Sometimes, there is nothing better to watch on Valentine’s Day than a feel-good movie with a fiercely independent and young-spirited main character who seizes life for themselves. After all, the best romance is the romance with the self and the celebration of unbridled and liberating independence.
There is a slew of animated and live-action movies that feature happily single protagonists who have dreams and goals they chase on their own (and can simply because they’re on their own). Audiences will love these movies featuring independent, driven protagonists who evoke an uplifting and reinvigorating motivation for life and its continually new journeys.
Moana
Disney’s Moana is an essential animated movie with a driven protagonist who lets passion guide her. Undeterred by the physical and emotional obstacles presented to her on her journey, Moana (Auli'i Cravalho) leaves her Polynesian village for Maui (Dwayne Johnson) on her own to restore the balance of Te Fiti and save her home. Moana is a classic feel-good Disney film with all the elements of a strong and fiercely independent female protagonist who fearlessly pursues adventure (both out of a desire to do good and to break free). So, what better to watch on Valentine’s Day than a movie with an inspiring, single-spirited protagonist driven by herself?
Soul
Another great animated movie with an unbridled inspiration for life is Pixar’s Soul. Geared more towards an older audience struggling to find the meaningful pockets of everyday life, this movie is great for reminding oneself of the smaller joys of life.
Main character Joe Gardner (Jamie Foxx) feels hopelessly unfulfilled due to the routine of his life, even after obtaining that which he thought he'd be most fulfilled by, but as he re-experiences the city of New York with 22 (Tina Fey), he realizes that life does not necessarily take meaning from an end goal or destination, but that it takes meaning from the simple beauties in front of him -- the falling leaves, the piano keys. Whether in a slump or seeking motivation to look at the glass half full, Soul is a great movie to watch to learn to love oneself, and that that is enough.
How to be Single
The most obvious go-to for a Valentine’s day movie night is, of course, a romantic comedy. 2016’s How to be Single is a fun respite featuring protagonist Alice (Dakota Johnson) who breaks up with her long-term boyfriend to move to New York City right after college and start fresh. In the city, she experiences the ups and downs of navigating her twenties, and, while she does momentarily get tangled up in a short fling with confused feelings, she ultimately realizes that what is most fulfilling is dating herself. The final scene of the movie is a refreshing and inspiring moment that will remind anyone how liberating it is to be alone but not lonely.
Someone Great
Someone Great does not begin with a happily single protagonist, but it ends with one. The romantic comedy chronicles Jenny (Gina Rodriguez), who copes with a devastating breakup with her boyfriend of nine years due to her decision to relocate for her dream job. Jenny is upset about the breakup, but the movie follows her journey to recuperation.
Jenny enlists the help of her best friends Erin (DeWanda Wise) and Blair (Brittany Snow), and, though the journey is occasionally interrupted by heart-aching memories of her ex-boyfriend, it commences with closure she reaches on her own. Someone Great is a feel-good rom-com with dynamic, relatable, and fun characters and leaves an uplifting and motivational last impression as Jenny picks herself up with her best friends beside her and charges independently toward her new life on her own.
Onward
Sometimes, the most unbreakable bond is the bond of family. Onward is a touching story about brothers, particularly brothers Ian (Tom Holland) and Barley Lightfoot (Chris Pratt), who are on a quest to bring their deceased father temporarily back to life. Ian is singularly focused on the goal, while his older brother Barley continues to make clumsy mistakes that ticks Ian off. As their disagreements come to a head, however, Barley makes a meaningful sacrifice for Ian, and Ian similarly does so later. At the end of the film (and the journey), the brothers realize they are each other’s biggest supporters, and nothing can change the unconditional love they have for each other. Watching Onward will definitely induce a night of tears, but they’ll be happy tears that will echo the reminder of lasting, brotherly love.
Begin Again
This 2013 comedy-drama brings together former record label executive Dan Mulligan (Mark Ruffalo) and young-spirited songwriter Gretta James (Keira Knightley) in an unlikely partnership as Dan copes with being fired from his job and Gretta re-evaluates her future after her rocker boyfriend Dave (Adam Levine) cheats on her.
Dan and Gretta form a bond that begins with an album they record together and deepens as they help each other through their personal lives. Dan rediscovers his artistic drive, and Gretta leans into an independence that propels her forward into her life (and her music) on her own terms. This movie is a journey of growth and friendship, of independence and chasing dreams, and of working on the self.
Frozen
Like Onward, Frozen is another classic animated movie about sibling love. What better time to watch a movie about sisters helping each other through thick and thin than Valentine’s Day? As fearless and strong-willed Anna (Kristen Bell) fights for her even more strong-willed sister Elsa (Idina Menzel), the two come together and realize nothing can truly drive them apart when they’ve experienced love and loss together. From losing their parents as children to growing apart with adolescence to betrayal from those they wished to love, the two sisters have weathered many storms together, and no one else is capable of holding them up better than themselves.
Frances Ha
Noah Baumbach’s black-and-white film is an endearing and honest portrait of the struggling 27-year-old in New York City. The story revolves around Frances Halladay (Greta Gerwig), who takes her life into her own hands and makes decisions (often sacrifices) to further her own personal growth. Obstacles arise when these decisions only seem to complicate her life or leave her stuck, but part of the journey in growing up is watching how the individual navigates these roadblocks. Liberated from any obligations of a romantic partner, Frances takes to New York City, Sacramento, and Paris to explore herself and, more importantly, find herself.
Booksmart
Olivia Wilde’s directorial debut is full of the laughter and unbridled joy and spontaneity of many coming-of-age experiences. The movie follows high school seniors Amy (Kaitlyn Dever) and Molly (Beanie Feldstein) on their journey to becoming “cool,” which lands them in stressful and hilarious situations like an empty yacht party and costume bash laced with drugs. The protagonists experience sexual and hallucinogenic fantasies, as all teenagers do, and the movie shows all the sides of a best friendship full of arguments and love.
The last, poignant scene when Amy and Molly go their separate ways for college is touching, as they feel ever empowered by the years they’ve spent together and will always revisit in memory. No matter who is in their future, they were and are unequivocally happy together.
Eat Pray Love
Probably the most iconic movie to watch to reinvigorate a spirit of independence and zest for life is Eat Pray Love. Elizabeth Gilbert (Julia Roberts) does what many with stable but stagnant jobs and relationships dream of doing -- she ends her marriage, quits her job, and takes off on a months-long journey to Italy, India, and Indonesia. In her travels, she eats, prays, and learns to love like she hadn’t before. Elizabeth takes on each location alone, and her unbridled independence allows her to act however she wishes. She made sacrifices, but she is liberated, and in the end, she feels a necessary and renewed sense of empowerment, motivation, and freedom.