When we dive into the world of romance movies or rom-coms, many of us long for an escape from our everyday lives. We yearn for the quick-witted and lively exchanges, the complex web of love triangles, the predictable yet heartwarming endings, and most importantly, the grand displays of affection that symbolize eternal love.
A remarkable romantic comedy is often defined by a standout grand gesture. Just think about a memorable moment from Say Anything – which one immediately pops into your head? (We’re willing to bet it’s the iconic boombox scene.)
Throughout the years, romantic films have presented us with unforgettable acts of love and proposals. Which of these gestures would have completely swept you off your feet?
1. In ‘When Harry Met Sally,’ Harry Rushes To Sally On New Year’s Eve To Profess His Love For Her
When Harry Met Sally is often hailed as one of the most beautifully expressed declarations of love in the history of romantic comedies. People continue to quote Harry’s heartfelt speech to Sally, played by Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan respectively.
One of the remarkable aspects of When Harry Met Sally is the span of time it covers – a whopping 12 years. Throughout this time, we witness the evolution of Harry and Sally’s relationship, from casual acquaintances to slowly blossoming romance, even as they explore other connections.
It is when Harry finally comes to the realization that he is deeply in love with Sally that he feels an urgent need to confess his feelings. In a mad dash through the bustling streets of New York City on New Year’s Eve, he reaches the party Sally is attending and pours out his heart. However, Sally doesn’t simply accept “I love you” as enough reason to stay. So, Harry proceeds to list the multitude of reasons why he loves her:
“I love that you get cold when it’s 71 degrees out. I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich. I love that you get a little crinkle above your nose when you’re looking at me like I’m nuts. I love that after I spend the day with you, I can still smell your perfume on my clothes. And I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night. And it’s not because I’m lonely, and it’s not because it’s New Year’s Eve. I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.”
These heartfelt words continue to resonate with audiences, capturing the essence of Harry and Sally’s profound connection and the overwhelming desire to embark on a lifetime journey together.
2. In ’10 Things I Hate About You,’ Patrick Performs A Song For Kat In Front Of The Entire School
In the beginning of “10 Things I Hate About You,” Patrick (played by Heath Ledger) is only interested in Kat (played by Julia Stiles) because he’s being paid to be. Kat’s dad has this rule that her younger, popular sister Bianca (played by Larisa Oleynik) can only date if Kat dates. So this dude named Cameron (played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt), who wants to date Bianca, pays Patrick to go out with Kat.
I know, it sounds pretty cold-hearted. But here’s the twist: Patrick actually starts having real feelings for Kat. It happens when she starts letting her guard down after getting drunk at a party. But when she tries to make a move and kiss him, he turns away. He doesn’t want to take advantage of her. This rejection embarrasses and upsets Kat, so she leaves.
After the party, Cameron offers Patrick even more money to fix things with Kat. And guess what? Patrick goes all out. He finds out that Kat wants to join a band, so he decides to make a grand gesture. He hires the marching band to play backup while he serenades Kat during soccer practice with the classic tune “I Love You Baby.”
This scene has become one of the most famous romantic gestures in teen love stories. It really shows how charismatic and talented Heath Ledger was as an actor.
3. In ‘The Wedding Singer,’ Robbie Proposes To Julia With A Song About Growing Old Together
In The Wedding Singer, Robbie, played by Adam Sandler, is eagerly preparing for his own wedding. However, his happiness quickly turns into heartbreak when his bride-to-be leaves him at the altar. Enter Julia, Robbie’s new friend portrayed by Drew Barrymore, who encourages him not to give up on his music career. Julia herself is engaged to Glenn, a wealthy bond investor.
As Robbie and Julia spend more time together, they begin to develop strong feelings for one another. However, they try their best to ignore these emotions due to Julia’s engagement. Things take a turn when Robbie discovers that Glenn is unfaithful to Julia on a regular basis, prompting him to take action.
Amidst some classic miscommunication, Julia realizes that she wants to get married immediately and impulsively heads off to Las Vegas with Glenn. Determined to stop them, Robbie quickly boards the next flight to Vegas. Coincidentally, he finds himself sitting in first class, where he shares his story with other passengers, including the famous pop star Billy Idol.
