Romantic subplots have gotten a bad reputation recently, and for good reason. There are many solid action, horror, or comedic movies that have shoe-horned romances thoughtlessly added in that are not only unnecessary, but distracting. There is an art to weaving in a romance, and an important step to doing that is making sure that the romance makes sense, adds to the story in some way, and is genuinely well-thought-out. Adding a half-baked romance just for the sake of adding needless drama or taking up some extra screen time is not the way to create a successful subplot.
Thankfully, there are still movies out there that redeem the practice of a romantic subplot. They carefully craft a relationship between two characters that adds depth, intrigue, and heart to a story and the films are better for it.
Here are 10 movies in which the romantic subplots actually make them better!
10 Scream 3
The Scream franchise is best known for Ghost Face tracking down the unfortunate Sidney Prescott over and over again, as well as the gory deaths of everyone around her. It's definitely not typically associated with romance. However, over the course of many films, it shows the budding relationship between cut-throat news reporter, Gale Weathers, and small town sheriff, Dewey Riley.
They are drastically different from each other and butt heads throughout the beginning of their acquaintanceship, but Gale slowly grows warmer toward Dewey, and Dewey starts to respect Gale more. Despite this, the two have difficulty expressing their feelings and don't really accept them until Scream 3, when Dewey proposes to Gale in the end. While Scream 3 is generally considered one fo the weaker Scream films, one of its few redeeming factors is Dewey and Gale finally getting together.
9 The Dark Knight Rises
The Dark Knight Rises is the final installment of Nolan's Batman trilogy. Bruce has another love interest who is his childhood best friend, Rachel, in the previous movies. However, their relationship was always a little lackluster, especially when they changed actresses for The Dark Knight. Bruce had very little chemistry with Rachel, and it made that particular romance feel more forced.
However, in Batman: The Dark Knight Rises, Bruce gains two new love interests: Selina Kyle and Talia al Ghul. His relationship with Talia al Ghul is shoe-horned and unnecessary, but his relationship with Selina Kyle is full of chemistry and is far more satisfying to watch. Because they dangerously walk the line between friend and foe, there is flirtatious tension between the two right away. This continues to grow into something more throughout the movie, featured in scattered scenes such as the charity ball dance and when Selina sacrifices her clean slate to come back and help save Gotham. Their romance builds to an incredibly satisfying ending scene, where Alfred's previous hopes for Bruce's life play out in real time, proving to Alfred that after everything, Bruce is okay.
8 Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back is the third installation of the original Star Wars trilogy and also the movie in which Han Solo and Leia Organa finally admit their feelings for each other. In the previous movies, the tension between the two was strong, as Han thought Leia was a spoiled princess, and Leia referred to Han as a "stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking nerd herder." They were constantly at odds from the moment they first met when Han was trying to help Luke rescue Leia from the Empire.
The banter between the two were definitely a welcome addition to the trilogy. Their unwillingness to bend and express their feelings to each other made it all the more satisfying when they finally kissed on Han's ship, and even more so when Leia confessed her love. The exchange of Leia's "I love you" and Han's "I know" went down in history as one of the best quotes of the series and in cinema. It was even improvised by the great Harrison Ford!
7 Deadpool
Marvel has become pretty well-known for their nonsensical romance subplots. Between Bruce and Natasha, Clint and his previously unmentioned family, and, worst of all, Steve and his first love's great niece, Sharon, they deserve the notoriety. They do, however, have some redeeming couples, like Pepper and Tony, Wanda and Vision, and Peter and MJ, but the most underrated couple is, surprisingly, in Deadpool.
Wade first meets Vanessa when he turns mercenary for hire after being honorably discharged from the special forces and Vanessa is working as a prostitute. Instead of hiring her for what she's used to, he hires her to go on a date to a carnival with him. The two are both incredibly quick-witted with their dark humor, and it makes for a heart-warming, albeit strange, first date. When Wade leaves her when he receives his terminal diagnoses so that she doesn't have to watch him die and refuses to return with his deformed face after he becomes Deadpool, Vanessa makes it clear upon their reunion that she doesn't care what his face looks and that she was furious that he left her because he thought it would spare her pain. It made for a sweet moment that represented their surprisingly touching and unconventional relationship well.
6 The Fifth Element
The Fifth Element is an iconic movie with a lot to love about it. The sci-fi setting, the unique costume designs, and the humor are just to name a few. But the romance between cab driver Korben and Leeloo, "the fifth element," just add another layer of depth to now cult classic.
