We could make a list of the 10 best movies to watch if you’re in a relationship on Valentine’s Day, but, let’s face it, the entire day is designed and built exclusively for couples. So if you’re one half of a couple, take solace in that and stop being greedy. If you, however, are spending the holiday in Singlesville, here are a few movies that will buffer you from all those chocolate hearts and nauseating diamond commercials. Add a glass of wine and a block of cheese to any of the following and you’ll have a surefire way to survive the holiday.
1. “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (1961). Sure, Audrey Hepburn’s iconic, Holly Golightly character ends up with the dashing quasi-gigolo, Paul, but the true love story is between a woman and a cat named “Cat.” If their rain-soaked reconciliation doesn’t get to you, nothing will. Unless you’re a dog person.
2. “It’s Complicated” (2009). If anyone can turn being single into an art form, it’s Meryl Streep. With a gorgeous house in Santa Barbara, two handsome men in pursuit, an awesome job surrounded by chocolate scones and a shiny kitchen (pre-renovation even) to DIE for, her post-divorce life is a thing of beauty.
3. “Rudy” (1993). The five foot nothin’, hundred and nothin’ pound kid manages to get himself a walk-on position on the Notre Dame football team and get carried off the field in a moment of glory, all without a girlfriend. Plus, “Rudy” is perhaps the most feel-good movie of all time, so even if you’re nursing a broken heart, this will make you cry, but for joy this time.
4. “Scream” (1996). Sure, a slasher movie seems a little obvious on an anti-Valentine’s list, but horror movies have long been antidotes to V-Day for a reason. Plus, nothing will make you appreciate being single more than watching Neve Campbell’s boyfriend go all crazy and murderous.
5. “500 Days of Summer” (2009). No other movie renders falling in (and out) of love quite so honestly and beautifully. It’s a painfully accurate reminder that sometimes getting your heart stomped on could be the best thing ever to happen.
6. “Labyrinth” (1986). There is absolutely nothing romantic about this movie. There’s only a singing, dancing, spandex wearing David Bowie as an evil goblin king. Enough said.
7. “Casablanca” (1942). Choosing to be single has never been as inspiringly noble or exquisitely cool than when Humphrey Bogart tells his long lost love, Ilsa, to fly away with another man.
8. “Swingers” (1996). First of all, Vince Vaughn has never been cuter. But if that’s not your cup of tea, this LA-set film is perhaps the greatest single-guy movie of all time. And, any singleton who’s ever called someone for a date can relate to the excruciatingly funny and horribly realistic answering machine scene.
9. “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” (1966). This movie adaptation of the Edward Albee play is not a horror film, but might as well be. Marriage has never looked more hellish than watching Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton wage psychological warfare over the course of one drunken night.
10. “30 Rock” on DVD (2006-present). Okay, this isn’t a movie, but eternally single gal, Liz Lemon, is perhaps the most relatable and cringe-worthy single character of all time. Who among us hasn’t, like Liz, perused the dating section of the Kraft foods website or joined a singles line-dancing league?