13 Best Valentine’s Day Movies You Should Watch Right Now
Valentine’s Day celebrates your partner, but on February 13th you honor your girlfriends. Valentine’s Day is a holiday whose origins date back to ancient times, namely to a 2010 episode of the beloved sitcom Parks and Recreation in which Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) celebrates her support circle with waffles and gifts.
Since then, the holiday has taken on a life of its own, and for good reason. As Knope explains in the show, it’s all about “ladies celebrating women,” and that feeling runs deep in the close proximity and often fraught holiday that celebrates romantic love. To help you remember the women in your life, I’ve put together a collection of movies you can watch with your girlfriends in honor of the holiday. Some of them are obvious classics, while others you may have missed. All are currently streaming or available for digital rental. Grab some popcorn and your best friends and enjoy.
Boys on the Side (1995)
The unlikely trio (Whoopi Goldberg, Drew Barrymore and Mary-Louise Parker) embark on a road trip from New York to Los Angeles but are sidetracked in Tucson, Arizona due to a health scare. With a soundtrack filled with samples of ’90s female singers and an early appearance from Matthew McConaughey, this drama shows how friends can become our chosen family.
Where to watch: Plex
Whip It Up (2009)
Speaking of Drew Barrymore, the actress made her directorial debut with this comedy about the daughter of a former beauty pageant winner who finds her tribe on a roller derby team. In addition to Barrymore, the cast includes Elliot Page, Kristen Wiig, Alia Shawkat, Eve and Juliette Lewis.
Where to watch: Cinemax, digital rental.
Beverly Hills Squad (1989)
There has been talk of a sequel to this late ’80s cult classic about a spoiled socialite (Shelley Long) who becomes the leader of her daughter’s Wild Girls troop, but the original is hard to beat. It also features the acting debut of indie singer Jenny Lewis, who references the film in her video for “She’s Not Me”.
Where to watch: digital rental.
Girls’ Trip (2017)
This comedy about a self-help guru reuniting with his friends (the Flossy Posse) on a trip to New Orleans features a groundbreaking performance from Tiffany Haddish and plenty of hilarious scenes of their exploits, including one that will make you think twice. I’m trying zip lining.
Where to stream: Peacock, Digital rental.
A League of Their Own (1992)
The studio’s marketing team put Tom Hanks at the center of promotion for this film about the first women’s professional baseball league. Although he’s hilarious as the down-on-his-luck manager, Geena Davis, Rosie O’Donnell, Lori Petty and Madonna give the film soul.
Where to watch: digital rental.
Bookstore (2019)
On the last day of high school, two nerds (Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever) try to cram all the fun they’ve missed over the past four years into one night, with hilarious results. It’s easy to call this woman a Superbad , but she’s too smart and serious to fit that mold.
Where to stream: YouTube, digital rental.
Lady Bird (2017)
Beanie Feldstein also starred in Greta Gerwig’s directorial debut, playing the title character’s best friend. Lady Bird (Saoirse Ronan) is a 17-year-old Catholic school student awkwardly coming of age in Sacramento, a city she longs to leave. Funny and sincere, this Oscar-nominated film shows that Gerwig was a confident filmmaker long before she created the world of Barbie .
Where to watch: Netflix, Paramount+ with Showtime, digital rental.
The Trouble with Angels (1966)
Two Catholic schoolgirls give their fashionable Mother Superior and her staff of nuns a hard time in this ’60s comedy about questioning authority and finding fulfillment in life. Like Lady Bird , this film finds friendship and fun in a place seemingly devoid of them.
Where to watch: digital rental.
9 to 5 (1980)
Dolly Parton, Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda are three office friends who plan to get revenge on their “sexist, selfish, lying, hypocritical bigot” boss. The leading actresses have remained close friends for decades since the film broke several box office records for female directors.
Where to watch: digital rental.
Pointless (1995)
A ’90s riff on Jane Austen’s Emma , the film follows the superficial Cher as she begins to find fulfillment in getting to know her teachers and friends. However, she can’t seem to make it work when it comes to finding self-love. Featuring a cast of future stars (including the ageless Paul Rudd), Clueless transcends the teen movie stereotype by giving its characters vibrancy and depth.
Where to watch: Paramount+ with Showtime, digital rental.
Joy Luck Club (1993)
The title of this film, based on the best-selling book of the same name, refers to four Chinese immigrants in San Francisco who regularly meet to play mahjong and talk about their daughters. Cultures and generations collide in this moving film, one of the first to feature a predominantly Asian-American cast telling a contemporary story about their culture.
Where to watch: digital rental.
Now and Then (1995)
Chances are you first watched this movie as a kid at your friend’s sleepover. Like the male-centric film Stand By Me , this film has an adult narrator remembering the fateful summer when her and her three friends’ lives changed, and catching up with them in the present day to determine how far they’ve come.
Where to watch: digital rental.
Real Women Have Curves (2002)
America Ferrera made her film debut in this drama about an East Los Angeles teenager who tries to escape his overbearing mother and become his own man. In a memorable scene, she inspires those who work in her mother’s textile family to do the same.
Where to watch: Max, Digital rental