“Sure,” they texted, “a movie sounds great”. Between skipping down the street and keeping the butterflies at bay, you’ve given no thought to what movie you’ll be watching. After a half-hour browse and a courteous “I don’t mind, you pick” you choose The Hangover, a safe bet. But this special night has no spark. There’s nothing to talk about, and they’re checking their phone constantly, probably to see what time it is.

Don’t let this happen to you. Movies and dates go together like butter and popcorn because cinema is among the most wonderful shared experiences: stories, laughter, and emotion help blossoming connections bloom. So whether you’re dating the one or just having fun, be ready with good date night movies that wow. The best among these will make lasting impressions that show you have great taste in films, increasing the chances of a second date.

15 'The Big Sick' (2017)

Director: Michael Showalter

Romantic comedies are a dime a dozen. While there are a few standouts, the genre paradoxically has little to offer if you’re trying to watch something that incites romantic feelings and is also a good movie (no offense, rom-com lovers). To impress a date with a romantic comedy, you have to come from somewhere different.

That’s where one of the best date movies, The Big Sick, comes to your aid. A true story, it’s far from your stock romantic comedy with tiring tropes. It follows the story of Pakistani comic Kumail (Kumail Ali Nanjiani) who starts a relationship with American graduate student Emily (Zoe Kazan). When she suddenly has a serious illness that ends with her in a coma, Kumail confronts his anxieties around his traditional Muslim parents and forms an unexpected bond with Emily's mom and dad. The Big Sick is real, an original and genuine account of true love that induces laughing bellies and locking eyes. It's among the good date movies that are not for everyone, but those who love it will consider it one of their favorites forever.

Watch on Amazon Prime

14 'I Love You, Man' (2009)

Director: John Hamburg

Love and dating are awkward at the best of times, and movies that capture them can help the whole experience feel much more normal. Vicarious embarrassment strikes up familiar feelings and helps people empathize with the more cringe-worthy parts of life. This is precisely what I Love You, Man has in store for viewers.

Watching Paul Rudd and Jason Segel’s bromance bloom is a hilarious and heartfelt adventure (and makes for one of the more unconventional date night movie ideas). Rudd plays the incredibly awkward Peter Klaven, who realizes how few male friends he has in the lead-up to his wedding in I Love You, Man. He may have a fantastic job, a loving wife, and a gorgeous home, but Peter feels pressured and disheartened by the lack of friendships in his life. With time ticking until his wedding, he embarks on a mission to find a best friend. The comedy ensemble cast includes Andy Samberg, JK Simmons, and Rashida Jones.

13 'Lion' (2016)

Director: Garth Davis

When you’re just starting out dating, an epic can be a risky move should it be too long. But epics can answer some important questions about your crush: How empathetic are they? Can they follow a story? Do they ask too many questions? Is it kind of cute when they do? To answer these questions and more, look no further than Lion. The powerful true story of Saroo Brierley (Dev Patel), who, at five years old, is separated from his family and must fend for himself. After 25 years, he goes in search of them once again.

Dev Patel’s performance is as elegant as the cinematography, and the narrative is deep and uplifting. It's not the typical pick for a date night movie, which is exactly why Lion could be the perfect choice for a certain type of viewer. The biographical drama film can motivate, inspire, and move to tears, so be warned.

12 'Yes, God, Yes' (2019)

Director: Karen Maine

Racing hearts, the flickering of the small screen accentuating the sparkle in their eyes. All you want is to move your sweaty hand over to theirs before it’s too sweaty, but you can’t. The tension builds and builds, their laugh is so cute! They are so cute. Their hand moves onto your leg, and your eyes meet.

If there was ever a mood setter with excellent writing behind it, it’s probably Yes, God, Yes starring Stranger Things’ Natalie Dyer. It's centered on Catholic girl Alice (Dyer) and her newfound path towards sexual liberation, which was triggered by a racy AOL chat. The coming-of-age comedy-drama tackles sexuality and religious guilt with clever humor anchored by Dyer's performance. Hormones alone fuel this film and weave a tale of sexual self-discovery, and is guaranteed to provide laughs in between the steam.

Watch on Tubi

11 'Decision to Leave' (2022)

Director: Park Chan-wook

Director Park Chan-wook's romance mystery film is the unconventionally artsy pick for those considering critically acclaimed great date night movies. It revolves around a married detective Jang Hae-jun (Park Hae-il) with insomnia who comes across a bizarre murder case, and soon finds himself falling for the prime suspect and the victim's widow, Chinese immigrant Song Seo-rae (Tang Wei).

