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Whether you’re single or in a committed relationship, you're likely still hopeful that your love life will one day resemble the romances in the movies. Like the teen couples you admired on television back in the day, these classic silver-screen romances offered an inside look at the highs and lows of relationships before it was your turn to play the field. Through the breakups, the make-ups and the happily-ever-afters, you were right there with them.
And whereas relationships on TV have always unfolded gradually, films condense the rollercoaster of emotions into one sitting, making movie romances that much more intense. Which is why you never forgot these 25 Teen Movie Couples You Idolized Growing Up.
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Derek Reynolds and Sara Johnson in Save the Last Dance (2001)
Played by: Sean Patrick Thomas and Julia Stiles
Saying that Sara was down on her luck is quite the understatement: not only did she flub her audition to get into Juilliard, but her mom had a fatal car accident on her way there. But then Derek popped and locked his way into her heart, so it all evened out.
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Jack Dawson and Rose DeWitt Bukater in Titanic (1997)
Played by: Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet
Falling in love aboard the most famous ship of all time, Jack and Rose deserve all the credit for the term “shipping.” Yes, their romance was cut terribly short by that iceberg, but just like Rose, we never forgot about it.
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Dionne Davenport and Murray Duvall in Clueless (1995)
Played by: Stacey Dash and Donald Faison
With their constant bickering, Dionne and Murray could have easily been like that couple you've run into who can't keep it together in public. But instead of rolling our eyes, we couldn't look away because we all knew Dionne couldn't help but make up with him with just as much passion.
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Sam Baker and Jake Ryan in Sixteen Candles (1984)
Played by: Molly Ringwald and Michael Schoeffling
When it comes to teen couples of the ‘80s, Sam and Jake of Sixteen Candles take the (birthday) cake. We took notes because, to this day, the name “Jake Ryan” is used as a term for the perfect boyfriend.
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Landon Carter and Jamie Sullivan in A Walk to Remember (2002)
Played by: Shane West and Mandy Moore
Usually teen couples in movies face obstacles like disapproving parents or coming from opposing cliques. But those issues seemed petty compared to Landon and Jamie, who had to deal with her terminal illness. Bummer.
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Lloyd Dobler and Diane Court in Say Anything... (1989)
Played by: John Cusack and Ione Skye
Lloyd pioneered the go-to way to make your other half forgive you: When you can’t express your feelings in words, you stand outside her house and let a boom box do the talking.
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Veronica Sawyer and J.D. Dean in Heathers (1988)
Played by: Winona Ryder and Christian Slater
Growing up, if you couldn't stand the people around you, J.D. and Veronica's lethal union was the ultimate beacon of hope that yes, there was a ride-or-die girl out there who felt the same way. Although their dates consisted of killing off the obnoxious people who made high school hell (over the usual dinner-and-a-movie), the way they had each other's backs was totally admirable.
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Amanda Beckett and Preston Meyers in Can't Hardly Wait (1998)
Played by: Jennifer Love Hewitt and Ethan Embry
Before Drake made "YOLO" everyone's motto, Preston Meyers was taking control of his fate in Can’t Hardly Wait. When he finally got the courage to profess his love to his longtime crush, Preston pushed all of us to take the risk with the Amanda Beckett in our lives, too.
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Rat Ratner and Stacy Hamilton in Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
Played by: Brian Backer and Jennifer Jason Leigh
Fast Times at Ridgemont High was a PSA disguised as a comedy. In the pantheon of sexually charged ‘80s teen flicks, Rat is a wonder because he’s the one who said no to his crush Stacy. It went to show that if you’re not sure of how to do it the right way, waiting is always an option.
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Ronald Miller and Cindy Mancini in Can't Buy Me Love (1987)
Played by: Patrick Dempsey and Amanda Peterson
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Randall "Pink" Floyd and Jodi Kramer in Dazed and Confused (1993)
Played by: Jason London and Michelle Burke
Even though Pink was dating another girl, Simone, he was always interested in Jodi. When Pink and Jodi finally hooked up at that party in the woods, the lesson was loud and clear: Never settle, especially during high school.
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Joel Goodson and Lana in Risky Business (1983)
Played by: Tom Cruise and Rebecca De Mornay
High school student Joel and working girl Lana were supposed to have a strictly client/escort relationship. But when they got to business, even the doors of Joel’s house were blown away by the chemistry—literally.
