While some see it as just another commercial holiday, for many, Valentine’s Day is a chance to shower their significant other or loved ones with affection — and chocolates. As evening falls after a lovely day, it is natural to want the feeling to last a little longer. And there’s no better way than to watch a perfect romantic movie on an excellent — and free — streaming platform: Tubi.
Tubi houses an incredible collection of movies that are ideal for a low-key Valentine’s night-in. With genres spanning period dramas, contemporary romances and beloved classics, viewers are guaranteed to stumble upon a movie that tugs at the heartstrings. Tubi’s selection is sure to lift the spirits and remind people everywhere of love’s capacity to heal. Here are the 20 best romance movies you can watch for free on Tubi this Valentine’s Day.
20 Obsessed (2014)
Obsessed chronicles a passionate affair that takes place between Colonel Kim Jin-pyong and Ga-heun, a captain’s wife who moves next door to him. They are both in a loveless marriage with their significant others, and the more time they spend in each other’s company, the more intense their whirlwind romance grows. But they may not be able to keep their romance a secret for long.
A Go-To for Hopeless Romantics
The only Korean-language movie on the list, Obsessed is directed by Kim Dae-woo, and stars Song Seung-heon and Lim Ji-yeong as the protagonists. The way it builds its suspense and intimacy is poignant and praise-worthy. While the subject of infidelity is often frowned upon, the film is a hit with both hopeless romantics and cynics because of its jarring reminder that sometimes a happily-ever-after is not guaranteed.
19 The Sleepover (2021)
Written and directed by Ric Forster, The Sleepover centers around two girls, Tabby and Heidi, who once dated, but their relationship ended on a bitter note. Still not over her ex-girlfriend, Tabby is beyond shocked when she stumbles upon Heidi at another friend’s sleepover. After spending the entire night together in bed talking, they must choose between parting ways and falling in love all over again.
A Fun Little Movie
With its lighthearted tale of bonding through late-night conversations and tender make-out sessions, The Sleepover is the ideal film to watch on a night in with your significant other. It stars Georgia Crisfield Smith and Madelyn Sheahan as the leads, along with Holly Monks, Liv Rian, and Emily Mutimer as the supporting cast. The director Foster injects the right amount of intimacy and humor to keep viewers invested in their story.
18 Secretary (2002)
An unconventional erotic romance, Secretary follows Lee, a young woman recently released from a mental institution because of severe self-harm tendencies. Despite being overqualified, she gets a job as a secretary to Mr. Grey, a lawyer.
At first, their relationship is just that of employee and employer. But soon, the pair discovers a mutual physical and emotional attraction that goes far beyond standard workplace ethics.
An Intimate Look Into Desires
Acclaimed producer and director Steven Shainberg sheds light on taboo relationships while also bringing a quiet understanding into inordinary desires. The roles of Mr. Grey and Lee are played by James Spader and Maggie Gyllenhaal respectively, who give intense and vulnerable performances as two individuals wanting to be in control yet willing to surrender to each other.
17 Lust for Love (2014)
An independent romantic comedy featuring a love triangle? Yep, sounds perfect for Valentine’s Day, especially for singles. Lust for Love centers around Astor, a zoology major who has had a lifelong crush on Mila.
When he’s finally in a relationship with her, he ends up overwhelming her with his own disbelief and joy. Determined to gain dating experience, he turns to his ex-best friend Cali for advice.
It Will Fill Your Heart With Love
Underrated regardless of its relatable premise, Lust for Love takes viewers on an entertaining journey of self-discovery. The leads Fran Kranz, Beau Garrett, and Dichen Lachman shine as complex yet overly human characters navigating their feelings for one another. Director Anton King breathes life into all sides of romance and drives the narrative towards a compelling final scene that will leave you smiling.
16 How to Be a Latin Lover (2017)
A Mexican-American romantic comedy directed by Ken Marino, How to Be a Latin Lover follows Maximo, who has been married to a rich woman twice his age for almost 25 years now. But when the woman dumps him for another young man, Maximo struggles to adjust to his new and modest lifestyle with his sister and nephew. Seeking the same riches as before, he tries to woo another wealthy woman.
