Your Valentine’s Day Movie Guide: New Releases, Classics, and Offbeat Picks
Valentine’s Day lands on Wednesday, February 14 (ET), and whether you’re heading out or staying in, there’s no shortage of screen-worthy romance. A high-profile gothic love story arrives in theaters just in time for the holiday, while curated lists are surfacing fresh and classic options—from swoony international hits to queer comedies and even a brainy AI romance. If you’re still hunting for a valentine’s day movie, here’s where to start.
In Theaters: A bold new spin on a literary obsession
Emerald Fennell’s hotly anticipated take on Wuthering Heights, starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, is rolling into cinemas for the Valentine’s frame. With Fennell expanding her streak of provocative, conversation-sparking projects, early chatter singles out the film’s lush visual design and daring choices, even as opinions split on the performances. Robbie is also on the producing team, an alignment that has powered Fennell’s features from the start. Expect a charged, high-style romance aimed squarely at date-night crowds looking for something a little dangerous—and very modern.
Staying in: Five modern romances that deliver
If the couch is calling, these recent favorites cover a range of tones and tastes:
- Before Sunrise — Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy wander Vienna overnight in Richard Linklater’s intimate talkfest, a one-night encounter that feels both fleeting and life-changing. It’s gentle, searching, and tailor-made for deep-conversation couples.
- Your Name — Makoto Shinkai’s body-swap fantasy is a wildly inventive, emotional ride about connection across time and distance. Come for the humor and spectacle; stay for the cathartic third act.
- Fire Island — A sharp, sunny Pride and Prejudice riff about a chosen family on summer holiday. It’s effervescent, proudly queer, and honest about how love and friendship tangle.
- Her — Joaquin Phoenix finds intimacy with a next-gen operating system voiced by Scarlett Johansson. Warm, melancholic, and eerily prescient, it asks what “real” love even means.
- Emma — Anya Taylor-Joy leads a candy-colored, Regency-era romp that balances comedy-of-manners mischief with genuine heart.
Why horror and thrillers secretly work on date night
There’s a scientific nudge to go spooky: a psychological effect known as excitation transfer can make a tense movie’s adrenaline bleed into romantic arousal. In practice, that means a stylish thriller—or a lean, well-crafted horror film—may actually amplify the butterflies. If roses and violins aren’t your speed, consider a pulse-raiser to kickstart the chemistry.
Classic comfort: Rom-coms that never miss
Some romances endure because they pair impeccable writing with electric on-screen chemistry. For an all-killer lineup, queue up:
- When Harry Met Sally — The definitive friends-to-lovers blueprint, brimming with observational wit and genuine warmth.
- Pride and Prejudice — An elegant, emotionally charged take with indelible needle-drops and a now-legendary hand flex.
- 10 Things I Hate About You — A high-school Shakespeare spin that launched careers and still charms with Heath Ledger’s swoon-factor.
- Crazy Rich Asians — A glossy, big-hearted crowd-pleaser where romance, family, and identity collide in maximalist fashion.
- Friends with Benefits — A modern, snappy city romance that doubles as a platonic love story and keeps the banter brisk.
Event spotlight: A vintage Valentine on the big screen
For cinephiles, a Valentine’s Day screening of My Man Godfrey in a rare nitrate print offers an old-Hollywood escape, complete with sparkling screwball repartee from William Powell and Carole Lombard. It’s a one-night-only kind of treat perfectly suited to those who prefer champagne wit to candlelit clichés.
And if you want something less romantic
Beyond hearts-and-flowers fare, the week’s slate also features new arrivals like Crime 101, Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die, and Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie. If showtimes for the big gothic romance sell out—or if you’re simply in the mood to zag—these titles provide counterprogramming to keep the evening lively.
Whether you’re venturing out for a lavish melodrama or crafting a living-room marathon of comfort classics and adventurous curveballs, there’s a perfect pairing for every mood this week. Call it an act of love: finding the movie that keeps the conversation going long after the credits roll.
