It is the season of love and time for my favorite holiday: Valentine’s Day. These are my movie recommendations for you to watch with friends, family or a special someone in honor of this day of love.
- “When Harry Met Sally”
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This movie is the quintessential romantic comedy. It is very quotable and you have definitely heard the line, “I’ll have what she’s having,” even if you never knew where it was from.
The main characters are the reason this romantic comedy has captivated audiences 35 years after its original release. Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan do a phenomenal job as Harry Burns and Sally Albright.
Crystal and Ryan play two friends who develop feelings for one another over the years despite Sally’s insistence that a man and a woman can just be friends. Their natural chemistry is palpable through the screen.
The story has its comedic moments and Crystal’s performance really makes those moments shine. This movie is not one to be missed.
- “The Notebook”
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This movie is for people who don’t mind a little flavor of sadness mixed into their romantic latte.
The performances by Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams make this film worth watching. Gosling and McAdams star as Noah and Allie, two individuals who fall in love in the 1940s.
However, Allie’s parents try to keep the lovers apart because of Noah’s lower social class. What follows is a beautiful film that really gets to the core of first love and how much it impacts our lives for better or for worse.
A fair warning, you will cry, but then you’ll want to watch it again.
- “Titanic”
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I would probably be touted as a rom-com fraud if I did not put this movie on the list, and for good reason.
There will never be a scene as sad as Jack and Rose clinging to that piece of wood, and I will not tell you why in case there are some people who are reading this who haven’t seen the film.
Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet’s performances are still praised to this day. Winslet was even nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress in 1998 for her portrayal of Rose.
It is a lovely film that deserves all the accolades it has received.
- “Pretty Woman”
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This movie is my favorite movie ever, and I know it is because of Julia Roberts’ performance as Vivian Ward. She is wonderful in this movie, equal parts hilarious and thoughtful.
Her relationship with Richard Gere’s Edward evolves beautifully over the course of the two-hour film.
This movie will make you wish you had your own white knight to come sweep you off your feet. It is a fantastic film that should definitely be a part of any romantic’s watch list.
- “Roman Holiday”
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This movie is for my classic movie fans.
Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck have great chemistry together as Princess Ann and Joe Bradley.
Hepburn won an Oscar for Best Actress in 1954 for her portrayal of Princess Ann. She played the character with a charm and grace that continued to captivate audiences throughout her career.
This movie is for anyone who wants a romance that is sweet with a little sprinkle of humor.
- “La La Land”
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This movie is beautiful cinematographically. The colors in each scene make the film visually stunning.
Along with the cinematography, the performances of Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling are forces to be reckoned with. Their dancing and singing are delightful, and their acting is genuine.
Stone and Gosling really make their characters, Mia and Sebastian, shine on-screen. This movie is a visual gem and will astound you.
- “10 Things I Hate About You”
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This movie is a great throwback romantic comedy. It is an excellent retelling of William Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew.”
Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger as Kat Stratford and Patrick Verona have incredible chemistry.
Ledger has effortless charm as Patrick that pairs well with Stiles’s dourness as Kat. It is a movie that does the enemies-to-lovers trope well and will have you constantly rooting for Kat and Patrick to get together by the end.
This movie is a classic ’90s teen romantic comedy that is not to be missed.
- “The Lost City”
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“The Lost City” is technically classified as an adventure comedy, but the build-up of romantic tension throughout the film makes it a romantic movie in my book.
Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum are the perfect duo as a romance novelist and cover model. They are hilarious as they attempt to escape the controlling businessman played by Daniel Radcliffe.
This movie features a particularly moving performance by Tatum as he breaks down masculine stereotypes by portraying a tough guy type who is not afraid to be vulnerable on screen.
The chemistry between Bullock and Tatum is fantastic and will make you laugh out loud.
- “Isn’t It Romantic”
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This movie is brilliant because it makes fun of the typical romantic comedy tropes. Rebel Wilson plays an architect who is cynical about love and wakes up in her own romantic comedy.
Wilson’s comedy chops are on full display in this film. It is funny and will attract those who are not usually romantic movie lovers with its humor and ultimate message about self-love.
- “Anyone But You”
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This movie was one of the best romantic comedy releases in a while. This Shakespearean retelling of “Much Ado About Nothing” was clever enough to include tidbits of the play throughout the movie with specific lines and motifs.
However, the stars of the movie are what make this a phenomenal film. Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell have insane chemistry that makes it enjoyable to watch them go from lovers to enemies to lovers again.
I loved this movie so much that I am writing a full review on it soon, so keep a lookout for it.
I hope this list gives you plenty of ideas for a Valentine’s Day movie night. Happy watching!