It’s the day that singles despise and people in relationships fear: Valentine’s Day. Single, married, in a situationship or polyamor – we all are longing for love, no matter what it looks like. So here is our top 9 list of movies that you should watch around that one day in February, no matter if you feel romantic, want to have a laugh or if you need a reminder of how beautiful love can be.

While this one might be obvious, it is not to be underestimated. This American version of Love Actually based on THE national holiday of the states does not warm your heart as much or make you cry, but it is truly entertaining. Over ten interwoven storylines guide you through various generations and life situations and their perception of what Valentine’s Day means to them: from teens having sex for the first time, couples getting engaged or married, to others breaking up or simply just hating this day, because they are single and feel alone. Even though in Europe we sometimes laugh about this holiday fostered by capitalism, everyone will find at least one person in this movie that they relate to and the star-strutted cast will make it worth your while.

People who watched rom-coms with their moms in the early 2000s will know this one. Wedding Planner with Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey is a classic, because its storyline is just ridiculous. Filled with clichés and predictable occurrences, yet oddly enticing. It’s about falling in love with the wrong guy and making the right decision on who to marry. Because while the world is burning, why not distract yourself with some 2000s romance.

Thank god for the 2000s, cause it gave us J Lo in several movies that were actually fun to watch. Young Marisa works as a cleaner in a fancy Hotel and gets mistaken by a handsome stranger for the woman whose suite she’s cleaning. A big apple Cinderella story with all classic elements: a handsome stranger with prestige, friends who help her to continue the lie, a beautiful borrowed dress and even a ball (in the form of a charity gala). This movie is perfect for everyone who wants to escape the douches from online dating apps and get sucked into a modern tale for a little while.

This coming-of-age romantic comedy based on William Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew)” is surprisingly forward-thinking. Even though the plot is all about typical high school drama like wanting to go out but not being allowed, getting shitfaced drunk for the first time, and (of course) prom, the movie also humorously addresses topics like racism, sexism and white privilege of rich teenagers. This portrayal of classical simple youth problems ultimately triggers big emotions – cheesy, but iconic for a reason.

If Sex and the city and Valentine’s Day had a baby, this is what you’d get. The Women is not about romance but all about love between friends. It follows a group of rich women from New York in their early forties and the challenges they face: getting cheated on, keeping their high status job, being pregnant (for the gazillionth time) and raising a teenage daughter. The star-strutted, women-only cast featuring Meg Ryan, Eva Mendes, Jada Pinket Smith, Carrie Fisher and many more brings a very light and heartwarming story to life.

This list would not be complete without a 90’s Julia Roberts romantic comedy. William Thacker, played by Hugh Grant, prefers a slow paced, uncomplicated life – until the day the famous American actress Anna Scott, played by Julia Roberts, non-chalantly enters his little books store with the blue door. They are instantly drawn to each other, and coming from very different backgrounds geographically, economically and emotionally, they face a few inevitable obstacles. Notting Hill is a very cute, romantic, slow paced movie that combines British humor with American storytelling and is just the perfect choice for a rainy afternoon.

Her is quite a different love story, but regarding our current societal developments this had to go on the list. This visually stunning movie works strongly with colors and styling that creates a world that is futuristic, but cozy at the same time. Similar to our current society, the people in this diegetic universe communicate more through technology than face to face and loneliness is spreading. Considering this, it might not be surprising that they also built relationships with AI which is designed to be whoever you need it to be. Other that you might expect, it’s not about AI taking over and enslaving humanity. It’s rather about true emotions, human connections and the responsibilities that come with relationships.

Lost in Translation follows two people who are adrift in a foreign city. The movie star Bob Harris, played by Bill Murray, is a fading, mid-aged movie star now shooting whiskey commercials in Tokyo. At his hotel he crosses paths with Charlotte, played by Scarlett Johansson, who’s newly married and quietly miserable. Their connection doesn’t promise a future, but it offers them soundness in lost times. This slow paced, airy piece of art by Sophia Coppola doesn’t captivate with a compelling storyline, but wraps you in a melancholic vibe that feels oddly comfortable.

With this animated movie Scott Mescudi, better known as Kid Cudi, created a beautiful modern love story – capturing the emotions that come with new love, old acquaintances and the everlasting struggle of making art. Dedicated to Virgil Abloh, who also served as a costume designer, the film reflects a moment in pop culture when hip hop and its aesthetics were at the peak of mainstream. But no matter what genres you listen to, its immersive visuals and soundtrack pull you straight into the characters’ emotions, letting everyday life fade for a moment and make you feel soft, warm and almost weightless.