If you're a single man or woman, going to the cinema or watching a DVD in the comfort of your own home can be an exercise fraught with difficulties. What does your movie choice say about you as a person? If you liked Britney Spears' Crossroads unironically, is it best to bring that up on the first date? Should you show her your Alien Quadrilogy boxset complete with HR Giger-designed Alien head? 

Worry not. We've put together five tips to consider before you pick a film on a date.

5. NO SEX-SCENES

Right from the outset, this needs to be hammered (lol) home. Do not pick a film that has a gratuitous amount of sex in it. This means avoiding films like Basic Instinct, Body Heat, Sliver, Blue Is The Warmest Colour and 9 Songs. Think about uncomfortable that would get on a first date? You probably haven't even made out at that stage and then you're going to sit and watch Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone get it on for two hours? Do you really think your relationship can withstand the awe-inspiring sexual power of William Hurt's moustache in Body Heat? Exactly. You don't want any of that.

4. NO GORE / NO DISTURBING FILMS

True story. We've heard of a story once involving a first date where the couple went to see The Pianist. Yes, the Oscar-winning foreign-language drama, starring Adrian Brody about a French Jew escaping the Holocaust. Don't mistake us - The Pianist is beautiful, moving film about humanity's struggle for survival in the face of untold evil. But as a first-date film? Hell no. It will leave you traumatised. The same goes for films like Se7en, Teeth or Anti-Christ. Anything where there's a body part being removed on-screen or any kind of excess gore isn't cool for first dates. Unless you're both into gory shit. In which case, all the best to you and the freaky-ass children you'll eventually have.

"Hey, wanna watch The Human Centipede in the dark at my place?"

3. PICK A JUMPY FILM

This means something where it's not exactly disturbing, but more jumpy. Example? Paranormal Activity. It's a creepy-ass film that'll make you jump, but it's not exactly gross-out or weird in any lasting way. Plus, there's that whole thing where it happens in the house. So the other person could be use the "I don't want to sleep in my bed tonight" tactic. It could work, y'know.

 

 2. AVOID THE OBVIOUS ONES

If it's a first-date situation, there's no way you should be even considering overtly romantic / weepy films. In other words, you need to be avoiding films like Romeo & Juliet, When Harry Met Sally, Atonement - all these kinds of films where they're star-crossed lovers and they die in horrible circumstances. Why's that, you ask? Simple. It's a first date. You didn't meet in a party where there were fishes and he followed you through the crowd, but then Paul Rudd started dancing with you. It didn't happen like that and you know it. So don't go thinking watching that is going to make it happen. It'll be awkward as hell for both of you. Plus the alarm bells go off pretty quickly if that's your first choice of film. You need to ease into that kind of thing.

1. MAKE IT INTERESTING

Believe it or not, a good, interesting film that you can talk about afterwards is often the best choice for a first-date film. No, really. Think about it. It's a first date so conversation's going to be awkward. What are you gonna talk about, the weather? The fact they don't use butter in popcorn at cinemas anymore? If it's a really shit film or a really good one, there's plenty to talk about. Hell, be a film critic for the night and give your own review - see what he / she thinks and go from there. Plus, if the film turns out to be really good and you picked it, then you come off looking really smart and cultured. And that's always attractive.