This Valentine’s Day 2026, you could brave the crowds to go out for an over-priced dinner on the busiest dining-out day of the year… or you stay in and watch Valentine’s Day movies on Netflix. I know my choice!
Netflix has a wide selection of Valentine’s Day movies streaming in 2026. Whether you’re looking for a light-hearted romantic comedy, an angsty romance to tug on your heart strings, or a heart-themed slasher flick, Netflix has something for everyone to watch with that special someone in your life.
And if you’re celebrating alone, it’s a perfect way to turn off your brain and indulge in a romantic story that would probably never happen in real life. It might not reflect the state of your current love life, but that’s why they call it fantasy, right?
Directed by Brett Haley, People We Meet on Vacation is the long-awaited film adaptation of Emily Henry’s best-selling 2021 novel. Emily Bader, best known as the star of the short-lived Amazon series My Lady Jane, stars in the film as Poppy Wright, a free-spirited travel journalist who loves taking vacations with her uptight BFF, Alex (played by the newest Hunger Games heart throb Tom Blyth). Though they insist they are just platonic vacay buddies, after years of traveling together every summer, Poppy and Alex fall in love. Thanks to Bader and Blyth’s electric chemistry, this one feels like a new Netflix rom-com classic.
There’s a reason Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan are the rom-com king and queen, and it’s because they are very, very funny together. Nora Ephron’s classic You’ve Got Mail is a catfish love story before catfishing was ever a word—Ryan stars as an independent bookstore owner, who strikes up an online romance with a dreamy man, not realizing he’s her professional rival. Sure, the references to AOL are dated, but that’s half the fun of this classic, feel-good romantic comedy, which is an updated version of the 1940 The Shop Around the Corner.
If you’ve been hurt by love, at least you’ve never had it as bad as the victims in Heart Eyes, a new slasher about a killer who targets couples on Valentine’s Day. Maybe being single isn’t so bad, after all. Directed by Josh Ruben (known for his 2021 horror comedy Werewolves Within), with a script by Phillip Murphy, Happy Death Day‘s Christopher Landon (who also produces), and Michael Kennedy, Heart Eyes is a humorous slasher that pokes fun at rom-coms, and doesn’t shy away from sex.
Tired of seeing only straight couples on your social feeds this Valentine’s Day? Then celebrate some queer love, with The Half of It, a lesbian teen romance from writer/director Alice Wu, which can only be described as “absolutely adorable.” Leah Lewis stars as a quiet high school senior named Ellie Chu, who agrees to help a simple jock named Paul write beautiful love letters to his crush. The only problem? Paul’s crush—a popular girl named Aster—is Ellie’s crush, too. Cue the gay longing!
Romance lovers may never have so good as we did back in 1997, when Titanic fever took over the world. Arguably one of the most romantic movies of all time, this epic love story between a wealthy aristocrat (Kate Winslet) and poor scoundrel (Leonardo DiCaprio) set the standard for romance. James Cameron may be the worst, but damn does he tell a good story. Plus, Jack and Rose’s sex scene is nothing short of iconic. Somehow, that hand on the steamed-up window of a French car was more erotic than explicit porn could ever be.
Can we get some love for the single ladies, please? If you’re single on Valentine’s Day, Someone Great is an excellent romantic comedy to watch on Netflix this weekend. Starring Gina Rodriguez and LaKeith Stanfield, it’s a film that had something new to offer the romantic comedy genre: A message that romantic love doesn’t—and can’t—always fix everything. That may not be quite as fun as a big romantic gesture, but it is more honest.
This romantic drama, which imagines William Shakespeare had a fictional love affair while writing Romeo and Juliet, feels like an a good Valentine’s Day watch in 2026, especially since we’re a month out from the 2026 Oscars, where another speculative historical fiction movie about Shakespeare, Hamnet, is a front runner. Gwyneth Paltrow became a star after her many steamy sex scenes with co-star Joseph Fiennes, who plays Shakespeare, and their chemistry makes this a romance for the ages. That said, the movie has been looked at in a different light after the #MeToo movement, given that it was produced by Harvey Weinstein. Paltrow said Weinstein once screamed at her when she refused to give him a massage.
Set It Up works so well because the leads have so much darn chemistry. Zoey Dutch and Glenn Powell are both assistants to bosses who are making their lives hell—so they decide to try to make their lives easier by getting their bosses laid. But in the process of setting up that romance, sparks fly between each other. You won’t be able to stop watching until these two finally lock lips.
If you want an absolute classic to watch on Valentine’s Day, then you should know that the Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt rom-com, As Good As It Gets, is now streaming on Netflix. Nicholson stars as an obsessive-compulsive romance author who falls for his waitress (Hunt) but can’t figure out how to properly communicate his affection. Notably, Nicholson and Hunt both won the Oscar for their roles in the film—so if you don’t want to listen to us, you can at least listen to the Academy!
This rom-com from director Numa Perrier—based on s based on Tia William’s 2016 book of the same name—stars Gabrielle Union as a 40-something career-driven woman who has a will-they-won’t-they situation-ship with boss’s hot, younger son (Keith Powers). The plot’s not perfect, but the chemistry is hot. This one is for my fellow fans of the enemies-to-lovers trope.
It’s always a good time to treat yourself to a rewatch of one of the best romantic comedies in recent years, but a Valentine’s Day rewatch is an especially good excuse. Based on the novel by Jenny Han, To All the Boys combines the well-loved “fake dating” romance trope with a perfect cast. The result is a heart-warming, stomach-swooping love story that you’ll inhale in one sitting. And don’t forget to watch the sequels and the new spin-off series, XO Kitty, when you’re done.
Directed by Kat Coiro, Marry Me stars Jennifer Lopez as an international pop star who, after realizing that her boyfriend is cheating on her, decides to marry a stranger (Owen Wilson) at one of her concert who is holding a “Marry Me” sign. The film—which was written by John Rogers, Tami Sagher and Harper Dill— is based on a webcomic of the same name by Bobby Crosby. It’s the kind of contrived, wacky plot line that’s perfect for a romantic comedy meet-cute, and is sure to hit the spot this Valentine’s Day weekend.
If you’re looking for romance with a bit more substance this V-day, try Elliot Page’s moving family drama. Co-written by Elliot Page with director Dominic Savage, the film stars Page as Sam, a transgender man who returns to his childhood home in Lake Ontario, Canada for the first time in years—and for the first time since coming out as trans. Though not autobiographical, Sam’s journey shares similarities with Page, who came out publicly as transgender in 2020. The story feels deeply personal, and speaks to the uncomfortable nuance between tolerance, acceptance, understanding, and celebration. And, as a treat, the movie is also a sweet love story when Sam reconnects with his childhood crush. We love to see it.
For those looking for a “childhood friends to lovers” trope this Valentine’s Day, look no further than Always Be My Maybe, an adorable romantic comedy starring Ali Wong and Randall Park. Sasha (Wong) and Marcus (Park) have led two very different lives since they were friends as kids—Sasha is rich and successful; Marcus, not so much. But Marcus has always held a candle for her Sasha, so when they reunite, the timing might just be right.
