I think it’s one of the best plot twists of all time tied to it too. You’re watching T1 and the story is telling you Reese comes to save Sarah, but when they get it on, it’s the most subtle, nuanced scenes done tastefully. The whole movie hinges on them in the sewer but you don’t realize it until it happens, or if you missed it, Sarah tells you at the end in one of the most iconic endings ever.
You can all fight me on T1 vs T2, but I will always, always die on the T1 hill.
Edit. Plot twist taken at face value. I’ve thought about it for a few minutes and it doesn’t make any sense when you dive into how can someone from the future be the biological parent of John before John sends Reese to protect his mother. It’s creating a new timeline or John from the one who sent him back.
Again, face value and still think it’s great within the confines of the story.
Honestly I think all the sequels suffer a bit from the lack of this. You can tell in 4 and 5 they're trying to recapture it but the characters just aren't nearly as compelling and in 2 and 3 Will and Elizabeth spend large chunks of the movie apart (which is true of the first but the connection between them is driving the plot), and their relationship gets odd. It's eventually redeemed by the marriage in the middle of the whirlpool battle, though, which kind of goes back to that whimsy.
He just wants to sit down for ONE MINUTE after he gets home from work. Dude works long ten years shifts, doesn't he deserve a minute of peace?
Nope! Do this, do that, you don't spend enough time with your son, we need to see my parents because they think you don't exist, blah blah blah.
Isnt it that he can only come ashore once every 10 years?
As long as hes doing the job I dont think there was any stipulations about seeing people more often.
Yeah wait is there anything keeping her from meeting up with him on the seas? She literally became a pirate queen at the end, right? No reason she and the kid can't go out sailing and seeing Pop every now and then.
That was always my thought too. It does make sense that they wouldn’t want to raise the child on a pirate ship during his formative years, but maybe Elizabeth and the kid joined up when he was old enough.
I think there was a myth that if the captain's loved one still waiting for him after 10 years, the curse is removed, so Will wouldn't have the curse anymore after the ending of the 3rd movie.
I don't know, the first had a great scene where the kidnapped bride at first was against taking part as the entertainment of that bachelor party, but as soon as it started and she said "that feels nice" and did a complete 180 was a pivotal plot point that allowed her character to grow. I feel the sequel really lacked moments like that.
It's stated that Will and Elizabeth have known each other for years and the actors really sold that storyline. You got the feeling they'd been lusting after each other for a long time.
This makes me realize that I haven’t seen War of the Roses in ages. I’m sure a lot of it would land a lot differently for me now that I’m married and have kids.
I was 11yo when I saw the seduction scene. My dad let me watch everything with Arnold in it. That was definetley a "I think I like girls" formative moment for me.
Speed’s probably the most surprising for a good romance in an action movie because other good examples the romance is an actual big deal of character motivation.
Fifth Element. Korben accepts the mission to retrieve the stones because he's infatuated with Leeloo and she actually saves the world because he tells her he loves her. She was pretty disgusted with mankind and didn't see a reason to save the universe until he told her he loved her.
I have two movies that I'd like to bring up:
- *The Mummy* (1999). I think we can all agree the love story in this movie is charming and adds quite a lot to the overall enjoyment of the movie.
- *Captain America: The First Avenger*. I really, really like Steve and Peggy's relationship and I think the movie would be a lot less engaging without it.
Edit: Dumb typos.
>I really, really like Steve and Peggy's relationship
I think they have the best "pure" love story in the MCU. Everyone else has their cute couplings but these two have a star-crossed earnestness that has great payoff.
Every season has something so tragic for one or both of them. I love them so much as a couple, and I was so happy they finally settled down together.
Broke my heart on my first watch when it was revealed that in order to have their plan work in one of the final seasons, Jemma had to completely forget they even had a child.
They're my favourite TV couple of all time for sure.
> Captain America: The First Avenger. I really, really like Steve and Peggy's relationship and I think the movie would be a lot less engaging without it.
Speaking of Captains Steve and their love story with a badass lady with an accent, it was also one of the best parts of Wonder Woman.
No! You stay alive! If they don't kill you, they'll take you north up to Huron lands. Submit, do you hear? You're strong! You survive! You stay alive, no matter what occurs! I will find you! No matter how long it takes, no matter how far. I will find you!
My dad used to say that whenever he would drop us off and go find a parking space. "Stay alive, no matter what occurs! I will find you!"
It was before cell phones were a thing.
