Valentine’s Day is coming up on the 14th (like it does every year) and many people are looking forward to celebrating this holiday with their significant other. But not everyone has that luxury, and if you aren’t one of the lucky few who gets to enjoy a nice romantic evening out at the IHOP, Chick-Fil-A or Buffalo Wild Wings, there are other ways you can spend your time, alone.
One of the best ways to spend some time alone, while thinking about how alone you are tonight, is to take your mind off your own loneliness. Could you re-binge The Office again? Sure, but why not something more feature length. What could be a better distraction than watching some movies while wrapped in a blanket, a few drinks in, and having a tub of cookie dough available right beside you.
Most people would tell you to watch a classic romance movie like “The Notebook” or “Titanic” and while those movies are great, that isn’t what you need right now. You need something else.
These, in no particular order, are the best movies to watch when you’re alone on Valentine’s Day.
“Scott Pilgrim vs. The World”
This Edgar Wright directed action movie starring Michael Cera (yes, an action movie with George Michael Bluth as the protagonist) is about as off the wall as it gets. Referencing video games and making fun of modern romance, this movie is simply a good time.
Sharp and stunning visuals mixed with a unique style of comedy make this movie a great watch while you keep getting texts from your mom about how you’re always “her valentine.”
Regardless, if you haven’t seen “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World” give it a shot, it just might surprise you.
“Ocean’s Eleven”
Sometimes all you need to cheer you up when you’re down is your group, your gang, your buddies, your squad. Well if all of your friends are out on Valentine’s day, then you can spend the day with Danny Ocean’s squad of slick, smooth thieves as the plan a casino heist.
Directed by Steven Soderberg and starring an all-star cast with George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, and Julia Roberts, this is about as slick as it gets. Featuring stylish direction on top of an incredible script, this movie grabs your attention and runs with it, perfect to get your mind off things.
Any Harry Potter Movie
Is this technically cheating? Maybe. Is that going to stop me? Absolutely not. (If you’ve ever had someone say this to you, I’m sorry)
All of these movies are good, all of them. Any Harry Potter diehard fan knows that these movies just make you feel at home at Hogwarts. Whether it’s the childlike joy of “The Sorcerer’s Stone” or the more sinister yet still fun “Half-Blood Prince” you’ll always be in for a magical time.
If you’ve never seen these movies, you might as well start.
"Hot Rod" and "Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping"
The Lonely Island is a fantastic comedy music group. But did you know that they've made not one, but two movies? "Hot Rod" is a pretty standard lighthearted and goofy comedy about a terrible stunt man with the inability to grow a mustache trying to raise money to save his step-father so he can beat him up.
"Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping" uses the groups musical talents to tell a mockumentary on the life a fake Popstar, Connor 4 Real, as he copes with his new horribly reviewed and poor selling album, while also trying to reconcile with his old group mates.
These movies are fun and funny, and will leave you in stitches.
The Entire Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Peter Jackson’s masterpiece adaptation of what is considered by many to be the greatest fantasy story ever told in the modern era, these movies are incredible but more importantly, long.
Each movie clocks in at around three hours, sure to keep you busy the whole day while enjoying the adventures of Frodo, Samwise, Aragon, Legolas, Gimli, and Gandalf as they journey to destroy the one ring in the fiery pits of Mordor.
There’s also “The Hobbit” trilogy, which are good but not as good as JRR Tolkien’s more famous work.
Also, it’s not like you have plans anyway right?
“Scream”
It’s not Halloween, it’s Valentine’s Day. But everyone likes Halloween better anyway and sometimes you just need a good scare, and a good laugh.
Wes Craven’s modern classic, this take on the slasher movie, while bloody and horrific, also provides a lot of dark comedy and self-referential humor to the mix.
If you’ve never had a chance to be scared by “Scream” maybe now is a good time to check it out.
Any Pixar Movie
It’s Pixar. The “Toy Story Trilogy” alone is legendary. Add on top of that “Monster’s Inc.” and “The Incredibles” along with most every movie Pixar has made, excluding a few, like “Planes,” you get to pick from your choice of thoughtful, enjoyable animated classics.
Pick any of these movies and I guarantee that you’ll be distracted enough to make it to February 15th, and then it’s a full year before this situation becomes possible again.
Enjoy the movies.
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