The Best Love Triangles In Movie History

Originally published on Marie Claire US

March 8, 2023, 12:01 PM

<p> What will make a love story even more dramatic? Add another person. Love triangles have been a cinematic go-to since the days of silent films. These three-way love connections have the power to turn casual viewers into full-on stans and transform movie watching into a competitive experience. From the classic good guy versus bad boy dynamic of movies like <em>Titanic</em> to modern-day vampire lust in <em>Twilight</em>, we've rounded up some of cinema's most fraught love stories. </p> <p> <em>By Kayleigh Roberts, Rachel Sylvester</em> </p>

<p> <strong>Released: </strong>2004 </p> <p> <strong>Triangle: </strong>Cady, Aaron, and Regina </p> <p> <em>Mean Girls</em> is a case study in girl-on-girl bullying—and proof that Aaron Samuels' hair looks sexy pushed back. In Tina Fey's high school comedy classic, frenemies Cady (Lindsay Lohan) and Regina (Rachel McAdams) compete over, among other things, the affection of Aaron "Terrible at Math" Samuels (Jonathan Bennett). </p>

<p> <strong>Released: </strong>2004 </p> <p> <strong>Triangle: </strong>Noah, Allie, and Lon </p> <p> <em>The Notebook </em>is a story of love-almost-lost. And no complicated and winding path to happily ever after is complete without a detour down Triangle Lane. Before Noah (Ryan Gosling) and Allie (Rachel McAdams) end up together, she comes *this close* to marrying nice guy Lon (James Marsden). </p>

<p> <strong>Released: </strong>1991 </p> <p> <strong>Triangle: </strong>Gaston, Belle, and the Beast </p> <p> You know that feeling when the popular jerk wants to marry you, but you would rather be the prisoner/eventually wife of a literal monster? Belle does. The Disney princess was pursued romantically by two very different suitors in this Disney favorite. </p>

<p> <strong>Released: </strong>1991 </p> <p> <strong>Triangle: </strong>The Narrator, Marla Singer, and Tyler Durden </p> <p> Like everything else about the movie, <em>Fight Club'</em>s twist on the love triangle between Edward Norton, Helena Bonham Carter, and Brad Pitt's characters is definitely unique. </p>

<p> <strong>Released: </strong>2000 </p> <p> <strong>Triangle: </strong>Cooper, Jody, and Charlie </p> <p> Lots of movies include love triangles (clearly), but how many turn them into epic ballet/hip-hop/interpretative dance hybrids for their finale? At least one. In <em>Center Stage</em>, unlikely ballerina Jody (Amanda Schull) is torn between professional dancer/bad boy Cooper (Ethan Stiefel) and nice guy (and also a fellow dancer) Charlie (Sascha Radetsky). </p>

<p> <strong>Released: </strong>2012 </p> <p> <strong>Triangle: </strong>Peeta, Katniss, and Gale </p> <p> <em>The Hunger Games </em>is proof that, even when characters are literally fighting for their lives, fans also want to see them fight for each other's hearts. In the <em>Hunger Games</em> series, Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) is caught between sweet, always-loyal Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) and brooding, strong Gale (Liam Hemsworth). </p>

<p> <strong>Released: </strong>1997 </p> <p> <strong>Triangle: </strong>Jack, Rose, and Cal </p> <p> <em>Titanic</em> is one of the most epic love stories ever committed to film, so it's easy to forget sometimes that the movie is also a member of the love triangle society. Even though Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Rose (Kate Winslet) are clearly tragic soulmates, we can't forget that Jack is, technically speaking, a sidepiece, since Rose is officially with Cal (Billy Zane) when they meet. </p>

<p> <strong>Released:</strong> 2011 </p> <p> <strong>Triangle:</strong> Rachel, Dex, and Darcy </p> <p> Rachel (Ginnifer Goodwin) loves Dex (Colin Egglesfield), who happens to be engaged to her best friend, Darcy (Kate Hudson). Talk about inconvenient. But when Rachel and Dex realize their feelings for each other can't be ignored, Rachel wavers between playing the role of supportive friend and backstabbing temptress. While we don't condone actively ruining relationships, this is one instance where we're rooting for the other woman. </p>

<p> <strong>Released:</strong> 1942 </p> <p> <strong>Triangle:</strong> Rick, Ilsa, and Victor </p> <p> After roaming around Europe, expat Rick (Humphrey Bogart) has made himself a new life in Casablanca. Rick obtains some valuable war documents, which leads him to meet Czech resistance leader Victor (Paul Henreid). Accompanying Victor is his wife, Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman), who just happens to be Rick's former lover who abandoned him in Paris. Victor needs the documents Rick is entrusted with to escape Morocco, but Rick refuses to hand them over. We don't blame him—what kind of guy gives up both the girl and the goods? </p>

<p> <strong>Released:</strong> 1997 </p> <p> <strong>Triangle:</strong> Julianne, Michael, and Kimberly </p> <p> Best friends Michael (Dermot Mulroney) and Julianne (Julia Roberts) promise to wed if neither are attached by the time they're 28. Days before her fateful birthday, Julianne receives the news that Michael is set to marry a young, hot blonde. If that's not enough of a letdown, Michael's fiancée, Kimberly (Cameron Diaz), is, well, perfect. Chaos ensues, including Julianne's futile attempt to explain that while Michael is Jell-O, Kimberly will always be crème brûlée. Who knew dessert could be so enlightening? </p>

