15 Best Romantic Movies To Watch On Valentine’s Day

Are you planning on spending Valentine’s day at home, having a lovely night cozying up with some of the best romantic movies out there?

For this special day, I prepared 15 movies that I think you’ll love watching. From cute and fun to romantic, happy, and relatable, they all offer a good alternative reality. A good escape. However, I know some of you also enjoy more serious and dramatic movies. That’s why I included a few of them too. Basically, you have options to choose from. Old movies, new ones; cheesy, cliche, dramas, laugh-out-loud comedies; popular or not so popular…

AND as a special surprise for you, I offer you a FREE GIFT to celebrate this holiday. It’s a cute pdf planner that will help you organize your time and work. All you need to do is find the form below and subscribe (hint: it’s at the end of the post).

Oh, and speaking of gifts! Have you bought something for yourself? Yes, for yourself! You can and should give presents to yourself too, just so you know. Below, I’ve chosen some of my favorite things on Amazon that you can treat yourself with.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.

VALENTINE’S DAY GIFTS TO TREAT YOURSELF WITH

Cherry Blossom Scented Candle

Spa gift box

Decorative lamp

Oversized wearable blanket

Cozy socks

3 Piece Sweatsuit

Also read: Top 12 Romantic Books to Celebrate Valentine’s Day + FREE Gift

15 Best Romantic Movies to Cozy up with on Valentine’s Day

You can find the list below. And here are some tips and ideas about how to enjoy a romantic movie night at home that you can easily apply whether it’s Valentine’s day or not.

America’s Sweethearts (2001)

(romantic comedy)

There’s something about these “old school” romantic comedies that I miss nowadays. For example, how the actors/characters don’t take themselves too seriously. How they don’t try to preach a lesson, they’re just for fun. In America’s Sweethearts, Gwen Harrison (played by Catherine Zeta-Jones) and Eddie Thomas (played by John Cusack) form the most notorious couple in Hollywood. Until they don’t. A few cheating scandals and attempted murders later, the infamous couple has to come together one last time before their divorce. But in trying to make this meeting work, Kiki (played by Julia Roberts), Gwen’s sister and personal assistant, falls in love with her sister’s ex.

Jane Eyre (2011)

(drama, romance, classic)

Based on Charlotte Bronte’s classic novel, there are many adaptations of Jane Eyre. But the one that stands out the most to me is the 2011 movie starring Michael Fassbender and Mia Wasikowska. Though there are a few deviances from the book, I love how the movie captures Jane’s character, the 19th century, the gothic atmosphere, and the relationship between Jane and Rochester.

For those who don’t know what it’s about, Jane Eyre is a becoming-of-age novel (and movie based on book) that follows Jane’s life from her lonely childhood to adulthood when she falls in love with the enigmatic Edward Rochester. But don’t make the mistake of believing this is just a love story. Because it’s much more than that. So no matter when you watch it, on Valentine’s day or any other day, this is a MUST WATCH. And so is the book!

Holidate (2020)

(romantic comedy)

What do you do when you’re single on holidays and your relatives keep bugging you about it? You get a holidate, of course! What’s a holidate, you ask? Well, it’s being someone’s “platonic plus one” for holidays. This is what Sloane (played by Emma Roberts) and Jackson (played by Luke Bracey), two strangers, agree to for a whole year. The rest you can probably guess, but it’s still funny and cute.

Forrest Gump (1994)

(romance, drama, comedy)

I know there’s a high chance you’ve seen Forrest Gump, but in case you haven’t, do so! It’s endearing, unique, and memorable which makes it perfect for Valentine’s day. In this film, Tom Hanks ingeniously portrays a man with a low IQ who famously sits on a bench and recounts his life to the strangers next to him.

“My mama always said, ‘Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.'” – Forrest Gump

Despite his disabilities and limitations, Forrest influences some of the most important cultural and historical moments of the 20th century. Like Elvis Presley’s dance moves, meeting president JFK, being in the army and fighting in Vietnam, becoming a ping-pong champion, and many others. Of course, it’s all fictional, but this doesn’t make it less inspiring.

Last but not least is his love for Jenny, his childhood best friend. “Why don’t you love me Jenny? I may not be a smart man, but I know what love is.”

Falling Inn Love (2019)

(cheesy romance)

This is one of those cheesy guilty pleasures Christmas movies are made of. Except this isn’t a Christmas movie. In Falling Inn Love, after breaking up with her boyfriend, Gabriella Diaz randomly enters a contest to win an inn in New Zealand. And guess what! She wins! How cool is that? Who wouldn’t want a free inn in New Zealand? Anyway, so she flies from San Francisco to NZ to take ownership of her new property. What she didn’t expect was her commitment to renovating the estate and her attraction to the local restoration expert and volunteer firefighter Jake.

It’s Complicated (2009)

(romantic comedy)

Turns out Meryl Streep is good at comedies too. In this one, she plays Jane, a divorced woman who has an affair with her remarried ex-husband, played by Alec Baldwin, ten years after their divorce.

Personally, I was very surprised by this movie. I call it a different type of romantic comedy because it’s not like the rest of the genre. The plot isn’t predictable or cheesy. The ending is mature and open. It’s a must-watch if you love romantic comedies!

