It is Valentine’s Day week and everyone’s preparing for the romantic season. While many prefer going on a fancy date night or throwing a huge Valentine’s party, some would rather spend the night chilling in their pajamas and watching rom-coms with their significant other.
There are just certain movies that bring about the ambiance of feeling in love for the first time. From romantic comedies to sad endings, fans will surely find something they can relate to and their first taste of young love for Valentine’s season.
Updated on February 9th, 2022 by Danielle Bruncati: When it comes to Valentine's Day and teenagers, the holiday can be a bit of a mixed bag. But regardless of whether someone is single or not, there's always a teen movie to suit the occasion. In the last couple of years, the teen rom-com genre has been reborn with hilarious, cheesy, and more importantly, diverse and inclusive movies being released. But it's not only recent movies that are great to watch, there are also some classic teen movies from the 90s that should be added to everyone's Valentine's Day stream list.
Honorable Mentions
Sierra Burgess Is A Loser (2018)
• Available on Netflix
In a usual Sierra Burgess Is A Loser, the mean girl helps Sierra win the heart of her high school crush. They start out as bitter rivals, but when they finally get to know each other, they decide to team up.
Although the story is enjoyable, there are several scenes problematic scenes that include backstabbing, lying on social media, and catfishing. That said, there's nothing overly grave or sensitive about these particular scenes and the audience will still find this film amusing.
Anonymously Yours (2021)
• Available on Netflix
When Alex moves to his new upscale school not only is he out of place but he also gets off on the wrong foot with Vale, a senior at the school. Little do these two know that they’re actually texting each other and flirting after Alex accidentally texted the wrong number.
Love knows no bounds, especially when it comes to language barriers which is why this Spanish language movie is a great pick for Valentine’s Day. Anonymously Yours is also a modern take on the beloved You’ve Got Mail.
The Perfect Date (2019)
• Available on Netflix
In the age of technology, everything is possible – even finding the perfect date. Brooks Rattigan, a student who dreams of going into an Ivy League, saves up money for college by creating an app that enables the to customize him as their ideal perfect date for any occasion and he gets paid in return. The twist happens when he goes on a date with someone he developed feelings for.
At the end of the movie, Brooks realized something important: if he pretends to be someone he is not to get what he wants, be it his dream school or dream girl, then it’s not worth it.
The Best Teen Movies To Watch On Valentine's Day
To All The Boys I've Loved Before (2018)
• Available on Netflix
Netflix is credited with revitalizing the teen rom-com genre with the help of based on the novel of the same name, centers on Lara Jean, a shy teenager obsessed with the idea of love. When her love letters to her crush accidentally get sent out, Lara Jean finds herself in a fake relationship with one of her crushes, Peter, in the hopes of getting another crush off her back.
To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before is pure magic. It’s perfect for fans of classic rom-com tropes but manages to push the rom-com genre into a new generation thanks to its diverse casting.
The Kissing Booth (2018)
• Available on Netflix
In this Netflix original film, late-bloomer teenager Elle Evans, together with her childhood friend, Lee Flynn, decide to set up a ‘Kissing Booth’ school fundraising event. But Elle's life turns topsy-turvy when the mean girls set up Elle to kiss the most undesirable student. Instead, though, she ends up kissing her long-time crush, Noah Flynn, who is also her best friend’s brother.
This film has everything a teen flick should have: an invisible girl who became popular, a school bad boy who falls in love with her, the prom date, and the high school parties. The plot is not complicated at all, and it is meant to be watched for pure enjoyment.
Love, Simon (2018)
• Available on Hulu
For years teen movies about love only focused on heterosexual couples but that has begun to change, largely thanks to the success of Love, Simon. Based on the bestselling novel Simon vs. The Homosapien Agenda, the movie follows Simon as he explores his sexuality while trying to navigate high school and everyday teenage life.
Love, Simon has a lot going for it beyond being the first major movie released with two teenage gay leads. It’s also an incredible story about friendship and the power of family making it the perfect Valentine’s movie to watch since it’s all about love.
The Half Of It (2020)
• Available on Netflix
This Netflix original movie centers on Ellie, a smart and shy high school student to keeps to herself. That is until she is approached by Paul, an awkward jock, who convinces Ellie to help him win over his crush Aster. However, things get awkward when the audience learns that Aster is also Ellie’s crush putting her in a hard place between wanting to help her friend and wanting to go after Aster herself.
