Valentine’s Day is coming up soon, which means it’s the season for romance movies! Here are a few recommendations in this genre that you can watch with your significant other, your date or by yourself.
- “We Live in Time”
Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield collaborate as the leads in “We Live in Time,” a newer romance movie that came out in October 2024. A recently divorced man and a restaurant chef meet under unexpected circumstances and quickly fall in love. The two grapple with challenges that are thrown in their path as they build a life together in this heart-gripping film. You will find yourself rooting for their time to never end.
- “The Princess Bride”
If you love fantasy and romance, “The Princess Bride” is a classic must-watch. This older film from the 1980s is about two lovers, a farm boy and a princess, who get separated and must find each other again. Despite kidnapping, near-death and heartbreak, Westley and Buttercup are determined to reunite and run away to live their happily ever after.
- “Brokeback Mountain”
This western movie from 2005 is about the doomed love between two cowboys, played by Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger. They begin as strangers who work as sheepherders on the same farm, eventually developing a close friendship that proves to be something more. Tethered to each other’s wives and home lives, they fight to keep their secret affair going in the face of guilt and homophobia.
- “The Notebook”
Steering away from tragic endings is the popular movie “The Notebook” with Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams. This story of young love follows Allie and Noah, who come from two different social classes but fall for each other anyway. In the midst of their relationship, Allie’s parents disapprove of Noah’s poorer status and the family moves back to their hometown. Noah’s ensuing years are spent yearning, hoping she will come back to him.
- “Amélie”
If you are interested in foreign films, the French romance movie “Amélie” is worth a watch. A shy and imaginative waitress who lives in the heart of Paris finds a passion for making those around her happy. She discovers Nino, a man with an odd photo collaging hobby, and becomes smitten. Realizing that she’s fallen in love, she leads him on a game of cat and mouse through the city while battling her inner fear of revealing who she is.
- “A Portrait of a Lady on Fire”
This beautiful romantic drama tells the story of an artist and her muse in 18th-century France. Marianne, a painter, is commissioned to paint a wedding portrait of Héloïse without her knowledge. The portrait is meant to be sent to a nobleman, who will decide if Héloïse is good enough to marry him. Posing as her companion, Marianne observes her throughout the day, and paints by candlelight at night. Their friendship slowly grows into an intimate and romantic bond, each sacrificing parts of their lives for each other to spend more time together before Héloïse is married off.
- “Entergalactic”
Written by none other than Kid Cudi, “Entergalactic” is an animated romantic comedy created as a visual companion to his musical album of the same name. Released in 2022, this movie is about a young artist moving into his dream Manhattan apartment and falling for his neighbor. He struggles with finding a balance between his personal life, career and love in the bustling city as he works his way up to success.
- “Meet Joe Black”
Brad Pitt and Claire Forlani star in this 1998 romantic film about death, sacrifice and love. Death, disguised as a man named Joe Black, comes to Earth to find and claim the life of Bill, a multimillionaire. However, tired of his eternal responsibilities, Death strikes a deal. If Bill acts as his guide around the mortal world, he will spare him for a bit longer. During his time as a human, he falls for Bill’s daughter and learns what true love really means.
Layla Phillis can be reached at arg-life@uidaho.edu.