A Valentine's Day Movie for Everyone

Whether you're deeply in love, have just broken up, or are kind of indifferent to all the Valentine's Day hype, check out this movie guide with a title for every type of lover.

Whether February 14 has you walking around with a head encircled by cartoon love hearts, or leaves you with a suspicious feeling the date is simply a holiday created to sell cards and make single people feel bad about their relationship status, there's no escaping the onslaught of roses and expectations now that Valentine's Day is upon us. 

In honor of the unofficial annual celebration of love we've compiled a list of movies sure to get everyone – couples, singles, marrieds or whatever –  through the weekend, no matter which of the above categories you fall into. Here, a realistic guide to Valentine's Day movies:

For those whose relationship is brand new:

"SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE" (1998)

Set in the 1590s, this reimagining of what happened as Shakespeare penned his classic "Romeo & Juliet" delivers audiences into a world where a struggling artist can meet the woman of his dreams and even receive an audience with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth I. Joseph Fiennes plays the lovelorn Shakespeare who falls for Viola De Lesseps, the daughter of a wealthy merchant played by Gwyneth Paltrow. Fiennes and Paltrow have undeniable chemistry with the latter receiving the best actress Academy Award for her role. Also starring Geoffrey Rush, Martin Clunes, Antony Sher and Judi Dench. (Streaming/download.)  [[368490741,C]]

For those who believe love is truly blind:

"SHREK" (2001)

An ogre and a princess meet cute in this animated classic. In order to get his land back, everybody's favorite ogre (voice of Mike Myers) must rescue the princess (Cameron Diaz) for the villainous Lord Farquaad. Throw in a wise-cracking donkey (Eddie Murphy) and a cast culled straight from the fairy tale canon, there's no surprise this tale of finding love in the most unexpected of places went on to become a franchise that spawned three sequels and a Broadway musical. (Streaming/download.) [[368487401,C]]

For those whose relationship is in the long-term comfort zone:

"45 YEARS" (2015)

In this finely acted romantic drama, Kate and Geoff Mercer are planning their 45th wedding anniversary party when news relating to an incident long ago surfaces and has the couple questioning the past, present and future of their relationship. Directed by Andrew Haigh ("Weekend"), the film stars Tom Courtenay and Charlotte Rampling, with Rampling receiving a 2016 best actress Oscar nomination for her portrayal. (In cinemas.)  [[353201721,C]]

For those who have just gone through a nasty breakup:

"WAR OF THE ROSES" (1989)

Only a true romantic could believe everyone is filled with the joy of love on Valentine's Day. So if you recently ended a relationship and your emotional wounds make it far too soon to start dating again, check out this relationship-on-the-rocks classic featuring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner as a couple who take a wrong turn on the journey to happily ever after, with fatal (and often hilarious) consequences. (Streaming/download.) [[368484741,C]]

For the eternal optimist:

"THE PEANUTS MOVIE" (2015)

Will it finally happen this time? Will Charlie Brown summon the courage to actually talk to the little red-haired girl who has served as the object of his affection and source of unrequited love for so, so long? This gentle reimagining of the classic Schulz cartoon strip as a feature film for modern audiences serves up enough heart and innocent ardor to leave even the most jaded romantic with a smile on their lips. (DVD/Blu-ray.)  [[283043261,C]]

For those who understand love against all odds:

"BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN" (2005)

Keep the tissues handy for this tearjerker sure to have even the most hard-hearted viewer sobbing into their popcorn. Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal play star-crossed lovers who must hide their love for each other after they meet in the repressed American West of the 1960s. Also starring Anne Hathaway, Michelle Williams, and Randy Quaid, the movie was nominated for eight Academy Awards, winning the best director Oscar for Ang Lee. (Streaming/download.) [[368487991,C]]

For those who are single, with serious family expectations:

"MEET THE PATELS" (2014)

Perfect for those whose parents think they will never find love, this romantic comedy documentary follows siblings Geeta and Ravi Patel as they attempt to navigate the romantic waters of adulthood under the expectations of their first-generation Indian immigrant family. This Audience Award winner at the Los Angeles Film Festival beautifully explores the relationship between parent and child, modern versus traditional romance, and the meeting of global cultures. (Streaming/download.) [[368488231,C]]

For those who love love, and sports:

"BULL DURHAM" (1988)

Kevin Costner plays "Crash" Davis, a veteran catcher brought in to the minor leagues to help rookie pitcher Ebby Calvin "Nuke" LaLoosh (Tim Robbins) make it all the way to the majors. Nuke catches the eye of Baseball groupie Annie Savoy (Susan Sarandon), but it's the veteran Crash who ultimately wins her emotional attention. Equal parts love story, comedy and baseball fable, "Durham" hits a home run thanks to the almost palpable chemistry between the three leads. (Streaming/download.) [[280310062,C]]

For those dealing with unrequited love:

"FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL" (1994)

In this Murphy's Law of a romantic comedy, everything that could possibly go wrong does when it comes the amorous endeavors of Charles (Hugh Grant), who meets and falls for beautiful wedding guest Carrie (Andie MacDowell) only to discover she is already betrothed to another. The film follows the romantic escapades of Charles' group of thirty-something single friends – played by a stellar cast featuring Kristen Scott Thomas, Simon Callow, James Fleet, John Hannah and Charlotte Coleman – who over the course of a year experience the titular occasions. (Streaming/download.) [[368486961,C]]

For those who love love, and outer space:

"THE FIFTH ELEMENT" (1997)

It's love in another galaxy (and century) for New York City cabdriver Korben Dallas (Bruce Willis), who finds he has the fate of the world in his hands when the beautiful Leeloo (Milla Jovovich) literally falls into his taxi and involves him in her quest to find the fabled fifth element. The element, combined with four others, has the power to halt a great evil that threatens the known universe. Willis and Jovovich have great chemistry, but it's the scenery chomping turns from the hilarious Chris Tucker and villainous Gary Oldman that'll have you cheering. (Streaming/download.) [[368485381,C]]

For those who love love, and action:

"MR & MRS SMITH" (2005)

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt in the movie that gave us Brangelina, and a blueprint for turning the romantic comedy upside down. John (Pitt) and Jane Smith (Jolie) appear to be a couple that has it all, but whose marriage has grown tired. What neither knows about the other is that they are both hired assassins whose identities are top secret. Add to the mix Vince Vaughn, Kerry Washington, more gunfire than "The Expendables" and enough heart-stopping stunt sequences to rival "The Fast and the Furious," and you've got the perfect Valentine's Day action flick. (Streaming/download.) [[368488451,C]]

For those who love love, and horror:

"PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES" (2016)

Based on the 2009 parody novel of the same name by Seth Grahame-Smith, this mashup of mannered love and the undead is a parody of the 1813 classic by Jane Austen. In "Zombies" we find Colonel Darcy (Sam Riley) investigating rumors of a zombie outbreak in 19th century England, and the Bennet sisters – Elizabeth (Lily James), Jane (Bella Heathcote), Kitty (Suki Waterhouse), Lydia (Ellie Bamber), and Mary (Millie Brady) – have more than a few surprises tucked beneath their corseted frames thanks to instruction in the art of weaponry and the martial arts. Think love among the undead. (In cinemas.) [[368488991,C]]

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