Great Post-Valentine’s Day Date Movies

We’re going to take it down a little now

Photo by Phillip Goldsberry on Unsplash

After the splendor and pageantry of Valentine’s Day, many couples will often seek out a more quiet, more homespun and more cost-effective option for their next date. A bowl of popcorn and a streamed movie may be just the right expectation-adjusted night to keep the romance alive. Towards that end, we bring you our picks for some of the greatest love sagas ever to be captured on film.

Jack Reacher

The inspiring true story of the man who invented the extender grabber that bears his name, his struggles against the suction cup industry and his ultimate triumph over stepladders.

“That is the last time I climb on that footstool — I swear it,” ; Paramount Pictures/Cruise-Wagner Productions

The Bridge on the River Kwai

David Lean’s epic tells the timeless tale of “man meets bridge, man blows up bridge”, as Alec Guiness’ unsettling passion for bamboo results in the deaths of all the major characters.

Alec Guiness taking umbrage to the term “bamboozled” ; Columbia Pictures

The Notebook

A stenographer (Ryan Gosling) becomes ensnared in the spiral binding of his Trapper Keeper during monsoon season, only to be rescued by a professional wire cutter with a severe paper allergy (Rachael McAdams).

The dramatic artificial respiration scene is considered a Hollywood classic ; New Line Cinema

The Hurt Locker

William Hurt delivers the performance of his career as he attempts in real time to open his locker at the Y. At 217 minutes, it is the longest documentary ever endured. In keeping with cinéma verité tradition, the locker finally opens to reveal a croissant. (SPOILER ALERT: You have just read a spoiler)

Using the combination lock from the junk drawer was just the beginning ; Summit Entertainment, Touchstone Pictures

Flash Gordon

A musical score by Queen undertones this understated and sentimental glimpse into our better futures. Max von Sydow dons his very best bathrobe and strives for a more meaningful relationship with Fabio’s contractually available and less-expensive younger brother.

Von Sydow’s Emperor Ming suggests perhaps he might want to put a shirt over all that; Columbia/Warner

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

The Dragon Tattoo, a premiere body art studio in Soho, becomes the setting for this quirky romcom, which finds Daisy (Rooney Mara) and Buster (Daniel Craig) writing love notes to each other on their clients.

Daisy and Buster’s playful visit to a photo booth ; Sony Pictures

The Silence of the Lambs

This inspirational biopic, sponsored by the California Chianti Association, gives us the story of Hannibal Lecter’s courageous journey in overcoming his fava bean addiction. The touching dinner scene has delighted children young and old for decades.

Anthony Hopkins as the disarming Lecter ; Orion Pictures

Coming Soon: The Flying Buttresses

Anemic architect Kurt Cupola (Robert Pattison) leads a team of equally anemic architects in a daring midnight parachute drop into an Ikea, where they attempt to assemble an Umlaut. Complications arise when Cupola falls for Inga, the night security guard (Vin Diesel).

In Swedish with Subtitles

ik Veedish un der titlsubs

“I. . . I thought you brought the iron supplements.” ; Summit Entertainment