In Honor of Tu B'Av: What Are the Most-Watched Romantic Movies in Israel?
Data from yes and Pelephone reveals how Israelis seek love, both on screen and through dating apps, highlighting the most popular romantic films and weekly usage patterns.
In honor of Tu B'Av, the Jewish holiday of love, yes and Pelephone have released new data providing a glimpse into how Israelis seek love, both through romantic films and dating apps. The findings show that the romantic genre remains highly popular, while dating apps maintain steady demand throughout the year, with notable fluctuations in activity levels.
Topping the list of the most-ordered movies on yes this year is "Anyone But You," the romantic comedy starring Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell. Released in 2023, the film achieved global success and became a preferred choice for Israeli viewers due to its blend of humor and engaging plot twists.
In second place is "It Ends with Us," the adaptation of Colleen Hoover's bestseller. The film, which explores complex relationships and domestic violence, sparked significant interest worldwide and attracted a large audience in Israel.
The top three is completed by the romantic drama "Just Like You," which has remained among the most requested titles on the service throughout the year, reflecting a continued trend of high demand for book-based films.
Classic love stories also continue to shine on yes movie channels. Leading this category is the 2010 hit "Eat Pray Love," starring Julia Roberts, which continues to draw viewers years later with its narrative of personal discovery and the search for love.
Following it is "A Prince on Vacation," a lighthearted romantic comedy popular among genre fans. In third place is "The Holiday," starring Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet, a film about two heartbroken women swapping homes for Christmas that remains a beloved favorite.
Data from yes also indicates that approximately 70% of Israelis have watched at least one movie in the past year with the word "love" in its title. The most prominent films in this category include "Love Outside the Field," "Betting on Love," and "Top Gun: Maverick," illustrating the enduring appeal of the term itself.
Meanwhile, Pelephone data shows that Tinder remains the most popular dating app in Israel. It is followed by Bumble, OkCupid, Grindr (for the LGBTQ+ community), and "Shlishit Gan Eden," which caters to the religious sector.
Notably, the data reveals that Sunday is the most active day of the week for dating apps, reaching peak usage. In contrast, Wednesday was recorded as the least active day, highlighting a shift in usage habits throughout the Israeli work week.
