5 Great Date Movies for Valentine’s Day or Any Day

By:Liesel Booker

It’s Valentine’s Day, meaning it’s time for some date movies. But what is a “date movie”? Is it just a movie that features romance? Or can a “date movie” be any genre? Obviously, all this depends on the couple and their preferences, but here are five movies that should be a lot of fun to watch on a date, covering multiple genres.

5 Great Date Movies for Valentine’s Day or Any Day

1. “Emma”

Emma Woodhouse in Emma, one of the best date movies.
Image from Emma, Courtesy of Miramax

There are many great adaptations of classic Jane Austen novels, but the 1996 version of “Emma” might be the most fun for a date movie. It’s hilarious and witty while staying true to the spirit of the classic Austen novel. Gwyneth Paltrow gives a highly appealing performance as the title character. The Oscar-winning score contains some of the most beautiful music in any romance movie. Also, the movie contains one of the most beautiful marriage proposal scenes in any movie ever.

2. “Tangled”

Rapunzel and Flynn in Tangled, one of the best date movies.
Image from Tangled, Courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures

If you and your date are Disney fans, then there are plenty of great romances to choose from, but “Tangled” is one of the best romances in the Disney canon, and one of the best date movies. Rapunzel and Flynn have so much undeniable chemistry, whether they’re arguing with each other or working together to fight off soldiers. They learn from each other and help each other grow as characters, drawing both laughs and tears from the audience. The song “I See The Light” is also one of the most gorgeous songs in Disney’s legacy.

3. “The Empire Strikes Back”

Leia and Han in The Empire Strikes Back, one of the best date movies.
Image from The Empire Strikes Back, Courtesy of 20th Century Fox and Lucasfilm

Are you and your date “Star Wars” fans? Then why don’t you settle back and watch Leia and Han discover their love for each other? Not only is “The Empire Strikes Back” the best “Star Wars” movie in general, but it is the best “Star Wars” romance, largely thanks to Leia and Han’s overwhelming chemistry. Their banter is so much fun, as are their quieter moments. They feel like a real couple despite the fact that they’re in a sci-fi movie. By the time you reach the movie’s cliffhanger ending, your heart downright aches for them. 

4. “Titanic”

Jack and Rose in Titanic, one of the best date movies.
Image from Titanic, Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

If you and your date want to have a cry and you have three hours to spare, “Titanic” is a solid choice. Leonardo DiCaprio’s Jack and Kate Winslet’s Rose were the most iconic movie couple of the time when this movie first came out. You can immerse yourselves in the lavish sets and the heart-pounding action, but the heart of the movie comes from Jack and Rose. While some people have questioned the movie’s decision to focus on a fictional love story when telling about a historical tragedy, the result is a gorgeous, heart-wrenching movie. Also, you know Celine Dion’s classic song, “My Heart Will Go On,” and how it absolutely rips into the heart. 

5. “Rent”

Roger and Mimi in Rent, one of the best date movies.
Image from Rent, Courtesy of Sony Pictures

You and your date will be singing into the night if you watch this movie. “Rent” features three couples, all of whom go through their own heartbreak, and an absolutely stellar soundtrack that makes you want to both get up and dance and burst into tears. It’s a tribute to all outcasts everywhere, showing that addicts, poor people, LGBTQ+ people, people with AIDS, and all other outcasts are fully human. In today’s divided society, you and your date might feel refreshed to watch a story about full acceptance. 

There are Many Other Date Movies For You!

Of course, these aren’t the only great date movies out there. Maybe you and your date want to watch a rom-com, a fantasy movie, or a mystery. Romance manages to find its way in all sorts of movies, meaning that date movies are plentiful. So what is a date movie? Date movies are whatever you want them to be.

Liesel Booker holds a master's degree in English Literature from Salisbury University. She has loved reading and writing her entire life, and she is also an avid gamer who has a special love for indie and Nintendo games. Her two wonderful cats love to sit with her as she writes for Total Apex. She also really, really loves Star Wars, to the point where she is proud to call herself a geek.