Best Romantic Movies to Watch on Valentine’s Day
Do you need a little help getting in the spirit for Valentine’s Day? If you’re feeling anti-love on February 14th, we totally understand. However, it can be fun to give in to the whole cheesy holiday vibes — whether that means wearing something pink, eating candy, or simply vegging out with a few of your favorite romantic comedies, musicals, or dramas.
Though they're often not without their issues, a really good romantic movie can provide you with a hefty dose of escapism. Sure, some of them are far from realistic and nearly all of them gloss over how difficult relationships actually are, but sometimes that's exactly the point. You can get your fix of love via Disney classics, shed a few tears with one of those sappy romantic drama, discover a whole new facet of the emotion we call love, or fall for a classic old movie shot in black and white. These romantic films will have you in the mood for love in two hours or less! Promise.
1/20Beauty and the Beast
We know you’re excited about the upcoming remake of this Disney gem, so why not revisit the original and fall in love with that tale as old as time all over again? Remember how the Beast gives Belle what she really, really wants — a library? That’s one of the greatest gifts we could think of. In return, she gives him unconditional love and understanding, and helps him reconnect with his heart and break the spell.
2/20Southside with You
The romance between Barack and Michelle Obama is so iconic that an entire movie was made about their early courtship. Those first few years set the framework for their eventual success as both a couple and the President and First Lady. Was it fate? Maybe not, but the relationship between Barry and Michelle will go down in history as one of the most influential, uplifting marriages in American history.
3/20My Girl
There’s nothing like your first love, and though this movie does leave us emotionally destroyed, the childhood love between Vada and Thomas J. is so sweet and realistic that you can’t help but want to watch it again and again. It’ll bring you right back to that time between childhood and young adulthood and the conflicting feelings that growing up can bring.
4/2010 Things I Hate About You
Nobody did a love story like Shakespeare. That is, nobody until Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Larissa Olynik. Heath singing “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” on the bleachers set the bar for "grand sweeping gestures of apology" pretty high.
5/20Roman Holiday
The world fell in love with Audrey Hepburn in 1953’s *Roman Holiday. * She plays a princess on the run who winds up meeting (and falling for) an American reporter. It doesn’t have a fairytale ending (spoiler alert!) but it’s more beautiful and charming because of it. At its core, Roman Holiday is a movie about how a stranger can change your life in just a few hours and open your eyes to a new world.
6/20You’ve Got Mail
Do dating apps terrify you? Watch You've Got Mail for a blast from the past. If you forget the whole “Tom Hanks destroys Meg Ryan’s cute little bookshop with his big box bookstore” thing, You’ve Got Mail is just a movie about strangers who fall in love over dialup internet. (Remember dialup? No?)
7/20Titanic
The ending is still traumatic, but there’s a reason we stop and watch all three hours of this ‘90s blockbuster romance when it’s on cable. Jack helps Rose break free of the confines of her rich-girl life and gives her her first taste of independence, showing her the world outside privileged society. We all know how Titanic ends (sniff, sniff), but Rose carries those lessons with her for the rest of her life.
8/20Twilight
The romance between Edward the vampire and Bella the regular girl has its flaws — like the fact that Edward was really controlling of Bella and engaged in behavior that borders on stalking — but it became a cultural obsession and spawned a whole universe of Twihards. Bella basically gives up everything to be with the one she loves. While this isn’t a behavior we endorse, in the Twilight universe, it’s Bella’s destiny to stand beside Edward forever.
9/20Wall-E
This Pixar story of robots in love — and the lengths to which plucky little trash compactor WALL-E will go to see his beloved EVE — won our hearts. WALL-E is a story of loneliness above all things; WALL-E spends his days wandering around a wasted universe, just hoping for a meaningful connection. (Wow, Disney, too real.) He finds friendship in EVE, and together they eventually bring new life to earth and to each other. Who would’ve thought that a movie about robots would be so touching?
10/20Love & Basketball
You gotta love a good love story that doesn't shy away from showing every aspect of a relationship — and that includes the sometimes-messy fights. *Love & Basketball * is grounded in Quincy and Monica’s love for each other and their love for basketball, and shows what happens when you have to make hard choices between your career and your heart.
11/20Moulin Rouge!
It’s a musical comprised solely of pop songs, including romantic classics like Elton John’s “Your Song.” Nothing is more cinematic than when Christian and Satine kiss and fireworks literally go off because of it. Moulin Rouge is so over-the-top, harkening back to the golden age of Hollywood musicals, that it’s impossible not to be enchanted by the pure saccharine goodness.
12/20Pretty in Pink
The ‘80s made some excellent teen romantic comedies, including this one starring Molly Ringwald, Jon Cryer, and Andrew McCarthy. Quirky-cool Andie has to choose between her longtime BFF Duckie, who’s madly in love with her, and the rich kid Blane, whose friends don’t accept her. In the grand tradition of the best romantic comedies, there’s a triumphant prom scene and an iconic ‘80s pink dress.
13/20The Fault in Our Stars
We’re sorry, but we *had * to include this weepy drama from 2014, based on a book of the same name by John Green. The love story between Gus and Hazel will change you forever. They know their time may be limited, so they decide to make the most of it and fall in love, regardless of what might happen in the future. Where’s the Kleenex?
14/20Loving
Loving is about IRL couple Mildred and Richard Loving, who challenged narrow-minded ‘60s laws regarding interracial marriage and stand as a true testament to the power of love. Ruth Negga, who plays Mildred, was recently nominated for an Oscar for her role.
15/20Say Anything
This ‘80s go-to includes one of the most over-the-top romantic gestures of all time, AKA Lloyd Dobler holding his boombox over his head and blasting Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes” as a message to his beloved Diane. Realistic? Nah. A touchstone moment in pop culture history? 100%.
16/20But I’m a Cheerleader
High school cheerleader Megan is sent away to a “therapy camp” called True Directions when her parents suspect she’s gay. While she’s there, Megan starts to develop feelings for one of her fellow campers, a young woman named Graham, but she’s not altogether comfortable with her sexuality yet. Eventually she realizes that she’s in love with Graham, accepts herself as she is, and makes peace with her family. (*But I’m a Cheerleader * also features a cameo from RuPaul!)
17/20Casablanca
Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman’s film about love and loss during WWII is basically required viewing for anyone who enjoys romantic movies. Rick and Ilsa fell in love in a whirlwind in Paris and thought they’d never see each other again. Of course, Ilsa and her new husband walk right into Rick’s cabaret after he thought he’d cast her out of his mind. It sounds depressing, but it’s so romantic. Trust us on this one.
18/20Grease
It’s a classic tale: boy meets girl, boy and girl fall in love, boy is part of a leather jacket-wearing squad of bad boys, and girl changes who she is to be accepted by him. (Ugh, the message on this one needs some major updating.) Oh, and they sing and dance the whole way back to one another during senior year of high school. Even if you “hate musicals,” you’ll find something to enjoy about Grease.
19/20Hitch
*Hitch * is a romantic comedy about a dating consultant who can’t get it together in his own romantic life … until he meets his match in the charming and outspoken Sara, who calls him out on his BS and is too savvy to fall for his cheesy pickup tactics. As great loves often do, she makes him rethink everything he thinks he knows about relationships. Is this what the world was like before Tinder?
20/20Romeo + Juliet
It’s only the most iconic love story of all time. Enough said.
