Hollywood loves to sell a great love story, regardless of the genre. The pairing of a fictional couple has been the drive for too many films across multiple eras, and it always proves to be a successful formula. Some of these on-screen duos have imprinted themselves in the collective memories of audiences by combining great acting, great chemistry, and a unique story. These iconic couplings embody everlasting love and relationship goals for many people.
Some actresses, such as Meg Ryan, have transcended their romantic roles to gain the title of "America's Sweetheart." Actors such as Heath Ledger made a name for themselves by playing the archetype of the rugged man waiting for a sweet girl to break their shell. All the pairings listed here have inspired generations, becoming cultural touchstones that remind everyone about the enduring appeal of a well-crafted romance.
This ranking reminds us of the power of great acting, as most of these on-screen couples displayed some of the best chemistry in cinema history to remind us that love trumps everything!
20 Elizabeth and Will (Pirates of the Caribbean)
Pirates of the Caribbean is one of the best films ever directed by Gore Verbinski, and the casting choices of Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom for the roles of Elizabeth Swann and Will Turner are both ideal and charming at the same time. The swashbuckling adventures of both characters make for an everlasting love story while also spicing things up, as Jack Sparrow, masterfully played by Johnny Deep, has flirting exchanges with Elizabeth during the film, making for a complex dynamic and one of the best love stories ever told. Sadly, the everlasting love of Elizabeth and Will doesn't have the best of resolutions after the first trilogy.
19 Joel and Clementine (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind)
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It's hard to categorize movies like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. The film feels like an extended episode of Black Mirror. The story, directed by Michel Gondry and written by Charlie Kaufman, it's a tale about two former lovers named Joel Barish and Clementine Kruczynski, played by Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet, as they undergo a procedure to erase each other from their memories. However, the unconventionality of their love transcends the power of technology, as both still feel drawn to each other, despite the obstacles and manipulations of outsiders.
18 Jackson and Ally (A Star Is Born)
Believe it or not, A Star is Born is one of Hollywood's most enduring love stories. The film has been remade four times to date. Before the 2018 version, we had the 1976 remake starring Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson. The updated version features the acting talents of Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga. It's a charming story about a talented musician named Jackson who is constantly battling his demons until he discovers the fantastic talent of Ally, a waitress who sings in a bar he visits. The blossom romance is hit from all angles as addiction and the expensive toll of fame try to bring down these lovers. Bradley and Gaga immortalized their performances not so much with the film but with a steamy performance in the 2019's Academy Awards ceremony.
17 Westley and Buttercup (The Princess Bride)
Maybe one of the funniest bits about The Princess Bride is that it presents Robin Wright to audiences as a sweet maiden waiting to be rescued by her true love. The actress, however, is well known for playing no-nonsense and hardened characters in House of Cards, Wonder Woman, and perpetual poor choice maker Jenny from Forrest Gump. Rob Rainer immortalized the pairing of Cary Elwes and Wright in a film that tells the ultimate fantasy love story. Farmhand Westley becomes a masked hero looking to get back his beloved after she's kidnapped by the trio of Vizzini, Fezzik, and Inigo Montoya, who have their grievances with Prince Humperdinck, the man who betrothed Buttercup after Westley is presumed dead.
16 Joe and Kathleen (You've Got Mail)
You've Got Mail is a sweet and innocent film that genuinely reflects its era. It showcases the internet as a sincere means of communication, where relationships are built with set boundaries to translate to the real world eventually. Considering the sorry state of online interpersonal relationships, the film works as a reminder of simpler times. The story, written and directed by Nora Ephron, reunites Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan as Joe Fox and Kathleen Kelly, a pair of rival booksellers who go over their lives without revealing too much about themselves. As each exchange takes place, they find out they have much in common without realizing they hate each other in real life, as they are business rivals.
15 Jack and Ennis (Brokeback Mountain)
Do you know how many films tried doing what Brokeback Mountain did in 2005? Exactly zero. Sure, we had movies like Making Love from 1982, but most films depicting same-sex relationships were deemed taboo or went past the radar for most audiences. The film's story is based on a short story by Annie Proulx. Director Ang Lee took on the challenge and brought the love story of Jack Twist and Ennis Del Mar with the help of Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger. It was a milestone in cinema as the film was a box office hit and got three Oscar wins out of eight nominations.
