VOICE OVER: Emily Brayton WRITTEN BY: Andy Hammersmith
#30: Alex & Kate
“The Lake House” (2006)
In this unique romance, Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock prove that not even time can keep two people away if they are meant for each other. Their characters communicate via a special mailbox that sends letters through time. The ending finds Alex and Kate meeting up, turning their fantasy into a reality. It’s wonderful to see this couple come together after so many twists and turns. Their kiss makes up for all the heartbreak in one meaningful meetup. After seeing them separated for so long, the audience witnesses what might’ve seemed impossible before, giving this film a magical ending.
#29: Paula & Zack
“An Officer and a Gentleman” (1982)
While going through Officer Candidate School, Zack falls for local Paula. The naval recruit and the factory worker embark on a turbulent and intense relationship. At the end of this iconic film, the hero tracks her down, kisses her and sweeps off her feet in one of the most romantic finales of the 1980s. It’s especially satisfying to see them together after it seemed they were separated for good. Richard Gere and Debra Winger give career-defining performances, making you believe that this couple can really last. This kiss and the final shot of them leaving are a triumphant end.
#28: Karen & Milton
“From Here to Eternity” (1953)
Talk about iconic romantic moments! In this Oscar-winning film, Deborah Kerr and Burt Lancaster’s characters are hopelessly in love. Their feelings culminate in one of the most picturesque kisses ever captured on film. The ocean waves wash over them as they’re tangled up together, a striking image that serves as a great metaphor for their relationship. Parodied in other media, this scene in “From Here to Eternity” is almost more famous than the film that surrounds it. The kiss and the follow-up capture a relationship which will be challenged by the forces of history, giving them one blissful day before their lives change.
#27: Loretta & Ronny
“Moonstruck” (1987)
Both Cher’s Loretta Castorini and Nicolas Cage’s Ronny Cammareri are living troubled lives in “Moonstruck.” Their strange relationship eventually comes to a head in this scene as Cage’s character throws the kitchen table and makes out with Cher’s heroine. Played for laughs, the scene feels both ridiculous and oddly special. On the surface, their partnership isn’t obvious, but this kiss makes their romantic tension ring true. It might seem absurd at first, but you come to realize that this unlikely duo deserves each other. You also have two outstanding performers breathing every ounce of charisma they can into this sequence.
#26: Kat & Patrick
“10 Things I Hate About You” (1999)
For this Shakespeare adaptation, Patrick gets paid to take out the unruly Kat. Their romance blossoms despite all of the scheming behind her back, but it seems lost once she realizes the truth. The last scene has Heath Ledger’s character apologizing with a gift, and the heroine kissing him in a hopeful end to the film. You know somehow deep down that these two are made for each other. We can only hope that they stay in touch after high school. With two impressive actors anchoring this movie, their teen romance becomes something much more honest, believable, and nuanced.
#25: Keith & Watts
“Some Kind of Wonderful” (1987)
Keith falls for Amanda, but he doesn’t understand that his friend Watts loves him. In one scene, the latter tries to help out her buddy by giving him lessons. This gives way to one of the film’s most memorable sequences, with the two friends sharing an intimate moment. It’s clear that there’s some complex feelings here despite their long standing friendship. Their love is confirmed at the end, but here is where it becomes clear these two are something special. The chemistry is palpable between the two and you’ll likely be screaming from your seat to tell them.
#24: Elizabeth & Mr. Darcy
“Pride & Prejudice” (2005)
In this adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic story, Elizabeth Bennet goes through a whirlwind of emotions concerning Mr. Darcy. As the film progresses, they reconnect, reconcile, and agree to marry. Darcy’s return is an amazing moment in and of itself that sets up this important moment at the end. They’re destined to be together, and it’s fantastic to see them finally kiss. It’s also a relief as the dramatic plot pits them against each other for most of the runtime. As the two come together, true love feels possible at last. And the incredible setting enhances the emotion, ensuring the characters will spend an enchanted evening together.
