Ghost is the nation's favourite love film

As couples up and down the country make romantic plans for Valentine's Day, research commissioned by over 50s insurer, RIAS, has revealed that the nation's favourite love film is Ghost.

It appears that the 90s are considered a golden era for love films, with four of the top five films, including Ghost, having been made in this decade.

Ghost first appeared at cinemas in 1990 and stars Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg, who won a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for her role as Oda Mae Brown. Other films made in the 90s that made the top five were Pretty Woman (1990), Titanic (1997) and Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994).

Janet Connor, Managing Director of RIAS, commented: "There is quite an eclectic mix of love films in our top ten dating as far back as 1939 with Gone with the Wind to modern times with 2003's Love Actually. It is great to see that even after nearly 70 years some of the all time classics are still competing with modern-day classics for the affections of the nation."

The nation's favourite love films are:

1. Ghost (1990)
2. Pretty Woman (1990)
3. Titanic (1997)
4. Love Actually (2003)
5. Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)
6. The Sound of Music (1965)
7. Gone with the Wind (1939)
8. Casablanca (1942)
9. Doctor Zhivago (1965)
10. An Officer and a Gentleman (1982)

The favourite love film survey was carried out for RIAS as part of their highly successful sponsorship of ODEON Senior Screen, which offers mature guests the opportunity to meet friends for a mid-morning screening of the best recent films and some classics from over the years. The admission price is reduced and free tea and coffee is available before the screenings, which were attended by in excess of 250,000 over 50s in 2007.