In case anyone needs a friendly reminder, Valentine's Day is right around the corner, so 'tis the season for watching rom-coms. But instead of hitting play on the aptly named Valentine's Day movie again, why not try something else out this holiday season? There are so many romantic movies worth watching for V-Day that aren't quite as obvious as that one.
Don't get us wrong; Valentine's Day is a fun movie to watch. It tells several people's stories about the holiday, and everything is interconnected, which makes it a more interesting movie format. It's also jam-packed with A-list stars such as Jessica Alba, Patrick Dempsey, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, and more. It's literally about the holiday that most people watch it on. But there's more out there for Valentine's Day than just this one film.
We've rounded up 20 romantic movies that are perfect for the Netflix part of a good old "Netflix and chill" kind of evening on Valentine's Day. Popcorn, sadly, not included.
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'Sliding Doors'
Everything late 1990s to early 2000s seems to be on trend at the moment, so why not revisit an underrated classic from that era? Sliding Doors (1999) is film about a woman who gets faced with choosing between two very different lives (and loves) after she does (and doesn't) miss a train. This might be our favorite Gwyneth Paltrow film.
'The Notebook'
Nicholas Sparks knows how to write romance. This movie is based on his book of the same name, and The Notebook makes us cry and cry and cry – in the good way, because it's just such a sweet story about love. Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams star as a young couple torn apart by class ties and war until they finally find their way back to each other. This couple is the ultimate symbol for not giving up on love.
'Titanic'
There's a reason this is one of the biggest box office hits of all time. People love watching a young Leonardo DiCaprio fall for a young Kate Winslet knowing that their love is doomed by the real-life history of the Titanic. Still, for a moment, they were together and everything was perfect, and their love was scored by one of the most romantic songs of all time: Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On."
'About Time'
Love is fully at the center of About Time (2013), both romantic love and the love between a father and son. This film, about a man who learns that he can travel in time, is deeply moving and may require a stash of tissues on hand. It is so, so good.
'Southside With You'
Southside With You tells the story of how Barack Obama and Michelle Obama fell in love. This was long before his presidential dreams came true, when he was just a summer associate at a law firm and Michelle was his supervisor. But he charmed her anyway, and the film follows their first date and sweet kiss outside an ice cream shop.
And the rest is history.
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'The Vow'
The Vow is based on a true story of a terrifying car crash that caused a woman to forget parts of her whole life – including her husband. Their marriage was tested when it came time to see if they could fall in love all over again from the beginning. And, against all odds, they made it work … for a while. They ended up getting a divorce a couple of years ago, but at least the movie ends on a happier note.
'Beyond the Lights'
Anyone who has had more than a little curiosity about Taylor Swift's love life might enjoy the 2014 film Beyond the Lights, which tells the story of the romance between a troubled pop star and her very hunky new bodyguard. He's not a football star, but we're still into it.
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'When Harry Met Sally'
Meg Ryan is the queen of romantic movies, and When Harry Met Sally is one of the best. At first, Harry and Sally are just friends, but they soon realize that the love they've been looking for was right in front of them the whole time. As a bonus, real, everyday couples have their own stories of finding love told throughout the film.
'Sleepless in Seattle'
This is another classic from Meg Ryan. In Sleepless in Seattle, she acts alongside Tom Hanks, a recently widowed man. His son wants his father to find love again and calls in to a radio show for advice. Meg's character hears the story and becomes enraptured by the idea of this widowed father – so she journeys to Seattle to meet him in person.
And, of course, they end up falling in love.
'Out of Sight'
The 1998 movie Out of Sight is so dang sexy (and a little violent, fair warning) and has peak George Clooney as a charming felon and Jennifer Lopez as the agent charged with tracking him down after he escapes from jail. They have off the charts chemistry and J. Lo kicks some literal butt along the way.
'You've Got Mail'
Look, we can't help that everything Meg Ryan was in back in the '80s and '90s was good, OK? You've Got Mail tells the story of a small bookstore owner whose business is threatened by the big book chain in town. While she's feuding with the owner of that chain (Tom Hanks), she's also falling in love with him through anonymous online emails. It's a familiar movie plotline to have a couple go from enemies to lovers, but no one plays it better than Ryan and Hanks.
'Love and Basketball'
Childhood friends Monica (Sanaa Lathan) and Quincy (Omar Epps) both love basketball and want to play professionally. But as they grow up and chase those dreams, they also begin to fall for one another – and their lives don't seem to allow for them to have both their love and professional lives on track at the same time. What will they choose, their love of the sport or their love for each other?
'P.S. I Love You'
A man dying of a brain tumor (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) leaves behind a series of messages for his wife (Hilary Swank) to find after his death. Each one helps her heal a little bit and rediscover the joys of life – and maybe a way to fall in love again. Seeing how much her husband loved her that he planned all this out will move anyone who views this film to be a little more appreciative of the loved ones in their own life.
'To All The Boys I've Loved Before'
Imagine if we wrote a bunch of Valentine's cards to our crushes thinking no one would ever see them but then one day they did? That's sort of the premise of this film, where Lara Jean's love letters accidentally make their way into the hands of the boys she's admired throughout her life. Complications (and love) ensue!
'Portrait of a Lady on Fire'
The 2019 French film Portrait of a Lady on Fire is a smart and sexy film filled with yearning and a slow burn of a love affair between a painter and her reluctant subject. This one was a winner at the Cannes Film Festival and one of the best movies of 2019.
'Pride & Prejudice'
Jane Austen may never have married, but she sure knew how to write a romance. Among her most popular romantic stories is Pride & Prejudice, which follows the love story of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. At first Elizabeth isn't interested in Mr. Darcy, but over time she comes to know his true heart. He lets go of some of his own prideful ways, and the two come together in one of the sweetest love stories around.
'Say Anything'
This 1989 film has the iconic scene of John Cusack's character serenading his love outside her window with a boombox lifted high above his head. That moment couldn't really happen the same way today, which is part of what makes this movie so special. It's a time capsule of how love used to be before the internet, smart phones, and text messages. For our money, this movie also features one of the all-time best love songs, Peter Gabriel's In Your Eyes. Swoon.
'Love Simon'
For those of us who might be watching a Valentine's Day movie as a family, Love Simon might be a perfect choice. This sweet rom-com is all about the thrills of finding love for the first time, with the added twist of the main character having to figure out how to come out to his family.
'Rye Lane'
The "meet cute" moment where the main couple meets for the first time is a rom-com trope, but few movies feature a first meeting in a gender neutral bathroom. Rye Lane (2023) starts in the bathroom and spends the rest of the movie walking around a London neighborhood, where deep conversations and a growing love story begins. This one is streaming on Hulu and might be a wonderful choice for a couple looking for a love story they haven't seen yet.
'Ever After: A Cinderella Story
Ever After is a version of the classic Cinderella story that features an absolutely charming Drew Barrymore as a Cinderella who rescues herself but still finds love with a charming prince along the way.
