Valentine's Day: The best romantic films to watch again

Whether you're in a relationship or single, what if you spent a lovely evening for Valentine's Day watching a romantic film with a slightly cliché but so comforting happy ending?

The Notebook (2004)

It is considered one of the saddest romantic films.

Pitch: Shortly before World War II, Noah Calhoun and Allie Hamilton experience a passionate love affair for one summer. Then life separates them. Years later, Allie contracts Alzheimer's disease and is placed in a nursing home. To revive her memory, Noah reminds her of all the moments of that summer, recorded in the journal she kept...

Never forget (The Notebook) is a historical romantic drama in which every moment is shown in its full intensity. Partly thanks to the couple formed by Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams.

Love actually (2003)

Pitch: On this Christmas Eve, love is everywhere, but often unpredictable. For the new British Prime Minister, it will take the form of a young colleague. Or for the heartbroken writer, it will emerge from a lake. As for the best man at his best friend's wedding, for this widower and his stepson, for this young woman who adores her colleague. Love is the stake, the goal, but also the source of countless complications.

At work, abroad, at the airport, at a wedding, and even when recording a pop song: love strikes everyone in Love Actually.A humorous British romantic comedy directed by Richard Curtis, screenwriter of Four Weddings and a Funeral and of Love at first sight in Notting Hill.

A splendid cast – Colin Firth, Keira Knightley, Liam Neeson, Alan Rickman, not forgetting Hugh Grant – is brought together for the best, and promises gags and beautiful emotions. A perfect film to see for Valentine's Day.

About time / It was time (2013)

Pitch: In Tim's family, all the men have the ability to travel through time. This is very practical, especially when the young boy falls in love with a charming young girl he met in a bar and tries to find her. That said, it is not always easy to go back in time.

The charm and success of this film lies in the accuracy of the characters, never clichéd and always accurate in their sentimental story. Which is ultimately only the story of life. Directed by Richard Curtis (Love Actually), It was about time (About time) is a film to watch for a Valentine's Day under the sign of time travel. We discover a couple formed by Rachel McAdams (Never forget) and Domhnall Gleeson (Mother!), an actor who was revealed by this role.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2003)

Pitch: Joel and Clementine see only the bad sides of their tumultuous love story. To the point that she erases all traces of this relationship from her memory. Devastated, Joel contacts the inventor of the Lacuna process, Dr. Mierzwiak, so that he can also erase from his memory everything that connected him to Clementine.

Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet are brilliant in the roles of two lovers who have broken up and who want to erase the memory of their love through a revolutionary process.

Dirty Dancing (1987)

Pitch: Baby is having a boring family vacation. But everything will change when she joins a dance troupe and learns dirty dancing, a very sensual dance. She will meet Johnny Castel, a dance teacher who will turn her life upside down...

This is probably THE classic of all romantic films, timeless. Or how to immerse yourself in cult lines like “We don’t leave Baby in a corner” of the charismatic Patrick Swayze.

Or the final scene where Baby and Johnny dance in front of the hotel assembly to the rhythm of the Oscar-winning soundtrack. The Time of My Life. Engraved in the memory of an entire generation, and the following ones! Who has never tried to reproduce the legendary final lift?

Pretty Woman (1990)

Pitch: Vivian, a young prostitute in trouble, stumbles upon Edward Lewis, a great businessman. Their meeting will change everything.

This is the perfect movie to melt any heart of stone. And make us believe in love once again. 

Cult romantic film, Pretty Woman revealed Julia Roberts in passing.

Bodyguard (1992)

Pitch: Frank Farmer, a former secret service agent, is a distinguished bodyguard. He has put his talents at the disposal of two presidents and many financiers and politicians of international reputation. One day the impresario Bill Devaney offers him a lucrative contract to ensure the protection of his client Rachel. An actress and singer on the rise, threatened by an unknown fan.

As a little anecdote, the big song initially planned for the end of the film, What becomes of the broken heart, did not please actor Kevin Costner. He improvised as musical director. And proposed to replace it with the song I will always love you, written and performed in 1973 by Dolly Parton, a country star. He himself invited Whitney Houston to sing it a capella. A successful bet!

Notting Hill (1999)

Pitch: William is a thirty-something living in London, nothing more ordinary. But his life will change when he meets the beautiful Anna Scott, an American actress in London. When she goes to his shop, he doesn't know it, but he will see her again very quickly...

This comedy is served by talented actors. Whether it is the main actors like Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts who are impeccable, or the secondary roles like Rhys Ifans. Who knew how to make his character of "loser" funny and touching at the same time, and never annoying.

Valentine's Day (2010)

Pitch: A choral film set in Los Angeles where, during Valentine's Day, several couples are made and unmade...

Valentine's Day is a romantic film directed by Garry Marshall (Pretty Woman, Happy New Year). Where a magnificent cast strives to have a perfect Valentine's Day. With the presence of Julia Roberts, Jessica Alba, Bradley Cooper, Jamie Foxx….