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Cher Horowitz and Josh Lucas in Clueless (1995)
Played by: Alicia Silverstone and Paul Rudd
What made Cher and Josh's union so commendable is that he made it through uncharted territory: the ex-stepbrother zone. Despite Josh staying at her house, she still pursued by pretty boy Christian instead. But Cher came around and eventually realized that her true love was right under her nose the whole time.
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Jim Levenstein and Michelle Flaherty in the American Pie Series (1999-2012)
Played by: Jason Biggs and Alyson Hannigan
Jim may have infamously given the D to the pie, but he handed his heart to Michelle, who was thankfully a human and not a pastry. Whereas other teen comedies left us imagining the happily-ever-after of its protagonists, sequels like American Wedding have shown us that post-teen coupledom is just as much worth watching.
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Marty McFly and Jennifer Parker in the Back to the Future Trilogy (1985-1990)
Played by: Michael J. Fox and Elisabeth Shue
As a couple, Marty and Jennifer withstood the test of time, albeit in a whole new way thanks to the time-traveling DeLorean. While visiting the past in the first film, Marty almost hooked up with his mom as a teenager, while Jennifer got subjected to a grim look at what could have been her future with Marty in Part II. Time machine or not, they proved to be timeless.
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Andy Clark and Allison Reynolds in The Breakfast Club (1985)
Played by: Emilio Estevez and Ally Sheedy
If that Saturday detention taught us anything, it was that looks can be deceiving. Despite Andy’s status as a varsity jacket-wearing jock, he was just as flawed as everyone else, including the reclusive basket case Allison. Her makeover was hardly the reason they eventually kissed, since they already got to know each other on the inside. Awww.
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Danny Zuko and Sandy Olsson in Grease (1978)
Played by: John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John
In this 1950s-set musical, Danny and Sandy’s summer fling became complicated when it turned out they were now attending the same school. But through the ups and downs, they never stopped thinking about each other. Or singing.
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Ferris Bueller and Sloane Peterson in Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
Played by: Matthew Broderick and Mia Sara
Couples don’t get more adventurous than Ferris and Sloane, who skipped school together for a really long date. We would totally call out Ferris’ best friend Cameron for being the third wheel here, but we were there with them, too.
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Torrance Shipman and Cliff Pantone in Bring It On (2000)
Played by: Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Bradford
Despite the heated rivalry between the Toros and the Clovers, we found ourselves cheering for the team of Torrance and Cliff. This preppy cheerleader and low-key musician balanced each other out—while Cliff made her less high-strung, Torrance taught him school spirit can be cool, even incorporating the song he wrote for her into her cheerleading routine.
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Sebastian Valmont and Annette Hargrove in Cruel Intentions (1999)
Played by: Ryan Phillipe and Reese Witherspoon
At first, we were worried about what would happen when Sebastian decided to pursue the virginal Annette for the sake of a bet. But then he unexpectedly caught feelings and ultimately became selfless. Kind of a punk movie, but you know—emotions.
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Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet in Romeo and Juliet (1996)
Played by: Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes
In this modern interpretation of Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet were as star-crossed as ever. While their determination to be together was cool and all, their tragic ending made everyone think twice before saying they couldn’t live without their significant other.
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Zack Siler and Laney Boggs in She's All That (1999)
Played by: Freddie Prinze, Jr. and Rachael Leigh Cook
Zack and Laney were brought together by a bet (sidebar: why do so many people gamble with their hearts in teen movies?), challenging him to transform her from a nerdy artist into the prom queen. But we were betting on this couple way before Laney ditched the glasses for a slinky red dress. As Laney showed Zack to look beyond his clique, he helped her become more confident.
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Kat Stratford and Patrick Verona in 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
Played by: Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger
Normally putting on a song-and-dance routine for your girl in front of her entire soccer team is more likely to embarrass her than make her swoon. But Patrick’s cool yet playful rendition of “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” for Kat set the standard for how surprises should be done.
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Noah Calhoun and Allie Hamilton in The Notebook (2004)
Played by: Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams
Noah and Allie’s journey saw them go from smitten teens to an elderly couple fiercely latching onto each other until the end. Whether it was their spontaneous first date lying in the middle of the road, or their epic reconciliation in the rain, their romance made us feel all the feels. When it comes to The Notebook's legacy, Noah said it best: “It still isn’t over.”
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John Bender and Claire Standish in The Breakfast Club (1985)
Played by: Judd Nelson and Molly Ringwald
Sometimes, it isn’t love at first sight, and as John and Claire showed us, first impressions can be rough. On the outside, he may have been a rebel from the wrong side of the tracks, and she may have been known as the pristine princess. But as they fell in love in that library that Saturday morning, we learned to never judge a book by its cover.
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