Valentines’ Day is just a few days away. Whether you’re planning to go out or keep it low key at home by yourself, or spend it with some good friends, it’s a good excuse to binge watch a bunch of movies all day. If you’re not quite sure what romance flicks you want to watch or even re-visit, we’re here to help you out. We’ve put together a list of some of our favorites.
With this Valentine’s Day movie list, we’ve got some newer flicks for something you may not have seen yet. And we’ve got some classic films if you’re looking for that deep kind of gut-wrenching, I want to have a good cry type of Romance. So, grab your blanket, some popcorn, or whatever your fave snack is and check out a few of these films.
1. After We Fell
Now we know we had some things to say about how this film was done (and yes we still stand by what we said) but, despite the issues we had, Hessa’s love story is still there. We love Hardin and Tessa and in After We Fell they are going through a lot in their relationship. The story is a relatable one and it shows us that love is not a perfect and easy journey. There are also a few moments in the film that will make you smile and give you all the warm fuzzies you’re looking for.
After We Fell is available to stream on Netflix.
2. AI Love You
Now this film doesn’t come out until the day after Valentine’s Day, but it still made our list. Hey, who says you can only spend the February 14th watching love stories? Anyway, AI Love You caught our attention the moment we watched the films trailer. We know it’s a story about a woman who essentially falls in love with an AI (hence the name AI Love You) that implants itself into a human’s body but what the film actually represents is that you can find love in the most unique situations and we’re here for that kind of story.
AI Love you is available to stream February 15th on Netflix.
3. A Través De Mi Ventana (Through My Window)
A Través De Mi Ventana (Through My Window) is a Spanish language film about a teenage girl named Raquel (Clara Galle) who begins a relationship with her next-door neighbor Ares Hidalgo (Julio Pena) whom she’s been in love with, and secretly observing will take you on an emotional rollercoaster. If you like films like After, this one fits into that category of film genres. Like After it’s an unconventional love story about a couple trying to navigate the ups and downs of love and to understand just what it means to give your heart to someone fully for the first time.
A Través De Mi Ventana (Through My Window) is available to stream on Netflix.
4. Beyond The Lights
Beyond The Lights is one of my favorite films done by director Gina Prince-Bythewood. It’s an emotional and raw film. Most importantly, it’s one that showcases Black love onscreen. We typically don’t get a lot of romance flicks with Black people at the forefront. This one is about a famous singer named Noni (Gugu Mbatha–Raw) who falls in love with Kaz (Nate Parker) a police officer after he saves her life. Kaz is the first person in Nonis life who truly sees her and he brings out the real side of her that she’s had to spend her whole life hiding to fit everyone else’s vision of who she should be. It’s a touching love story and I highly recommend it.
Beyond The Lights is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
5. Blue Is The Warmest Color
Blue is The Warmest Color is one of the saddest and most beautiful love stories I’ve seen featuring a same-sex couple. The French film follows Adele (Adèle Exarchopoulos) a young girl who falls in love with Emma (Léa Seydoux) a free-spirited artist who helps her discover who she is. Despite the overly long and highly gratuitous sex scene with the two of them (What can you expect with a male director?) I never get tired of this movie. It is truly one that will make you ugly cry. No matter how many times I’ve seen it, I always cry. It’s a reminder that love can be both beautiful and painful all at the same time.
Blue is The Warmest Color is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
6. Closer
This one’s for one of our writers Shana. But also, me too because I love it as well. Closer starring Julia Roberts, Clive Owen, Jude Law, and Natalie Portman is a love story that will reach right into your chest and rip out your heart. Well, at least that’s how I personally felt watching the Natalie Portman/Jude Law scenes. This story is about two couples living in London and well, their paths cross in more ways than one. There’s a whole lot of love, but also a whole lot of betrayal. These couples have issues to work through and it’s not a story that will tie everything up into a pretty bow.
Closer is available to stream on Netflix.
7. Fifty Shades of Grey
Come on, did you really think we were going to do a Valentine’s Day film list and not put a Fifty Shades film on it? It’s like you don’t know us at all. We know there are a lot of people out there who hate all things to do with Fifty Shades, but we don’t. We suppose you could watch any one of the Fifty shades movies, but we put this one on the list because this is where it all began for Anastasia and Christian. Yes, we know there are some things that could have been done better with this film, but we still get emotional watching it and we will not apologize for how much we love it and this franchise.
Fifty Shades of Grey is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
8. Gabriel’s Rapture: Part One
Gabriel’s Rapture: Part One based on the books by Sylvain Reynard is one of our current favorites on Romance streaming service Passionflix. Sure, we love the other films in the Gabriel’s Inferno series, but Gabriel’s Rapture is just so beautiful. Julia and Gabriel are finally getting to explore and develop their relationship fully. We watch them frolic and fall deeper in love on an Italian getaway and it’s just such a swoon-worthy experience. You’ll wish you were right there experiencing it all yourself.
Gabriel’s Rapture: Part One is available to stream on Passionflix.
9. Really Love
Love is not easy and Netflix film Really Love proves that. This is another film that showcases Black love in a beautiful and real way. Stevie (Yootha Wong-Loi-Sing) and Isaiah (Kofi Siriboe) are a new couple living in Washington D.C. Isaiah is an up-and-coming artist and Stevie is an ambitious law student. They are trying to balance their relationship while also balancing their careers. Really Love is relatable because career is definitely something that often gets in the way of relationships. The whole time you watch you’ll be rooting for their love, but you will also be questioning how they can make it work. This film was one that was so unexpected and really is an authentic portrayal of love.
Really Love is available to stream on Netflix.
10. Splendor in The Grass
Yup, I’m taking you all the way back to 1961 with this one but it deserves to be on this list. Talk about a pain-fest. If you want to watch a Romance that’s going to break you and make you cry even more than Closer, Splendor in The Grass will do that. Natalie Wood stars as “Deanie” and Warren Beatty plays Bud the rich young guy she falls in love with. Splendor in The Grass is a heartbreaking masterpiece and watching it will remind you of the modern love stories of today because I’m sure some have drawn inspiration from this film. It truly is the definition of Love is Pain.
Splendor in The Grass is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
11. Tangled
Okay, we’re back to lighter stuff with this one. Tangled is the latest film from Passionflix. It’s a Rom-Com that centers on an investment banker named Drew (Josh Plasse) who falls for Kate (Katherine Brooks) a new investment Banker who was hired by his father. The two don’t exactly start off on good terms but slowly their relationship develops into something more. It’s a movie that will make you literally laugh out loud and there are some sweet moments that will make you smile and say “aww.”
Tangled is available to stream on Passionflix.
12. The Hating Game
What is it about office Romances? We guess there’s something sexy about a little friendly competition in the office that carries into the bedroom? Whatever it is, it’s a trope that continues to work. The Hating Game starring Lucy Hale and Austin Stowell is another Rom-Com that will have you laughing out loud. It will also give you all the feels and who doesn’t love a story like this?
The Hating Game is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
And hey, if you’ve already watched all and you want a fun new way to find something to watch with your partner, there’s always a Romantic Roulette?