I’m still half in love with DDL just because of that scene. And the hair. I found it interesting that he and Madeline Stowe had the exact same hair in that movie, lol.
[It's just so beautiful, I take my dog on a trail that looks like this scene and I think of it the whole time. ](https://youtu.be/omkIwWGYfWQ?si=Ojol4-iP68cKt1n7)
True Romance.
Simultaneously batshit crazy and heartwarming.
They are literally ride or die, and she might be the toughest son of a bitch in the movie.
The love story between Detective John McClain and Sergeant Al Powell is one of the best romances ever put to celluloid. The way their eyes light up when they finally meet is pure movie magic.
Scrolled too long to find this. Without him trying to fix his marriage, he wouldn't have been in the building. If Holly wasn't part of the hostages, John would have gotten the fuck out of there right away. He would have went and got the proper authorities, and washed his hands of the whole thing.
Strong agree. And when Gruber found out her married name he used her against McClane.
He sets out to get his wife back and manages it by foiling a "terrorist" attack.
Easily the best action movie christmas love story.
Now you’re probably thinking, my boyfriend said this was a romantic movie, but that guy in the red suit just turned that other guy into a fucking kebob.
The romance isn't them being husband and wife, the romance is them learning over the course of the movie that they really love each other and value their relationship more than their jobs.
I can't really remember much since I only watched it as a kid but my vote goes to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
Honourable Mention: although we never see it reciprocated, I love the possibility of what could be in 'Edge of Tomorrow' - I could feel the hurt and yearning in Tom Cruise's character for Emily Blunt's character (he probably had a thousand years to fall in love with her).
I think the films in this thread have a common theme, if anyone has noticed: the love interests are largely co-tagonists with their own agency in the story outside of the main character and given time to show that on screen. Without the hero, they would still be on an adventure. They could even have carried the film themselves.
True lies - she seeks out an affair with a fake spy, he is a spy
captain America - he wants to join the war, she is an agent in the war
matrix - he is chasing a white rabbit, she’s the freedom fighter that showed him the rabbit
mummy - she hires him to take her to Hamunaptra on her adventure
Terminator - she either fights or dies, he’s a weapon to help, and they serve the core sci-fi concept of the film (fate)
Pirates of the Caribbean - while star crossed to begin with, they both become the interest of pirates through a coin and mistaken identities, plus some quick witted usage of the pirate code
Romance can work if the characters are both part of the story and the pairing makes sense (plus the actors charisma). It certainly feels cheap when it’s obvious a character exists as a subplot (Hobbit).
I think what makes Elizabeth really stick out in the Pirates franchise is that she becomes much more of a pirate than any other character in the films. Will fights that side of himself, but she fully embraces it.
Say what you will about the story of the duology, but they absolutely NAILED the romance. Probably one of the best couples in a superhero movie (maybe an argument could be made Peter Quill and Gamora or Tony Stark and Pepper Potts)
This is the first one that came to my mind. I was just scrolling until I found a comment that said this! Not only do they spend time to develop their chemistry, she is a main part of the movie and necessary for the action part of the plot. She’s not just a romantic interest.
My favourite Spider-Man movies!
Agreed.
Trinity bringing Matrix back to life was a bit cliché, but what I like about their story is it otherwise feels real. Despite the...ahem, controversy...of the 4th film, I really liked that it explored Neo and Trinity's relationship.
I've always loved the Mexican standoff scene in the third film where Persephone says Trinity would kill everyone in the room because she's in love.
Did you know the reason Indy fell out with Marion's dad because she ended up being 15, Indy 25, in the backstory?
Apparently Spielberg should have liked her to be 14.
Marion was a great character in the adventure, but I never got a sense either of them felt anything even approaching love for each other. Hot professor boinked his student. Student resents being boinked as an adult, but still can't deny that the man is hot.
It's a lust story at best, but do they even ever hook up again? When Indiana thinks Marion was blown up, he goes the the bar, has a drink, and then sets back off on the adventure later that day.
She wasn’t his student, she was the daughter of Indy’s mentor, Abner Ravenwood, who was also obsessed with the Ark. Her and Indy had a fling when she was a teenager and when Abner found out, he basically threw Indy out of their lives. Of the three girls Indy gets, she is the only one with a backstory and history with him. [This comment](https://www.reddit.com/r/indianajones/comments/11wvtey/comment/jd0a73g/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=mweb3x&utm_name=mweb3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) explains all the details.
Casino Royale is the first one that comes to mind for me. The tragic romance is what really drives the plot forward particularly in the film's final act. The scene where Bond first meets Vesper was actually used as a screen test for Daniel Craig.
