It’s that time of year again: Valentine’s Day is coming soon, a day when couples flaunt their love for all to see, making those without a significant other a bit testy as they see couples being all lovey-dovey while they don’t have a significant other. They see the flowers being delivered, heart-shaped candies flying off the shelves, and restaurants being booked, with the air of romance hanging over them like a cruel joke.
Being single, however, can be positive in a lot of ways, as on Valentine’s Day, the only person you will have to spend money on to impress is yourself. That heart-shaped candy? That’s for you. The beautiful flowers? All for you! So what if you don’t have a boo on the 14th? You can show yourself all the love in the world by ordering a large pizza and streaming the following movies that will make you glad you’re not “booed up” on Valentine’s Day. So why not make Valentine’s Day a movie night, and use this piece as your guide?
10
‘Wild’ (2014)
Who said that you needed a soulmate to trek a challenging trail? Sometimes, accomplishing huge milestones on your own can give you bragging rights that go beyond Valentine’s Day. If you need a little inspiration, you should check out Wild, the 2014 bio-adventure drama starring Reese Witherspoon in an underrated performance.
Directed by Jean-Marc Vallée, Wild follows Witherspoon as Cheryl Strayed, a woman who was determined to put her life back on track by completing the Pacific Coast Trail, a 2,653-mile trail that runs from the US-Mexico border to the US-Canadian border along the Pacific Coast. The film is an inspirational tale of determination to overcome numerous obstacles and refocus life on the most important thing: yourself, and the performance from Witherspoon was tremendous. If you need a pick-me-up movie on the day of love, Wild may be up your alley.
9
‘The First Wives Club’ (1996)
Many may have gotten their first introduction to the Olivia Goldsmith novel The First Wives Club from the 2019 TV series of the same name, but before there was a television series, there was a hit 1996 film about three divorcees who seek revenge on their ex-husbands, who left them for younger women.
The First Wives Club, directed by Hugh Wilson, was one of the year’s best movies, and with good reason. The cast includes a who’s-who of legendary actresses (Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn, and Diane Keaton), and it was quite funny watching these women get their sweet revenge on the husbands who wronged them. If you’re single for Valentine’s Day, you will definitely be rooting for these ladies in a hilarious movie that will make you thankful that you’re single. Here’s to a nice dose of revenge on the day of so-called “love.”
8
‘Marriage Story’ (2019)
Going through a divorce is never easy, and many who have experienced this heart-wrenching thing will find Marriage Story extremely relatable. Directed by Noah Baumbach, Marriage Story was a drama that took everyone by surprise with its honest look at divorce. The pain it causes couples, especially when there’s a kid involved, is tough to watch on the screen, but it was necessary to show this on the screen, even if it was a tough watch for couples, especially those on a downswing.
Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson delivered award-winning performances as the married couple who are going through a coast-to-coast divorce. Marriage Story was technically a box office bomb, but once it hit Netflix, the film became an instant classic. While it may seem like it’s forgotten today, especially in light of other romantic films that have hit streaming, Marriage Story still makes a great movie to cut on to recognize just how troublesome marriage can actually be.
7
‘Eat, Pray, Love’ (2010)
In 2010, both lovers and singles alike were captivated by the notion of traveling the world while trying out foods we’d never eaten before, all while trying to find love. That’s exactly what Julia Roberts did in the Ryan Murphy film Eat, Pray, Love. Forget about the fact that critics weren’t too thrilled about this movie; what matters is how the audience perceived it, and they turned out to the theaters in droves.
The movie follows Roberts as Elizabeth Gilbert, who seems lost in her marriage and wants a divorce from her husband. After finally being granted it, she sets off on a whirlwind journey of self-discovery, trying different foods and finding love along the way. For single people on Valentine’s Day, Eat, Pray, Love offers hope that loneliness wouldn’t last for long, and that you can have a happy life by just discovering who you are as a person. That’s what attracted so many people to this movie about self-discovery, and what will attract you to stream it on Valentine’s Day.
6
‘The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants’ (2005)
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is a great movie to add to your “single for Valentine’s Day” playlist. Another book-turned feature film, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, is a true bonding film that is perfect for single people who value friendships more than anything else.
