Summary

• Enemies-to-lovers relationships in movies and TV shows often showcase undeniable chemistry, leading to cathartic moments for characters and audiences alike.
• Iconic examples such as Rey & Kylo Ren and Maddie & David from "Moonlighting" demonstrate how enemies-turned-lovers stories have been captivating fans for over 80 years.
• These stories remind viewers that love can overcome differences and wait in the most unlikely places, warming hearts through unlikely romance pairings.

Sometimes, the best relationships in movies and television shows stem from the characters' initial hatred of one another in the enemies-to-lovers trope, and the best enemies-to-lovers often have fantastic chemistry. In the beginning, characters can despise each other. It might even seem that they will never be physically or emotionally attracted to one another, even though they have that undeniable chemistry. Fans often recognize the potential of the relationship long before the characters do.

When these enemies finally confess their feelings, it's incredibly cathartic for the audience and creates special moments for the characters. The best enemies-to-lovers movies form a long history stretching back for over 80 years, and examples of the formula in TV shows have made for some of the most well-known storylines ever broadcast. Whether classics or modern-day hits, enemies-turned-lovers stories still warm viewers' hearts by showing how people can overcome differences and how romance can wait around even the most unlikely corners.

Honorable Mention: Rey & Kylo Ren/Ben Solo

The Star Wars Sequel Trilogy (2015–2019)

From a strong rivalry in the first of the Star Wars sequel trilogy movies, The Force Awakens, to a clear attraction in the second part, The Last Jedi, the heroic Rey (Daisy Ridley) and the villainous Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) fall in love by the end of the Skywalker saga, with the experience returning Ren to his true self, Ben Solo. However, they spend a lot of time being pitted against one another before they do, as Kylo Ren believes himself to be on the side of the Sith.

In of physical affection, beyond a touching of fingertips through the power of the Force, the two get to share only one kiss, but it was a momentous one nonetheless.

Though fans had well and truly shipped the two, their brief romance was not as big a hit as the one between Ren's parents, Han Solo and Leia Organa, from the original Star Wars trilogy. In of physical affection, beyond a touching of fingertips through the power of the Force, the two get to share only one kiss, but it was a momentous one nonetheless.

Maddie Hayes & David Addison

Moonlighting (1985-1989)

The 1980s had some great enemies-to-lovers stories on television, and one of the most popular was Maddie and Dave on Moonlighting. It was a tale of opposites. In Moonlighting, Maddie (Cybill Shepherd) is a former high-fashion model who goes bankrupt when her ant embezzles her money. She ends up having to run the detective agency she already owned as a tax write-off. She uses her celebrity status to get clients but constantly clashes with her private detective, David (played by Bruce Willis).

The sexual chemistry was there from the start. While fans loved watching Maddie and David on cases, what was exciting was watching them bicker and slowly grow closer until they finally ended up together. It was a huge moment for fans, but it might have happened too soon. The two finally showed they loved each other, despite their differences, in season three, and then the ratings started dropping. WIthout the sexual tension and will-they-won't-they question, the show slowly died off.

Selene & Michael Corvin

Underworld (2003)

Underworld is a fantasy action movie set on an Earth where vampires and Lycans (werewolves) exist and have been at war with each other for centuries. This all started thanks to brothers (one Lycan and one vampire). In the present day, the Lycans have figured out that if they find a descendant in that family's bloodline, they can create hybrids and become all-powerful, winning the war. That descendant is Michael Corvin (Scott Speedman), a medical student. The vampires send their "Death Dealers" out to eliminate the problem.

The enemies-to-lovers storyline comes when one of the Death Dealers (Kate Beckinsale's Selene) falls in love with Michael and ends up turning on her kind, finding the two of them in a battle with both sides in the war. A lot happens in this movie, and the world-building becomes even more intense in the sequels. However, what carries the first movie, above even the intense gun fights and action scenes, is the story between the enemies turned into lovers and how their love triumphs over all.

Andie Anderson & Benjamin Barry

How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days (2003)

How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days is a romantic comedy that plays in the same sandbox as the classic romantic comedies from the 1930s and 1940s. The tropes are all there, with the two characters being foils for each other throughout, without realizing that true love is there waiting for them to stop being stubborn and finally discover it. In this case, Andie Anderson is a women's magazine writer who wants to write an article that shows how a woman can make any man dump them in 10 days.

As expected, they end up together, one wanting to drive the other away while the other wants to fight for love, neither one being honest with the other.

Benjamin Barry is an advertising exec and womanizer who makes a bet with his friends that he can make any woman fall in love with him in 10 days. As expected, they end up together, one wanting to drive the other away while the other wants to fight for love, neither one being honest with the other. Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson have fantastic chemistry in their roles, and by the time they both realize how they really feel, they also realize they have been deceived, making their eventual pairing even better.

