Catch Spring Fever With The 50 Greatest Date Movies Of All Time

By Jordan Runtagh

April 28, 2013 / 9:00 AM

Spring has finally sprung, and the shift into warm weather has an intense, almost physical effect on us all. No, it ain't allergies; it's spring fever, folks! The time of the year when we get our energy back, and feel more alive than ever. Love is in the air (along with pollen), and it's hard to resist the urge to ask that special someone out on a date. So don't resist! Sure dates can be kind of intimidating, but don't worry: We've got you covered with this handy list of the 50 Greatest Date Movies of All Time. Read on and fear no more!

50. 500 Days Of Summer (2009)

[caption id="attachment_297554" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: Fox Searchlight][/caption]For every sensitive guy who's ever loved a girl because of her music taste, this one's for you. Welcome to the Indie Kid's Casablanca, as Joseph Gordon-Levitt falls in love with Zooey Deschanel's textbook Manic Pixie Dream Girl.

49. Mr & Mrs. Smith (2005)

[caption id="attachment_297553" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: 20th Century Fox][/caption]This movie depicting a husband and wife who occasionally try to kill each other is probably the most accurate representation of relationships on this list. We also can thank this flick for Brangelina!

48. Sabrina (1995)

[caption id="attachment_297551" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: Paramount Pictures][/caption]It's a classic "Boy hires chauffeur, chauffeurs daughter loves boy, boy doesn't notice her until she grows up and gets a fashion internship at Vogue" tale.

47. Big (1988)

[caption id="attachment_297550" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: 20th Century Fox][/caption]This one's could send mixed signals as a date movie, considering Tom Hanks is playing a kid in a man's body. Maybe save this for the third or fourth date.

46. Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)

[caption id="attachment_297549" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: Universal][/caption]Technically a break-up movie, but it's so funny that it doesn't even matter. Works really well for a rebound date.

45. Body Heat (1981)

[caption id="attachment_297548" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: Warner Brothers][/caption]Dirty talk and dirty deeds, this neo-noir with William Hurt and Kathleen Turner will definitely set your screen on fire.

44. Edward Scissorhands (1990)

[caption id="attachment_297547" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: 20th Century Fox][/caption]Does your date have pruning shears for hands? Well then this Johnny Depp powerhouse will make them feel right at ease.

43. The Apartment (1960)

[caption id="attachment_297545" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: United Artists][/caption]Jack Lemmon plays a lovable everyman who lets his boss use his apartment for his affairs. But when things get weird when he realizes that his boss is stringing along the woman he has a huge crush on. The Billy Wilder script is warm and funny, and has one of the best final lines in cinema history.

42. You've Got Mail (1998)

[caption id="attachment_297543" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: Warner Brothers][/caption]It was either this or Sleepless In Seattle. Feel free to substitute.

41. Belle Epoque (1992)

[caption id="attachment_297542" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: Sony Picture Classics][/caption]A soldier and four gorgeous sisters (including Penelope Cruz), in the Spanish countryside. You do the math.

40. Groundhog Day (1993)

[caption id="attachment_297541" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: Columbia Pictures][/caption]Bill Murray lives one day over and over, ad naseum. So it's the perfect set up for the ol' "If I had to live one day over and over again, it would me with you" line.

39. Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

[caption id="attachment_297540" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: Warner Brothers][/caption]Orgies, sexual experimentation, murder, seduction and nudity: Maybe not such a great first date movie. Or, looked at another way, THE PERFECT FIRST DATE MOVIE. Kubrick's final film staring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman set the tone for millions of swingers parties across the world.

38. Meet The Parents (2000)

[caption id="attachment_297539" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: Universal Pictures][/caption]If you're girlfriend doesn't understand why you're nervous to meet her family, just this pop this gem in.

37. 9 1/2 weeks (1986)

[caption id="attachment_297538" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: MGM][/caption]Not to be confused with 9 Months with Hugh Grant, or 8 1/2, this film features super sexy performances from Kim Basinger before she married Alec Baldwin, and Mickey Rourke before boxers used his face as a punching bag.

36. Annie Hall (1977)

[caption id="attachment_297537" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: United Artists][/caption]Arguably the first realistic comedy about modern relationships, most of us guys owe Woody Allen a huge debt for making nerds cool.

35. Almost Famous (2000)

[caption id="attachment_297536" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: Dreamworks][/caption] Just for the scene on the bus when they all sing "Tiny Dancer"...

34. Y Tu Mama Tambien (2001)

[caption id="attachment_297535" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: 20th Century Fox][/caption]Muy caliente, this foreign film from south of the border is essentially a road movie with wayyyy more sex. Two friends go on a road trip, where they meet a slightly older woman, who schools the kids in passion.

33. Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981)

[caption id="attachment_297534" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: Lucasfilms][/caption]Nothing like a little adventure to get pulses racing. Harrison Ford as the original whip-weilding badass might set the mood for some more romantic whip-play later...

32. The Philadelphia Story (1940)

[caption id="attachment_297533" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: MGM][/caption]The original rom-com, this classic staring Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart and Katherine Hepburn is still hilarious today.

31. Harold And Maude (1971)

[caption id="attachment_297531" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: Paramount Pictures][/caption]Cat Steven's soundtrack keeps this tale of an epic May-December romance almost painfully sweet.

30. Moonstruck (1987)

[caption id="attachment_297530" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: MGM][/caption]"SNAP OUT OF IT!" Cher takes no prisoners as widow Loretta Castorini, a role which won her an Oscar.

