30 Best Date Night Movies to Set the Mood
A candle-lit dinner with a stellar view may sound like the ultimate romantic tryst, but sometimes, a good ol’ movie night is just enough to do the trick. And since the options can feel as vast as the universe, we compiled a list of 30 great films to save you that extra hour of combing through titles and reading random reviews. From romantic comedies to nostalgic cult classics, keep scrolling for the best date night movies to set the mood, including Sylvie’s Love, Crazy Rich Asians and more.
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1. ‘The Photograph’ (2020)
Who can say no to a charming storyline and sizzling chemistry between Issa Rae and Lakeith Stanfield? The Photograph follows Mae (Rae), the daughter of a famed photographer, who falls for a journalist (Stanfield) while learning more about her late mother’s life.
2. ‘Love & Basketball’ (2000)
This cult classic follows the budding romance between BFFs and aspiring basketball players Quincy McCall (Omar Epps) and Monica Wright (Sanaa Lathan). But as they pursue their dreams, their growing success threatens their relationship. If you loved The Best Man or Brown Sugar, you need to add this to your list.
3. ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ (2018)
When Rachel Chu (Constance Wu), a Chinese-American NYU professor, travels to Singapore with her boyfriend to meet his family for the first time, she’s thrown into a filthy rich lifestyle with hordes of disapproving women calling her a "gold digger." Can this relationship withstand all the drama?
4. ‘Sylvie’s Love’ (2020)
It’s got stunning ’60s fashion, soothing jazz tunes and an unforgettable love story that can melt the coldest of hearts. Tessa Thompson plays aspiring filmmaker Sylvie Parker, who embarks on a whirlwind romance after crossing paths with a saxophonist named Robert (Nnamdi Asomugha). Best enjoyed with a steamy cup of cocoa next to your date.
5. ‘Crazy, Stupid, Love’ (2011)
Steve Carell is Cal Weaver, a successful middle-aged guy who seems to have it all, from a gorgeous wife to a beautiful home. But when his wife insists on getting a divorce after cheating on him, he finds himself single and at a loss when it comes to the dating world. Thanks to the ultimate player, Jacob Palmer (Ryan Gosling), Cal might have a shot at finding love again.
6. ‘To All the Boys I've Loved Before’ (2018)
Lara Jean Covey‘s (Lana Condor) life is turned upside-down when her private letters get mailed out to all of her former crushes, thanks to her sister. As she tries to deal with the aftermath, she winds up finding real love (and herself) in the process.
7. ‘Love Jones’ (1997)
If you're drawn to semi-cheesy romance dramas that include a more realistic take on love, meet Love Jones. Nia Long stars as Nina, an ambitious photographer who immediately hits it off with an attractive poet named Darius Lovehall (Larenz Tate). But when Nina decides to move away and mend fences with her ex, their future starts to look uncertain.
8. ‘The Big Sick’ (2017)
Inspired by Kumail Nanjiani's real-life relationship with Emily V. Gordon, The Big Sick centers on interracial couple Kumail (Nanjiani) and Emily (Zoe Kazan). When Emily suddenly falls ill, Kumail must deal with cultural differences as he bonds with Emily’s family. Watch for laughs and a heartwarming message about embracing new cultures.
9. ‘Lovers Rock’ (2020)
Take a trip back to ’80s London with this swoon-worthy love story, which gives quite a bit of insight on Black British life at the time. When young Martha (Amarah-Jae St. Aubyn) attends a reggae house party with her close friend, she meets and falls for the handsome Franklyn (Michael Ward) after joining him on the dance floor. It’s just what you need to get in the mood for date night.
10. ‘Hitch’
A know-it-all dating consultant who goes by “Hitch” (Will Smith) tries to help one of his clients win the heart of the woman he loves. But when Hitch tries to use his foolproof methods with an attractive writer, he realizes that he still has a lot to learn about love and relationships.
11. ‘Free Guy’ (2021)
In this feel-good action comedy, Ryan Reynolds plays a bank teller who learns that he’s a character living inside a video game. With the help of his character friends, he must figure out a way to save the town before the entire game gets destroyed in the real world.
12. ‘Dirty Dancing’ (1987)
Here’s your excuse to have an intimate dancing sesh with your partner, right in your living room. The ’80s classic tells the story of a young woman named Frances (Jennifer Grey), AKA “Baby,” who finds love with a gorgeous dance instructor (Patrick Swayze) during a summer vacation with her family.
13. ‘The Graduate’ (1967)
Need your nostalgia fix? Then consider The Graduate. Dustin Hoffman stars as Benjamin Braddock, a college grad who starts on an unlikely romance after being seduced by an older woman, Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft). But their rendezvous is cut short when Benjamin falls for her daughter, Elaine (Katharine Ross).
14. ‘Palm Springs’ (2020)
Groundhog Day gets a refreshing twist in this delightful sci-fi comedy, which depicts a budding romance between two strangers who meet at a Palm Springs wedding. After getting stuck in a time loop, they must figure out a way to escape.
