Top 5 Romantic Onscreen Couples from the 80's and Beyond

What makes a great romantic movie? While the plot is important the chemistry between the main characters, or "romantic couples", is equally important to the success of the film. Here is a list of my top five onscreen romantic couples from the 80's and beyond.

Romantic Couple #5: Seth and Dr. Maggie Rice

An angel and a doctor, yep you've guessed it, the movie is called City of Angels. The movie stars Nicholas Cage as Seth the angel and Meg Ryan as Dr. Maggie Rice. Seth, an angel, falls in love with Dr. Maggie Rice almost the instant that he first meets her, only she doesn't know that he exists. At least that is until he finds out that he can make himself seen. It doesn't take Maggie very long to become intrigued by Seth and the two almost instantly form a bond between them. One of the most memorable scenes in the movie is when Seth asks Maggie to describe the taste of the pear she is eating. While most romantic movies end on a high note, this one did not. Still the romance and sexual tension between Seth and Dr. Maggie Rice lands them at number five on my list of most romantic onscreen couples.

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Romantic Couple #4: Edward Lewis and Vivian Ward

Julia Roberts and Richard Gere land on my list of most romantic onscreen couples at number four. The movie, Pretty Woman, is a romantic film that every lover of romance should own. Richard Gere is the knight in shining armor and Julia Roberts is the pretty maiden, or prostitute, who is in need of saving. The passion between Edward and Vivian is made clear in the piano scene when Edward lifts Vivian onto the piano keys. While Vivian is a woman from the streets, Edward treats her with respect and eventually finds himself falling in love with her. It appears that with Edward's busy work life, Vivian is not the only one who needs to be saved. This tale ends with a happily ever after, Edward and Vivian meanwhile land on my list of the most romantic onscreen couples at number four.

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Romantic Couple #3: Harry Burns and Sally Albright

You could probably guess the title of the movie from the characters' names, When Harry Met Sally. This film is a well known and liked romantic comedy which starred Billy Crystal as Harry Burns and Meg Ryan as Sally Albright. While this onscreen romantic couple didn't become a couple until the end of the movie the romance existed between them, though rather unknowingly, through most of the movie. The movies starts out with Harry (Billy Crystal) and Sally (Meg Ryan) disliking each other, but ends with sparks flying between the two of them. The chemistry between these two onscreen characters lands them on my list of romantic onscreen couples, at number three.

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Romantic Couple #2: Johnny Castle and Frances "Baby" Houseman

Patrick Swayze in the eighties, is there any more to tell? Patrick Swayze's good looks paired with his dancing talents made him a perfect fit for the role of Johnny Castle in the film titled Dirty Dancing. Jennifer Grey was lucky enough to be cast opposite of Swayze as Frances "Baby" Houseman, the daughter of a wealthy doctor. The two meet while Baby's family is visiting at a summer camp set in the Catskills. When Baby learns of Johnny Castle's dancing partner's pregnancy, Penny Johnson played by Cynthia Rhodes, she agrees to fill in for his pregnant partner for a dance show set in a hotel. It is during the dance training that Baby receives from Johnny that the two ultimately fall in love. Their love however isn't well received by Baby's father so the two must sneak around, much to the disliking of Johnny, to avoid being seen. The ending of Dirty Dancing is perhaps one of the most memorable endings of a romantic movie as Baby finally nails a dance move that previously plagued her. The romance and passion between Johnny Castle and France "Baby" Houseman land them at number two on my list of most romantic onscreen couples.

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And now it's time for Romantic Couple #1...

Noah Calhoun and Allie Hamilton

The Notebook is based on a novel by Nicholas Sparks and stars Ryan Gosling as a young Noah Calhoun and Rachel McAdams as a young Allie Hamilton. The Notebook is a tale of two young lovers, one from the upper class (Rachel McAdams's character Allie Hamilton) and the other from the working class (Ryan Gosling's character Noah Calhoun). The two young adults share a summer love before Allie's family moves out of town. Noah wrote many letters to Allie but receives no response, and after a while he eventually gives up. The lack of communication would lead one to believe that these two lovers would never cross paths again, however fate has other plans. When Noah and Allie do meet again, Allie is already planning to wed another man. Noah isn't willing to give up too easily and eventually wins Allie's love yet again. The Notebook is perhaps the greatest love story released in recent years thanks to the passionate love that exists between Noah and Allie, landing them the prestigious spot of number one on my list of most romantic onscreen couples.

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And there you have it, my top five list of most romantic onscreen couples from the 80's and beyond. This list is strictly based on the author's opinion. Should you like to share your own opinions on this topic, don't be afraid to add a comment below.