1. Secretary
Forget Christian Grey – it's Secretary's E Edward Grey who's the original kinky king. Aside from all the S&M, this unconventional office romance actually tells a surprisingly sweet love story. The spanking scene means it's probably not one to watch with a first date, though – unless you're after a slap. No, not that kind of slap.
2. Blue Valentine
There's nothing like watching a relationship die a slow and painful death on screen to make you (and your partner) glad of what you’ve got. It features a stellar performance from Ryan Gosling, who somehow still manages to look cool as a balding alchy. This one's a highbrow flick, so you can trick your date into thinking that you is more cleverer than them.
3. The Graduate
We don't want to sound like your dad, but they just don't make ’em like this anymore. A young Dustin Hoffman stars as the angst-ridden lead, who is seduced by the ultimate milf, Mrs Robinson, then falls for her daughter. And he gets to drive around in an Alfa Romeo Spider to Simon and Garfunkel. Lucky sod.
4. Hitch
It might be an idea to watch this before your date comes round, so you can learn from Doctor Hitch’s ground-breaking tips. Because we’re nice, we’ll give you one of his for free – listen when she talks to you. Who knew? If dating advice isn’t a reason to watch it, we’ve got one more: Eva Mendes. ‘Nuff said.
5. Silver Linings Playbook
It might be a bit corny in that ‘Hollywood gets all intense to talk about mental illness’ kind of way, but this rom-com’s sharp, banterous script saves the day. It’s brilliantly acted by an A-list cast including Bradley Cooper, De Niro and Jennifer Lawrence. And the final dance scene is sure to melt the hearts of even the greatest romance-haters.
6. Romeo & Juliet
How can you possibly have a Valentine’s Day round-up and not include the greatest romance of all time? Ok, so it ends in tragedy, death and despair, but this version also has car chases, shoot outs, and Mercutio dancing round in a sparkling bikini, so you know, swings and roundabouts...
7. Amelie
It might be a bit sickly-sweet at times, but Amelie is the quintessential quirky romance. Audrey Tautou is impossibly cute, and the music and cinematography are enchanting in a fairy-tale sort of way. If you don’t like Paris, you’ll want to move there by the end of this flick, which is essentially a love letter to the city.
8. There’s Something about Mary
Don’t expect taste, political correctness, or maturity in this rollicking comedy from the Farrelly brothers. Do expect gross-out humour, silliness and general hilarity. We’re all in love with Mary too, played by the ever-fanciable Cameron Diaz. And you’ll never look at hair gel in the same way again.
9. 500 days of summer
This film is basically a cinematic version of Gloria Gaynor’s I Will Survive – but for blokes. 500 days of summer starts at the end of the relationship between Tom, played by Jason Gordon-Levitt, and Summer – aka Queen of kooky, Zooey Deschanel. It might be bittersweet, but the ending is wonderfully feel-good: break-ups happen. Man up, get over it.
10. Silence of the Lambs
Get your date over to your place, make her a nice meal, watch Anthony Hopkins in Silence of the Lambs over a nice Chianti. Romance personified, right?
