You don’t need a boo to enjoy the best Valentine’s Day movies, trust us. Whether you’re coupled up and planning a cosy night in, ignoring texts from your situationship, or settling in for a delicious girls’ night, there’s a film for every mood.
The best Valentine’s Day movies don’t necessarily take place on the day itself; they simply capture the highs and lows of endearing, complicated love. Maybe they’ll make you grateful you’re single and avoiding that heartbreak. Maybe they’ll give your significant other a gentle nudge to step it up (hint: feel free to send them our gift guide for girlfriends).
As the big day approaches, we’ve got you covered with the best Valentine’s Day movies to watch, no matter your sexuality, relationship status, or taste in film. From queer love stories and classic rom-coms to romance book adaptations and more, this is Glamour’s ultimate round-up of Valentine’s Day viewing.
Set It Up (2018)
Starring: Zoey Deutch, Glen Powell, Lucy Liu, Pete Davidson, Taye Diggs.
What's it about: Harper and Charlie are two overworked assistants who work in the same building. Desperate to escape their high-stress jobs, they hatch a plan to set their bosses up with each other — only to find themselves falling for one another along the way. This is one of the best Netflix romances we've seen in forever.
Cuteness: 9/10
We Live in Time (2024)
Starring: Florence Pugh, Andrew Garfield, Lee Braithwaite, Nikhil Parmar, Marama Corlett.
What's it about: Almut and Tobias are brought together by a chance encounter that changes their lives forever. As they navigate a love story shaped by the limits of time, they learn to treasure every moment of their unconventional journey together.
Cuteness: 7/10
Eternity (2025)
Starring: Elizabeth Olsen, Callum Turner, Miles Teller, Da'Vine Joy Randolph.
What's it about: Joan reaches the Afterlife and faces an impossible choice: spend eternity with Luke, her first love who tragically died young and has been waiting for her, or Larry, her husband of 65 years. It’s a stunning exploration of love in all its forms, and the people who shape our lives.
Cuteness factor: 8/10
Friends With Benefits (2011)
Starring: Mila Kunis, Justin Timberlake, Emma Stone, Woody Harrelson, Andy Samberg
What's it about: It's a predictable, but no less comforting and fun story. Mila and Justin play Jamie and Dylan, who decide to hook up with no commitments of expectations of a relationship. But they soon realise that their sexual connection is blurring the lines, will they become something more?
Cuteness factor: 7/10
Past Lives (2023)
Starring: Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, John Magaro, Chase Sui Wonders, Isaac Cole Powell.
What's it about: Some romantic films aren’t all sunshine and giggles; they’re tears, and lots of them. Nora and Hae Sung are deeply connected childhood friends, torn apart when Nora’s family emigrates from South Korea. Decades later, they’re reunited for one fateful week, forced to confront destiny, love, and the choices that shape a life. The film is written and directed by Celine Song, who also created Materialists.
Cuteness: 6/10
Valentine's Day (2010)
Starring: Jennifer Garner, Ashton Kutcher, Julia Roberts, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Alba, Bradley Cooper, Jessica Biel, Queen Latifah, Taylor Swift
What's it about: You guessed it – this Noughties classic sees various singles and couples deal with break-ups, dates and other problems of the heart in the lead up to Valentine's Day.
Cuteness factor: 8/10
People We Meet on Vacation (2026)
Starring: Tom Blyth, Emily Bader, Lukas Gage, Lucien Laviscount, Jameela Jamil, Sarah Catherine Hook.
What's it about: Poppy and Alex are complete opposites, yet a beautiful friendship blossoms between them, cemented by an annual trip they take together. As life intervenes and feelings grow complicated, they’re forced to ask whether they can reclaim their friendship… and whether it might become something more. The film moves between the present day at a wedding in Barcelona and their past adventures in Canada, New Orleans, and Tuscany, creating a gorgeous, time-hopping love story.
Cuteness: 9/10
Call Me By Your Name (2017)
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Armie Hammer
What's it about: Set in the Italian countryside and based on Andre Anciman's novel of the same name, Call Me By Your Name sees teenage boy Elio come to terms with his sexuality when he forms a deep connection with Oliver (Hammer) a research assistant who comes to visit and work with his father.
Cuteness factor: This one has more of a weep and horniness factor, which we'd give 8/10 for both.