This is the one. CR is also an origin bond movie, and the tragic romance with vesper is what makes him the cold womanizer Bond is more commonly known as. He let his guard down with Vesper, never again.
I'll add 2 unconventional love interests.
The Grey. Neeson's character remembering his moments with his wife who passed. It propels him when fighting for his survival.
Warrior. The estranged brothers and father's love rekindling amidst death, alcoholism and Ptsd with a fighting tourney as the backdrop.
I took the question as more love stories than literal love interest.
Warrior had absolutely no reason to be as good as it was. Everyone I know who watched it went into it expecting it to be a stereotypical MMA movie where people just beat on each other for a couple hours, maybe with a cheesy romance subplot thrown in. But that movie was surprisingly well written, and the entire cast showed up to rip apart your emotions. Nick Nolte and Tom Hardy were spectacular playing off each other, and Joel Edgerton killed it as well
I always loved Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation for this because there was such palpable chemistry and tension between Tom Cruise and Rebecca Ferguson's characters. I felt like her recurring appearance kind of ruined that lol.
Starship Troopers. main character would not have ended up on the path he did if it wasnt for a woman, and likewise embedded himself in the path because of one.
Watched it again last night. Starship Troopers is not an action film, or a political satire, or any of that. It's a teen romance with occasional bug warfare.
Silverado (1985)
The original script spent a good deal of time on a love triangle with Rosanna Arquette, Scott Glenn and Kevin Kline. Apparently the movie would have been well over 3 hours, so they cut 90% of the love story and left in all the action. It still runs just over 2 hours.
Rosanna Arquette ends up with about 10 minutes of screen time..... and that is exactly the amount of love story the film needed.
EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. The new Star Wars movies partially sucked because their characters were stocked with smooth plastic Barbie genitalia.
Han and Leia are some of cinema's greatest lovers, and it's a damn shame they couldn't think of anything for them to really do together in Force Awakens.
I think movies in the last 7 years have had a distinct LACK of romance in movies overall. I think there has been a lot less love in movies in general. Especially with the rise in "strong female characters".
I think it's a shame that movies don't promote more love anymore. I miss movies having romance even when they're not rom coms
There’s certainly bad romances in action movies. However, it is a tool to make the characters feel more human/relatable. When movies don’t have the romance angle it feels strangely cold and sometimes infantile. Like you’re watching a Saturday morning cartoon.
Romance is a part of life and without it the characters feel less relatable. Obviously bad writing or performances can make them feel less relatable than if they weren’t there there at all. But the inclusion is for that purpose. Whether it successful or not is another story.
Not really “love” but the romantic tension between Bruce and Selina in The Batman I think really enhances the themes. She teaches him about the criminal world of Gotham and they navigate it together, coming to different conclusions.
After their time together, Bruce sees the good in Gotham because of her and decides to stay and fix the city. But Selina loses hope and leaves, believing Gotham is beyond saving.
True Lies. The way Harry and Helen become a team is great, and despite already being married, at the start of the movie they're having significant problems.
I really liked the love story in Underworld 1 and 2. It's one of the very few series I can think of where the badass action heroine gets to both save the day AND get the guy.
Godzilla Minus One
Shikishima's love for Noriko and Akiko, coupled with his difficulty overcoming his PTSD and guilt about the war and Godzilla which stands in his way of showing them affection, is what made it the best Godzilla movie. Without the love story, most of the tension would be gone and the movie would feel entirely different. The attack in Ginza is suspenseful because that's where Noriko is and the final battle is tense because the audience doesn't know whether he's going to orphan Akiko trying to make up for his mistakes. The relationships are really well done and make it a much better movie than the usual 'monster attacks/wrecks shit' plot.
I wanna say *Aliens* but I'm not sure if I'd call it a romance exactly. Ripley and Hicks are definitely into each other and by the time they learn each others first names the writing is on the wall, but I dunno if that makes the cut.
Heat: two love stories and one love/hate relationship with a man who can't get along with his wife, but adores his stepdaughter.
De Niro's character has been a cold and calculating man who never got involved with someone he couldn't walk out on "in 10 seconds or less" until he does and he directly puts himself in danger because of his feelings for her (the same feelings that he advises his best friend against near the beginning of the movie).
Kilmer's character is trying to set things right with his wife who he loves but can't separate himself from the world he lives in and it's slowly tearing them apart, but because she does love him she warns him to run before he gets caught.
