Top 20 Teen Movie Kisses

Top 20 Teen Movie Kisses

Also in:

Top 10 Most Underrated Teen Movie Kisses

Get ready to swoon. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 20 Teen Movie Kisses. For this list, we’ll be looking at smooches from teen flicks only, so the upside-down kiss from “Spider-Man” won’t make the cut because it’s from a superhero movie.

Almost from the very start, we knew that "The Fault in Our Stars" was going to be a tragic romance. Considering the two leads are both suffering from life-altering types of cancer, it should come as no surprise that there’s no happily ever after here. But Augustus and Hazel do manage to share many magical romantic moments together, one of which takes place in the unlikeliest of places: the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. They share a kiss after being moved by Frank’s experience and the setting adds an extra layer of tragedy to an already devastating story.

#19: Edward Cullen & Bella Swan "Twilight" (2008)

Also in:

Top 10 Reasons Edward Cullen is the WORST

While Bella and Edward undoubtedly have the strangest courtship on our list, (him admitting to watching her sleep is not exactly cute), the movie makes us look past that with their undeniable chemistry. After Edward sneaks into her room and admits his feelings for her, they get carried away in a passionate embrace after some intense anticipation. As things escalate, Edward throws himself across the room telling Bella, “I can't ever lose control with you.” It’s the line of all lines and one of the most memorable moments of the series.

Whether you read Stephen Chbosky’s emotionally effective book or just saw the movie, you know that "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" tugs at the heartstrings. Charlie is understandably in awe of Sam and in this scene she offers him an emotionally complicated kiss, saying she wants his first be from someone who loves him. There’s a bittersweet quality here because this kiss is not meant to be the beginning of something, which is what Charlie clearly wants. Still, a kiss between two friends can be something truly special.

The primary storyline in "Mean Girls" isn’t a romance, but rather a tale of the relationships between teenage girls. But the subplot involves Cady’s interest in Aaron Samuels, who just so happens to be Regina’s on-and-off boyfriend. While their relationship is complicated and Cady doesn’t always go about things the right way, by the end our protagonist is back to her normal self and ready to focus on treating Aaron right. At the Spring Fling, the two share a dance and kiss after she makes things right with Janis and Damian.

#16: Josh Lucas & Cher Horowitz "Clueless" (1995)

Also in:

Top 10 Josh Brolin Performances

If you can get past the fact that they’re former step-siblings (which we definitely can), Josh and Cher are one of the most iconic teen movie couples of all time. While Cher spends much of “Clueless” trying to matchmake for others rather than focusing on her own romantic life, by the end, it’s clear that she and Josh are meant to be. Although earlier in the story he has disdain for her and doesn’t seem to quite “get” her, she eventually managed to impress him with her own specific brand of wits and kindness. The two kiss on her house’s elaborate staircase, making for a memorable ending.

#15: The Goodbye Kisses "The Breakfast Club" (1985)

Also in:

Top 10 Movie Goodbye Kisses

After a day spent in detention, nothing is the same for the rebellious teens of Shermer High School. They have all defied their expectations of one another and formed bonds that no one could have anticipated. Before saying their goodbyes, Allison (the basket case) and Andrew (the athlete) share a slightly awkward smooch despite their different very social circles. Then Claire gives Bender one of her earrings as a symbol of her affection and the two embrace in a move that seemed incredibly unlikely just an hour and a half earlier.

This Netflix original movie is a classic tale of enemies becoming lovers. Lona and Bennett start out as competitors because they are both hellbent on being the president of their high school debate club in order to get into Ivy League schools. But as the movie progresses, they become friends and while working together, they end up sharing a kiss just before the big state tournament. Bennett is left wondering what it meant because Lona prematurely ended the kiss. In the end, however, it’s clear that their relationship is more important to them than any competition.

At first, “Alex Strangelove” seems like it’s going to be a love story about Alex and his longtime bestie Claire. But Alex soon starts to question the identity he has built after meeting openly gay teen Elliot, who expresses clear interest in him. The first time they kiss, Alex reacts negatively and leaves in a huff. Over time, though, Alex does some deep introspections and realizes what he really wants. On prom night, with Claire’s encouragement, Alex overcomes his fears and kisses Elliot in front of everyone. There have been a whole lot of prom night kisses in teen movies, but this one feels fresh and modern.

“The Half of It” is certainly an original love story, with high achiever Ellie making extra money by writing love letters on behalf of ineloquent jock Paul. The thing is, though, the object of Paul’s affection, Aster, also happens to be the girl who Ellie has a crush on. Though we don’t get to see Ellie and Aster actually entering into a relationship, they do share a kiss after Ellie boldly initiates one. It leaves us on a hopeful note that the two may work something out in a couple of years after college.

When Zack, played by Freddie Prinze Jr., foolishly made a bet to woo the school’s resident artsy loner Laney, played by Rachael Leigh Cook, he didn’t think that he would actually fall for her. But of course he did, it’s a rom-com! After she finds out about the bet and has her heart broken, Zack comes and finds her on prom night. He apologizes for his behavior and ruining her big night. Laney forgives him as the two dance in her backyard and she gives him the kiss of a lifetime. The moment is both funny and sweet, the best pairing.

