Editors' Picks: 30 Top Romantic Movies for Valentine's Day

We love romantic movies here at BHG.com. In fact, we compared our favorites and came up with 30 -- all guaranteed worthy of watching in honor of Valentine's Day or buying for your sweetie. Enjoy the quotes from our "judges" as well as the complementary recipes chosen by our food editor.


Enjoy the show!

Starring Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan; run time: 96 minutes

Why we love it: The dialogue is fantastic and Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan have amazing chemistry. I always tear up when Harry tells Sally all the quirky things he loves about her. I also love how time and circumstance play such an important role in their relationship, which is a theme that echoes in my own personal life.
-- Senior Producer, BHG.com

Pride & Prejudice, 2005
Starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen; run time: 127 minutes

Pride & Prejudice, 1995 (TV mini-series)
Starring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle; run time: 300 minutes

Why we love it: There's something magical about seeing Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy slowly realize they are in love. And I get a kick out of the author's (Jane Austen) wry, spot-on observations about human nature. Every time I watch I have to resist just fast-forwarding to the scene at Pemberley where Darcy gives Elizabeth "the look" -- the one where his uppity formality has melted away and his love for her shines on his face. Aaaahhh.
-- Executive Editor, BHG.com

Starring Richard Gere and Julia Roberts; run time: 119 minutes

Why we love it: What could be better than being swept off your feet by a rich, handsome man who is intent upon showering you with fabulous gifts? And looking at Richard Gere for two hours would make anyone's Valentine's Day just a little bit sweeter. The clothes are fun (who could forget the brown polka dot dress or the to-die-for red gown?) and the romance quotient is high. This is a rags-to-riches love story that will make every girl long for her Prince Charming or appreciate the one she has!
-- Public Relations Director, Meredith Corporation

Starring Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman; run time: 103 minutes

Why we love it: I watch While You Were Sleeping every year for the same reason I have a passion for whipped topping: It's a sweet, fluffy, feel-good treat. This chick flick is about a lonely young woman who finds a whole family to love when she rescues an unconscious man from an oncoming train. I do tend to watch this movie alone, because I always get teary during the last 15 minutes (I won't spoil it by telling you why).
-- Senior Remodeling & Projects Editor, Better Homes and Gardens

Starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan; run time: 105 minutes

Why we love it: I first saw Sleepless in Seattle with my mom when it was shown on television. I was a little girl, but I still remember how much I loved this romantic story. This film is my all-time favorite romance that captures how love can bring two strangers together. It's a classic that never gets old and somehow manages to make me cry every time I see it (happy tears, of course). Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan truly shine, even in their younger years. You've Got Mail (also starring Tom and Meg) was good, but I think Sleepless was great -- that's why it makes my list for top chick flicks for Valentine's Day.
-- Contributing Editor, BHG.com

Starring Richard Gere and Debra Winger; run time: 124 minutes

Why we love it: I think a truly great chick flick needs not only a strong woman, but a strong man. I really loved how, in this film, the main characters learn their own lessons, accept their own worth, and only then understand how love really "lifts them up where they belong." An Officer and a Gentleman's many layers stand the test of time. And how many women secretly wish they were being carried away by Richard Gere? Admit it!
-- Gardening Editor, Midwest Living

Starring Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams, Gena Rowlands, and James Garner; run time: 123 minutes

Why we love it: Based on the story by chick-lit guru Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook is everything a romantic movie should be. The drama of Noah and Allie's roller-coaster courtship transcends decades as it seamlessly alternates from the infatuation of summer love to the passion of lifelong commitment. The glamour of the early 1940s and classic love songs such as Billie Holiday's "I'll Be Seeing You" provide a breathtaking backdrop for this unforgettable romance.
-- Associate Editor, Food, BHG.com

Starring Renee Zellweger, Colin Firth, and Hugh Grant; run time: 97 minutes

Why we love it: I believe the "All by Myself" scene in Bridget Jones's Diary (where Bridget is bemoaning the fact that she is 32 and single) rings true for all women at some point in their lives. The sassy, candid nature of this film is sure to make any chick flick lover laugh.
-- Assistant Photo Editor, BHG.com

Starring Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon, and Tim Robbins; run time: 108 minutes