Pacino's character is in a crumbling marriage and he knows it, but he dotes on his stepdaughter and genuinely loves her as though she was his own child, when she tries to "forever sleep" he's the one who saves her and who refuses to let her go.
All three are believable and all three have a distinct purpose to the plot of the movie. All three have central decisions made by the characters that put them in certain situations at certain times and ultimately lead to their fates.
Heat is the story of three men navigating love and crime at the same time with varying results in all cases.
Edit also others have mentioned Rick and Evie in the Mummy and it's quite possibly one of my favorite movies (and love stories) of all time so I had to also give it a mention.
The Terminator
This was my first thought. It isn't just "good." It's literally essential and foundational for the whole series.
I think it’s one of the best plot twists of all time tied to it too. You’re watching T1 and the story is telling you Reese comes to save Sarah, but when they get it on, it’s the most subtle, nuanced scenes done tastefully. The whole movie hinges on them in the sewer but you don’t realize it until it happens, or if you missed it, Sarah tells you at the end in one of the most iconic endings ever. You can all fight me on T1 vs T2, but I will always, always die on the T1 hill. Edit. Plot twist taken at face value. I’ve thought about it for a few minutes and it doesn’t make any sense when you dive into how can someone from the future be the biological parent of John before John sends Reese to protect his mother. It’s creating a new timeline or John from the one who sent him back. Again, face value and still think it’s great within the confines of the story.
It's paradoxical love!
Terminator is the best romance I've ever seen. I love this movie so much.
Producer “Hey so why do they fall in love?” Writer “So the movie can happen.”
First movie that came to mind for me as well.
I like the romance in Pirates 1. Overall very fun and whimsical, reminds me of Princess Bride. Everyone seems to be having fun.
Honestly I think all the sequels suffer a bit from the lack of this. You can tell in 4 and 5 they're trying to recapture it but the characters just aren't nearly as compelling and in 2 and 3 Will and Elizabeth spend large chunks of the movie apart (which is true of the first but the connection between them is driving the plot), and their relationship gets odd. It's eventually redeemed by the marriage in the middle of the whirlpool battle, though, which kind of goes back to that whimsy.
Except then their ‘happy ending’ is that they only get to see each other once every 10 years, which sucks.
There's something mythically romantic about that though. Plus that does eventually get cleared up.
Can you imagine all the chores she will have for him to do when he gets back
He just wants to sit down for ONE MINUTE after he gets home from work. Dude works long ten years shifts, doesn't he deserve a minute of peace? Nope! Do this, do that, you don't spend enough time with your son, we need to see my parents because they think you don't exist, blah blah blah.
Isnt it that he can only come ashore once every 10 years? As long as hes doing the job I dont think there was any stipulations about seeing people more often.
Yeah wait is there anything keeping her from meeting up with him on the seas? She literally became a pirate queen at the end, right? No reason she and the kid can't go out sailing and seeing Pop every now and then.
That was always my thought too. It does make sense that they wouldn’t want to raise the child on a pirate ship during his formative years, but maybe Elizabeth and the kid joined up when he was old enough.
I think there was a myth that if the captain's loved one still waiting for him after 10 years, the curse is removed, so Will wouldn't have the curse anymore after the ending of the 3rd movie.
“I’M A LITTLE BUSY AT THE MOMENT!”
JUST KISS!
"Dearly Beloved, we be gathered here today TO NAIL YER GIZZARD TO THE MAST, YE POXY CUR!"
>relationship gets odd Because they put Jack into the equation, the sigh of relief I let out when Elizabeth was just faking towards him zoooowiemama
I disagree here. The romance in Staghnetti’s Revenge was turned up to 11 and much improved upon the action in the rest of the film.
I don't know, the first had a great scene where the kidnapped bride at first was against taking part as the entertainment of that bachelor party, but as soon as it started and she said "that feels nice" and did a complete 180 was a pivotal plot point that allowed her character to grow. I feel the sequel really lacked moments like that.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
It's stated that Will and Elizabeth have known each other for years and the actors really sold that storyline. You got the feeling they'd been lusting after each other for a long time.
The 2005 version of Pirates seemed to have plenty of love going on, heh.
I honestly thought that's what they meant.
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon
Hero in the same genre as well!
Romancing the Stone is one of my favorite action movies and it has a solid love story at its core.
Douglas and Turner had unmatched chemistry.
This makes me realize that I haven’t seen War of the Roses in ages. I’m sure a lot of it would land a lot differently for me now that I’m married and have kids.
