Ah, love. L-O-V-E love. L is for life, because what is life without love?
10 points to you if you got that reference.
In all seriousness, though, Valentine’s Day looms ahead, that prestigious and holy day in February that either makes us roll our eyes in annoyance or stare deeply into someone else’s depending on our current relationship status.
But what if you just want to stay at home and watch some movies, celebrating (or trying to forget) your single status? Don’t worry, The Nerd Daily has got you covered! Down below you will find some movie recommendations based on your current stance on love! Just head on over to those categories and spend Valentine’s Day the way you want to – and maybe squeeze in a lovely movie somewhere along the way!
For Those Who Believe In True Love
So you find yourself single on Valentine’s Day, but you know the right person is just around the corner? These movies might be for you:
Love, Simon: Everyone and their mother needs to watch this movie about closeted gay teen Simon who falls in love over email (hello, You’ve Got Mail) and is succinctly blackmailed to keep that fact under wraps. This is the queer romantic comedy we need and deserve. Nick Robinson captures the trifles of first love and teenage awkwardness perfectly and will solidify your faith in love finding its way.
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before: Love always seems wonderful and perfect in movies, right? But in reality, it can be scary to open up to someone, to let them see the real you. Lara Jean Song, the protagonist of this beautiful Netflix adaptation of Jenny Han’s novel, has the same concerns. Fall in love with her journey of first love, first heartbreak, and epic love letters (and stay tuned for the sequel like the rest of us lovelorns).
Step Up: Okay, it was a hard day for all of us when Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan-Tatum announced their separation, but we’ll always have the movie on which set they fell in love with each other. Follow young Tyler, a boy from the wrong side of the tracks, as he gets into trouble and ends up helping out a beautiful dancer in achieving her dreams – and maybe, just maybe finding his own calling as a bonus.
Crazy Rich Asians: Boy loves girl. Girl loves boy. Boy’s mother meddles in the relationship because she doesn’t think girl is good enough for boy. Sounds like an easy concept, right? Now mix in an amazingly diverse cast and an unforgettable setting and you’ve got yourself the romantic comedy of the year.
Broken-hearted and Wallowing In Self-Pity
Your heart is broken and your faith in true love needs to be restored? You’ve watched all the Nicholas Sparks movies on a loop (been there, my friend) and still, you need another sign from the universe that people are meant to be together. Also, you just want to bawl your eyes out, but in a cathartic way? Say no more:
Me Before You: A young, energetic, and optimistic woman becomes the caretaker of a sullen, depressed man who has to accept his new life after a horrendous accident. I don’t know what more to tell you. You know where this is going. It’s going to end in heartbreak. And tears. Loads of them.
The Pursuit of Happyness: Okay, I can’t be objective about this. I’ve seen this movie once in my life. When I was a young gal, full of notions of romantic love and big dreams for the future. To this day I can’t bring myself to watch it again because it was too emotional and hit too close to home. So, tread lightly, and at your own risk, and with loads of tissue boxes. Yes. entire boxes. And watch Will Smith pursue his happiness…and maybe even get it. Or not. No spoilers here. Except for the crying thing. You will dissolve in tears. But cathartic ones.
Sweet Home Alabama: McDreamy before his Grey’s Anatomy days. Reese Witherspoon looking the exact glorious same as she does today. It’s the romantic comedy you dreamed of. Except they’re not the endgame. There are also some amazing opportunities to hurl your drink at the screen when Witherspoon makes the wrong choices and ample scenes to cry at. Honestly, this movie should be in every self-help break-up book ever written as the go-to solution.
You Want To Inflict Injuries On Anyone Who Is Happy On Valentine’s Day
Maybe you’ve just broken up with someone. Or found one of those pesky exes pop up in your DM’s like “sup?”. You think love is stupid or at least something that people should be sceptic about. You need fun, light movies that will reinstate your belief in love. Or at the very least, make you laugh out loud at the stupid things people are willing to do for it.
Death Becomes Her: Women fighting over the real thing – power. And immortality. Sure, Bruce Willis also plays a component. But Goldie Hawn and Meryl Streep being immortal women who make men fall at their feet because of their illustrious beauty? That’s the real show stealer. And yes, this is ultimately a movie about female friendships, even if it doesn’t seem like it at the beginning. Friendships are for life. And death. And everything that comes after it.
The Proposal: Pretending to date your boss to get a promotion and falling in love with her in the process? Her being Sandra Bullock? Well, count me in. Betty White also stars in it. Betty White. Enough said. You will laugh and cry as you watch these two dummies realise that the real prize isn’t success in your career – it’s all about love. Cue the happy sighs.
Charade: Everyone loves Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, but Charade might be her most underrated movie. Hepburn shines in her role as a young widow caught up in an involuntary heist to find her late husband’s fortune. Cary Grant – changing personalities like suits and blessing us with a hilarious shower scene – makes this comedy unforgettable.
When Harry Met Sally: Yes, I know everyone keeps going on about Sleepless in Seattle, but you have not lived until you’ve watched Meg Ryan fake an orgasm in a crowded restaurant. Trust me. Harry and Sally are like two magnets – try to push them together, and they bounce off each other, mostly with witty but biting remarks. These two take ages to find their way to each other and it’s incredibly fun watching them be pulled together only to fall apart.
You Don’t Understand This Fixation On A Single Day In The Year
You might love love. You might never want to speak to a human again in your entire life. Nevertheless, you don’t get why people put all these expectations on one single day when there are 365 in a year to make sure people know you love them. You just want to lie back, drink some wine, and watch a movie that will take you someplace else for two hours. Preferably something that will make you laugh. Your recommendations are:
Friends With Benefits: Back in my day, no one could shut up about this movie. Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake? Undeniable chemistry. From friends, to friends with benefits, to lovers, this is a silly, heartwarming comedy that will show you that love sometimes isn’t found in the most conventional of ways. (Disclaimer: This movie was around before Tinder. Tinder would have solved these guys’ problem within minutes. Alas, a time before Tinder gave us this masterpiece of quips and quotable lines and we are forever grateful).
Easy A: When Olive Penderghast’s fake loss of her virginity becomes the school’s hot gossip, she finds a way to turn her predicament and sudden fame into a worthwhile business opportunity. Starring the hilarious Emma Stone, this movie will have you laugh out loud as you wonder when someone will stand outside your house with a boombox held above their heads.
What Happens in Vegas: Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz accidentally get married in Vegas and win the jackpot in the casino. Now, neither of them wants to end the marriage and give up their claim on the money. Follow them as they try to trick the other one into violating the rules of their court-set marriage, and end up realising that money might not be the most important part about this relationship.
If you’re really going for the cringe-laugh vibe, I recommend watching Twilight, especially with the cast commentary. Nothing will make you happier than hearing Robert Pattinson laugh about his own lines. Or glittering abs. Or pale makeup. Honestly, it’s basically just Pattinson roasting himself for two hours straight and it is golden. Who cares about love when you can have actors roast themselves, right?
And that’s a wrap! I hope you will enjoy some of these movies! And whatever you decide to do on Valentine’s, remember to have fun. You do you. The Nerd Daily loves you, regardless.