Ironically, Robbie soon realizes that Julia is on the same flight. Taking advantage of the situation, he seizes the opportunity to sing a heartfelt song about growing old together over the plane’s loudspeaker. This unexpected performance catches Glenn off guard and leads to a confrontation. Fortunately, with the help of Billy Idol and the flight attendants, Glenn is put in his place, ultimately allowing Julia and Robbie to reconcile their relationship.
4. In ‘Sleepless in Seattle,’ Annie Finally Meets Sam On The Top Of The Empire State Building
The Empire State Building is no stranger to rom-com fame. It’s practically a celebrity in its own right, with a string of appearances that could fill up an IMDb page. One of its most memorable moments is in the beloved film Sleepless in Seattle.
In this heartwarming story, we meet Sam, played by Tom Hanks, who is struggling with the loss of his wife to cancer. His young son encourages him to share his grief on a radio show, which catches the attention of many listeners, including Annie, a reporter from Baltimore, portrayed by Meg Ryan.
Inspired by the iconic Empire State Building scene in the classic movie An Affair to Remember, Annie decides to write a letter to Sam and his son. In the letter, she suggests meeting on top of the famous skyscraper on Valentine’s Day. It’s a romantic gesture that sets the stage for their potential connection.
Although Sam and Annie coincidentally cross paths in Seattle, where Sam resides, it seems like their planned meeting will fall through. However, Sam’s son takes matters into his own hands and embarks on a solo journey to New York City.
Sam eventually finds his son on the sky deck of the Empire State Building, but Annie is nowhere to be seen. Just as it appears that they will miss each other, fate steps in. The elevator doors begin to close, but miraculously, they reopen when Sam’s son goes back to retrieve his forgotten backpack. And finally, the three characters come together in a heartwarming and long-awaited meeting.
5. In ‘Crazy Rich Asians,’ Nick Proposes (Again) To Rachel With His Mother’s Ring
In the movie Crazy Rich Asians, Rachel, a professor in New York, is in a relationship with Nick, who hails from Singapore. They decide to travel to Singapore together for his best friend’s wedding. However, Rachel is in for a surprise when she discovers that Nick belongs to one of the wealthiest families in Singapore. To make matters worse, she realizes that his mother does not approve of their relationship.
As Rachel grapples with this shocking revelation, Nick takes a bold step and proposes to her, promising to forsake his family and fortune for their love. However, Rachel refuses his proposal, not wanting him to sacrifice everything for her. She explains her decision to Nick’s mother, emphasizing that she cares for Nick’s well-being more than his own mother does, even if it means leaving him.
The movie takes an unexpected turn when Rachel finds herself on a plane back to the US. To her surprise, Nick shows up and proposes to her once again, this time with his mother’s ring. This gesture signifies his mother’s approval and demonstrates Nick’s commitment to their relationship.
6. In ‘Sixteen Candles,’ Jake Brings Sam A Cake After Her Family Forgot Her Birthday
As a teenager, we all know how significant it is when we hit that sweet sixteen milestone. So, you can imagine how upset Sam (played by Molly Ringwald) must have felt when her entire family forgot her birthday.
But wait, there’s more drama! Sam finds herself caught in a love triangle. On one hand, she has her eyes set on Jake Ryan, the handsome senior portrayed by Michael Schoeffling. On the other hand, there’s Ted, a geeky freshman who has a crush on Sam, played by Anthony Michael Hall. Things get interesting when Jake notices Sam dancing with Ted and decides to find out more about her through him. And so begins the tale of Ted becoming the middleman in Sam and Jake’s budding relationship.
Surprisingly, Ted and Sam end up becoming friends along the way. In a heartfelt conversation, Ted reveals to Jake that Sam’s family forgot her birthday because they were preoccupied with her sister’s upcoming wedding. Aww, poor Sam!
But wait, there’s a twist! Jake takes matters into his own hands and attends the wedding. He seizes the opportunity to invite Sam to his house later. When she arrives, she is greeted with a heartwarming surprise – a birthday cake adorned with 16 candles. If that doesn’t make your heart melt a little, I don’t know what will.