Hitch (2005)
Starring: Will Smith, Eva Mendes
What's it about: Will plays “Hitch", a date doctor of sorts who helps less-than-confident men find their feet when it comes to dating the women of their dreams. Hitch meets his own match when journalist Sara is assigned to find and expose the date doctor. Will she succeed?
Cuteness factor: 7/10
Love, Rosie (2014)
Starring: Lily Collins, Sam Claflin, Suki Waterhouse
What's it about: Childhood best friends Rosie and Alex are always there for each other, but always seem to miss opportunities when it comes to being something more. As they both navigate adult life after spending their lives together as teenagers, their bond is tested, as is their resolve to not pursue a romantic relationship. It's a gorgeous film that proves the best romances are grounded in friendship.
Cuteness factor: 9/10
Blue Valentine (2010)
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Michelle Williams
What's it about: The story of a dysfunctional couple is told through a series of timelines as they try to stabilise their relationship and raise their daughter.
Cuteness factor: Definitely a bit of a dark one, but still plenty of romance. 7/10
Booksmart (2019)
Starring: Kaitlyn Dever, Beanie Feldstein
What's it about: Not all films about love are about romantic relationships. Taking place in the days before their high school graduation, Booksmart sees best friends Molly (Feldstein) and Amy (Dever) go on a mission to let loose and make up for lost time after discovering that their classmates perceive them to be nothing more than bookworms.
Cuteness factor: There's nothing cuter than enduring female friendship. 10/10
Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)
Starring: Adéle Haenel, Noémie Merlant
What's it about: Set on an isolated island in Brittany in the 1700s, a female painter is commissioned to paint a wedding portrait of a young woman. The pair develop an attraction, and their story highlights how the patriarchy constricts women's lives. Political and horny.
Cuteness factor: 7/10
Love, Simon (2018)
Starring: Nick Robinson, Jennifer Garner
What's it about: A high school tale of a closeted teen boy who is blackmailed by an anonymous entity who threatens to out him. As a result, he goes on a tumultuous journey to come to terms with his sexuality and identity.
Cuteness factor: 9/10
The Big Sick (2017)
Starring: Zoe Kazan, Kumail Nanjiani, Holly Hunter, Bo Burnham
What's it about: A stand-up comedian starts dating graduate student Emily, and their relationship is thrown into an odd space when she falls sick and is placed in an induced coma. He must bond with Emily's family while caring for her, and discovers a lot about them both along the way.
Cuteness factor: 8/10
Carol (2015)
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Sarah Paulson
What's it about: A love affair in 1950s New York is ignited between Carol (Cate Blanchett) and Therese (Rooney Mara). Carol is a socialite going through a divorce, while Therese isn't sure of where she wants to be in life, and their romance brings out a new side of themselves.
Cuteness factor: 7/10
To All The Boys I've Loved Before (2018)
Starring: Lana Condor, Noah Centineo, Anna Cathcart
What's it about: The beginning of a trilogy of smash Netflix rom-coms, the premise of which involved Lara Jean (Lana Condor) writing secret letters to her crushes throughout her young life, only for her sister Kitty (Anna Cathcart) to post them out without her permission. This leads to an unlikely fake relationship with Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo), which soon looks like it could be real.
Cuteness factor: 10/10
Four Weddings And A Funeral (1994)
Starring: Hugh Grant, Andie McDowell, Kristin Scott Thomas
What's it about: It's the quintessential British rom-com. Set in the 90s, Hugh Grant plays Charles, who cannot express how he feels to the woman he loves, Carrie (Andie McDowell). Events transpire over – you guessed it – four weddings and a funeral where he comes to terms with his feelings and his future.
Cuteness factor: 9/10
50 First Dates (2004)
Starring: Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore
What's it about: A story of boy meets girl with amnesia. Commitment-phobe Henry (Sandler) falls for Lucy (Barrymore) but must campaign for her to remember their relationship every day, as she suffers from short-term memory loss after a car accident.
Cuteness factor: 8/10
Me Before You (2016)
Starring: Emilia Clarke, Sam Claflin, Vanessa Kirby, Jenna Coleman, Matthew Lewis
What's it about: Emilia's Louisa Clark takes a job as a carer for Will Traynor (Sam Claflin), a young man who was left paralysed after an accident. Despite his depression and frustration at his life, the two find joy in each other and fall in love.
Cuteness factor: 10/10