#23: Ennis & Jack
“Brokeback Mountain” (2005)
Ennis and Jack are kept apart by societal pressures and attitudes, but their feelings for each other cannot be denied. Reunited after several years apart, the moment when they kiss is a beautiful distillation of their longing and the difficulties they endure. Both Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal throw themselves into their roles and make sure that these moments feel especially authentic. You can tell that their characters are brimming with passion in this particular sequence. Adding to the importance of this kiss, Ennis’ wife spots the couple. This presents a major turning point for the story along with providing the characters with a much-needed outlet.
#22: Baby & Johnny
“Dirty Dancing” (1987)
Baby and Johnny have a special partnership in this 1980s classic. Dance is often used in films to indicate sexual attraction, and the chemistry these two exude as they dance together is undeniable. As an audience member, you’re basically waiting for them to kiss right up until this moment. The scene also effectively utilizes choreography to heighten and enhance the inevitable moment when they connect. Both Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze bring a great physicality to the sequence, making this all the more satisfying when the inevitable happens. Just in case you forgot, this part reminds you why the movie is called “Dirty Dancing.”
#21: Buttercup & Westley
“The Princess Bride” (1987)
After all of their struggles, Westley and Buttercup finally reunite at the end of this fantasy adventure. It’s especially gratifying to see them kiss given that they’ve each been in danger for most of the film. With Peter Falk’s grandfather narrating the scene, the couple embraces one last time in a moving sequence that solidifies their love. The words that accompany this scene also add to the power of the moment. Described as a historical kiss, this storybook ending wouldn’t be complete without the main characters finding happiness once more. It’s everything that audiences could have wanted from a finale.
#20: Hardin & Tess
“After” (2019)
Anna Todd’s book “After” was a massive hit due to its steamy story, and the couple at its center: Tessa and Hardin. The tale straddles the line between a young adult and grown-up story, with the characters being college students with a little more independence. Tessa is intrigued by Hardin who has quite a reputation (to say the least) and their relationship comes to a head when Hardin takes her on an outing to a lake, and they realize that their attempts at remaining just friends are going to be totally futile.
#19: Frank & Rachel
“The Bodyguard” (1992)
When Rachel finally learns more about Frank, an intimacy grows between the entertainment superstar and former Secret Service agent. It shouldn’t be romantic when Rachel starts swinging a samurai sword around, but the tension between these two characters has already been building for a long time. Frank shows off a trick where he uses the sword to slice Rachel’s scarf cleanly in half and then the pair finally embraces. We may have been a little upset that he cut up the scarf, but she can probably afford a new one.
#18: Sam & Austin
“A Cinderella Story” (2004)
There have been countless retellings of the classic fairy tale Cinderella, but this modern example has simply got to be one of our favorites. Starring Hilary Duff and Chad Michael Murray, "A Cinderella Story" has developed something of a cult following, and one of the reasons has to be the chemistry between the two leads. Even though we knew how this one was going to end, it was still a pleasure to watch Austin realize his mistakes and apologize to Sam, eventually kissing her in front of everyone.
#17: Jamal & Latika
“Slumdog Millionaire” (2008)
It’s easy to forget that back in 2008, “Slumdog Millionaire” was an absolute sensation, taking home eight Oscars and winning the hearts of many. While much of the story revolves around Jamal’s time on a game show, there’s a love story at its core, between him and his childhood friend Latika. At the film’s conclusion, the two finally meet again on a train platform, with Latika saying that she thought they would only be able to meet again in death. Their kiss is a passionate one, and it’s followed up by a cheery Bollywood dance number.
#16: Chiron & Kevin
“Moonlight” (2016)
“Moonlight” is the stunning look at the life of a gay black teenager, showing us his life in three stages: childhood, adolescence and adulthood. The film won the Academy Award for best picture for good reason, and one of the storylines that ties everything together is Chiron’s relationship with Kevin. The two were childhood friends, but as they get older their relationship takes an undeniable shift. One night on the beach, they smoke a joint together and start talking intimately, with the end result being an unexpected kiss.
