Still from People We Meet on Vacation (2026)
Hello everyone, and welcome back to “The Movie Diaries.” The month of love is approaching us, and there is no better way of celebrating than with a cozy movie night with some good ice cream or popcorn. It doesn’t matter if you are alone, with a partner, with family, or with your friends; a good movie is the solution to have the best time during Valentine’s. I collected a few of my favorite romantic films for every occasion, for when you are craving something new, or for something to cry laughing. Keep reading and happy watching!
- A new release: People We Meet on Vacation (2026)
People We Meet On Vacation | Official Trailer | Netflix
- Director: Brett Haley
- Stars: Tom Blyth, Emily Bader
- Where to watch: Netflix
- Tag: “On vacation, you’re free to follow your heart.”
“People We Meet on Vacation” tells the story of two best friends, Poppy, a free spirit, and Alex, a homey introvert, who meet every summer for a vacation. The polar opposite pair of stars wonder about their relationship after years of holidays. The film is an adaptation of a book of the same name, written by best-selling author Emily Henry. I’ve never read the book before, but as an outsider to the characters, I still enjoyed this movie. It was just released on Netflix and is an easy, comforting watch if you feel like you’ve seen all the classics. The movie has the same vibe as older 2000s rom-coms, which is hard to say about other modern romantic films. It’s silly and sweet, and I found the characters lovable. Something that stood out for me is the movie’s coloring (weird, I know). All films lately are so dark and bleak in color, and this one is very vibrant. The last thing I want to add about this film is a scene I loved that could become iconic in the future. If you don’t mind a small spoiler and want to see a bit of the film before jumping in, click here! The song playing in the background is forever stuck in my brain!
- An underrated masterpiece: About Time (2013)
- Director: Richard Curtis
- Stars: Rachel McAdams, Domhnall Gleeson
- Where to watch: Paramount +
- Tag: What if every moment in life came with a second chance?
“About Time” tells the story of Tim, who, after another unsatisfactory New Year’s party, discovers that all the men in his family have the ability to travel through time; they can’t change history, but they can alter the events in their own lives. This takes Tim on a journey through time, where he must learn to appreciate life. This movie is absolutely beautiful, melancholic, and sweet all around. Not only is the romance aspect moving and pure, but it also explores family relationships, specifically father and son, in a touching way. This is the type of movie where you laugh, cry, or both, and it makes you feel like you really know the characters. I was rooting for them all throughout the movie. The chemistry between McAdams and Gleeson is off the charts, and they are one of the best pairings in romantic movies ever, in my opinion. I also enjoy the sci-fi aspect of time travel; it’s a welcome addition to the movie, but it doesn’t take over the plot. This is my favorite scene from the movie; it represents what this movie feels like to me, simple and cozy! I can’t believe how underrated the movie is. Please watch, and you won’t regret it!
- A hilarious watch: Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011)
Crazy, Stupid, Love. – Trailer
- Director: Glenn Ficarra, John Requa
- Stars: Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone
- Where to watch: Rent on YouTube or Amazon Prime for $5.99
- Tag: This is crazy. This is stupid. This is love.
“Crazy, Stupid, Love” is about a man named Cal Weaver who finds out his wife was unfaithful and is filing for divorce. He then meets Jacob Palmer, a self-appointed ladies’ man who takes him under his wing and teaches him how to flirt again. The movie also covers other characters and their lives, much like Love Actually (2003), one of my favorite films ever. The film is hilarious, with stellar performances by comedy greats like Steve Carell, Emma Stone, and Ryan Gosling (underrated comedy actor). The jokes land every time, and the cast chemistry is never-ending. I love it when you can tell the cast had a blast filming. This movie is a nice watch if you don’t want something too lovey-dovey and want something more dynamic, with the perfect amount of romance. There is a scene in the film that is the hardest I laughed with a movie ever, tears and everything, I don’t recommend watching this at all before the movie, but please come back after watching and click here, so you can see the masterpiece it is again!
- Single or dealing with a breakup: 500 Days of Summer (2008)
500 DAYS OF SUMMER | Official Trailer | FOX Searchlight
- Director: Marc Webb
- Stars: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel
- Where to watch: Disney +
- Tag: This is not a love story. This is a story about love.
In “500 Days of Summer”, Tom is a greeting card writer and hopeless romantic who is left surprised when his girlfriend Summer leaves him. He starts reflecting on their 500 days together and rediscovering himself. This is the movie you watch if you don’t feel like watching a classic romance at all or are in the process to move on. The film is bittersweet and hilarious at the same time, and Tom’s journey is a delight to see. Also, the character of Summer is so well done that you will feel a roller coaster of emotions when it comes to her, but in the end, she is such a great character. The film is edited with a very playful style; it’s not afraid of being animated and silly. There are too many scenes I could talk about, so I’m actually going to link two of them because they are so good. Click here and here if you don’t mind spoilers.