What to watch tonight (a guide for couples)

It’s Friday. You’re on the couch. One of you wants something funny, the other wants something good. You open Netflix, scroll for twelve minutes, and end up rewatching The Office. Again.

The problem isn’t that there’s nothing to watch. It’s that you’re trying to pick a movie when you haven’t even agreed on a mood.

So here’s a better approach. Pick a mood first, then pick a film.

“We want to laugh”

You’re tired. The week was long. You want something that doesn’t require focus and leaves you both in a better mood than when you sat down.

Game Night (2018) - Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams play a couple who get pulled into a murder mystery game that turns real. It’s sharp, surprisingly well-made, and genuinely funny. You’ll both be quoting it the next morning.

The Big Sick (2017) - Based on the real story of how Kumail Nanjiani met his wife. It’s warm, honest, and somehow both hilarious and moving. One of those rare films that works whether you’re in the mood for a comedy or a love story.

Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar (2021) - This one’s weird. Two middle-aged best friends go on vacation and get tangled up in a villain’s plot. If you both like absurd humor, you’ll love it. If one of you doesn’t - skip it, no hard feelings.

Hit Man (2024) - Glen Powell plays a fake hitman for the police who falls for one of his targets. It’s funny, sexy, and surprisingly sharp. Richard Linklater directed it, and it has that effortless charm his best films have. Great date night pick.

“We want tension”

You’re awake, you’re alert, and you want something that keeps you guessing. No slow burns tonight.

Parasite (2019) - If you somehow haven’t seen it yet: a poor family cons their way into working for a rich one. It shifts genres halfway through and never lets up. Best watched knowing as little as possible.

Gone Girl (2014) - A marriage falls apart on national television. David Fincher directs, Rosamund Pike is terrifying, and you’ll both want to talk about the ending for an hour afterward.

Knives Out (2019) - A family patriarch dies, and everyone’s a suspect. It’s a whodunit that’s smarter than it looks, with Daniel Craig having the time of his life. Light enough that it doesn’t feel heavy. Tense enough that you stay locked in.

“Something light and easy”

Neither of you wants to think too hard. You want background comfort with enough charm to keep you watching.

Crazy Rich Asians (2018) - A woman meets her boyfriend’s family in Singapore and discovers they’re impossibly wealthy. It’s gorgeous, fun, and the kind of film that makes you want to book a trip somewhere warm.

The Intern (2015) - Robert De Niro plays a 70-year-old intern at Anne Hathaway’s startup. It’s gentle, sweet, and doesn’t try to be anything more than what it is. Perfect for a Tuesday.

Julie & Julia (2009) - Meryl Streep as Julia Child, intercut with Amy Adams cooking her way through Child’s cookbook. You’ll finish the movie and immediately want to cook something ambitious for dinner.

“Make us feel something”

You’re in the mood to be moved. You want a film that stays with you after the credits roll.

Marriage Story (2019) - A couple going through a divorce. Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson are both devastating. It’s not depressing - it’s honest. And somehow, it makes you appreciate what you have.

Past Lives (2023) - Two childhood friends reconnect decades later. It’s quiet, beautiful, and heartbreaking in a way that sneaks up on you. One of the best films in years.

The Farewell (2019) - A family stages a fake wedding to say goodbye to their grandmother, who doesn’t know she’s dying. Based on a true story. It’s funny and sad and will probably make you call your own grandma.

All We Imagine as Light (2024) - Two nurses in Mumbai navigating love, loneliness, and what home means. It’s patient and luminous. The kind of film where nothing dramatic happens and everything matters. Won the Grand Prix at Cannes for a reason.

“Surprise us”

You don’t have a mood. You just want something you wouldn’t have found on your own.

The Lobster (2015) - In a world where single people must find a partner within 45 days or get turned into an animal, Colin Farrell checks into a hotel and tries not to become a lobster. It’s deadpan, strange, and unlike anything else you’ve seen.

Palm Springs (2020) - A time-loop rom-com that’s smarter and darker than the premise suggests. Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti are great together. It speeds through the setup and gets to the good stuff fast.

Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016) - A kid and his grumpy foster uncle get lost in the New Zealand bush. Taika Waititi directed it before Thor: Ragnarok. It’s funny, surprisingly moving, and has zero cynicism. Hard to dislike.

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That’s seventeen films. You’ll remember three by tomorrow. If you want to actually watch any of these, add them to a list now - it takes two seconds. You don’t even need an app. It’s a website. (That’s what we built sjow.tv for.)

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Want a series instead? Here are ones you’ll both actually like.

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