The world of cinema has given us countless romance stories that have captured viewers hearts and minds over the years. Some of these romances have stood the test of time and have become iconic, leaving an indelible mark on popular culture and the hearts of movie lovers everywhere.
These movies have defined what true love looks like on the big screen and have become timeless classics that continue to inspire and delight audiences to this day. They have become the benchmark for all other romantic films and have set the standard for what a great romance should be. These are the most iconic movie romances of all time.
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10 Romeo and Juliet - Romeo + Juliet (1996)
20th Century Fox
Romeo + Juliet is based on William Shakespeare’s famous play of the same name and stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes in the lead roles of Romeo and Juliet, respectively. The film is set in modern-day Verona Beach, California. It follows the story of Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet, two young lovers from rival families who are caught in a bitter feud. Despite the constant violence and hatred between their families, Romeo and Juliet fall deeply in love with each other and decide to run away together.
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The film is a modern retelling of the classic story with a fresh, contemporary twist. The characters are portrayed as young, vibrant, and passionate, while the setting is a bustling, colorful city full of life and energy. The film also features a lively soundtrack, featuring songs by some of the biggest names in the music industry at the time, adding to the film’s youthful and energetic tone. Although the setting is modern, the story of the “star-crossed lovers” remains unchanged.
9 Allie and Noah - The Notebook (2004)
New Line Cinema
The Notebook is told in a non-linear narrative and alternates between two timelines. In the first timeline, Allie Hamilton (Rachel McAdams) and Noah Calhoun (Ryan Gosling) meet and fall in love during a summer spent in a small town in North Carolina. Allie is from a wealthy family, while Noah is a poor mill worker. Despite their different backgrounds, they are immediately drawn to each other and begin a passionate romance. However, their relationship is met with resistance from Allie’s parents, who disapprove of Noah’s social status and do not want their daughter to marry a man of his background.
In the second timeline, an elderly Allie, suffering from dementia, is living in a nursing home and being read to by Duke from a notebook. During her illness’s early stages, the notebook had been written to record Allie’s and Noah’s romantic history and daily life together. Duke reads it to her regularly to aid in her memory recall. The Notebook has since become a classic romance film known for its powerful performances and memorable love story.
8 Jack and Rose - Titanic (1997)
Paramount Pictures
Titanic follows the story of two main characters, Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Rose DeWitt Bukater (Kate Winslet), who meet on an ill-fated voyage and fall in love. Jack is a penniless artist who wins a ticket to the Titanic in a card game, while Rose is a wealthy society girl engaged to Cal Hockley (Billy Zane), a wealthy businessman. As the ship sets sail, Jack and Rose begin to explore the ship and fall in love, despite the social class differences that threaten to keep them apart.
However, their romance is cut short when the Titanic hits an iceberg and begins to sink. The film ends with a present-day Rose, now an older woman, returning to the wreckage of the Titanic and throwing a precious necklace, Heart of the Ocean, into the ocean.
7 Paige and Leo - The Vow (2012)
Screen Gems
The Vow begins with Paige Collins (Rachel McAdams) and Leo Collins (Channing Tatum) in the early days of their relationship, when they are deeply in love and planning their wedding. However, their happiness is short-lived when Paige is involved in a car accident that leaves her with severe memory loss, and she cannot remember the past five years of her life, including her relationship with Leo.
Leo is determined to win Paige back and help her regain her memories, but the process is not easy. Paige is confused and scared and struggles to understand who Leo is and why she should trust him. She also tries to reconnect with her family, who she can’t remember, and her old friends, who she finds out have moved on with their lives. The film explores themes of love, commitment, and the power of the human spirit to overcome adversity.
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6 Logan and Beth - The Lucky One (2012)
Warner Bros. Pictures
The Lucky One follows Logan Thibault (Zac Efron), a US Marine deployed to Iraq for his third tour of duty. While serving in the war-torn country, Logan discovers a photograph of a woman on the ground and takes it as a good luck charm. The photograph becomes his only source of hope and keeps him alive during some of the most dangerous moments of his deployment. Upon his return home, Logan is haunted by memories of the war and is struggling to readjust to civilian life.
He decides to track down the woman in the photograph, Beth Clayton (Taylor Schilling), believing she is why he survived the war. Logan and Beth face many challenges, but their newfound love for each other helps them overcome their pasts and find a new future together. The Lucky One is a heartwarming film that will leave audiences feeling uplifted and inspired.
