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Miscommunication, blindly throwing gibes, harshly misjudging each other, and ruling romance out the window the moment they meet are signs of an impending love story. These stories all have one common thread: a haze of animosity that clears up to give way to true love. The enemies-to-lovers trope is widely beloved for its witty banter, snarky comebacks, and the couple’s sizzling chemistry. While exceptionally entertaining, the trope can be a serious disaster when not executed properly. While the print romances set incredibly high standards with their fake dating and fake marriage stories, those adaptations don’t always make it to the big screen. The ones who do, are littered with awkward characters, awful storylines, and forced chemistry, but there are a few best enemies-to-lovers movies that blow others out of the water.
With recent critically acclaimed romance movies, it’s clear that the enemies-to-lovers trope is still as relevant and popular as ever. There’s no shortage of must-see romantic movies with a narrative that fits the trope, as viewers continue to enjoy stories of characters who fall in love after a (usually) rough start.
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‘The Hating Game’ (2021)
After their publishing companies are merged, Lucy Hutton (Lucy Hale) and Joshua Templeman (Austin Stowell) are forced to work together as executive assistants to their respective companies’ CEOs. Their stewing rivalry culminates when they’re put against each other for the same promotion. Set on achieving professional success and getting out of her lousy job, Lucy decides to go into war mode to defeat Joshua. But when an innocent elevator ride becomes heated, Lucy’s left contemplating their relationship.
Based on the Sally Thorne novel of the same name, The Hating Game is a decent book-to-film adaptation. The movie is great to watch during the holiday season, and the chemistry between the two stars ripples with possibility.
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‘Sabrina’ (1995)
Sabrina is a remake of the classic Billy Wilder film from 1954 that saw Harrison Ford taking over Humphrey Bogart’s role of Linus Larrabee, a shrewd businessman who tries to seduce the woman Sabrina Fairchild (Julia Ormond) so that she will not fall in love with his brother (Greg Kinnear). Although Bogart gave a performance that was difficult to follow, Ford was at the perfect stage in his career to play an older, slightly cynical romantic lead who makes the mistake of developing true feelings.
Sydney Pollack is an incredibly accomplished filmmaker who succeeded in capturing the same magic of Wilder’s film, yet modernizing it in a creative way. Sabrina wasn’t only a breakthrough film for Ormond that established her as a real talent, but one of the last truly great leading roles for Ford before he transitioned to being a supporting actor. —Liam Gaughan
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‘Down With Love’ (2005)
Down With Love is a satire of ‘60s romantic comedies that takes a fresh stab at the classical era, while also hitting all the tropes in the best way possible. Renee Zellweger stars as a feminist writer who develops a confrontational relationship with a womanizing journalist played by Ewan McGregor, making it all the more complicated when they begin to fall for one another.
Down With Love succeeds in making light of the gender norms of the era while exposing the hypocritical viewpoints of its protagonists, who both treat their work and business in binary ways. Peyton Reed, who would go on to direct all three installments of the Ant-Man trilogy for Marvel Studios, shows a tremendous amount of style in replicating the aesthetics of classic Hollywood, and it hopefully won’t be the last time he makes a romantic comedy. —Liam Gaughan
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‘The Quiet Man’ (1952)
The Quiet Man is an underrated collaboration between John Ford and John Wayne that strayed away from their Western films, as it starred “The Duke” as an Irish-born boxer in America who returns to his family home in Ireland, only to fall in love with the most independently-minded woman in the community (played by Maureen O’Hara). The film was inspired by the classic William Shakespeare play The Taming of the Shrew, and was ahead of its time because Ford decided to actually film in Ireland.
The Quiet Man explores the cultural differences between America and Ireland, and includes terrific chemistry between Wayne and O’Hara. Wayne was not always given enough credit for his physical comedy skills and talents as a romantic lead, and The Quiet Man is proof enough that he was just as significant a rom-com star as he was as a Western icon. —Liam Gaughan
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‘Overboard’ (1987)
Kurt Russell stars as a widower and carpenter, Dean Proffitt, who is hired by a wealthy but snobby woman, Joanna (Goldie Hawn), to build a shoe closet for her on her yacht, but she is incredibly rude and insulting to him. When Joanna falls overboard and suffers from amnesia, her husband takes the opportunity to rid himself of his insufferable wife, resulting in Dean taking his revenge out on Joanna by claiming her as his wife and the mother of his four kids.
