Top 10 Movies To Watch This Valentine’s Day

With Valentine’s Day coming up soon, it’s time to buy the chocolates, the roses, and watch some ultra-romantic movies with that special someone. But sometimes, picking the right film can seem next to impossible. I’m here to give you a list of the ten best films for this holiday season, and hopefully even bring to your attention some selections you might not have heard of before.

10. Love Actually (2003)

Whether on Christmas or Valentine’s Day, is there a more widely-known blockbuster of a romcom? The directorial debut of screenwriter Richard Curtis (Notting Hill, Four Weddings and a Funeral), this film chronicles several interconnected couples through trial, error and success as they prepare for the yuletide season. From the beginning, Curtis gleefully indulges in all his favorite cheesy genre cliches – the misunderstandings, the kid who learns an instrument to impress a girl, the big romantic gestures – with a game ensemble as ready to embrace the tropes. From Liam Neeson to Emma Thompson, to Alan Rickman and, of course, Hugh Grant, this is an entertaining 135 minutes that will fly right by.

9. Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

Wes Anderson tackled his first true love story here, which centered on two twelve-year-olds named Sam (Jared Gilman) and Suzy (Kara Hayward) from vastly different backgrounds, who decided to meet up in person after falling in love via a long-term letter correspondence. Escaping to an oasis they come to call Moonrise Kingdom, the youngsters were soon pursued by Suzy’s parents (Frances McDormand and Bill Murray), Sam’s Boy Scout troop, and the depressed Captain Sharp (Bruce Willis), head of the local police department. All were determined to bring the kids home and keep them apart, without understanding what drew the pair together in the first place or stopping to examine or resolve their own romantic lives.

While this has Wes Anderson‘s signature style all over it, there’s a raw vulnerability to how he and Roman Coppola write these characters that makes them terrifyingly earnest and relatable. It’s not just about two outsiders finding solace in each other (though it is that). It’s about a pairing in which each person is the only one able to completely understand what the other is feeling, even if their life circumstances are totally different. That is what allows them to have a deeper bond, and Kara Hayward and Jared Gilman play that pre-adolescent turmoil perfectly. They’re the only clear heads on this island of misfit toys, and through everything it is their certainty that they’re made for one another which ultimately guides us to root for them. Definitely check it out if you haven’t.

8. The Spectacular Now (2013)

One I’m afraid may have been overlooked in the decade since its initial release, this heartwarming and heartbreaking masterpiece had me from frame one, and left me speechless for three minutes after the credits started rolling. Based on the novel by Tim Tharp, it follows hard-drinking, aimless high schooler Sutter Keely (Miles Teller, in what’s still his best work), as he unexpectedly falls into a relationship with the shy Aimee (Shailene Woodley, who should’ve received an Oscar nomination). However, the depths of Sutter’s deeper insecurities soon begin to rear their ugly heads, and the young couple’s future is thrown into question.

What makes this story so impactful is the totally naturalistic manner in which it is told. Through the writing, to the acting, to Jess Hall‘s cinematography, it merely feels as if we are observing an assembly of real people in their everyday lives. Sutter could be any one of us, as could Aimee. Everyone also knows the perils of self-doubt, and how that can hinder you from actually being ready for a relationship. It is such an achingly honest tale that, if you don’t once cry during it, you may not be human.

7. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

This is easily the most unconventional picture on my list, but that originality does not come at the expense of heart and soul. Written by Being John Malkovich (1999) author Charlie Kaufman, and directed by Michel Gondry, the story follows Joel (Jim Carrey) and Clementine (Kate Winslet), a couple who decide to have each other erased from their memories. Once the medical procedure to do so ensues, both individuals are forced to face their flaws in the relationship, and wind up reinvigorated to start over.

What works so beautifully about this is how its creativity serves the emotional state of the characters, and vice versa. When Joel and Clementine are listening to the things each recorded about the other, it’s strange, and yet feels startlingly vulnerable. When details of memories start to fade as the pair interact, you can feel their shock, recognition and regret that comes with facing their flaws head-on. On top of that, Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet both give nuanced performances that ground the story in a way that can feel relatable for many. If you’ve not seen it by this point, it’s the twentieth anniversary. It’s time to correct that.

6. Aladdin (1992)

Of course, there’s no list of Valentine’s Day movies complete without this iconic Disney romp. The film follows Aladdin (Scott Weigner), a beggar who falls for Princess Jasmine (Linda Larkin). Desperate to win her affections, Aladdin enlists the help of a wisecracking genie (Robin Williams) to turn him into a prince. However, royal advisor Jafar’s (Jonathan Freeman) scheme to take over the throne could threaten Aladdin and Jasmine’s future.

What really solidifies this as a classic is its underlying message about staying true to yourself. Aladdin is obviously deeply insecure about his social and financial status, the only reason he lies about his identity to Jasmine. That easily identifiable quality makes you so empathetic for Aladdin that you really want him to fess up so that he can start to see how awesome he is. On top of that, Jasmine feels similarly trapped in her own (admittedly cushier) lifestyle, where she doesn’t feel allowed to make her own choices, the main quality that initially leads both to connect. This allows what could’ve been a typically painful Liar Revealed story, and turns it into a charming and sympathetic adventure that still dazzles over thirty years after it came out.

