Modern Love Story Directors: 8 Filmmakers Who Stand Out

Modern love stories date back to the beginning of time (and the beginning of the film industry) with classics like "Casablanca," "Gone with the Wind," and "Sabrina." But there has never been a shortage of romantic movies or directors who bring them to life.

Here are eight modern love story directors who stand out:

1. Richard Curtis: Known for the romantic comedy "Love Actually," Curtis also brought fans "About Time" in 2013. He also wrote the screenplays for those films, along with those for "Knotting Hill" and "Bridget Jones's Diary."

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2. Ang Lee: Though romantic movies aren't the end-all be-all of Lee's career, he has directed one of the most famous and perhaps unconventional love stories of the 2000s. Lee's "Brokeback Mountain" won three Oscars and many other prestigious awards. He also directed "Sense and Sensibility" in 1995.

3. Nick Cassavetes: Of the eight director credits Cassavetes has to his name, "The Notebook," based on the Nicholas Sparks novel of the same name, is perhaps his most popular love story, and certainly one of the most famous in the genre. He also directed "The Other Woman" in 2014, a sort of anti-love story.

4. David O. Russell: "Accidental Love" and "Silver Linings Playbook" are both Russell's handiwork. The latter won an Oscar for one of its stars, Jennifer Lawrence, who helped the film depict complicated and imperfect relationships.

5. Joe Wright: Often casting Keira Knightley as the role of the lovelorn lady, Wright has directed many romantic films starring the actress, including "Pride and Prejudice," "Atonement," and "Anna Karenina."

6. Joel Hopkins: Another relative newcomer to the directing game, Hopkins gave romantics "Jump Tomorrow" and several films about love past life's prime, including "Last Chance Harvey" and "The Love Punch."

7. Rob Reiner: Classics such as "The Princess Bride" and "When Harry Met Sally" can be attributed to Reiner. But "The Story of Us," "Alex and Emma," and "Rumor Has It" are also his handiwork.

8. Woody Allen: Often known for his comedies, Allen has directed many love stories, too. Among them are "Annie Hall," "To Rome with Love," and "Midnight in Paris," which won an Oscar and a Golden Globe in 2012.

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