Friday Five: Valentine's Day Movies to Watch on Disney +
Valentine’s Day is looking a little different this year thanks to the global pandemic we’ve all been living through the past 12 months. Since lots of us still can’t go to a restaurant, a movie theater, or anywhere else looks like we’ll be celebrating another holiday at home.
That’s okay, because there’s no shortage of streaming options out there to help us settle in for a cozy night at home. So grab a blanket, light a fire, pop some popcorn, and get ready to snuggle up because we’ve rounded up five of our favorite films (with a little bit of romance) for this week’s Friday Five you can stream now on Disney+. Whether you like those classic Disney animated movies, rom-coms, rom-dramas, or rom-fantasies there’s something here for you!
1. 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
Image: Buena Vista Pictures
ALL the 90’s nostalgia! This updated version of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew set in a high school stars Heath Ledger, in his breakthrough role as bad boy, Patrick Verona. Verona, is paid to take out the sardonic Kat Stratfield (Julia Stiles) so Kat's younger sister Bianca (Larisa Oleynik) can date Cameron James (Joseph Gordon-Leavitt). So maybe that doesn’t sound that romantic on the surface — but it totally is. Just wait until you hear Heath Ledger's rendition of a certain Frankie Valli song.
2. The Princess Bride (1987)
Via: Giphy
There are so many things to love about 1987’s The Princess Bride. The enchantingly cracked fairy tale has a great story, a timelessly quotable script, swordfights, Mandy Patinkin and Christopher Guest — but at the heart of it is a beautiful love story between the beautiful Princess Buttercup (Robin Wright) and her farmhand Westley (Cary Elwes). When Buttercup is forced to marry a prince Westley sets out on a dangerous quest to rescue her so they can live happily-ever-after. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. And you’ll never be able to hear the word “marriage” the same again.
3. Cinderella (1950)
Image: Disney
We all kind of know this one, right? A young woman is left orphaned and working as a maid in her own home thanks to her evil stepmother and stepsisters, but is transformed into a well-dressed princess with the help of her Fairy Godmother just in time to attend a ball where she meets the conveniently named Prince Charming. This one has pumpkin carriages, glass slippers, and birds and mice who make clothings because, of COURSE they do. There are a few different versions of Cinderella available to stream right now on Disney+. In addition to the 1950 animated version there’s the live-action version starring Lily James, the 1997 Rodgers & Hammerstein musical version starring Brandy and Whitney Houston, and a charming Drew Barrymore version called Ever After.
4. Never Been Kissed (1999)
Via: Giphy
Speaking of Drew Barrymore — remember 1999’s Never Been Kissed? Barrymore plays a news reporter sent undercover back to high school for a story. She ends up falling for the high school English teacher (Michael Vartan). There are mean girls, awkward high school moments, and a baseball diamond with a countdown clock (seriously?!) and a crowd-pleasing finale about taking a risk and putting yourself on the line.
5. Splash (1984)
Image: Buena Vista Pictures
The Little Mermaid isn’t the only movie streaming on Disney+ about a mermaid falling in love with a man. Remember 1984’s, Splash?!! Tom Hanks plays Allen, a depressed man who can't hold down a relationship until he meets a mysterious woman played by Daryl Hannah who just happens to be a mermaid. As you can imagine, there are many obstacles in their way before true love conquers all. hat proves to be a pretty big obstacle for them. The film is directed by Ron Howard and also stars Eugene Levy and the late, great John Candy. What else is there to say? The rest is aquatic history.
