If you are undecided on which romantic movie to curl up on the couch for this Valentine’s, we’ve got a list of 14 of them to watch this 14th!- Bea Hoyt and Lucy Strawbridge 💌
Sabrina (1954): This classic Billy Wilder film follows a chauffeur’s shy daughter named Sabrina (Audrey Hepburn), who faces transformation, self discovery, and even a love triangle. What happens when a shy girl returns home, getting caught up in the love triangle between two brothers she has known her whole life? And more importantly, who will she pick? I personally think this movie is the perfect choice for Valentine’s Day, it captures the timelessness of love, second chances, and self discovery. This is one of my all time favorites and its timelessness and elegance even inspires movies and literature today like the tv series: The Summer I Turned Pretty!
The Princess Bride (1987): A boy’s bedtime story of a fantasy world where a farm boy, Westley, goes through trials and tribulations to get the love of his life, Princess Buttercup, back after he had thought she had been kidnapped. I remember watching this when I was about four years old and I could watch it today and still love it just as much. This is a classic fantasy romance movie for those who want to escape to another world on Valentine’s Day.
Forrest Gump (1994): While Forrest Gump isn’t a romcom or advertised as a romance, I still believe it is an amazing movie that has a plot centered around love. It immediately captured my attention and never lost it. Forrest Gump may not be the sharpest tool in the shed but he does know what love and loyalty is and we can see that clearly throughout the whole movie. The universal love Forrest has for everyone and everything is truly inspiring and I believe we all need to take a page out of his book and love a little more. This movie has made me laugh at times and at others cry; it is incredibly made and a must watch.
She’s All That (1999): This 90s movie is the perfect light hearted rom-com to watch this Valentine’s! This is a fun story about breaking stereotypes and unexpectedly finding true love. You may not be rooting for the main character, Zack, in the beginning of She’s All That, but his transformation by the end of the film is a reminder that love comes when you least expect it. This is the perfect film to remind viewers that real connections are found when we look beyond appearances.
How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003): Have you ever gotten broken up with and wondered what went wrong? Andie Anderson is assigned to find out what exactly drives men away and write an article on it: a list of what not to do when dating a guy. Benjamin Barry challenges himself to get a girl to fall in love with him. Benjamin decides Andie is going to be the girl in his experiment, and without his knowledge, she has decided to do the same with him. This messy romcom is one of my favorites of all time and if you want a quick laugh on Valentine’s Day, this is definitely the movie for you.
He’s Just Not That Into You (2009): If you don’t have a Valentine this year just know you are not missing out. He’s Just Not That Into You follows the love lives of Gigi (a girl who seems to always misread her dates), Janine (who is in a complicated marriage with her husband, Ben), Anna (who is friends with Connor, and in her mind only friends, but Connor seems to misinterpret her intentions), and Beth (who has a boyfriend of seven years, Neil, and is unsatisfied with the way their relationship is working). This movie has incredible lessons and I believe everyone should watch it at least once in their life. While this may not be the happiest movie at times it definitely shows love at all different angles and can help you understand it a bit more.
500 Days of Summer (2009): If you want to watch a happy, funny romcom this Valentine’s, this movie is not for you. Tom, the narrator of the story, and most importantly a romantic, falls in love with Summer, a free spirit. As Tom and Summer hang out more, lines start to blur on what is platonic and what is romantic. Tom wants to become something more while Summer wants to stay just friends. This movie explores love and how it is defined by two people who have opposite views on how they see love. This is a thought-provoking movie and will get you thinking about who’s in the right, who’s in the wrong, and what truly is love? I suggest watching this with someone else as it could be fun to discuss your viewpoints on the movie.
10 Things I Hate About You (2009): This Valentine’s Day, watch a movie that is funny, heart-warming, and filled with good music! This movie is a modern twist on the Shakespearean classic The Taming of the Shrew (but don’t worry, it doesn’t contain confusing poetic wordplay or old fashioned words). Enjoy 10 Things I Hate About You this 14th and you’ll be rooting for love between the most unexpected people!
Flipped (2010): This coming-of-age story is told from the perspectives of two eighth graders, Juli and Bryce, whose views on love and belonging couldn’t be more different. Flipped captures the confusion of love, first impressions, and self discovery. This is a must watch for Valentine’s Day because it highlights the sweetness and nostalgia of first love.
Me Before You (2016): Louisa Clark is a quirky girl who becomes a caretaker for Will Traynor in order to get some quick money. After becoming paralyzed, Will has become defeated and no longer has any ambition in his life, but Louisa is determined to show him that he can’t give up on life too easily. The unlikely couple become closer and more important in each other’s lives as time goes on. This feel good movie will remind you that you need to live your life to the fullest. This is a great quick watch for Valentine’s Day and a must watch in general.
Dinner In America (2020): Dinner In America is quite literally in my top ten favorite movies list and I have seen it three times in the last year. This unusual pairing between an energetic quirky girl and an arsonist lead singer end up finding each other and inevitably falling in love. This movie perfectly portrays how love is boundless and doesn’t always come in the same shape. Even though these two couldn’t seem to be more different, they have an understanding for each other that nobody could ever replicate and become a perfect pair. This movie takes place over a few days and the run time is relatively short, so if you want a quick romantic movie that’ll make you feel good this Valentine’s Day, this is the movie for you.
Where the Crawdads Sing (2022): Watch this to experience a beautiful romance movie that explores the themes of persistence, time, and mystery. This isn’t just a romance, but also a mystery movie that will keep you engaged in the story. This emotional movie explores beyond the typical romance and despite all the ups and downs, you’ll feel satisfied with its bittersweet ending. This Valentine’s Day, watch a movie that delivers a meaningful message about love and loyalty that will leave an impression on you long after watching it!
13 Going on 30 (2004): This is a perfect Valentine’s movie if you’re looking for a comedic and not-too-serious romance movie! 13 Going on 30 tells the story of a teenager named Jenna Rink who wishes she were older, But what happens when she wakes up to find that her wish has come true?! This is an uplifting film that shows the importance of love, loyalty, and friendship as Jenna adapts to her life as an adult. This movie shows the importance of embracing who you are and makes it clear that it’s never too late to find love, fix your mistakes, or even start over! Use this Valentine’s Day to give yourself some love and embrace who you are, just as Jenna Rink does throughout the film!
Crazy Stupid Love (2011): Cal Weaver is introduced to us as freshly broken up with by his wife and now spends a lot of his free time at a bar devastated by what his life has become. Jacob Palmer, a regular at the bar, helps Cal get out of his shell and back into the dating pool. This movie is full of hilarious twists and will never fail to surprise you. This movie shows a very raw version of what love is and will not sugarcoat any of the situations the characters are in. This movie is an emotional rollercoaster and you have to be ready for that when deciding to watch this movie, but don’t let that drive you away, it is a well-crafted movie and will immediately hook you into the crazy ride of what “Crazy Stupid Love” is.
