On the latest episode of What Do You Wanna Watch? Ashley asked the crew what movies they would recommend people to watch this Valentine’s Day. Each person tacled their list slightly differently, Dylan’s list being films he would watch by himself, Ashley’s being films to watch with your significant other and Nick’s being unconventional love stories (Nick also didn’t order his films). There is sure to be something for everyone in this article.

Let us know what your Top 3 movies to watch this Valentine’s Day are in the comments below or on Twitter

Nick’s Top 3

Spring

Directed by: Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead
Written by: Justin Benson
Starring: Lou Taylor Pucci, Nadia Hilker, Francesco Carnelutti, Nick Nevern, Chris Palko, Jonathan Silvestri, Jeremy Gardner, Vinny Curran, Holly Hawkins, Augie Duke, Vanessa Bednar, Shane Brady

Synopsis:
An aimless young man takes an impromptu trip to Italy and becomes involved with an alluring genetics student who harbors a transformative secret.

Nick said:

It’s a monster movie but also, I think, a very successful romance movie. It’s about overcoming differences, learning to accept someone for who they are and coming to realise you do love someone despite all that.

Let the Right One In

Directed by: Tomas Alfredson
Screenplay by: John Ajvide Lindqvist
Based on: Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist
Starring: Kåre Hedebrant, Lina Leandersson, Per Ragnar, Ika Nord, Peter Carlberg

Synopsis:
Oskar, a bullied 12-year old, dreams of revenge. He falls in love with Eli, a peculiar girl. She can’t stand the sun or food and to come into a room she needs to be invited. Eli gives Oskar the strength to hit back but when he realizes that Eli needs to drink other people’s blood to live he’s faced with a choice.

Nick said:

It’s a movie about unrequited love. It’s a vampire movie. A metaphor in a way for admiration and unrequited love.

Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind

Directed by: Michel Gondry
Screenplay by: Charlie Kaufman
Story by: Charlie Kaufman, Michel Gondry, Pierre Bismuth
Starring: Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Kirsten Dunst, Mark Ruffalo, Elijah Wood, Tom Wilkinson

Synopsis:
Joel and Clementine begin a relationship post a train journey together, unaware that they had previously been in a relationship, the memories of which were clinically erased.

Nick said:

It’s a movie showing that relationships aren’t always easy and are not always as lovey dovey as movies make them out to be. You go through growth and pain, just being with a person can be painful at times and you can’t ignore that, you have to push through it, try to grow together and overcome it.

Dylan’s Top 3

3. Love, Simon

Directed by: Greg Berlanti
Screenplay by: Isaac Aptaker, Elizabeth Berger
Based on: Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
Starring: Nick Robinson, Josh Duhamel, Jennifer Garner, Katherine Langford, Alexandra Shipp, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Keiynan Lonsdale, Miles Heizer, Logan Miller, Tony Hale, Talitha Bateman

Synopsis:
Simon Spier keeps his sexual orientation a secret from his family. However, when a blackmailer threatens to reveal it, he goes on a roller-coaster journey to come to terms with his identity.

Dylan said:

It came out in 2018 and it was one of my favourtie movies of that year. It’s a really good coming of age movie. It’s basically a modern day John Hughes high school drama romance. I absolutely adore the cast in this movie and I remember sitting in the cinema bawling my eyes out by the end. Great Movie.

2. Carol

Directed by: Todd Haynes
Screenplay by: Phyllis Nagy
Based on: The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Sarah Paulson, Jake Lacy, Kyle Chandler

Synopsis:
Therese Belivet works at a department store in Manhattan where she encounters the beautiful Carol. Things take an unexpected turn when Therese develops strong feelings for Carol.

Dylan said:

5 years, 6 years later, I still think this is one of the most beautifully shot movies I’ve watched. I think it is very stunning. Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara have greate performances and chemistry.

1. Portrait of a Lady on Fire

Directed by: Céline Sciamma
Written by: Céline Sciamma
Starring: Noémie Merlant, Adèle Haenel, Luàna Bajrami, Valeria Golino

Synopsis:
France, 1770. Marianne, a painter, is commissioned to do the wedding portrait of Héloïse, a young woman who has just left the convent. Héloïse is a reluctant bride to be and Marianne must paint her without her knowing. She observes her by day, to paint her secretly.

Dylan said:

The romance is the key striking element of it and it has these two terrific performances. The ending is one of my favourite endings in any movie I’ve seen in quite sometime. It emotional and it hits hard and the whole sequence is just fantastic.

Ashley’s Top 3

3. Palm Springs

Directed by: Max Barbakow
Screenplay by: Andy Siara
Starring: Andy Samberg, Cristin Milioti, Peter Gallagher, J. K. Simmons, Meredith Hagner, Camila Mendes, Tyler Hoechlin, Chris Pang, Jacqueline Obradors, June Squibb

Synopsis:
Stuck in a time loop, two wedding guests develop a budding romance while living the same day over and over again.

Ashley said:

My favourite film of 2020. If you are with your significant other, watching this film, and you can both agree that you would get along while stuck in a time loop, living the same day after day after day after day, that’s the person for you. It’s a test!

2. To All The Boys I’ve Ever Loved

Directed by: Susan Johnson
Written by: Sofia Alvarez
Based on: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
Starring: Lana Condor, Noah Centineo, Janel Parrish, Anna Cathcart, Madeleine Arthur, Emilija Baranac, Israel Broussard, John Corbett

Synopsis:
Lara Jean Covey writes letters to all of her past loves, the letters are meant for her eyes only. Until one day when all the love letters are sent out to her previous loves. Her life is soon thrown into chaos when her foregoing loves confront her one by one.

Ashley said:

A really charming teen romantic comedy, really beautiful shot, well dressed with really charming characters. And if you get throught that and want more you can watch the next two films which are now out on Netflix. If you just want to stay on the couch this Valentine’s day, you can keep watching these movies.

1. The Princess Bride

Directed by: Rob Reiner
Screenplay by: William Goldman
Based on: The Princess Bride by William Goldman
Starring: Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, Chris Sarandon, Wallace Shawn, André the Giant, Christopher Guest

Synopsis:
A fairy tale adventure about a beautiful young woman and her one true love. He must find her after a long separation and save her. They must battle the evils of the mythical kingdom of Florin to be reunited with each other.

Ashley said:

It’s got everything. It’s got fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles! A fantistic film, a lot of fun. If the person you are with doesn’t like The Princess Bride, that is a sure sign that you need to dump them.