to track down Sara (played by Nour) by another man who is in love with her. But after finding her, Tarek ends up falling heads over heels for Sara himself.