The 20 Most Iconic Love Triangles in Movie History

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Ignacio Weil

Entertainment - February 23rd 2025, 15:40 GMT+1

Cropped About — About this gallery:

For this list, we’re focusing on movies where the love triangle isn’t just a subplot – it’s the main event, the driving force behind every dramatic twist, longing glance, and emotional meltdown. These films don’t just *feature* a love triangle; they *live* for it.

To keep things interesting (and historically balanced), we’ve arranged them in order of release year. Think we missed an iconic three-way romance (or more)? Drop it in the comments – we’re always here for a little extra drama!

Cropped The Philadelphia Story — The Philadelphia Story (1940)

Rich people problems? Check. A feisty heroine? Check. A love triangle that keeps you guessing? Absolutely. *The Philadelphia Story* throws Katharine Hepburn into a whirlwind of romance, stuck between her charming ex-husband (Cary Grant) and her well-meaning but slightly dull fiancé (John Howard). Enter a cynical yet swoon-worthy reporter (James Stewart), and suddenly, it’s anyone’s game. Will she choose the fiery past, the predictable future, or the wild card? This classic rom-com proves that sometimes, the best love stories come with a little champagne and a lot of witty banter. | © MGM

Cropped Casablanca — Casablanca (1942)

"Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine." And just like that, we have one of cinema’s most legendary love triangles. Bogart’s jaded nightclub owner, Ingrid Bergman’s luminous lost love, and Paul Henreid’s noble resistance fighter – *Casablanca* is romance, tragedy, and patriotism all rolled into one. The stakes? Oh, just love versus duty in the middle of World War II. While we all secretly wanted Rick and Ilsa to sail off into the mist together, sometimes love means letting go. Play it again, Sam, and we’ll cry every time. | © Warner Bros.

Cropped Sabrina — Sabrina (1954)

A chauffeur’s daughter, two wildly different brothers, and one life-changing trip to Paris – *Sabrina* is a love triangle with a Cinderella twist. Audrey Hepburn is the wide-eyed girl next door who returns from France impossibly chic, instantly catching the eye of the charming yet womanizing playboy (William Holden). But hold on – his practical, business-minded older brother (Humphrey Bogart) suddenly seems interested too. Is it love, or is it corporate strategy? Either way, with Hepburn at the center, you can’t go wrong. It’s romance, deception, and Givenchy dresses, all in glorious black and white. | © Paramount Pictures

Cropped The Apartment — The Apartment (1960)

This isn’t your typical love triangle – it’s messier, sadder, and way more cynical. Jack Lemmon plays the ultimate underdog, loaning out his apartment to philandering executives in hopes of climbing the corporate ladder. But when he falls for Shirley MacLaine’s elevator operator, who just happens to be entangled with his married boss, things get complicated. *The Apartment* is equal parts heartbreak and humor, proving that love isn’t always grand gestures – it’s sometimes just a bowl of spaghetti and a broken tennis racket. And in the end, isn’t that what we all want? | © United Artists

Cropped The Graduate — The Graduate (1967)

Ah, the love triangle that gave us one of the most awkward seductions in film history. Dustin Hoffman’s fresh-out-of-college Benjamin Braddock finds himself entangled with the iconic Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft), only to later fall for her daughter, Elaine (Katharine Ross). Cue the uncomfortable family dinners. But is Benjamin really in love, or just desperately trying to make sense of adulthood? With its sharp social commentary and one of the most famous endings in cinema (hello, that bus scene), *The Graduate* is a love triangle that’s as unsettling as it is unforgettable. | © Embassy Pictures

Cropped Sunday Bloody Sunday — Sunday Bloody Sunday (1971)

Love triangles are messy, but this one takes a refreshingly mature approach. *Sunday Bloody Sunday* gives us Peter Finch and Glenda Jackson, two sophisticated adults who are fully aware that they’re sharing the same younger lover (Murray Head). No petty jealousy, no dramatic confrontations – just a quiet, aching acceptance of modern love’s complexities. It’s a rare kind of triangle where everyone knows what’s going on, yet heartbreak is still inevitable. With its groundbreaking take on bisexuality and open relationships, this film was way ahead of its time. Who knew emotional restraint could be so devastating? | © United Artists

Cropped Shes Gotta Have It — She’s Gotta Have It (1986)

