MOVIES TO SEE WITH YOUR VALENTINE
A Romance Collection
I may not be the most romantically inclined person, and I don’t generally go for the typical lovely dovey mushy gushy movies that melt men and women’s hearts. While they don’t all have that affect on me, their influence on others hasn’t been lost on me. Inspired by the season of hearts and chocolates and Hallmark, and maybe the fact that I feel a little mushy myself this year, I’ve compiled a list of romantically influenced movies that I think have had impact on different audiences and have or will last the years to come.
50. FAR AND AWAY
Epic and beautiful, with the then husband and wife duo of Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise.
49. BULL DURHAM
Baseball, sex, comedy, and love………what else do ya want?
48. THE SOUND OF MUSIC
A classic musical of a forbidden love.
47. LADY AND THE TRAMP
A romance suitable for kids and parents alike…….available again today!
46. TWILIGHT
If you like your vampires to sparkle, lip biting, and the name Edward, this is your bag baby.
45. ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND
Personally too difficult for me to watch right now, an realistic yet twisted point of view of how a love of glory and magnificence can deteriorate.
44. STARMAN
Science Fiction, drama, and an uber cute Jeff Bridges and infectious Karen Allen.
43. BREAKFAST AT TIFFANYS
An inspired story of free spirits finding each other with the magnificent Audrey Hepburn and “cat”.
42. NOTTTING HILL
A huge surprise for me, and even my distaste for Julia Roberts, her character lived up to my dislike of her and then forgave her, and frankly Hugh Grant was never so charming, which says a lot for him.
41. YOU’VE GOT MAIL
The Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan reunion was far greater than I could have imagined. F-O-X. I dig this one.
40. BENNY AND JOON
A whimsical story that shows there is love in the world for everyone.
39. MANNEQUIN
Fantasy, nonsense, featuring Andrew McCarthy and the young and beautiful Kim Cattrall.
38. BIRD ON A WIRE
One of my favorites with Mel Gibson and Goldie Hawn, who just claimed insane chemistry on this romantic comedy full of action and excitement.
37. AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER
Classic, sexy, forbidden, and tragic. All the goods here.
36. THE WAY WE WERE
Another reflection of all the parts of a relationship without saying “Happily Ever After”, and Robert Redford was never so handsome.
35. ANNIE HALL
If you’re a Woody Allen fan or as many critics have donned it a “must see”, it clearly is a “must see”.
34. THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS
RUN DANIEL DAY LEWIS-RUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUN!
33. DANCES WITH WOLVES
Epic tale of love, freedom, history, and frankly some sadness. The love story was great, but I mostly was a fan of “two socks” and “tatunka!”
32. CHASING AMY
Totally my generation and a movie that really breaks down the barriers of love and what defines love. It certainly isn’t “finger cuffs”.
31. FOUR WEDDINGS, AND A FUNERAL
The moment where Hugh Grant was at his best. Unfortunately there are four weddings, but thankfully they throw in that funeral.
30. Braveheart
Yes, call this one a war epic if you desire, but at it’s core it’s a movie about revenging love lost. Mel does some fine work here.
29. THE WEDDING SINGER
Sandler proved he was more than dick and fart jokes, with more dick and fart jokes, but also this sweet glimpse into a love story that started off with two friends looking for love in the wrong place.
28. SAY ANYTHING
Hold that mother fucking boom box Johnny C!
27. THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT
Personally this one does it for me. There was something organic about the relationship that developed between Douglas and Benning that made it feel like a modern day fairy tale.
26. FUNNY GIRL
Oh BAAAAAAAAAABra! People are the happiest people.
25. PRETTY WOMAN
Yeah, yeah, hooker with a heart of gold, Cinda-fucking-rella, whatever. It might be absolutely ridiculous but this movie is timeless, infectious, and endearing.
24. MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE
The message is, bring your damn tissue, this is one of the few that makes me bawl hysterically. As slow paced as it is, you don’t realize how invested in Costner and Mrs. Penn you are.
23. SPLENDOR IN THE GRASS
My Natalie Wood and handsome Warren Beatty. Shit gets real. Real tragic, depressing, and over the top. One of my favs.
22. SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE
Not a personal favorite but I dig the message about not giving up on love, and believing that it might be out there if you’re willing to take a chance. It is a sweet movie and I dig me some Meg and Tom.
21. BAREFOOT IN THE PARK
At times I feel like Jane Fonda’s flighty free spirited character might be what a whirlwind it is like to live with me. She and Redford rock it out in this silly comedy with romance and slapstick humor. It’s genuinely sweet and I adore it.
20. UNTAMED HEART
"I'm not finished."
I don’t know why I love this Baboon heart loving Marisa Tomei, Christian Slater starring film, but I watched it 100 times as a teenager and cried at the end every time.
19. THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR
I’m talking about the remake with Pierce Brosnan and Renee Russo, not only does it have some of the best re-watchability content ever, it is so damn sexy it makes you want to get naked for the entirety of the flick, and kudos to Brosnan and Russo for pulling off and not being in their twenties. This shit is HOT.
18. JERRY MAGUIRE
He didn’t have me at hello, but I was down with him and the fish.
17. AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMEN
Dark, sexy, very sexy, Richard Gere totally naked sexy, dark, and full of mayonnaise, love lifts us up where we belong. The eagles cry.
