Miscommunication, blindly throwing gibes, harshly misjudging each other, and ruling romance out the window the moment they meet are signs of an impending love story. These stories all have one common thread: a haze of animosity that clears up to give way to true love.

The enemies-to-lovers trope is widely beloved for its witty banter, snarky comebacks, and the couple's sizzling chemistry. While exceptionally entertaining, the trope can be a serious disaster when not executed properly. While the print romances set incredibly high standards with their fake dating and fake marriage stories, those adaptations don’t always make it to the big screen. The ones who do, are littered with awkward characters, awful storylines, and forced chemistry, but there are a few best enemies-to-lovers movies that blow others out of the water.

Updated on October 28th, 2022, by Hannah Saab:

With recent critically acclaimed romance movies like Decision to Leave and Netflix's Purple Hearts, it's clear that the enemies-to-lovers trope is still as relevant and popular as ever. There's no shortage of must-see romantic movies with a narrative that fits the trope, as viewers continue to enjoy stories of characters who fall in love after a (usually) rough start.

15 'The Hating Game' (2021)

Lucy Hale and Austin Stowell looking at each other in an elevator in 'The Hating Game'
Image via BCDF Pictures

After their publishing companies are merged, Lucy Hutton (Lucy Hale) and Joshua Templeman (Austin Stowell) are forced to work together as executive assistants to their respective companies’ CEOs. Their stewing rivalry culminates when they’re put against each other for the same promotion. Set on achieving professional success and getting out of her lousy job, Lucy decides to go into war mode to defeat Joshua. But when an innocent elevator ride becomes heated, Lucy’s left contemplating their relationship.

Based on the Sally Thorne novel of the same name, The Hating Game is a decent best-book-to-film adaptation. The movie is great to watch during the holiday season, and the chemistry between the two stars ripples with possibility.

Watch on Hulu

14 'Sweet Home Alabama' (2002)

Reese Witherspoon, Josh Lucas and Patrick Dempsey smiling in a promo image for Sweet Home Alabama

Melanie (Reese Witherspoon) is set to marry the man of her dreams, but her childhood sweetheart, Jake (Josh Lucas), is still her official husband. She resolves to make him sign the divorce papers and travels back to her hometown. Sparks fly when their long-held contempt for each other withers away, and what’s left is the love they can’t let go of.

Sweet Home Alabama is one of Witherspoon’s best movies ever, and she captures her character like a second skin. While Josh and Reese’s chemistry is already fantastic, what makes the movie stand out is that they’re already married and rekindling the love they thought they’d lost.

Watch on Hoopla

13 'How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days' (2003)

Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey happily sitting together

When How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days begins, Andy Anderson (Kate Hudson) and Benjamin Berry (Matthew McConaughey) consider each other nothing more than attractive targets for the next steps in their respective careers. She is tasked with making him “wish he was dead,” and he has to make her fall in love with him

All their efforts go down the tubes when true love takes over the driving wheel. When the truth comes out, hatred replaces heartbreak. They lose each other towards the end, but just long enough to know they never want to lose each other again. With the couple trying to deceive each other, the movie is a fun ride, and the chemistry between Hudson and McConaughey is excellent.

Watch on Netflix

12 'The Proposal' (2009)

Margaret and Andrew from The Proposal standing together

Andrew Paxton (Ryan Reynolds) hates his boss Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock), because of how terribly she treats her employees, especially Andrew himself. When Margaret learns her visa is about to expire soon, and she’ll have to return to Canada if she doesn’t figure out a solution, she convinces Andrew to marry her. They travel to Alaska to meet his family and get married, but shocking realizations stark them, leading to the obvious (yet awaited) happy ever after.

The comedy is spot-on and makes viewers want to roll into blankets and stay there watching forever. While Sandra Bullock’s best films hold their record for being exceedingly hilarious and wholesome, The Proposal is one of the most incredibly written and performed films ever.

Watch on Hulu

11 'You’ve Got Mail' (1998)

Kathleen and Joe from You've Got Mail sitting on chairs with their backs turned while Joe stares at her
Image via Warner Bros.

Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) is the owner of a small and special bookshop. When Joe Fox (Tom Hanks) opens a mega book emporium around the corner, she’s almost run out of business. Their feud continues until one day, Joe realizes that Kathleen is his online best friend, the confidant he’s been trusting all along. The realization helps him see her in a fresher light, and eventually, he wins her over.

A classic case of the two-person love triangle, You’ve Got Mail is one of the best movies of the enemies-to-lovers trope. It's a heartwarming, and at times poignant reminder that love is a powerful thing.

Watch on HBO Max

10 'In Time' (2011)

Will and Sylvia in In Time

Set in 2169, In Time's dystopian version of the world has the technological capability to stop human aging at 25, which is when their timer (on their forearm) begins. Those from lower-income zones have to work hard to get additional hours to live, while those from the richest areas are essentially immortal. When 28-year-old Dayton (Justin Timberlake) manages to cross zones on stolen time, things go horribly wrong and he abducts 27-year-old Sylvia (Amanda Seyfried), the daughter of a wealthy businessman.

The fact that he kidnaps her tells audiences much of what they need to know about the beginning of their relationship. Sylvia finds herself in the poorest zone, which shocks and changes her perspective. This sci-fi movie that was ahead of its time has an interesting take on the trope that is woven together with commentary on class structure and inequality.

9 'Clueless' (1995)

Alicia Silverstone and Brittany Murphy walking to school together

Cher Horowitz (Alicia Silverstone) and her ex-stepbrother Josh Lucas (Paul Rudd) are sworn nemeses. He thinks she’s “a superficial space cadet,” and she believes he’s a brown-nosing freeloader who should go “torture another family.” They aren’t too cutthroat but have a massive sibling rivalry without any room for support. As the movie progresses, it becomes evident to everyone how “clueless” they are. But when Josh stands up for Cher, they give in to their feelings to give their whirlwind romance a chance.

While romance takes a backseat to Cher’s decision for the iconic makeover, the chemistry ripples throughout the movie, leading to a sweet ending. Not surprisingly, Clueless was a high point in Rudd's career and one of the best movies in Silverstone’s.

Watch on Paramount+

8 'Dirty Dancing' (1987)

Patrick Swayze as Johnny Castle and Jennifer Grey as Baby Houseman in a scene from Dirty Dancing.

Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze) and Frances "Baby" Houseman (Jennifer Grey) make up a couple that is a one-of-a-kind example of a great enemies-to-lovers dynamic. While Baby is the daughter of a wealthy daddy and has a princess lifestyle, Johnny is an employee famous for his smooth moves and tends to hang with the tougher crowd. They hate each other at first sight, but their relationship deteriorates further when they’re forced to train together for a dance competition. Over time, as they truly get to know each other, they realize they have a deeper connection that roots deeper than their smooth moves.

The movie is a classic, and even those who haven’t watched Dirty Dancing will know its iconic behind-the-scenes facts. A sequel starring Jennifer is under development at Lionsgate, and while the great-late Patrick Swayze isn’t on the cast, he will be deeply missed.

7 'Moonstruck' (1987)

Cher and Nicolas Cage from Moonstruck sitting together

Loretta Castorini (Cher) is engaged to Ronny’s brother, but she feels they don’t have any connection or sparks. Her mother, however, finds this appropriate and tells her it’s a good thing because when you marry someone you love, “they drive you crazy.” Things go berserk when Loretta realizes that it is, in fact, Ronny (Nicolas Cage) who drives her wild.

Despite their love-hate relationship, they have undeniable chemistry. By the end of Moonstruck, they resolve things and prove that love can be wild, stupid, yet beautiful. The movie was one of Nicolas Cage's best works, and its accolades stand for it. Albeit unconventional, the love story makes you swoon for itself.

Watch on DirecTV

6 '10 Things I Hate About You' (1999)

10-things-i-hate-about-you-social-feature
Image via Touchstone Pictures

Cameron James (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) wants to date Bianca Stratford (Larisa Oleynik), but to get past her dad, he needs her elder sister, Kat Stratford (Julia Stiles), to start dating too. Cameron pays Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger) to take Kat out. After a bit of groveling, Kat agrees to date Patrick and lowers her guard down, only to get her heart shattered when the truth comes out. After all this time, Patrick is full-blown in love with her and makes it his life’s mission to win her back, making everyone swoon.

