Does anyone everreallylike Valentine’s Day? If you’re single, it’s a day when no one spontaneously buys you drugstore chocolates, and you seriously contemplate adopting a dog. If you’re in a relationship, you suddenly find yourself thrust into the Love Olympics: buying one of those jumbo cards that would swallow up a child, trying to bribe your way into an overpriced restaurant, or hoping your significant other wasn’t lying when they said you may totally skip the holiday this year (better buy that pink stuffed bear just in case!) Valentine’s Day is a recipe for the blues no matter what your relationship status is, so why not get all your pent-up rage at St. Valentine out with a good old-fashioned Anti-Valentine’s Day movie?
The streaming platforms have a wealth of movies about relationships gone bad, singles living it up, and cinematic reminders not to trust every handsome stranger who comes knocking on your door. Love is weird, complicated, and sometimes deadly - both in real life and on the big screen. So whether you are single AF and plan on hunkering down for the evening with a glass of wine that will save you from feeling like you’re the homely sister in a Jane Austen novel, or a happily married couple who want to celebrate by peacing out on the whole sordid affair, here are the best Anti-Valentine’s Day movies to watch!
For more recommendations, check out our list of thebest Valentine’s Day movies on Netflix,best rom-coms on Netflix, andbest movies across all genreson the platform.
RELATED:Best Romantic Horror Movies to Watch For a Bloody Good Valentine’s Day
It Follows (2014)
Run Time: 1 hr 40 min |Genre: Horror Thriller |Director: David Robert Mitchell
Cast: Maika Monroe, Keir Gilchrist, Olivia Luccardi, Lili Sepe
Need a good reason to be thankful you’re not in the dating game?It Followsis a sleeper hit about a sexually transmitted haunting that will do the trick. With an original premise and clever writing, this is a top-tier horror film that combines supernatural fears with the psychological. Grounded by a stellar performance by new scream queenMaika Monroe, give this one a watch if you’re looking for more spooks and fewer snuggles today.
Watch on Netflix
The Beguiled (2017)
Run Time: 1 hr 34 min |Genre: Thriller |Director: Sofia Coppola
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst, Elle Fanning, Colin Farrell
Based on the novel byThomas Cullinan,The Beguiledis a psychological thriller with a tense Southern Gothic aesthetic directed bySofia Coppola. Taking place during the Civil War,The Beguiledfollows an all-girl boarding school in the South, where an injured union soldier, played byColin Farrell(The Banshees of Inisherin), seeks refuge. StarringNicole Kidman(Bombshell) as the school headmistress,Kirsten Dunst(Spider-Man) as a teacher, andElle Fanning(The Great) as a pupil,The Beguiledis a saucy melodramatic story infused with sexuality and distinct visual appeal.– Yael Tygiel
Someone Great (2019)
Run Time: 1 hr 32 min |Genre: Romance Comedy |Director: Jennifer Kaytin Robinson
Cast: Gina Rodriguez, LaKeith Stanfield, Brittany Snow, Michelle Buteau
From writer/directorJennifer Kaytin Robinson(Do Revenge),Someone Greatfollows the devastatingly heartbroken Jenny (Gina Rodriguez) as her friends attempt to cheer her up with an extra special night in hopes of easing her through a recent breakup. Co-starringBrittany Snow,DeWanda Wise, andMichelle Buteau,Someone Greatis a refreshingly messy look at loss and moving on.Someone Greatprovides a unique perspective on the everlasting strength of true friends expressed through raunchy comedy, a sprinkle of sentimentality, and richly layered characters who share an undeniable chemistry. With a sharp script and witty dialogue,Someone Greatis a stylish celebration of friendship.– Yael Tygiel
Do Revenge (2022)
Run Time: 1 hr 58 min |Genre: Teen Black Comedy |Director: Jennifer Kaytin Robinson
Cast: Camila Mendes, Maya Hawke, Austin Abrams, Sophie Turner, Sarah Michelle Gellar
Camila Mendes(Riverdale) andMaya Hawke(Stranger Things) star inDo Revenge, a brutally clever dark comedy from directorJennifer Kaytin Robinson.Do Revengeis a pastel dream as it follows a couple of teenage misfits, Drea (Mendes) and Eleanor (Hawke), as they team up to take down each other’s bullies. Expressed through a deliberate color palette, the calculated premise co-written by Robinson andCeleste Ballardis witty, fresh, and pays homage to cinematic masterpieces.Do Revengeis a modern-day blend of classics from the 80s, likeHeathers, and late 90s, likeCruel Intentions.– Yael Tygiel
Tallulah (2016)
Run Time: 1 hr 51 min |Genre: Comedy Drama |Director: Sian Heder
Cast: Elliot Page, Allison Janney, Tammy Blanchard
A Netflix original about ditching bad boyfriends and building a family in the most unexpected of places,Tallulahputs platonic love front and center in a hilarious and heartfelt way. The standout performances fromAllison JanneyandElliot Pagemake them worthy Valentine companions for your evening of Netflix and chilling on your own.