A Charming Romantic Comedy
Eugenio Derbez lights up every scene as the main character of How to Be a Latin Lover. His portrayal of a bored and shameless man seems shallow, but his charm and depth reveals that what lies underneath surface pleasure is both funny and reflective. Co-starring the beloved Salma Hayek, the movie is a joyous rollercoaster that nails its comedic timing and electrifying charm. Overall, it is a lighthearted Valentine’s Day watch.
15 Two Weeks Notice (2002)
The rom-com genre may be crowded, but there’s always room for another flick that stars Hugh Grant and Sandra Bullock as the main characters. In Two Weeks Notice, we follow Lucy, a passionate lawyer who has dedicated her career to protecting the environment.
When Lucy hears that a beloved local community center is shutting down, she fights against it and ends up meeting billionaire George Wade, who convinces her to become his assistant, which takes over a significant part of her personal life.
When Two Opposites Attract
The appropriate Valentine’s Day pick for the thinking crowd, Two Weeks Notice is a pleasant and easy-going rom-com. It is written and directed by Marc Lawrence, who infuses the narrative with sharpness and humor that balances themes of life’s deepest goals and desires. The most memorable part, however, is watching Grant and Bullock’s undeniable chemistry on screen.
14 About Last Night (2014)
A contemporary adaptation of David Mamet’s play Sexual Perversity in Chicago, as well as a remake of the 1968 movie of the same name, About Last Night is set in the hustle and bustle of New York City. It centers around two couples, Denny and Debbie, and Bernie and Joan, who first meet on a double date and begin a sexually-charged relationship. Things get interesting when they decide to test out the relationship in the real world.
A Fresh Take on Modern Relationships
Leads Kevin Hart, Michael Ealy, Regina Hall and Joy Bryant share a chemistry so natural that their respective couples’ ending up together feels inevitable. Much like the source material, the movie has a carefree and uplifting tone. Director Steve Pink also wisely chooses wit over morals to observe the messiness of young love and its response in daylight, which is the most relatable aspect of the film.
13 Something’s Gotta Give (2003)
Something’s Gotta Give stars Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton as professionals — the former is Harry, an aging music mogul with commitment issues and a stubborn refusal to act his age, and the latter is Erica, an acclaimed musician. When Harry’s poor health forces him to share a roof with Erica, their reluctance transforms into an unexpected friendship. Though fiercely independent, they fall in love.
Facing Huge Midlife Changes
Over twenty years later, Something’s Gotta Give still remains a testament to why Nicholson and Keaton are legends in the Hollywood industry. They inhabit Harry and Erica with layered nuance, and prove that love doesn’t care about age or society. Their chemistry is sweet and natural. Plus, the movie is written and directed by Nancy Meyers, who is known to have a sympathetic approach towards human emotions and transformative relationships, which is evident here.
12 A Little Bit of Heaven (2011)
In A Little Bit of Heaven, Marley Corbett is a carefree and optimistic advertising executive who dates men casually, knowing love isn’t for her. After an appointment with Dr. Julian Goldstein, she learns that she has terminal cancer. Taking the news with dignity, Marley also has a chance encounter with God, who offers her three wishes, one of which is revealed later in the movie as wanting to fall in love.
Delightful and Unique
With its quirky blend of humor and pathos, A Little Bit of Heaven has found a special place in the hearts of many fans. The sincere connection between Kate Hudson’s endearing Marley and Gael García Bernal’s kind-hearted Dr. Julian is the highlight of the movie. With their wise and careful relationship, Nicole Kassell focuses her lens on celebrating how brief attachments with people can prove to be the most enriching moments of our lives.
11 Autumn in New York (2000)
Starring Richard Gere and Winona Ryder, Autumn in New York is a heartwarming romance with depth and complexity to watch for Valentine’s Day. Gere plays Will Keane, a 48-year-old restaurateur and lifelong bachelor, and Ryder plays Charlotte Fielding, a young woman celebrating her 22nd birthday at Will’s upscale restaurant. Their instant attraction leads to a tender romance until Will finds out that Charlotte is terminally ill.
