Many plan on spending this Valentine’s Day indoors due to the current pandemic, but that does not mean one cannot enjoy it. These romantic movies can help keep you and your partner, or just yourself, entertained this coming Feb. 14.

The Before Trilogy

The “Before” trilogy, “Before Sunrise” (1996), “Before Sunset” (2004) and “Before Midnight” (2013), tells the love story and evolving relationship of two students, American Jesse and French Celine. 

Each movie takes place over a period of a few hours, where the couple walks around a city whilst having a conversation with each other. Nine years take place between each film, a period of time reflected in real life, with the characters as well as the actors shown changing over time.

This film’s director Richard Linklater, famous for directing movies such as “Boyhood” (2014) that revolve around the passage of time, has teased the possibility of a fourth entry into the film series.

Punch-Drunk Love (2002)

Led by Adam Sandler, this comedy-drama explores a more than usual in-depth role for the comedy actor. Sandler plays Barry Egan, a lonely man with extreme social anxiety due to constant teasing from his seven sisters, who only finds solace after meeting Lena Leonard.

Despite the film not recouping its original budget of $25 million at the box office, it has since gone on to have a cult following.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

Yet another somber film starring a comedian in the title role, “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” features Jim Carrey. This movie, which won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, explores the fragility of memory and how it impacts the relationships surrounding a person. 

Joel Barish, played by Carrey, decides to undergo a procedure that would eliminate the memories of his relationship with his ex-girlfriend after finding out she had undergone the same procedure.

The non-linearly told narrative takes the audience on a journey through the slow erasure of Barish’s memories to after the end of the experiment.

Dirty Dancing (1987)

The final movie to cap off the list, largely known for its dance scenes and soundtrack, is “Dirty Dancing.” The film’s lead, Jennifer Grey, plays a young woman vacationing with her family and falls in love with the resort’s dance instructor, played by Patrick Swayze.

The film won an Oscar for Best Original Song for “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life,” which plays in the film’s finale dance scene.