Top 20 Movie Couples of the Century So Far
#20: Rachel Chu & Nick Young “Crazy Rich Asians” (2018)
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Based on the book by Kevin Kwan, “Crazy Rich Asians” was the highest-grossing romantic comedy of the 2010s and the relationship between central couple Rachel Chu and Nick Young is part of what makes it magic. When Rachel - an economics professor from New York - travels to Singapore to meet her boyfriend’s family and friends, she has no idea that Nick is one of the country’s richest men. It’s a movie about family and identity as much as about love, and unlike most rom-coms, the conflict is created by outside forces, rather than the couple themselves. Rachel and Nick are a great team, they respect and support each other, whatever is thrown at them, and you never doubt that they’re meant to be together.
#19: Tristan Thorn & Yvaine “Stardust” (2007)
In this romantic fantasy adventure, English shop boy Tristan Thorn plans to capture a fallen star, to win the heart of a girl back home. But on meeting the star herself - the radiant and argumentative Yvaine - it’s clear that things won’t be going as planned. Claire Danes and Charlie Cox have great chemistry, whether they’re bickering or falling in love. We know exactly where their relationship is heading, but it’s still a pleasure to watch, as Tristan matures and grows in confidence and Yvaine stops rolling her eyes and instead begins to glow whenever she’s around him.
#18: Troy Bolton & Gabriella Montez “High School Musical” franchise (2006-)
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The most financially successful Disney Channel Original Movie to date, “High School Musical” captured our hearts with memorable musical numbers, breakout stars, and an odd-couple romance between basketball star Troy Bolton and brainiac new girl Gabriella Montez. Like “Grease’s” Danny and Sandy, Troy and Gabriella are divided by their high school personas, but they break the mold by both auditioning for their school musical, despite pressure to stick to the status quo. It’s cheesy, but they have great chemistry and from the minute they first find themselves on stage together for New Year’s karaoke, you can’t help but smile.
#17: Jackson & Ally Maine “A Star Is Born” (2018)
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2018’s “A Star Is Born” is the third remake of this classic story, following the rise of a new star set against the decline of the guy who discovered them. Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand both made an impression in the earlier movies, but what sets this version apart is the on-screen chemistry between Lady Gaga’s Ally and Bradley Cooper’s troubled rock star, Jackson Maine. The songs are truly memorable, but there’s also a tenderness and intimacy in the performances that make this couple’s scenes together genuinely affecting. We care about these characters and believe in their relationship, so when tragedy strikes it’s all the more devastating.
#16: Diana & Steve Trevor “Wonder Woman” (2017)
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When Chris Pine’s WW1 fighter pilot crash-lands on Themyscira, island of the Amazons, he is rescued by Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman and so begins the start of something special. Diana is a demi-goddess and crown princess who has never met a man before. Naive, compassionate, and curious about the world, she travels with him to London to try and put a stop to the Great War, which she believes has been masterminded by the god Ares. So far, so weird. But Diana is a great character and she and Steve have fantastic chemistry, both comic and romantic.
#15: Shrek & Princess Fiona “Shrek” franchise (2001-)
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The beautiful princess and the smelly ogre might not be the most conventional couple on this list, but in their own way, they’re really very romantic. In order to get his swamp back, Mike Myers’s Shrek takes the job of rescuing the princess from her tower and bringing her to the villainous Lord Farquaad, who has decided she will be his true love. However, Fiona - voiced by Cameron Diaz - is not your typical damsel in distress, her rescuer is more than he appears, and love blossoms on the road back to Duloc. In a twist on the fairy-tale trope of “Beauty and the Beast,” “Shrek” gives us a movie couple who are happiest when they can just be themselves.
#14: Andie Anderson & Ben Barry “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” (2003)
Some might argue that the quality of your average rom-com took a dip in the early noughties. Does this movie disprove this theory? Not really. Because it’s kind of messy. But enjoyably so, and where would we be without our guilty pleasures? The premise is that Kate Hudson’s journalist, Andie, has been tasked to write an article about all the mistakes women make that will drive away a man. Her mission? To lose him in 10 days. McConaughey’s advertising exec, Ben, is chasing a bet that he can’t make Andie fall in love with him, within the same time frame. Hi-jinks ensue. It’s not the most progressive movie ever made, but it’s fun, and the leads have charm and chemistry.
