Date nights are important whether you are in your first month together, in the “honeymoon stage,” or 30+ years going strong. Going out, celebrating one another, and just enjoying your partner’s company is key to a healthy relationship. However, with this economy, it makes more sense to stay at home, but fear not because cute dates at home have become a trendy new topic! You can bake together, try new hobbies with one another, and most importantly, you can watch your favorite movies while snuggled up in the comfort of your own home.
Movie night at home with your significant other should be filled with laughs, knowing glances, and pausing the film to add in your own commentary. You cannot simply have this intimate setting in a movie theater surrounded by dozens or hundreds of others. From underrated romantic comedies to wholesome favorites that will have you mouthing along with the characters, here are the best date night movies to watch from the comfort of your own home.
15 How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson’s characters in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days secretly try to pull one over on each other in this romantic comedy, but the universe has something else in mind. Inspired by her friend’s horrible luck in the dating scene, Andie (Hudson) decides her next article is going to focus on how guys lose interest in overly emotional and needy women. Ben (McConaughey), on the other hand, is trying to convince his boss and friends that he knows all about romance and commitment by getting a woman to fall in love with him within 10 days. As fate would have it, the two career-driven individuals meet and put their plans in action. From A-list celebrities to cringey clichés, this film is perfect for anyone wanting a lighthearted laugh.
14 La La Land
In La La Land, Seb (Ryan Gosling) and Mia (Emma Stone) initially meet when they are both down on their luck and at their most vulnerable. Mia is an aspiring actress, and Seb is a musician looking for his big break. Both professions are wildly unpredictable, but while knowing that, these two characters encourage one another to continue to follow their dreams no matter how hard things get. While the traditional love story does not take place, this movie is still inspiring with its dedication to friendships and uplifting people even when the seemingly perfect relationship does not make the final cut.
13 The Bucket List
Not all date nights need to be filled with rom-coms — though the two often go hand in hand. Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson star in the adventurous comedy, The Bucket List, as two older gentlemen who have been given six months to live. Rather than lie in a hospital bed for their remaining days, the new friends decide to check off items on a shared bucket list. This includes traveling the world, eating amazing food, and having some tough conversations. By the end of the film, you may be inspired to create your own list with your date. This movie reminds people that it is never too late to try new things, and doing it with a friend or someone you love is the ultimate adventure.
12 The Proposal
From snarky one-liners to Sandra Bullock and Betty White chanting the lyrics to “Get Low,” The Proposal is a classic. Bullock and Ryan Reynolds star as Margaret and Andrew, who have to convince everyone, including the U.S. Immigration services, that they are in love, so Margaret does not get deported back to Canada. This plan is much easier said than done. Andrew initially loathes Margaret for her uptight ways at work, but as fate has it, the two do eventually grow on one another. The ending may be predictable, but let’s face it, most romantic comedies end with a “happily ever after.” It’s the crazy shenanigans that happen before the magical moment that make these films worthy of a movie night at home.
11 Friends With Benefits
Anytime a couple of people label themselves as “friends with benefits,” everyone can pretty much guess how things are going to go. Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake’s characters are no exception to this in the aptly titled, Friends with Benefits. Jaime (Kunis) recruits Dylan (Timberlake) to work for GQ in New York, and while they are sharing their horrible dating histories, Dylan proposes that they have sex without all the complicated feelings involved. Things go well at first, but as anyone can expect, things are said, and their friendship is in jeopardy. This film has some of the most quotable moments, and seeing the chemistry between Kunis and Timberlake is enough to make anyone believe in love.
10 The Fundamentals of Caring
Paul Rudd steps into the role of a sarcastic yet considerate caregiver to a cynical teenage boy with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Ben (Rudd) is desperate for a job as well as a distraction from his own life, and he finds the perfect combination with Trevor. After getting to know the snarky teenager, Ben discovers that he has never really ventured from home. Ben and a hesitant Trevor take a road trip to see the coolest roadside attractions, and they meet some interesting characters along with way, including Selena Gomez. The Fundamentals of Caring is the perfect date night film for anyone looking to steer clear of predictable characters and cliché romances.
9 Hitch
The term “love doctor” makes most people want to cringe, but because it’s attached to Will Smith, we can make an exception. In the fun romantic comedy, Hitch, Smith plays a man named Hitch who teaches men of all kinds how to woo women who are pursuing a long-term relationship. Hitch is the ultimate ladies man, but he finds himself weak in the knees when Sara (Eva Mendes) begins challenging his ways. Of course, things don’t go exactly according to Hitch’s plans for anyone involved in his life. This movie is fun, there’s a lot of flirtatious dialogue, and in the end, an honest message is learned. While on your date, break out the writing pad and be prepared to take notes!
