Since the 14th century, Valentine’s Day has been used to celebrate love’s meaning. Whether it be with your significant other or just someone you love, Valentine’s Day is used to devote a special connection with someone you love. While some live for the thrill of going out with their partners, friends, or even just staying home alone in the comfort of their bed, there has always been one ultimate activity that some tend to do–watch movies. With thousands of Rom-Coms from around the world, it can be hard to choose which ones are really worth watching. 

Although some might disagree, the 2000s cheesy-meet-cute Rom-Coms are generally renowned for being a genre that some movie critics have longed for over the past decade–one of which includes the 2003 hit Rom-Com at the time, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. This movie kicks off with Kate Hudson’s character, Andie Anderson–a writer for a women’s magazine, who is given the task to write a story about everything you should not do when it comes to trying to get into a relationship and does an experiment on someone named Ben Barry–played by Matthew McConaughey. He bets that he can make any girl fall in love with in within ten days. Throughout the film, Andie does everything in her power to annoy Ben to result in him leaving her, while he does everything in his power to make her fall in love with him. 

Another prominent love story is the 2008 movie, 27 Dresses. Jane Nichols–played by Katherine Heigl, had always loved the idea of weddings and the chance to see everyone express their love with each other, and this resulted in her attending twenty-seven weddings. At one of those weddings, she meets Kevin Doyle (played by James Marsden), a news reporter who was forced to write about all the extravagant weddings happening. The two end up bumping into each other once again because of Jane’s sister’s wedding, which Kevin was set to write a story about. Throughout the story, the two try their best to do their jobs without meddling with the others’ jobs. 

Another movie that has grabbed people’s hearts over the years is the 1999 film 10 Things I Hate About You. Kat Stratford (played by Julia Stiles) is a smart yet sarcastic character who has no interest in dating anyone, which is unfortunate for her sister, Bianca (played by Larisa Oleynik) since she is only allowed to date once Kat starts dating. Once Bianca meets Cameron James (played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt) the two devise a plan to get Kat to date the outcast in the school, who happens to be Heath Legder’s character Patrick Verona. Junior, Gabby Duran says, “…this movie made me raise the standard for me…a guy learned French for her!”.

If you’re looking for a classic, celebrated movie known in the Rom-Com genre, Say Anything is the perfect movie. The notable scene with John Cusack holding up the famed boombox, has inspired an abundance of Rom-Coms. The film starts with John Cusack’s character, Lloyd Dobler, who started his first day after his high school graduation by asking out Ione Skye’s character, Diane Court, who happens to be the untouchable straight-A student who spent her entire high school career dedicated to her grades. Not too long after the two start to go out with each other, Diane opens up and uses the freedom she never allowed herself to have. The movie is a great film to take into consideration showing the prospects of how you should enjoy your teenage years for as long as you can. 

However, if you would rather watch a movie out with your friends or partner in a movie theater instead of the comfort of your bed, Anyone But You is a great recommendation. Bea–played by Sydney Sweeney runs into Glen Powell’s character, Ben in a coffee shop. The two initially hit it off and ended up talking to each other throughout the day. It wasn’t until Bea overheard the conversation between Ben and his friend before everything went south. Not too long after, a wedding that was planned to take place in Australia pulled them back together which caused the two to “fake date” each other for the sake of their friends to stop meddling with their lives. Junior, Miia Thomas says, “…it’s so cute to watch the relationship evolve into something they both hated, into something that they both loved.” 

Although these are only just a few of the many famed Rom-Coms during the past few decades there are a few honorable mentions that are just as appealing.

 Some of these include:

• • When Harry Met Sally (1989)
  • She’s All That (1999)
  • Mamma Mia (2008)
  • (500) Days of Summer (2009)
  • Flipped (2010)
  • Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011)
  • About Time (2013)
  • La La Land (2016)
  • Set It Up (2018)
  • To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018)

Whether or not you have someone to watch these movies with, there is no doubt that some will enjoy Valentine’s Day this year.