Heath Ledger’s performance is phenomenal in this hate-to-love movie. 10 Things I Hate About You is such a classic teen movie that fans tend to forget is loosely based on William Shakespeare’s classic, Taming of the Shrew.

Watch on Disney+

5 'Palm Springs' (2020)

palmsprings

Palm Springs is one of the most unique haters-to-lovers movies and an entertaining rom-com with a sci-fi twist. It's centered on Nyles (Andy Samberg) and Sarah (Cristin Milioti), who meet at a wedding and have some fun. When a bizarre incident leads Sarah toward a vortex that Nyles walks into, she wakes up stuck in a time loop with him.

The conflict between them comes from Nyles' nihilistic outlook about the strange situation they're in, which frustrates Sarah, who wants to escape the endless loop of the day of her friend's wedding. More shocking revelations only make the rift worse, even though it's clear that they could be a great couple. It's a goofy movie that manages to make viewers feel invested in the protagonists' love story.

Watch on Hulu

4 'Silver Linings Playbook' (2012)

Tifanny and Pat meeting for the first time in Silver Linings Playbook
Image via The Weinstein Company

In Silver Linings Playbook, Pat Solitano Jr. (Bradley Cooper) is struggling to piece his life back together after losing his house, job, and, most importantly, his ex-wife. He lives with bipolar and has recently been released from a mental health facility, and soon encounters Tiffany Maxwell (Jennifer Lawrence). Pat decides that it's best to avoid Tiffany, who is mysterious and erratic, while he recovers and tries to convince his ex that they can be together again.

Pat is initially annoyed by Tiffany's advances and considers her dangerous, but is soon persuaded to strike a deal with her that could help him impress his ex. Their love story is told in a humorous, thoughtful, and often frantic way that captures how messy but necessary their relationship is (for both of them).

Watch on Starz

3 'Pride and Prejudice' (2005)

Elizabeth Bennett and Fitzwilliam Darcy dancing in Pride & Prejudice.
Image via Universal Pictures

Following Jane Austen’s classic novel, Pride and Prejudice features Elizabeth Bennett (Keira Knightley), a country gentleman’s daughter, and Fitzwilliam Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen), a rich aristocratic landowner. They both possess too much “pride and prejudice” from their first encounter and refuse to acknowledge their feelings and chemistry, leading to a coveted happily ever after.

While countless adaptations of Austen's original enemies-to-lovers tale have been made since it was published in 1813, only the 2005 adaptation adequately captures their conflict and banter, making it a favorite among lovers of the classic.

Watch on Prime Video

2 'Avatar' (2009)

Neytiri and Jake in a Pandora forest in Avatar 2009
Image via 20th Century Studios

Avatar became a cultural phenomenon when it was first released, as it introduced the fantastical world of Pandora. Humans are attempting to colonize and mine the habitable moon, while also planning to deal with its Na'vi inhabitants in questionable ways. Among those sent to the moon (on promises of wealth and advanced healthcare) is Jake Sully (Sam Worthington). While initially determined to fight the war, his encounter with Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) changes his life.

The enemies-to-lovers trope in this case is set against a grand backdrop of warfare, community, and trust. Jake goes through a transformation throughout the film that helps him realize the greed and corruption that drives humans – it's something he wouldn't have been able to see without the originally hesitant Neytiri. The incredibly successful continuation of their love story, Avatar: The Way of Water premiered last December 16 and further explored their relationship and its impact on the ongoing struggle for their home.

Watch on Disney+

1 'The Sound of Music' (1965)

Chris Plummer as Captain von Trapp and Julie Andrews as Maria in The Sound of Music
Image via 20th Century Studios

The Sound of Music is an influential classic that needs no introduction. It follows the free-spirited Maria (Julie Andrews), who leaves a convent to be governess to Captain von Trapp's (Christopher Plummer) seven children. It's soon obvious to the retired naval officer that Maria has an unorthodox way of caring for, teaching, and bonding with the kids.

Disagreements soon arise between Maria and the Captain, who even tries to fire her when he learns about what his children have been doing and wearing. The best part about their relationship is the way the Captain comes around and realizes that it's not wrong to have fun and be happy.

Watch on Disney+

NEXT: The Best Romance Movies of All Time, Ranked According to IMDb