Starring America Ferrera and Blake Lively, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants follows a group of four friends who buy a pair of pants that fit each of them perfectly. You would think the movie is strictly about the pants, but no. This endearing movie is more than just the pants; it serves as a metaphor of their bond and how a summer shaped their future experiences. While we’re going to talk about girl bonding in another way next, let’s just take this time to appreciate just how great The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is, and, if you have friends who are single as well, this would be a great movie for you all to watch with a nice glass of wine.
5
‘Girls Trip’ (2017)
If watching teens bond over a pair of pants isn’t your thing, then maybe you and your single friends may want to check out Girls Trip, the hilarious 2017 film that turned out to be a surprise hit. Not much was expected of Girls Trip, but this fun movie about girls who just wanted to have the time of their lives in New Orleans was a box office hit and became the flagship “girl bonding” movie of the 2010s.
Starring Queen Latifah, Regina Hall, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Tiffany Haddish in a career-making role, this hilarious comedy sent a message to all single ladies (and men) that the best times are with your best friend. Who needs a relationship when you and your crew can have all the fun in the world, without worrying what your second-half is doing? Girls Trip seems so liberating, and the perfect “anti-Valentine’s Day” movie that sticks it to Cupid. Just try not to hang from a zipline in the middle of the French Quarter when you have to go to the bathroom.
4
‘Heathers’ (1989)
Do you remember your high school crush? The person who, on paper, seemed the right one for you, but was actually quite toxic? Well, that’s what the 1989 black comedy Heathers explores. Directed by Michael Lehmann, Heathers follows Veronica Sawyer (Winona Ryder), who is part of a cliquish crowd that all happen to share the first name “Heather.” But when she grows tired of her friend group, she hooks up with a new student, Jason “J.D.” Dean (Christian Slater), who is an outsider and can be quite toxic.
Heathers shows the single person on Valentine’s Day just how explosive a toxic relationship can be, especially in a cliquish high school setting. After you’re finished watching this iconic dark comedy movie, it will make you feel good that you didn’t hook up with your high school crush. Heathers has since become quite a cult classic, and the film still feels fresh 32 years after its release.
3
‘Gone Girl’ (2014)
Imagine being accused of being behind the disappearance of your significant other. Maybe that sounds extreme, but it was the central premise of Gone Girl, the 2014 psychological thriller that held a lot of viewers’ attention when it was released. Directed by David Fincher, Gone Girl was a twisted thriller that found a husband being the suspect of his wife’s disappearance.
While some may find Gone Girl to be a somber film for couples, especially given the whole “you may have killed your loved one” storyline, this creepy thriller could actually be the perfect antidote for singles who want to feel great about not being in a relationship come Valentine’s Day. Who would want to go through the hassle of trying to convince investigators that you didn’t kill your wife?
2
‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ (1951)
Streetcars in New Orleans carry an iconic reputation, and you can’t visit this historic, fun city without taking a ride on one of them. The most famous streetcar is “Desire,” which was actually discontinued before the 1951 drama, A Streetcar Named Desire, was released in theaters. Adapted from Tennessee Williams’ award-winning play, A Streetcar Named Desire is one of the rare play-to-film adaptations that lived up to its promise.
Directed by Elia Kazan and starring Marlon Brando and Vivien Leigh, the movie tells the story of a southern belle who moves to New Orleans to start a new life after experiencing personal loss. Like many of the films on this list, A Streetcar Named Desire shows that one can pick up the pieces and focus on one’s own life after traumatic experiences, no significant other required. So, for your anti-Valentine’s Day movie playlist, A Streetcar Named Desire would certainly earn its place on such a list for those looking to assuage the lonely heart.
1
‘Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion’ (1997)
Have you ever woken up and realized that you really haven’t done anything meaningful in life? Only to find out that your class reunion is coming up, and you may have to reveal this sobering truth? If so, then you will perfectly identify with Romy (Mira Sorvino) and Michele (Lisa Kudrow) in the underrated ‘90s comedy, Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion.
The comedy is not only the perfect encapsulation of the 1990s, but also a great film to watch if you’re feeling a bit down being alone on Valentine’s Day. Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion centers around the two 28-year-olds who fake careers just to impress people at a ten-year-high school reunion. While the film doesn’t deal in personal relationships, per se, it’s a fun popcorn comedy that will have you in a nostalgic mood for the entire 92-minute runtime. Also, it’s a great film to take your mind off being single on Valentine’s Day.
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