Damage

If you want romantic drama that respects your intelligence, Damage is available in Australia on MUBI, and in the UK on Amazon Prime Video and MUBI right now. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Jeremy Irons carries the emotional throughline with real conviction. Put it on tonight on MUBI and see for yourself.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Damage earns its spot. Damage earns its romantic beats rather than assuming them — a rarer quality than it sounds. The life of a respected British politician at the height of his career crumbles when he becomes obsessed with his son's lover. The chemistry between Jeremy Irons and Juliette Binoche is the real engine here. It hit screens in 1992. Romance lives or dies on chemistry, and Damage has it in the cast combination that the writers chose to put at the centre of everything. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

Damage is ideal for viewers who want romance served with real character development. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. The chemistry Jeremy Irons brings to it is the engine that drives everything. A rarer quality than it sounds — earning the romantic beats rather than assuming them.