8 50 First Dates
Adam Sandler is often a goofball in films, but there are rare occasions when his character seems like the sweetest man in the world. Sandler stars alongside Drew Barrymore in the adorable romantic comedy, 50 First Dates, where Sandler’s character, Henry, pursues Lucy (Barrymore) without knowing about her memory loss. Due to a horrible car accident, Lucy cannot form new permanent memories, so when she and Henry get along one day, he realizes that he has to put in the same effort each and every day to continuously win her heart. There are some questionable characters in this movie and even more questionable dialogue, but in the end, this is definitely a winner.
7 Step Up 3D
Though this film is the third in the Step Up franchise, Step Up 3D is easy to follow without having watched the first two movies. Moose, a college student with a serious passion for dancing, joins a ragtag group of dancers to compete in the World Jam competition. Everyone in the crew is an eccentric character, and they all share a common philosophy: no matter how people may perceive them, they can always tell their stories on the dance floor. Between hilarious conversations and inspirational enthusiasm, a date night with this film can easily turn into a dance party.
6 The Blind Side
If you want something a bit more nostalgic, heart-warming, and based on a true story for your next date night, consider The Blind Side. Sandra Bullock adopts a thick southern accent (yet she will not be caught dead in some gaudy orange) as well as a young man named Michael who has only known a life of hardship and rejection. With the help of his biggest fan and little brother SJ, Michael is able to learn what it means to have people have his back and love him in all aspects of life. It doesn’t hurt that Sandra Bullock is the football-loving, order-giving, bossy mama bear that everyone would love to have in their corner.
5 Crazy, Stupid, Love
Crazy, Stupid, Love has an all-star cast with Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, and Julianne Moore. Gosling plays a womanizer named Jacob who helps a newly divorced Cal (Carell) change his style, gain some confidence, and learn how to get women into bed. In turn, Jacob begins to fall for Hannah (Stone), a law school graduate who is not impressed by Jacob’s signature moves and tricks. Storylines cross over, and chaos eventually ensues. This movie is equal parts adorable, funny, and romantic as it shows just about every stage of a relationship from puppy love to true commitment after failure.
4 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Brad Pitt plays the titular character in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. When a newborn baby appears on the doorstep of a nursing home, no one knew the extraordinary life he would live. Benjamin was born with the body of an old man — frail bones, cataracts, and looking like he was on his own deathbed. As he grew up, his body aged backwards. Not many people question this strange phenomenon, especially his adoptive mother, Queenie. Over the years, Benjamin makes friends, learns what life on the sea is all about, and most importantly, he falls in love. Given his unusual condition, things aren’t so easy for Benjamin, but that does not stop him from living his life to the fullest.
3 Me Before You
While Emilia Clarke was working on one set as the iconic Khaleesi, she was also portraying the most adorable and big-hearted women named Lou in Me Before You. Lou is hired as a caregiver to the cynical Will who, after an unfortunate accident, is a tetraplegic. At first, Will prefers to isolate himself and not engage with Lou’s bubbly personality, but between her contagious smiling and sunshine-like personality, she is able to wear him down. While this is a film that everyone seems to want to change the ending to, per EW, there is something beautiful to be learned about letting people make their own choices in the world. By the end of the date dedicated to this film, you may be in tears, but the doors to a much bigger conversation will have opened.
2 Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump is a classic for many reasons: the iconic quotes, the friendships, the romance, and most importantly, the fact that Forrest genuinely does not know how hilarious he is. Instead of being the standard love story that focuses solely on the boy going after the girl, the storyline follows everything that Forrest has been through while he has pined for his childhood crush. From war zones to doing the potty dance in front of the president, there is something for everyone to laugh at in this film. Those who have seen it time and time again will likely quote the movie all the way through and have a box of chocolates as a snack, and those who have not seen the film are in for a treat.
1 In Time
In a world where currency is the literal hours, minutes, and seconds of one’s lifespan, there has to be a robin-hood-like figure to bring down the system. Justin Timberlake stars in the science fiction film, In Time, as a man who lives each day like it’s his last. That is, until he and Sylvia (played by Amanda Seyfried) find a way to bring down the wealthiest man who is looking to live for all eternity, Sylvia’s father. This movie has a unique twist, and it really makes fans question what in life is really worth all the money and time in the world. In Time is not a typical love story, but it makes for a great date night flick with the heated romance between Timberlake and Seyfried’s characters and the suspense of getting caught and captured by people who want to uphold the corrupt system.