11 Great Movies For A First Date

Ah, yes, the first date. An event that strikes fear into the hearts of almost everyone who calls themselves human. For many, the first date is a daunting, intimidating and even downright frightening occurrence, something that could make or break a potential relationship. While there are many great ideas for what a couple can do during their first outing, sometimes watching a good movie is the perfect thing to help break the ice and bring two people closer together. Here at We Got This Covered, we now how difficult a first date can be, and we also know quite a lot about movies. So, we've decided to take those two things and combine them, resulting in a list of 11 films that can make for great first date experiences. Some of these picks are quite obvious, while others you probably would have never thought of on your own. They all have one thing in common though, and that's that they are all perfect movies to watch on a first date. Oh, and don't worry, you can thank us later. 11) Anchorman It has always been one of my longest held beliefs that a woman needs to have a good sense of humor in order to win a man's heart (or at least this man's). What better way to put that theory to the test than with arguably Will Ferrell's finest film (edging Step Brothers by a nose) and one of the most quoted cult comedy classics of our generation? If she doesn't laugh at "whale's vagina," she's probably not the woman for you anyhow. And what woman isn't taken by the idea of a man playing the jazz flute? A woman who clearly has never been to Pleasure Town, that's who. Plus, unlike many comedies of its ilk, it actually boasts a strong female character in Christine Applegate's portrayal of Veronica Corningstone. Corningstone is not the usual damsel in distress. She has "more talent and more intelligence in her little finger" than Ron Burgundy does in his entire body. She even gets the better of their physical altercation, nailing Ron in the noggin with a typewriter (as Ron incapacitates himself with his own pepper spray), and also takes down serial chauvinist Champ Kind with one well placed shot to the baby maker. Don't worry, fellas, men get to be men and women get to be women, as an 11th hour plot machination provides Burgundy with the chance not only to save his job, but save the woman he loves, as well. But the two of you will be too busy laughing to even keep track at that point. 10) Jerry Maguire It is hard to find a story, characters or subject that draws in both men and women in equal measure, but Jerry Maguire is a tremendous example of a film that balances out the “guy” stuff and the “girl” stuff: it is a romantic comedy wrapped around a successful sports agent, a film that balances its cynical outlook with a gooey sentimentality that ensures it can please both genders easily. Cameron Crowe makes some of the best movies about traditionally male domains – sports, rock and roll – and finding the warm centre that any viewer, male or female, can relate to. He is also big on romantic proclamations (Lloyd Dobler and his jukebox, anyone?) and saves his most audacious mission statement about love in Jerry Maguire until the very end. “You complete me” and “You had me at hello” become cheesier on every listen, but Cruise and Zellweger had such dynamic chemistry throughout the whole film that the scene still works, despite its saccharine feel. Jerry Maguire is also a film about renewal, as the titular sports agent and his new partner (and date) must start from scratch and figure out how to make things work. Some couples going on a first date may have just gone through a tumultuous relationship and are trying to figure out how to start over again. That process of starting over and finding inspiration in the warm people who stand next to you in a potentially volatile hour is one that any fresh couple can relate to. 9) Once One of the things that bring people close together is music. And few films capture that passion for music – the connections it forges, the crescendo of feeling it brings to people, the meaning it brings to the artists who put every ounce of their humanity into the words and chords – as much as Once. The 2006 Irish musical was made for chump change but left a big impact on nearly every music lover who saw it. Intimate and simple, the film tells of a fleeting romance between an Irish busker and singer-songwriter (played by Glen Hansard) and the Czech musician (Markéta Irglová) who becomes his partner in rhyme. Once was also a giant first date between Hansard and Irglová, despite him being more than double her age at the time of filming. They share such a pure chemistry tethered around a love for music that it is easy to look beyond the age gap and root for these lovelorn souls to drift closer together. Once is a film you fall for, slowly. You are sucked into its homey, micro-budget universe, and come to know its complicated romantic leads through their stirring songs, which are both evocative and