For anyone who loves romance movies, nothing beats getting lost in the love story of two characters who overcome a million obstacles to be together. Sure, romance movies can be formulaic and predictable, yet people choose them over and over again for everything they make them feel, which has helped the genre remain among the most popular ones over the years. A big part of what makes these films so magical, aside from their inspirational stories, are the actors who bring the main characters to life, especially if the chemistry between them is so strong that it transcends the screen.
Throughout the years, different acting duos have emerged as the audience's all-time favorite on-screen couples. So much so that any movie featuring those couples arouses huge expectations in the audience. Among the most famous on-screen couples in the entertainment industry we can mention Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler and, of course, Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.
The latter pair took their first steps towards acting around the same time, and by the 1990s they were firmly established as leading stars, partly thanks to the films they co-starred in. While Hanks and Ryan worked in productions across genres over the years, their collaborative work made them one of the most iconic couples in romantic comedy. Here's a look back at all the films they co-starred in.
4 Ithaca
The 2015 film Ithaca marked a turning point in Ryan's career, as it was the first production on which she served as director. This film is based on the 1943 novel The Human Comedy and follows Homer, a teenager who starts working as a bicycle messenger to provide for his family after his father passes away and his older brother enlisted to fight in World War II. However, a job that starts out as nothing more than a way to make ends meet turns into an activity that will change the young man's life forever.
Alex Neustaedter stars in this production, alongside Ryan, Jack Quaid, Sam Shepard, and Hamish Linklater. In Ithaca, Hanks makes some cameos, playing Matthew Macauley, the late husband of Ryan's character, marking their fourth time playing a couple on-screen, and the most recent production featuring both of them.
Although finally getting to see Hanks and Ryan back together on the silver screen after 17 years had audiences buzzing with anticipation, the actress-turned-director's production failed to live up to expectations, and was met with poor reviews. However, this was not the end of the road in her new role as filmmaker, as she is currently working on her second film as director: What Happens Later, a production that will also mark her comeback to rom-coms (per Variety).
3 Joe Versus the Volcano
Joe Versus the Volcano is the 1990 comedy film that first brought Hanks and Ryan together. It is directed and written by John Patrick Shanley, a filmmaker who, just two years earlier, had won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for his work on Moonstruck, the rom-com starring Oscar-winner Cher and Nicolas Cage. Joe Versus the Volcano marked his directorial debut, and besides featuring Hanks and Ryan in starring roles, the film also stars Lloyd Bridges, Robert Stack, Abe Vigoda and Dan Hedaya.
It follows Joe Banks, a man with a very dull and dreary life who, out of the blue, is given a very grim diagnosis: he suffers from a very rare disease that will soon lead to his death. After his life is turned upside down by this diagnosis, Joe resolves to enjoy his last few months to the fullest and accepts an offer from some unknown millionaire to jump into a volcano on a Pacific island as part of a local ritual, unaware that, on this trip, he is about to meet the woman of his dreams.
Hanks plays Joe Banks, while Ryan portrays three different characters: DeDe and sisters Angelica and Patricia Graynamore. And while the reviews of this production were mixed, as the years have gone by it has garnered an increasing number of fans and gained cult classic status.
2 Sleepless in Seattle
Sleepless in Seattle is, for many, one of the best rom-coms in the history of cinema. It is directed by Nora Ephron, a well-known filmmaker and writer of the genre whose screenplays were nominated at the industry's most prestigious award ceremonies. In fact, her work on this 1993 film, co-written with David S. Ward and Jeff Arch, earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay.
Sleepless in Seattle features Sam Baldwin, an architect who has recently relocated to Seattle with his son Jonah seeking a change of life following his wife's death. As the man is having a hard time moving on, his young son calls a talk radio show requesting a new girlfriend for his father. That's how Sam's story hits the country, sweeping hundreds of single women off their feet and, most notably, Annie Reed, a Baltimore reporter who is about to marry her fiancé.
Bill Pullman, Ross Malinger, Rob Reiner and Rosie O'Donnell join Hanks and Ryan in this popular production that was critically acclaimed and garnered a number of awards and nominations. Moreover, the film became an absolute box-office hit, grossing $227 million worldwide.
1 You've Got Mail
A few years after working with Hanks and Ryan in Sleepless in Seattle, Ephron re-cast the couple in the 1998 film You've Got Mail, which she directed and co-wrote with Delia Ephron based on the 1937 play Parfumerie. This production features Kathleen, the longtime owner of an independent bookstore who is struggling to keep her business going after a chain of book megastores owned by Joe Fox moves into the neighborhood.
As a result of this business rivalry, Kathleen and Joe have a terrible relationship from the moment they meet. However, they are both unaware that, while they loathe each other in their daily lives, they are living an intense online romance with no idea that they are talking to one another.
Hanks and Ryan play Kathleen and Joe in this production, joined by Parker Posey, Dave Chappelle, Jean Stapleton, Steve Zahn and Greg Kinnear, among other actors. Just like Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got Mail became a critically acclaimed production that also earned a place among the audience's favorite rom-coms, raking over $250 million worldwide.