As many of us are already dreading, Valentine’s Day is here. It is not surprising that a lot of us will find ourselves alone on February 14th this year. Whether it be your first valentine’s day alone in a while or a very familiar yearly occurrence, Valentine’s Day can bring about a different kind of loneliness that we do not often experience otherwise.

If this sounds like you, just know that you are most certainly not the only person feeling this way, and it can be hard to get out of your Valentine’s Day slump. Now, I am not here to tell you that you should get out of your own way but, instead, to provide you with some empathy. Below I have listed what I think are the top most romantic movies, TV shows, and short films that should hopefully help you to survive Valentine’s day. Grab a box of chocolates, curl up in a blanket, and pull up one of these films to watch away your Valentine’s Day blues. 

• The Notebook

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The Notebook is a classic romance film. It follows the story of Noah and Allie; two people who fall madly in love but are forbidden from openly pursuing their relationship. When Allie’s parents find out about her love for Noah, her parents disapprove. Then, Noah goes off to war. The two are convinced that this could be the end of their relationship. However, when Noah returns a few years later, the two return to their forbidden yet inevitable love story. As a quintessential love story, this movie is the epitome of romance and is perfect for Valentine’s day.

• Up

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The story of Up is most certainly a remarkable representation of relationships. It portrays both friendship and romance as the main character, Carl, flies away to fulfill one of his biggest dreams. On his journeys, he meets a young boy, Russel. As he reminisces about his one true love, Ellie, Carl becomes genuine friends with Russel. Pixar does a beautiful job of demonstrating the beauty and importance of our relationships with others. If you are looking for an animated film to bring you closer with your friends, family, and partner(s), this Pixar classic is a perfect pick for you.

• The Fault In Our Stars

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The Fault In Our Stars is a very heartwarming love story. Its main character, Hazel, is a cancer patient. She lives her life as usual until meeting a boy named Gus. The two meet at a cancer support group and connect almost instantly. Hazel expresses the deep understanding that she feels the two have with each other as they share common interests. One of these being books. Soon, Gus receives an invitation to meet the author of one of both Hazel and his favorite books. This leads the two to embark on a beautiful journey of adventure.

1. Lava

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This short film is true cinematic masterpiece. It follows two volcanoes, amidst tropical oceans, as they slowly fall in love. The film starts off with one single volcano, lonely, singing to the water. As the story goes on, this volcano finds the love of its life. This simple yet charming short-film proves to be suitable for anyone looking for a wholesome love story this Valentine’s Day.

1. To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before 

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A three part story brought to life by Netflix portrays the lovesick nature of having a crush. In the first feature, Lara Jean has written five love letters. The catch is, these were never meant to be read by anyone besides her. When these letters are released into the world, chaos and panic begin to fill Lara Jean’s life. If you have an excess amount of time, this intriguingly romantic series of films is sure to keep you busy throughout Valentine’s Day.

Honorable mentions:

• Love, Simon

This film illustrates the fear and struggle of a 17 year old boy, dreading coming out to his family. After falling in love with an anonymous classmate online, he must decide whether coming out to determine the identity of his crush is worth the risk.

• Lady and the tramp

This classic animated love story follows two very different dogs as they meet and begin to develop a romantic relationship. As unrealistic as it seems, this film still manages portrays a love that is desired by many. 

• Too Hot to Handle

If you are looking for a juicy and chaotic reality television show to fill up your Valentine’s Day, this show definitely has it covered. When a group of people are put inside a house together, romances are bound to develop, but what happens when twists in the game sacrifice their cash prize?

• Titanic

As one of the most well known and iconic films of all time, there is no way I could leave it off of this list. This action packed romance film keeps its viewers on the edge of their seats and is sure to make your Valentine’s day fly by.

• Bachelor/Bachelorette

This reality television show is filled with chaos and drama. If you are looking for a mindless yet engagingly romantic watch through, the Bachelor or Bachelorette could be for you.