The 17 Most Persuasive Movie Couples

      In celebration of Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal coming together for the Oscars on Sunday, here’s our compilation of the 17 most compelling movie couples in cinematic history.

      Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman in Casablanca

      Credit: Warner Bros.

      You’re aware of how Casablanca concludes, yet you still find yourself hoping for a different outcome, regardless of how much time has passed. Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman set the bar for iconic film pairs.

      George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez in Out of Sight

      Credit: C/O

      “Wait,” we hear you questioning. “Can George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez really compare to Casablanca?” Indeed, they can — they rank among the most believable couples in film history. The interaction between "Gary" and "Celeste" at the bar on that snowy Detroit night is as intoxicating as the solitary bourbon they share in this outstanding 1998 crime thriller.

      Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet in Titanic

      Credit: C/O

      Their storyline of a wealthy girl and a poor boy wasn’t novel, but Titanic elevated this classic trope to breathtaking heights and devastating lows, transforming a narrative about a doomed ship into a commentary on class disparity, snobbery, and the inequality between the rich and the poor.

      Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet portrayed their characters with remarkable poise and elegance, and it was their chemistry, more than the film's spectacular visuals and grand scope, that helped Titanic achieve its status as one of the highest-grossing films ever. They showcased a diverse range in their roles, even playing a couple grappling with their lost passion in Reservation Road, released just over a decade after Titanic.

      Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher in The Empire Strikes Back

      Credit: C/O

      They formed a real-life secret relationship during the filming of the first Star Wars, even though Harrison Ford was married and significantly older. (Ford was 33 and Carrie Fisher was 19 at the time of their affair.)

      The two harnessed the intense energy from their past into a fiery will-they-or-won’t-they struggle that makes The Empire Strikes Back the best of the Star Wars saga. Lawrence Kasdan, who co-wrote the 1980 film and directed Body Heat a year later, has a true talent for creating crackling dialogue between couples.

      Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung in In the Mood for Love

      Credit: C/O

      In the Mood for Love is one of the most visually stunning films we've encountered, largely due to the impossible blend of dreaminess and sorrow embodied by its leads. Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung portray neighbors who discover their spouses are being unfaithful with each other. Despite their heartache and undeniable attraction to each other's charms, they strive not to descend to the level of their betrayers.

      Richard Gere and Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman

      Credit: C/O

      Everything about this film should falter — the premise is quite off-putting — yet Richard Gere and Julia Roberts possess such extraordinary charisma that they turn this love story between a sex worker and her client into an undeniable date-night delight.

      They arguably remain the most memorable movie couple of the ’90s.

      Cary Elwes and Robin Wright in The Princess Bride

      Credit: C/O

      When The Princess Bride premiered, Cary Elwes and Robin Wright were relative unknowns, yet they made you believe in true love as farm boy Wesley and future princess Buttercup. Their playful banter and "as you wish" exchanges carry more passion than the dialogue found in countless lesser films.

      Their endearing dynamic helped them become one of the most cherished movie couples, showcasing their rapport in varied circumstances, from Wesley’s adventures at sea to the fire swamp, and even after her marriage and his demise. (Don’t worry, everything turns out fine.)

      Warren Beatty and Annette Benning in Bugsy

      Credit: C/O

      We’re still puzzled by Virginia (Annette Benning) telling Bugsy (Warren Beatty): “Why don’t you go outside and jerk yourself a soda?” But from there, the chemistry only intensifies. Their connection was evidently authentic, as Beatty and Benning wed in 1992 and have remained together ever since.

      We know some of you might think, “Bugsy? Not Bonnie and Clyde?” However, revisiting Bonnie and Clyde reveals that Clyde wasn’t exactly a romantic powerhouse. Virginia and Bugsy had a much more electrifying connection as movie pairs.

      Shirley MacLaine and Jack Lemmon in The Apartment

      Credit: C/O

      Beatty’s sister, Shirley MacLaine, is also familiar with onscreen chemistry: It’s easy to understand how Bud (Jack Lemmon) would jeopardize his entire career to be with her charmingly troubled Fran in the 1960 classic The Apartment, a film that remarkably holds up today.

      There's a reason The Apartment, along with a couple of other