Must-Watch Romantic Comedies for Valentine’s Day

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“Leap Year” is available now on Amazon Prime.

Olivia Sabalaskey, Staff Writer

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and there are so many ways to celebrate it: going out to a restaurant, eating heart-shaped candies or spending time with your favorite Galentines. However you celebrate the most romantic day of the year, watching romantic comedies is a must-do. But which rom com should you watch?

Never fear, for the Valentine’s Day Rom Com List is here.

First, let us discuss some of the classics:

“You’ve Got Mail”

In this 1998 classic, Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks star as Kathleen and Joe, two competing bookstore owners who want nothing more than to see the other’s business fail. Little do they know that they have already met online as anonymous users. Once Joe learns that his business rival is really the one he has been emailing for months and falling in love with, he must decide what to do. Full of quick-witted humor and charm, “You’ve Got Mail” is the perfect rom com.

“The Parent Trap”

Lindsay Lohan stars as both Annie and Hallie, two teenagers who, by fate, meet and realize they are identical twins. Their divorced parents, Nick (Dennis Quaid) and Elizabeth (Natasha Richardson), live on opposite sides of the world, each having raised one of the girls. Upon realizing they are twins, Annie and Hallie devise a plan to switch places so each can spend time with the parent they haven’t been able to meet. Before they are switched back, Annie and Hallie hope to get their parents back together. Full of humor and heart, “The Parent Trap” is a fan favorite.

“When Harry Met Sally”

College graduates Harry and Sally (Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan, respectively) share a car ride from Chicago to New York. On the road trip, their personalities clash and they end up arguing about whether men and women can ever be platonic friends. Ten years later, Harry and Sally meet again by coincidence. Determined to become good friends, they spend more time with one another and realize that their paths in life may have crossed for a reason. “When Harry Met Sally” is Director Rob Reiner’s crowning achievement because of its award-winning screenplay, all-star cast and memorable ending.

“10 Things I Hate About You”

Julia Stiles plays Kat, a smart and blunt teenager who couldn’t care less about romance. However,  her younger sister Bianca (Larisa Oleynik) wants nothing more than to date. Their father decides that Bianca cannot date until Kat has a boyfriend. While Bianca is upset, she helps devise a plan to set her sister up with Patrick (Heath Ledger), the new guy in town. As Patrick and Kat spend more time together, Bianca realizes that her plan might just work out after all.

“Sabrina”

In this 1995 version of “Sabrina,” Julia Ormond stars as the titular character, the chauffeur’s daughter who grew up with the very wealthy Larrabee family. David (Greg Kinnear), the youngest of the Larrabee children, has always been Sabrina’s childhood crush. After returning home from Paris with a new hairstyle, a glamorous look and Paris in her heart, Sabrina has finally captured David’s attention. However, David’s older, overworked brother, Linus (Harrison Ford), thinks that David’s relationship with Sabrina may hinder the success of the family business. As Linus tries to break them up, he eventually falls for her too.

Looking for more classic rom coms to watch? Some of our other favorites include “Ever After” starring Drew Barrymore, “Hello, Dolly!” starring Barbra Streisand, Rob Reiner’s “The Princess Bride” and Nora Ephron’s “Sleepless in Seattle.”

Next are some of our favorite modern rom-coms:

“To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” Franchise

Is it even Valentine’s Day without watching “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” with your favorite Galentines? This franchise, based on Jenny Han’s bestselling books, follows Lara Jean (Lana Condor). She is a shy, introverted high schooler who writes letters expressing her feelings for every crush she has ever had. She then seals them and hides them in a special box. But one day, Lara Jean discovers that her box is missing and that all of her letters have been sent, meaning that all of her crushes from her past will receive their letters. As Lara Jean struggles to overcome the chaos that ensues, she may just find more than herself in the process – she could find the love of her life.

“The Proposal”

Pushy and demanding editor Margaret (Sandra Bullock) is faced with deportation to Canada. To keep her job, she devises a plan that includes marrying her overworked assistant, Andrew (Ryan Reynolds), who loathes her. Reluctantly, Andrew agrees to Margaret’s plan and they fly out to meet his eccentric family in Alaska. But with a dedicated immigration official right on their tail, Margaret and Andrew must stick to the charade and marry one another.

“Leap Year”

Starring Amy Adams and Matthew Goode, “Leap Year” follows Anna who flies to Ireland to propose to her boyfriend as part of an Irish tradition that allows women to pop the question on Feb. 29, Leap Day. Unfortunately, bad weather prohibits her plane from landing in Dublin and she ends up on the other side of the Emerald Isle where she meets abrasive Declan, who offers to drive her to Dublin in return for money to help save his pub. After being stuck together for days, their personalities clash and hilarious mishaps ensue. Dazzled with beautiful landscapes of Ireland to fulfill your wanderlust spirit, “Leap Year” is a fantastic rom com.

“Letters to Juliet”

To even further fulfill your wanderlust spirit, look no further than watching “Letters to Juliet” starring Amanda Seyfried as Sophie who travels with her fiancé to Verona, Italy. While her fiancé is busy with work, Sophie ventures off on her own into the city where Romeo and Juliet’s love story takes place and visits a special wall that is dedicated to heartbroken women who write letters to Juliet Capulet, seeking her advice. Sophie joins the team of writers who sign the letters as Juliet and finds an old letter hidden in the wall from decades ago. She writes back to Claire (Vanessa Redgrave), the woman who sought Juliet’s help long ago. Inspired by Sophie’s powerful words, Claire returns to Verona in search of her long-lost lover with Sophie, much to the dismay of pragmatist Charlie, who is Claire’s grandson (Christopher Egan).

“Crazy Rich Asians”

Based on Kevin Kwan’s bestselling books, “Crazy Rich Asians” follows Rachel (Constance Wu), who accompanies her longtime boyfriend, Nick (Henry Golding), to his best friend’s wedding in Singapore. Rachel is shocked to learn that Nick and his family are extremely rich and that he’s considered one of the world’s most eligible bachelors. Upon meeting Nick’s disapproving mother, crazy family and spiteful socialites, Rachel must fight for the man she loves with the help of her college roommate, Peik Lin (Awkwafina), and Nick’s glamorous yet kind cousin, Astrid (Gemma Chan).

Some of our other favorite modern rom coms include “Hitch,” starring Will Smith, “Hannah Montana: The Movie,” starring Miley Cyrus, “The Lizzie McGuire Movie,” starring Hilary Duff, and “Holidate,” starring Emma Roberts.

There are so many rom coms to choose from to watch this year. Our list only highlights a few of many beloved films to watch with your significant other or your friends.