Romance films and the meet-cute go hand-in-hand. Roger Ebert defined the meet-cute as a comedic plot contrivance which has long been a traditional set-up to carry out the sprightly story of how two people came together and stayed together (in most cases). Not only is the meet-cute essential to attracting the target audience, but is also the foundational dynamic of the protagonists/love interests that follows through the rest of the film.
Romance movies, and their tropes, may not be exclusively original but what makes them memorable is that first interaction that sets the story in motion. These romance films are beloved for their characters and stories, and most of all, their exciting meet-cute. Here are some popular romance titles known for their chance meetings and why they’re the best tales to relate and relive.
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10 (500) Days of Summer
Fox Searchlight Pictures
(500) Days of Summer tells the story of hopeless romantic, Tom Hansen, as he relates his failed relationship with the elusive Summer Finn. The film follows the familiar boy-meets-girl storyline with some subversion, as Tom desperately tries to understand how it started to fall apart.
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When Tom first meets Summer, he’s set on her intrigue. One day at the office, Summer enters the elevator as Tom is listening to The Smiths on his headphones. The scene of their meet-cute unfurls with Summer recognizing the music and singing along as Tom watches in silent awe.
9 50 First Dates
Sony Pictures Releasing
50 First Dates stars Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore as companions yet again. Sandler plays Henry Roth, a womanizer and marine veterinarian, who is set to sail for the Antarctic until he unexpectedly meets the woman of his dreams at a local café. Unfortunately for him, Barrymore’s free-spirited Lucy, suffers from a condition where her memory is reset every night.
After Henry’s boat breaks down, he visits a diner in Oahu, Hawaii. Captivated by Lucy and her artful breakfast, Henry approaches Lucy while she’s constructing her waffle house. Coming to her help, Henry and Lucy engage in a lively conversation and pass hours at the diner without realizing it.
8 Jumping the Broom
TriStar Pictures
Jumping the Broom is a romantic comedy that follows the marriage of two completely different families and the act of “jumping the broom” is symbolic and culturally significant to the union. Sabrina Watson is from an affluent and prestigious family; Jason Taylor is from more humble means. Regardless, Sabrina and Jason face the problems and criticisms of keeping their in-laws together as they sample what their married life will look like over the course of prepping their hasty wedding.
After a mess of a one-night stand, Sabrina Watson makes a promise to God to never sleep with another man until she’s married to her future husband. One day, Sabrina is distracted and accidentally hits Jason Taylor with her car. She panics and attempts to aid him but is instead opted by Jason to calm herself from the overreaction. The amusing interaction brings them together and five months later, are engaged to be married.
7 The Wedding Planner
Sony Pictures
The Wedding Planner follows Mary Fiore, an ambitious wedding planner who is cynical about love and marriage in all. However, in a freak accident, Mary meets Steve Edison, a charming pediatrician, and the two are instantly attracted to one another. Unfortunately, the two find themselves in an awkward predicament as Mary is hired as to plan the wedding Steve’s fiancé is planning.
In one scene, Mary relates her latest success on the phone when her shoe heel gets unexpectedly stuck in a manhole cover. Adding to her anxiety, a taxi collides into a dumpster, sending it hurling down the street headed directly at Mary. As she continues to struggle, she is suddenly rescued in the nick of time by Steve. In the aftermath, the two are swayed into a date alone, where Steve and Mary share a deep connection.
6 Friends With Benefits
Columbia Pictures
Friends with Benefits stars Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake as two friends who start a casual affair. When Timberlake’s Dylan Harper is recruited to work for GQ magazine in New York City, he familiarizes and befriends the headhunter, Jamie Rellis, played by Kunis. One night, they agree that a purely sexual relationship can ensue without complications and the film follows as they develop this relationship and eventual feelings for one another.
As Dylan flies in from Los Angeles, Jamie is frantically getting ready for his arrival, creating a makeshift sign with Dylan’s name in lipstick. A gush of wind comes in, causing Jamie to lose her sign at the airport. Seeing it fly onto the baggage carousel, Jamie jumps on top and is standing on it, searching for the sign and helping others claim their luggage when Dylan finally finds her. It later becomes an anecdotal story of how they first met.