She’s All That (1999)

(romantic comedy, teen movie)

In She’s All That, Zack (played by Freddie Prinze Jr.) accepts a bet from his friends to turn socially awkward Laney (played by Rachael Leigh Cook) into their high school’s new prom queen. What starts as a bet and a joke, however, turns into something meaningful for Zack. Paul Walker, Matthew Lillard, and Anna Paquin also star in the movie.

Lady Chatterley’s Lover (2022)

(romance, drama)

This is the only movie on the list I haven’t seen yet, but it’s on my wishlist. Based on D. H. Lawrence’s novel of the same name, the film captures the love story between a married woman who falls out of love with her paralyzed husband and a lower-class gamekeeper. You can watch the trailer below.

The Wrong Missy (2020)

(romantic comedy)

This movie is so fun to watch! If you want the kind of film that leaves you with your mouth open in shock and makes you laugh out loud, this is for you! In short, Tim accidentally meets the woman of his dreams at the airport and they exchange phone numbers. Their relationship quickly escalates through text messages and he invites her to his work retreat in Hawaii. But who shows up isn’t his dream girl, but a previous disastrous blind date with the same name.

Desperados (2020)

(romantic comedy)

“You’re always later in your story than you think.” (from the movie)

After finally finding a guy she likes, a drunk Wesley Darya sends him an angry email which she soon comes to regret. So what does she do? She takes her two best friends and heads to Mexico to find her boyfriend and delete the email before he can read it. Sounds like a crazy plan, right? And that’s not even half of it. If you want to see where a bunch of bad ideas and decisions can take you, you’ll have a fun time watching this rom-com. But don’t try these things in real life, okay?

The Bounty Hunter (2010)

(romantic comedy)

This is such a comfort movie for me. I don’t know why but every time I see or think about this film I relax and forget about my worries. Maybe because it’s easy to escape into and the plot/action is quite fun actually. You start imagining yourself in that scenario. Plus the immense chemistry between Gerard Butler and Jennifer Aniston definitely adds to it.

So what is the movie about, in case you haven’t seen it yet? Milo Boyd, the ex, is a bounty hunter. His latest mission? Retrieve his ex-wife Nicole to the police station for skipping bail (for allegedly assaulting a police officer). His satisfaction is cut short, however, when Nicole escapes and they find themselves running for their lives.

Sex And The City: The Movie (2008)

(romantic comedy, sex)

Have you seen Sex and the City? I’ve never been a fan of the series (for no other reason than not seeing it, with it being so hyped and all). But recently, being in the mood for something oldish and colorful, I played this on Netflix. And I LOVED it. It’s a great escape with funny bits and very real couples problems. I say give it a try if you haven’t seen it yet. There’s one more movie after this (2010) and a more recent revival which I don’t know much about (a series, I think).

In the 2008 movie, the main focus is on Carrie’s upcoming wedding to Mr. Big, when he gets cold feet and kind of leaves Carrie. Also, if you’re wondering if you must have seen the series in order to understand the movie, my answer is NO! I’ve never seen the series and I didn’t feel like I was missing something.

Love In Th Villa (2022)

(cheesy romance + a bit of humor)

Another cheesy guilty pleasure, this time with Kat Graham (you know, from The Vampire Diaries). She plays Julie, a woman obsessed with Romeo and Juliette. Well, after breaking up with her boyfriend, Julie travels to Verona, Italy, only to find the villa she’s supposed to stay in is double-booked. How is she going to share the accommodations with the cynical (but obviously handsome) stranger?

Wilde Mountain Thyme (2020)

(romance, drama, comedy)

Wilde Mountain Thyme is a poetic romantic drama set in the Irish countryside, starring Jamie Dornan (as Anthony) and Emily Blunt (as Rosemary). If you’re into farm life, countryside scenery and mannerisms, and characters fighting their feelings, I think you’ll enjoy this unique and uncommon film.

Jerry Maguire (1996)

(romance, drama, sport)

In Jerry Maguire, Tom Cruise plays a sports agent who gets fired after writing an honest statement about the problems in the sport management industry. What follows is a battle for clients with his former employer which brings Jerry closer to Dorothy Boyd (played by Renee Zellweger) and her son Ray. Throughout the movie though, the main focus is on Jerry and Rod, the only client he has left, and also the relationship between Jerry and Dorothy with its ups and downs.

Like Forrest Gump, Jerry Maguire has a lot of famous quotes, the most known ones probably being “Show me the money!” and “You had me at hello”.

Also read: 6 Feel-Good Love Stories If You Like A Little Romance

Streaming Platforms To Watch These Movies

One last thing to discuss. Where can you watch the movies I recommended? Most of them are streamed on Netflix. I don’t know if you can find them on Amazon Prime or Dysney, but I’ve got you covered. In case you don’t have a Netflix subscription or these movies aren’t available on any of the paid streaming platforms you’re on, I use this streaming website. It’s free and while it still has ads, they don’t pop up like crazy.

Now you have some inspiration for what to watch on Valentine’s day. Which one are you going to pick? Or do you have other recs? Leave a comment! And before you go, don’t forget to grab the FREE gift I prepared for you! Have yourself a lovely Valentine’s day!