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7 Movies on Netflix That Prove Being Single Is The Best

No one's expecting anything of you this February 14, and that's a good thing! Celebrate being single this Valentine's Day by enjoying these films on Netflix right now.
Jessica James still and hearts

For Valentine’s Day, we’re celebrating the breakups that shaped us, in all their messy glory. Because love is just as much about heartbreak as it is about romance. Read all the stories from our Love Bites series here.

As heart-shaped cut-outs overwhelm corner stores around the country, and lovers run around town buying last minute gifts for each other, you, a single person, may begin to feel as if you are missing out on something—and it may be so.

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But did you ever stop to think that maybe those people, the ones running about town in the bitter cold of early February emptying their wallets for someone who could very well be their enemy by the time the sun shows its face again, are themselves missing out on something you enjoy everyday? That is, being beholden to no one but yourself?

Your time is yours, your money is yours, your apartment, your hoodies, your affection—all yours. As Valentine's Day approaches, comes, and passes, I implore you to give being single some credit. Don't take it from me, if you're not taking yourself out on February 14 or spending the night with friends, perhaps a night in with any of the below films, all of which highlight the benefits of being single, will do the trick.

Monster-in-Law

Few things make relationships less enticing than the unpleasant baggage they often come with. Monster-in-Law is a film dedicated purely to that baggage in the form of a vicious mother-in-law (Jane Fonda) who is hellbent on making her son's fiancée (Jennifer Lopez) run for the hills. Monster-in-Law makes finding love look so miserable, it will leave you thanking the powers that be for your singledom.

Spring Breakers

Spring break is an opportune time to be single, especially if you're looking to have some scandalous fun. For proof, look to Spring Breakers which follows four college girls as they head down to Florida and get caught up in a lifestyle of partying, drugs, and stealing. While they get stuck in some dangerous places, there's no denying they have fun along the way.

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Mona Lisa Smile

In Mona Lisa Smile, Katherine Ann Watson (Julia Roberts) is a new professor at a prestigious college in the 50s where she's eager to help her students reach their full potential. After beginning her new job, however, she soon learns that most of the women in her classes are enrolled for the purpose of finding a husband, not getting an education. Infuriated by this, Watson encourages her students to seek out more from college than a man.

The Break-Up

Starring Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn, The Break-Up follows a breakup so nasty you won't want to risk anything like it by getting into a relationship ever again. After they break up, Brooke and Gary decide to both stay in their shared condo, and, naturally, chaos ensues. You'll never be so appreciative of not having a significant other to break up with again.

The Incredible Jessica James

The Incredible Jessica James is a lesson on not jumping back into the dating world until you're actually ready for it. Fresh out of a breakup, Jessica meets Boone, a recently divorced man, on Tinder. The two begin dating, but from the start it's clear that they're both still obsessing over their exes, something which ultimately pulls them apart.

Baby Mama

Baby Mama follows Kate (Tina Fey) a single 37-year-old professional who is trying to become a mom, despite fertility complications. After she has no luck with IVF, Kate decides to hire a surrogate named Angie (Amy Poehler), an eccentric woman with absolutely no filter. Despite some surprises, Kate and Angie work together to build the lives they've always wanted, often in spite of the men in their lives. Baby Mama proves that being single doesn't mean giving up the things you've always wanted.

The Breaker-Upperers

In this New Zealand comedy, two friends, Jen and Mel, run a breakup agency in which they break up with people's significant others for them. Throughout the course of the film, we're introduced to numerous unhappy couples, most of whom feel so stuck in their relationships that they have to hire outside help in order to end them. The Breaker-Upperers may be a comedy, but you'll have so much pity for Jen and Mel's clients that you'll be feeling pretty grateful to be single.