17 Love Triangle Movies That Deliver The Relationship Drama

Relationship Status: An elderly man recounts the story of a young couple, Noah and Allie, who fell in love in the 1940s but faced insurmountable odds. Basically, their romance isn't a simple matter due to Allie's parents disapproving of her squeeze. While Noah serves in WWII, she falls for Lon. When Noah returns - and when Allie learns of the letters he sent her while he was away, which were intercepted by her mother - Allie becomes torn between her love for him and for Lon, to whom she's now engaged. In the end, this movie makes it clear that true love never dies, and soulmates will always find a way back to each other. 

Why It’s Worth Getting Involved: The Notebook is arguably the 21st century’s quintessential romantic tearjerker. The award-winning film’s sentimentality is so powerful that it will melt the iciest of hearts, so make sure you have a box of tissues handy. By no means does the period drama break the mold, but it’s a movie people still talk about 20 years later. Plus, The Notebook is full of wonderfully cheesy details that remind viewers why they love it and keep coming back. 

Drama Level: The Notebook is designed to bring on the waterworks, and that’s what makes it so special. 

Relationship Status: Melanie is a successful fashion designer who enjoys living it up in New York City. She’s also met the man of her dreams in the form of the rich and successful Andrew, who wants to marry her. There’s only one problem: Melanie is still married to her ex, Jake, who serves as a reminder of her Southern roots that she’s so desperate to forget about. This leads her on a pilgrimage back to Alabama to get a divorce, but her husband refuses to grant it, and Melanie remembers why she fell for Jake in the first place.

Why It’s Worth Getting Involved: At its core, Sweet Home Alabama is a story about accepting one's roots. The love triangle element will impress rom-com connoisseurs, but Melanie's journey of self-discovery is arguably more interesting than her relationships with the men in her life. Reese Witherspoon's outing as Melanie carries the movie, and she steals every scene, bringing a strong likability to the character. Film critic Roger Ebert also enjoyed the film, awarding it three stars while showering Witherspoon’s performance with praise.

Drama Level: Like the pecan pie the state is known for, Sweet Home Alabama is too sweet to hate. 

Relationship Status: Renée Zellweger plays the title character in this story of romance and self-improvement. After becoming single and fed up with her lot in life, Bridget decides to better herself, documenting her progress in a diary. Her new lifestyle improves her romantic prospects, too, as she finds two suitors in Mark Darcy and Daniel Cleaver (Colin Firth and Hugh Grant, respectively). Now, it's up to Bridget to decide which fella is the right guy for her - if her diary doesn't get her into trouble before “happily ever after” can commence. 

Why It’s Worth Getting Involved: The Bridget Jones franchise has an interesting legacy. It started as a newspaper column written by Helen Fielding, before becoming a best-selling novel and hit film series. Its success speaks for itself, proving that there are plenty of fans of the saga across various mediums. As far as love triangle stories go, Bridget Jones’s Diary is one of the more charming and wholesome ones - all thanks to a protagonist who's refreshingly imperfect and easy to sympathize with. 

Drama Level: Fans of romantic comedies should add an appointment with the Bridget Jones flicks to their diaries, especially if they're sick of seeing main characters who feel frustratingly flawless.

Relationship Status: Based on Margaret Mitchell’s 1936 novel of the same name, Victor Fleming’s Gone with the Wind is a story about a nation in turmoil, but that’s only a small element of the saga. Set against the backdrop of the American Civil War, the iconic tale follows Scarlett O'Hara as she sets out to win the heart of her dream man, Ashley, before he ties the knot with his cousin. However, Scarlett has a man who loves her in the form of Rhett, but he doesn't take too well to her lingering affection for Ashley.

Why It’s Worth Getting Involved: Gone with the Wind is a true American classic and perhaps the most famous film to emerge from the classic Hollywood era. Granted, some elements of the film haven’t aged well, with some critics arguing that it whitewashes slavery and the more problematic segments of American history. Still, it was one of the first 25 movies chosen for inclusion in the National Film Registry, making it yet another culturally significant love triangle story.

Drama Level: While the film contains dated concepts, Gone with the Wind’s enduring legacy can’t be understated. 

Relationship Status: Friends Julianne and Michael promise to get married if they’re still single at 28. At first, Jules isn’t sure that she wants to get hitched to her buddy, but when she learns that he’s about to tie the knot with a younger woman, she realizes she has feelings for him and proceeds to try and sabotage his wedding, as one does. Sizzling chemistry between stars Julia Roberts and Dermot Mulroney makes it a journey to behold.

Why It’s Worth Getting Involved: My Best Friend’s Wedding was a box office success following its release in 1997, and the movie is proving to have some staying power in the pop culture zeitgeist. The film has produced Chinese, Mexican, and Bollywood remakes, along with a stage musical adaptation. Plus, it’s an entertaining affair with a protagonist who displays questionable moral fiber, which makes her more interesting than the goody-two-shows heroes that populate most rom-coms. Love makes people do the craziest things.  

Drama Levels: It doesn’t get much more dramatic than trying to ruin your best friend’s big day due to jealousy.

Relationship Status: John Hughes's beloved teen comedy tells the story of Andie Walsh, a girl from the so-called wrong side of the tracks, who’s tired of being harassed by her high school’s privileged social cliques. Her fortunes change when she meets Blane, a rich hunk who asks her to prom. Sadly, this comes at the expense of Andie’s best friend Duckie, who's been madly in love with her for years. Will Andie choose the handsome hunk from the good side of town, or will she realize that Duckie is the real man of her dreams?

Why It’s Worth Getting Involved: Pretty In Pink takes a tried-and-tested formula and applies some commentary about classism to freshen things up. The movie doesn’t get too bogged down with socio-political issues, though, as there are plenty of laughs and charming moments throughout. Critics praised the movie for its clever writing and for Molly Ringwald’s excellent turn as Andie. 

Drama Level: High school is hard, especially when you’re at the bottom of the social hierarchy and your life-long bestie is crushing on you.