Have no upcoming dates planned for this month of love? You certainly won’t be alone! We’ve made sure that you’ll be in the best company with our suggestions of films to watch. From gooey and frustrating to unbelievable and tear-jerking, these films will have you either daydreaming about being in a healthy relationship to (maybe) being glad that you’re still taking the time out to think about what you really want! Whatever your stance or state of your heart, we’re certain there’ll be a film or two that will coddle your heart and soul in exactly the manner they wish to be!
READ MORE: 13 Ways To Up Your Dose Of Self-Love This Valentine’s Day — And Every Day
Love At First Sight
Where To Watch: Netflix
Expect: To laugh, cry and scream at your TV while rooting for the main characters.
A romantic comedy about two strangers Hadley Sullivan (played by Haley Lu Richardson) and Oliver (played by Ben Hardy) who meet on a flight to London. Fate wastes no time in separating them, making the chances of a reunion highly unlikely. In the end, with the help of a series of magical events, the two find their way back to each other. Talk about a film that reminds us that the path to true love is never linear – and that love blooms where there’s a will!
The Idea of You
Where To Watch: Prime Video
Expect: To be so invested in the storyline that you will be left open minded about dating in general.
Starring Anne Hathaway (as Soléne) and Nicholas Galitzine (as Hayes Campbell), The Idea of You is a captivating exploration of love that transcends age, societal expectations and the complexities of modern relationships. Hathaway delivers a stunning performance as a woman navigating the ups and downs of life and love, while Galitzine brings a youthful exuberance that perfectly complements her character.
The Adjustment Bureau
Where To Watch: Prime Video
Expect: To wonder if humans are following a pre-determined life plan or if we have the power to change our respective fates.
A beautifully presented romantic film, even though it’s categorised as Sci-Fi/Thriller that speaks to the idea that, ‘the heart wants what it wants!’ with a mild touch of magic! The male protagonist David (played by Matt Damon) defies ‘The Bureau’ despite heavy warnings from them not to pursue his love Elise (played by Emily Blunt). The lesser the details in this review, the greater your watching experience will be! We promise…
READ MORE: The Invaluable Life Lessons We Learnt During Our Travels
Somebody I Used To Know
Where To Watch: Prime Video
Expect: To stop romanticising the past.
Ally (played Alison Brie) is an overworked TV producer whose life revolves around a reality television show about dessert. When Ally’s show gets cancelled by the network, she returns to her small, picturesque hometown of Leavenworth to recalibrate. What she finds instead are reminders of the past and the life she could have had with her high school sweetheart Sean (played by Jay Ellis). The film managed to give an old subject a fresh spin!
Upgraded
Where To Watch: Prime Video
Expect: To learn the importance of showing as your most authentic self – regardless of where you are!
When Anna (played by Camila Mendes) is upgraded to first class on a work trip. She meets handsome Will (played by Archie Renaux), who assumes she’s her boss Claire (played by Marisa Tomei). The white lie that sets off a glamorous chain of events, romance and opportunity – until her white lie threatens to surface. If you’re looking for a rom-com that’s high on stupidly cute and many edge-of-the-seat moments, this is it! They just don’t make rom-coms like this anymore! Ideal for anyone who wants to watch something light, without the admin overthinking the storyline!
Swan Song
Where To Watch: Apple TV
Expect: To shed a tear at witnessing the lengths true love is willing to travel.
Staged somewhere in a near-ish future where cloning human beings is a reality, designer Cameron (played by Mahershala Ali) is dying from a terminal illness that his wife Poppy (played by Naomi Harris) is unaware of. Having seen how his wife deals terribly with grief, Cameron makes a decision to clone himself so that she won’t have to suffer yet another loss. As his AI clone Jack begins to substitute him and create improvements in his love, family and career life, Cameron finds himself unable to let go and attempts to fight back for a life that was once his.
READ MORE: 20 Outdoor Adventures To Try this Easter On The KZN South Coast
You Hurt My Feelings
Where To Watch: Apple TV
Expect: To (perhaps) do a lot of reflecting about your own old and current fibs! [teehee]
An often laugh-out-loud hilarious film which poses the ultimate existential questions: ‘How honest is too honest?’ and ‘Is it possible to survive, in this day and age, without lying?’.
A novelist’s long-standing marriage suddenly turns upside down when she overhears her husband give his honest reaction to her latest book. You Hurt My Feelings is a slow, slice-of-life film about ordinary people who are struggling with the awkward dynamics around honesty in relationships.
Falling INN Love
Where To Watch: Netflix
Expect: A bit of anxiety for rooting (really hard) for a fictional couple!
Warm and welcoming, Falling Inn Love is a simple production that’s easy to follow, allows you to turn your brain off and get lost in a reality that seems far away from yours! The romantic comedy derives pleasure from being laughed at as much as laughed with. And the leads Jake (played by Adam Demos) and Gabriela (played by Christina Milian) are a match made in fairytale heaven. And damn, why did it have to take them that long to finally acknowledge their spark?!
Resort To Love
Where To Watch: Netflix
Expect: To be open to finding love any and everywhere – especially on the days when you least expect it!
A pleasant island rom-com with an incredibly likeable cast and a sweet story about falling in and out of love. The film also maturely balances comedy with realistic emotion.
There’s humour here, including some slapstick, but the filmmakers made a wise decision to play some of the more important scenes straight. The climactic fight between two women and a man’s tender vows at his wedding are two honest and heartfelt scenes that help lift up this pleasant rom-com.
Umjolo: Day Ones
Where To Watch: Netflix
Expect: To have your jaw drop, then pick itself back up!
Umjolo features four captivating films that, each, explore the unique love lives of four women as they navigate the complexities of relationships, commitment and everything in between. The first Umjolo: The Gone Girl delves into the story of a couple that is literal #LoveGoals and how they navigate their biggest test to date – infidelity! The second instalment Umjolo: Day Ones follows childhood best friends Zanele (played by Sibusisiwe Jili) and Andile (played by Kay Sibiya). Zanele wonders if she’ll ever be more than friends to Andile now that he’s married with kids! In Umjolo: My Beginning, My End, the third instalment, Mayi (played by Nirvana Nokwe-Mseleku) starts questioning her upcoming nuptials after meeting a charming saxophonist. The last, Umjolo: There is No Cure premieres on 14 February 2025!
