With Valentine's Day just around the corner, it's time to start thinking about how we're going to get into the lovey-dovey mood. Sure, February 14 brings romantic dinners, thoughtful gifts, and mounds and mounds of chocolate each year, but there's another surefire way to get Cupid fever: romantic movies.
There's nothing better than a good rom-com or romantic drama to give you all the warm and fuzzy feelings, and thankfully, there are classics from just about every decade — from the silver screen flicks of the 1950s to the adorably cheesy blockbusters of the 1990s. So whether it's spending the day with a significant other or just hanging out with your best girlfriends for Galentine's Day, a classic romantic movie is never the wrong choice.
And there's something for everyone's tastes. Hardcore romantics can watch the Fifty Shades of Grey films, and comedy lovers can choose something like 13 Going on 30. Bottom line is we're here to make the argument that romantic movies are universal and are just the thing to get us all in the Valentine's Day mood.
To ensure that everyone is ready to spread some love, we've rounded up some of the best romantic movies, just to make it that much easier. So for those who might be struggling to see hearts this year, here are 25 romantic films that are sure to make even the hardest of hearts soften up just in time for Cupid's holiday.
Happy watching!
'Holidate'
Rated: TV-MA
Starring Emma Roberts and Luke Bracey, the 2020 Netflix original Holidate is about two strangers who meet and end up agreeing to be each other's dates every holiday until one or both of them is no longer single. But of course, after making so many memories together, they develop real romantic feelings for each other.
'Shakespeare in Love'
Rated: R
Back in 1998, Gwyneth Paltrow and Joseph Fiennes were absolutely everything in Shakespeare in Love. In it, Joseph plays a young Shakespeare suffering from writer's block. He eventually meets a woman who becomes his muse, and after she pretends to be a man in order to act in one of his plays and he catches her out, they enter into a forbidden romance.
'Everything, Everything'
Rated: PG-13
Everything, Everything is an absolutely gut-wrenching film that will make you remember exactly what it was like to be young and in love, and not able to do anything about it. It's about a teen who has spent the vast majority of her life stuck inside her house, and ends up falling for her neighbor whom she connects with through a window.
'Romeo + Juliet'
Rated: PG-13
Were you really even a '90s girl if you weren't absolutely obsessed with Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet? The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes as the famous Shakespeare characters, and it's such an innovative take on the iconic story that practically introduced an entire generation to the Bard's work.
'The Notebook'
Rated: PG-13
Perhaps the most notable and beloved of all of Nicholas Sparks' books and movies, The Notebook — starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams — is still incredibly popular almost 20 years after its 2004 release. Allie and Noah's love story is timeless and is sure to give anyone hope that true love really does exist.
'Pretty Woman'
Rated: R
Now this is the Valentine's Day movie of all Valentine's Day movies! Julia Roberts and Richard Gere are a match made in romantic comedy heaven, and Pretty Woman is one of the first rom-coms many of us ever watched. It's so nostalgic and still stands the test of time all these years later.
'Fifty Shades of Grey'
Rated: R
This one has been a Valentine's Day classic ever since it came out in 2015, it's perfect for anyone spending the holiday solo or even with their girlfriends. The best part about it? The night can turn into a whole Mr. Grey marathon by watching all the films in the franchise back-to-back.
'Bride Wars'
Rated: PG
Prefer a little more comedy in your romance movies? What's more appropriate to watch on Valentine's Day than two soon-to-be brides battling it out? PS: We really disliked Chris Pratt's character in Bride Wars, but Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway are perfect in their warring BFF roles.
'Set It Up'
Rated: TV-14
Netflix always delivers when it comes to subtly cheesy romantic comedies. This one involves two people trying to help their demanding bosses find love — so what could go wrong, right? Set It Up stars Zoey Deutch, Taye Diggs, Lucy Liu, and Pete Davidson. It flew under the radar when it came out in 2018, but it's definitely worth a watch.
'P.S. I Love You'
Rated: PG-13
Gerard Butler in his prime, ladies and gentlemen. This one is a little more on the heart-wrenching side, but it's a Valentine's Day classic nonetheless. Plus, crying it out over someone else's problems can be totally cathartic. But really, who needs an excuse to watch Gerard Butler in a romance?
'10 Things I Hate About You'
Rated: PG-13
Heath Ledger singing '90s angsty music, and a young Joseph Gordon-Levitt? Sounds good to us. (Let's be honest, it's basically what our teenaged dreams were made of.) 10 Things I Hate About You, which also stars Julia Stiles and Gabrielle Union, is a modern romantic classic for sure.