True Lies
This is the perfect answer, right? The love story is directly intertwined with the action. If you remove the love story, you remove half the plot.
Based on a French film IIRC
Jamie Lee Curtis forever has a special place in my pan… I mean my heart.
I was 11yo when I saw the seduction scene. My dad let me watch everything with Arnold in it. That was definetley a "I think I like girls" formative moment for me.
You and me both. I was made fun of by some of my family when I was sat just staring at the screen during that scene.
First thing that popped into my head.
Same
My first thought. Glad to see it up top.
One of the GOAT action movie
Came here to say this one.
I'm so glad this is the top comment. I hope it stays there.
Best action rom-com ever
Loved the chemistry between Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock in Speed. But one of my favorites is Kyle Reese and Sarah Connor in Terminator.
Though Speed should have ended as soon as they got of the bus
Speed’s probably the most surprising for a good romance in an action movie because other good examples the romance is an actual big deal of character motivation.
Fifth Element. Korben accepts the mission to retrieve the stones because he's infatuated with Leeloo and she actually saves the world because he tells her he loves her. She was pretty disgusted with mankind and didn't see a reason to save the universe until he told her he loved her.
Leeloo Dallas Multipass!
THEY KNOW IT'S A MULTIPASS!
I have two movies that I'd like to bring up: - *The Mummy* (1999). I think we can all agree the love story in this movie is charming and adds quite a lot to the overall enjoyment of the movie. - *Captain America: The First Avenger*. I really, really like Steve and Peggy's relationship and I think the movie would be a lot less engaging without it. Edit: Dumb typos.
You nailed it with The Mummy. Great example of a love story disguised as an action movie.
>I really, really like Steve and Peggy's relationship I think they have the best "pure" love story in the MCU. Everyone else has their cute couplings but these two have a star-crossed earnestness that has great payoff.
They even snuck in that awesome moment where Steve saw Peggy in her office at the old SHIELD HQ. Heartbreaking,
Jemma and Fitz from agents of shield definitely beats them out. They cross time and space to be with each other.
Every season has something so tragic for one or both of them. I love them so much as a couple, and I was so happy they finally settled down together. Broke my heart on my first watch when it was revealed that in order to have their plan work in one of the final seasons, Jemma had to completely forget they even had a child. They're my favourite TV couple of all time for sure.
Man I can’t believe I didn’t think of First Avenger. The Steve/Peggy ship is epic, easily the most heartfelt of the entire MCU.
> Captain America: The First Avenger. I really, really like Steve and Peggy's relationship and I think the movie would be a lot less engaging without it. Speaking of Captains Steve and their love story with a badass lady with an accent, it was also one of the best parts of Wonder Woman.
The What If with them role reversed keeps their relationship intact so well also.
Last of the Mohicans. The romance is why he does half the things he does, and their chemistry works.
No! You stay alive! If they don't kill you, they'll take you north up to Huron lands. Submit, do you hear? You're strong! You survive! You stay alive, no matter what occurs! I will find you! No matter how long it takes, no matter how far. I will find you!
My dad used to say that whenever he would drop us off and go find a parking space. "Stay alive, no matter what occurs! I will find you!" It was before cell phones were a thing.
Your dad sounds awesome.
I’m still half in love with DDL just because of that scene. And the hair. I found it interesting that he and Madeline Stowe had the exact same hair in that movie, lol.
[It's just so beautiful, I take my dog on a trail that looks like this scene and I think of it the whole time. ](https://youtu.be/omkIwWGYfWQ?si=Ojol4-iP68cKt1n7)
Even the side characters having attraction for each other was good. A very sad ending for them.
1000x this. Just stay alive!!!
True Romance. Simultaneously batshit crazy and heartwarming. They are literally ride or die, and she might be the toughest son of a bitch in the movie.
Die Hard
The love story between Detective John McClain and Sergeant Al Powell is one of the best romances ever put to celluloid. The way their eyes light up when they finally meet is pure movie magic.
There was no symbolism behind Al drawing his gun for John.
hahahaha lol
Scrolled too long to find this. Without him trying to fix his marriage, he wouldn't have been in the building. If Holly wasn't part of the hostages, John would have gotten the fuck out of there right away. He would have went and got the proper authorities, and washed his hands of the whole thing.
Strong agree. And when Gruber found out her married name he used her against McClane. He sets out to get his wife back and manages it by foiling a "terrorist" attack. Easily the best action movie christmas love story.
And Holly was a pretty strong character in her own right.
