The Half of It (2020)
Alice Wu’s take on Cyrano de Bergerac is set in a small Massachusetts town, where high schooler Ellie (Leah Lewis) writes her classmates’ essays for money. She agrees to help Paul (Daniel Diemer) out with his love letters only because she’s in love with the same girl and feels free to communicate with her through a disguise. Defying conventional rom-com tropes, The Half of It celebrates all kinds of love—romantic, familial, and friendship bonds—without elevating one over the other.
Moonstruck (1987)
Moonstruck is testament to the fact that you never really know when love will strike. Certainly, Loretta Castorini (Cher) doesn’t expect to fall for her fiancé’s brother, Ronny (Nicolas Cage), when she invites him to the wedding. Watch Moonstruck for Cher and Cage’s magnetic performances (as well as the rest of the cast), memorable dialogue, and meditation on love.
Dirty Dancing (1987)
Prepare to fall in love with Johnny (Patrick Swayze) and Baby (Jennifer Grey)—two lovers from opposite sides of the tracks—as they fall in love with each other at a summer camp. Also of note? The dancing and that legendary lift!
Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks as Annie and Sam keep hopeless romantics restless throughout this classic thanks to their “will they, won’t they” dance. Spoiler alert: One of our favorite scenes is when Sam’s son calls the radio station where Annie works to help find his widowed father a partner. Plus, we’re obsessed with the sweet ending.
Roman Holiday (1953)
Try not to get all the feels watching reporter Joe Bradley (Gregory Peck) sweep Princess Ann (Audrey Hepburn) off her feet during an adventure in Italy. If you’re in the mood for a timeless black-and-white film, press play.
Pretty Woman (1990)
In this ’90s, modern Cinderella tale, a romance develops between a wealthy businessman (Richard Gere) and a prostitute (Julia Roberts). Without a doubt, it’s Gere and Roberts at their finest.
The Princess Bride (1987)
Based on William Goldman’s novel of the same name, turn to this sci-fi love story when you’re tired of the typical rom-com (or Hugh Grant). Amid fanciful creatures, pirates, and sappy scenes, Cary Elwes’s and Robin Wright’s characters embark on an adventurous journey of true love.
10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
You’ll probably miss the late Heath Ledger while watching this teen flick, which is an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. It’s beloved for the onscreen chemistry the actor shared with Julia Stiles while they portrayed Patrick and Kat. Plus, you won’t be able to look away when Stiles delivers a tearjerking speech in which she confesses her love (and hate) for Ledger’s bad-boy protagonist.
Love & Basketball (2000)
The swoony story of how two next-door neighbors fall in love over years is perfect for Valentine’s Day. Monica (Sanaa Lathan) and Quincy (Omar Epps) connect over their passion for basketball—but, of course, their genders lead them on different paths through the sport. The film follows how they move in and out of each other's lives...and whether they can eventually work out their relationship.
Brokeback Mountain (2005)
If you like your romantic movies with a heavy dose of heartbreak, here’s one for you. It’s the story of a secret, forbidden relationship between two cowboys in 1960s Wyoming—who must hide their love for each other from both their wives. The film won three Academy Awards, including one for its director, Ang Lee.
If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)
Based on James Baldwin’s novel of the same name, this film follows a young man and woman, Fonny (Stephan James) and Tish (KiKi Layne), who fall in love despite barriers: Fonny is wrongfully arrested for rape while Tish learns she is pregnant with Fonny’s child. The non-linear narrative includes their respective families’ reactions and attempts to help. Regina King won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Tish’s mother.
Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)
As the title implies in this British romance, Charles (Hugh Grant) has to bump into Carrie (Andie MacDowell) at five different events before he’s able to fully express how he feels about her. Grant has never been more charming.
Always Be My Maybe (2019)
In this irresistible Netflix rom-com, Ali Wong and Randall Park play former childhood besties with unfinished business. When Sasha (Wong) moves back to San Francisco, she and Marcus (Randall) reconnect. But is the gap between their current positions—she, a famous chef and he, still living at home—too large to bridge? Keanu Reeves also appears in the cameo of the century.
Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
You’ll surely get swept away by the over-the-top glitz and glamour—not to mention the ultra-romantic shows of love—in this rom-com. Rachel (Constance Wu) joins her boyfriend, Nick (Henry Golding), on a trip to Singapore for his best friend’s wedding. What she doesn’t know is that his family is filthy rich...and not too happy that he’s in love with someone outside their orbit.
Waiting to Exhale (1995)
Waiting to Exhale shows that love stories rarely take place in a vacuum. The four best friends in the warm classic help each other through their various romances’ highs, lows, and disappointments. The chemistry between Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine, and Lela Rochon is ultimately more memorable than the romances.
