Planning a cozy Valentine's Day at home? Watch one of these unexpected romantic movies

Roses, chocolates, dinner and a movie — the perfect Valentine’s Day combo.

I mean, I guess. I suppose the greeting card industry would like a mention of a card in there somewhere. I’ll leave that, as well as most of the rest, to the experts.

I’m here to help with movies. Romantic movies. But not just romantic movies. I’m certainly not going to be the one to tell you that “Casablanca” isn’t one of the most romantic movies ever made. Because it is. (And no, don’t look for “Titanic” here. No pablum allowed.)

But you knew that already. What I’m offering are 10 quirky romantic movies, maybe ones that don’t immediately spring to mind when you think of Valentine’s Day. I looked at a few lists while coming up with my own and one included “Poor Things” and “Killers of the Flower Moon” at the top. Both are great movies, but this list isn’t that quirky.

Give these a try. But just in case, don’t forget the roses.

‘Up’ (2009)

No, not the whole movie, though it’s great. But the 4 minutes and 21 seconds in which Carl and Ellie’s life together spools by in heartrending fashion is as romantic — and sad — as it gets. Seriously, if you don’t cry, then someone needs to hold a mirror to your mouth to make sure you’re breathing.

How to watch: Streaming on Disney+.

‘In the Mood for Love’ (2000)

Can a movie truly be romantic if nothing ever really happens between the two people attracted to each other? Oh yeah. Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung are neighbors in Hong Kong in 1962 who learn their spouses are having an affair — with each other. They are drawn to each other, fall in love with each other and long for each other. And yet, “we won’t be like them” will break your heart. Kar-Wai Wong’s film is gorgeous, which only heightens the emotions. A true original.

How to watch: Stream on Max, the Criterion Channel.

‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’ (2004)

Kate Winslet impulsively has all of her memories of Jim Carrey removed after a breakup. (There’s some light science fiction here.) He does the same in retaliation — but in the middle of the procedure decides he doesn’t want to forget her, after all. What’s more romantic than that? Michel Gondry’s film, like Charlie Kaufman’s script, is supremely weird. It’s also brilliant. Would you try to start over, if you knew things didn’t work out the first time? Anything for love.

How to watch: Stream on the Criterion Channel.

‘Bram Stoker’s Dracula’ (1992)

“Love never dies” was the tagline of Francis Ford Coppola’s abidingly strange (but true to the book) take on Dracula. Sounds pretty romantic to me. The Count (Gary Oldman, in various outrageous guises) pursues his true love (Winona Ryder), if in a wildly inappropriate fashion. Some of it’s weird, some of it’s great and it looks fantastic. All of it, in whatever form, gets back to love. What more can you ask?

How to watch: Rent or buy on Apple TV, Prime Video or Google Play.

‘The Philadelphia Story’ (1940)

Because what’s more romantic than a disgraced ex-husband trying to steal his ex-wife back from the nouveau riche clod she’s about to marry? And why not have a gossip rag there to write a story and take pictures? When the cast includes Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart and Ruth Hussey, there’s just not much more romantic. The quips are non-stop (“You hardly know him.” “To hardly know him is to know him well”) and the chemistry is brilliant. Truly one of the best. My, she was yar.

How to watch: Rent or buy on Prime Video, iTunes or Google Play.

‘The Big Sick’ (2017)

Budding stand-up comic (and Uber driver) Kumail (Kumail Nanjiani) falls for Emily (Zoe Kazan), and vice versa. And then she becomes ill. Her parents (Holly Hunter and Ray Romano, both excellent) come to visit, and slowly come around to Kumail. The question is whether Emily will, when she recovers. Nanjiani and his wife, Emily V. Gordon, wrote the script, based loosely on their own lives. I guess that’s a hint.

How to watch: Stream on Prime Video.

‘Edward Scissorhands’ (1990)

Johnny Depp plays the title character, back when that was a big deal. Edward is incomplete; his creator (Vincent Price, awesome) died before he could finish him, leaving Edward with scissors for hands. He lives alone until he’s taken in by a family, whose daughter (Winona Ryder) he falls in love with. Things go well for a time, and then not. It’s a classic tale of The Other and the reaction of a small-minded community that fears what it doesn’t know. Sad and sweet, it’s the kind of thing director Tim Burton used to be great at.

How to watch: Stream on Max.

'Lars and the Real Girl’ (2007)

Ryan Gosling plays Lars, a socially awkward man who, to the delight of his brother and sister-in-law, announces that he is seeing someone. They’re less thrilled when it turns out she is a sex doll that he treats as a real person. Eventually, though, so do they, and the community as well in a form of group healing. Certainly unconventional, Craig Gillespie’s film is as sweet as it is strange.

How to watch: Stream on Kanopy; buy or rent on Prime Video or iTunes.

‘Only Lovers Left Alive’ (2013)

Tom Hiddleston and Tilda Swinton play Adam and Eve (ahem), centuries-old vampire lovers, down and out in the ravages of contemporary Detroit in Jim Jarmusch’s film. Well, it’s mostly Adam who’s down, depressed and bored with life, living alone in a dump and recording ambient drone music. Eve’s sister (Mia Wasikowska) comes to visit, and things get worse. Smart, creepy, cool as all get out.

How to watch: Rent or buy on Prime Video, iTunes or Google Play.

‘Palm Springs’ (2020)

Just what the doctor ordered in the dark days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Andy Samberg plays a wedding guest stuck reliving the same day over and over (shades of “Groundhog Day,” yes, but that’s OK). Soon Cristin Milioti is stuck with him, as they try desperately to escape the day. It’s dark, nihilistic, funny, and ultimately sweet and hopeful. They’re rooting to escape. We’re rooting for them to get together. It’s a nice, quirky combo.

How to watch: Stream on Hulu.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 10 romantic movies for Valentine's Day that aren't typical rom-coms