Anna Todd’s novel “After” was a sensation when it was released, and the steamy adaptation garnered many new fans for Tessa and Hardin’s story. This is certainly not a chaste high school romance, with the characters being slightly older college students. While there has clearly been sexual tension between our two protagonists earlier in the movie, it all comes to a head when Hardin takes Tessa to a lake and they admit that there’s no way they can just be friends. The kiss they share is a passionate one that kicks off their relationship.

Even though it only came out in 2018, the hot tub kiss in this Netflix phenomenon became an instantly iconic one in the teen movie hall of fame. While on a class ski trip, Lara Jean takes a chance and accepts Peter’s risqué invitation to hang out in the hot tub. Ever the good girl, Lara Jean jumps into the water wearing her nightgown. But she’s ready to break the rules when Peter gives her a very steamy kiss that’s even hotter than the water’s temperature! This one definitely warrants an instant replay.

We’ve never had as much fun watching two people who hate each other fall in love. Kat and Patrick have one of the best courtships in teen movie history, and their kiss at a paintball park is still one we want to recreate. Still showing off their rivalry, the couple played an intense game of smashing paint balloons on one another before falling in the hay and into each other’s arms. But even after an extensive kiss, Kat was still on her A-game and smashed another balloon into Patrick’s head after they broke apart. Playful and cute, this kiss is definitely the most fun on our list.

We watched Hermione and Ron grow up over the course of eight movies, but at times it seemed like they would never actually get together. But luckily for us, the high stakes of looking for Voldemort’s horcruxes finally allowed these crazy kids to act on their feelings for one another when they both moved in for a kiss. It was the culmination of everything we’ve been waiting for and the moment was perfectly executed when they broke apart and laughed playfully. Their friendship and respect for each other shone, making the moment all the more romantic. The kiss in the book may have been even better, but who’s counting.

Popular head cheerleader, Torrance, and the alternative new kid, Cliff, didn’t seem like they’d be a natural fit, but this odd couple is one of the best pairings. With their natural chemistry and banter-y flirtation, it wasn’t hard to root for them despite him being the brother of one of her squad mates. That’s why it’s so satisfying when Torrance finally kisses Cliff at the big cheer competition. We love to see our heroine take charge and it felt both spontaneous and earned. She may have lost the trophy, but she got her man.

"A Cinderella Story," starring Hilary Duff and Chad Michael Murray is a cult classic, and for good reason. Though it is a retelling of a romance story that we’re all familiar with, there are plenty of twists and turns to keep us guessing. With happily ever after on the horizon, Sam confronts Austin about his behavior. At the big football game, he kisses Sam in front of everyone, affirming his feelings for her, despite their different social classes at school. Of course, this movie had to have a classic fairytale ending!

The setting can make or break how romantic a kiss is, so it’s important to pick the right location to maximize the feels. At the end of the movie, Simon tells his mystery crush that he’ll be waiting for him at the carnival, and the two meet on the ferris wheel. It’s the prime location for his crush to unveil his identity since onlookers gather to see Simon land his man. The movie plays up the tension, as his crush leaves Simon waiting until the last minute. But when his friend, Bram, shows up it’s worth the wait and they share a steamy kiss while the crowd cheers.

Everyone knows that a girl’s sixteenth birthday is an important one, but for Molly Ringwald’s character, Sam, it was almost ruined by her family forgetting it was her big day since it was overshadowed by her sister’s wedding. But thank god for Jake Ryan, the adorably perfect jock, who saved the day by rescuing Sam from the wedding. Jake topped himself further by getting her a birthday cake and then giving her the kiss of a lifetime before she even blew the candles out. Jake proved that the most romantic gesture isn’t always the grandest one but the one that shows real thoughtfulness. We’re still gushing at how sweet this one was.

#2: Sam Coulson & Josie Geller "Never Been Kissed" (1999)

Also in:

Top 10 Best Teen Movie Kisses

Just like the “Love, Simon” kiss but with even bigger stakes, the baseball field kiss from “Never Been Kissed” tugs at our heartstrings because of how vulnerable Josie is. After writing a newspaper article where she outs herself as being an undercover reporter, she invites Sam, the teacher she was crushing on, to give her the first kiss she’s been waiting for in front of a huge crowd at a baseball game. It’s a high-pressure scenario and just when it seemed like he wouldn’t show up, he swoops in at the last second. The kiss is captured with a sweeping 360 degrees shot and it validated the inner Josie in us all.

#1: Romeo Montague & Juliet Capulet "Romeo + Juliet" (1996)

Also in:

Comparing All the Romeo & Juliet Movies

Upon locking eyes with each other through a fish tank at a crowded costume party, it was game over for our ‘90s Romeo and Juliet. The doomed lovers had the most epic case of love at first sight. Romeo stole Juliet away for a moment of privacy and kissed her in an elevator. But that wasn’t enough and he later snuck outside her window, which led to an even more swoon-worthy kiss when they embraced in the pool. Everything about the sweeping sequence was lush and cinematic, and so convincing that it kinda made us believe in love at first sight too.