Valentine’s Day seemed to have snuck up on all of us. Whether you were scrambling to make dinner reservations or scrolling through Instagram at your “Galentines” party feeling shocked by all the couples you didn’t know existed, February is still the month to celebrate platonic and romantic love.
An easy way of celebrating Valentine’s throughout February is by watching movies. From good cries to feel-good films, this list of films has got you covered.
First the classics: “When Harry Met Sally,” “10 Things I Hate About You” and “Before Sunrise.”
“When Harry Met Sally” follows Harry and Sally — I bet you didn’t see that coming. Over the course of several years, they continue to run into each other but remain friends although there is clearly tension between them. As Harry puts it, guys and girls can’t be friends because sex gets in the way.
Directed by the late Rob Reiner, this film is a classic with beautiful cinematography, fashion and a realistic friends to lovers trope.
“10 Things I Hate About You” follows the stereotypical high school bad kid played by Heath Ledger, who meets Kat Stratford played by Julia Stiles, a girl whose overprotective father fears one thing more than boys — teen pregnancy.
They are unconventionally set up when Ledger’s character Patrick, takes up a bribe to date Stiles’ character Kat, whose younger sister Bianca wants to date. Bianca’s strict father bars her from dating anyone but gives one exception; if her sister Kat gets into a relationship Bianca can date someone.
To Bianca, this feels hopeless as Kat is independent and has no interest in a love life. She is proven wrong after Patrick begins to show genuine care underneath the big gestures to get Kat to date him. The film based on a classic Shakespeare comedy “The Taming of the Shrew” emphasizes feminism, as it was set in the 90s, while making you want to yell at Patrick’s decision.
This film is perfect if you want a nostalgic film with two independent individuals in a relationship. The film is where many pre-teens’ unrealistic expectations of the high school experience began.
An all-time favorite for many, “Before Sunrise” is about two people who are traveling in Vienna and meet on a train. You’ll forget they are acting in this film as it follows their conversation while exploring the city for a day. The film shows viewers that being in love can really make two people feel like they are the only people in the world.
This European adventure will make you want to book a flight to Vienna and check out Cafe Sperel. If you’re hooked on their love story, don’t worry as it doesn’t end after the couples first encounter, as there are two more movies to watch in this trilogy.
Moving on from some classic older movies, if you want to cry a bit (or a lot more than you would expect for a romance movie) here’s the movie for you.
“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” follows Joel and Clementine, a couple who recently broke up and go through a process to erase their memories of one another.
This dystopian film draws on a poem by Alexander Pope, a poem later reflected on by the receptionist of the mind-erasing company. “How happy is the blameless vestal’s lot! / The world forgetting, by the world forgot. Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind!”
It relates to the bliss patients feel when they no longer are troubled by the hurt of remembering their exes as their minds are now spotless.
The film follows Joel through a dreamlike reality as the viewer is forced to experience how painful it can be to watch not only the bad memories of Clementine disappear but the good as well.
So a warning in advance for those who’ve recently experienced heartbreak but the enriching storyline and beautiful cinematography makes it all worth it.
“Moonlight” touches on navigating identity across time. Chiron struggles to reconcile with his identity as a Black gay man and we see him navigate this throughout the film. Love, masculinity and emphasis on the need for self identity makes this a must watch.
Chiron is constantly bullied as a child. His friend Kevin offers him support through this time teaching him to always stand stronger than those who are putting him down. Their friendship evolves as they develop feelings for one another but things get complicated.
This emotional movie that famously won Best Picture in 2017 is a must watch.
To see a realistic portrayal of a relationship along with some fantastic music, look no further than “La La Land.” Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling do an amazing job at allowing viewers to peek into the life of someone trying to find their footing in Hollywood and the struggles that come with following your dreams.
Heartbreak may be felt here but it is a great realistic story and you will want to listen to the soundtrack while you study for those finals after watching. Here’s to that and the fools who dream.
Now that you cried, let’s explore some funnier films.
“Forgetting Sarah Marshall” follows Peter, played by Jason Segel, who just got out of a relationship with Sarah Marshall, played by Kristen Bell, and is heartbroken so he goes on a trip to Hawaii. He ends up at the same hotel as Sarah where she is spending some time with her new boyfriend. He befriends a concierge named Rachel and you can guess where that goes.
It is an entertaining and funny watch. Some parts seem ridiculous but it is just Segel’s humor shining through in the best way. After watching, you might feel better about missing your ex or you might really want to go to the beach. Either way, it’s a fun way to spend a February movie night.
“He’s Just Not That Into You.” Maybe you took that phrase personally but it’s just the title of a perfectly paced movie focusing on four different storylines that somehow all connect. It is interesting to watch and feels exaggerated but relatable at the same time. Impeccable acting from Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore and so many other stars make this movie feel iconic.
While these films may not fit the traditional idea of Valentine’s-Day romance, they reflect another equally important kind of love: platonic connection.
Loving your best friends and your mom clearly presents itself in the classic film “Mamma Mia!” Sophie, played by Amanda Seyfried, is about to get married and wants her father to walk her down the aisle. The only issue is that Sophie does not know who her father is.
Sophie sends letters to all of her potential fathers and they all show up which creates anxiety for her mother, Donna, as she is now seeing all of her old flames in the same place at the same time.
This film explores female friendships and mother-daughter bonds. You will realize, as Sophie does, that all you need is those closest to you. The songs, the dance and the emphasis on friendship makes it such a fun watch.
These are just a few of many great films to watch to celebrate love in the month of February. Whether you are looking for romantic or platonic movies, hopefully this list helped you narrow down those dreadful Netflix searches.