14 Sandy and Danny (Grease)
Before Leo and Kate, we had Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta; the pair skyrocketed as the go-to couple after Grease debuted in 1978. The film, directed by Randal Kleiser, is one of those weird stances when Hollywood adapts a Broadway musical and does so successfully. The film was made on a tiny budget of $6 million and scored $366 million worldwide. The coming-of-age story set in the 50s features Sandy, a good girl, and Danny, the leader of a greaser gang, as they navigate the ups and downs of teenage love, peer pressure, and self-discovery. It's a beloved classic with one of the most memorable soundtracks of the era.
13 Lois and Clark (Superman)
If Alexander and Ilya Salkind had their way with this production, Superman would not be the classic it is today. The film, directed by Richard Donner, was the biggest project of Warner Brothers and DC Comics, who had a lot of sway to call the tone and direction of the film. Everyone wanted a big name for the man of steel. Donner stuck to his guns and gave a shot to a meek unknown named Christopher Reeve, who would go on to make magic alongside Margot Kidder as Clark Kent and Lois Lane. This film perfectly portrays the nuances in this relationship, as seen by comic readers during multiple ages. Lois is deeply in love with Superman, and she's smart enough to figure out who he is, which would play a significant role in the second film. Superman also has strong feelings for Lois, which he showcases by turning back time and saving her from certain death after a nuclear warhead destroys the East Coast.
12 Albert and Armand (The Birdcage)
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The Birdcage is one of those films that slowly built tolerance towards the gay movement in 1996. Directed by Mike Nichols and based on the play by Jean Poiret, the incredible casting features a lot of extraordinary talents, such as Gene Hackman, Hank Azaria, and Calista Flockhart. Still, the casting choices of Nathan Lane and Robin Williams as Albert Goldman and Armand Goldman stole the show, as Armand's son announces his engagement to a lovely girl without realizing his soon-to-be father-in-law in an ultra-conservative senator. The story is amusing and showcases a heartfelt portrayal of a loving same-sex couple that challenged stereotypes and displayed a close attachment to good values for the era.
11 Viola and Will (Shakespeare in Love)
Shakespeare in Love is a story that plays with the duality of man. The film, directed by John Madden and written by Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard, casts Gwyneth Paltrow and Joseph Fiennes as Viola de Lesseps and Will Shakespeare having a passionate romance in a fictionalized setting of 16th-century theater stages. Viola wants to shine on the tables, but gender norms limit her, while Will is a struggling playwright who suddenly finds inspiration and love alongside a disguised Viola. Their intertwining stories are playgrounds for charming exchanges and clever homages to Shakespearean works.
10 Katniss and Peeta (The Hunger Games)
Love is the light that sparks hope in dystopias, and the pairing of Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark gave hope to many franchise fans. The film, directed by Gary Ross, based on the novel by Suzanne Collins, gave us the groundbreaking performance of Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson as the beloved couple, who had their fair share of suffering through the whole story until Katniss finally admits to having feelings for him in the last film of The Hunger Games series. Their relationship is always marked by sacrifice, loyalty, and resilience as they try to survive the games and depose the tyrannical reigns that keep them as canon fodder for entertainment.
9 Rick and Ilsa (Casablanca)
Some of the best stories in Hollywood are about unrequited love, and Casablanca is the ultimate example of this trope. The classic tale is directed by Michael Curtiz, with a screenplay by Julius J. Epstein. Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman's acting talents are the film's highlight as Rick Blaine and Ilsa Lund develop intense feelings for each other, but it's not meant to be. Their ill-fated reunion is marked by fate but plagued with circumstances that keep them apart. After Rick grows a conscience and helps Ilsa escape, he sends her off with the most memorable farewell line of all time: "Here's looking at you, kid." A bittersweet moment that would stand the test of time to become a classic.
8 Molly and Sam (Ghost)
Patrick Swayze was already an established talent after Dirty Dancing broke every box office record in 1987. He would make every woman get tear-eyed with a brand-new hit in 1990. Starring alongside Demi Moore, he joined forces with director Jerry Zucker and writer Bruce Joel Rubin to release Ghost. Swayze and Moore play Sam Wheat and Molly Jensen, a couple separated by death with such an extraordinary love that it transcends life. The film was a passionate endeavor, depicting otherworldly connections in a story that combines romance, comedy, intrigue, mystery, and drama. The enduring popularity of this film was cemented by the fantastic soundtrack that revived many old-time classics, as well as the supporting role of Whoopi Goldberg.
