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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‘My Fair Lady’ (1964)
George Cukor‘s 1964 classic, My Fair Lady, is the epitome of an enemies-to-lovers film starring Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison. The musical rom-com follows a stuffy but intelligent professor, Henry Higgins (Harrison), who makes a bet with his colleagues that he can turn a working-class woman, Eliza Doolittle (Hepburn), into a sophisticated member of high-class society.
Hepburn and Harrison are a humorous delight in this classic film, constantly butting heads through every “lesson” and high society event, which showcases their vast differences but also their common, unspoken affection for one another. The two stars deliver exceptional performances that beautifully complement one another, and while Harrison has no issue playing the uptight Higgins, Hepburn dazzles audiences with not just her physical but also her emotional transition.
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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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‘When Harry Met Sally…’ (1989)
When college graduates, Harry Burns (Billy Crystal) and Sally Albright (Meg Ryan) agree to drive home together from school, the road trip ensues with them arguing about whether men and women can be strictly friends. Ten years later, Harry and Sally unexpectedly cross paths again, which leads them to put their argument to the test and see if they can remain friends without things turning sexual.
When Harry Met Sally is an iconic 80s rom-com that ultimately redefined the film genre with its funny, uninhibited story and hilarious performances. Initially, the movie earned mixed reviews, some noting it to be unfulfilling and hollow, but others, including film critic Roger Ebert, who gave the movie three out of four stars, commended Ryan and Crystal’s chemistry as the film’s main appeal.
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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 to 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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‘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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‘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 Alabamais 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 Bluesees 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 Youis 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 William 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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‘In Time’ (2011)
Set in 2169, In Time‘s dystopian version of the world has the technological capability to stop human aging at 25, which is when their timer (on their forearm) begins. Those from lower-income zones have to work hard to get additional hours to live, while those from the richest areas are essentially immortal. When 28-year-old Dayton (Justin Timberlake) manages to cross zones on stolen time, things go horribly wrong, and he abducts 27-year-old Sylvia (Amanda Seyfried), the daughter of a wealthy businessman.
The fact that he kidnaps her tells audiences much of what they need to know about the beginning of their relationship. Sylvia finds herself in the poorest zone, which shocks and changes her perspective. This sci-fi movie that was ahead of its time has an interesting take on the trope that is woven together with commentary on class structure and inequality.
