Over the years, romance movies have given us so many tropes. But love-at-first-sight romance remains one of the most beloved and also controversial. Two people meet and fall head over heels at first sight.
As unbelievable as it sounds, some movies have done this trope justice. Here are the top 10 love-at-first-sight romance movies that actually work.
10. The Notebook (2004)
‘The Notebook’ gave us one of the most iconic love stories of all time, spanning over years. Yet, the driving force of it is the moment Noah and Allie meet for the first time and fall head over heels for each other when they meet at the summer carnival.
Through the narration of a man reading from his notebook, we learn the love story of Noah, a mill worker, and Allie, a wealthy heiress. The class difference between the two and the problems it posed separated them, only to reunite years later to confront their enduring feelings.
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9. Moonstruck (1987)
‘Moonstruck’ is one of the most charming and unique rom-coms you’ll ever watch. Cher stars as Loretta Castorini, a widow who works as a bookkeeper and is about to get married to her fiancé, Johnny.
No sooner does she accept the proposal than she meets his hot-tempered, estranged young brother, Ronny, played by Nicolas Cage. What follows is Loretta’s journey to find what she really seeks, filled with drama and comedic timing that will hook you from the start.
8. Carol (2015)
Adapted from Patricia Highsmith’s novel, Carol tells the story of two women from very different backgrounds who meet by chance and form an instant connection. Therese Belivet is an aspiring photographer, trying to break into the industry despite her struggles.
On the other hand, there is Carol, who is trapped in a loveless marriage of convenience. The two find solace in their shared connection. This is what makes their love-at-first-sight romance so honest and grounded.
7. Out Of Sight (1998)
‘Out of Sight’ is an unlikely romance that somehow needs no convincing to feel right. This is especially true because of George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez’s great chemistry and the well-executed forbidden-love trope.
The movie centers around a career bank robber, who breaks out of jail and is ready to pull off his final big scam. But his plan is interrupted when he meets and falls for the U.S. marshal assigned to this case, who is supposed to arrest him. Their instant romance intervenes, and she also starts to have second thoughts about bringing him in.
6. Pretty Woman (1990)
Finding an escort and your soulmate at the same time is not a common feat. But ‘Pretty Woman’ takes this trope to create a beloved rom-com. When the wealthy corporate raider Edward Lewis hires Vivian Ward as an escort to attend stuffy business events, her quirky charms capture his heart.
Despite coming from different worlds, the two find harmony in their differences. Though the movie’s premise aged poorly over the years, Julia Roberts and Richard Gere’s chemistry remains timeless.
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5. Aladdin (1992)
‘Aladdin’ is undeniably the most classic love-at-first-sight romance, because it feels so dreamy and unreal. Aladdin, a poor street urchin, spends his time stealing food but falls in love with the princess.
Jasmine, on the other hand, is being forced to get married by her father. Despite coming from totally opposite walks of life, their love story remains a classic because they bring out the best in each other. On top of that, the movie’s iconic soundtrack truly drives it home for us.
4. True Romance (1993)
Written by Quentin Tarantino, this cult classic is a gangster movie at its heart. But it takes a lot of guts to meet someone for the first time and immediately set off on a journey, stealing and running from mobs. The blend of crime with romance makes True Romance a very compelling watch.
When Clarence Worley meets the gorgeous Alabama Whitman, she accidentally drops her popcorn on him at the movie theater. Though Alabama admits that she was hired as a call girl for him, the two immediately fall for each other. The unlikely couple becomes a great team, accidentally stealing valuable contraband and fleeing.
3. West Side Story (1961)
‘West Side Story’ adapts the most popular love-at-first-sight romance story of all time, William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. After meeting at a dance, Tony and Maria fall in love despite their warring families. But even though their circumstances kept working against them, the two found strength in their love.
The theatricality and musical scores bring a certain dreaminess to the story, convincing us that love doesn’t necessarily need to be grounded and realistic all the time. And even though their love sparked at first glance, it reminded us of the power of young love.
2. Titanic (1997)
In ‘Titanic’, what started as a chance encounter became one of the most beloved tragic romances of our time. When the drifter Jack Dawson wins a third-class ticket to the luxurious but ill-fated Titanic, he meets and immediately falls for the beautiful aristocrat Rose.
Over the course of three hours of the movie’s runtime, we see a love-at-first-sight turn into an epic tragedy that still leaves us with tears in our eyes. Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet’s amazing performances, mixed with the cinematic mastery of James Cameron, do the love-at-first-sight trope proper justice.
1. Before Sunrise (1995)
‘Before Sunrise’ strips back everything that we find in popular movies to only focus on two people finding love in a very unlikely way. Jesse and Celine meet by chance on a train and spend a memorable evening together in Vienna. Unfortunately, they knew that this would probably be their only night together.
The premise of meeting someone at random who turns out to be your soulmate sounds like a complete fantasy. But this relationship felt so organic and believable. Ethan Hawke and Julia Delpy’s compelling chemistry, the beautiful writing, and the cinematography make ‘Before Sunrise’ the best take on the love-at-first-sight trope.
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