When Harry Met Sally (1989)
The best thing about watching the lovable Sally Albright (Meg Ryan) and Harry Burns (Billy Crystal) on-screen is seeing how they grow both as a couple and as individuals. Besides, we all still want to eat what Sally orders in that iconic orgasmic café scene.
Love Jones (1997)
Your heart will warm up watching Darius Lovehall (Larenz Tate) use poetry to woo the beautiful photographer Nina Moseley (Nia Long) in this epic Black love story.
The Big Sick (2017)
The adorable meet-cute between Kumail (Kumail Nanjiani) and Emily (Zoe Kazan) just barely scratches the surface of this brilliant clash-of-cultures film. The Big Sick, based on Nanjiani and his wife Emily V. Gordon’s true story, also refreshingly brings Pakistani and Muslim culture into the spotlight.
Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)
Regarded as the best film of the Bridget Jones’s trilogy by superfans, Renée Zellweger is forced to choose between two handsome potential suitors, Colin Firth and Hugh Grant, in this British romantic comedy.
You’ve Got Mail (1998)
Proof that they’re one of the most dynamic duos in cinema history, Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks reunite for another adorable flick. In this one, they play rival bookstore owners Joe Fox and Kathleen Kelly who, unknowingly, become email pen pals.
Juliet, Naked (2018)
Juliet, Naked has a zany love-triangle premise and a deeply affecting core. Annie (Rose Byrne) is stuck in a relationship with Duncan (Chris O’Dowd), a man more obsessed with Tucker Crowe (Ethan Hawke), a rocker from the ’90s who disappeared after one album, than he is with her. When Annie and Tucker accidentally strike up a transatlantic correspondence, Annie’s seaside town of Sandcliffe becomes the setting for some very tangled romantic showdowns. If you’re searching for a feel-good but still believable rom-com, this is it.
Eat Pray Love (2010)
Adapted from Elizabeth Gilbert’s 2007 bestselling memoir, Eat, Pray, Love, Roberts stars as Liz Gilbert, a newly divorced travel writer seeking to discover pleasure, prayer, and mindfulness in Italy and India. Along her journey to self-discovery, she opens herself up to love at her final destination in Indonesia.
Brown Sugar (2002)
Sid (Sanaa Lathan) and Dre (Taye Diggs) were together at the most formative moment in their childhood: the day they discovered hip-hop. Now Sid is the editor of the hip-hop magazine XXL, and Dre works at a record label. Their passions and personalities are aligned, but it takes years before their lives are, too. It’s a joy to watch powerhouses Lathan and Diggs riff off each other.
Friends with Benefits (2011)
Two friends, Dylan (Justin Timberlake) and Jamie (Mila Kunis), decide to rebel against dating clichés and relationship stereotypes. But soon they discover that platonic sex is just as complicated as love.
The First Wives Club (1996)
The First Wives Club is an irreverent sendup of marriage (and divorce) conventions—and a showcase of three of our favorite leading ladies. Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn, and Diane Keaton are longtime friends who, after being left by their husbands for younger women, decide to get revenge. It’s the perfect anti-Valentine’s Day film to stream if you’d rather celebrate your friendships than a paramour.
Southside with You (2016)
If reading Michelle Obama’s revelatory memoir Becoming left you wanting more details about her and Barack Obama’s coupling, watch this film. Starring Tika Sumpter and Parker Sayers, the John Legend–produced movie details their first date.
Bride and Prejudice (2004)
You might already be acquainted with Pride and Prejudice’s beginning, middle, and end—but each adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic novel offers up new wisdom (and swoon-worthy moments). Directed by Gurinder Chadha, Bride and Prejudice follows sisters in Amritsar, India, trying to forge their trails while also dealing with social conventions.
Fire Island (2022)
Another one based on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, this movie follows a group of friends as they make their annual pilgrimage to New York City’s Fire Island. Joel Kim Booster and Bowen Yang star as best friends who fall for two guys a little, ahem, out of their financial league (à la Austen’s novel). Queue this one up if you want something sweet but also mostly funny and raunchy.
The Proposal (2009)
An emotionally unavailable workaholic bribes her dutiful assistant to marry her in order to gain citizenship. As a result, Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock) and Andrew Paxton (Ryan Reynolds) develop a hilariously unlikely connection.
The Spectacular Now (2013)
Think back to your first love. The Spectacular Now captures the precise whirl of two people experiencing something profound together. As they’re falling in love, high school seniors Aimee (Shailene Woodley) and Sutter (Miles Teller) also face down the reality that their lives are about to change. Performances by Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley elevate an already tender story into something unforgettable. You’ll be 17 again—and then, maybe happy you’re not.