#15: Josie & Sam
“Never Been Kissed” (1999)
Josie didn’t have a great high school experience, and it seems like things are poised to be even worse when she’s given an assignment to go undercover as a student to report on the behavior of teenagers. She ends up developing feelings for one of her teachers, which is admittedly a bit confusing — to say the least — because he thinks she’s a teenager. But by the end they’ve cleared things up and he arrives in the middle of the baseball field to give her the kiss she has been waiting so long for. Most first kisses are awkward, but this is anything but.
#14: Hannah & Jacob
“Crazy, Stupid, Love” (2011)
In “Crazy, Stupid, Love,” Ryan Gosling plays playboy Jacob Palmer, who picks up girls without a second thought. Hannah (played by Emma Stone) soundly rejects him the first time he tries to take her home. But after she suffers a stunning rejection from her own boyfriend, she storms back to the bar where she first met Jacob and kisses him right in front of the girl he’s chatting up. Gosling’s bemused look when they finally pull apart makes this a perfect and hilarious movie moment.
#13: Holly & Paul
“Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (1961)
“Breakfast at Tiffany's” is a classic romantic comedy that has managed to enchant viewers for generations. Much of the story focuses on Holly Golightly and her zany life, but her lack of openness to love is holding her back. She finally decides to let go and accept love into her life, even if it means losing the perceived freedom that she believes she has. She chases after Paul through the streets of New York in the rain as he looks for her cat, and when they finally find the “poor slob,” the couple shares a dramatic kiss.
#12: Bridget & Darcy
“Bridget Jones’ Diary” (2001)
“Bridget Jones’s Diary” tells the story of a woman who doesn’t quite have her life in order. She dates the wrong guy, being hurt by cad Daniel Cleaver, but eventually finds herself with Mr. Right: Mark Darcy. She chronicles her adventures in her diary, but when Mark reads it and sees what she wrote about him before realizing he was the one, he leaves her alone in her apartment. She chases after him in the snow, in her underwear; and when she finds him, realizes he was just out buying her a new diary for a fresh start. He really does love her just as she is!
#11: Harry & Sally
“When Harry Met Sally…” (1989)
“When Harry Met Sally...” is a classic of the romantic comedy genre, with so many movies released subsequently being compared to it. The story asks the question of whether men and women can ever be just friends, and in this case at least, that proves that to not be true. Harry and Sally’s friendship is messy, especially after they sleep together, but by the film’s end Harry has realized that the relationship he wants has been right under his nose the whole time. His speech about why he loves her, at the New Year’s Eve party, is adorable, and the kiss they share marks the start of their actual relationship.
#10: Sam & Jake
“Sixteen Candles” (1984)
Sam, played by Molly Ringwald, is primed to have just about the worst 16th birthday ever when she realizes her entire family is too busy with her sister’s wedding to give her any attention. On top of that, she thinks the guy she has a crush on hasn’t noticed her. But when she’s least expecting it, Jake shows up on her sister’s wedding day to sweep Sam off her feet. She ditches the reception to go back and have cake with him, and in the film’s final moments they both lean in and kiss, over the candles.
#9: Lara Jean & Peter
“To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” (2018)
Despite the fact that “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” is one of the newest movies to feature on our list, it has quickly become something of a modern staple of the teen romance genre. Lara Jean and Peter remind us of all those crazy feelings of adolescent love, and while their relationship starts off as a fake one, it clearly progresses into something very real. On the school ski trip, they finally give into their feelings, making out in a hot tub in an incident that’s unfortunately filmed for all their classmates to see.
