Whether you’re head over heels over your significant other, still bawling your eyes out over your first love or waiting for your so-called situationship to stop giving you mixed signals, we’ve curated a list of romance movies to watch on Valentine’s Day. And don’t worry, we were very inclusive.
“Juno,” dir. Jason Reitman
Stream on: Rent on YouTube or Apple TV
For couples who have exhausted the cliche rom-coms and don’t relate to the classic, and even dull tropes of modern romance, “Juno” is the quirky film for you. It’s the ultimate 2000s period piece, perfectly equipped with a jug of SunnyD, hamburger flip phones and… teen pregnancy. The movie revolves around Juno MacGuff (Elliot Page), who accidentally becomes pregnant after hanging out with her friend Paulie Bleeker (Michael Cera). She seeks out a married couple — consisting of a failed rock star (Jason Bateman) and a wannabe mom (Jennifer Garner) — to adopt her baby. The ensemble is eccentric and unapologetically themselves, delivering an authentic, relatable performance that surely won’t bore our unique couples.
“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” dir. Michel Gondry
Stream on: YouTube (free), Hulu
For those reminded of their former lover(s) with every heart-shaped box of chocolates, “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” is perfect. Set in an alternative New York City, the film follows estranged ex-lovers Joel Barish (Jim Carrey) and Clementine Kruczynski (Kate Winslet). Upon learning that Clementine has undergone a procedure to erase all memories of their relationship, Joel impulsively decides to undergo the same treatment. Joel’s memories, mixed with B stories of background characters, take you down memory lane, reminding you of the good, the bad and the beautiful imperfection of romance. By the movie’s end, you’ll be knee-deep in tissues as you draft an email (subject: can we talk?), trying to fill the human-sized hole in your heart.
“Moulin Rouge!” dir. Baz Luhrmann
Stream on: Netflix
Centered around a 19th-century cabaret, “Moulin Rouge!” is elaborate and campy — a film guaranteed to enliven our single pringles and their dry DMs. The movie follows the journey of a young poet, Christian (Ewan McGregor), as he plunges into the embellished world of the Moulin Rouge and falls into a hopeless, forbidden love with the club’s most beguiling star, Satine (Nicole Kidman). Amidst the chaos of tragedy and watching secret plots unravel, you’ll find yourself singing along to this fever-dream-like musical that takes your mind off your lonely Valentine’s Day. At the end of the film, you’ll feel as sought-after and beautiful as Nicole Kidman.
“In the Mood For Love,” dir. Wong Kar Wai
Stream on: HBO Max, YouTube Primetime, Kanopy (free with library card)
The clock strikes 10 p.m. on Feb. 14 as you hopelessly swipe up your home screen, looking for an apology from your situationship after heartlessly ghosting you the entire day. But fear not — you and your flaky situationship aren’t the only pair struggling to put a label on your fling! Set in the bustling streets of 1960s Hong Kong, “In The Mood For Love” follows the story of two neighbors, Chow Mo-wan (Tony Leung) and Su Li-zhen (Maggie Cheung), whose spouses are having an affair. What started as an innocent friendship to cope with infidelity blossoms into a longing, emotionally intimate romance. Their forsaken love, constrained by social expectations and moral values, is paired beautifully with dreamy, intimate shots, hypnotizing viewers for the full 98 minutes. The film’s unresolved conflict is sure to haunt you longer than any of your crumbling talking stages ever lasted.
From spunky rom-coms filled with personality to indie slow-burns that leave you questioning if love is even real, our list has a recommendation for every relationship status. Whether watching beside a star-crossed lover or with nothing but the distant memory of one, these films will indefinitely capture your attention and make your Valentine’s Day swoon-worthy.