Why we love it: It was a very sensual movie that used baseball as a background for romance. I liked everything about it. Kevin Costner was just so wonderful...he's always been my favorite, ever since then. And if the pedicure scene doesn't intrigue you (where Costner's Crash Davis paints the toenails of Sarandon's Annie Savoy), consider the scene where he talks about long, slow, deep, wet kisses that last three days!
-- Contributing Editor, Remodeling, BHG.com

Starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman; run time: 102 minutes

Why we love it: Humphrey Bogart is Rick Blaine, a cynical American expatriate who runs a nightclub in the Moroccan city of Casablanca during the early days of World War II. Ex-love Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman) unexpectedly comes back into his life, but she's now married to a renowned Czech Resistance leader. Eventually Rick discovers he's not so cynical after all, giving up all hope of reuniting with Ilsa by making it possible for her and Laszlo to safely leave the country. The fact that this movie is filmed in black-and-white makes it even more melancholy.
-- Newsletter Producer, BHG.com

Starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer; run time: 174 minutes

Why we love it: I just think that it is one of my favorite movies of all time. I just love the scene where Captain Von Trapp (Christopher Plummer) sings "Edelweiss." I just love that moment -- it seems like such a fairy tale and I just can't imagine a man doing that. He just looks so dapper. He sings it so well. And the romance is not limited to Plummer and Julie Andrews, who plays Maria, the young nun who falls in love with the Captain. It's also about the love between the two young people who sing "You are 16, going on 17."
-- Assistant E-Commerce Manager, BHG.com

Starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Joseph Fiennes; run time: 123 minutes

Why we love it: Surpassing the concept of "It's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all," Shakespeare and his muse Lady Viola madly love each other despite the temporary nature of their being together. She guides him toward his destiny, and their light-hearted, fun way of loving one another shows you how to live in the present moment without worrying what tomorrow may bring. I love how this movie humanizes Shakespeare and sets a foundation for what may have motivated him to write his beloved plays.
-- Art Director, BHG.com

Starring Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, Alan Rickman, and Hugh Grant; run time: 136 minutes

Why we love it: Grab a few of your girlfriends to watch this Jane Austen adaptation following two women's paths toward marital bliss. Upon the death of their father, sisters Elinor and Marianne Dashwood find themselves poor and alone in an unfamiliar neighborhood. Elinor, the pragmatic realist, resigns herself to a quiet life, but rash Marianne is swept away by the dashing Mr. Willoughby (or so we think). You'll probably see your own romantic sensibility in one of the two women as you watch them navigate through broken hearts and renewed hopes, and keep a box of tissues on hand for Kate Winslet's moving recitation of Shakespeare's 116th sonnet.
-- Associate Editor, Decorating

Starring Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell; run time: 106 minutes

Why we love it: Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell (real-life partners) are perfect in their respective roles. Joanna (Goldie Hawn), the snobby socialite, and Dean (Kurt Russell), the working-class carpenter, meet while Dean is working on Joanna's yacht. Joanna rebuffs Dean when he comes to collect payment for his work. Later, Joanna falls off of her yacht and gets total amnesia. Her real husband never claims her, thinking that he's rid of her, so Dean claims her as his "wife" to take care of his children in lieu of payment for the work he did. Joanna and Dean work through everyday family life with some very comedic situations -- since Joanna has no memory of any domestic skills and she is now a wife and mother. One day her real life catches up with her and to her surprise, she realizes that her new life is the one she really wants.
-- Photo Editor, BHG.com

Starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey; run time: 105 minutes

Why we love it: It's a bad-boy-meets-good-girl classic set at a Catskills resort in 1964. Jennifer Grey plays Baby, a doctor's daughter who falls for Johnny (Patrick Swayze), a hunky dance instructor from the wrong side of the tracks. A crisis puts Baby and her daddy at odds with one another, leading to a delicious scene where Johnny says "Nobody puts Baby in the corner." As many times as I've seen it, I still cry when at that moment, as well as the ensuing production where Johnny and Baby amaze the crowd (and her parents) with their ability to dance.
-- Senior Holidays Editor, BHG.com