29. The Wedding Singer (1998)

[caption id="attachment_297529" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: New Line Cinema][/caption]Rather than annoying, Adam Sandler is actually sweet in this heartwarmer. His tearjerking song "I Want To Grow Old With You" is played at many a wedding.

28. Breakfast At Tiffany's (1961)

[caption id="attachment_297528" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: Paramount Pictures][/caption]Corny? Maybe. A cliche? Maybe. But Audrey Hepburn's portrayal of original Manic Pixie Dream Girl Holly Golightly still stirs us up.

27. Chocolat (2000)

[caption id="attachment_297526" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: Miramax][/caption]A date night movie, in France, with Johnny Depp. Flawless.

26. Notting Hill (1999)

[caption id="attachment_297525" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: Universal Pictures][/caption] The Rom-Com King and Queen, together at last. Julia Roberts is just a girl, asking Hugh Grant to love her.

25. Dangerous Liaisons (1988)

[caption id="attachment_297523" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: Warner Brothers][/caption]Not all costume films are stuffy. You won't believe the heat coming off of the corsets and powdered wigs!

24. Before Sunrise (1995)

[caption id="attachment_297522" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: Castle Rock Entertainment][/caption]Ever have one of those days with someone where you keep having so much fun that breakfast turns into lunch, turns into dinner, turns into midnight? This gentle character study with Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy is kind of like that.

23. Ghost (1990)

[caption id="attachment_297521" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: Paramount Pictures][/caption] This movie forever changed the way we looked at necrophilia. And the word "ditto."

22. High Fidelity (2000)

[caption id="attachment_297520" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: Touchstone}[/caption]Cusack's obsessive and childish record nerd Rob Gordon has always cracked us up. Watching him retrace the steps of every failed relationship he's ever had in hopes of figuring out how to save his current one, all we see is ourselves.

21. Jerry Maguire (1996)

[caption id="attachment_297519" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: TriStar][/caption]Tom Cruise had Renee Zellweger (and us) at "hello".

20. Love Story (1970)

[caption id="attachment_297518" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: Paramount Pictures][/caption]This movie breaks our goddamn heart. It gave is the immortal catchphrase "Love means never having to say you're sorry." And it also gave Tissues a serious boost in sales. Use with caution.

19. Amelie (2001)

[caption id="attachment_297517" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: Miramax][/caption]It's Lil Wayne's favorite French film! If that joke doesn't get you laid, we can't help you.

18. My Best Friend's Wedding (1997)

[caption id="attachment_297515" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: TriStar Pictures][/caption] Another overlooked classic from the Julia Roberts cannon, this one has some of the best musical numbers.

17. The Princess Bride (1987)

[caption id="attachment_297514" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: 20th Century Fox][/caption]This fairy tale has just enough action, adventure, intelligence and humor to keep adults interested.

16. Reality Bites (1994)

[caption id="attachment_297513" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: Universal Pictures][/caption] This movie makes us fall in love with Winona Ryder, Ethan Hawke and the 1990's all over again.

15. The Graduate (1967)

[caption id="attachment_297511" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: Embassy Pictures][/caption]Maybe save this one until after you need her mom.

14. Sixteen Candles (1984)

[caption id="attachment_297509" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: Universal Pictures][/caption] Molly Ringwald won our hearts in this Brat Pack classic about a girl whose family forgot about her sweet sixteen.

13. West Side Story (1961)

[caption id="attachment_297508" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: United Artists][/caption]Romeo and Juliet with killer music: What's not to love?

12. Brokeback Mountain (2005)

[caption id="attachment_297507" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: Focus Features][/caption]We just can't quit this movie.

11. Romeo + Juliet (1996)

[caption id="attachment_297506" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: 20th Century Fox][/caption] Wait, sorry, THIS one is Romeo and Juliet with killer music!

10. Forrest Gump (1994)

9. Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (2004)

[caption id="attachment_297503" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: Focus Features][/caption]

8. Say Anything (1989)

[caption id="attachment_297499" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: 20th Century Fox][/caption]Only John Cusack could make someone fall in love with him using just a lame Peter Gabriel song.

7. Up (2009)

[caption id="attachment_297498" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: Pixar][/caption]Holy s--t. The opening 10 minutes will destroy you.

6. Love Actually (2003)

[caption id="attachment_297497" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: Universal Pictures][/caption]The UBER ROM-COM. This one has about six thousand story lines, and appearances from romantic comedy legends Colin Firth and Hugh Grant.

5. Titanic (1997)

[caption id="attachment_297496" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: Paramount Pictures][/caption]Not to generalize, but the ladies love the relationship-driven first half of the film, whereas most guys like the second half where s--t (and the ship) goes down.

4. When Harry Met Sally... (1989)

[caption id="attachment_297495" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: Columbia Pictures][/caption]Nora Ephron's masterpiece seeks to answer the age old question: can men and women just be friends? SPOILER ALERT: They kinda can't. The deli scene alone is worth the price of admission.

3. That Thing You Do (1996)

[caption id="attachment_297494" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: 20th Century Fox][/caption]Literally every girlfriend we've ever had has had a soft spot for this semi-obscure flick about a band achieving success in the summer of 1964. An underused date-night gem, in our opinion!

2. The Notebook (2004)

[caption id="attachment_297493" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: New Line Cinema][/caption]The rain kiss. Come on now. This is date night napalm. Use in emergencies.

1. Casablanca (1942)

[caption id="attachment_297492" align="aligncenter" width="615"] [Photo: Warner Brothers][/caption]The definition of a classic. End of story. Nothing else to say.