Whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day with your significant other, Galentine’s Day with your girls, or spending the night solo, you can never go wrong with grabbing a cozy blanket, popcorn, candy, and a soft movie to watch. Here are some of my favorite romance films, in no particular order:
- Sylvie’s Love (2020) – Set in 1950s Harlem, Sylvie’s Love follows an aspiring TV producer and saxophonist as they navigate love, following their dreams and second chances.
- The Photograph (2020) – After Mae Morton (Issa Rae) discovers a box of letters left behind by her late mother, she begins reading through them, uncovering pieces of a past that force her to question if she’s following in her mother’s footsteps. Along the way, she meets journalist Michael Block (LaKeith Stanfield), and as they fall in love, they begin piecing together the missing parts of their stories.
- Love Jones (1997) – A classic! A love story starring Nia Long and Larenz Tate as they explore their passions and the ups and downs of love.
- Something New (2006) – Kenya McQueen (Sanaa Lathan) is looking for her “ideal Black Man,” but after “letting love flow,” she finds herself falling for a charming landscaper.
- Brown Sugar (2002) – Hip-hop meets love. Two childhood best friends bond over their love for music but realize they have always been each other’s “perfect beat to a tight verse.”
- Baggage Claim (2013) – Paula Patton stars in this film as Montana Moore, a flight attendant on a mission to find the perfect date for her sister’s wedding. After a series of flights across the country with past lovers, Montana realizes love was right in front of her the whole time.
- Waiting to Exhale (1995) – An iconic film follows four best friends navigating their lives through love, heartbreak, and self-worth. A reminder that friendships are the real love stories.
- Just Wright (2010) – After a post-game-run-in with NBA star Scott Mcknight (Common), physical therapist Leslie Wright (Queen Latifah) ends up becoming his caretaker after a knee injury that turns into a slow-burn romance.
- Everything, Everything (2017) – A teenage romance about Madeline (Amandla Stenberg) and Olly (Nick Robinson), next-door neighbors who communicate through bedroom windows and iMessages. The catch? Madeline has a rare autoimmune disorder that has kept her inside her entire life.
- 27 Dresses (2008) – Jane (Katherine Heigl) has been a bridesmaid for 27 weddings – but when her younger sister Tess gets engaged to her secret crush, she meets a wedding journalist whose words she’s admired for years, making her rethink what love means.
No matter how you spend your Valentine’s Day, these films will set the perfect mood–so get comfy, grab your favorite snacks, and let the love stories unfold.
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