Best Date Night Movies
Last Updated: March 2026Perfect films to share with someone special.
Fever Pitch (2005)
When Ben Wrightman, a young teacher, begins dating pretty businesswoman Lindsey Meeks, the two don't seem to have a lot of the same interests, but they fall in love, regardless. Their romance goes well until baseball season begins, and Lindsey soon realizes that Ben is completely obsessed with the Boston Red Sox. Though she tries to understand Ben's passionate team loyalty, eventually it threatens to end their otherwise happy relationship.
Mickey Blue Eyes (1999)
An English auctioneer proposes to the daughter of a mafia kingpin, only to realize that certain "favors" would be asked of him.
Forrest Gump (1994)
A man with a low IQ has accomplished great things in his life and been present during significant historic events—in each case, far exceeding what anyone imagined he could do. But despite all he has achieved, his one true love eludes him.
Saving Silverman (2001)
A pair of buddies conspire to save their best friend from marrying the wrong woman, a cold-hearted beauty who snatches him from them and breaks up their Neil Diamond cover band.
Eternity (2025)
In an afterlife where souls have one week to decide where to spend eternity, Joan is faced with the impossible choice between the man she spent her life with and her first love, who died young and has waited decades for her to arrive.
Anora (2024)
A young sex worker from Brooklyn gets her chance at a Cinderella story when she meets and impulsively marries the son of an oligarch. Once the news reaches Russia, her fairytale is threatened as his parents set out to get the marriage annulled.
He's Just Not That Into You (2009)
Have you ever wondered why they said they would call but didn't, or why they don't want to sleep with you anymore, or why your relationship isn't going to the next level? Maybe they're just not that into you. Gigi wants a man who says he'll call her - and actually does - while Alex advises her to stop waiting by the phone. Beth wants a proposal after years of a committed relationship with her boyfriend, Neil, who is just fine with the way things are. Janine's not sure if she can trust her husband, Ben, who can't quite trust himself around Anna. Anna can't decide between the sexy married guy or her straightforward, no-sparks standby, Conor, who can't get over the fact that he can't have her. And Mary, who's found an entire network of loving, supportive men, just needs to find one who's straight.
La La Land (2016)
Mia, an aspiring actress, serves lattes to movie stars in between auditions and Sebastian, a jazz musician, scrapes by playing cocktail party gigs in dingy bars, but as success mounts they are faced with decisions that begin to fray the fragile fabric of their love affair, and the dreams they worked so hard to maintain in each other threaten to rip them apart.
The Mask (1994)
Stanley Ipkiss, an insecure banker who has lost his zest for life stumbles upon an ancient mask, that turns him into a confident suave cartoon-like character who upsets his ordinary life.
People We Meet on Vacation (2026)
Poppy's a free spirit. Alex loves a plan. After years of summer vacations, these polar-opposite pals wonder if they could be a perfect romantic match.
Shrek 2 (2004)
Happily ever after never seemed so far far away when a trip to meet the in-laws turns into a hilariously twisted adventure for Shrek and Fiona. With the help of his faithful Donkey, Shrek takes on a potion-brewing Fairy Godmother, the pompous Prince Charming, and the ogre-killer, Puss In Boots.
American Pie (1999)
At a high-school party, four friends find that losing their collective virginity isn't as easy as they had thought. But they still believe that they need to do so before college. To motivate themselves, they enter a pact to all "score" by their senior prom.
The Fall Guy (2024)
Fresh off an almost career-ending accident, stuntman Colt Seavers has to track down a missing movie star, solve a conspiracy and try to win back the love of his life while still doing his day job.
Elemental (2023)
In a city where fire, water, land and air residents live together, a fiery young woman and a go-with-the-flow guy will discover something elemental: how much they have in common.
Bridesmaids (2011)
Annie's life is a mess. But when she finds out her lifetime best friend is engaged, she simply must serve as Lillian's maid of honor. Though lovelorn and broke, Annie bluffs her way through the expensive and bizarre rituals. With one chance to get it perfect, she’ll show Lillian and her bridesmaids just how far you’ll go for someone you love.
About This List
Date night movie selection involves a specific kind of optimization problem: the film needs to be engaging enough that neither person gets restless, light enough that you can actually talk about it afterward rather than process it in silence, and not so demanding that it requires your complete undivided attention for two hours. It's a narrower brief than it sounds.
The ideal date night film tends to be either a smart romantic comedy with genuine wit, a light thriller with enough tension to create shared excitement without being traumatizing, or a visually spectacular film that works as a shared sensory experience. The absolute wrong moves are anything too grim, too long, or too dependent on prior franchise knowledge that only one of you has.
Every recommendation on this list has been selected with the specific social context of watching together in mind. These are films that generate conversation, create shared references, and improve the evening rather than complicating it. Our Best Romantic Movies list is a great companion if you want to go deeper into love stories.