There comes a point in most relationships where ice skating in the park or lingering stares over coffees in late night cafeterias give way to spending a cosy night in the comfort of your own home, or your partner's. This is by no means a bad thing, it simply indicates in most cases that a relationship has matured; has moved on from the breathless will-he-won't-she-ism of early courtship and evolved into something more stable and potentially long lasting. Of course, being in a mature and stable relationship doesn't mean that you can't or indeed shouldn't indulge in spontaneous and extravagant romantic activities, but sometimes it's nice to stay in on the sofa with a bottle of wine and good film. With this in mind, here are my top 3 films for a romantic night in.

1 - Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Cafe

This epic tale of redemption in the American deep south has all the ingredients for the perfect night in. Told from the point of view of elderly Ninny Threadgoode, who recounts her recollections from childhood onwards to the overweight and depressed Evelyn Couch. As Ninny's tale of growing up, centred around the firecracker character of Idgie, unfolds the two women develop an inseparable friendship with unexpected consequences for both. Divided between the flashback era of Ninny's reminiscence and the present of Evelyn's deteriorating home life, this film runs the full gamut of emotions from elation to devastating sorrow, and provides the perfect accompaniment for an evening of snuggling on the sofa and perhaps even a little weeping here and there! A word to the wise; many of my male friends dismiss this film publicly as a 'chick flick', but speaking to their girlfriends exposes a differently story – privately they loved it!

2 – The Silence of the Lambs

A bit of an odd choice for a romantic movie perhaps, but just because you're staying in for the evening doesn't mean you've given up on excitement entirely, right? This tense, taut horror thriller not only represents the absolute pinnacle of its genre in terms of writing and direction, but features two of Hollywood's greatest actors, Sir Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster, delivering sure-fire contenders for the performances of their lives. Hopkins, actually the second man to play the role of Hannibal Lecter, makes the role so much his own in this film that Brian Cox's earlier stint in the role for Manhunter pales by comparison. As the beautifully conceived and layered plot unfolds, the tension of this darkly terrifying film continually notches up, working inexorably towards the deliciously sinister climax. All in all the perfect excuse to cling tightly to your sofa companion and bury your face in their shoulder during the gory bits!

3 - The Shawshank Redemption

Based on a short story by Stephen King, this tale of the triumph of the human spirit over adversity is one of the most loved films of all time. Starring Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins, the film tells the story of Andy DuFresne, wrongly imprisoned for the murder of his wife and her lover, and his developing friendship with old lag and prison 'fixer' Red Redding. The film bombed at the cinema and was largely written off as a failure by studios and critics alike, however it eventually received the notoriety it deserved through sheer word of mouth promotion following a low key video release and went on to become one of the most popular films of all time. The key to this film is its message of hope and the triumph of will in the very worst of circumstances. This film's ultimate feel-good factor makes it the perfect choice when it's cold and rainy outside, perhaps you're feeling a little down and you just need to curl up with someone special and remember the good things about the world.