It’s notoriously difficult to actually get out of the house on Valentine’s Day, especially in the evening. Restaurants across all cities are booked solid, and other, more casual options for dates don’t have the same luster on a day we expect to be at least a little glamorous. For anyone unwilling to deal with the hoopla of Valentine’s Day, the best option is to stay home and celebrate with a glass of wine and a romantic film. Lucky for everyone, these four classics are streaming now.
‘Casablanca’
The ultimate romance movie, Casablanca is the perfect film to stream on Valentine’s Day. If you’re watching it with someone, you can have the timeless debate over whether Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart’s love story ended properly. If you’re watching it alone, you can scour the internet for varying opinions, and maybe after a glass or two of wine, you’ll have enough courage to share your own thoughts. Or you can watch it sans World Wide Web and appreciate it for the cinematic excellence that it is.
Casablanca is streaming now on Max.
‘The Vow’
The Vow hit Netflix recently, and ever since it’s had an unexpected resurgence in popularity. It’s not exactly surprising, though. The story stars two incredibly beautiful people (Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum) and is based on a true story that could’ve been written by Nicholas Sparks. Though not critically beloved, The Vow has just enough sappiness to make it a great option to stream on Valentine’s Day.
The Vow is streaming now on Netflix.
‘Brokeback Mountain’
Not quite as critically acclaimed as Casablanca but still worthy of praise, Brokeback Mountain is another modern romance that’ll tear at your heartstrings. The cast – which includes Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Williams, Anne Hathaway, and more – is incredible, as is the writing and directing. The film took home three Oscars the year it was nominated, so streaming Brokeback Mountain today serves the dual festive purpose of celebrating Valentine’s Day and awards season.
Brokeback Mountain is streaming now on Starz.
‘Valentine’s Day’
If festivity is your main focus on this day, open a box of chocolates with your wine and enjoy the absurdity that is Valentine’s Day. Though not as good as the other films of its ilk (multiple love stories set around a holiday that are all loosely connected), there’s still plenty to enjoy here. If nothing else, you’ll get a kick out of seeing how many true movie stars somehow agreed to be in this movie.
Valentine’s Day is streaming now on Hulu.