5. Shrek (2001)

The subversive hit that made DreamWorks a household name, Shrek follows the titular ogre (iconically voiced by Mike Myers) as he reluctantly agrees to rescue Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) from a tower guarded by a fire-breathing dragon, if it means he can clear his swamp of unwanted fairy tale creatures, all of whom have been displaced by the evil Lord Farquaad (John Lithgow). With the help of the motormouthed Donkey (Eddie Murphy), Shrek rescues Fiona and finds that, what do you know, they fall in love.

What makes this work is the fact that it’s both a genuine fairy tale romance, while also a relentless satire of fairy tale romances. With so many in-jokes that they’re impossible to count, you just can’t stop laughing. Each of the cast members voices their characters with utter sincerity as well. By finding the heart of each character and playing to it, you feel for Shrek, Donkey and Fiona all throughout, which keeps you invested while you giggle. Oh, and it’s from the writers of Aladdin, so that alone warrants a recommendation.

4. Shrek 2 (2004)

This is a go-to example of a sequel that outdid the original. Picking up not long after Shrek and Fiona’s union at the end of the first film, this story finds them visiting Fiona’s parents (John Cleese and Julie Andrews), to disastrous results. When the deceptively warm Fairy Godmother (Jennifer Saunders) swoops in to supposedly save the day, Shrek’s relationship with his new wife is thrown into potential disarray.

What makes this even better than its predecessor are a handful of components: the masterful comedic timing – in the editing, the shots, the rapport amongst the actors – as well its exceptional villain with the Fairy Godmother, and that dashing feline known as Puss in Boots (the excellent Antonio Banderas). This is far and away one of the funniest movies of all time. But the key to why you root for Shrek and Fiona even more this time, is because the Fairy Godmother is a rather startling embodiment of society’s most vain ideas about compatibility in relationships. She wants our lovers apart because they’re not the kind of people who are “supposed” to get together. We love to hate her because of that, because Jennifer Saunders is so cunning in her delivery, and because she can do one hell of a rendition of “Holding Out For a Hero”. Speaking of which, the climax alone makes the film worth seeing.

3. Chasing Amy (1997)

Kevin Smith is a filmmaker who has become, ironically, even more known just for being himself. From his podcast to his public appearances, sometimes his early promise as a filmmaker gets overlooked, and Chasing Amy (1997) is his reigning achievement. It follows comic book artist Holden Caulfield (Ben Affleck) as he falls for Alyssa (Joey Lauren Adams), only to discover that she’s a lesbian. That’s the setup for what is a delightfully talky, riotous, surprisingly deep exploration of identity, life experience, and where we even stand with who we know.

Quite simply, this is Smith at his best. He simply places his camera, and lets his actors do their thing, and as a result, you immediately get lost in what they’re saying to each other. You could listen to them go on for even longer than the 113-minute runtime. In addition, each character is so complex and particular, that you can never take them at face value. That’s the point. I’m deliberately being vague about the specifics, because this is a real gem that doesn’t get enough love or attention. Though acclaimed upon its release, Chasing Amy has since gotten lost in the vast sea of romcoms, and didn’t (doesn’t) deserve that. Rent it ASAP.

2. Short Term 12 (2013)

This is soulful, observant, intimate romantic filmmaking at its finest. Though Brie Larson won an Oscar for her lead performance in Room (2015), this remains her best work as far as I’m concerned. Based on a short film of the same name, it follows Grace (Larson), a staff member at a residential treatment center for at-risk kids. When a spunky new girl named Jayden (Kaitlyn Dever) arrives, Grace’s memories of her own past trauma are dredged up, which could potentially jeopardize her relationship with long-term boyfriend and coworker Mason (John Gallagher Jr.).

What a devastatingly, earnestly told story this is! There’s never a moment where this feels like a traditional Hollywood tale. Instead, we feel like we are literally looking at a documentary of real people, who’re just trying to navigate the troubled waters of life. From the often hand-held cinematography by Brett Pawlak, who knows how to get the most emotion out of the tiniest details, to the authentic performances from the entire cast, as well as Destin Daniel Cretton‘s screenplay,  it makes you into a fly on the wall. This effectively makes the romance more believable, the characters more relatable, and the themes so much more resonant. It is also a truly unique romance film, one that truly made me weep when I first saw it. Watch it, and your heart will be both broken and mended in the span of 96 minutes.

1. Lars & the Real Girl (2007)

I gotta top the list with my all-time favorite romcom. It is also the perfect example of a premise that should never have worked, yet it does in spades. In it, Lars (Ryan Gosling), a painfully introverted and socially inept loner, suddenly decides to start a “relationship” with a doll he orders online. Though it rightfully seems bizarre to his brother Gus (Paul Schneider) and sister-in-law Karin (Emily Mortimer), both his family and his community gradually pitch in to help, as they piece together why Lars is engaging in this delusion. What unfolds is the quirkiest, best romcom I’ve ever seen.

Lars & the Real Girl is such an empathy jumpstart in how it explores Lars’ struggles as an introvert. Every nuance of Gosling‘s facial expressions, posture, and halted delivery suggests a desperate urge to break out of his own comfort zone, despite every simultaneous instinct to retreat inward. This is especially crucial when it comes to scenes involving Lars’ crush, Margot (Kelli Garner), a coworker who also likes him. Nancy Oliver‘s brilliant and Oscar-nominated script is the key, though. By not judging the characters, she creates space for us to sympathize with and love them. This is further bolstered by the amazing performances, and by Craig Gillespie‘s marvelous direction. Give it a shot, and you may just find your new favorite Valentine’s Day flick.