With Valentine’s Day coming up on Feb. 14, love is flowing through the air, some students are still holding up hope for an attractive human to come to sweep them off their feet, and while they wait, a movie is the perfect thing to pass the time. Lucky for them my top 5 Valentine’s Day movies will put you in the mood to eat some kisses and give some too. These movies include LGBTQ+ romance, as well as some unknown classics that will make you shed a slight tear.

Love Simon (2018)

This movie is one of my personal favorites and I heavily recommend it. This romantic comedy-drama is directed by Greg Berlanti and is based on the 2015 novel “Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda.” The movie is a straightforward and easy-to-digest film with a satisfying conclusion. It follows a teenage boy named Simon Spier, who is a closeted homosexual; throughout this film, Simon is struggling to come to terms with his sexuality. 

In the midst of his struggles, Simon is trying to figure out the identity of someone he fell for while chatting online, though an anonymous classmate threatens to out him to the entire world after they discover said chats.

This film has its feel-good charm and although the romance aspect does not cover the entire film you still get that deserved and satisfying ending that brings all that stress you feel through the movie to a close. “Love Simon” is available on Hulu and Amazon Prime with subscriptions.

The Notebook (2004)

“The Notebook” is a classic household name in the Romance movie genre, and if you have not seen it, put this at the top of your list of movies you need to watch. This film was directed by Nick Cassavetes and is yet another movie on this list that was originally a novel. “The Notebook” has a packed cast with stars like Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams taking the lead roles; the story takes place in 1940s America. Noah Calhoun (Ryan Gosling) and Allie (Rachel McAdams) fell head over heels in love.

Allie, who comes from a wealthy family, does not have approval from her parents. Once Noah gets the news, he must serve in the war. The relationship seems to end until years later when Noah returns. While he was away, Allie moved on and got engaged, but when facing Noah again, it was clear her love for him was still alive. 

This film is full of true raw emotion and both actors put much of their energy into the characters and you can see it throughout this film. “The Notebook” is available on Hulu and Max with subscriptions. 

Titanic (1997)

I just cannot mention a romantic film without mentioning “Titanic.” It is truly a classic, as well as one of Leonardo Decaprio’s most iconic movies, and has been able to stand its ground since its release date in 1997. The director James Cameron is known for many films, including “The Terminator” (1984-1991) franchise as well as his most successful film “Avatar” (2009). “Titanic” is a tragic romantic film that takes place on the RMS Titanic in 1912, while Jack and Rose, who are of different statuses, fall for each other on their journey to New York City. Although we viewers know the true events of the horrific sinking of the Titanic, it still evokes sadness in you when witnessing the tragedy on the big screen. The cinematography and the performances by the actors make it a great movie to watch. This movie is available on both Paramount+ and Disney+. 

A Walk to Remember (2002)

You might not be familiar with this film, but it is a favorite of mine, the story and emotional moments captured in this movie are incredible. Directed by Adam Shankman, this is the third film on this list released originally as a novel. This short but impactful story takes place in North Carolina where Landon and Jamie start their journey. 

Both characters are on different paths with Landon being a typical irresponsible bully while Jamie is the sweet timid girl who is constantly dealing with bullying by Landon’s friend group. As they both fall for each other and quickly get more serious, Jamie admits a secret she cannot hide anymore. 

The director was able to tell the audience their story perfectly in such a brief time and its simple yet hard-hitting ending makes it a top contender. You can watch it on Peacock and Tubi for free. 

13 going on 30 (2004)

For a more comedic and entertaining but also a bit of a romantic tone, I recommend “13 Going on 30” (2004). This is a great movie that has some funny moments but keeps it balanced with drama and never loses the plot. Jennifer Garner stars in this film as well as Mark Ruffalo, and both actors’ performances were spectacular. It starts off in 1987 with a 13-year-old girl, Jenna, who wishes to be an adult. She later wakes up to find herself in the body of a 30-year-old fashion editor in 2004; her childhood friend makes an appearance in the film and has also grown up. Throughout the film, you can feel the tension between them, as well as love but also hesitation, as her childhood friend turns out to be in a relationship. 

The highlight of this film had to be Jennifer Garner’s performance, her character was a young teenager now suddenly trapped in a grown woman’s body and Jennifer was able to perfectly depict that. You can watch this movie on Netflix with a subscription.