A Testament To Love’s Power
Autumn in New York is written by Allison Burnett and directed by Joan Chen. The pair use their masterful skills to weave a drama filled with hope, joy, grace, and love. Chen is known to have a sense of rhythm which she tries to infuse into the narrative. The age gap may be odd for some viewers, but with Gere and Ryder in the leads sharing sublime on-screen chemistry, the movie becomes an irresistible watch.
10 Killers (2010)
The picture-perfect marriage of Jen Kornfeldt and Spencer Aimes is shown to be quite enviable in Killers. The action rom-com starts with Jen, a sexy and fun-loving woman sharing drinks with Spencer, a professional assassin. They tie the knot and immerse themselves into a normal, suburban life, but their hearts secretly yearn for more excitement. When hired killers enter the picture, a fast-paced game of action and deception begins.
A Witty Take on Marriage
Closely resembling 2005’s Mr. and Mrs. Smith in its premise, Killers is an exciting movie to watch. As Jen and Spencer, Katherine Heigl and Ashton Kutcher are charming and humorous. Their relationship throughout the movie evolves in unpredictable ways. Overall, the zippy pace, playful banter, and gorgeous locales make Killers a thrilling ride.
9 Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008)
Never holding back on the R-rated vocabulary, Zack and Miri Make a Porno follows childhood friends Zack and Miri. They have been platonic pals for as long as they can remember, but being older and cash-strapped leads them into hatching a wild scheme to solve their financial woes — making an adult film together. Breaking this boundary, however, allows their long suppressed feelings for one another to surface.
Hilarious and Shocking
Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks are perfectly cast as the lovable goofballs, using their golden rapport to make the audiences root for them as they come to realize what was there all along. While the steamy scenes are minimal, the core of Kevin Smith’s sex comedy lies in its amusing and outrageous use of dialogue. For Valentine’s day, choosing to watch Zack and Miri Make a Porno may not seem romantic, but it’s absolutely worth it.
8 Two Night Stand (2014)
Megan is a twenty-something unemployed woman cruising through dating websites in hopes of finding something meaningful. Out of a hundred profiles, she stumbles upon that of Alec’s and decides to have a one-night stand with him. After a blizzard hits the roads, Megan and Alec are stuck in Alec’s apartment learning more about each other, only for Megan to find out that Alec has a girlfriend.
Subversive Romantic Comedy
Miles Teller and Lio Tipton infuse two potentially flat characters with rich dimensions, making their will-they-won’t-they romance set against the backdrop of one apartment seem delightful and lively. Two Night Stand is directed by Max Nichols and even though the script is weak at times and the ending is predictable, what resonates is the chemistry and witty humor shared by the characters.
7 What Happens in Vegas (2008)
Making Las Vegas’ iconic catchphrase ‘What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas’ universally known, this conventional romantic comedy from the 2000s is directed by Tom Vaughan. Its plot goes something like this: after a drunken night in Sin City, sensitive career-woman Joy and loose-cannon carpenter Jack get married and win a casino jackpot prize. Their plans for a frenzied annulment are thwarted by a judge’s order, and they’re forced to live together for six months.
What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas
What Happens in Vegas finds two of the most sharp-witted and magnetic leads in Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher. They’re flawed characters, but you can’t help rooting for them to be together. Filled with enough warmth and wisdom to make it a rewatchable Valentine’s Day flick, the movie also delivers a lighthearted message about finding a lifetime’s worth of love in the most unexpected places.
6 The Lucky One (2012)
The Lucky One stars Zac Efron as US Marine Logan Thibault, who strongly believes that he survived the war in Iraq due to a photograph of a mysterious woman that he discovered while on duty. Upon returning home, Logan sets out to find the woman, his saving grace. After asking people around, he finally stumbles upon Beth Green, who is suspicious of him at first but eventually warms up to his calm and kindhearted nature.
A Heartwarming Story of Hope
Providing just the right amount of escapist drama, The Lucky One is a perfect film to watch on Valentine’s Day with your partner. It celebrates love in its most gentle, resilient, and uplifting forms. Efron took home the Teen Choice Award for the Best Movie Actor in the Drama and Romance category for his quiet and sincere role. Paired with Efron is Taylor Schilling, who heats up the screen and shares a smoldering chemistry with her co-star.
