With Valentine's Day approaching, romance is in the air, and it should also be in your Netflix account. Yes, it's that time of year again; the time of year when you can buy yourself boxes of chocolates and message hearts (or, you know, give those things to your significant other, whatever). Unfortunately, despite all the hype surrounding Valentine's Day, the real thing doesn't always live up to our romantic expectations. You forget the flowers at home, or you're single and all your friends ditch you to go celebrate with their significant others, possibly leaving you alone on the most romantic holiday of the year. (I love my friends so much.) Needless to say, for the romantics out there, Valentine's Day, while fun, can be an endless source of disappointment. That's where movies come in. Romantic movies are always over-the-top, and, in my opinion, if they are too realistic, they're clearly doing it wrong. Romantic films will never let you down, at least not in the love department. That said, here are the 13 most romantic movies you can watch on Netflix this February.
These movies are all super romantic, perfect to be watched alone, with your boyfriend, your girlfriend, or with your friends. Just remember: Valentine's Day or no Valentine's Day, it's never a bad time for a romantic movie.
1. Stardust (2007)
Stardust is pure magic, there's just no other way to describe it. Come to watch a boy fall in love with a fallen star, and stay for Robert De Niro as a pirate.
2. Beyond The Lights (2014)
Beyond the Lights, Gina Prince-Bythewood's epic drama about a pop star going through a depression, is perfect for someone looking for romance with truly great character development.
3. Moonrise Kingdom (2012)
Because nothing is sweeter than kids in love.
4. Sliding Doors (1998)
Gwyneth Paltrow stars in this dramedy about how missing a subway can change one's entire life. Trust me on this one, it's awesome.
5. Across the Universe (2007)
Across the Universe, Julie Taymor's Beatles musical extravaganza, isn't the most romantic movie you'll ever see, but it's definitely the romance movie with the best soundtrack ever.
6. Jane Eyre (2011)
If Michael Fassbender as Rochester isn't enough to convince you to watch Jane Eyre, then consider this: the movie was directed by Cary Fukunaga, who went on to direct the entire first season of True Detective.
7. One Day (2011)
Fall in love with Anne Hathaway in this great romance based on the book by David Nicholls. But be warned, One Day is a sort of depressing tale of star crossed lovers, so don't watch this one unless you're in the mood for a bittersweet romance.
8. Maid in Manhattan (2002)
Arguably one of Jennifer Lopez's most epic films, Maid in Manhattan casts the singer/actress as a hotel maid who pretends to be a rich socialite and falls in love with a politician, played by the dashing Ralph Fiennes. If Cinderella stories are your thing, then you'll love Maid in Manhattan. Bonus: baby Tyler Posey plays J Lo's adorable son.
9. Notting Hill (1999)
Just your classic boy meets girl, girl is an international movie star.
10. An Affair To Remember (1957)
Without An Affair To Remember, we would never have had Sleepless In Seattle or You've Got Mail, or The Mindy Project.
11. Pride & Prejudice (2005)
When it comes to Pride and Prejudice adaptations, I prefer the BBC version made in 1995, but that version is not on Netflix, so this one starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen will have to do.
12. 13 Going On 30 (2004)
On a romance scale from Zero Dark Thirty to The Notebook, 13 Going On 30 lies somewhere just under the top third. That said, it's pretty romantic. Not only do Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo make the cutest meant-to-be twosome, there's also an element of magic to the story that makes their love story even more enchanting.
13. Something New (2006)
Want to watch Sanaa Lathan fall in love with Simon Baker? This one's for you.
If you're looking for more tragic romance, look no further than The Last Five Years and Atonement, which will hit Netflix streaming on Feb. 16, just in time for any and all of your post-Valentine's Day blues.
Images: Laurie Sparham/Focus Features; mairelon/tumblr; gifthescreen/tumblr; grancontessa/tumblr; Giphy (10)