The Half Of It is the perfect Valentine’s Day movie for teens looking for a bit more drama in their love stories. It also features one of the first and only lesbian relationships in a teen movie and is incredibly diverse.
10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
• Available on Disney+
When it comes to classic romcoms, especially from the 90s, Loosely based on a Shakespeare comedy, the movie centers on Kat an abrasive teen girl who is a constant thorn in her little sister’s side. When their father decides Bianca can’t date until Kat does, two of Bianca’s suitors decide to pay bad boy Patrick to date, Kat.
10 Things I Hate About You is just straight-up fun. It has fun tropes, unapologetic women, and one of the cutest and cheesiest romantic gestures of all time.
Easy A (2010)
• Available on HBO Max
Rumors are quite a popular element of many teenage films and nasty gossip turned Olive Penderghast’s status from invisible to popular and infamous. Pressured by her best friend to reveal what happened during her boring weekend, Olive lied and said she lost her virginity.
When the school gossip, Marianne, overhears them in the bathroom stall, she tells everyone about it. Olive gains the reputation of being promiscuous status, but her childhood friend, Todd, believes she is not what everyone thinks she is. Do note that while this film is only rated PG-13, it does deal with some mature subject matter and many parents feel that it is really only suitable for those 16 and up.
Midnight Sun (2018)
• Available on Netflix
Because of a disease that prevents her from exposure to direct sunlight, Katie Price has been sheltered all her life. She only gets to go out when the sun goes down when she can play music for random strangers. When she meets Charlie, she starts to fall in love with him and tried to hide her illness.
The film also portrays the love of a father for his dying daughter, and even though it hurts him, he tries to give her the chance to fulfill her dreams, even if it costs her her life. The film ends tragically, so be prepared for an emotional rollercoaster.
Five Feet Apart (2019)
• Available on Netflix
Seventeen-year-old Stella has been living with cystic fibrosis most of her life, so her usual day includes medications, routine, check-ups, and boundaries. People with the disease can't make close with anyone and must stay at least six feet apart, but this changes when she meets Will, a charming guy who also has the same illness.
They are instantly attracted to one another, which puts their will to the test. As their connection deepens, they decided to defy the rules, hence the title, Five Feet Apart.
If I Stay (2014)
• Available to rent on AppleTV
A talented musician is torn between pursuing her dreams of attending the prestigious Juilliard School or following her heart and staying with Adam, her lover. Everything spirals into chaos when Mia and her family get into a car accident that kills everyone except her. She is on the brink of life and death, and she must decide whether she wants to stay or not, with the fact that her out-of-body experience tells her that everyone she loves is gone.
This movie teaches the importance of cherishing every moment with the important people in our lives and how precious and delicate life is.
Every Day (2018)
• Available to rent on AppleTV
A spirit called ‘A’ inhabits a different body every day. One day, A wakes up in the body of Justin and falls in love with his girlfriend, Rhiannon. Soon, she finds out about A’s story and develops a strange connection with it. They try to find each other on a daily basis despite distance and circumstances.
This film is unmatched in of anything David Levithan has previously written. The sole meaning of the story is that everyone falls in love with a soul, not with appearance or gender. This movie is perfect for audiences who like stories that deal with the true meaning of love.
Everything, Everything (2017)
• Available to rent on AppleTV
Eighteen-year-old Maddy has been confined in her house since childhood because of an unknown disease. Her neighbor, Olly, connects with her through texts and window gazing. Because Maddy yearns for the outside world and eventually develops feelings for Olly, she risks her life for a taste of freedom. As the story unfolds, she learns the truth about her disease.
The main theme of the story surrounds how one will risk everything for a brief experience of love and happiness. Maddy believes that love means everything, even at the cost of her own health.
The Fault In Our Stars (2014)
• Available on Prime Video and Disney+
Two cancer patients, Hazel Grace Lancaster and Augustus Waters, meet at a cancer group. Both of them share the same wit, love for the unconventional, and iration for the author Peter van Houten. The two become lovers and embark on a journey to meet their idol, which turned out to be a not-so-good idea.
This popular young adult story written by John Green was well-received by audiences, mainly because of the way it was written and the profound themes that center on love, life, and dreams. This movie is highly recommended for fans who like witty conversations and a meaningful plot.