Overboard is an underrated enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy starring real-life couple Russell and Hawn, who are an absolute riot from start to finish. Even though the plot is a bit out there, the unwavering comedy and the movie’s overall sentimental values allow audiences to overlook any potential doubt about the probability of this ’80s hit. Despite negative reviews, many critics praised Hawn and Russell for their comedic chemistry, cementing Overboard as an essential enemies-to-lovers flick.
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‘A Walk to Remember’ (2002)
In North Carolina, a popular and rebellious high school senior, Landon Carter (Shane West), makes an unexpected connection with a shy, homely girl from school, Jamie Sullivan (Mandy Moore), who used to be the target of Carter and his friend’s bullying. As the two grow closer, they uncover truths about one another, forming a romance that most people are only lucky enough to read about in fairy tales.
A Walk to Remember is a bittersweet coming-of-age drama based on the 1999 novel written by Nicholas Sparks. Some would say the movie is a slightly modern take on Romeo and Juliet, but there is actual growth and understanding built between the two star-crossed lovers, giving it more depth and practicality. The film ranks as a classic mushy kind of love story with a heartbreaking twist, but despite the clichés, A Walk to Remember is still a must-see enemies-to-lovers movie that will leave a lasting impression on audiences.
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‘Two Weeks Notice’ (2002)
Sandra Bullock stars as an intelligent lawyer, Lucy, who tries to stop the Coney Island community center from being torn down by a needy billionaire, George (Hugh Grant). When George offers Lucy a job as his new Chief Counsel, she thinks the negatives outweigh the positives and believes that if she accepts, she has a chance of saving the community center. As Lucy attends to George’s beckoning call, she soon grows tired of his arrogance, and when he agrees to hire a replacement, she starts to rethink her choice as well as her feelings for George.
Two Weeks Notice is a marginalized romantic comedy that puts a workplace spin on the traditional enemies-to-lovers story structure. Grant and Bullock play off each other exceptionally well, engaging in witty banter and quick one-liners that make them the definitive couple of the rom-com genre. Even though it earned mixed reviews, today, Two Weeks Notice is celebrated as a vital enemies-to-lovers movie that takes the basic elements of the formula to new, humorous heights.
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‘Sweet Home Alabama’ (2002)
Melanie (Reese Witherspoon) is set to marry the man of her dreams, but her childhood sweetheart, Jake (Josh Lucas), is still her official husband. She resolves to make him sign the divorce papers and travels back to her hometown. Sparks fly when their long-held contempt for each other withers away, and what’s left is the love they can’t let go of.
Sweet Home Alabama is one of Witherspoon’s best movies ever, and she captures her character like a second skin. While Josh and Reese’s chemistry is already fantastic, what makes the movie stand out is that they’re already married and rekindling the love they thought they’d lost.
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‘Red, White & Royal Blue’ (2023)
Based on the novel of the same name by Casey McQuiston, Matthew López‘s movie illustrates a feud between the son of the American President and Britain’s prince, which threatens to drive a wedge in U.S./British relations. Naturally, they are then forced into a staged truce.
Like other films in the category, Red, White & Royal Blue sees its protagonists facing forced proximity, with their real feelings developing over time. Despite the initial tension between the two characters, Alex and Henry share their fears and vulnerabilities, giving way to a deeper connection that grows as their own self-development journey takes place. While not an astounding feature, Red, White & Royal Blue is a decent LGBTQ+ watch elevated by Nicholas Galitzine and Taylor Perez‘s chemistry. —Daniela Gama
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‘Anyone But You’ (2023)
Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell join forces in this 2023 romantic comedy that follows ex-lovers Bea and Ben as they reconnect at a destination wedding in Australia. To avoid awkwardness and to earn (or lose) the attention of their ex-partners, they pretend to be a couple with funny results. Needless to say, their fake relationship gradually develops.
While Anyone But You is a great fit for those who enjoy both the fake dating and the enemies-to-lovers tropes, as the relationship between the central characters fits between the two. It may not be a groundbreaking picture in the rom-com genre; however, this loose adaptation of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing illustrates an intense love story with just enough bickering and chemistry to keep viewers engaged. —Daniela Gama
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Hannah Saab
Almontather Rassoul