16. OVERBOARD
I could watch this over and over and over and overboard even never tire of it. Hilarious, witty, full of great chemistry, and totally silly.
15. WITNESS
The lines of duty, belief, and forbidden love are drawn here, and while McGillis is much of a hot piece of anything, how could even a straight man keep his hands off Harrison Ford in this movie. He oozes sexy. The attraction of two people from completely different worlds, with more passion than be described, begins to admire one another. This is a great film.
14. THIS PROPERTY IS CONDEMNED
Robert Redford and Natalie strike gold with their chemistry and make a love story that won’t be forgotten.
13. THE AFRICAN QUEEN
Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn fall in love in the most unexpected circumstances.
12. THE BODYGUARD
Kevin Costner falls for the women he’s supposed to be protecting from a stalker. Love, Hollywood, and danger are all part of this exciting romance that is targeted for both men and women.
11. EDWARD SCISSORHANDS
A most unusual connection between two unlikely candidates, Edward Scirssorhands is both quirky and gentle hearted, and certainly Burton’s greatest film.
10. EVER AFTER
This revamped fairy tale with Drew Barrymore and Dougray Scott is unforgettable and undeniable and clearly one of my favorite love stories of all time.
9. WORKING GIRL
Who can resist the charms of Harrison Ford? Not Sigourney Weaver or Melanie Griffith. This modern day Cinderella tale is great for laughs, entertainment, and one of the most charismatic romances ever onscreen.
8. LOVE STORY
The popular jock falls for the smart and interesting girl, in this painful love story that Ryan Oneal and Ali Mcgraw sends ya weeping, full of tears, where love means never having to say your sorry.
7. GHOST
A happy couple meant forever end too soon when Patrick Swayze’s character dies in a violent attack. His body is gone, but his spirit is still somehow behind watching over his beloved grieving wife.
6. ROMANCING THE STONE
This is a movie for both sexes that simply won’t get old. It’s action, adventure, romance, and comic relief is full and fun and sexy.
5. ROBIN HOOD: PRINCE OF THIEVES
Kevin Costner plays Robin Of Locksley and portrays my favorite version of the love affair of Robin hood and Maid Marion. And after all, there is threats of cutting ones heart out with a spood. Alan Rickman is the shit!
4. TITANIC
A tragic tale based on true events, amazing special effects, epic adventure, and one of the greatest romances ever, Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet make a tale that will last for ages.
3. GONE WITH THE WIND
Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler’s love affair is one of the most magnanimous love stories ever created. From beginning to end it takes you on an insane ride threw the deep south and it’s passion.
2. THE PRINCESS BRIDE
In The Princess Bride everyone wins. You get comedy, action-adventure, sword fighting, fantasy, and one of the greatest love stories ever told.
Aaaaaaaaaaaas yooooooooou wiiiiiiiiiiiish!
1. WHEN HARRY MET SALLY
The most definitive romantic comedy ever made, and certainly a timeless creation of friendship, companionship and love. It’s tender without being cheesy, and funny without being over the top. This is was romance is made of.
Remember, we here at Man, I Love Films don’t do definitive lists. We do our favorites and we want to hear yours. So, make sure and tell us about them in the comments section below.
Wayne (6)
Mette (4)
Nic Cage (4)
Sebastian (4)
steve (4)
John (3)
Nick (3)
Chip Lary (2)
Dan (2)
I was going to kick you if The Princess Bride wasn’t near the top.
However…You’ve Got Mail? Really? At least go for the classic The Shop Around the Corner with Jimmy Stewart and Margaret Sullivan!
Ditto to that first line. I was getting scared for a minute.
I only watched WHEN HARRY MET SALLY less than a year ago for the first time and it really is brilliant. I wanna watch it again when i read this!
Fun list Heather. No (500) Days of Summer? Amelie? I knew The Princess Bride was going to be super high but it doesn’t do it for me, especially as a romantic movie
I’ll have to check out Romancing the Stone, Working Girl, and a few others. I’m trying to pick some romantic comedies for my boyfriend and me to watch tonight. Thanks to you Mannequin is now on the top of my list. I just love Kim Cattrall. I’m looking around for movies that I think we’ll both like and then using DISH Online to set recordings for the movies, order the pay-per-view, and see which ones are available through instant streaming. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do but a coworker of mine at DISH reminded me about DISH Online so I’m very glad about that. Your list is pretty long; I’m not a big fan of the Princess Bride though it seems to get on every list there is out there. Thanks for sharing!
Twitter: waywardjam
February 8, 2012 9:13 pm
Some great choices; a few aren’t my bag but you listed a lot I need to see. Mannequin, though, is my shit! It’s in my vault queue, but now I may have to bump it up.
Glad to see love for The Wedding Singer, it’s a film I recently featured in my series “A Fistful of Romances! (shameless plug!).
WOAH! Talk about a great list, you covered so much here! But where is all the holiday horror at?! I mean murder is mushy right? All those blood and guts?
Hhaha, also reading “Mannequin, though, is my shit!” from Wayne made me bust out laughing! Thanks for that
I cant believe Before Sunrise/Before Sunset didnt make the cut! Pretty good list though!
Twitter: NeverTooEarlyMP
February 9, 2012 11:44 pm
No wonder single people feel oppressed during this holiday. I mean, if even the mannequins, aliens, ghosts, vampires and guys with scissors for hands can find true love before they can. HAhaha!