#13: Katniss Everdeen & Peeta Mellark “The Hunger Games” franchise (2012-15)
“The Hunger Games” is not about the romance - it’s about survival and rebellion. However, the core relationship between District 12 tributes Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark provides much of the story’s heart. Katniss is fierce, standoff-ish and a real contender to win the eponymous games, while Peeta is a sweet boy who makes bread and has had a crush on her forever. Gale - the third part of the love triangle - is great too, but it’s Peeta whose emotional intelligence and gentleness will give Katniss the safe haven she really needs. Provided they can get out of the arena alive...
#12: Elizabeth Bennet & Mr. Darcy “Pride & Prejudice” (2005)
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They might not have had quite the same impact as Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle back in the nineties, but Jane Austen’s best-loved romantic couple will always be a fan favorite, in every incarnation of the story. Matthew MacFadyen is convincing as a proud but believably shy Mr. Darcy and has great chemistry with Keira Knightley’s sharp-witted Lizzie - although surely she’s too beautiful to be considered merely “tolerable?” Joe Wright’s film might miss a few of the usual comedy beats, but it looks great and the romantic tension between the central couple is undeniable.
#11: Carol Aird & Therese Belivet “Carol” (2015)
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Ranked by the British Film Institute as the greatest LGBT film ever, “Carol” tells the story of an affair between two women in 1950’s New York. Based on Patricia Highsmith’s novel “The Price of Salt,” it follows Rooney Mara’s Therese, who is working at a department store counter when she first meets Carol, played by Cate Blanchett. When Therese returns a dropped glove, there appears an opportunity for the women to build on the promise of their first meeting. With its period setting and manners, the movie is leisurely paced, allowing for every lingering look and broken sentence to convey a deeper meaning. Carol and Therese are an odd couple - differing in class, age, and temperament - but their on-screen chemistry is undeniable.
#10: Cecilia Tallis & Robbie Turner “Atonement” (2007)
Based on the acclaimed novel by Ian McEwan, “Atonement” is notable for introducing us to a young Saoirse Ronan, in an Oscar-nominated performance, but the central romance between James McAvoy’s Robbie and Keira Knightley’s Cecilia, is also beautifully acted and affecting. When Celia’s little sister Briony witnesses something she doesn’t fully understand, a tragic chain of events is set in motion that will see the lovers parted from each other. From those early moments charged with sexual tension, to that scene in the cafe during the war, every look between Robbie and Cecilia is heavy with emotion, despite very sparse dialogue. And James McAvoy has never looked more handsome.
#9: Will Turner & Elizabeth Swann “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise (2003-)
Keira Knightley was a bit of a fixture in the 2000’s, in this case paired with Orlando Bloom in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise. In the original film, we first meet Elizabeth Swann, the spirited Governor’s daughter. Although intended for the respectable Commodore Norrington, her heart lies with William Turner, local blacksmith and son of a pirate, who has loved her since they were children. While Captain Jack Sparrow is the most iconic figure in the “Pirates” series, Will and Elizabeth are its emotional heart and it was never the same without them.
#8: Hazel Grace Lancaster & Augustus Waters “The Fault in Our Stars” (2014)
‘Two teenagers meet at a Cancer support group’ hardly seems like a recipe for romance, but despite the hard-hitting subject matter, this heartfelt romantic drama is by turns uplifting, whimsical and heart-breaking. Based on the book by John Green, the story follows protagonist Hazel and the charismatic Augustus Waters as they fall in love and find ways to make the most of their lives, however short they may be. Has any teenager ever really talked or acted like a John Green character? Probably not. Still, the Amsterdam scenes are unapologetically romantic and the knowledge that this love story has a time limit makes everything more poignant.
