Top 10 Best Haters to Lovers Kisses in Movies

Katherine Heigl’s Jane meets James Marsden’s incorrigible Kevin Doyle while working the wedding circuit. She’s the perennial bridesmaid and a sucker for romance. He’s a cynical writer who no longer believes in love. Although he really gets under her skin, the pair are forced to team up while planning (and documenting) Jane’s sister’s wedding. Stranded at a dive bar during a storm, they finally start to let their guards down. After a heart to heart and a bit of impromptu karaoke the sparks are definitely flying. And when Kevin admits to enjoying weddings just a little bit, he proves impossible to resist.

“Bridget Jones” is famously a retelling of “Pride and Prejudice,” one of the best loved “enemies to lovers” romances in the world. Although the 2005 Jane Austen adaptation features a memorable kiss, Bridget and Mark's is arguably more passionate. When their mothers try to set up the mismatched pair at a New Year’s turkey curry buffet, they don’t get off to the best of starts. (A reindeer patterned jumper and a bad hangover will have that effect.) But after some trials and tribulations it becomes clear that first impressions aren’t always correct, sometimes mother knows best, and nice boys don’t always finish last.

In this feel-good dance movie, Antonio Banderas plays Pierre Dulaine, a dance teacher bringing Latin and ballroom to inner-city teens. In the case of Rock and LaRhette, he also plays matchmaker. LaRhette’s brother was killed in a gang altercation, in which Rock’s brother played a part, but Pierre pairs them up regardless. Despite their initial hatred for each other, it’s not long before the teens are caught up in the romance of the waltz. The movie builds to the final competition, and for a moment we think Rock is going to let his partner down. But he shows up just in time. Lost in the moment, the couple dance - and kiss - like no one’s watching.

Based on the book by Casey McQuiston, “Red, White & Royal Blue” is the story of Henry, an English prince and Alex, son of the US president. Thrown together at every royal or presidential function, the boys aren’t natural comrades. But they soon discover they have more in common than they first thought. From sworn enemies to newfound friends, their growing attraction also deepens. Henry thinks he’s being pretty transparent, but Alex is totally unaware of his real preferences. Their first kiss comes as a bit of a surprise. It’s a real rom-com kick-your-feet moment, that paves the way for many more.

What’s a Princess to do when the cutest guy at court is actively trying to steal your throne? When Mia first meets the dishy Lord Devereaux, their attraction is instant. But as it turns out, he’s got more than romance on his mind. Encouraged by his scheming uncle, Nicholas believes he has a claim to Mia’s job by virtue of being a man and a native Genovian. The battle for hearts and minds begins, but it’s the two warring claimants who lose their hearts in the process. The movie has all the elements of a classic screwball comedy with crackling chemistry between Anne Hathaway and Chris Pine. The kiss by the fountain is peak enemies to lovers.

Based on the classic rom-com “The Shop Around the Corner,” it’s no wonder that “You’ve Got Mail” has that old school movie magic. Joe Fox and Kathleen Kelly may be falling in love online, but in the real world he’s trying to put her out of business. Naturally, she hates him for it, and he takes every chance to antagonize her, in spite of his growing romantic feelings. Against the odds, the pair find their way to a beautiful friendship and by the end of the movie Kathleen is more than happy to discover that Joe and NY152 are one and the same. Their long-awaited kiss is tender and seriously romantic.

“Leap Year” is another 2000s rom-com with that old-fashioned screwball comedy feel, but this time, it’s a road trip! Anna is an uptight American girl headed to Dublin to propose to her boyfriend on Leap Day. Declan is a devil-may-care Irish pub landlord who offers to drive her there. She thinks he’s a cynical lout, he thinks she’s prissy and naive. But there’s no denying that chemistry. The first kiss comes courtesy of the fake-dating trope - Anna and Declan must pretend to be a married couple in order to get a room for the night. Of course, there’s only one bed, and at dinner they’re peer pressured into a bit of PDA. It’s oh so corny, but we love it.

The hate-to-love romance isn’t a new phenomenon and Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew” is one of the most famous. “10 Things I Hate About You” is a modern re-imagining of the story - with the sexism ironed out. Julia Stiles plays a strong-willed teen who doesn’t care what society thinks of her. Heath Ledger is the mysterious bad boy who’s been paid to take her out by her worst enemy. However, as it turns out, Patrick is actually very sweet, and he soon charms his way into Kat’s heart. Their verbal sparring makes way for a flirty paintball fight and the kiss at the end is one of our all time favorites.

There are many, many things wrong with “Gone with the Wind,” but it does boast some of the most iconic and swoon-worthy kisses in cinema history. On the day she declares her love for Ashley Wilkes and faces an unexpected rejection, Rhett Butler walks into Scarlett’s life. Her hatred for him evolves into a fractious friendship and their first kiss is on the road to Tara before he abandons her to join the army. For a few more years their sexual tension goes unresolved but eventually Rhett stops waiting to catch her between husbands. After the funeral of husband number two, Rhett gives Scarlett a kiss that persuades her to accept his proposal of marriage.

The princess and the rogue is a well-worn romantic pairing and the original “Star Wars” trilogy gave us one of the most memorable examples. Princess Leia first meets Han Solo when he and Luke rescue her from her cell on the Death Star. It’s not exactly love at first sight. He provokes and annoys her and she’s definitely not his biggest fan. Despite the bickering, however, their mutual attraction becomes increasingly obvious as time goes on. The couple’s most famous moment together is perhaps the unconventional ‘I love you’ scene. But the kiss is pretty great too.


Which haters to lovers on film are your favorite? And are you partial to a scoundrel or do you happen to like nice men? Let us know in the comments!