Valentine's Day is a holiday lots of people love to celebrate, but, let's face it, not everyone is all about romance and flowers and chocolates. Of course, that doesn't just go for single people; some people who are coupled up don't celebrate, either.
With that said, that doesn't mean avoiding participating in some of the common Valentine's Day traditions, with a special spin. For example, instead of curling up on the couch with a special someone or a pint of ice cream—or maybe both—to watch a romantic movie like The Notebook, consider a movie that goes completely against everything that Valentine's Day stands for, like a horror film, a movie about unrequited love, or a ridiculous comedy.
There are tons of great Valentine's Day episodes of TV shows you can thumb through to get a good laugh and lots of great traditional Valentine's Day movies you can stream. But, for anyone who is totally anti-Valentine's Day, there are plenty of movies that are perfect for watching on the day, for reasons very opposite to the most fitting picks.
Get Out (2017)
If there was ever a movie that was anti-Valentine's Day, this is it. Not only is it a terrifying horror movie, but it's also a deeply psychological one that will make you think. That's a far cry from the typical Valentine's Day movie, which would involve cheesy romance and a predictable storyline.
What's more, this movie is all about a relationship that was actually sinister from the very beginning. It doesn't exactly scream "hopeful about love."
Closer (2004)
Closer has a star-studded cast that includes Julia Roberts, Jude Law, Natalie Portman, and Clive Owen. While it's a romantic drama at heart, it's also a tragedy. As a modern-day interpretation of the Mozart opera Cosi Fan Tutte, it involves love, lust, and loss.
The four main characters end up being unfaithful to one another and such begins a twisted love square—not even a triangle. It's a sad tale with a tragic end that is completely anti-romance.
The First Wives Club (1996)
Going back to the mid-90s, this comedy will make viewers laugh, and it's the perfect watch for a night in with the girls, often known as Galentine's Day. Based on the Olivia Goldsmith novel of the same name, it's about three divorced women who are all looking to get back at their ex-husbands for leaving them for younger women.
The star-studded cast includes Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn, and Diane Keaton—in one of her best roles—and also includes Victor Garber, Marcia Gay Harden, Elizabeth Berkley, and Sarah Jessica Parker.
Fatal Attraction (1987)
Talk about a movie that could turn someone off of romance and Valentine's Day. The classic psychological thriller looks at what happens when a woman becomes so obsessed with a man that she begins stalking and harassing him.
When Daniel has a fling one night when his wife and daughter are out of town, he discovers that the woman isn't happy to just be a one-night stand and that she wants more. From boiling bunnies to wielding knives, it's a terrifying look at obsessive lust.
Gone Girl (2014)
This David Fincher psychological thriller is perfect to watch with your romantic partner if you're into disturbing versus traditional romantic movies, or to watch on your own or with friends. Based on the Gillian Flynn novel of the same name, it's about a woman who goes missing, how her husband becomes a suspect, and how the media manipulates public perception of the case. It stars some A-list talent, including Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry, Carrie Coon, and Kim Dickens.
Kill Bill (2003)
The perfect feminist flick if you're looking to watch something about kicking butt and taking names instead of kissing lips and taking vows, this is a great option. High action all the way through, Uma Thurman stars as The Bride, a highly-skilled fighter who is out for revenge on a team of assassins who tried to kill her. This movie, a lengthy two-part epic, is among Quentin Tarantino's best.
Considered an homage to grindhouse cinema, there's plenty of martial arts, a spaghetti western feel, and even an anime sequence. It's exactly what viewers need if they despise everything for which Valentine's Day stands.
A Star Is Born (2018)
While it's a beautiful and heartbreaking love story that will have viewers in tears, it's not the traditional "boy meets girl and has a happy ending" romance movie. It takes viewers through very real, very raw emotions. Usually, on Valentine's Day, people just want to watch something that gets them teary-eyed, but for good reason.
Still, while it's a sad movie, the electric performances by Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga and their undeniable chemistry, not to mention the flawless singing, makes this a perfect watch if you want some romance with a touch of realism.
HER (2013)
There's nothing that screams anti-Valentine's Day in the twenty-first century like the story of a lonely man who falls in love with an artificial intelligence. In this Spike Jonze movie, Joaquin Phoenix plays a socially awkward man who finds solace in chatting with a virtual AI, eventually becoming convinced that she is a real woman with whom he's falling in love.
It's so weird, yet so believable in today's world. Nonetheless, it's not a traditional romance, and it's perfect for those who want something different this Valentine's Day.
Marriage Story (2019)
Prepare to sob uncontrollably at the realness and rawness of this comedy-drama, which takes viewers deep into the world of a once-loving married couple and their son who grow apart and realize they want different things and cannot remain married.
While the situation sounds cut and dry in theory, it's difficult when there's a child involved. The performances are emotional, and the story will be too real for anyone who has been through a divorce that starts amicably and quickly turns nasty.
The Break-Up (2006)
The name alone suggests that this is the perfect movie for anti-Valentine's Day. Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston star as a couple who decide to break up. But, there's a problem: neither of them wants to move out of their condo, so they attempt to continue on as roommates. While initially this involves avoiding one another at all costs, they quickly decide to go out of their ways to annoy the other person in an act of retaliation at believing they are right.
It's a story that shows just how messy love can be, and how it's easy to lose someone by taking them for granted and not appreciating them. While there can sometimes be a happy ending when a person comes to this realization, it doesn't always work out the way people hope.