15. ‘Call Me by Your Name’ (2017)
Seventeen-year-old Elio Perlman (Timothée Chalamet), who lives with his parents in Lombardy, Italy, finds himself falling for his father’s handsome young intern and graduate student, Oliver (Armie Hammer). The Academy Award winner was met with widespread acclaim, thanks to its honest portrayal of relationships and heartbreak.
16. ‘Queen and Slim’ (2019)
Often described as the modern-day Bonnie and Clyde, this crime drama follows the fascinating love story between Queen (Jodie Turner-Smith) and Slim (Daniel Kaluuya), who go from having the most awkward first date to being on the run from police and falling in love. Beyond the romantic storyline, the film also brilliantly tackles the harsh realities of being Black in America.
17. ‘When Harry Met Sally’ (1989)
From Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan’s incredible chemistry to the iconic orgasm scene, this movie has all the makings of a great rom-com. Following the relationship between two longtime friends, When Harry Met Sally explores the age-old question of whether men and a women can truly be just friends.
18. ‘The Princess Bride' (1987)
Based on William Goldman’s 1973 novel of the same name, the movie follows a farmhand named Westley as he tries to rescue his beloved Princess Buttercup from the evil Prince Humperdinck. It’s smart, funny and insanely quotable.
19. ‘You've Got Mail’ (1998)
Bookstore owner Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) has a serious bone to pick with Joe Fox (Tom Hanks), the new Foxbooks chain store owner across the street. But little does she know that her mysterious online love interest and Joe are one and the same. What will happen when she finally learns the truth? You’ll have to watch to find out.
20. ‘Grease’ (1978)
Whether you’ve seen it twice or 200 times, watching Danny (John Travolta) and Sandy (Olivia Newton-John) serenade each other in all-black ensembles never gets old. Revisit the famous love story of the greaser and transfer student as they navigate high school.
21. ‘Moonlight’ (2016)
Mahershala Ali, Trevante Rhodes and Janelle Monae all star in the Oscar-winning film, which tackles themes like Black masculinity, addiction and sexuality. It follows the life of Chiron in three phases, including his childhood, teenage years and adult life, as he struggles to navigate his troubled upbringing and find his identity.
22. ‘Scream’ (1996)
Ideal for any couple who shares a love of all things spooky, Scream follows a young teenager who becomes the target of a masked killer terrorizing the town. It's incredibly clever, it delivers plenty of laughs, and it's got just enough jump scares to make you snuggle closer to your partner.
23. ‘Get Out’ (2017)
Now that Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) and his girlfriend, Rose (Allison Williams), have reached the meet-the-parents milestone of dating, she invites him for a weekend getaway upstate. At first, Chris reads the family's overly accommodating behavior as nervous attempts to deal with their daughter's interracial relationship, but as the weekend progresses, a series of increasingly disturbing discoveries leads him to a truth that he never could have imagined.
24. ‘How Stella Got Her Groove Back’ (1998)
Angela Bassett shines as Stella, a successful stockbroker who starts a fling with a guy who’s nearly half her age during a getaway in Jamaica. But when her time comes to return home to California, she realizes that she’s falling in love. Can this new romance survive long distance?
25. ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’ (2004)
Are you in the mood for a poignant tale that explores the complexity of relationships? Try Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, where a former couple, Clementine (Kate Winslet) and Joel (Jim Carrey), undergo a procedure to erase all their memories of each other after a devastating breakup.
26. ‘The Proposal’ (2009)
When a high-strung book editor (Sandra Bullock) learns that she’s about to be deported to Canada, she devises a plan to marry her overworked assistant (Ryan Reynolds). Although he agrees, she discovers that her troubles are far from over—thanks to a suspicious immigration worker who suspects foul play.
27. ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ (2002)
When Melanie (Reese Witherspoon), a successful fashion designer, gets engaged to her new beau, she realizes that she can't officially tie the knot until her former partner finalizes their divorce. Determined to move on, she heads home to Alabama—but she gets way more than she bargained for.
28. ‘La La Land’ (2016)
Want to impress your partner with your performance skills? Get those vocal cords ready and sing along with the cast of La La Land, which tells the story of a jazz musician and aspiring actress who fall in love while chasing their dreams in Los Angeles.
29. ‘Your Name’ (2016)
The Japanese anime film tells the story of a teenage girl and boy who suddenly begin to switch bodies, even though they live several miles away from each other. As they bond over time, one question remains: Can they survive this long-distance relationship? Prepare for stunning animation and a brilliant storyline that’ll tug at your heartstrings.
30. ‘Date Night’ (2010)
This list wouldn’t be complete without the ultimate date night movie, complete with a bizarre twist that sounds like every couple’s biggest nightmare. Comedy greats Steve Carell and Tina Fey play a married couple trying to spice things up in their relationship. But after they settle for a spontaneous, romantic night out, a simple misunderstanding lands them in serious danger.