Why settle for just one partner when you can have three? Spike Lee’s debut feature flips the traditional love triangle on its head as free-spirited Nola Darling juggles three very different men – Jamie, Greer, and Mars – without any intention of choosing just one. It’s her world, they’re just living in it. With its bold storytelling, stylish black-and-white cinematography, and feminist perspective, *She’s Gotta Have It* challenges everything we thought we knew about romance. The real question isn’t who Nola will end up with – it’s whether she even wants to be tied down at all. | © Island Pictures

Cropped My Best Friends Wedding — My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997)

This love triangle is pure chaos, and we love every second of it. Julia Roberts plays Julianne, who realizes she’s in love with her best friend (Dermot Mulroney) just days before his wedding – to the annoyingly perfect Cameron Diaz. What follows is a delightful (and slightly unhinged) sabotage attempt, complete with singalongs, seafood-related disasters, and a healthy dose of self-sabotage. Unlike most rom-coms, this one reminds us that not all love stories end with the girl getting the guy. And honestly? That’s what makes it so unforgettable. | © TriStar Pictures

Cropped Bridget Joness Diary — Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)

Two British men fighting over one delightfully messy woman? Yes, please. Bridget Jones (Renée Zellweger) finds herself caught between bad-boy Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant) and awkward but lovable Mark Darcy (Colin Firth), and honestly, we get it – choosing between them is no easy task. With diary confessions, ridiculous holiday sweaters, and one of the best on-screen brawls in rom-com history, *Bridget Jones’s Diary* delivers a love triangle filled with equal parts romance and comedy. And in the end, it reminds us that sometimes, the right choice is the one who likes you just as you are. | © Miramax Films

Cropped Y Tu Mamá También — Y tu mamá también (2001)

Some love triangles are messy, but *Y tu mamá también* is a full-blown emotional rollercoaster. Two horny teenage best friends (Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna) convince an older, mysterious woman (Maribel Verdú) to join them on a road trip, and let’s just say things get… complicated. What starts as a coming-of-age adventure quickly turns into something deeper, as buried desires, betrayals, and heartbreak bubble to the surface. Equal parts erotic and melancholic, this film doesn’t just explore sex – it explores the fleeting nature of youth and the painful lessons of love. | © 20th Century Fox

Cropped Somethings Gotta Give — Something’s Gotta Give (2003)

Who says love triangles are only for the young? *Something’s Gotta Give* proves that romance – and romantic dilemmas – don't have an expiration date. Jack Nicholson plays a lifelong bachelor who unexpectedly falls for his much-younger girlfriend’s mother, played by the ever-glamorous Diane Keaton. Cue the existential crisis, beach house shenanigans, and a lot of turtlenecks. Enter Keanu Reeves as the charming doctor who has his eye on Keaton, and suddenly, she has to choose between a reformed rogue and a perfect gentleman. It’s witty, warm, and reminds us that sometimes, the best love stories start later in life. | © Warner Bros.

Cropped Closer — Closer (2004)

If love triangles are messy, *Closer* is an emotional demolition derby. This film doesn’t just give us one love triangle – it gives us a tangled web of betrayals, seductions, and brutal honesty. Jude Law, Natalie Portman, Julia Roberts, and Clive Owen take turns falling in and out of love, switching partners like a high-stakes game of musical chairs. There’s no sweeping romance here, just raw, unfiltered human connection – and a few of the most cutting breakup lines in movie history (looking at you, Clive Owen). If you like your love triangles with a side of heartbreak and existential dread, this one’s for you. | © Sony Pictures Entertainment

Cropped The Notebook — The Notebook (2004)

Ah yes, the love triangle that launched a thousand tear-streaked faces. In *The Notebook*, Allie (Rachel McAdams) is torn between her passionate, working-class first love Noah (Ryan Gosling) and her sophisticated, stable fiancé Lon (James Marsden). It’s a choice between a love that sets the world on fire and one that makes life feel safe and easy. We all know who she ends up with (hello, iconic rain kiss), but Lon is such a genuinely good guy that it almost hurts to see him lose. This one isn’t just a love triangle – it’s a grand, sweeping, Nicholas Sparks-fueled emotional ambush. | © New Line Cinema

Cropped The Great Gatsby — The Great Gatsby (2013)

Few love triangles are as tragically glamorous as the one in *The Great Gatsby*. Leonardo DiCaprio’s Jay Gatsby has spent years throwing elaborate parties and making shady business deals, all to win back his lost love, Daisy Buchanan (Carey Mulligan). The only problem? She’s married to the brutish yet ridiculously wealthy Tom Buchanan (Joel Edgerton), and he’s not about to let her go. What follows is a glittering, champagne-soaked collision of desire, status, and heartbreak, proving that sometimes, love isn't enough to rewrite the past. Beautiful, devastating, and filled with Lana Del Rey songs – what more could you ask for? | © Warner Bros.