Frances Ha (2012)
Run Time: 1 hr 26 min |Genre: Comedy Drama |Director: Noah Baumbach
Cast: Greta Gerwig, Mickey Sumner
Frances (Greta Gerwig) is wild, free, and refreshingly single. Love interests come and go in this sparkling tale of a modern New York woman, but inFrances Ha, self-realization proves to be the ultimate goal. If you’re looking for the less depressing Baumbach option on the list, you’re going to want to tune in.
August: Osage County (2013)
Run Time: 2 hr 1 min |Genre: Tragicomedy |Director: Tracy Letts
Cast: Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Ewan McGregor
Settle in for a film about a family of fierce women unafraid to fight their way to the top of the family tree after the death of their patriarch. The verbal battles inAugust: Osage Countyare like snippets of a lost Tennessee Williams play, drawing you deep into the story of a brutal familial battle where romance is the farthest thing from the character’s minds.
Chloe (2009)
Run Time: 1 hr 36 min |Genre: Thriller Drama |Director:Atom Egoyan
Cast:Julianne Moore, Amanda Seyfried, Liam Neeson, Max Theriot
They haven’t made a lot of old-fashioned erotic thrillers in the 21st century, so it’s always a treat when one pops up – especially when it stars a cast as good as this one.Julianne Moorestars as Catherine Stewart, a woman who recruits a clever, commanding high-priced call girl named Chloe (Amanda Seyfried) to seduce her husband David (Liam Neeson) and test his fidelity after she suspects him of adultery. Chloe spins erotic tales of temptation and betrayal into Catherine’s eager ear, and before long the pair are entangled in a web of shifting emotional power dynamics and sexual attraction. Chloe is often more cerebral and neurotic than lusty, but it definitely has its steamy moments andAtom Egoyanhas an eye for seductive detail amidst the winding tale of obsession. –Haleigh Foutch
Wine Country (2019)
Run Time: 1 hr 43 min |Genre: Comedy |Director:Amy Poehler
Cast:Amy Poehler, Rachel Dratch, Maya Rudolph, Paula Pell, Emily Spivey, Ana Gasteyer, Tina Fey, and Jason Schwartzman
If you’re looking for a breezy, easy watch, check outWine Country. WhileAmy Poehler’s directorial debut may not be the most thematically satisfying or airtight comedy, it’s a solid effort packed with sufficient laughs and a solid dose of heart. The film is inspired by a real-life trip the cast members and real-life friends took to celebrate Dratch’s 50th birthday, during which their friendship was laid bare. The actors play only slightly exaggerated versions of themselves, so part of the fun is seeing what the dynamic between theseSNLalums is really like. This is a really easy watch, especially if you’re looking for something to enjoy with friends (and wine) on a Friday or Saturday night in. –Adam Chitwood
Marriage Story (2019)
Run Time: 2 hr 16 min |Genre: Romance Drama |Director: Noah Baumbach
Cast:Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, Laura Dern
Fair warning:Marriage Storywill wreck you. But it’s also not just one of thebest films of 2019, it’s the best filmNoah Baumbachhas ever made. The story chronicles the process of divorce from separation to finalization, withAdam Driverplaying the successful theater director husband andScarlett Johanssonplaying the successful actress wife. Complicating matters is the fact that the couple shares a child, but the brilliance of Baumbach’s film is that it tells the story from both points of view, so no matter which side you fall on in the end, you have deep empathy for both individuals. Driver and Johansson give career-best performances as Baumbach writes full-bodied, complex individuals—you know, like actual human beings. And with regards to the subject matter, Baumbach vividly showcases how the voices of the two individuals—and the love they previously shared—get lost in the actual process of divorcing. Heartbreaking and deeply human,Marriage Storyis not to be missed. –Adam Chitwood
