Top Valentine's Date Movie Picks

You often hear about favorite songs when people talk about Valentine's Day. That special tune that makes cheeks flush and thoughts turn to things romantic. But what about movies? It is a multibillion dollar industry, so what role do movies play in Valentine celebrations? To get an idea I surveyed about 50 of my closest married friends and relatives asking them to list their top two Valentine's date movies and their all time favorite romance movie. From that I compiled the list found below.

I had expectations and they were quickly proven false when the men did not respond with Terminator 2. It seems that behind that man who can belch the entire alphabet in one breath is a man who has a romantic side. I had to admit that any man who responds to the survey with A Walk in the Clouds and Ever After might have really enjoyed those movies, though he may have protested at the start.

The women's answers were mostly standard romance movies, no surprise there, but I was surprised to see Christmas in Connecticut listed as an all time favorite by a husband and wife.

I noticed that the longer a couple had been married, the more similar their movie tastes. They often listed the same favorite movie, I'm sure because of the laughter, tears and warm feelings it invoked. It turns out there is something special about sharing a favorite movie, after all.

Oh yeah...the list. Here it is. The top movie picks determined by the highly scientific and error-free method listed above and guaranteed to give you a memorable Valentine's evening with your spouse.

The Notebook. Based on a Nicholas Sparks novel by the same name, this movie tied with The Sound of Music for the 4 and 5 spots. I've not yet seen The Notebook, but it comes highly recommended.

The Sound of Music. I was amazed at the frequency this film was listed. This 1965 Julie Andrews film about a young woman who leaves an Austrian convent to help a widower raise his kids still is a favorite of many.

Return to Me comes in at number 3. This film starring David Duchovny and Minnie Driver is about a man whose wife dies and he falls in love with the woman who received his wife's heart. Guaranteed to bring out a box of tissues.

You've Got Mail was the second most popular movie listed. This 1998 film starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan reminds all that what you were looking for might have been right under your nose all along. This movie and the number one pick got as many votes from men as women.

Sleepless in Seattle, the 1993 hit staring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan is the top pick according to my survey. It tells the story of a widowed man and his young son's efforts to find a new wife for his dad and a mommy for him. It seems that Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan make a winning combination in the celluloid world. For those who love trivia, You've Got Mail and Sleepless share the same director.

I had fun reading the answers that were emailed back to me. It was interesting to see how people answered and just what pushes their romance buttons. I got a kick out of the fact that watching a movie over and over with someone you love builds a camaraderie that cannot be rivaled. Old love is good.

Happy Valentine's Day!