#7: Monica Wright & Quincy McCall “Love & Basketball” (2000)
A romance, a sports drama, and a social commentary about gender, relationships, and whether women can have it all, “Love & Basketball” is a cult classic for a reason. Sanaa Lathan and Omar Epps play childhood sweethearts turned on-again, off-again lovers, who also share a love of basketball. The film follows the ups and downs of their relationship and the pressures of pursuing an athletic career (basically it’s all in the title.) Is it perfect? No. Leading man, Quincy, is problematic a lot of the time. But when it comes down to it, the overall message is good and the central couple has so much chemistry.
#6: Jack Twist & Ennis Del Mar “Brokeback Mountain” (2005)
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An award-winning movie about the love between two male cowboys, this film was nothing short of groundbreaking. Featuring stellar performances from Jake Gyllenhaal and the late Heath Ledger, it’s quite slow-paced but full of suppressed passion and beautifully poignant scenes. Ennis and Jack are two very different men, united by a shared loneliness and an ability to understand what the other is going through. Their emotions are strong but mostly kept in check by their fear of the outside world and it’s partly this struggle that makes their love story so tragic and moving.
#5: Allie Hamilton & Noah Calhoun “The Notebook” (2004)
When it comes to romance cliches, “The Notebook” has it all. Rich girl-poor boy romance, first love, passionate arguing, kisses in the rain, star-crossed lovers torn apart by circumstance, and an old man telling the story of his true love. It couldn’t be cornier, but Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling have enough chemistry and charisma to make us fall in love with Noah and Allie. The present-day storyline - a framing device focusing on an elderly version of the couple, played by Gena Rowlands and James Garner - is a heartbreaker too.
#4: Aragorn & Arwen “The Lord of the Rings” franchise (2001-03)
There is a serious lack of women in Tolkien’s epic fantasy trilogy, but screenwriters Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens did their best to maximize the roles of the only notable female characters. The biggest transformation is Arwen, lady of Rivendell and love of Aragorn’s life, although in the books she’s relegated mostly to the appendices. In the films, Liv Tyler’s Arwen makes her presence felt while remaining true to the spirit of the character. From the breathtaking flight at the ford to that long-awaited kiss, we finally see enough of the couple to understand why she would sacrifice immortality for him, and why he waited so long for her.
#3: Ron Weasley & Hermione Granger “Harry Potter” franchise (2001-11)
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Constant companions of Harry himself, and of every “Harry Potter” fan throughout the 2000’s, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint might not have as much chemistry in the films as the characters do on the page, but there were enough little moments throughout the eight movies to keep us wondering whether these best friends would get it together in the end. From their first meeting on the train at age eleven to their first kiss seven films later, Ron and Hermione was a slow burn. But opposites attract and after a school career spent bickering like an old married couple, they finally became one.
#2: Christian & Satine “Moulin Rouge!” (2001)
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Based on the opera “La Boheme” and the Greek tragedy “Orpheus and Eurydice,” Baz Luhrmann’s “Moulin Rouge!” is a colorful jukebox musical with a tragic romance based around young lovers Christian and Satine. Ewan McGregor is the penniless poet who falls for Nicole Kidman’s Satine, courtesan and star of the Moulin Rouge. Is Christian good enough for her? Well, he’s jealous and immature, but you forget all that as soon as he starts to sing. From the “Elephant Love Medley” to “Roxanne” to the iconic original song “Come What May,” the couple’s love story is told through unforgettable musical numbers and you can’t help but hope for a happy ending.
#1: Jamie Sullivan & Landon Carter “A Walk to Remember” (2002)
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We all love a happily-ever-after, but tragic romances can often be the most poignant. You might need to break out the tissues for this coming-of-age drama, starring Mandy Moore and Shane West. Based on a Nicholas Sparks novel, it tells the story of a bad-boy high school senior who is forced to participate in after-school activities as community service and winds up spending most of his time with the local minister’s daughter, Jamie. He’s drawn to her simplicity and kindness, while she sees something in him that he hides from the world. But their happiness cannot last forever, as she has leukemia. The critics may have dumped on the movie but nevertheless, noughties teens took Jamie and Landon to their hearts.