It's February again, and stores are overflowing with paper hearts, teddy bears, and all sorts of pink, romantic symbols of love. Valentine's Day could be called the "holiday" of romantic comedies, filled with meet-cutes, misunderstandings, and last-minute declarations of love. This creates a cultural expectation for romance on this particular day.
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03-17, 2025But love doesn't always come in a sweet package. It can be hilarious, platonic, angry, sexy, funny. With that in mind, here are five unconventional Valentine's Day movie recommendations. These films offer a different perspective on love and relationships.
First up is "Sonic the Hedgehog 3." Many were surprised when the film review website Letterboxd revealed that "Sonic the Hedgehog" was one of the most rewatched movies during Valentine's Day. But in reality, the first "Sonic" movie was released on Valentine's Day in 2020, which has led the series' ardent fans to forever consider it a movie made for the holiday. The film's release date has cemented its place in Valentine's Day movie traditions.
Dig deeper into this kid-friendly action flick, and you'll find an enduring love story – between the villain, Ivo "Eggman" Robotnik, and his loyal assistant, Agent Stone. On the surface, their relationship is that of a villain and a henchman, but Stone's devotion is limitless (unfortunately, mostly unrequited by Robotnik). This dynamic duo's rocky relationship truly shines in the latest installment of the series; no spoilers, but the third-act confession might even bring a tear of joy to your eye. So this Valentine's Day, grab your evil henchman/best friend and watch "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" together. It's a heartwarming tale of loyalty and (unrequited) affection.
Next is "Punch-Drunk Love." It's hard to imagine Adam Sandler starring in a Paul Thomas Anderson film, especially after the director's critical darling, "Magnolia." But "Punch-Drunk Love" works precisely because Sandler is allowed to be himself, just the art-house version. The "Happy Gilmore" star plays Barry Egan, a business owner with social anxiety who falls in love with his sister's co-worker, Lena. Oh, and he's also trying to accumulate more frequent flyer miles than he can use by buying massive amounts of pudding. Sure. The film was a box office bomb upon release but has become a cult classic over the years. It's now known for its gorgeous visual palette, anxiety-inducing score, Sandler's revelatory dramatic turn, and the late Philip Seymour Hoffman's underrated, powerful performance. As for its Valentine's Day qualifications? That six-and-a-half-minute sequence set to Shelley Duvall's "He Needs Me" is all you need to know. It is everything. The film's unique portrayal of love makes it a standout choice for the holiday.
"Bound" is a sexy, lesbian heist thriller and the Wachowski sisters of "The Matrix"'s film debut – need I say more? Probably not, but I will, because "Bound" is a must-see movie and a perfect Valentine's Day film. Our story revolves around two raven-haired lesbians, Violet (Jennifer Tilly) and Corky (Gina Gershon). Violet is a sultry lipstick lesbian and the girlfriend of Caesar, a mob money launderer. Corky is a charming butch ex-con with a tank top and a sharp pout who happens to be hired as the plumber and painter for the apartment next door to Violet and her criminal boyfriend. It's not a spoiler that Violet and Corky have sex, nor is it a spoiler that Violet begs her new lover to help her escape her abusive boyfriend and start a new life for herself. But to do so, they need money, so a dangerous plan is hatched to steal money from under the mob's nose. The film is dark, moody, and violent, but it's also very erotic and pretty hilarious. While it may have more bloodshed than your typical romance movie, "Bound" is a great movie to watch with your lover, lights dimmed low. Its blend of suspense, romance, and dark humor makes it a memorable Valentine's Day viewing experience.
"Romy and Michele's High School Reunion" is a female-led comedy that pays homage to the 90s, best girlfriends, and all the high school outcasts. Mira Sorvino and Lisa Kudrow star as Romy and Michele, best friends since high school turned roommates living in Los Angeles. They enjoy watching "Pretty Woman," designing adorable outfits, and going to nightclubs every night. Faced with the prospect of attending their 10-year high school reunion in Tucson, Romy and Michele hatch a plan to impress the "A" group cheerleaders who ruled the school: power suits in black and a backstory that birthed the iconic line, "I invented Post-Its." Everything culminates in a silly yet satisfying final act – a high school reunion where the shallowness of the "A" group is exposed, the rejects win, and female friendship prevails. Grumpy Gen X indie queen Janeane Garofalo, Alan Cumming, and Justin Theroux round out the cast. In just 90 minutes, you can continue the best-girlfriend vibes afterward with a "Golden Girls" marathon. Don't forget to tell your best girlfriend how much you love her. The film celebrates the power of female friendship and self-acceptance.
Finally, there's "Kill Bill." The first time I watched "Kill Bill" on Valentine's Day, I was in my early twenties, recovering from the dissolution of a five-year relationship. It was a catastrophic heartbreak that felt like a knife straight to the chest. But I wasn't just sad. I was furious. So furious that I invited my friends over to project Quentin Tarantino's ultra-violent spectacle on the wall of a dingy shared apartment. The Bride (Uma Thurman), a former assassin, is out for revenge after being shot in the head by the father of her unborn child. From the moment she wakes up from a coma four years later, it's almost two hours of blind rage (she has nothing left to lose), as she murders people, including many, many people, in a mesmerizing, somewhat balletic way with a samurai sword. Plus, you have the power of the evil Daryl Hannah and Lucy Liu, as well as the strange, fascinating unspoken language between professional assassins (see also: John Wick, another perfect Valentine's Day movie to watch when you're single). "Kill Bill": It's a Valentine's Day choice for single women who have never learned how to deal with anger. (I promise I'm not that angry anymore.) It's a cathartic experience for those dealing with heartbreak and rage.
Lastly, there's "Superbad." Star-crossed lovers. Unrequited passions. Tragic separations that prematurely rip apart two souls from each other. I am, of course, talking about Seth and Evan from "Superbad." Jonah Hill and Michael Cera's portrayal of codependent teenage best friends on the cusp of separation due to college in the 2007 film has to be one of the most iconic movie relationships of all time. Forget romance – find someone who will hold you and run from the cops at an underage party. The duo unconvincingly mask their deep affection for each other with crude jokes, homophobia, sexism, and other ubiquitous attempts to be perceived as cool. There's even a fan theory that Hill's character, Seth, is actually bisexual, given his intense jealousy of the character McLovin (whose real name is irrelevant) and his childhood obsession with drawing penises on everything. Whatever love the two share, the final scene of the film undeniably proves their chemistry. As the two separate and walk around the mall with the girls they've been pining after the entire movie, they look back at each other, eyes filled with longing, as Curtis Mayfield softly croons his 1976 classic "P.S. I Love You" in the background. It's truly a bittersweet, romantic Valentine's Day classic. The film explores the complexities of male friendship and the pain of growing apart.
