5 romance classics to stream this Valentine's Day in Australia

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Skip the crowds and chill at home with your loved one

Leonardo DiCaprio (left) and Kate Winslet (right) in Titanic
(Image credit: 20th Century Studios / Paramount Pictures)

Valentine’s Day (February 14) is almost upon us! It's the most romantic time of the year, and one of my favourite traditions involves curling up with my significant other to watch a lineup of classic love‑themed movies.

Going out on the town is a great way to show your loved one how special they are, but I'd argue that staying in for a quiet one can be even more fulfilling — especially if you have the right lineup of romantic movies to stream.

'Titanic'

Titanic 25th Anniversary | Official Trailer - YouTube Titanic 25th Anniversary | Official Trailer - YouTube
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It's been nearly 30 years since the release of "Titanic", and it's still the grandest love story ever told on the big screen. James Cameron’s epic, which swept 11 Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director, tells the tragic love story of young aristocrat Rose (Kate Winslet) and struggling artist Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) aboard the R.M.S. Titanic, the ill-fated ship that struck an iceberg and sank in the North Atlantic on its maiden voyage.

Stream it on Disney+ and Stan

'Pretty Woman'

Pretty Woman (1990) Trailer #1 | Movieclips Classic Trailers - YouTube Pretty Woman (1990) Trailer #1 | Movieclips Classic Trailers - YouTube
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Julia Roberts became a global megastar in this early '90s, street-level take on the classic "Cinderella" story (or the 1913 play "Pygmalion", if you're willing to go back far enough). The story follows Vivian (Roberts), a Hollywood sex worker who gets an unexpected offer from Edward (Richard Gere), a charming and wealthy corporate raider, to spend a week as his escort while he wraps up a major business deal. In an effort to convincingly portray Edward's partner, Vivian gets a crash course in etiquette and the nuances of high society, while also helping Edward become a kinder, more compassionate person.

Stream it on Disney+

'Notting Hill'

Notting Hill | The Beginning of a Great Romance (Hugh Grant, Julia Roberts) - YouTube Notting Hill | The Beginning of a Great Romance (Hugh Grant, Julia Roberts) - YouTube
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If there's one rule to live by regarding romantic movies, it's that you should never bet against Julia Roberts. In "Notting Hill," she takes on a role much closer to her real-life persona than in "Pretty Woman," playing Anna, a famous movie star who unexpectedly falls for William (Hugh Grant), a bookstore owner in London's Notting Hill neighbourhood. Their chemistry is undeniable, but Anna's immense fame begins to take a toll on their relationship. Can this charming couple overcome the odds and make it work? From writer Richard Curtis ("Four Weddings and a Funeral", "Love Actually"), "Notting Hill" is one of the best rom-coms ever made.

Stream it on Binge, Foxtel Now and Paramount+

'Jerry Maguire'

JERRY MAGUIRE [1996] - Official Trailer (HD) - YouTube JERRY MAGUIRE [1996] - Official Trailer (HD) - YouTube
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Even though Tom Cruise is one of the biggest movie stars in history, he’s appeared in surprisingly few romance films, and only a handful could be considered true classics. Still, no one would dare question "Jerry Maguire", the Academy Award-winning classic from writer-director Cameron Crowe ("Almost Famous"). As the titular character, Cruise plays a sports agent who experiences a moral awakening and expresses it at work, leading to his immediate dismissal. He isn't alone, however, as single mother Dorothy Boyd (Renée Zellweger) quits her job at the agency to follow him on his quest to be a better agent for their one remaining client, Rod Tidwell (Cuba Gooding Jr.), inevitably filling the void in both their hearts.

Stream it on Binge, Netflix and Foxtel Now

"The Notebook"

The Notebook (2004) Official Trailer - Ryan Gosling Movie - YouTube The Notebook (2004) Official Trailer - Ryan Gosling Movie - YouTube
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If you like your romance films to provide some serious emotional whiplash, you're going to love "The Notebook", a film which can best be described as the ultimate tear-jerker. The late James Garner plays Duke, a nursing home resident whose daily routine involves reading a story to a fellow patient (Gena Rowlands) about a young couple named Noah (Ryan Gosling) and Allie (Rachel McAdams). The tale follows their growing romance, capturing the many ups and downs they face over the years, revealing the strength of love and sacrifice. Make sure you have some tissues handy.

Stream it on Prime Video and Foxtel Now

Stephen Lambrechts
Stephen Lambrechts

Stephen Lambrechts is the Managing Editor of Tom's Guide AU and has written professionally across the categories of tech, film, television and gaming for the last 15 years. Before Tom's Guide, he spent several years as a Senior Journalist at TechRadar, had a brief stint as Editor in Chief at Official Xbox Magazine Australia, and has written for such publications as APC, TechLife Australia, T3, FilmInk, AskMen, Daily Telegraph and IGN. He's an expert when it comes to smartphones, TVs, gaming and streaming. In his spare time, he enjoys watching obscure horror movies on physical media, keeping an eye on the latest retro sneaker releases and listening to vinyl. Occasionally, he also indulges in other non-hipster stuff, like hiking.

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