When Leeloo is recreated in a lab from her remnants in an ancient sarcophagus, she panics and escapes, jumping off a ledge and right into Korben's taxi. Because of this Korben gets dragged into the middle of a deadly conflict with the Zorg, and, with Leeloo accompanying him, he takes on the role of her protector, physically and emotionally. When Leeloo is called upon to save humanity, and she's lost the will to live, it's Korben that is able to bring her around with his declaration of love for her. It also leads to the unforgettable, steamy final scene of Leeloo and Dallas together in her recovery tank.
5 Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman did so many things right for a superhero origin story, and the emotional romance between Diana and Steve was definitely one of them. When Steve accidentally crash lands near the home of the Amazonians, Themyscira, Diana rescues him and has her first experience communicating someone from the outside world. She finds out about the giant war that's going on and assumes that Ares, the god of war, is responsible for it. The two of them set off to try and put an end to it.
Diana's love for Steve plays an important role in the movie. It adds heart to an otherwise somewhat bleak story, and the touching moments between Steve and Diana are some of the best. In particular, the scene after Diana crosses no man's land on her own and Steve and Diana realize their feelings for each other during the celebration is one of the best high points. But their romance also leads to some of the lowest points in the movie. When Steve sacrifices himself for the cause, Diana is devastated. However, it's her experience with him that ultimately stops her from giving into hatred and allowing Ares to win.
4 Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is home to one of the most endearing romantic subplots in the entire franchise with Queenie and Jacob. The two appear to be exact opposites with Queenie, the glamorous witch that is an extremely talented Legilimens, and Jacob, the unassuming No-Maj who's dream is opening a bakery. However, there is a spark and a connection right from their first meeting.
Unfortunately, in America, witches and wizards are not allowed to mingle with No-Maj's, let alone be romantically involved with or married to one. Because of this, despite their mutual attraction, their feelings are not acted on except through sweet interactions. This changes at the end of the movie, when Jacob is devastatingly forced to lose his memory. Queenie finally kisses him while the memory-wiping rain falls down on him, but at the end of it, she lets him go, and he returns to his life in New York City. However, in a beautiful moment when Queenie walks into Jacob's new bakery, he appears to recognize her and gives her a knowing smile.
3 Spy Kids
Spy Kids, for the most part, is obviously about kids. When Juni and Carmen Cortez find out that their parents used to be spies and have taken up the mantle again, they have to become spies themselves in order to save them. The movie rightly puts them in center stage, but the relationship between their parents, Gregorio and Ingrid, is just as intriguing as the kids trying out all of their new spy gear.
The movie begins with Ingrid telling the story of two spies who fall in love. They're on opposite sides, so they have to be discreet in their dates and keep their relationship a secret. They eventually marry each other and are attacked on their wedding day due to the threat they become when they're together. The couple escapes by jumping off of a cliff with heart-shaped parachutes and land in a getaway boat. The kids are oblivious to whom the story is about, but to the audience, it's obvious that it's Ingrid and Gregorio's love story. The two have since retired and embraced domestication, but when the two are called back into duty, they're excited to get back in the game. Together, they struggle with their identities as spies and as parents.
2 Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl
Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl is the first movie in the franchise and introduces Will and Elizabeth as two of the main characters. Elizabeth saved Will when he was young, but the two of them come from such different backgrounds that they were never allowed to get too close to each other. Elizabeth is a governor's daughter of high status, and Will is a blacksmith, who keeps his love for Elizabeth a secret, knowing that she's out of reach.
Their relationship changes when Elizabeth is captured by pirates and Will comes to her rescue. The two work together with the iconic Jack Sparrow to break the curse of the Black Pearl, breaking loose of their societal restrictions and fighting for their lives. When all is said and done, Elizabeth finally declares her love for Will and makes it clear to her father and the others in high society that he is the one that she's going to marry. Watching their relationship evolve adds another layer to the story that helps push the movie from good to great. Will and Elizabeth make sense, from their chemistry to the roles they play in each other's lives, and it's so satisfying to watch them finally come together.
1 The Mummy
The Mummy follows Jonathan, his sister and Egyptologist, Evie, and American adventurer, Rick, as they track the location of Hamunaptra, the city of the dead. Once there, they compete with another team to find the treasure within, including the Book of Dead, which is accidentally used to bring the cursed mummy of Imhotep back to life. The group has to fight to defeat Imhotep before he can sacrifice Evelyn to bring his ancient lover back to life.
The Mummy has become a cult classic, and part of the reason for that is the relationship between Evie and Rick. It starts a little rocky as Evie first meets Rick when he's in prison and has to bribe the guards to free him. She is initially cold to him, and the two obviously don't trust each other, but the chemistry between them is palpable. The romantic gazes they give each other and the witty batter are endless, but most importantly, they begin to respect each other as people, and as capable teammates. The exchange at the end of the movie says it all: Jonathon comments that they're leaving empty-handed, but Rick disagrees, pulling Evie close and kissing her.