Ammonite

Ammonite has built a devoted following in Australia on Foxtel Now and Beamafilm, and in the US on Kanopy among viewers who want their romance taken seriously. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. With 648 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. You will have strong feelings about it by the finale. Available now on Foxtel Now — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Ammonite arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. What makes Ammonite work is that the obstacles feel real, not manufactured for the plot. In 1840s England, palaeontologist Mary Anning and a young woman sent by her husband to convalesce by the sea develop an intense relationship. Despite the chasm between their social spheres and personalities, Mary and Charlotte discover they can each offer what the other has been searching for: the realisation that they are not alone. It is the beginning of a passionate and all-consuming love affair that will defy all social bounds and alter the course of both lives irrevocably. Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan lead a cast that earns the romance rather than assuming it. It was released in 2020. Ammonite understands that tension needs a believable reason to exist, not just narrative convenience. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Ammonite is ideal for viewers who want romance served with real character development. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. The chemistry Kate Winslet brings to it is the engine that drives everything. A rarer quality than it sounds — earning the romantic beats rather than assuming them.