7 Sally and Harry (When Harry Met Sally)
The second entry by America's Sweetheart. Meg Ryan teams up with Billy Crystal to tell a unique love story that spans a few years. In When Harry Met Sally…The on-screen couple plays Sally Albright and Harry Burns, and the movie's story explores the age-old question of whether men and women can be friends without letting feelings get in the way. Each encounter between Harry and Sally is full of banter, witty comebacks, and charming chemistry. It's a movie exploring the changing dynamics of the era, as both men and women were outgrowing the roles of the nuclear family, with men and women taking notice of the added value they bring in their partner after choosing to pursue a relationship.
6 Princess Leia and Han Solo (Star Wars)
The romantic tension between Princess Leia Organa and Han Solo has been displayed since the first Star Wars film. Played by Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford, respectively, Leia is everything Han is not. She's educated in politics, diplomacy, warfare, and history. He's a total scoundrel surviving on wits and luck alone. Each back and forth between them showcases their increasingly deep bond as Leia secretly admires Han's heroism, and Han loves how brilliant Leia is. She would admit her feelings for him before Vader froze Han in carbonite. He would reciprocate her feelings with the most badass comeback in the story of cinematic love: "I know." They did deserve their happily ever after. Unfortunately, Lucasfilm, under Disney's management, was unfit to give them even a bit of happiness after making their son the bad guy of the sequel trilogy.
5 Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy (Pride & Prejudice)
Pride & Prejudice is a story that heavily criticizes the societal norms of the era it was written. The film, directed by Joe Wright and based on Jane Austen's novel, follows suit with the impeccable performances of Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen, who take on the roles of Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy. Their initial clash of personalities eventually leads to a gradual understanding and deep affection between them. Still, as the daughter of a country gentleman, and the son of a wealthy aristocratic landowner, they are obliged to overcome the titular sins of pride and prejudice to fall in love and spend their lives together as husband and wife.
4 Rhett and Scarlett (Gone With The Wind)
Gone With The Wind is one of the greatest American classics that somehow has been deemed problematic for modern audiences, as the story touches upon slavery and takes place amid the Civil War as a southern belle and a war profiteer fall in love. The film, directed by Victor Fleming, is based on the novel of the same name written by Margaret Mitchell. Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh immortalize the characters of Rhett Butler and Scarlett O'Hara as their turbulent romance develops against multiple setbacks and a great deal of personal growth for both characters. Despite needing a trigger warning for sensible people, the film was very progressive for its time, with the Academy awarding Hattie McDaniel for her supporting role as Mammy in the movie.
3 Neo and Trinity (The Matrix)
If you strip down The Matrix from all its deep philosophical elements, you end up with a bare bones love story. Neo and Trinity, as played by Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss, have been immortalized by audiences as the best sci-fi couple, with each of their actions being thoroughly exanimated by fans who still find deeper meaning in every scene they share. It's their love that leads Neo down the path of The One. Their love ignites the fiery passion in the city of Zion. Their love is the one that makes Neo do the impossible to save her life despite the calculations of the Architect. And it's their love that brings them together again in Matrix Resurrection.
2 Jack and Rose (Titanic)
It would have been easy for Leonardo DiCaprio to become the next teen heartthrob after this film. The actor was smarter than that and didn't let fame go to his head, instead settling to work with the best directors to build a career worth remembering. Same thing for Kate Winslet, who also had an impressive career. James Cameron made this due pretty famous with Titanic. The tragedy of the ill-fated ship is the background for one of the greatest love stories ever told. Jack Dawson and Rose DeWitt Bukater, the struggling artists and the delicate socialite, let their love blossom across class divides, defying every societal norm of the era. Despite making only two films together, Kate and Leo are still among the most beloved on-screen couples ever.
1 Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson (Spider-Man)
Peter Parker is cursed with something called "the old Parker luck" in the comic books. Before gaining his powers, Peter was indeed a bit inept with the ladies, but Mary Jane Watson had her eye on him. In the Spider-Man film trilogy directed by Sam Raimi, this couple faces unending challenges as Peter hardly hides his feelings for Mary Jane, but he fails to act on them to protect her. Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst did an excellent job playing the ups and downs of this beloved couple, with MJ embracing the fact the man he loves is a hero of the people and standing beside him even in his darkest hours. They get their happily ever after, as Spider-Man: No Way Home implies they are still together and doing their best to make things work.