01
When You Need Space and Time to Think
‘Beyond the Lights’ and ‘(500) Days of Summer’ are just the two films you should watch when you need to press pause and reflect on the ups and downs of your relationship.
02
When You’re Missing Your Ex
Can’t stop thinking about your ex? ‘Silver Linings Playbook’ and ‘Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist’ will show you how to pick yourself up and move on to the next.
03
When You’re In Love and Planning Your Future
Hear wedding bells in your future? Queue up ‘The Brothers’ and ‘The Best Man.’ These two Black drama-filled, laugh-inducing rom-coms are the perfect examples of just how much of an emotional roller coaster it is getting down the aisle.
04
When You Need a Good, Long, Ugly Cry
Sometimes you just need to cry it out, and two classic tearjerkers to help you do just that are ‘The Fault in Our Stars’ and ‘Titanic.’
05
When You Need Advice on Your Relationship
‘Think Like A Man’ and ‘How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days’ are two rom-coms that have the answers, although they also prove that sometimes you just have to trust your own instincts instead of listening to everyone else.
06
When You’re Still Crushing on Your High School Sweetheart
Feeling a little nostalgic about your high school love? Watch ‘The Wood’ and ‘Moonlight’ to relive the good old days.
07
When Your Besties Hate Bae
Sometimes our girls know us better than we know ourselves. Case in point: the warnings about no-good men given in ‘Boomerang’ and ‘Waiting to Exhale.’
08
When You’re Ready to Walk Down the Aisle
‘Jumping the Broom’ and ‘The Wedding Planner’ are just the two funny rom-coms you need to take your mind off the stress of planning your upcoming nuptials.
09
When You’re Head Over Heels In Love
Still in the honeymoon phase of your relationship? ‘Jason’s Lyric’ and ‘Strictly Business’ show just how sweet love can be when you’ve found the one.
10
Falling In Love When You Least Expect It
Rom-coms ‘Just Wright’ and ‘Something New’ are proof that sometimes you don’t choose to fall in love, it just happens.
11
When You’re In a “Friends With Benefits” Situationship
The characters in ‘Love Jones’ and ‘Pretty Woman’ show you just how complicated it can be when you mix sex with friendship.
12
When You Need to Get Over a Breakup
Breaking up is hard to do. Thankfully, you have rom-coms like ‘That Awkward Moment’ and ‘The Break-Up’ to help you through it. Plus, a shirtless Michael “Bae” Jordan in ‘That Awkward Moment’ can remedy any broken heart.
13
When You Feel Jealous
Nobody played the jealousy game quite like Vivica Fox in ‘Two Can Play That Game’ and Julia Roberts in ‘My Best Friend’s Wedding.’
14
When You’re Looking for Love on Vacation
The ultimate Black baecation destination flicks: ‘How Stella Got Her Groove Back’ and ‘The Inkwell.’
15
When You Want to Turn Your Best Friend Into Bae
Watch ‘Brown Sugar’ and ‘Something Borrowed’ if you want to take things to the next level with your bestie. Forewarning, as these two rom-coms show, there’s bound to be a few hiccups along the way from BFF to bae.
16
When You Want to Keep Things Casual
Take your casual hookup cues from Jada Pinkett-Smith in ‘Girls Trip’ and Vivica Fox in ‘Booty Call.’ Oh, and bonus points for mastering Tiffany Haddish’s grapefruit technique.
17
When You Have Your First Fight With Bae
Just had your first major argument? You’ll survive. Just look at the characters of ‘Poetic Justice’ and ‘Why Did I Get Married’ as a testament that healthy arguments are perfectly normal in a relationship.
18
When You’re Feeling Lonely
‘Hitch’ and ‘Wall-E’ are just the perfect feel-good movies to lift your spirits when a case of the lonelies kicks in.
19
When It’s Time to Meet the Parents
You’ve reached that critical point in your relationship when it’s time to meet the parents. New rom-coms ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ and ‘The Big Sick’ show just how crazy things can get when you’re first introduced to bae’s loved ones and friends.
20
When You’re Thinking of Your First Love
Because you only get one—’The Notebook’ and ‘Love & Basketball’ perfectly depict why you can never forget your first love.