bracingly honest. To see for yourself what we mean, just check out the beautiful video below. At its core, the film is about starting over after heartbreak and what it means to connect with someone new, a feeling that two souls getting close on a first date are bound to realize as they watch the film. It is a love story that ought to make either side of a potential relationship want to express his or her own feelings – perhaps through music, or another art form. 8) Moonrise Kingdom Some moviegoers cannot stand Wes Anderson’s offbeat sensibility, but even his biggest critics may have a hard time not rooting for Sam Shakusky (Jared Gilman) and Suzy Bishop (Kara Hayward), two pubescent rebels on the run from their parents in the director’s most soulful film. The relationship that drives Moonrise Kingdom holds a disarming dramatic weight. Sam and Suzy see the other as a refuge from the burdens of their life. He is a boy scout who is the victim of teasing and bullying, as well as an orphan. She has parents but wishes to be an orphan, since they do not understand her. Both yearn for adventure in their own wondrous cove (that brings the film its title), away from regular society. In one of the best montages in recent cinema, Sam and Suzy’s epistolary relationship comes to life, a record of their correspondence and their developing need for each other. The montage alternates between shots of Sam and Suzy’s meager youth, accompanied by voice-over of the letters they wrote to each other about these bitter chapters in their lives. Instead of reciting the full letters, we hear small excerpts of their feelings and notice how their own childhoods are following a similar pattern. The sequence may remind you of what it’s like to be on a date, constantly interrupting the other’s conversation to add colour and insight to their stories as it pertains to your own. The best first dates likely have overlapping conversations of a similar electric speed, as you try to find common ground with a potential partner. Moonrise Kingdom is not just a good date movie because it is a charming romance. The experience of watching these two souls find something special in each other is similar to how many people get to know each other on dates: through finding a common ground and excitedly moving back and forth until they find the deeper reasons why they should be together. 7) Her Spike Jonze's thoughtful and optimistic take on a future where humans forge romantic relationships with their operating systems is a film for the would-be "thinking" couple, as the themes presented are certain to provoke a great amount of thought and dialogue to propel post-viewing conversation. Her does not take the easy way out and condemn Joaquin Phoenix's Theodore for falling in love with his OS, who dubs herself Samantha. Who could blame him, with the voice of Scarlett Johansson and her even handed, yet caring demeanor? Instead, the film takes the time to explore the depths of his emotions and makes the viewer understand how such an absurd idea could be feasible. The mixture of humor, sweetness and reality make this a slam dunk choice for a first date movie. It is a viewing that will provoke deep thoughts, and she'll definitely have strong feelings one way or another. I wouldn't dare spoil the ending, but as someone who routinely mocks people who cry at the end of movies (I always think back to Chandler Bing's take on Bambi: "Yes, it was so sad when the guy stopped drawing the deer."), my eyes were, shall we say, a tad moist. And we all know women dig a man who is in touch with his emotions. Some might argue that the subject matter is too heavy, but I say that starting off with a choice like this is a good way to weed out the weak minded. Certainly a challenging cinematic adventure, but well worth the effort. As a parable for where we are headed as a society, this is the type of movie to stick with you for days, and even weeks after viewing. Who knows? Maybe it will even inspire her to put down her iPhone and stop tweeting and Instagramming for a few hours. 6) Wall-E In an ordinary world, robots like Wall-E and EVE would never end up together. He is a clunky, blue-collar worker with binocular eyes and a dead-end job compacting waste into small cubes. She is a sleek and refined machine who can fly, beep and whirr, with access to state-of-the art intelligence. The analog robot and the digital droid are an offbeat pairing, but the opposites do attract. They create one of modern cinema’s most indelible screen couples, even if they are animated, not human and communicate almost entirely through sound effects. The nervous rhythms of their first encounter is so rich because it reminds us of our own demeanor when we meet someone new and unexpected. A first date introduces us to someone who we can grow to love and appreciate, even if the first impression isn’t exactly what we expect. (Remember, EVE almost incinerates Wall-E at her first glance.) Wall-E is also a stellar date movie because even couples who think that they have outgrown Disney’s semantics may get easily misty-eyed as the two machines conjoining their hands as they replicate a moment from a classic movie musical. Not only is the film poignant, but it also has some penetrating points about the dismal road that our planet has ahead. It works as both a romance and a message film, without pandering to the lovesick or liberal. Andrew Stanton’s terrific film is not just a joy of storytelling, filled with astonishing animation, but a futuristic tale told with a classic romantic’s state of mind. 5) Amélie When cozying up with a new friend (and potential partner) at the end of the first date, what better destination is there to go than Paris? Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s whimsical, upbeat romantic comedy, Amélie, is not just one of the most decadent love stories in recent memory, but a love letter to Paris’s picturesque and truly amicable qualities. Filled with magical realism, Amelie’s fantastic adventure flutters off the screen – and both parties of the relationship should find its charm hard to resist. The film follows the eccentric title character (Audrey Tatou) and her buoyant eyes and sense of adventure as she means to do well and help others. As adorable as Tatou is, she also projects vulnerability as a woman still looking for her own fulfilling love story to take flight. Amelie moves between the protagonist’s fantastical expectations and the dimmer realities of what life, love and heartbreak are actually like – emotions that anyone entering a new relationship can attest to feeling. It is full of sunshine, but Amelie does not descend into becoming too cutesy. Plus, if your date complains that he or she will not watch a film this marvelous due to its subtitles, you should be wary of continuing the relationship. 4) Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind I know what you’re thinking – why on earth would you choose to watch a movie about heart-break and break-ups on a first date? A movie about people who feel that their relationship was so bad – so excruciatingly painful – that they would choose to have it literally erased from their memories? Well, just like in relationships, you have to read between the lines. Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind is a difficult movie to define. The closest anyone has ever come to the accurate categorization of this critical and commercial success, is to describe it as a ‘romantic science fiction dramedy.’ Starring Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet, the film is directed by Michel Gondry and boasts an Academy Award winning screenplay by Charlie Kaufman. The story follows the withdrawn Joel (Carrey) for the most part, as he encounters the free-spirited Clementine (Winslet) on a Long Island Rail Road train from Montauk, New York. They are drawn to each other, which seems at once bizarre – due to their wildly different personas – and completely natural – for reasons we don’t quite understand. The result is a beautiful depiction of two people meeting, and connecting. Beautiful though it is, however, something seems ‘off.’ It soon transpires that Joel and Clementine aren’t strangers at all. They are actually former lovers whose relationship has deteriorated to the point where, after a fight, she seeks the help of Lacuna Inc. – a company that uses a medical procedure to map and erase unwanted memories. On being notified that all traces of him have been removed from Clementine’s mind, Joel is devastated and decides to invest in the procedure himself – effectively erasing her. What follows is his experience, from inside his own mind, as his memories of his time with Clementine are systematically destroyed. As the process begins to take the good memories along with the bad, Joel begins to regard the relationship – and her – in a different way. He begins to remember how he felt before all the debris and detritus of every day built up and got in the way. Instead of festering on the relationship, he begins to remember Clementine, and desperately fights to retain some recollection of her. It’s all for nought, however, and Clementine is gone. He left simply with an overwhelming urge to go to Montauk. The whole story is raw and powerful stuff, with Jim Carrey turning in one of his all-too-rare astonishing performances. It is beautifully written and boasts incredible direction and visual style. But it’s not until the final chapter of the film that we remember why this is the perfect first date movie. After everything, Joel and Clementine find each other again. By stripping away all the layers of irritation and frustration, it becomes apparent to them both that they themselves allowed those layers to build in the first place, and that they can make a different choice. Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind is about forgiveness, openness, willingness to take a chance, and the importance of remembering the initial connection you felt during that first magical encounter. It’s a film that is as perfect for date number one hundred, as it is for date number one. 3) Punch-Drunk Love There are many Adam Sandler movies that are not advisable to watch on any date – let alone your first. Punch-Drunk Love, however, is the exception. This is a film that is not only Sandler’s best, but stands among the best in modern cinema – and that’s because it is a Paul Thomas Anderson movie. With a story that is deceptively simple, and highly romantic, Punch-Drunk Love centres on Barry (Sandler) – a lonely, single man who runs a business making novelty items, and aims to take advantage of a loophole in a Healthy Choice food promotion, to gain a million frequent flyer miles by buying huge amounts of pudding. With little social life to speak of, he is consistently subjected to emotional abuse at the hands of his seven overbearing sisters – something that results in frequent bouts of uncontrollable rage. Despite clear romantic interest in Lena – a friend of his sister - Barry is lacking in self-confidence, and seeks to temporarily alleviate his loneliness with a call to a phone-sex line. The call proves to be his undoing, as he leaves himself open to extortion – something made plain when he is attacked by four of the operator’s henchmen, from whom he runs away in fear. Barry follows Lena to Hawaii, where– after initially lying to her - he gradually begins to lay bare his emotional self for the first time, while keeping his extortion problem a secret. Returning home as a couple, they are attacked by the henchmen again - but this time, with Lena’s safety at risk, Barry fights back. Suddenly finding himself with a loved one and relationship worth protecting, Barry allows his true sense of self to unfurl for the first time, without fear of recrimination, or emotional abuse. The reason for this blossoming is clear – he feels the security of the love of a good person – and what he finds at the end of his battle is unconditional love and acceptance. 2) The Avengers “Superheroes in New York? Gimme a break!” sneers Stan Lee near the end of Marvel’s biggest cinematic achievement to date. It’s a tongue-in-cheek cameo from the man who made it all possible, but it also underlines the extraordinary success of Marvel’s cinematic universe. With a huge array of egos to build a story around, an all-star cast all fighting for equal screentime, and a huge expectation for the film to blow all others like it out of the water, The Avengers had a lot riding against it. Still, it achieved both critical and commercial acclaim, and rightfully so. It’s a film that mixes awesome special effects with a highly engaging cast of characters and creates something that will be remembered for years to come. If the term ‘crowd-pleaser’ had to be defined by one movie, The Avengers would surely be the main candidate. So, what makes it such a great first date movie? Well, there’s plenty of eye candy for everyone to enjoy (Nick Fury’s eyepatch sure does bring out his sexy, mysterious side), and the whole film is centred on chaotic, over-the-top fun. Really, it’s impossible not to enjoy something from this movie. With two Marvel films being released every year now, it’s also the perfect jumping on point for somebody unfamiliar with the universe (if such a person still exists). A great first date and the potential for plenty more superhero-filled ones to come? That’s why The Avengers should be required viewing in the early stages of any relationship. 1) Zombieland Rom-coms are a sure fire way to ensure everybody has a great time whilst watching a film, as they’re pretty much designed to cater for anybody’s tastes. Throwing zombies into the mix (making a zom-rom-com, of course) might not seem like a good idea at first, but Shaun Of The Dead showed that adding horror or sci-fi elements to a rom-com won’t alienate people. In fact, it might just make them enjoy it more. Zombieland sets out to improve on that formula though and (dare I say it?) it does. It’s a great story about the nerdy, lonely geek getting the beautiful, bad-ass girl and its set during the zombie apocalypse so the action is pretty constant throughout too. Unlike Shaun Of The Dead, it never really gets bleak or upsetting; Zombieland keeps the gags rolling throughout and it’s massively enjoyable as a result. The entire finale is set in a funpark and sees Woody Harrelson killing zombies with a shotgun while riding a rollercoaster – what more do you want in a film? With plenty of laughs, a great bunch of action sequences and a romance plot which doesn’t get too sickly, Zombieland is a great first date movie. Plus, it features the greatest celebrity cameo of all time! No, seriously, you’ll absolutely laugh your ass off here. If the real life zombie apocalypse is going to be this fun (it better feature Emma Stone too), get the crazed scientists working on it right now. Tell us, what are your favorite first date movies? Did we miss any? Let us know in the comments section below.