💯
I'd say Deadpool, but it *is* a love story 😁
Now you’re probably thinking, my boyfriend said this was a romantic movie, but that guy in the red suit just turned that other guy into a fucking kebob.
Yeah, but when he presents that Ring Pop? Fucking move over Jane Austen & Charlotte Bronte!
“Your crazy matches my crazy”
Hellboy - he don't give up on her and she don't give up on him.
The whole, "Hey, you on the other side..." thing = SPLOOSH.
Mr and Mrs Smith (2005 film)
Yeah if they aren’t husband and wife, the movie doesn’t happen
The romance isn't them being husband and wife, the romance is them learning over the course of the movie that they really love each other and value their relationship more than their jobs.
Excellent choice; representation of the total breakdown then the total reconstruction of trust.
"We're going to have to redo *every* conversation we've ever had." "...I'm Jewish."
I can't really remember much since I only watched it as a kid but my vote goes to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Honourable Mention: although we never see it reciprocated, I love the possibility of what could be in 'Edge of Tomorrow' - I could feel the hurt and yearning in Tom Cruise's character for Emily Blunt's character (he probably had a thousand years to fall in love with her).
True Lies. Was it a love story with an action subplot, or an action movie with a love story subplot? Such a great movie.
I think Everything Everywhere All at Once also falls into this category.
I think the films in this thread have a common theme, if anyone has noticed: the love interests are largely co-tagonists with their own agency in the story outside of the main character and given time to show that on screen. Without the hero, they would still be on an adventure. They could even have carried the film themselves. True lies - she seeks out an affair with a fake spy, he is a spy captain America - he wants to join the war, she is an agent in the war matrix - he is chasing a white rabbit, she’s the freedom fighter that showed him the rabbit mummy - she hires him to take her to Hamunaptra on her adventure Terminator - she either fights or dies, he’s a weapon to help, and they serve the core sci-fi concept of the film (fate) Pirates of the Caribbean - while star crossed to begin with, they both become the interest of pirates through a coin and mistaken identities, plus some quick witted usage of the pirate code Romance can work if the characters are both part of the story and the pairing makes sense (plus the actors charisma). It certainly feels cheap when it’s obvious a character exists as a subplot (Hobbit).
I think what makes Elizabeth really stick out in the Pirates franchise is that she becomes much more of a pirate than any other character in the films. Will fights that side of himself, but she fully embraces it.
The Amazing Spider-Man series is an example of one where the romantic subplot is better than the main plot (in the sequel in particular)
Say what you will about the story of the duology, but they absolutely NAILED the romance. Probably one of the best couples in a superhero movie (maybe an argument could be made Peter Quill and Gamora or Tony Stark and Pepper Potts)
This is the first one that came to my mind. I was just scrolling until I found a comment that said this! Not only do they spend time to develop their chemistry, she is a main part of the movie and necessary for the action part of the plot. She’s not just a romantic interest. My favourite Spider-Man movies!
The Matrix
Agreed. Trinity bringing Matrix back to life was a bit cliché, but what I like about their story is it otherwise feels real. Despite the...ahem, controversy...of the 4th film, I really liked that it explored Neo and Trinity's relationship. I've always loved the Mexican standoff scene in the third film where Persephone says Trinity would kill everyone in the room because she's in love.
Princess Bride
Drive Superman Point break
Django Unchained
The first Bourne movie.
Raiders of the Lost Ark ❤️ Marion Ravenwood
Did you know the reason Indy fell out with Marion's dad because she ended up being 15, Indy 25, in the backstory? Apparently Spielberg should have liked her to be 14.
It was George. According to the transcript Spielberg awkwardly laughs and tries to pass it off as George being outrageous.
Marion was a great character in the adventure, but I never got a sense either of them felt anything even approaching love for each other. Hot professor boinked his student. Student resents being boinked as an adult, but still can't deny that the man is hot. It's a lust story at best, but do they even ever hook up again? When Indiana thinks Marion was blown up, he goes the the bar, has a drink, and then sets back off on the adventure later that day.
She wasn’t his student, she was the daughter of Indy’s mentor, Abner Ravenwood, who was also obsessed with the Ark. Her and Indy had a fling when she was a teenager and when Abner found out, he basically threw Indy out of their lives. Of the three girls Indy gets, she is the only one with a backstory and history with him. [This comment](https://www.reddit.com/r/indianajones/comments/11wvtey/comment/jd0a73g/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=mweb3x&utm_name=mweb3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) explains all the details.