50 First Dates (2004)
Henry Roth (Adam Sandler) has to get creative while dating Lucy Whitmore (Drew Barrymore) because of her short-term memory loss, which makes her forget who he is and how they fell in love. Though heartbreaking, it’s tough not to get swept away by his exhaustive attempts at recreating the perfect first date for her.
Just Wright (2010)
Physical therapist Leslie Wright (Queen Latifah) falls for an injured patient who happens to be hotshot NBA athlete Scott McKnight (Common). Too bad Scott is in love with her sexy friend, Morgan (Paula Patton). You’ll find yourself rooting for Leslie to shoot her shot with him in this funny rom-com.
Sylvie’s Love (2020)
We can’t decide what’s more gorgeous about this film: the love story or the sets and costumes that recreate life in ’50s and ’60s New York. Tessa Thompson stars as Sylvie, an aspiring TV producer who feels a palpable connection with a jazz musician, Robert (Nnamdi Asomugha). But due to other ambitions and obligations, the couple can’t be together—until they’re offered another chance years later.
In the Heights (2021)
Adapted from Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony-winning musical of the same name, this film has it all: romance, New York City, eye candy, songs, and, of course, epic dance numbers. You’ll fall for each character’s yearnings and dreams, but above it all, you’ll love the love and support the community has for each other.
Someone Great (2019)
If you’re on the heels of a breakup or are simply celebrating Valentine’s (or Galentine’s) with your closest gals, this is the movie for you. It follows Jenny (Gina Rodriguez) as she goes on one last NYC adventure with her besties—right after being dumped by her long-term boyfriend and right before moving cross-country to San Francisco.
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018)
Lara Jean (Lana Condor) is a quiet, bookish teenager who has her life turned upside down when five love letters she wrote—without the intention of sending—accidentally end up in their intendeds’ hands. But what unfolds is an earnestly sweet story of first love (plus two more movies to follow!). Turn this one (and the second and third) on if you want to squeal from the cheesiness with your gal pals.
Magic Mike (2012)
Need a Galentine’s watch? Look no further. The story is about male strippers—particularly Mike (Channing Tatum), who takes a newbie under his wing. But, let’s be real, you’re probably not watching this for the story. Come for the abs, stay for the abs.
Falling Inn Love (2019)
Before Adam Demos dropped jaws in the steamy Netflix series Sex/Life, he starred in the sweet Netflix movie Falling Inn Love. Prior to becoming an actor, Demos worked in construction. He returns to his roots by playing a contractor living in New Zealand helping an American newcomer (Christina Milian) with the inn she inherited through a contest.
Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)
This French film is ideal if you’re looking for the heart-wrenching type. Marianne (Noémie Merlant) is an artist commissioned to paint a portrait of Héloïse (Adèle Haenel), a young aristocratic woman who is soon to be married. When the two women fall for each other, though, they begin a life-altering affair.
Love, Simon (2018)
Based on the young adult novel Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, this movie is about a teen who wants to come out to his friends and family—and is trying to avoid a blackmailer who wants to out him. Oh, and he’s also trying to figure out the identity of a guy from his school who he’s been chatting with online...who he may just be in love with.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Considered one of the most innovative love stories ever, this fantasy film follows Joel (Jim Carrey) and Clementine (Kate Winslet) throughout various stages of their relationship. While its depiction of romance is realistic and moving, it’s all the more memorable for scenes in which mind-erasing is involved.
Maid in Manhattan (2002)
Turn to this classic ’00s rom-com for a sweet, Cinderella-style story. J.Lo stars as Marisa, a single mom who works at a fancy hotel in NYC. In a case of mistaken identity, she meets Chris (Ralph Fiennes), a candidate for senator who’s staying at the hotel. As expected, the two fall in love...but can they overcome differences and make it work? (You’ll particularly love the scenes with Marisa’s 10-year-old son, played by a young Tyler Posey.)
He’s Just Not That Into You (2009)
If you have no idea what kind of story you want this Valentine’s Day, turn on a movie that has pretty much all of them—unrequited love, divorce, new connections, affairs, and even familial love, too.
13 Going on 30 (2004)
It’s a quintessential 2000s rom-com, and it’ll give you allll the feels on Valentine’s Day. Jenna (Jennifer Garner) starts the movie as a 13-year-old...then makes a birthday wish and wakes up as a 30-year-old. What first looks like a perfect life as a fashion editor turns out to be a little less glamorous than 13-year-old Jenna expected, though. Things of note: the iconic dance scene to “Thriller,” Garner somehow making a pink nightgown look stylish, and, of course, Mark Ruffalo as the love interest.