Cropped Brooklyn — Brooklyn (2015)

Some love triangles are about fiery passion, and some are about choosing between two different futures. *Brooklyn* gives us Eilis (Saoirse Ronan), a young Irish immigrant in 1950s New York, caught between two lives – and two men. There’s Tony (Emory Cohen), the sweet, devoted Italian-American who makes her feel at home in Brooklyn, and Jim (Domhnall Gleeson), the quietly charming Irishman who tempts her back to the life she left behind. It’s not just about romance; it’s about identity, belonging, and the impossible decision of where (and with whom) you truly belong. And honestly? It’s a good problem to have. | © Fox Searchlight Pictures

Cropped The Favourite — The Favourite (2018)

What’s better than a love triangle? A royal love triangle with power plays, scheming, and rabbits – lots of rabbits. In *The Favourite*, Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) finds herself caught between two fiercely ambitious women: her long-time confidante (and occasional lover) Lady Sarah (Rachel Weisz) and the cunning new court arrival, Abigail (Emma Stone). This isn’t just about romance – it’s about control, survival, and who gets to whisper in the Queen’s ear. With biting humor, elaborate costumes, and some truly chaotic energy, this love triangle is both wickedly entertaining and deeply tragic. Also, never underestimate the power of a well-timed poison. | © Fox Searchlight Pictures

Cropped The Half of It — The Half of It (2020)

Who knew a love triangle could be this sweet, smart, and introspective? *The Half of It* flips the classic Cyrano de Bergerac story on its head, following Ellie Chu (Leah Lewis), a shy, bookish teenager who ghostwrites love letters for jock-with-a-heart-of-gold Paul (Daniel Diemer). The catch? The girl Paul is wooing – Aster (Alexxis Lemire) – just so happens to be the very person Ellie secretly loves. What follows is a beautifully layered exploration of identity, friendship, and longing. It’s not about winning the girl – it’s about finding yourself in the process. And honestly, we wouldn’t mind Ellie writing our texts for us. | © Netflix

Cropped The Worst Person in the World — The Worst Person in the World (2021)

If there were an award for the most painfully relatable love triangle, *The Worst Person in the World* would take the prize. Julie (Renate Reinsve) is a woman in her late twenties, torn between two very different relationships – one with Aksel (Anders Danielsen Lie), a successful and older graphic novelist, and the other with Eivind (Herbert Nordrum), a laid-back barista who represents a freer, less complicated life. But here’s the kicker: this isn’t just about choosing between two men, it’s about choosing between two versions of herself. Deep, bittersweet, and unexpectedly funny, this film nails the existential crisis of modern love. | © Neon

Cropped Past Lives — Past Lives (2023)

What’s more heartbreaking than a love triangle? A love triangle where no one is really at fault. *Past Lives* gives us childhood sweethearts Nora (Greta Lee) and Hae Sung (Teo Yoo), who reconnect years later, despite her being married to the incredibly supportive Arthur (John Magaro). There’s no villain, no betrayal – just the quiet ache of wondering what might have been. This film isn’t about dramatic declarations or heated arguments; it’s about fate, timing, and the deep, unspoken love that lingers between people, even when life takes them in different directions. Bring tissues. Lots of them. | © A24

Cropped Challengers — Challengers (2024)

Tennis, tension, and tangled emotions – *Challengers* isn’t just about a love triangle, it’s about a love *rivalry*. Zendaya plays Tashi, a former tennis prodigy turned coach, caught in a complicated dynamic with her husband (Mike Faist) and his former best friend/rival (Josh O’Connor). Oh, and did we mention they all used to be in love with each other? Between flashbacks, on-court battles, and off-court mind games, this isn’t just a story about relationships – it’s about ambition, power, and the fine line between love and competition. Game, set, drama. | © MGM

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Love triangles have long been a staple of cinema, captivating audiences with their intense emotions, heart-wrenching decisions, and unforgettable drama. Whether it's a forbidden romance, a battle between fate and free will, or a clash of passion and duty, these tangled relationships create some of the most compelling moments in film history. From classic Hollywood dramas to modern blockbusters, love triangles add depth, tension, and unpredictability to storytelling.

In this list, we’ll explore the 20 most iconic love triangles in movie history, showcasing the films that made us root for (or against) certain couples, question loyalty, and embrace the beauty of complicated love. Whether you're a fan of epic romances, tragic affairs, or slow-burning love stories, these films have left a lasting mark on audiences worldwide.