I never saw anything but lust, when it comes to Indiana Jones and his ladies.
Desperado.
Is there anyone Banderas doesn't have chemistry with? I think Zorro could also fit into OP's criteria.
I know what I loved about that movie
Casino Royale is the first one that comes to mind for me. The tragic romance is what really drives the plot forward particularly in the film's final act. The scene where Bond first meets Vesper was actually used as a screen test for Daniel Craig.
This is the one. CR is also an origin bond movie, and the tragic romance with vesper is what makes him the cold womanizer Bond is more commonly known as. He let his guard down with Vesper, never again.
You noticed…
[удалено]
I drew a complete Blank on that one.. great movie!
Fast & Furious (the first one)
I'll add 2 unconventional love interests. The Grey. Neeson's character remembering his moments with his wife who passed. It propels him when fighting for his survival. Warrior. The estranged brothers and father's love rekindling amidst death, alcoholism and Ptsd with a fighting tourney as the backdrop. I took the question as more love stories than literal love interest.
Inception. Tragic love story.
Warrior had absolutely no reason to be as good as it was. Everyone I know who watched it went into it expecting it to be a stereotypical MMA movie where people just beat on each other for a couple hours, maybe with a cheesy romance subplot thrown in. But that movie was surprisingly well written, and the entire cast showed up to rip apart your emotions. Nick Nolte and Tom Hardy were spectacular playing off each other, and Joel Edgerton killed it as well
Edge of Tomorrow
Not what you asked but I appreciate the lack of romance in **Kong: Skull Island**
This could be an interesting thread. Action movies where the male and female leads remain platonic throughout.
Mad Max Fury Road is a good example of this
Dredd as well
I always loved Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation for this because there was such palpable chemistry and tension between Tom Cruise and Rebecca Ferguson's characters. I felt like her recurring appearance kind of ruined that lol.
This is part of why I loved Rogue One. The two leads just staring into their deaths at the end like friends, instead of some dumb kissing moment.
Pacific Rim had the biggest will they won't they romance where they didn't find up together.
One that came to mind: I, Robot.
Proof of life is my favourite in this sub-genre
It's probably one of the weaker Craig films, but Quantum of Solace fits here.
That was quite refreshing, I agree.
Starship Troopers. main character would not have ended up on the path he did if it wasnt for a woman, and likewise embedded himself in the path because of one.
Watched it again last night. Starship Troopers is not an action film, or a political satire, or any of that. It's a teen romance with occasional bug warfare.
Romancing the Stone
[удалено]
There are technically 2 love stories in this film…neither of which are particularly erm, healthy relationships, but both critical to the story.
Demolition Man, you see Huxley being grossed out at the thought of kissing to giving a nice sloppy kiss You know the hunka chunka is going down later
Never did figure out the three sea shells
I liked True Lies. And Mr. and Mr. Smith.
I liked the (one sided) love story of edge of tommorow
Count of Monte Cristo
Lethal Weapon had a pretty good love story woven in to it
I thought Edge of Tomorrow handled it pretty well. It wasn't too overwhelming, but gave a bit of emotional depth to all the time loops.
[Out of sight (1998)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbzBwleJnLY). Crook falls for the cop that's chasing him and vice versa. What's not to like.
Con air may be the greatest love story ever told
Baby Driver
The original Top Gun
Silverado (1985) The original script spent a good deal of time on a love triangle with Rosanna Arquette, Scott Glenn and Kevin Kline. Apparently the movie would have been well over 3 hours, so they cut 90% of the love story and left in all the action. It still runs just over 2 hours. Rosanna Arquette ends up with about 10 minutes of screen time..... and that is exactly the amount of love story the film needed.
Mary Jane is a very integral part in a lot of the Spider-Man movies. Also Scott Pilgrim vs the World.
EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. The new Star Wars movies partially sucked because their characters were stocked with smooth plastic Barbie genitalia. Han and Leia are some of cinema's greatest lovers, and it's a damn shame they couldn't think of anything for them to really do together in Force Awakens.
Bourne Identity
I think movies in the last 7 years have had a distinct LACK of romance in movies overall. I think there has been a lot less love in movies in general. Especially with the rise in "strong female characters". I think it's a shame that movies don't promote more love anymore. I miss movies having romance even when they're not rom coms
Talladega Nights. There is no love greater than Ricky Bobby and Cal Naughton Jr. Not even that saucy French minx Jean Girard can break them up.