#8: Ron & Hermione
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2” (2011)
Perceptive fans of the “Harry Potter” series saw the Ron and Hermione romance coming from a mile away. These two had bickered and fought their way through the series like only two people who are destined to be together can. While their first kiss in the movies isn’t quite as satisfying as its portrayal on the page, we still love finally seeing these two give into their feelings, in the midst of all the danger and drama of the Battle of Hogwarts. No house elves were saved, but the unbridled moment of passion is there just the same.
#7: Will & Elizabeth
“Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” (2007)
Getting married in the middle of a deadly battle isn’t exactly what any of us dreams of, but in “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End,” Will and Elizabeth take what they can get. Will proposes while the two are slaying their foes together, and they quickly convince Barbossa to officiate their union, despite the fact that he’s a little bit distracted. The kiss they share when they are finally husband and wife is dramatic to say the least, as the waves splash over the ship and the fighting continues around them.
#6: Han & Leia
“The Empire Strikes Back” (1980)
The love triangle in the original “Star Wars” films is complicated juuuust a bit by the fact that Luke and Leia are actually related, but by “Empire Strikes Back” it’s clear that the relationship we’re supposed to be focusing on is between Leia and Han. When the two finally lock lips, the moment has been a long time coming. And fun fact: later in the movie, the script originally said that Harrison Ford was supposed to simply reply in kind when Leia said she loves him, but Ford found this didn’t fit with his character, and improvised the now iconic line instead.
#5: Simon & Bram
“Love, Simon” (2018)
“Love, Simon” is notable for being the first movie by a major studio to tell the story of a gay teen romance, and it does so with a perfect tone that balances humor with a tender-hearted plot. Simon has to contend with being outed while in high school, all the while falling in love with a mysterious guy he meets online. In the film’s climactic moment, Simon asks “Blue” to meet him at the ferris wheel. As everyone watches, Simon goes round and round alone before Bram finally reveals himself to be Simon’s online pen pal. The kiss they share makes viewers want to cheer, just like the crowd watching them.
#4: Peter & Mary Jane
“Spider-Man” (2002)
Peter Parker saves Mary Jane countless times in the “Spider-Man” movies, but this instance from the 2002 version of the story is the most memorable, because of the steamy kiss that the two share. Spidey is hanging upside down when Mary Jane tries to thank him for protecting her, and while he of course doesn’t want to take off his mask to reveal his identity, he lets her pull it down just far enough so that they can kiss. How many people tried making out upside down after seeing this one? We can’t be the only ones!
#3: Romeo & Juliet
“Romeo + Juliet” (1996)
The tale of “Romeo and Juliet” is, of course, one of the best known love stories in the Western canon, but Baz Luhrmann managed to make the story feel fresh and modern in his 1996 interpretation of the Shakesperian classic. After seeing one another through a fish tank at an elaborate costume party, Romeo and Juliet essentially fall in love at first sight, and manage to evade prying eyes and steal a kiss in private. When Romeo later comes to Juliet’s window and they go for a dip in her pool, they share an even more passionate embrace.
#2: Noah & Allie
“The Notebook” (2004)
“The Notebook” is a favorite in the romance genre because of the heartbreaking love story between Noah and Allie. The two young lovers are separated, and their romance quashed, by Allie’s mother, who conceals Noah’s letters from her. When the two reunite years later, Allie asks why Noah never wrote to her and he replies that he did, every day. When they realize what happened, the moment is electric. The stormy weather already makes the moment a dramatic one, but you can’t deny the chemistry these two share when they finally kiss, after so long apart.
#1: Jack & Rose
“Titanic” (1997)
“Titanic” is one of the biggest movies of all time, and this scene is perhaps its most iconic moment. Jack and Rose’s relationship has already taken off by this point in the story, but the scene on the edge of the ship’s bow cements their romance, as Rose finally admits what she truly wants. With the music for “My Heart Will Go On” providing the emotional backdrop, she “flies” over the ocean, and Jack and Rose kiss. If you stop the movie here, we have a simple love story with a happy ending where no one has to die in the frigid North Atlantic. We can dream!
Did we forget another satisfying kiss? Let us know in the comments below.
