No plans for Valentine’s Day yet? A special movie night is always a great option. Whether you’re celebrating with your special someone, your family, or yourself on the 14th, here are great films about love on Netflix that will surely make your heart flutter.
Why you should watch it: This brainchild of screenwriter Garry Marshall (Princess Diaries, Pretty Woman) shows a cheesy yet charming take on what it means to be in love. It also has storylines that almost every generation can relate to.
Why you should watch it: The film captures everything you like (or hate) about rom-coms and shapes them into an interesting story about different kinds of love. No spoilers though! We wouldn’t want to ruin the ending for you.
Why you should watch it: While it is a love story to some extent, Howl’s Moving Castle is also a tale about rediscovering happiness and self-satisfaction. It also paints maturity and ageing in a positive light, especially with ‘old Sophie’ taking up most of the screen time. Did we mention the dubbers they got for both the Japanese and the English versions are all actors well-known in their respective countries?
One day, shy high-school boy Naomi (Takumi Kitamura) meets Sensei (Tori Matsuzaka), a man who claims to be his older self from the future. Sensei asks Naomi to befriend his aloof classmate Ruri (Minami Hamabe) to save her from a future accident.
Why you should watch it: This film will not only make you laugh and cry with its compelling storytelling but will also fascinate you with its amazing sci-fi elements. It portrays a love that’s willing to go against all odds, no matter how bittersweet the outcome is. It’s also set in Kyoto and features many real-life spots in the city that you can add to your travel bucketlist.
A story of first crushes and heartbreaks, Flipped starts with Bryce (Callan McAuliffe) meeting Juli (Madeline Carroll) after his family moves into a new neighbourhood. Juli was immediately smitten with Bryce, who does not reciprocate her feelings. As they mature, Juli slowly realises that Bryce was not as great as she thought. Distancing herself from him, Bryce then comes to terms with his own feelings and sees Juli in a different light.
Why you should watch it: It’s lighthearted, relatable, and something that will surely remind you of your first experience of love. It also has a strong message about the importance of kindness and honesty, which is important in any type of relationship.
So Ji-Sub (Oh My Venus) and Son Ye-Jin (Crash Landing On You) star in this Korean adaptation of a 2004 Japanese film of the same title. It’s about Soo-A (Son Ye-Jin) who passed away, leaving her husband Woo Jin (So Ji-Sub) and their son Ji-Ho. Before she passed, Soo-A promised her family she would be back on a rainy day. By some miracle, Soo-A comes back to life as she vowed. However, she has no memories. Woo Jin and Ji-Ho try their best to remind her of their life as a family.
Why you should watch it: It’s a heartwarming story about promises and choices. It also doesn’t focus on just romantic love but also the bond between parent and child. This makes it a great family film to watch on the 14th or any time of the year. P.S. Park Seo Joon (Itaewon Class) also makes a cameo in this film as the grown-up Ji-Ho.
This is another So Ji-Sub film, but this time with Han Hyo-Joo (Happiness). Always is about reclusive ex-boxer Jang Cheol-Min (So Ji-Sub). Tired of his dark past, he started working as a parking attendant to make ends meet. One day, his paths cross with Ha Jung-Hwa (Han Hyo-Joo), a visually impaired woman. After a series of friendly encounters, they fall in love and start changing each other’s lives.
Why you should watch it: If you love stories about people always (as the title suggests) finding their way back to each other, this won’t disappoint. Just a tip: make sure you have a box of tissues (or two) on hand during the last sequence of the film.
The film, set in Hong Kong, puts a spotlight on the lives of two overseas Filipino workers, Joy (Kathryn Bernardo) and Ethan (Alden Richards). After forming an unlikely friendship, they start finding solace in each other as they power through daily responsibilities and personal setbacks. However, as their feelings for each other grow, Joy is torn between Ethan’s promise of love and a career opportunity in a country where he can’t be with her.
Why you should watch it: This film is a reminder that every relationship has something to teach us, no matter what stage of our lives we're in. Fun fact: it's the highest-grossing film in the Philippines to date.
In the mood for a musical? Check out this feel-good film. It’s about Wil (Kevin Quinn), a troubled teen who gets sent to summer camp. There Wil meets Avery (Bailee Madison), a kind girl who he immediately becomes friends with. Eventually, Wil and Avery fall in love. Wil also earns more friends while at camp. However, things get messy when Wil’s wrongdoings, which got him sent to the camp, get revealed.
Why you should watch it: It’s a good coming-of-age romance that focuses on self-reflection and second chances. The musical numbers are also quite enjoyable to watch.
Based on Jane Austen’s novel of the same name, this film starts with Mrs. Bennet (Brenda Blethyn) hoping to marry their five daughters to the most eligible bachelors in town. The arrival of Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfayden) provided the Bennets a great prospect, but Darcy’s stern personality had them setting their eyes on his friend Mr. Bingley (Simon Woods) instead. Fortunately for them, Bingley showed interest in the eldest Bennet sister, Jane (Rosamund Pike).
However, the second Bennet daughter, Elizabeth (Kiera Knightley), finds Mr. Darcy’s personality intolerable. Elizabeth and Darcy’s contrasting perspectives on many subjects have them misunderstanding each other’s intentions more than once, leading them to believe that the other person hates them.
Why you should watch it: Nothing beats the ‘will they, won’t they’ trope of this classic. That’s why the big romantic payoff in the end feels satisfying. The tension between the two characters, matched with Kiera Knightley and Matthew Macfayden’s amazing chemistry, also adds to the charm of the entire film.
(Cover photo from: Netflix)
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