10 romance films to get you through Valentine’s day
Words by Alanya Smith
Photos: Getty
Valentines, Galantines – however you choose to celebrate, there’s no reason that you should only watch a great romance film one day a year. We’ve hand-picked some of the best films you can stream at home to make the perfect, DIY cinema experience.
Looking for love, lust, laughter or literally anything but a reminder of the day, we’ve got you covered.
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An unhinged essential – Gone Girl (2014)
You may not think of it as a Valentine’s film, more likely an anti-romance, anti-Valentine’s symbol. Sometimes, that’s exactly what you need on the big day if all of the reminders feel too much!
This crime thriller keeps you guessing as you watch along, following a police investigation into a wife’s sudden disappearance from her husband on their fifth wedding anniversary. You may have read the best-selling book that this film is based on, and you definitely won’t stop talking about it after you watch it.
A comedy classic – Bridesmaids (2011)
An ensemble cast, a host of great leading comics and hilarious one-liners that will leave you laughing until it hurts. Bridesmaids follow, unsurprisingly, a group of bridesmaids interacting with each other in the build-up to a friend’s wedding. Personalities clash in this classic story of a group of unsuspecting women coming together to celebrate their shared friend, with a touch of rivalry added to the mix.
If you’re currently going through a breakup – Someone Great (2019)
Nobody needs that added reminder that they’re single on Valentine’s Day, as every couple you know shares candid photos of them together online. This film is the antidote to that, celebrating the love that friends can give us after a breakup.
This film explores what happens after our protagonist is offered her dream job in a new city, only for her boyfriend of nine years to end their relationship rather than attempt to keep the spirit alive long-distance. You’ll start the film feeling low after a breakup, and you’ll finish the film barely even remembering the name of your ex.
To give you faith in romance – How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days (2003)
It’s hard to imagine a time before Kate Hudson or Matthew McConaughey were household names, but this film was the catapult for both of their careers as successful actors. It has all the staple ingredients that a classic rom-com film needs to restore your faith in love: a woman living in the city in the 00s, a secret plot that only the audience knows about, cringe-comedy moments and a song that will always make you think of that film.
If you need a good cry – Past Lives (2023)
It’s the classic Sliding Doors question; if you made one different change in the history of your life, how much different would your future look like? In this tear-inducing essential watch, we see how the life of our main character changes after she moves from South Korea to the United States.
Her new life gets interrupted after she meets the boy she once loved 24 years ago, making her question what she truly knows about love. With acting in English and Korean, we dare you not to be impressed by this standout performance.
One for all the family to watch – Love, Simon (2018)
It can be hard to get a romance film as a choice for all the family to agree to, especially if you’re all together at home on Valentine’s Day. This film has a solid mix of all the essentials needed for a family film: great writing, a talented cast, a heartfelt story of a teenager falling in love for the first time, and an all-too-true story of a boy nearly getting outed for his sexuality. It’s a sweet, feel-good film for parents with big kids.
When you’re hosting Galantines – Babygirl (2025)
When 50 Shades of Grey came out, it had us talking about sex and relationships like never before. It was a scandal mixed with excitement and non-stop giggling, which is exactly what this modern take on the work-romance, age-gap relationship provides. Nicole Kidman plays a married, sexually dissatisfied CEO who stumbles into a relationship with a junior intern who joins her company, making her risk her marriage and career in the process.
A modern staple watch - Rye Lane (2023)
Do you believe in love at first sight? How about love in one day? This tale sees two people reeling after separate heartbreaks bump into each other at an art gallery, where they decide to help each other get over what’s holding them back. As we follow the pair over the course of one day, it’ll feel like you’re watching a lifelong relationship begin in front of your eyes.
If you need a good laugh – Bend It Like Beckham (2003)
What stops one girl from her dreams of becoming a leading football player? A family wedding adding to the pressure and reminding her that she doesn’t have a husband. This 00s British classic will take you right back to the days of BBM messenger, Tammy Girl outfits and having David Beckham’s right foot as one of the most talked about things in sports. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you might even want to play football afterwards.
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