6 Movies To Watch this Valentine’s Day If You Love Love But Hate Rom-Com Clichés!

Love isn’t always about meet-cutes, grand gestures, or passionate PDA. Sometimes, the best love stories are quiet. Sometimes they’re messy, other times they’re gentle. Sometimes love is about knowing that what you once shared with someone was real, and intense, and it made you feel so alive, but it has served its purpose. Love doesn’t always need permanence to be meaningful.

If you love love but are not a fan of the typical rom-com clichés, you may be interested in the movies below! They explore meaningful human connection with sweet moments that remain in your mind after you turn your screen off and dialogue lines you will still remember even days after watching.

1. Before Sunrise (1995)

Céline and Jesse meet on a train and spend one and only one evening in Vienna, talking for hours on end about life, love, and everything in between. This isn’t your typical romance movie; there is no dramatic fight or any grand gestures, there are just two strangers coming together and making an everlasting impact in each other’s lives. This movie has beautiful, highly quotable dialogue that will leave you craving spontaneous human connection. (Available on VOD/Digital)

2. My First Summer (2020)

Following her mother’s death, isolated 16-year-old Claudia’s world opens up when she meets Grace, a spirited local teen. They build a connection that is heartfelt and sweet, helping them in their journey navigating grief and identity. This movie captures the softness of discovery and emotional safety as well as the beauty of young, innocent love. (Available on VOD/Digital)

3. The Way He Looks (2014)

Leonardo, a blind teenager with an overprotective mother, finds himself exploring his independence when Gabriel joins the school. It’s described as a story of love beyond sight, redefining attraction and building a narrative of emotional exploration, patience, and trust. The characters’ love is gentle and built on small gestures that feel more grand than any rom-com cliché. (Stream on MUBI)

4. Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)

When Marianne is hired to secretly paint the wedding portrait of Héloïse, they form an unexpectedly deep connection. Set in the 1800s, this is a story of romance that was not accepted at its time. Marianne and Héloïse’s love is soft and gentle. The scenes rely on long silences and lingering eye contact to emphasize their connection. This movie shows love as something quiet but consuming. (Stream on HBO Max)

5. La La Land (2016)

Sebastian and Mia fall in love while chasing their dreams in Los Angeles, only to realize that ambition and romance don’t always go hand-in-hand. If you’re a fan of musical numbers and beautiful on-screen color composition, this is the choice for you. This movie honors the love that shapes you, even when it doesn’t last. It’s exchanging a simple glance that silently speaks of how much you have meant to each other. Sometimes love is knowing when to let go. (Stream on Prime Video)

6. But I’m a Cheerleader (1999)

When her parents suspect she may be gay, Megan is sent to a conversion camp, where she meets unashamed Graham. What begins as a satirical take on conversion therapy unfolds into a lovely story of self-acceptance. Beneath the humor and bright colors, this movie is about self-discovery and teenagehood. It’s funny and heartfelt, being the perfect choice if you want an offbeat but still feel-good movie. (Stream on Tubi and Roku)