Top 10 Romantic Movies to Stream … That Aren’t Too Sappy

If you’re staying in this year for Valentine’s Day, you might be at a loss for what to watch. We’ve gathered our list of the 10 movies you should check out for date night — some that are funny, some that are thought-provoking, but none that are overly sentimental. (Warning: spoiler alert.)

1. 50 First Dates (2004)

Here’s a movie that offers a different take on romance. Adam Sandler plays the role of a veterinarian who’s living on Oahu, studying marine animals. He’s your typical bachelor, whose standard has become a slew of one-night stands. However, when he falls for a local art teacher named Lucy (Drew Barrymore), she presents a unique challenge: a car accident from the year before has left her with short-term amnesia. Because she forgets him, he has to figure out how to win her over every day. Find out where to stream it here.

2. The Notebook (2004)

No Valentine’s Day is complete without this cult classic. Based on Nicholas Sparks’ 1996 novel of the same name, this romantic drama stars Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, who play a young couple from the 1940s. While McAdams’ character Allie Hamilton comes from a wealthy family, Gosling’s Noah Calhoun decidedly comes from the wrong side of the tracks, which causes the couple to part ways. However, they find their way back to each other years later, as a testament to the undying nature of love. Find out where to stream it here.

3. Pretty Woman (1990)

This film is equal amounts romance and comedy. Julia Roberts’ character Vivian Ward is a sex worker who meets wealthy businessman Edward Lewis (Richard Gere). While Ward is initially hired to accompany Lewis to just a few functions, the two grow close over a week’s time, revealing exactly where their similarities and differences lie. Named after Roy Orbison’s 1964 hit song “Oh, Pretty Woman,” the movie is also the source of the famous line, “Big mistake. Huge.” It’s what Ward says to a high-end retail store worker on wealthy Rodeo Drive after the employee turns Ward away for how she’s dressed. Find out where to stream it here.

4. The Proposal (2009)

This is a tale of a green card marriage gone right. The movie follows an overbearing book editor named Margaret (Sandra Bullock) and her assistant Andrew (Ryan Reynolds), who embark on a sham engagement so that Margaret won’t have to face deportation back to Canada. They initially start out as an unhappy couple, forced to be together for Margaret’s benefit, but things fall in their favor and Margaret’s tough exterior surrenders. Find out where to stream it here.

5. The Big Sick (2017)

The Big Sick is one big, romantic culture shock. The story centers on an unexpected relationship that unfolds between Kumail Nanjiani and Zoe Kazan’s character Emily. After the pressure from Kumail’s family to have an arranged marriage leads to the couple breaking up, Emily becomes hospitalized for an illness. Her parents arrive and they tell Kumail his presence isn’t necessary, but he sticks it out and slowly wins them over while continuing to stand firm against his own family’s wishes. Will the battle he wages to make his own choices prove worthwhile in the end? Find out where to stream it here.

6. The Apartment (1960)

Here’s the perfect throwback film to watch on Valentine’s Day. It’s the story of an insurance clerk named C.C. “Bud” Baxter (Jack Lemmon) who climbs the corporate ladder by allowing his managers to use his New York City apartment for their illicit affairs. Bud ends up falling for Fran Kubelik (Shirley MacLaine), an elevator operator in his office building. There’s just one thing: She’s taken, by his boss no less. Now Bud has to figure out whether she’s worth fighting for. Find out where to stream it here.

7. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

Love isn’t always perfect and this movie is proof of that. Here, we follow the erstwhile couple Clementine Kruczynski (Kate Winslet) and Joel Barish (Jim Carrey), who, in a science-fiction twist, have their memories of each other erased. Yet they somehow find each other again and have an iconic date where they ponder their fates as they lay on their backs on the frozen Charles River in Boston. Is it too late for love to return? Find out where to stream it here.

8. Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011)

This film tells the timeless story of a married couple who find themselves in a rut and eventually divorce. After Cal Weaver (Steve Carell) gets his wife Emily (Julianne Moore) to admit that she is cheating on him, he moves out, only to meet Jacob Palmer (Ryan Gosling), who teaches Cal how to flirt with women at bars and gives Cal the boost of confidence he needs. The movie closes with a glimmer of hope: Will Cal and Emily find their way back to one another? Find out where to stream it here.

9. Just Friends (2005)

Reformed playboys are often at the heart of romantic comedies like this one. It starts with an overweight New Jersey high school student named Chris Brander (Ryan Reynolds) who is in love with his best friend, Jamie Palamino (Amy Smart) even though she ultimately friend-zones him. Years after leaving his hometown with his tail between his legs, Chris returns, having shed the excess pounds and with a cushy job in hand. He reconnects with Jamie and, while he wants to treat her like all the other women before her, he ultimately stops himself when he realizes her friendship is important to him. Find out where to stream it here.

10. The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005)

While this film isn’t your typical romantic fare, it will have you laughing. It stars Steve Carell as Andy Stitzer, a 40-year-old virgin who works at an electronics store. Once his coworkers — played by Paul Rudd, Seth Rogen and Romany Malco — find out, they’re determined to help him lose his virginity. While he picks up some game from them, he seems like a hopeless case … until he meets Trish (Catherine Keener). Find out where to stream it here.