Titanic (1997)

Pitch: In 1997, the wreck of the Titanic is the subject of a feverish exploration. Led by treasure hunters in search of a blue diamond that was on board. Struck by a television report, one of the survivors of the shipwreck, aged 102, Rose DeWitt, goes to the site and recalls her memories. 1912. Engaged to an arrogant industrialist, Rose meets a penniless artist on the ship

As cult as it is tragic. One of the greatest love films of all time. And a dramatic, romantic masterpiece. It offers to reunite with director James Cameron (Avatar) at the height of his mastery. And to vibrate with Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, a legendary couple who were victims of a shipwreck. And separated by the society of the time… The film won by James Cameron won 11 Oscars in 1998, a record.

A great love story, Titanic is a journey to relive for Valentine's Day.

Romeo + Juliet (1996)

Pitch: It all begins in Verona Beach, a neighborhood in Los Angeles. Where the Montagues and the Capulets are at war. Accompanied by his cousin, Romeo goes to a ball organized by the Capulets. He will meet Juliet who will change his life. We all know the rest!

The ultimate impossible love story

Baz Luhrmann, the director, keeps the original text in this 90s version. But he transposes Romeo and Juliet in the modern world and films their love like an advert, an R'n'B music video, a western, and a bit of a romance here and there.

The Holiday (2006)

Pitch: An American woman (Amanda) and an English woman (Iris), both disappointed with men, decide, without knowing each other, to exchange their apartments. Iris, will arrive in a dream home while the distinguished Amanda discovers a small country house without pretensions. The two women think they will spend a peaceful vacation far from the male sex. But that was without counting on the arrival of Iris' brother in Amanda's life, and the meeting of Miles for Iris

If you haven't already seen it again during its eternal rerun every Christmas, now is the time!

Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)

Pitch: A somewhat lost thirty-something, Bridget Jones (Renée Zelwegger) falls into the arms of her boss, the very sexy Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant). While often crossing paths with Mark Darcy, a haughty lawyer. The latter stops ridiculing her, played by the irresistible Colin Firth.

Some people don't know it, but Bridget Jones's Diary is inspired byPride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. A romantic comedy that was both funny and touching and became a cult classic, and a role forever associated with Renée Zellweger. She subsequently signed on for two more Bridget Jones, much less successful: Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason in 2004 and Bridget Jones Baby in 2016.

La la land (2016)

Pitch: Mia is a young actress trying to make it in the city of Hollywood. Sebastian is a musician who loves jazz. It's a love story, but it's mostly a story of dreams. 

This modern-day romantic musical comedy has won 6 Golden Globes and 6 Oscars, including Best Director for Damien Chazelle and Best Actress for Emma Stone.  La La Land is a UFO. A musical that pays tribute to the Umbrellas of Cherbourg and to Swing Time, to Fred Astaire and Ginger Rodgers.

Ghost (1990)

Pitch: Sam (Patrick Swayze) and Molly (Demi Moore) love each other so much that even death can't separate them!

A story this intense would be well worth watching again on Valentine's Day. And even if you've seen it dozens of times, there's a good chance that the legendary pottery scene will make you fall in love with it just like the first time you saw it.

My Best Friend's Wedding (1997)

Pitch: Lifelong friends, Julianne and Michael made a promise to each other a long time ago. If neither of them is married by the age of 28, they will marry each other. A few days before the fateful date, Michael announces to Julianne that he is going to marry… another girl. That's when she realizes that she has feelings for him. So she will do everything to prevent this union.

The comedy is well-executed, Julia Roberts and Rupert Everett as a homosexual friend have grace, we rejoice! To be rewatched without moderation 😉

4 Weddings and a Funeral (1994)

Pitch: Charles (Hugh Grant) is single. Love doesn't tempt him, until he meets Carrie (Andie McDowell) at a wedding where he is officiating as best man. He falls in love with her. In this legendary comedy-drama, one of the biggest successes in the history of British cinema, Kristin Scott-Thomas, plays the role of Fiona. A long-time friend of Charles. She confesses to him that she has secretly loved him forever.

A film that is a classic of English comedy, offering a funny and entertaining scenario. An elegant and well-crafted production, in which the duo Hugh Grant and Andie MacDowell work well. We will also remember the very good performance of Rowan Atkinson. A romantic film without great surprises but pleasant and enjoyable to watch!

ON THE FRENCH SIDE

The Heartbreaker (2010)

Pitch: Is your daughter dating a terrible guy? Is your sister in a toxic relationship? The solution is Alex. This professional home wrecker is on a mission to help unhappy women get out of their relationships. But when he's asked to break up two people who seem perfect together, things get complicated...

France has nothing to envy American romantic films. This little romantic gem will entertain you.

Plus, bonus for the dance scene of Dirty Dancing between Vanessa Paradis and Romain Duris.

20 years apart (2013)

Pitch: Alice is 38 years old. Beautiful and ambitious, she will become the next editor-in-chief of Rebelle magazine. Except that Alice unfortunately cultivates an image of a stuck-up woman. Her meeting with the young Balthazar, barely 20 years old, will change the situation...

20 ans d'écart brings Virginie Efira (Victoria) and Pierre Niney (Yves Saint Laurent) face to face. An irresistible French comedy led by a charming duo, who play on clichés.