With remarkably innovative cinematography, a tense yet quirky atmosphere, and a truly twisted romance, Decision to Leave is the ideal choice for anyone dating a cinephile (or a true crime fan). The tension between Seo-rae and Hae-jun is palpable, and it's engrossing to see how their dynamic changes as the detective discovers more about her husband's "accident." It's among the best recent South Korean movies that will certainly go down in cinematic history as one of the greats.

10 'About Time' (2013)

Director: Richard Curtis

Romantic comedies aren’t known for their deep subtext. If you’re single and longing for love, that’s not necessarily bad. Romance without the inconveniences of reality makes for great escapism. But a magical love story full of big ideas makes for a more memorable experience, which is what director Richard Curtis offers with his 2013 work of art.

About Time is a love story with a time travel twist that follows Tim (Dohmnall Gleeson), who discovers he can travel back in time. At first, it’s fun, but things become increasingly complicated when he meets the love of his life. As Tim navigates his newfound power in this refreshingly grounded time travel movie, he learns that it's the small things in life that truly matter. Enchanting performances by Dohmnall Gleeson and Rachel McAdams contrast a light, fun tone with the deepness of time’s relationship with love.

9 'Scott Pilgrim vs. the World' (2010)

Director: Edgar Wright

A fun rom-com and action film, director Edgar Wright's Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is a beloved cult classic that tells the story of the titular protagonist (played by Michael Cera), an awkward bass guitarist who falls for badass skater Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). Unfortunately, Ramona has a deadly past, with ex-boyfriends who go after Scott one by one to challenge him.

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is an iconic love letter to the graphic novels the film is based on (written by Bryan Lee O'Malley). It's fun, hilarious, and at times, achingly sweet, largely due to the protagonist's awkward nature contrasted with Ramona's bold personality. There's no dull moment in the 2010 film that truly feels like a comic book that has come to life. Anyone cuddling up next to a comic book fan should definitely pick this for an amusing and romantic date night.

Watch on Amazon Prime

8 'Brokeback Mountain' (2005)

Director: Ang Lee

Sometimes you need a good old-fashioned tear-jerking love story that no red-blooded human can hold tears back from watching. Movies like The Notebook and Dear John do this undeniably well. But there are those, and there are the greats. If you or your date haven’t already seen Brokeback Mountain, have you ever really experienced true love on-screen?

Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal’s chemistry is palpable as they play two cowboys who fall into forbidden love in what is still considered one of the greatest LGBTQ+ movies ever made. Everything about this movie is simply breathtaking, and it does go to some deeply emotional places. It's more for audiences in the mood for something heavy and hard-hitting, and for those who aren't necessarily expecting the happiest of endings.

7 'Her' (2013)

Director: Spike Jonze

Complex social commentary and budding romance are a tricky mix. Opposing opinions may cause a boiling over of tensions, but healthy debate might emulsify as your date challenges you in new and exciting ways. But this is why it’s called chemistry, and a movie that can do the love and commentary together is the solution.

2013’s Her stars Joaquin Phoenix as Theodore, a heartbroken writer who falls in love with an operating system called Samantha, masterfully voiced by Scarlett Johansson. Her explores the contemporary definitions of intimacy and identity, especially relevant post-pandemic. As Theodore falls in love with someone who isn't even technically human, it calls into question the nature of romance itself and the isolation that modern technologies can cause. It delivers this message without being heavy-handed, of course, with the intimate soft dystopian romance movie being a one-of-a-kind pick for an interesting date night.

Rent on Apple TV

6 'Amélie' (2001)

Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet

An essential French film, Amélie is the perfect way to transport any date night to the whimsical, stylistic, and stunning streets of Paris. It's centered on the titular character (played by Audrey Tautou), who secretly improves the lives of everyone else around her, while ignoring her own feelings of loneliness. She's scared of confronting her own anxieties related to her past and would rather help those around her instead. When she meets a charming man one day, everything changes.

A fantastic feel-good movie with an artsy touch, Amélie is a wonderful reminder of the kindness and love that exists all around the world (for those willing to look for and accept it). Tautou gives an endearing performance as the charming and likable protagonist, who reminds viewers how small actions can have huge effects. It's the ideal choice for a light-hearted and feel-good type of evening that will end in smiles and maybe even happy tears.

