Movies to binge watch of Valentine’s Day
February 13, 2020
As someone who cries at almost every rom-com and gets overly invested in any movie with a couple, I consider myself a romantic movie expert. So get ready to curl up in bed with a box of chocolates and a warm blanket, while pressing play on these movies.
This film starring Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles is an adaptation of Shakespeare’s ‘Taming of the Shrew’, making it timeless and a favorite across generations. The film centers around two polar opposite sisters, one boy crazy and the other boy repulsed. The audience gets to watch as they overcome toxic relationships, crappy friendships, and their own fears in order to not only find love, but most importantly, to become proud and comfortable with themselves.
AVAILABLE ON: Disney+
Baz Luhrman’s Romeo and Juliet
Another Shakespeare adaptation, this cautionary tale of Romeo and Juliet warns those watching of becoming invested in someone too fast and how grudges can be life-ruining. The classic is reimagined into modern-day California and, while staying true to the original, displays the epic story of the two ‘star crossed lovers’. The movie is beautifully shot with a message that every teenager needs to hear.
AVAILABLE ON: Amazon Prime with a Starz subscription
This movie’s plot was a refreshing change from traditional rom-com, as it was centered around a couple staying strong and together through hard times, rather than watching the couple’s feelings just beginning to bloom. After the novel it was based on (written by Kenny Kwan) gained popularity, it moved to the big screen. It was a huge win for the Asian community who finally got to see a mainstream Asian movie that thrived in theatres. The film displays a healthy couple finding themselves together, one defending the other when their family was trying to break them apart.
AVAILABLE ON: Hulu
To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before
Originally a book by Jenny Han, this movie took the world by storm almost the second it was available to stream. Lara Jean lives everybody’s worst nightmare as all the love letters she wrote to boys as an outlet gets sent out. Lara Jean has to try to balance her morals and emotions as she figures out what to do, all while falling for someone.
AVAILABLE ON: Netflix
“Love, Simon” was a sensation when it first hit theatres, being one of the biggest movies about a teenager trying to figure out his sexuality while in high school. The film depicts a realistic case scenario of self-discovery and struggle and has become a centerpiece for those identifying as LGBTQ+. Based on a novel by Becky Albertalli, the movie is incredibly relatable, highlighting the struggles of the community from coming out, to being outed and just simply dating.
AVAILABLE ON: Amazon Prime (rental only)
A film filled with fun tunes and iconic scenes, “Mamma Mia” is perfect for Valentine’s Day. Even the heaviest scenes seem simple with the ABBA (a Swedish pop) covers sung by Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried. It shows healthy relationships between the main character and those around her as she tries to navigate herself through finding out her past and the future she wants with her fiance. During all this, the audience also gets to watch middle-aged women continuing to have fun and live their lives without remorse or slowing down just for their age.
AVAILABLE ON: Hulu
