For kids, Valentine's Day means passing out heart-shaped candies [1] and cute cards [2] to their classmates. But celebrating Cupid's special day doesn't have to end inside of the classroom. Besides hanging up DIY decor [3], you can keep things festive at home by popping on a family-friendly movie about love (and maybe even making Valentine's Day desserts [4] with your little ones while you do so). Your choices are endless, from Disney icons such as Lady and the Tramp to more underrated throwback rom-coms such as Return to Me. Read on for a sweet roundup of our favourite kid-friendly romantic movies to enjoy this February.
Beauty and the Beast
Emma Watson [6] and Dan Stevens will charm your heart in the live-action version of Disney's classic Beauty and the Beast. It tells the story of a book-obsessed woman who encounters a prince-turned-beast, and is full of lush imagery, catchy songs [7], and dazzling costumes.
Rating: PG
Enchanted
Hailing from an animated fairy tale kingdom, guileless and sweet Giselle (Amy Adams [8]) becomes a 3D live-action version of herself and encounters Robert (Patrick Dempsey [9]), a jaded divorce lawyer in Disney's Enchanted. In case you already watched and absolutely loved it, there are rumours on the street about a possible sequel [10].
Rating: PG
Gnomeo and Juliet
Yes, Gnomeo and Juliet is like Romeo and Juliet . . . but with gnomes. It's funnier and lighter than the original Shakespearean tragedy, and parents can delight in the star-studded voice cast that includes James McAvoy [11], Emily Blunt [12], Maggie Smith, and Jason Statham.
Rating: G
It Takes Two
Need your fix of '90s nostalgia? It Takes Two features Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen [13] as two unrelated yet identical children named Amanda and Alyssa. The girls try to set up a kindhearted social worker and Alyssa's wealthy father so that the Amanda can get adopted.
Rating: PG
Little Women
A classic adapted from Louisa May Alcott's celebrated novel, Little Women features early performances from Winona Ryder [14], Kirsten Dunst [15], and Christian Bale [16]. Enveloping romance and family, the story follows the lives of the four March sisters and their mother. Parents may also be interested in the upcoming Greta Gerwig reboot [17].
Rating: PG
The Peanuts Movie
The Peanuts Movie is a warmhearted treat for the entire family. In addition to the romance between Charlie Brown and the Little Red-Haired Girl, there's also a cute side plot with Snoopy writing a novel about the World War I Flying Ace.
Rating: G
Tangled
Rather than just having really long hair, Rapunzel (Mandy Moore [18]) — as we see her in Tangled — also packs a punch of creativity and personality. Her romantic interest, a thief named Flynn Rider, is no prince charming, but he turns out to be a stand-up guy in the end. And also, who can forget Tangled's lovely lantern scene [19]? It's Disney romance at its finest.
Rating: PG
Anastasia
A scrappy young woman named Anya (Meg Ryan [20]) leaves an orphanage to go to Paris, not realising that she's actually Princess Anastasia due to a case of amnesia. She encounters a hustler named Dimitri (John Cusack) who's on the lookout for an Anastasia lookalike. Suffice to say, the two of them end up catching feelings for each other during their royal adventures.
Rating: G
Lady and the Tramp
Lady, a cocker spaniel from a rich family, finds herself on the streets and falls in love with a rugged mutt named Tramp. Even if you aren't familiar with Lady and the Tramp, you'll probably recognise its spaghetti scene, an iconic Disney kissing moment [21].
Rating: G
The Little Rascals
In The Little Rascals, a boy named Alfalfa begins seeing a girl named Darla, but his friends sabotage their relationship because they don't want him to fraternize with girls. The film has roots in a series of American comedy shorts about a group of poor neighbourhood children that started in the '20s.
Rating: PG
The Princess Bride
The late William Goldman's The Princess Bride is a quotable, must-see fairy tale classic about adventure and a romance between a beautiful farm girl named Buttercup and her love Westley. The fantasy unfolds as a Chicago grandfather tries to distract his sick grandson with the story in present day.
Rating: PG
The Princess Diaries
In this lovable early performance, Anne Hathaway [22] plays Mia, a normal girl from San Francisco who learns that she's actually a princess. While in the midst of learning how to be a royal, she dreams of a true love that'll make her foot pop.
Rating: G
Return to Me
This heartfelt romance revolves around a widower who shares a connection with the woman who received his late wife's heart in a transplant surgery. Parents may recognise David Duchovny [23] from The X-Files and Minnie Driver [24] from Good Will Hunting.
Rating: PG
Shrek
Shrek, a curmudgeonly ogre, must rescue Princess Fiona in this hilarious yet tender animated fairy tale film. Shrek has a fair amount of romance in it, but never gets too schmaltzy thanks to its clever jokes.
Rating: PG