Rent on Apple TV

5 'Your Name' (2016)

Director: Makoto Shinkai

For lovers of anime, Your Name is a film that needs no introduction. The massively popular animated movie follows the fantastical romance that forms between two people who have never even met – high school students Taki Tachibana (Ryunosuke Kamiki) and Mitsuha Miyamizu (Mone Kamishiraishi). They grow close when they begin to inexplicably swap bodies and soon start making small positive changes in each other's lives.

A body swap, romance, sci-fi, and fantasy film all at once, Your Name is a great choice for both new and established anime fans. As Mitsuha and Taki learn more about each other's lives in the process of swapping bodies, they inevitably form a distinct but strong connection despite never having technically met. Be prepared for its exciting story to suddenly turn emotional after an iconic twist that transforms its deceptively simple premise.

Watch on Criterion

4 'In the Mood for Love' (2000)

Director: Wong Kar-wai

In the mood for something different, gorgeous, and unique? Then director Wong Kar-Wai's acclaimed masterpiece is the film for date night. In the Mood for Love is set in 1962 where a journalist Chow Mo-wan (Tony Leung Chiu Wai) forms an unlikely bond with a new friend Su Li-zhen (Maggie Cheung Man-yuk). The duo begins falling in love after they realize their respective partners are cheating on them, but fall short of forming a true physical relationship, settling for longing stares and palpable intensity instead.

The tension between the two leads has cemented the protagonists as having some of the best chemistry in cinematic history. Their forbidden love is told through stolen glances, mournful music, and stylistic visuals that will have audiences mesmerized and thinking about seizing the moment while they can. In the Mood for Love is one of the best date night movies to watch for an artsy feel without having to walk around a museum.

Watch on Max

3 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' (2004)

Director: Michel Gondry

Indie cinema has so much depth to offer but can be a little intense or nonsensical for first-timers. Whether you’re a cinephile looking to introduce your date to the indie world or looking for an accessible introduction yourself, you need a digestible think piece. Michel Gondry's 2004 cult classic can be the perfect choice for precisely that.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind stars Jim Carrey as Joel Barish and Kate Winslet as Clementine Kruczynski in the perfect 2000s indie film. Set in a reality where technology can erase memories of old flames, the thought-provoking movie follows a couple that seems to keep finding each other despite seemingly never having met before these instances. Its non-linear narrative soon reveals tht Joel and Clementine were once lovers who had memories of their relationship wiped after a painful breakup. The storyline and performances are brilliant and mesmerizing, and the ending is bittersweet and unforgettable, with the film still one of the best sci-fi romance movies out there.

2 'Past Lives' (2023)

Director: Celine Song

Past Lives is Celine Song's tremendous debut that has already garnered a reputation as being among the best modern romances ever put to the big screen. It's centered on Nora (Greta Lee) and Hae Sung (Teo Yoo), who were extremely close childhood friends, but were then separated by Nora's move outside of South Korea. It spans several decades, but mostly focuses on the period when Hae Sung decides to visit Nora in New York, finally reconnecting with her after years of on-and-off communication.

The film depicts their emotional reunion, which lasts for a week, as well as the awkward love triangle that starts to form with Nora's husband, Arthur (John Magaro). Throughout this period, the pair reflect on their past and how it's intertwined with their present, their fears and hopes, regrets, and dreams. Past Lives is a deeply profound and moving story that reminds viewers about the value of loving in the present, and is a particularly thoughtful pick for date night.

Watch in Cinemas

1 'Before Sunrise' (1995)

Director: Richard Linklater

Sometimes you just know. And when you do, you need something special. Something that ignites in both of you that floaty, dreamy feeling. Something big, with sequels. Something as investment-worthy as the two of you. That's the kind of feeling a certain 1995 classic romance inspires in most audiences.

Allow Richard Linklater to captain you on an odyssey of love and chemistry with Before Sunrise. Two travelers in Vienna, Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy), meet on a train bound for Paris but feel an instant, intense connection and decide to wander around the city together for just one night. The movie follows Jesse and Celine as they aimlessly walk around and have conversations, some deep and insightful, others silly and comedic. It's a realistic and beautiful portrayal of what it's like to fall in love. The film sparked a trilogy that revisits the lovers every nine years, with all three worth watching if a long date night is what viewers are after.

NEXT:The Best Romantic Comedies of All Time, Ranked