'One Day'
Rated: PG-13
The two main characters in this movie are thrown together for one night, and it changes their futures for the next 20 years, during which the film checks in with each of them on the same day every year. Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess' chemistry is off the charts in this quirky rom-com.
'Blue Valentine'
Rated: R
Valentine's Day and Ryan Gosling go hand-in-hand, right? He's totally a pro at playing the dreamy leading man. Things get a little more angsty in this 2011 Gosling movie about how a modern married couple's relationship changes over time, but it's romantic all the same. He stars alongside the delightful Michelle Williams.
'The Break-Up'
Rated: PG-13
Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn play a couple on the verge of ending it all in 2006's The Break-Up. These two always deliver some truly hilarious moments when they work together, and we absolutely love it. In this one, things get pretty nasty — and laugh-out-loud funny, too.
'To All the Boys I've Loved Before'
Rated: TV_13
Valentine's Day is just another good excuse for us to watch this Netflix original movie over and over again. To All the Boys I've Loved Before, starring Lana Condor and Noah Centineo, was voted one of Netflix's best movies and shows of 2018, earning it two sequels in 2020 and 2021.
'The Fault in Our Stars'
Rated: PG-13
We all remember that John Green novel turned tear-jerking movie? Yes, well it's time to break it out again just in time for this Valentine's Day. Be sure to have a box of tissues at the ready when you sit down to watch The Fault in Our Stars, which is about two teen cancer patients who set out on a transformative journey together.
'Definitely, Maybe'
Rated: PG-13
In 2008's Definitely, Maybe, a soon-to-be divorced father tries to explain his past relationships to his 11-year-old daughter, and we don't know what we love more: a young Ryan Reynolds or a young and adorable Abigail Breslin. This one is a unique concept and totally worth watching this Valentine's Day.
'A Walk To Remember'
Rated: PG
Alright, here's another one that's going to have us all sobbing our eyes out. Nicholas Sparks really knows how to write them, doesn't he? A Walk To Remember is a millennial classic that just celebrated its 20th anniversary, believe it or not. Plus, Mandy Moore has been posting lots of throwback pics from the film on Instagram that have us ready to watch it all over again (for, like, the millionth time).
'Say Anything'
Rated: PG-13
It doesn't get any better than a classic '80s throwback! Say Anything, starring John Cusack and Ione Skye, has all the cheesy and lovable elements of our favorite '80s movies. It's been such an impactful film for an entire generation of people that it's still routinely referenced in pop culture today.
'Breakfast at Tiffany's'
Rating: Not Rated
Audrey Hepburn's most iconic film role was in the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's, which is based on a novel by Truman Capote. While the book is a bit on the dark side, the film is the perfect choice for anyone who loves the idea of watching a classic rom-com on Valentine's Day.
'13 Going on 30'
Rated: PG-13
Now this is the ultimate Galentine's Day movie! At some point, we were all wishing we could be Jenna Rink (played by Jennifer Garner), mainly so we could date a young Mark Ruffalo (so dreamy). Jen and Mark have such incredible chemistry in this film that you can't help but get swept away by their unexpected love story. There's no sweeter movie couple to root for, we promise!
'Little Black Book'
Rated: PG-13
In 2004's Little Black Book, starring Brittany Murphy, Ron Livingston, Holly Hunter, and Kathy Bates, a young talk show producer starts digging into her boyfriend's past relationships — and nothing ever good comes out of that, right? Once she goes down the rabbit hole, there's no going back.
'The Last Song'
Rated: PG
Nicholas Sparks strikes again. The Last Song is the movie that started Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth's long relationship, and it's also the movie that broke all of our hearts into a million pieces. The pair got divorced in real life in 2020, but if you're still mourning the end of their relationship, you can watch The Last Song and pretend it still exists.
'An Affair To Remember'
Rated: Not Rated
Another classic Valentine's Day movie, 1957's An Affair To Remember is what made meeting at the top of the Empire State Building so iconic. Thanks to Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr, we'll forever be able to snap the most iconic shots whenever we visit New York City, and remember when their characters agreed to meet atop the famed skyscraper six months after the start of their romance.
'Before We Go'
Rating: PG-13
Chris Evans doesn't just play the strong and handsome Captain America, he also mastered the art of the leading man in the "meet cute" in the 2014 film Before We Go, which also stars Alice Eve. It's about two strangers who randomly spend a night together on a mission in New York City, and by the end of the night, they are fully falling for each other.
