It’s no secret that romantic movies aren’t usually thought of as “for the guys”. Surely they only watch them with their significant other on a date while wishing they were watching Mad Max, right? But the romance genre doesn’t have to always be off-putting for men. As someone who doesn’t tend to gravitate toward the genre, and skips over that category on Netflix, there are a few romantic films which I think can be enjoyed by everyone. Since it’s Valentine’s Day, here the ones I think can be enjoyed by men.

Frances Ha

Two women sit at a small outdoor table, sharing food and drinks—in a scene straight out of the best romantic comedies. One wears glasses and a sleeveless top, the other a checked shirt; bread, fruit, and wine complete the vibrant romcom vibe.

Greta Gerwig’s most notable screen role before she got behind the camera, Frances Ha is directed by her now husband Noah Baumbach, and is a truly great romcom for everyone. Set in New York City, it follows the young aspiring dancer Frances, who’s dealing with what she feels is a “quarter-life crisis”. She hasn’t really matured yet and found her place in life- and maintains an intense friendship with her best friend Sophie (Mickey Sumner). However, she and Sophie appear to be drifting apart, and Frances is left wondering how to move forward. With its arty black-and-white imagery, everyone can get something out of Frances Ha.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime

Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Two men stand side by side outdoors in a tropical setting, both wearing Hawaiian shirts and leis. From a bloke’s perspective, it’s like a scene straight out of the best romantic comedies: palm trees, plants, and a relaxed beachside vibe fill the background.

One of the few good romcoms of the 21st century that’s got a more obvious “male perspective” bent, Forgetting Sarah Marshall is, incredibly, approaching 20 years old. It stars Jason Segel as Peter Bretter, a music composer who seems to have a great relationship with his TV actress girlfriend Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell)- until she dumps him for someone else. He decides to distract himself by flying to Hawaii for a trip- until he encounters her and her new boyfriend. It’s hard not to root for Peter and hope that he wins over new love interest Rachel (Mila Kunis), and remains a cathartic watch.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime

In the Mood For Love

A woman with short dark hair and red lipstick gazes thoughtfully to the left, while a man in a suit sits behind her in soft focus, channelling the intimate, moody vibe often found in the best romantic comedies from a bloke’s perspective.

Wong Kar Wai’s In The Mood For Love is hugely acclaimed, and for good reason: there’s little this much-loved favourite can’t do. It follows a journalist (Tony Leung) who is married, but because his spouse is often away on work trips, finds himself drawn to a woman he makes an acquaintance with: Su Li-Zhen (Maggie Cheung), who is also feeling lonely in their own marriage. Both grow close to one another, and both discover their partner is cheating on them- but neither knows whether to step over the boundary and fall in love. Beautifully shot and crafted, it’s a film lover’s essential.

Where to watch: Apple TV

It Happened One Night

A man in a suit and hat sits outdoors, eating a carrot as a woman beside him, dressed in stripes, looks on with curiosity—the scene echoes quirky moments often found in the best romantic comedies from the bloke's perspective.

To put a real classic on here, It Happened One Night was released in 1935, and is not only a great movie but a great romantic comedy. Starring Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable, it centres around a rich heiress, Ellie Andrews, who is keen to escape from her father’s influence and so marries a glamorous pilot. When she meets a newspaper reporter named Peter Warne, the two strike a friendship- but there might be something stronger underneath. It’s a change of pace from most modern rom-coms, but the film has stuck around for a reason, and features iconic performances from two of old Hollywood’s best-known stars.

Where to watch: Apple TV / Amazon Prime

When Harry Met Sally

A woman in a grey blazer and brown hat looks at a man in a brown leather jacket as they talk outdoors, autumn leaves swirling around them—just the kind of scene you’d see from a bloke’s perspective in one of the best romantic comedies.

It’s not an original pick to be sure, but a list like this would be amiss without When Harry Met Sally, the late Rob Reiner’s enduring romantic favourite. You surely know the basic plot setup by now- the more cynical and downbeat Harry (Billy Crystal) crosses paths again and again with Sally (Meg Ryan) as they move from being two people who dislike each other to a deep friendship. Yes, there’s the “I’ll have what she’s having” scene, yes, that’s the autumn aesthetics that have become popular on Instagram, but the film remains a classic for its honest portrayal of friendships between men and women, and because Crystal and Ryan are a perfect match.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

A woman with bright orange hair holds a mug and gently leans over a man lying in bed, gazing at him affectionately as he looks back at her—romcoms’ take on men, both cosy under the same duvet.

Another film about “forgetting”, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind stars Jim Carrey in one of his more down-to-earth performances. Joel (Carrey) discovers out of nowhere that his girlfriend, Clementine (played by Kate Winslet), has decided to get all of her memories of him erased for good. In response, he decides to take the plunge into the unknown and signs up to get the procedure done himself, but he realises that he just can’t get over her. Again, this is one that’s endured, and I think part of its special secret is showing a guy who truly feels deep love for someone, even though it’s not always easy for men to express.

where to watch: Apple TV / Amazon Prime

Culture, Films & TV, Valentine's Day

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