Sigh…it’s that time again, fellas. The dreaded middle of February. As Valentine’s Day looms dark and dismal on the horizon, it’s time for those of us still single to make our plans to fill that partner-sized hole in our love lives: A difficult task that usually requires copious amounts of chocolate and wine (ironic, I know) and a movie to take your mind off of your friends who have fallen from our noble bachelor ranks. 

But what if you, like me, are a hopeless romantic? What if you, too, wonder what greatness lies in the only genre of movie fitting for Valentines Day? 

The rom-com. Incredibly kitschy, utterly predictable and yet truly heart-wrenching. You haven’t really lived until you brush away the “dust in your eye” watching an ambiguously handsome A-list actor proclaim his love to Julia Roberts, again. 

Allow me to put your queries to rest. I have compiled a list of the top five rom-com movies to watch on that dreaded February 14, with or without your partner. Each of these films is sure to melt even the most macho of men.

“The Princess Bride”

If you haven’t seen this movie already, watch it tonight. “The Princess Bride” has it all. Daring feats of strength, unparalleled cunning and a love story full of passion and longing. This classic 80s flick is the archetype for the rom-com. It doesn’t even bear explaining. This is the go-to pick for a night in with your roommate for sure.

“About Time”

A personal favorite, this movie follows Tim, played by Domhnall Gleeson, a redheaded up-and-coming lawyer with an eccentric, yet surprisingly normal-feeling family, who finds out from his father that the men in their family have a unique talent: They can travel back in time. Needless to say, Tim uses these skills to woo the woman of his dreams named Mary, played by the lovely Rachel McAdams. With heartwarming relationships and equally heart-wrenching goodbyes, this rom-com remains a top pick on my watchlist every February. 

“A Knight’s Tale”

Move over, Joker. With an all-time performance by Heath Ledger as Will Thatcher, a squire-turned-knight after his master keels over dead, this satirical comedy checks all the boxes for a good rom-com. With witty remarks around every corner by Gregory Chaucer (Paul Bettany) and fueled by a soundtrack filled with 80s rock music, this love story between a young knight trying to realize his dream and a mysterious princess who turns him this way and that is another classic of its kind. This movie will have you ignoring leftover Brother’s Pizza and reaching for a tissue box for a full two hours. 

“Purple Hearts”

This movie is like nothing else I have ever seen. As with all romantic comedies, the plot is simple to follow, but the militaristic context set down by this film defies many of the less serious settings more akin to rom-coms. It comes across as gritty and serious, with the two main characters, Luke and Cassie, benefiting from a mutual need of marriage to rescue both of their separate lives. But with love prevailing even in dire circumstances, even Wabash ROTC members will have to admit that it gives them hope for love in the future. 

“Marry Me”

To fall directly into the narrative of having beautiful, yet emotionally lost, women fall for awkward, stable guys, look no further than this movie. When Jennifer Lopez, playing a jilted pop starlet, is cheated on by her classically-beautiful fiancee, she takes a leap of faith, marrying someone from the crowd at one of her concerts. Needless to say, Owen Wilson, a math teacher without social media (how much more cliché do you want?) steps up to the plate and says “I do.” Navigating the differences in lifestyle creates a unique and surprisingly logical storyline, guaranteed to persuade even the most level-headed Wally that yes, even you may someday marry Megan Fox.