5 Date Movies to Watch on Netflix Streaming

As Good As It Gets (1997)

The 90s were awesome. If you and your girl share this sentiment, then As Good As It Gets is a great flick to start with. Jack Nicholson plays Melvin Udall, a man pissed off at the world. More than likely, this is because his name is Melvin Udall, but this point is never made in the movie.

Anyway, Udall is a writer who isn’t a big fan of, well, anyone. He's entrusted with taking care of his neighbor’s dog after said neighbor suffers an accident and must be hospitalized. And on top of that, Udall finds himself in the midst of an awkward relationship with the one waitress who can stand him at his local diner. The movie hits some romantic notes, but I think it’s going for something much more complex than your average love story. As Good As It Gets shows us that our greatest failure is complacency in the world around us. It'll pick up anyone having a blue day, or make a great day that much brighter.

Man on Wire (2008)

Full disclosure: this is a documentary. I know the stigma that surrounds docs is that they’re mind-numbingly boring, but this one isn't. Since this list is about getting out of your comfort zone, give it a shot. I guarantee it won’t disappoint.

Phillipe Petit is a French tightrope walker. And I’m not talking about your campus' slack-lining hipster who appears to attend zero classes whatsoever. This guy is a full-on crazy, high-wire performer. He has this habit of tightrope walking where he shouldn’t: On a bridge, between two buildings, you name it, he’s probably walked on a thin wire between it. As an ambitious youngster in 1960s France, he hears that they are constructing the tallest building in the world across the pond in New York City. It’s called the “World Trade Center.” Once he finds out that there’s going to be two, he just can’t contain himself. Years before their completion, Petit resolves that he will walk a tightrope between the two towers. And you know what? HE FUCKING DOES IT. The story is insane, and 100% true. I won’t go into all the details because the movie does a fantastic job of depicting just how this whole event went down.

This film ranks near the top of my all-time list. It’s that good. Seeing a guy set out on an impossible goal, and then subsequently watching him achieve said goal just gives me faith in the human condition.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

Here’s your token indie pick on the list. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a movie that just gets better with age. It’s the little engine that could. Its budget wasn’t out of this world; its cast looks like it was put together with names on a dartboard. Jim Carrey plays Joel, a guy who just wants to settle an argument with his long-time girlfriend, Clementine. To give away anything more about this movie would be doing it a great disservice.

What I can tell you is that it provides a fantastic story about a couple at the end of their relationship who are forced to look back and wonder “How did we get here?” We see a couple at its worst, but who are simultaneously reminded of why they loved each other in the first place. I'd suggest holding off on this movie if you’re looking for an icebreaker. This one will make you think; it'll get the gears turning and will stir some discussion that might be awkward with a girl you just met, but would be great for someone you're more comfortable with.

Manhattan (1979)

Don’t get me wrong, Scorsese is great and certainly a directorial powerhouse of New York City. But, if you ask me, Woody Allen takes the cake when putting the Big Apple on the silver screen. Enter Manhattan, Allen’s love letter to his hometown, shot in the best black-and-white I’ve ever seen. The film begins with 10 minutes of gorgeous shots of New York City’s sprawling cityscape and George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.” And as romantic as the movie is about the city, its characters seem more messed up. Allen (who also stars in the film) plays Issac, an obsessive comedy writer who just can’t seem to figure it all out. He's dating Tracy, a girl who is far too young yet provides an odd sense of stability for him. The movie isn’t romantic in the conventional sense of the word. However, if you’re a fan of New York, or even slightly intrigued by its towering beauty, then it won't disappoint.

The Artist (2011)

I read somewhere that most college students lie about reading classic novels. This isn’t surprising. Truth be told, I don’t think I ever made it through The Scarlet Letter. I'd say the same goes for classic movies. Think long and hard and tell me, have you actually seen Citizen Kane? The Artist, a film that will no doubt be considered a classic, likely falls into this category of movies that people enjoy saying they’ve seen rather than actually doing so. So this is me telling you to do you, and your lady friend, a favor: Watch this movie. The major deterrent that drives away potential viewers is the fact that it is a silent film. Yes that’s right, there is no dialogue. None. By no means is it a disadvantage.

Jean Dujardin plays George Valentin, a big time silent film star struggling to maintain his fame as the advent of sound changes Hollywood forever. It’s your classic love story, but it's done in such a distinct manner that it feels fresh in an oftentimes oversaturated industry.

Previously: 5 Hidden Gems to Watch on Netflix Streaming. Follow Luke on Twitter.