While films like 10 Things I Hate About You harbor some of the most famous kisses in cinema history, that doesn’t necessarily mean they made headlines. There’s a difference between the kisses that remain popular for their swoon-worthy presentation and those that garnered attention for famous firsts, pushing censorship boundaries, and behind-the-scenes controversy. This guide is for the films that rocketed into headlines and continue to pop back up in the ethos of the Internet because people can’t stop talking about them.
Here are 10 famous movie kisses that made the news for the good, the bad, and the everything in between, listed in order of release.
Rhett Butler & Scarlett O’Hara - Gone With the Wind (1939)
“You should be kissed and often, and by someone who knows how.” It doesn’t get much more iconic than the kiss shared between Rhett Butler and Scarlett O’Hara in Gone With the Wind. Their ion practically jumps through the screen, earning the movie a permanent spot on lists like this. At the time, Clark Gabel was one of Hollywood’s most sought-after actors, but a then-relatively unknown Vivien Leigh confessed she disliked kissing him, blaming his smelly dentures. The media loves star-drenched drama, and Leigh and Gabel’s behind-the-scenes tension fueled tabloid stories. Of course, Gone With the Wind came with content controversies, too, including accusations of romanticizing the South during a time of extreme racial inequality.
Karen Holmes & Sgt. Milton Warden - From Here to Eternity (1953)
Don’t think a war film can get a little steamy? Tell that to From Here to Eternity. Chronicling the stories of three Army soldiers stationed in Hawaii before the lead-up to Pearl Harbor, the film became a talking point in 1953—and it didn’t just have to do with the bevy of Academy Award nominations and Best Picture win. Deborah Kerr and Burt Lancaster’s famous beach scene featured the ocean-soaked actors kissing in the sand. While comparatively tame by today’s standards, the scene pushed the limits of ’50 censorship, especially with the Hays Code still very much in effect.
Luke and Leia - Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Long before Jaime and Cersei Lannister made jaws-drop in A New Hope), George Lucas hadn’t decided to make Luke and Leia siblings yet. Was it wise to make that change during the last film in the original trilogy? Probably not, but at least we got some great memes out of it.
Spider-Man & Mary Jane - Spider-Man (2002)
Those familiar with Sam Raimi’s blood-spattered past with Spider-Man not only marked the first live-action outing for Marvel’s wallcrawler but also the first on-screen kiss between Spidey and Mary Jane. Hanging from a web in the rain, Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst) peels back the mask of Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man just enough to reveal his lips. What ensues is one of the most iconic rain-soaked kisses in cinema history. It might have been hellish to shoot, but the result was well worth it for audiences everywhere.
Jane Smith & John Smith - Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2005)
Brad Pitt. What started as rumors became fact, with the actors later itting they “fell in love” during filming, making Mr. and Mrs. Smith the birthplace of “Brangelina.”
Jack and Ennis - Brokeback Mountain (2005)
The first on-screen gay kisses extend back to the ’20s. One of the earliest same-sex cinematic kisses in 1927’s Jake Gyllenhaal) with that rough, push-against-the-wall kiss is one for the books. However, negative coverage by conservative media outlets and homophobic backlash plagued the film’s release. Still, Brokeback Mountain proved them all wrong. While it didn’t win Best Picture that year, it became a major milestone in queer cinema.
Kevin & Chiron - Moonlight (2016)
Sometimes a kiss is so good that it wins awards, and that’s precisely what happened with actors Ashton Sanders and Jharrel Jerome at the 2017 MTV Movies & TV Awards. Adapted from a play by Tarell Alvin McCraney, Moonlight follows Chiron through three significant parts of his life (boy, teen, and adult) as he navigates his sexuality. The award-winning first kiss occurs during Chiron’s teen years. Hollywood frequently ignores the early exploration, fearful firsts, and trepid vulnerability of younger gay men, making Moonlight’s media spotlight well-deserved. Not only did Sanders and Jerome walk away winners, but they became the first Black men ever nominated for “Best Kiss.” It also didn’t hurt that Moonlight won Best Picture at the Academy Awards.
Ellie Sattler & Alan Grant - Jurassic World Dominion (2022)
If you watched Jurassic World Dominion, Ellie and Alan finally got their shot at romance. After nearly 30 years, the scientists finally locked lips, which certainly makes up for the original kiss scene Steven Spielberg cut from Jurassic Park back in 1993.
Tashi, Patrick, and Art - Challengers (2024)
Sport romances are shaping up to be the hit subgenre of the decade, and Zendaya) and her ex-boyfriend (Josh O'Connor) and husband (Mike Faist) of opposing tennis levels, the film offers a captivating story about rivalry, competition, and sex that is hard to look away from. Script triumphs aside, Challengers’ three-way kiss between its lead characters took the Internet by storm. Used in promotional images and marketing, the kiss has become as famous as the movie itself.
Joe & Rose - The Last Rodeo (2025)
Boon, The Last Rodeo marks Ruve McDonough’s first turn in front of the camera. While the Western genre is nothing new to Neal McDonough, this time, he finally gets the girl.
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