5 Baby and Johnny - Dirty Dancing (1987)
Vestron Pictures
Dirty Dancing begins with Frances “Baby” Houseman (Jennifer Grey) and her family arriving at the Kellerman’s resort for the summer. Baby is initially excited to be there but quickly becomes bored with the resort’s activities and the company of her wealthy, privileged peers. One night, while exploring the resort, Baby stumbles upon a staff party where she watches in awe as the dancers, led by Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze), perform the dirty dancing that gives the film its title. Johnny and Baby soon cross paths and begin to develop a strong connection, despite their different backgrounds.
Johnny, a working-class man, is initially hesitant to get involved with a wealthy girl like Baby, but her spirit and determination eventually win him over. Baby, in turn, is drawn to Johnny’s passion and talent as a dancer. Dirty Dancing is a classic coming-of-age story that deals with themes of class, love, and the power of dance. The film’s soundtrack, featuring songs such as “I’ve Had The Time ofMy Life” and “Hungry Eyes,” also became a best-seller.
4 Ilsa and Rick - Casablanca (1942)
Warner Bros.
Casablanca is set in the Vichy-controlled Moroccan city of Casablanca during World War II. The film begins with Rick’s nightclub, “Rick’s Café Américain”, being a popular spot for refugees trying to escape Nazi-occupied Europe. One day, Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman)and Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid) arrive at the club, and Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) is shocked to see Ilsa, with whom he had a love affair in Paris.
Ilsa explains to Rick that she and Laszlo are trying to obtain letters of transit that will allow them to leave Casablanca and continue their fight against the Nazis. Rick is torn between his love for Ilsa and his duty to protect Laszlo and the other refugees in his café. As the situation in Casablanca becomes more dangerous, Rick is forced to make a difficult decision. The film’s themes of love, sacrifice, and resistance to fascism continue to be relevant to contemporary audiences.
3 Edward and Vivian - Pretty Woman (1990)
Touchstone Pictures
Pretty Woman begins with Edward Lewis (Richard Gere), a wealthy New York City businessman arriving in Los Angeles for a business trip. After a series of failed attempts to find an appropriate escort for his business events, he meets Vivian Ward, a prostitute who is working on Hollywood Boulevard. He hires her to be his escort for the week and takes her shopping for a new wardrobe. As the week progresses, the two begin to develop feelings for each other, despite their vastly different backgrounds and initial reluctance to open up to each other.
Vivian Ward (Julia Roberts) shows Edward the beauty of life and how to enjoy it, while Edward teaches Vivian how to be a lady and believe in herself. As their time together comes to an end, they both struggle with the idea of saying goodbye. The movie has become an iconic classic and one of the most loved romantic movies of all time.
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2 Paul and Holly - Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
Jurow Shepherd
Breakfast at Tiffany’s follows Holly’s adventures as she becomes friends with her new neighbor, Paul Varjak (George Peppard), a struggling writer. Paul is immediately smitten with Holly Golightly (Audrey Hepburn), but she is hesitant to get too close to him as she is still searching for her ideal husband. As the movie progresses, Holly’s wild and carefree lifestyle starts to catch up with her, and she realizes that she might not be as happy as she thought. She starts to open up to Paul, and they develop a deeper connection.
However, just as they start to get close, Holly’s past comes back to haunt her, and she is forced to confront the secrets and lies holding her back. The movie is a touching and heartwarming story of love and self-discovery set against the backdrop of the vibrant and glamorous city of New York.
1 Joe and Kathleen - You’ve Got Mail (1998)
You’ve Got Mail stars Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan as the main characters, Joe Fox and Kathleen Kelly, respectively. It tells the story of Joe and Kathleen, both bookstore owners in New York City. The two meet online through an anonymous AOL chat room and begin a friendly, anonymous correspondence. As they continue to talk, they fall in love with each other, not knowing that they are business rivals in the real world. As their online relationship blossoms, Joe and Kathleen begin to feel a growing connection.
Despite their initial reluctance, they decide to meet in person, but Joe is hesitant to reveal his true identity to Kathleen. Eventually, Joe’s business plans lead to the closure of Kathleen’s bookstore, and the two confront each other in person. The film explores themes of love, friendship, and the changing nature of the book industry.