Jake Sully & Neytiri Te Tskaha Mo'at'ite

Avatar (2009)

Since both movies are so long and have great depth, it is hard to at times that the beloved couple of Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Naytiri (Zoe Saldana) were enemies-turned-lovers. The two are such a strong family in Avatar: The Way of Water, and their love is so intense that it seems like their days as enemies were in the deep past. However, before they fell in love and raised a family, Naytiri especially hated Jake, believing he was dangerous and a threat to her people.

Neytiri was the daughter of the Omaticaya leader and the heir of the clan's spiritual leader. Jake was sent in as an undercover soldier to infiltrate the village to eventually help the humans take the land. However, while he falls in love with Neytiri, who saves him at the start, his actions lead to the destruction of the Hometree and many deaths, including Neytiri's father. She eventually falls in love with him despite his lies and deception, but the relationship seems doomed until he finally becomes a hero.

Walter Burns & Hildy Johnson

His Girl Friday (1940)

His Girl Friday is one of the best enemies-to-lovers movies in history. It was released in 1940 during the height of the screwball comedies, as they were known at the time. Howard Hawks (Bringing Up Baby, The Big Sleep) directs the film, which follows a newspaper editor named Walter Burns who sets out to sabotage his ex-wife's wedding. The cast is what really makes this movie such a treat, with Cary Grant as Walter and Rosalind Russell as his ex-wife, Hildy.

Hildy is always Walter's equal, and this is an early look at a strong woman who won't put up with fools.

The movie has a lot going on, with Hildy agreeing to come back to work for Walter to interview a convict on death row, Walter framing Hildy's fiance more than once to get him put in jail, and Hildy always remaining smart enough to match up with Walter in their battle of wills. The movie was ahead of its time. While a girl, "Friday," is subservient to their boss, in this movie, Hildy is always Walter's equal, and this is an early look at a strong woman who won't put up with fools, even if they do fall in love again at the end.

Patrick Brewer & David Rose

Schitt's Creek (2015–2020)

The rivalry between David (Dan Levy) and Patrick (Noah Reid) on Schitt's Creek hilariously only lasted about one episode. It was also incredibly one-sided, making this the fastest movement in the enemies-to-lovers trope on TV. David attempts to open up a new business and has to get licensing to do so. He meets Patrick, who is in charge of issuing the licenses, and is immediately upset when Patrick asks questions about his business plan.

David isn't sure how to answer the questions and sees it as Patrick being rude. David is offended by the behavior and ready to start a rivalry, but in reality, Patrick is just doing his job. Patrick makes that clear to him when he gives him advice later. The two eventually become friends, go into business together, and have an adorable and ive relationship that leads to marriage in the series finale.

Johnny Castle & s "Baby" Houseman

Dirty Dancing (1987)

Johnny (Patrick Swayze) and Baby (Jennifer Grey) from Dirty Dancing are a classic example of an enemies-to-lovers relationship. The two begin the movie hating each other as they don't understand, or want to understand, their different lives. Baby is a rich daddy's girl who appears picture-perfect and Johnny is an employee known for his dirty dancing.

Circumstance forces them to work and train together for a dance competition, and it begins horribly as they both frustrate each other. Their boiling-over frustration is part of what showcases their chemistry. As the movie goes on the two become close and truly learn to care for each other. The relationship itself may be a little dated by modern standards but "the move" from their dance routine remains iconic and often replicated. It is the adults in the movie that really drives these hated rivals together.

Jane Villanueva & Rafael Solano

Jane The Virgin (2014–2019)

Jane (Gina Rodriguez) and Rafael (Justin Baldoni) had a difficult relationship at the beginning because their story was so unexpected and very Telenovela-like, as Jane the Virgin was known for. This made the eventual payoff especially meaningful, even though most fans could see it coming from a mile away.

Jane and Rafael share a moment before their true story begins, and Jane has highly regarded their single kiss in her romantic history. At the same time, Rafael completely forgot who she was until she is accidentally artificially inseminated with his child. They had a difficult time understanding each other's differing personalities as well. Rafael initially believed a problem could be avoided by throwing money at it while Jane believed it had to be worked out. Their endgame status seemed fairly confirmed by the show's overall premise, however, and they eventually found their way into a relationship and marriage.

Leslie Knope & Ben Wyatt

Parks And Recreation (2009–2015)

Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) instantly hates Ben Wyatt (Adam Scott) when he arrives in Pawnee, Indiana on Parks and Recreation and Ben returns her hatred as he thinks he's going to move on to the next town within a few months. Ben has come to Pawnee to fix Leslie's budget and Leslie sees him as the enemy of her success.

The longer Ben stays in Pawnee, the more the two bond, and Leslie sees him as a truly good person who she falls for over the next few seasons. Ben also falls for Leslie and the two start a relationship that eventually leads to marriage. Their clear endgame relationship is one of the show's best aspects, even though Ben wasn't introduced in Parks and Recreation until after season one. This was a relationship all the fans were behind by the end.