Alright, real talk. Last Friday night, my partner and I did that thing where we spent literally forever scrolling through Prime Video. You know the drill—one of us suggests something, the other goes “meh,” then we keep scrolling until we’re both annoyed and just end up watching some random sitcom we’ve seen a million times.
Why is picking a movie so hard? Especially when you actually want to watch something together that won’t have one person snoring or secretly wishing they’d just gone to bed early.
So I figured I’d save you the trouble. I’ve been on a bit of a romantic movie binge lately (don’t judge me), and I found some genuine gems that are actually worth watching. No cheesy nonsense. No predictable garbage. Just good stories about real people falling in love.
The Big Sick (2017)
Can we talk about how good this movie is? Because nobody prepared me for it.
Kumail Nanjiani plays himself—well, a version of himself. He’s a struggling comedian who falls for this grad student, Emily. Everything’s going great until she gets really sick and ends up in a coma. Meanwhile, his Pakistani parents keep trying to set him up with other women because they have no idea he’s even dating someone.
I went into this thinking it’d be depressing. A coma? Come on. But it’s actually hilarious in parts. And the weird thing is, the funniest scenes happen in the hospital. Kumail ends up spending all this time with Emily’s parents (played by Ray Romano and Holly Hunter), and watching them navigate this bizarre situation together is just… it’s perfect. Uncomfortable and heartwarming at the same time.
The whole thing’s based on what actually happened to Kumail and his wife Emily, which maybe explains why it feels so genuine. There’s no Hollywood polish on the messy parts. When his parents freak out about him dating a white girl, it’s awkward as hell. When he doesn’t know what to say at the hospital, he just sits there looking lost. That’s what made me love it—it doesn’t pretend relationships are simple.
About Time (2013)
I’m just gonna say it: this movie destroyed me.
Domhnall Gleeson finds out he can travel back in time. His dad tells him on his 21st birthday like it’s no big deal—just a family thing all the men can do. So naturally, he uses it to fix his awkward moments and win over Rachel McAdams, who plays this quirky girl he meets at a party.
Sounds fun, right? It is! For the first half. They’re adorable together. You’re watching him redo conversations and create these perfect romantic moments, and it’s sweet.
Then the movie pulls this sneaky move. It stops being about romance and starts being about his relationship with his dad. About time passing. About how you can’t actually control everything, no matter how many do-overs you get.
I had to pause it twice because I was crying so hard. My partner looked over at me like, “Are you okay?” and I couldn’t even explain it. There’s this one scene near the end—I won’t spoil it—but if you’re close with your parents, bring tissues. Seriously.
But here’s why it’s perfect for date night: it sneaks up on you. You think you’re watching a light romantic comedy, and then boom—you’re having deep thoughts about how you spend your time and whether you’re present with the people you love. Heavy stuff, but in the best way.
Palm Springs (2020)
If you’ve had one of those weeks where everything went wrong and you just need to laugh, watch this one.
Andy Samberg’s character is stuck reliving the same wedding day over and over. Then Cristin Milioti’s character gets trapped in the loop with him, and they have to figure out how to deal with it together. It’s funny—properly funny, not just “romantic comedy chuckle” funny.
What shocked me is how smart it is underneath all the jokes. Because once you’ve lived the same day a thousand times, what’s the point of anything? Why bother connecting with people if it’s all gonna reset tomorrow? The movie actually digs into that question without getting all philosophical and boring about it.
Plus, Milioti is fantastic. She brings this chaos to the role that makes you understand why Samberg’s character falls for her. They genuinely seem like they enjoy being around each other, which you’d be surprised how rare that is in romantic comedies.
Oh, and there’s a scene with a dinosaur. I won’t explain. Just trust me.
The Photograph (2020)
This one’s different from the others. Slower. Quieter.
Issa Rae and Lakeith Stanfield play two people who start dating while they’re both dealing with grief and complicated feelings about their families. The movie jumps back and forth between their story and Issa Rae’s character’s mom’s love story from years earlier.
Not gonna lie—some people might find it slow. My friend texted me after watching it like, “That’s it?” But I loved how it just lets moments sit there. People have actual conversations. There are long pauses. It feels like watching real life instead of some Hollywood version of romance.
The lighting in this movie is incredible too. Everything’s bathed in this warm, golden glow that makes it feel intimate, like you’re peeking into someone’s private moments.
Look, Here’s The Deal
The best date night isn’t about finding the “perfect” movie. It’s about finding something that gives you both a reason to put your phones down, share some space on the couch, and maybe talk about something deeper than what’s for dinner tomorrow.
These four movies did that for me. They’re not trying too hard. They’re not fake. They just tell good stories about people trying to figure out love and life, which is basically what we’re all doing anyway.
So pick one, make some popcorn, and actually commit to watching it instead of scrolling for another hour. Promise it’s worth it.
