25 Romantic Scenes From TV and Movies That Will Make You Feel Things
We certainly don't need a holiday to relive some of the most romantic scenes in TV and movie history. It's always a good day to celebrate love, as far as we're concerned—especially lately when everything you see on the news or social media can be less than cheerful.
We've chosen some of the mushiest, sweetest, and most romantic scenes ever to hit the big or small screen. Remember when Derek and Meredith had that "perfect for them" marriage proposal in the elevator on Grey's Anatomy? Or how the first 15 minutes of Up gave you all the feelings on the emotional spectrum? Plus, slow dancing in the street, first kisses you could never forget, and a pickup basketball game for all the stakes.
These 25 romantic scenes will make you believe in love (and want someone to cuddle up with, stat). Fall in love with love again.
Sanja Bucko/© Warner Bros. Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection1/25Crazy Rich Asians: The Plane Proposal
Henry Golding fighting his way through the crowded aisles to pop the question to Constance Wu, after all the drama with his family, is so charming and rewatchable. Plus, that ring.
Courtesy of CBS2/25How I Met Your Mother: Ted’s “45 Days” Speech
Considering most of the lovey-dovey scenes in the history of How I Met Your Mother include supercouple Marshall and Lily, you might be wondering why we picked Ted. Well, his emotional speech to the mother he's yet to meet was the perfect example of what hooked fans of the show for nine seasons. Even when he was at his lowest of lows, the pursuit of love kept Ted (and the show's ratings) going.
Alamy3/25Titanic: “I’m Flying”
How could we not include this? Jack and Rose standing together on the prow of the Titanic is one of the most iconic images in film history. Add to that the swelling score of Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" and it's enough to make anyone melt.
Getty Images4/25Veronica Mars: The Anti-Prom Speech
This charming speech has one of the best lines about love stories: "No one writes songs about the ones that come easy." No wonder so many people are Team Logan.
Alamy5/25The Notebook: Slow Dancing in the Street
We could probably just include every scene in The Notebook on this list, but we had to pick one moment. That epic kiss in the rain was a top contender, but the scene in which Noah (Ryan Gosling) and Allie (Rachel McAdams) walk home from their first date and dance in the middle of the street is so sweet and beautiful it won the top spot. It was the ideal start to an epic romance.
Getty Images6/25The Office: The Jim and Pam Video
Jim (John Krasinski) and Pam's (Jenna Fischer) relationship was the heart and soul of The Office, so we're picking the scene that includes all their best moments wrapped into one. In the final season Pam worries that Jim will regret leaving his dream job for her. To show her that would never happen, Jim makes a DVD montage of their life together. Aww.
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Alamy7/25When Harry Met Sally: The New Year’s Party
Harry (Billy Crystal) and Sally's (Meg Ryan) quintessential love-hate relationship includes one of the best declarations of love ever seen on film and gave us all the dream that we could one day fall in love and have a happily ever after with a guy who's truly our best friend.
©20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection8/25The Mindy Project: Danny and Mindy at the Empire State Building
Mindy Lahiri (Mindy Kaling) loves rom-coms, so of course having a rendezvous with Danny (Chris Messina) at the Empire State Building, à la Sleepless in Seattle and An Affair to Remember, is perfect for her—and the audience. A close runner-up in the romance department is that time Danny danced (excellently, we might add) to Aaliyah's "Try Again" for Mindy.
Getty Images9/25Gilmore Girls: Luke and Lorelai’s First Kiss
After keeping his feelings for her quiet for some time, Luke (Scott Gordon-Patterson) finally confronted longtime friend Lorelai (Lauren Graham) about wanting to be with her...and they kissed. Sure, the moment was then ruined by Kirk (Sean Gunn), but we loved watching the sparks fly.
Alamy10/25Pride and Prejudice: Mr. Darcy’s Second Proposal
It's impossible to have a list of heartwarming moments and not include Jane Austen's classic book turned movie. Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen or Colin Firth, depending on your favorite adaptation) proposed to Lizzie (Keira Knightley, Jennifer Ehle) for the second time in a way that was just too swoon-worthy to decline.
Alamy11/25Love Actually: “To Me, You Are Perfect”
There are dozens of romantic moments from Love Actually that we could have picked, but the most iconic one involves Mark (Andrew Lincoln) declaring his love for Keira Knightley without having to say a word.
