Valentine's Day may be one of the most hyped up days of the year. You dread it if you're single and you build it up to be the most romantic day of the year if you're in a relationship. No matter what your relationship status is, Valentine's Day is the best day of the year to watch romantic comedies. Whether you're having a girls night in or just avoiding the inevitable restaurant crowds on the holiday, grab some wine, some chocolate and good company to snuggle up and watch these great rom-coms.
1. Sleepless in Seattle
This is not the only movie to star Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan as romantic leads, but this is arguably the best. The story follows the recently widowed Sam, played by Hanks, after his son calls a radio talk show in hopes of finding him a new partner. Annie, played by Ryan, is on the opposite side of the country, but when she hears Sam's story on the radio, she impulsively writes him a letter proposing that they meet on the top of the Empire State Building on Valentine's Day, regardless of the fact that she's engaged. While she doesn't intend on mailing the letter, her friend does the job for her. Will these two strangers find the love they're both looking for?
2. The Wedding Planner
Mary, played by Jennifer Lopez, is a successful wedding planner in San Francisco. While her career is thriving, her love life is not. It is not until she meets Steve, a pediatrician played by Matthew McConaughey, in a near death experience that she truly believes she has met the one. The plot thickens when she realizes that Steve and his fiancé are her newest clients. Will she risk her career for love or watch the potential love of her life marry someone else? The feel good film proves that sometimes you can actually have everything you want.
3. 13 Going on 30
Jenna Rink makes a wish on her 13th birthday to be "thirty, flirty and thriving." The wish comes true and she wakes up in a Manhattan apartment to find herself, now played by Jennifer Garner, with everything she's ever wanted. She has a famous boyfriend, a job at her favorite magazine and the best friend she always wanted in middle school. There's only one thing missing: her dorky childhood best friend Matt, played by Mark Ruffalo. She finds him and befriends his now 30-year-old self and they slowly fall in the love. The problem is that he's engaged to someone else. Will she return to her 13-year-old self and fix her past mistakes? This movie is the perfect combination of funny and sweet.
4. Say Anything...
Say Anything... follows a romance between an average student and the class valedictorian that takes place the summer before college. Nothing says 'romance' like the iconic scene when Lloyd Dobler (John Cusack) stands outside of Diane Court's (Ione Skye) house holding a boom box and playing their song to remind her of the love they shared. This specific scene has enough emotion to make it an obvious choice to watch on Valentine's Day.
5. Notting Hill
This movie is every fangirl's dream. America's Sweetheart, played by Julia Roberts, stumbles upon a local bookshop in Notting Hill and begins a romance with the store owner, played by Hugh Grant. The two face many obstacles in their relationship, specifically dealing with the fact that they live in two completely different worlds. Will their love conquer the pressure of the spotlight?
6. Sixteen Candles
I firmly believe that you can never go wrong with a John Hughes film and Sixteen Candles may be the best that falls in the rom-com category. After her family forgets her 16th birthday, Sam (Molly Ringwald) spends the day coming to terms with her high school status, her sister's upcoming wedding, a foreign exchange student and her crush on the popular Jake Ryan (Michael Schoeffling). Little does she know that he is also interested in her. Like all John Hughes films, Sixteen Candles has an important message about finding yourself, but it also incorporates a unique twist on a love story we've all seen countless times before.
7. When Harry Met Sally...
This is one of the most famous rom-coms of all time. Harry (Billy Crystal) and Sally (Meg Ryan) meet on a road trip to New York City and initially hate each other. As time goes on and they continue to run into each other, they begin a budding friendship that ultimately escalates to more. This film deals with the famous question: Can guys and girls just be friends without being physically attracted to each other? From the iconic "I'll have what she's having," scene to the romantic speech at the end, there's nothing not to love about When Harry Met Sally...
8. 10 Things I Hate About You
This films covers a few different relationships, but the most appealing is the relationship between bad boy Patrick Verona, played by Heath Ledger, and antisocial Kat Stratford, played by Julia Stiles. Patrick is originally paid by Joey Donner (Andrew Keegan) to date Kat because her strict father will not let her younger sister date anyone until she is dating. The romance that begins as a secret business deal becomes so much more. 10 Things I Hate About You is as romantic as it is quirky and let's be honest, there's no such thing as too much of young Heath Ledger.
9. 27 Dresses
27 Dresses tells the well known tale of Jane (Katherine Heigl) always being a bridesmaid and never the bride. She has been a bridesmaid 27 times, to be exact. After meeting Kevin (James Mardsen), a nice but cynical man, she finds out that her sister is engaged to her boss aka man she is in love with. This film has every aspect needed in a rom-com: A love triangle, a music sequence when Jane tries on multiple bridesmaid dresses and Judy Greer as the sidekick/best friend. There's also a scene when Jane and Kevin get drunk and sing "Bennie and the Jets" on a bar and what's not to love about that?
10. My Big Fat Greek Wedding
Toula (Nia Vardolos) believes that she is a disappointment to her Greek family. She's 30, still single and is constantly asked why she is not married to a nice Greek boy. One day Toula meets school teacher Ian, played by the always charming John Corbett, and the two eventually fall in love once she gets out of her comfort zone.The only problem is that he is not Greek. From the Toula's lovable and quirky family to the undeniable chemistry between Toula and Ian, My Big Fat Greek Wedding proves that love can happen between the two most unsuspecting people. There's also a just as great sequel that is perfect to watch after viewing the original.
11. Bridget Jones's Diary
This film tells the story of the ultimate love triangle. After years of being single and struggling to find the one, Bridget (Renee Zellweger) finds herself in potential relationships with two very different men. Will she choose Mark Darcy (Colin Firth), the man she's known since her childhood, or Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant), the boss she has always fantasized about being with? Bridget is awkward and hilariously relatable and she realizes the love she's been so focused on may not be as seamless as she once believed.
12. Serendipity
Serendipity is perfect for all hopeless romantics. After a chance meeting, two strangers (John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale) spend a romantic night together wandering New York City. After some hesitation, they leave it up to fate if they will meet again. Years later Jonathan and Sarah have both moved on with their lives, but when both of them face impeding weddings they decide to see if they can find each other. Without phone numbers or even knowledge of each other's last names, the two characters separately begin adventures to find each other. Is it their fate to end up together? You'll have to watch to find out.
13. How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days
Andie (Kate Hudson) is a journalist that is trying to make a name for herself. When she decides to write an article about how to lose a guy in ten days, she makes Ben (Matthew McConaughey) her target. Little does she know that he has placed a bet with coworkers that he can make a woman fall in love with him in the same amount of time. These two might be perfect for each other, but are they willing to lose their jobs for love?
14. Crazy, Stupid, Love
This film follows many different love stories. From the failed marriage of Cal and Emily (played by Steve Carell and Julianna Moore), to the new romance between Hannah and Jacob (played La La Land's Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling), to the crush Jessica (Analeigh Tipton) has on Cal, Crazy, Stupid, Love looks at relationships from all different angles. There's even a twist at the end that shows how all of the characters are connected that really adds the "comedy" in rom-com.
Let's face it. We all love romantic comedies, even if you're hesitant to admit it. Spend this Valentine's Day with someone you love, whether it's a romantic relationship or not, and watch a good romantic comedy. There's no better way to celebrate the most romantic and commercialized day of the year.