7. In ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s,’ Paul, After Being Rejected, Still Goes Out In The Rain To Find Holly’s Pet Cat
Breakfast at Tiffany’s” is a story that revolves around Holly, a woman with dreams of becoming a socialite and marrying for money. Her path crosses with Paul, a struggling writer, and despite their undeniable chemistry, Holly is focused on finding financial stability for herself and her brother. She tries her best to ignore her growing feelings for Paul.
Paul, on the other hand, is more upfront about his emotions and decides to confess his love for Holly in a cab, just a day before she plans to leave for Brazil with her wealthy partner. Trying to maintain her nonchalant demeanor, Holly abruptly stops the cab and dismisses her pet cat, aptly named Cat, because she believes she is leaving for good.
This action becomes the breaking point for Paul, who steps out of the cab and starts searching for Cat, explaining to Holly that she has created her own confinement. This realization finally strikes a chord with Holly, prompting her to step out of the cab amidst the pouring rain. Together, they embark on a mission to find the feline. Eventually, they discover Cat hiding in a box, and in that moment, Holly fully embraces Paul and accepts their love for each other
8. Lloyd Shows Up At Diane’s House With A Boombox Blaring ‘In Your Eyes’ In ‘Say Anything…’
In the 80s romantic comedy Say Anything…, there’s this slacker guy named Lloyd, played by John Cusack, who starts pursuing the valedictorian Diane, played by Ione Skye. Not surprisingly, her father is totally not cool with it and tries to convince her to end the relationship.
So, Diane listens to her dad and decides to do the whole “let’s just be friends” thing. She gives Lloyd a pen, you know, so he can write to her while she’s off in England on some fellowship. But here’s the kicker – Lloyd isn’t ready to give up just yet.
At the crack of dawn, Lloyd pulls up in his car and parks it right outside Diane’s house. And then, he cranks up the volume on the song “In Your Eyes,” which happens to be their special song. It’s not an instant success, mind you, but eventually, Diane ends up with Lloyd. And that iconic image of him standing next to his car, holding up a boombox high in the air while the song plays, has become a cherished moment that still gets referenced to this day.
9. In ‘Pretty Woman,’ Edward Climbs To The Top Of The Fire Escape Even Though He’s Scared Of Heights
In Pretty Woman, Vivian, played by Julia Roberts, works as a prostitute. Despite her circumstances, she has always fantasized about being rescued by a knight in shining armor who would whisk her away from this life. Enter Edward, portrayed by Richard Gere, a wealthy businessman who hires Vivian to drive his manual transmission car when he is unable to do so.
As their relationship evolves, Edward develops feelings for Vivian and offers to provide her with an apartment, aiming to give her a better life. However, this gesture only makes Vivian feel like she is still just an escort to Edward, when what she truly desires is a genuine connection. Consequently, she declines his offer and decides to leave.
The pivotal moment occurs when Edward realizes, as he is about to leave for the airport, that he wants to be with Vivian. Overcoming his fear of heights, he bravely climbs up her fire escape with a bouquet of flowers in hand. When Vivian catches a glimpse of him from her window, she finally sees her knight in shining armor, confirming her long-held fantasy.
10. In ‘Notting Hill,’ Anna Goes To The Bookshop To Tell Will She’s Also ‘Just A Girl’
Notting Hill” is a romantic comedy that brings together a British bookshop owner, played by Hugh Grant, and an American Hollywood star, played by Julia Roberts. Their love story takes an unconventional turn when Anna, the star, stumbles upon Will’s bookstore.
Despite their vastly different lives, a connection sparks between them and they fall for each other. However, their relationship hits a roadblock when paparazzi catch them in a compromising situation. Anna, feeling overwhelmed, lashes out at Will and abruptly leaves his life. Will, trying to move on, is constantly reminded of her presence by seeing her face on posters and buses.
Months later, Anna returns to London and pays a visit to the bookstore, carrying a gift for Will. In this moment, she delivers one of the most beloved lines in recent rom-com history:
“I’m just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.”
It’s a beautiful line that captures the right sentiment, but Will has been hurt by Anna too many times. He gently declines her request, leaving Anna devastated as she realizes she has missed her chance at true love. However, this being a rom-com, the story takes a delightful turn as Will, with the help of his friends, embarks on a mission to find Anna.
The film concludes with a grand gesture from Will, as he stands in front of a room full of reporters and publicly asks how long Anna plans to stay in London
