It’s date night, and you’re scrambling your brain for ideas about what to do—should you go out to dinner? Sure, that’s a possibility; everyone needs to eat!
Mini golf is another option, but you open your weather app and see that rain is forecasted, so that’s out. And if it’s gonna rain, that takes any outdoor activity out of the date night running as well.
You’ve already thought about seeing a movie, but you’re worried that it’s not a creative date night activity. But guess what? You’re wrong. There is a reason why watching a movie on a date has been done to death—and that reason is everyone loves movies.
They take you out of yourself for a few hours (or at least 90 minutes) and get you in your feelings, and whether those feelings are happiness, sadness, or uncontrollable laughter depends on the flick you pick.
Not all movies are great date night choices, but many are perfect for the occasion. We picked our fav date night movies, and there is something for everyone, whether you’re a hopeless romantic, a rom-com fanatic, or a glutton for a good cry.
So pop that popcorn and read on for the best 8 date night movies of all time!
1. Her (2013)
In the 2013 film Her, Scarlett Johansson provides the intoxicating voice of the protagonist, Samantha–a computer operating system–while Joaquin Phoenix plays a heartbroken writer, Theodore. Post-pandemic, the film’s examination of modern conceptions of closeness and self-definition feels especially timely. And with AI assuming a bigger role in dating apps and society overall, it is an extremely relevant watch!
It doesn’t matter if it’s a first date or the tenth–this movie is for everyone.
2. Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011)
Crazy, Stupid, Love has everything from a stacked A-list cast to a heartwarming and sometimes heartwrenching storyline that will make you experience every emotion in the space of the film’s run-time.
Steve Carrell leads the ensemble cast as a middle-aged man whose existence is thrown into chaos when his wife, played by Julianne Moore, says she wants a divorce. Enter Ryan Gosling as a slick, womanizing wingman who swoops in to help Carrell get his groove back. Does he get his groove back? He does, in some hilarious moments and a penultimate sweet one. Emma Stone, Marisa Tomei, and Kevin Bacon round out the cast, and whether you’ve not seen this movie or watch it every time it comes on, it’s pretty much the perfect date night movie.
3. Love & Basketball (2000)
In this cult favorite, childhood best friends and b-ball hopefuls Monica Wright (Sanaa Lathan) and Quincy McCall (Omar Epps) play the will they or won’t they dance before getting together.
They’re both playing college basketball at the same university, and their relationship starts to fall apart as their success grows and they follow their dreams. Do they overcome and get their happy ending? If you haven’t seen Love & Basketball, you’ll need to park yourself on a couch with your date and watch to find out! P.S.- make sure you have tissues.
4. The Graduate (1967)
For classic film lovers, it doesn’t get better than The Graduate. Indecisive after graduating college, the jaded protagonist, played by Dustin Hoffman, is torn between his older partner (the legend Anne Bancroft) and *GASP* her daughter (Katharine Ross).
The movie begins with Benjamin Braddock coming home to Cali and not sure what to do with his life. Then he meets Mrs. Robinson–yes, that Mrs. Robinson who inspired a Simon and Garfunkel song of the same name–who seduces him. Further complicating the already complicated (she is his father’s business partner’s wife), he then meets and pursues her daughter. Messy! But in a mesmerizing way.
While this date night movie probably won’t interest younger singles, it will interest young men pursuing a cougar or a cougar looking to date a cub. It could serve as a tutorial, and you’ll be watching the pinnacle of cinema.
5. Hitch (2005)
Will Smith plays Alex “Hitch” Hitchens, a charming and debonair matchmaker in New York City, and promises that any dude who follows his infallible advice and overcomes his inhibitions will have no trouble wooing the woman of his dreams. Enter Albert Brenneman, played by Kevin James, a shy accountant who wants to snag a beautiful model/heiress named Allegra Cole (played by actual model Amber Valletta).
In his quest to help Brenneman conquer his fears and get his dream girl, Hitch has a chance encounter with a gossip columnist, played by Eva Mendes, and for the first time, finds himself on the wrong foot when it comes to wooing, resulting in belly-laugh results for viewers.
You can watch this movie on any kind of date night–in fact, even if it’s not date night, this movie is always a good pick.
6. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Are you and your date up for an emotionally charged story that delves into the nuances of human connection? In Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Clementine and Joel, played by Kate Winslet and Jim Carrey, who recently split up, decide to have an experimental and dodgy procedure done to remove any traces of their time spent together–a love lobotomy of sorts.
This is a deep and pretty heavy movie, so it’s probably not the best first date choice unless you and your match have previously discussed your eclectic film tastes and can handle the emotional rollercoaster this brilliant film takes you on. You’ll need tissues for this one as well.
7. The Proposal (2009)
We could put at least four Sandra Bullock-led rom-coms on this list, but this one is by far our favorite. The Proposal follows a tightly-wound book editor, who, after learning she’s about to be deported back to her native Canada, asks her overworked executive assistant Andrew (played by the always hilarious Ryan Reynolds) to marry her.
He agrees on the conditions that she promotes him to book editor so he can publish the books he’s passionate about and that she accompanies him to his hometown in Alaska for his
Grandma Annie’s 90th birthday part. Did we mention that comedic legend Betty White plays Grandma Annie?
The plan is solid, but there is a suspicious immigration worker who wants to prove their marriage is a sham, a tense dad/son relationship, and a few other complications that stand in the way of their agreement.
You’ll laugh, get in your feels, and probably shed a tear or two (no tissues needed, just use your sleeve or your date’s sleeve) when you watch this rom-com–it was made for date night.
8. The Princess Bride (1987)
Let’s say you want date night to be a swashbuckling adventure, a timeless love story, and a big dose of nostalgia all wrapped up in a fairy tale; The Princess Bride will fit your date night dreams as effortlessly as the glass slipper slides onto Cinderella’s dainty foot.
Even if the movie has some dark themes, the story manages to sustain its cheery demeanor through the characters’ humorous deliveries and clever dialogue, and the unshakeable connection between Buttercup (Robin Wright) and Westley (Cary Elwes) serves as a reminder that most of the time, love wins in the end. As you tag along on the journey with the charming characters, which include Billy Crystal, Mandy Patinkin, Carol Kane, and Peter Falk, on their inspiring journey, you won’t be able to keep the grin off your face, making it a date night delight.
Takeaways
If you are in the mood for a movie on date night, you can’t go wrong with our best date night movies of all time! There is something for every type of movie-lover, guaranteeing that your date will be a success.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a first date or you’ve been in a long-term relationship and carve out time one night a week to spend some quality time together; these movies will foster closeness, perhaps some cuddling, and maybe some shared sniffles.
Oh, and if you still haven’t found that person to share movie date night with, why not start with one of our top dating apps? Hey, you never know!
