Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers is the number one movie in the world right now, and it’s not hard to figure out why. Apart from how the film is new gen movie star Zendaya’s first ever leading role, the reason why people are travelling in hoards to catch Challengers on the big screen is the love triangle at the centre of the film. When it comes to film tropes, love triangles are a foolproof way to set tongues wagging, as seen by blockbuster hits like The Twilight Saga and The Hunger Games. There’s just something about three or more people stuck in a cycle of love, jealousy, and rivalry that peaks the interest like no other. In honour of Challengers, let’s revisit some of our favourite movies with the best love triangles.
It’s a Love Triangle Fest With These Movies!
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1. Love Actually (2003)
Did anyone call for a Christmas classic? There are very few films that can rival Love Actually‘s rock-solid position in the holiday season. Depicting the story of multiple couples whose lives intersect in one way or the other, Love Actually‘s love triangle can be found within Juliet, Peter, and Mark’s tale. Juliet and Peter are newlyweds but Peter’s best friend, Mark, appears to hate Juliet. However, in an incredibly awkward scene, it was revealed that Mark is actually in love with his best friend’s wife. Who needs morals when you have an iconic Christmas love confession scene?
2. Imagine Me & You (2005)
Another homewrecker movie we can’t help but love despite better judgement, Imagine Me & You centres around a married couple named Rachel and Hector, AKA Heck, and their wedding florist, Luce. Rachel made eye contact with Luce while walking down the aisle — to marry Heck! — and the rest is history. Imagine Me & You proves that falling in love at first sight isn’t as simple as it sounds, especially when there’s a marriage involved. Shoutout to Heck for being the most understanding husband in history, though.
3. Enchanted (2007)
Oh, to literally have a fairytale love story, what more can a girl ask for? Apparently, Giselle can think of a few. The Giselle-Edward-Robert-Nancy love triangle (love square?) is riddled with classic Disney hilarity, both in the animated fairy tale kingdom of Andalasia and in live-action New York City. To be fair to Giselle, Prince Edward isn’t exactly the sharpest knife in the kitchen, so it’s no wonder that she fell for the grumpy and cynical single father, Robert. We’re just glad everything ended happily ever after for all parties involved.
4. The Other Boleyn Girl (2008)
Is The Other Boleyn Girl historically accurate? Not really. Is there a love triangle in the movie? You bet! Based on its eponymous novel, The Other Boleyn Girl details the 16th-century experiences of real historical figures, namely Mary Boleyn, her sister Anne, and King Henry VIII. If you’ve never heard of Anne Boleyn, consider yourself lucky, as her fate is nothing short of tragic. Try not to judge the Boleyn girls too harshly, as the 1700s weren’t exactly a period for feminism. However, feel free to judge notorious womaniser King Henry VIII however you like.
5. Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
We can’t avoid commenting on how the participants in Vicky Cristina Barcelona‘s love affair are all so attractive. Imagine your love life is intertwined with Javier Bardem, Penélope Cruz, Rebecca Hall, and Scarlett Johansson — swoon! Another love square, this Academy Award-winning movie depicts the fraught relationship between Juan Antonio, Maria Elena, Vicky, and Cristina. The latter two are visiting Barcelona in the summer, whereas the former pair are locals — and also a divorced couple. Let’s just say that the Vicky Cristina Barcelona love story is a hectic one from start to finish.
6. Emma (2020)
Forget love triangles and squares, the entanglements within the 2020 adaptation of Jane Austen’s beloved novel, Emma, is a doozy. To sum things up, the characters Emma, Mr. Knightley, Harriet, Jane, and Frank are all embroiled in pesky matchmaking, unrequited crushes, and hidden yet requited love. We’re particularly obsessed with the love triangle between the former three, as Emma’s romantic love for Mr. Knightley and her platonic one for Harriet stood at odds with each other. Three cheers for Emma as she handled the situation like a pro!
7. Past Lives (2023)
In the mood to cry your eyes out? We recommend getting emotionally involved in Past Lives‘ love triangle. This Oscar-nominated movie is the bane of existence for all hopeless romantics out there, as it’s a very real depiction of the hated phrase, “right person, wrong time.” If any of us were to find ourselves in a similar situation as the one in Past Lives — God forbid — we could only hope that we’d navigate the heartbreaking situation as well as Nora, Hae Sung, and particularly Arthur, did.
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