5 Crazy, Stupid, Love
Carousel Productions
Crazy, Stupid, Love is a film that follows multiple narratives that fit into one storyline of complicated love and relationships. Recently separated Cal Weaver, played by Steve Carell, is undergoing the teachings of Ryan Gosling’s playboy Jacob Palmer as he learns to date and romance women. The film also follows the story of his son’s infatuation with his babysitter, his daughter, Hannah’s budding relationship, and the course of Cal attempting to reconcile with his wife.
Following Hannah Weaver, she relents that her steady boyfriend won’t propose, the suave and charismatic Jacob approaches her and openly admits to finding her attractive. Consistently, he asks Hannah if she’s interested to which she says no. After some failed lines and advances, Hannah leaves Jacob there with a rejection. Sometime later, when Hannah’s boyfriend shows no sign of commitment, does she seek out Jacob after all.
4 Titanic
20th Century Studios
James Cameron’s Titanic is an epic romance that follows the events of the real life disaster of the maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic ship. Grounded in its realism, the story also focuses on the love affair of socialite Rose Dewitt Bukater and humble adventurer Jack Dawson, enamored in spite of their social differences and star-crossed amidst the eventual tragedy. The film painstakingly captures what the night ensued as told by an elderly Rose Dawson Calvert.
When Rose contemplates her loveless engagement and the little possibility of living her own life, she climbs over the ship’s stern railing and considers jumping overboard. At the same moment, Jack sees and approaches her, sparking conversation between the two about the reality of her decision. As Rose attempts to climb back aboard, Jack heroically saves her from the fall and ignites their friendship therein.
3 William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet
20th Century Fox
William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet is Baz Luhrmann’s aesthetic vision of the classic play from the bard. Unlike its 1968 predecessor, the story is modernized and set on Verona Beach, though utilizing the original language written by Shakespeare. Based in 1996, the two star-crossed lovers, played respectively by a young Claire Danes and Leonardo DiCaprio, are entangled in the messy gunfights of the warring Montagues and Capulets.
In the most enchanting scene of the film, down-on-his-luck Romeo strays away from the Capulet costume party and finds himself before an effervescent aquarium. Peering at its contents, he locks eyes longingly with the captivating Juliet. The two fall in love at first sight without any recognition of whom the other person is.
2 The Notebook
New Line Cinema
The Notebook is based on the Nicholas Sparks novel of the same name and stars Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling. The two play youthful lovers, Allie Hamilton and Noah Calhoun, who fall in love in one summer and are separated due to their starkly different social classes. In spite of the separation, they eventually find each other again later in their lives and fight over the course of their past and future together. Today, it is still regarded as one of the most romantic movies in cinematic history.
At a local carnival, Noah falls for Allie at first sight and attempts to woo her. After an initial rejection, Noah daringly decides to jump on the ferris wheel to properly introduce himself and state his case to Allie. Dangling in front of her, she agrees to go out with him, then, in turn, proceeds an attempt to humiliate him.
1 West Side Story (1961 & 2021)
United Artists20th Century Studios
West Side Story captures the inspiration of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet set in the backdrop of the city streets of the upper West Side of New York. Amidst the 1950s trend of prejudice, two rival gangs fight on the basis of territory, racial conflict, and pride. Among them are the recently retired Jet, Tony, and Shark affiliated Maria, who fall desperately in love regardless of their racial and cultural differences. Though the story inevitably ends in tragedy, it is a beautiful masterpiece to follow from beginning to end, whether one watches the original 1961 film or the recent 2021 reimagining from Steven Spielberg.
In the 1961 film, Maria and Tony lock eyes across the dance hall and become lost in their own world. Coming together, they begin a charming dance that vastly contrasts to the people around them, sparking affection between them. Similarly, the 2021 film finds Maria and Tony stealing glances from their opposite ends of the dance. The two then meet one another behind bleachers in secret, flirting and softly kissing before being interrupted. Both meet-cutes lead into the epic romance that is beloved to this day.
