Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to cuddle up with your sweetheart and watch a movie. The best movies for the occasion feature romance, of course, so here are the best romantic movies to heat up your Valentine’s Day.
Romeo + Juliet
Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is the quintessential love story. The 1996 film version, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes, is a fun and interesting twist on an old classic. The dialogue from Shakespeare’s original play remains the same, but the setting is changed. Director Baz Luhrmann takes us into a modern day beach town. The title characters are still star-crossed lovers, but instead of their families being political enemies, they are feuding mafia factions. The story that unfolds may be a familiar one, but it seems brand new when done in the modern, gritty style of this movie. An added bonus to the movie is a vibrant soundtrack filled with poignant love songs as well as fun pop music.
The chemistry that Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes share on screen is electric. DiCaprio won Favorite Actor and Danes won Favorite Actress in a Romance at the Blockbuster Movie Awards. They were even nominated for Best Kiss and Best On-Screen Duo at the MTV Movie Awards.
Love Actually
Buoyed by an all-star cast, Love Actually is the type of movie that you can enjoy again and again. Set in London, the story revolves around eight different couples who are all navigating romance and relationships in their own unique ways. It isn’t immediately obvious how all of the characters are connected, but throughout the movie their stories intertwine in unpredictable and fascinating ways.
The movie has a huge cast of impressive actors including Hugh Jackman, Keira Knightley, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Laura Linney, Alan Rickman, and Emma Thompson. Love Actually gives insight into relationships at all stages, from naïve young love to wearied yet enduring marriages. The film not only explores matters of the heart, but it does so with a great sense of humor and wit, making it a true romantic comedy.
Crazy, Stupid, Love
Crazy, Stupid, Love may not sound like a romantic movie when you look at the subject of the move, which is a middle-aged man dealing with his divorce from his wife. However, this romantic comedy succeeds because it looks at every facet of relationships, both good and bad, making you appreciate the good even more. Similarly to Love Actually, Crazy, Stupid, Love has an all-star ensemble cast. The movie features Steve Carrell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone, Marisa Tomei and Kevin Bacon. Also similarly, the movie shows relationships at all different stages of life, from first loves to complicated marriages. The story has a great message and will reignite your belief in love and soul mates.
City of Angels
City of Angels portrays the unlikely love story between a doctor and an angel. In this romantic fantasy movie, an angel falls in love with a human on earth and contemplates leaving heaven behind for a chance to be with her. The movie begs the question: Is true love worth all of the pain? City of Angels stars Nicholas Cage and Meg Ryan, who have a surprisingly good on-screen chemistry. At the end of the movie, viewers are delicately reminded to be thankful for everything and take nothing for granted.