Top 10 Best Kisses in Period Dramas

“A Room with a View” (1985)

Repressed urges and oppressive social structures are all on display in turn-of-the-century Italy, where Lucy Honeychurch accompanies her fussy older cousin Charlotte on a holiday. While in Florence, she meets a fellow traveler, George Emerson. His free spirit attracts her. However, a relationship between them would be completely inappropriate, as Charlotte reminds her. Driven by passion and the chance to finally be alone, the two have a brief but passionate embrace in a poppy field while Puccini plays over the soundtrack. The kiss is interrupted by a scandalized Charlotte, but she’s too late. Not even social custom will keep these two together now.

“Carol” (2015)

From their first meeting at a Manhattan department store, the sophisticated Carol Aird and aspiring photographer Therese are drawn to one another. But this is the 1950s. Even if they wanted to move faster, Carol is in the middle of a messy divorce and her sexuality means she could lose custody of her daughter. After half a movie’s worth of flirting and longing, Carol and Therese spend New Year’s Eve in a motel together. It’s their first time away from Carol’s estranged husband and the threat of being found out. As the clock strikes midnight, they share their first kiss. It’s a deeply romantic and moody scene.

“The Age of Innocence” (1993)

Rumor and innuendo is dangerous in 19th Century New York high society. Newland Archer is engaged when he meets his fiancée’s cousin, Countess Olenska, a figure of scandal and unearned scorn from the city’s social elite. He becomes her champion, which, ultimately, leads to an affair between them. Of course, affair is a strong word here. The two never actually consummate their love. Their passion for each other is so strong that even a short brushing of their lips feels like an explosive kiss. In reality, it’s as close as they may ever come to being together.

“Atonement” (2007)

Cecilia Tallis is the daughter of a wealthy family whose banter with the housekeeper’s son, Robbie, is a cover for an intense attraction. But the difference in their social classes makes acting on that attraction difficult. After her younger sister intercepts an obscene letter Robbie writes, the two finally have to confront the truth. For a love scene, it’s pretty tense. There’s a lot at stake here. But once they realize they feel the same way, they don’t waste much more time talking. This scene is every historical romance fan’s dream. It’s got beautiful people, great costumes, steamy kissing, and a room full of books.

“Shakespeare in Love” (1998)

It’s Elizabethan England, and women are not allowed on stage. William Shakespeare is on the verge of debuting his immortal classic, “Romeo and Juliet,” and his leading man is actually a woman. Viola de Lesseps has donned male drag to play Romeo. After finding her out, Shakespeare falls for her. However, the two can only meet in secret. During rehearsals for the play, they steal lustful kisses through the curtain under the nose of the entire ensemble. Like the star-crossed lovers of the story, they’re playing with fire, but clearly their love is too powerful to deny.

“Gone With the Wind” (1939)

No matter how you feel about this controversial Civil War epic, the movie was sold on the romantic embraces of its two leads. After witnessing the burning of Atlanta, Captain Rhett Butler announces he’s leaving to join the war. Before he goes, he confesses his love for Scarlett O’Hara. Butler embraces Scarlett and kisses her against a fiery red sunset, made especially gorgeous by the vibrancy of early Technicolor. Scarlett’s furious when she finally remembers herself, but it’s a sweeping and elegant moment that has gone on to become a huge part of the movie’s legacy.

“Pride & Prejudice” (2005)

Jane Austen’s most enduring romantic pairing starts off on the hilariously wrong foot. Social commentary and 18th century high society hijinks ensue before everyone gets their act together, and the two reunite, finally ready to admit they’re crazy for each other. Then, when they do finally kiss, it’s the sweetest, most adorable moment in the whole movie. Lizzie insists he should only call her Mrs. Darcy when he’s happy. He repeats the name, planting a kiss on her face each time. Be still, our beating hearts. It’s such a delightful and heartwarming place to leave the two.

“Brokeback Mountain” (2005)


This 2005 tragedy about two cowboys who meet, fall in love, and only find fleeting time to be together in the years afterward won acclaim and broke hearts. First meeting in 1963, Ennis and Jack don’t see each other again for years. When they do finally reunite, they can barely contain themselves. They throw caution to the wind and kiss hungrily outside Ennis’ apartment complex. Everything that’s gone unsaid in those years apart is said in that kiss. It’s a scene where the dramatic stakes are already high. There’s always the threat that they will be discovered, but it’s a moment where the two don’t seem to worry about that at all.

“The Notebook” (2004)

Allie meets Noah in the summer of 1940, when he is a laborer and she’s the heiress of a family fortune. They’re forced to part, and his love letters are intercepted by Allie’s snobbish mother, who knows that Noah is their social inferior. In a now iconic scene, Allie tearfully confronts Noah during a rainstorm, thinking he never wrote to her. Both had seemingly given up hope that their relationship would ever continue, but now they realize that was never going to happen. Their kiss in the rain gave us all the feels, and a boat load of unrealistic expectations.

“Titanic” (1997)

A standoffish socialite and a penniless artist meet and fall in love aboard the doomed RMS Titanic. Realizing she can never choose her callous fiancé and turning her back on the life she thought she wanted, Rose DeWitt Bukater runs to find Jack Dawson, finding him on deck. Framed against the last sunset of the ill-fated voyage, Rose joins Jack on the bow of the ship. They share their very first kiss as that sweeping, epic sore plays, and they are bathed in warm golden hour light. It’s an unforgettable moment in a truly unforgettable cinematic romance.






Did our list make you swoon? Tell us a kiss we missed in the comments.