<p> <strong>Released:</strong> 1967 </p> <p> <strong>Triangle:</strong> Mrs. Robinson, Benjamin, and Elaine </p> <p> Long before the term "cougar" entered the lexicon, Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft) was setting the standard for hot moms everywhere. College grad Benjamin (Dustin Hoffman) finds himself in a sticky situation when he begins an affair with the much-older wife of his father's business partner. To make matters worse, he finds himself dating—and falling for—her age-appropriate daughter, Elaine (Katharine Ross). Talk about keeping it in the family. We're just glad Grandma wasn't thrown into the equation. </p>

<p> <strong>Released:</strong> 2005 </p> <p> <strong>Triangle:</strong> Nola, Chris, and Chloe </p> <p> Chris (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), a former tennis pro turned instructor, is introduced to friend Tom's little sister, Chloe (Emily Mortimer). She sparks Chris' interest but doesn't catch his eye quite like Tom's girlfriend Nola (Scarlett Johansson). Proving he's as skilled at juggling women as tennis balls, Chris carries on an affair with Nola soon after marrying naive Chloe. Nola then throws a curveball at her lover, resulting in a catastrophic ending for both. Put simply, this Woody Allen thriller makes us thankful for background checks. </p>

<p> <strong>Released:</strong> 2001 </p> <p> <strong>Triangle:</strong> Mark, Bridget, and Daniel </p> <p> Finally, a damsel in distress with real-life woes we can relate to. Insecure with her weight, career, and imperfections, Bridget (Renée Zellweger) makes a resolution to journal the truth and nothing but the truth. Things soon get complicated when she must juggle the affections of her seedy boss Daniel (Hugh Grant) and the much-too-uptight Mark Darcy (Colin Firth). All ends well with Bridget's story, reassuring us that you don't have to be perfectly poised to find Mr. Right. </p>

<p> <strong>Released:</strong> 2008 </p> <p> <strong>Triangle:</strong> Cristina, Juan Antonio, and Maria Elena </p> <p> Surprise! Yet another movie where ScarJo finds herself mixed up in a romantic trio. Risk-taker Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) and modest Vicky (Rebecca Hall) travel to Spain and meet artist Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem). He boldly asks them to spend a weekend together, and the women agree. Juan's serious baggage—in the form of his psychotic, knife-wielding ex-wife, Maria Elena (Penélope Cruz)—joins the bunch and, naturally, complicates things further. </p>

<p> <strong>Released:</strong> 1954 </p> <p> <strong>Triangle:</strong> Linus, Sabrina, and David </p> <p> Ultimate bachelor David (William Holden) has ignored the affections of young, shy Sabrina (Audrey Hepburn) for years. After a brief stint in Paris, Sabrina returns a new woman, catching the eye of her womanizing former crush. David's brother, Linus (Humphrey Bogart), recognizes the relationship's threat to David's upcoming wedding and business deals, so he decides to split up the two by making Sabrina fall in love with him. Easier said than done, especially in the case of bad boy versus Mr. (Kind Of) Nice Guy. </p>

<p> <strong>Released:</strong> 1994 </p> <p> <strong>Triangle:</strong> Troy, Lelaina, and Michael </p> <p> Ah, the '90s: Lelaina (Winona Ryder) is an aspiring filmmaker documenting the lives of her roommates, including long time friend Troy (Ethan Hawke). Although the unspoken attraction between the two once led to a drunken night together, Lelaina begins dating TV exec Michael (Ben Stiller) after he crashes into her car. The two soon fizzle, and Lelaina finds herself in the unassuming arms of Troy yet again. But things get dramatic when Troy doesn't return her calls, proving to us even angsty, artsy types are guilty of bad-boy behavior. </p>

<p> <strong>Released:</strong> 1939 </p> <p> <strong>Triangle:</strong> Rhett, Scarlett, and Ashley </p> <p> In the midst of the Civil War, Scarlett (Vivien Leigh) is desperate (and may we add, a little selfish?) for the affections of two different men: new suitor Rhett (Clark Gable) and longtime love Ashley (Leslie Howard). Several years, marriages, children, and (sheesh!) deaths later, Rhett becomes fed up with Scarlett's indecisiveness and chooses to leave <em>her</em> with one of the most famous lines in movie history: "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn!" </p>

From Gone With the Wind to Mean Girls, these are cinema's most fraught love triangles

What will make a love story even more dramatic? Add another person. Love triangles have been a cinematic go-to since the days of silent films. These three-way love connections have the power to turn casual viewers into full-on stans and transform movie watching into a competitive experience. From the classic good guy versus bad boy dynamic of movies like Titanic to modern-day vampire lust in Twilight, we've rounded up some of cinema's most fraught love stories.

By Kayleigh Roberts, Rachel Sylvester

Getty Images

From Gone With the Wind to Mean Girls, these are cinema's most fraught love triangles

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The Best Love Triangles In Movie History

From Gone With the Wind to Mean Girls, these are cinema's most fraught love triangles

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