FOLIO
Words by Kaili Cochran
As Valentine’s Day approaches, let’s talk about how the definition of date night has been redefined by the popularity and convenience of streaming services and social media. What once was dinner and a movie is now at-home-cooking and streaming.
In 2020, when COVID-19 had caused the shut down of almost all nearby theaters it led to streaming services becoming the go-to for anyone who wanted to stay up to date with the latest movie releases.
Fast forward to five years post-pandemic and we’re all still staying home and watching Netflix and Hulu. We’ve all just adjusted to the new norm because it’s the more convenient and cheaper option. The average price of movie tickets in 2025 is about $11. While, the cheaper plans of most streaming services per month stays below $10 a month.
With the switch to online platforms, there are no longer movies that were “only in theaters” anymore. Now, we can watch movies almost as soon as they release and from the comfort of our homes. Some movies even show up on streaming services less than three weeks after being released in cinema, which is an enormous change from waiting two to three months minimum for it to be on DVD. Now, I’m not saying no one goes to the movies anymore. We proved that’s not the case whenever “Deadpool & Wolverine” came to theaters. But the numbers have been down on a day-to-day basis.
Not only has society shifted to streaming services but there has been an increase in social media trends promoting the “at home” lifestyle. Trends like “tradwife,” “at home date night,” and “galentine’s” are all flooding through social media, especially TikTok. These trends have promoted cooking at home and making special meals and desserts as couples or as friends to celebrate the holiday. Pushing restaurants and reservations to the side, we are now scrolling and saving recipes online.
The way we approach and celebrate Valentine’s day has evolved over time each year a little bit differently and that just means there are more options on how to celebrate the holiday.
For February 2025 here are the dinner and movie combinations I recommend if you’re going to the cinema, with both high and low price options.
“Captain America: Brave New World”
In Theaters February 14
Action/Sci-Fi
For all of you Marvel fans…
You already know what this is going to be about. We’ve all been keeping up with the trailers and teasers and can’t wait for the day to come when we can watch it on the big screen. In honor of Captain America I would suggest American food outings such as Five Guys ($) for burgers or The Cheesecake Factory ($$$) for a wider range of options.
“Paddington in Peru”
In Theaters February 14
Family/Comedy
It’s been eight years since we’ve seen the bear on screen, and this time he’s on his way to Peru. This movie is the third in the Paddington series. Paddington finds that his aunt has gone missing unexpectedly. He takes this investigation into his own hands and heads to Peru to find her and figure out what had happened. During his journey, he discovers something he never could have imagined.
Tying into the Peru theme of this movie you may be interested in places with a focus on more Latin cuisines such as Arepa Please ($) or Iguana on Park ($$) to get you into the vibe of the movie.
Heart Eyes
In Theaters February 7
Horror/Romance
This horror romance, featuring Olivia Holt and Mason Gooding, immediately cues flashbacks of “Girl vs Monster” ( Holt) and the “Scream” movies ( Gooding) for these two well-known actors.
For years, the “Heart Eyes Killer” has stalked and murdered numerous couples on Valentine’s Day. This year is no exception. When Ally finds someone she can call hers, she becomes the Heart Eyes Killer’s next target.
Although this movie is a horror-romance movie. We’re featuring some romantic dinner options for this movie/dinner combination: French and Italian cuisines such as Le Petit Paris Cafe Mandarin ($) and Picasso’s ($$).
Here’s some of the best movies to watch now on streaming services paired with some of the best take-out food for your night in.
“The Fall Guy”
Watch on Prime Video
Action/Comedy
This film is about a stuntman (aka the fall guy) whose stunt didn’t go as planned resulting in severe injuries that also led to a break in his career. His life takes an unexpected turn when he has to solve a conspiracy and find a missing movie star.
For takeout: I recommend your favorite pizza spot for this one where it’s something more casual for the film that will keep you laughing all while having you on the edge of your seat.
“The Wild Robot”
Watch on Prime Video
Family/Adventure
Roz is a robot who gets shipwrecked on an island and is forced to adapt to her surroundings in order to survive. With no idea what her purpose, is she begins to realize she isn’t alone on the island but surrounded with different species of animals.
When it comes to takeout for watching “The Wild Robot” you may want to lean toward eating something more hearty like a taco bowl from Moe’s or Chipotle. But, if you’re not feeling TexMex, I recommend a soup and sandwich combo — my go to is Panera.
“Anyone But You”
Watch on Netflix, Prime Video
Comedy/Romance
In this film Bea and Ben look to be a picture perfect couple but after their first date the connection turns up cold. Bea’s sister, Halle, is getting married to Ben’s friend, Claudia, which means both Bea and Ben have accepted an invitation to unknowingly attend the same wedding. They dig themselves deeper when they play off their tension and now have to pretend to be the perfect couple to keep up appearances.
For this one, I recommend you eat some comfort food, whether that’s grabbing burgers, fries and milkshake or getting some Chinese takeout.
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