Starring John Cusack and Ione Skye; run time: 100 minutes

Why we love it: When I think of the quintessential romantic movie moment, I think of John Cusack (as Lloyd Dobler) holding up his boom box in "Say Anything" to woo the smart and beautiful Diane Court (played by Ione Skye). Yes, I guess I truly am a product of the 1980s...
-- Contributing Editor, Remodeling, BHG.com

Starring Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine; run time: 130 minutes

Why we love it: Every year, I curl up with a bowl of homemade, buttered popcorn to watch my favorite chick flick of all time -- Rebecca, based on Daphne Du Maurier's gothic novel. "Last night I went to Manderley" begins this 1940, black-and-white Hitchcock thriller. I can hear the eerie music, see the darkly lit mansion, and sense the dread and fear. What's not to like about a young Joan Fontaine, handsome Laurence Olivier, dark romance...and mystery of the first wife, Rebecca. Okay, the film won a boatload of Oscar nominations including Best Picture. And in the end...I won't spoil for you...I'm just looking next forward to next year's viewing.
-- Editor-in-Chief, Creative Collection

Starring Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard; run time: 115 minutes

Why we love it: She's quirky, dreamy, and impossibly flawed, making Holly Golightly (aka Audrey Hepburn) impossible to resist in Breakfast at Tiffany's. In this Manhattan socialite's misguided search for love, you're bound to laugh out loud -- and encounter the kind of wacky characters you're likely to meet in modern-day New York or any other big city. A curious mix of gutsy and shy, depending on the moment, the fascinating Holly pulls off stunts that most of us would never dare to do (but would secretly love to), like dressing to the nines to nibble a pastry and marvel at the wonders in the display case of the oh-so-posh Tiffany's. And what woman can resist the movie -- or starlet -- that launched the Little Black Dress craze?
-- Senior Food Editor, BHG.com

Starring Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore; run time: 126 minutes

Why we love it: It's definitely a racy movie. There's a really sensuous scene with both of them at the potting wheel, playing with the wet clay. And their chemistry and their love continues even after he dies. And of course, Patrick Swayze is such a cutie.
-- Associate E-Commerce Manager, BHG.com

Starring Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Keira Knightley, Laura Linney, Bill Nighy, Alan Rickman, and Emma Thompson; run time: 135 minutes

Why we love it: I put Love Actually on my list of fave chick flicks simply because it's one of the only romantic movies that doesn't make me nauseous. There are multiple storylines and couples, each with realistic hurdles they must jump to make their love connection work. And although the overall mood is happy and joyful, not every story ends as expected with a pretty, perfect bow on top. If you stopped believing in fairy tales, but still believe in love, then buy or rent this movie!
-- Gift Gallery Editor, BHG.com

Starring: Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts; run time: 124 minutes

Why we love it: We love any chick flick with Hugh Grant in it, to start. And this one is especially endearing, because he plays a bookstore owner in Notting Hill, London, who falls in love with Hollywood actress Anna Scott (Julia Roberts). The agony and ecstasy of the film comes in watching them deal with the reactions of their closest friends -- as well as the paparazzi -- to their affair. But the classic chick flick formula prevails: boy gets girl, boy loses girl, and boy gets girl again in the end.
-- Associate Editor, Crafts, BHG.com

Starring Cher and Nicolas Cage; run time: 102 minutes

Why we love it: Cher plays Loretta Castorini, a plain widow who considers herself unlucky in love. Giving up on romance, she agrees to marry her friend, Johnny Cammareri. But she unexpectedly falls for his estranged brother, Ronny, which leads to a glamorous makeover (imagine...Cher changing her looks!), a new engagement, and the eventual reconciliation of the two brothers. The scene where Loretta meets Ronny at the opera -- both dressed to the nines for the first time in their lives -- is quite touching. And Vincent Gardenia and Olympia Dukakis as her parents are not to be missed.
-- Senior Projects Editor, BHG.com

Starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour; run time: 103 minutes