5 Wedding Daze (2006)
Written and directed by Michael Ian Black, Wedding Daze is a fun little movie that follows Anderson, a hopeless romantic who proposes to his girlfriend in front of a crowded room and gives her a heart attack. Devastated and still not over her after a year, Anderson accepts his best friend’s advice and proposes to a waitress named Katie, who is over the moon after receiving the gesture.
A Reminder That Love Grows Slow
Hilarious and chaotic, Wedding Daze goes in unexpected directions from start to finish. Stars Jason Biggs and Isla Fisher play characters who are prone to embracing bumps in the road, and their journey reminds us that sometimes, the sweetest surprises lie beyond the finish line. They shine under Michael Ian Black’s humorous and romance-laden direction, and deliver warm comfort for Valentine’s Day.
4 When Harry Met Sally… (1989)
Can a man and a woman ever just be friends? It’s a question not only movies but individuals in real life ponder over. Finding a spot in the top 25 movies on AFI’s 100 Years… 100 Laughs list, When Harry Met Sally… is a classic romantic comedy that centers around the titular characters as they get into and out of relationships while being close friends themselves until something more starts to emerge between them.
Feels as Fresh as the Day It Debuted
Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal are simply magical together, turning Nora Ephron’s flawless script and Rob Reiner’s thoughtful direction into a relatable quest for finding love and connection in a fast-paced world. Even three decades later, the movie’s quippy humor, witty dialogue, candor, and sweetly subversive portrayal of dating continues to enchant generations. It falls under a specific subgenre of comedy, and yet the emotions feel so universal that it’s impossible not to experience the passionate highs and deepest lows of the characters along with them.
3 Sleepless in Seattle (2003)
The ‘90s nailed the lightheartedness in their romantic comedies, and Sleepless in Seattle proves it. Sam Baldwin is an architect, recently widowed and still mourning the loss of his wife. His eight-year-old son, Jonah, urges him to start fresh. Jonah calls a radio talk show on Christmas Eve and shares his father’s plight to listeners all over the country, including Annie Reed, who finds herself drawn to Sam. On an impulse, she decides to fly to Seattle, hoping to meet this stranger.
A Story of Second Chances
Inspired by the classic romance An Affair to Remember, Sleepless in Seattle is a soft and charming movie that uses its ‘meet me atop the Empire State Building on Valentine’s Day’ angle beautifully. Nora Ephron weaves the kind of fascination only she can with her acute understanding of joy and heartbreak.
It was the second time in the same decade that Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan shared the screen together, their irresistible charm melting hearts left and right. There may not be a more perfect movie for Valentine’s Day than this.
2 Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2005)
A well-written and brilliantly performed action-romance, Mr. and Mrs. Smith centers around John and Jane Smith. The odd and exceptional couple are stuck in a boring suburban marriage for years. But what they’re unaware of is the fact that they are both skilled assassins working for rival agencies. When they are assigned to kill each other, their blissfully mundane lives unravel some high-octane secrets and explosive fun.
An Action Rom-Com Full of Surprises
Starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie at their absolute hottest, Mr. and Mrs. Smith is nothing short of a delight. What makes it a great watch on Valentine’s Day is its adrenaline-fueled action, deft pacing, and outrageously fun humor. Under the clever direction of Doug Liman, the movie delivers an equal amount of well-choreographed fights and dizzying moments between its two leads.
1 La La Land (2016)
La La Land is the mesmerizing story of Mia and Sebastian. An aspiring actress tired of facing rejection, Mia is walking home one night when she hears an interesting jazz tune coming out of a restaurant. That’s when she meets Seb, a dedicated jazz musician who is also struggling to make ends meet in a city known for crushing dreams — Los Angeles. Their love unfolds against the backdrop of modern-day L.A., but choosing between love and career poses a challenge to them.
Breathtaking and Heartbreaking at the Same Time
Director Damien Chazelle became the youngest person to win the Academy Award for Best Director for his dazzling and magical treatment of La La Land. He creates a technicolor dreamscape that not only celebrates jazz and art but also love — in all its mess and glory.
Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone have genuine and uninhibited raw talent, which is particularly seen in their smoldering chemistry with each other. Taking home a bunch of Golden Globe Awards and Oscars, La La Land is a perfect Valentine’s gift to yourself.