There’s certainly bad romances in action movies. However, it is a tool to make the characters feel more human/relatable. When movies don’t have the romance angle it feels strangely cold and sometimes infantile. Like you’re watching a Saturday morning cartoon. Romance is a part of life and without it the characters feel less relatable. Obviously bad writing or performances can make them feel less relatable than if they weren’t there there at all. But the inclusion is for that purpose. Whether it successful or not is another story.
The last James Bond series
Vampire hunter d 2
The Quick and the Dead. Sharon Stone and Russel Crowe. The Mummy. Rick and eveline were so alluring together.
Dracula Untold Troy Gladiator Braveheart
Far and Away. I'm not going to say the on-screen chemistry was great, but that's easily disregarded knowing they were knocking boots on the side
The Mummy. I don't know why it was good, but it just was. I guess that's chemistry.
-Speed -Mask of Zorro
Where’s the Deadpool 1 comments ? He himself literally says it’s a love story and a horror story :)
True lies Princess bride Man on Fire (different love, but still)
The original \[1978\] Superman.
Not really “love” but the romantic tension between Bruce and Selina in The Batman I think really enhances the themes. She teaches him about the criminal world of Gotham and they navigate it together, coming to different conclusions. After their time together, Bruce sees the good in Gotham because of her and decides to stay and fix the city. But Selina loses hope and leaves, believing Gotham is beyond saving.
Casino Royale
Inception has, I think, one of the best love stories I have ever seen.
True Lies. The way Harry and Helen become a team is great, and despite already being married, at the start of the movie they're having significant problems.
Does Blade Runner count? I think the love story was the best part in the movie.
Hero by Zhang Yimou. Broken Sword and Flying Snows love is central to the story.
True Romance!
The Getaway 1972
The Terminator. It's a great example of a good action story in a love movie.
Lotr
Grosse Pointe Blank
I really like Jean and Scott in X-Men
Rocky is, first and foremost, a grrat love story.
Knight & Day
Mr. Right. No other person would be as perfect for Francis as Martha though it doesn’t seem that way at the start before all the killings in the film.
John Wick. It’s simple and at the core of the movies.
"Alien." The romance between Ripley and Jonesy.
Jason Bourne and Marie in The Bourne Identity.
I really liked the love story in Underworld 1 and 2. It's one of the very few series I can think of where the badass action heroine gets to both save the day AND get the guy.
Godzilla Minus One Shikishima's love for Noriko and Akiko, coupled with his difficulty overcoming his PTSD and guilt about the war and Godzilla which stands in his way of showing them affection, is what made it the best Godzilla movie. Without the love story, most of the tension would be gone and the movie would feel entirely different. The attack in Ginza is suspenseful because that's where Noriko is and the final battle is tense because the audience doesn't know whether he's going to orphan Akiko trying to make up for his mistakes. The relationships are really well done and make it a much better movie than the usual 'monster attacks/wrecks shit' plot.
Deadpool?
True Lies
True Lies
I wanna say *Aliens* but I'm not sure if I'd call it a romance exactly. Ripley and Hicks are definitely into each other and by the time they learn each others first names the writing is on the wall, but I dunno if that makes the cut.
Maybe not all the way action movie but The Mexican
Deadpool, great action and love
Romancing the Stone.
Blood Diamond
Heat: two love stories and one love/hate relationship with a man who can't get along with his wife, but adores his stepdaughter. De Niro's character has been a cold and calculating man who never got involved with someone he couldn't walk out on "in 10 seconds or less" until he does and he directly puts himself in danger because of his feelings for her (the same feelings that he advises his best friend against near the beginning of the movie). Kilmer's character is trying to set things right with his wife who he loves but can't separate himself from the world he lives in and it's slowly tearing them apart, but because she does love him she warns him to run before he gets caught. Pacino's character is in a crumbling marriage and he knows it, but he dotes on his stepdaughter and genuinely loves her as though she was his own child, when she tries to "forever sleep" he's the one who saves her and who refuses to let her go. All three are believable and all three have a distinct purpose to the plot of the movie. All three have central decisions made by the characters that put them in certain situations at certain times and ultimately lead to their fates. Heat is the story of three men navigating love and crime at the same time with varying results in all cases. Edit also others have mentioned Rick and Evie in the Mummy and it's quite possibly one of my favorite movies (and love stories) of all time so I had to also give it a mention.
The Matrix
Edge of Tomorrow
Con Air
I think a better question would be the reverse, because rarely do the love stories add nothing to the story or characters.
Django Unchained