From 'Pretty Woman' to '10 Things I Hate About You', get your dose of binge-worthy love stories.
19 of the Most Beautiful Romance Movies to Watch on Valentine’s Day
From 'Pretty Woman' to '10 Things I Hate About You', get your dose of binge-worthy love stories.
There's a common misconception that the "perfect" Valentine's Day is spent being wined and dined by your partner at a fancy restaurant. While that sounds like a wonderful experience, there are a myriad of less-expensive ways to spend the day with your partner, best friend or even by yourself (yes, self-love is just as important) that are equally as amazing – if not better.
Exhibit A: order home delivery or whip up a meal, grab the wine, and make yourself comfortable on the couch as you watch these heartfelt romantic movies.
1. Always Be My Maybe
Where can I watch it? Netflix
15 years ago a young Sasha (Ali Wong) met a young Marcus (Randall Park) – sparks flew, memories were made, but things changed, and they did too. Fast forward to know and Sasha’s a renowned chef, and Marcus a hometown musician, the pair meet again and reignite the spark that went out all those years ago. The only thing stopping them from making it work, is the difference in their lifestyles.
2. When Harry Met Sally
Where can I watch it? Apple TV
Unquestionably one of the greatest rom-coms of all time, When Harry Met Sally will serve you pure joy time and time again. The story navigates the ups and downs of a friendship-turned-romance and is laced with memorable quotes. The conversation-driven approach to romance and wryly entertaining tone means it still holds up 32 years later.
3. Love Actually
Where can I watch it? Netflix
While we can't deny that this film definitely has its moments that will tug at your heart, the overall storyline of Love Actually is humbling, cheeky, and beautiful. The film explores the interconnected lives of eight different couples and an overriding message that love comes in all forms. It also cleverly captures the chaotic, wholesome, and inspiring time of the year that is the holiday season.
4. Romeo + Juliet
Where can I watch it? Disney+
It's not Valentine's Day without a dose of '90s Leo. This tragic romance is the perfect movie to watch with a glass of red. Written by Baz Luhrmann and featuring another favourite Claire Danes, we're big fans of this twist on a Shakespeare classic.
5. Brokeback Mountain
Where can I watch it? Binge
A heart wrenching tale of forbidden love, Brokeback Mountain is set in 1963, and tells the tale of southern men Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) who have been hired as sheepherders in Wyoming. A long night of working and drinking leads to Jack making a drunken pass at Ennis, which starts a love affair between these two men over the next 20 years.
6. Love Simon
Where can I watch it? Disney+
17-year-old Simon Spier has a secret, one that he’s kept from his family and friends for his entire life, and while juggling the trials and tribulations of high school, he’s struggling to hide it any longer. Simon’s gay – and the only other person who knows (for now), is an anonymous classmate he’s fallen for online. A hilarious and heartfelt coming of age story Love Simon normalises the taboo topic of sexuality, and shows a person's sexual identity does not define them.
7. The Big Sick
Where can I watch it? Prime Video
Pakistani comic Kumail meets American graduate student Emily after one of his stand-up shows. A date turns into a sleepover, and a sleepover turns into the start of a blossoming relationship. But as their feelings deepen, Kumail can’t stop thinking about what his Muslim parents will make of their relationship. It’s not until Emily tragically falls into a coma, Kumail finds himself developing an unbreakable bond with Emily's mother and father, challenging Kumail’s perception of his own parents.
8. Me Before You
Where can I watch it? Prime Video
26-year-old Louise Clake (Emilia Clarke) is young, quirky, and intelligent. Changing jobs on the regular to help her family make ends meet, her bubbly charm is put to the test when she becomes a caregiver for Will Traynor (Sam Clafkin) – a wealthy young banker who was left paralysed after an accident. Will’s cynical outlook on life is challenged when Louise shows him that life is worth living, leading their lives and hearts to change in ways neither one could have ever imagined.
9. Never Been Kissed
Where can I watch it? Disney+
Another iconic movie on the cusp of the twenty-first century, Never Been Kissed stars Drew Barrymore in her prime as an undercover high school student for a project at the newspaper she works at. She's instantly triggered by her previous school experience and struggles to fit in amongst her new classmates. As well as that, she's falling in love with her teacher who doesn't realise she's actually twenty-five.
10. Notting Hill
Where can I watch it? Binge
If you've been to London and not wandered the streets of Notting Hill looking for Hugh Grant's bookshop, you're doing it wrong. When a famous American actress played by Julia Roberts, arrives in town and stumbles across his bookshop, William (Grant) immediately falls in love and they exchange a few awkward dates before living happily ever after, of course.
11. The Notebook
Where can I watch it? Netflix
Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams – what a pair. It was a box office hit fifteen years ago and is just as relevant today as it was then. It might even inspire you to recreate that iconic kiss in the rain on Valentine's Day.
12. If Beale Street Could Talk
Where can I watch it? Apple TV
An adaptation of a James Baldwin novel, this powerful film focuses on young lovers who are forced to overcome struggles in 1970s Harlem. It centres around a protagonist who has been jailed for a crime he did not commit and his girlfriend works to get him freed before their baby is born. It's a poignant love story set against the backdrop of institutional racism, injustice, and incarceration.
13. To All the Boys I've Loved Before
Where can I watch it? Netflix
There are three in this series now, so you know what that means: movie marathon! The To All The Boys trilogy is a lovely, big-hearted teen romantic comedy, about Lara Jean Covey (Lana Condor) and Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo), who start off in a fake relationship that grows into something more. It’s adorable and very, very sweet, but these are also well-written and directed films.
14. Titanic
Where can I watch it? Apple TV
Featuring another appearance by Leonardo DiCaprio, Titanic is synonymous with romance, love, and unfortunately, loss. The real question is: could that have fit both of them after the Titanic hit the iceberg? The jury's still out.
15. Carol
Where can I watch it? Stan
Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara lead this emotional melodrama set in the 1950s. The heartfelt film tells the story of a divorcing woman (Blanchett) who falls in love with a department store assistant (Mara), capturing the torments of life for gay women in the '50s while also delving into the romance of their relationship.
16. Pretty Woman
Where can I watch it? Apple TV
We couldn't have a Valentine's Day movie list without including Pretty Woman. After Richard Gere's character hires Vivian (Julia Roberts) as an escort for a week, the pair begin to catch real feelings for each other. It'd be a big mistake to miss this one. Huge.
17. 10 Things I Hate About You
Where can I watch it? Apple TV and Disney+
Speaking of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, he's featured again in this cult classic. He stars beside legend of the screen Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles in this hilarious take on high-school dating and drama. It's worth a watch just for the hair and outfit inspo.
18. 500 Days of Summer
Where can I watch it? Disney+
Name us a better cute romantic duo than Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel. We'll wait. Travel back to the simpler times of 2009 in this romantic comedy that's as quirky and melancholy as you'd expect from the pair.
19. P.S. I Love You
Where can I watch it? Apple TV+
After Holly (Hilary Swank)'s husband passes away (Gerard Butler), she's expectedly grief-stricken. The plot twist is that he's actually left her secret messages all over the house to discover, which send her on a series of adventures. Have your tissues handy for this one.