Why we love it: Talk about your star-crossed lovers coming from two different worlds! As 1980s Richard Collier, Christopher Reeve uses self-hypnosis to travel back in time to find the actress (Jane Seymour) whose early-20th-century portrait hangs in a grand hotel. They fall in love, but eventually a forgotten object from 1980 sends Richard away from his beloved Elise, back to the present where he dies from grief. Happily, he is reunited with Elise "on the other side." I loved this movie when I first saw it in 1980, and I still love it -- appreciating what a fine actor Reeve was above and beyond the Superman franchise.
-- Senior Remodeling Editor, BHG.com

Starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Jeremy Northam; run time: 121 minutes

Why we love it: Emma Woodhouse (played by the amazing Gwyneth Paltrow) is the quintessential busybody who's too sweet to dislike. I can completely relate to Emma's unsuccessful attempts to orchestrate marriages between her small group of friends; who among us hasn't tried to hook up our single friends? You'll laugh at her mistakes, be shocked by her not-so-subtle matchmaking method, and cross your fingers that she'll find love with a dreamboat of her own.
-- Managing Editor, BHG.com

Starring Helena Bonham Carter and Julian Sands; run time: 117 minutes

Why we love it: What's not to love about a romance film with British accents, Edwardian manners, and period costumes? The willfully pretty heroine must choose between a proper-but-boring fiance and a free-spirited bohemian hunk -- no surprises how that turns out, but it's a very enjoyable journey! Plus, the tables are turned on the sexes when the only nudity is a hilarious skinny-dipping scene featuring assorted hunks and a rather rotund vicar.
-- Senior Health Editor, BHG.com

Starring Jeff Bridges, Beau Bridges, and Michelle Pfeiffer; run time: 114 minutes

Why we love it: Two words: Jeff Bridges. Wait...19 word...Jeff Bridges playing "Makin' Whoopee" on a grand piano while Michelle Pfeifer sings and writhes along with the music. Their sizzling romance is almost overshadowed, however, by the hilarious scenes between the Baker Boys, played by real-life brothers Jeff and Beau Bridges. And the music (mostly torch songs) is fabulous.
-- Associate Editor, Remodeling, BHG.com

Starring Ryan O'Neal and Ali MacGraw; run time: 99 minutes

Why we love it: I just remember when it first came out and how sad it was (two star-crossed lovers from different economic-class backgrounds get married, then experience a tragic illness). I made a poster for my room with cool letters that said: "Love means never having to say you're sorry."
-- Copy Chief, Meredith Corporation

Starring Omar Sharif and Julie Christie; run time: 197 minutes

Why we love it: It's been a long time since I've seen the movie, however, I do remember Czarist Russia as being a romantic setting. Dr. Yuri Zhivago was a good husband and father thrown into difficult and tragic war time circumstances. He found comfort and solace in a forbidden love with Lara, played by Julie Christie. You came away empathizing with Zhivago and both women, his wife and his mistress. And who can forget the scene in the ice palace?
-- Contributing Editor, BHG.com

Starring Richard Dreyfuss and Holly Hunter; run time: 122 minutes

Why we love it: Who knew that Steven Spielberg could direct such a touchingly romantic movie? Dreyfuss plays Pete, a daredevil pilot who puts out forest fires. After a fatal accident, Pete comes back to earth to haunt Dorinda (Holly Hunter), the love of his life. His ghostly presence keeps her trapped in grief, though, until he realizes that he must help her let go and find new love. My favorite scene is early on, when Pete gives Dorinda a beautiful white dress and she tearfully thanks him by saying, "It's not the dress...it's the way you see me."
-- Associate Editor, Health, BHG.com

Starring Richard Chamberlain and Rachel Ward; run time: 477 minutes

Why we love it: The only title that's not from the silver screen, The Thorn Birds (a TV mini-series set in Australia) remains one of my favorite chick flicks of all time. Richard Chamberlain is handsome, elegant, and theoretically unattainable as Father Ralph de Bricassart. But he still manages to carry on a lifelong love affair with Meggie Cleary (Rachel Ward), daughter of a sheep rancher who is one of Father Ralph's parishioners. No woman who has ever seen this movie can forget the scene where Father Ralph shows up on the island where Meggie is vacationing to get over her failed marriage to Luke, played by real-life husband Bryan Brown. Sigh...Why don't more men wear white-linen suits?
-- Senior Holidays Editor, BHG.com