NBC12/25Parks and Recreation: When Ben and Leslie Reunite
After breaking up because of her city council campaign, Leslie (Amy Poehler) and Ben (Adam Scott) made all their ’shippers happy by saying "screw it" to the rules and getting back together, even though it meant creating some controversy.
©20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection13/25Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Everything About Willow and Tara’s Relationship
It was no small thing to show two young women in love on television in the late ’90s and early 2000s, but Buffy did so beautifully with the relationship between Willow (Alyson Hannigan) and Tara (Amber Benson). The two literally had magical powers, but so did their coupledom. Remember when they first admitted they loved each other, or when they stood up to Tara's family together? Or that time when their love made them actually float? Every moment they were together, even the tragic ones, was so romantic.
Alamy14/2510 Things I Hate About You: “You’re Just Too Good to Be True”
Who wouldn't want someone to serenade you on the football field (at the risk of detention, no less)? This is the moment everyone fell in love with Heath Ledger.
©New Line Cinema/Courtesy Everett Collection15/25Love and Basketball: Monica and Quincy’s Pickup Game for His Heart
We still get a little misty-eyed when Monica (Sanaa Lathan) tells Quincy (Omar Epps) that after a lifetime of playing hoops together in their driveways, this game is for all the stakes. "I'll play you," she says. "For what?" he asks. "Your heart." Bet you can guess who wins….
Alamy16/25Lost: Desmond and Penny’s Phone Call
After being stuck on the island for so long, Desmond (Henry Ian Cusick) and his long-lost love Penny (Sonya Walger) finally reconnected via the most moving phone call of all time. The two vowed to be with each other again, no matter how long it would take. Warning: Tears are inevitable.
Alamy17/25(500) Days of Summer: The Ikea Date
Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel showed us that sometimes you can fall in love in the most random places. Who knew Swedish meatballs could be so romantic?
Getty Images18/25Dawson's Creek: When Pacey and Joey Make Out
The show might be called Dawson's Creek, but Pacey (Joshua Jackson) and Joey's (Katie Holmes) relationship had teen hearts racing (sorry, James Van Der Beek!). In this scene, the two heightened all our romantic expectations by giving in to their feelings and passionately kissing at Dawson's aunt's house.
Alamy19/25Jerry Maguire: You Know the Line
"You complete me." "You had me at hello." Need we say more?
Alamy20/25Grey’s Anatomy: Derek’s Elevator Proposal
Derek (Patrick Dempsey) and Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) from Grey's Anatomy had one of the most unusual romances on TV, so Derek's "proposal" in the elevator, with scans and paperwork from their past surgeries, seemed fitting.
Disney/Pixar21/25Up: The Carl and Ellie Montage
Has an animated movie ever been so heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time? The montage of Carl and Ellie's life together was a sweet, realistic look into the story of two people who loved each other through thick and thin.
Fox22/25The O.C.: Seth and Summer’s Coffee-Cart Kiss
Seth Cohen (Adam Brody), aka everyone's nerdy fantasy, finally confronted Summer (Rachel Bilson) and told her that she must acknowledge their relationship in front of everyone or he'd walk away. Thankfully, she accepted.
Alamy23/25Crazy Stupid Love: Hannah and Jacob’s First Date
After re-creating the steamy Dirty Dancing lift, Hannah (Emma Stone) was ready to have a casual tryst with Jacob (Ryan Gosling, making his second appearance on this list). But instead the two joked about his addiction to the Home Shopping Network, talked through the night, and started to fall in love.
NBC24/25Friends: Ross and Rachel’s Prom Video
Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) discovered that Ross (David Schwimmer) had loved her since high school in this famous prom video flashback scene—and she reciprocated with an epic, long-awaited kiss. They had their ups and downs but ultimately proved Phoebe's theory that "he's her lobster."
©Sony Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection25/25Call Me by Your Name: The First Kiss
From the idyllic Italian setting to the ever-growing sexual tension between Elio and Oliver, almost the entirety of Call Me By Your Name is incredibly romantic. But their first kiss, while lying in a field during a bike ride, is up there with the best cinematic kisses ever.
