Valentine’s Day is almost upon us, and whether you’re planning a fancy night out at your favorite restaurant or flopping onto the couch with single friends, let’s face it, at some point you will be watching Netflix.
Nothing breaks the mood more than a dull movie, so we’ve put together a collection of romantic movies on the streaming giant that will keep the night on a high note.
From studio rom-coms like “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” and “13 Going on 30” to romantic classics like “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and “The Great Gatsby,” there’s a lot of passion going on in this list.
Here are 20 romantic movies on Netflix you need to check out:
“13 Going on 30”
Get ready to do the “Thriller” dance in your living room! This modern-day classic rom-com is back on Netflix. Jennifer Garner plays a girl who wishes to become 30 and then must deal with her adult version’s everyday life.
“The African Queen”
Humphrey Bogart plays a boozed-up riverboat captain who falls for a missionary played by Katharine Hepburn in this classic by John Huston.
“America’s Sweethearts”
Eddie (John Cusack) and Gwen (Catherine Zeta-Jones) are the latest “it” couple who have broken up, but having to promote their new movie they have to look like they still can tolerate each other. This leads to a wild press junket weekend where the studio publicist Lee (Billy Crystal) tries to keep it all together though Gwen’s sister Kiki (Julia Roberts) is falling for Eddie. There’s also a cameo by Christopher Walken. Honestly, this movie has everything.
“Atonement”
Based on the Ian McEwan novel about how the acts of a 13-year-old girl affect the lives of those around her for decades to come, this powerful story is brought to life by great performances from Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, Benedict Cumberbatch, and a very young Saoirse Ronan. The movie is best known for its incredible “oner” of Dunkirk beach during World War II as the Allies are trying to evacuate the beach.
“Blue Is the Warmest Color”
Winner of the Palme d’Or at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, the drama follows Adèle’s (Adèle Exarchopoulos) self-discovery, which is helped by meeting and starting a relationship with the blue-haired Emma (Léa Seydoux).
“Breakfast at Tiffany’s”
Blake Edwards’ classic based on the Truman Capote novel stars Audrey Hepburn as New York City socialite Holly Golightly who begins to fall for the new guy (George Peppard) who has moved into her apartment building. Well, after missing some obvious hints first.
“Bridget Jones’ Diary”
We highly recommend this as a double feature with ‘Under the Tuscan Sun.” Renée Zellweger playing a Brit determined to improve herself and hilariously running into roadblocks has many similarities to Lane’s character.
“Can’t Buy Me Love”
Patrick Dempsey plays a nerdy high schooler who pays the most popular girl (Amanda Peterson) in school $1,000 to be his girlfriend so he can become cool. Yes, kids, money does solve everything.
“Carol”
Set in 1950s New York, Todd Haynes tells an intimate story of a young photographer (Rooney Mara) who falls for an older woman (Cate Blanchett).
“Drinking Buddies”
Jake Johnson and Olivia Wilde play coworkers at a brewery who spend their days playfully flirting with each other, but after having a double date with their significant others it becomes apparent they should be together and that’s when the problems start.
“The Great Gatsby” (1974)
Before Baz Luhrmann and Leonardo DiCaprio CGI’d up F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic, a 1970s version was done with Robert Redford playing Gatsby and Mia Farrow as Daisy Buchanan. It’s worth a watch.
“Hitch”
I challenge you not to feel good after watching this movie! Will Smith is at his charming best and it’s probably the best thing Kevin James has ever done.
“How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days”
Arguably the best Matthew McConaughey movie during his rom-com phase, in which he’s opposite Kate Hudson. The two have instant chemistry.
“Love Actually”
A whole bunch of movie stars play characters in different stages of love in London during the Christmas holiday season. You might need some tissues handy.
“Meet the Patels”
Actor Ravi Patel allows his sister, Geeta, to follow him as he tries to find love the old fashioned way, letting his parents do it. And the traditional Indian way is no joke.
“Midnight in Paris”
Woody Allen’s last big hit stars Owen Wilson as a screenwriter who during a trip with his fiancée (Rachel McAdams) and her family to Paris finds himself magically in the city during the 1920s every midnight.
“Moonrise Kingdom”
Two young lovers run away from a New England town leading to a search party to track them down. But from the mind of director Wes Anderson, that means a highly stylized search party.
“Sleeping with Other People”
Alison Brie and Jason Sudeikis play two people with major issues about relationships who try to stay in the friend zone but end up falling for each other. A very well done rom-com that never got its due.
“Wedding Crashers”
This early 2000s comedy classic stars Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn as two buddies who have got wedding crashing down to a science. But things get complicated when John (Wilson) falls for Claire (Rachel McAdams) and forces his buddy to make them break all their rules to win her heart.
“Y Tu Mama Tambien”
Alfonso Cuarón’s Oscar-nominated movie made Diego Luna and Gael García Bernal international stars. They play two teens who go on a sex-filled road trip with an older woman.
