8 Iconic On-Screen Love Triangles
When there's love, there's often a love triangle—especially on the big and small screens. Below, check out eight movies and TV shows with this iconic (and oftentimes, infuriating) trope.
It's a tried and true recipe for a successful movie or television show: Someone falls in love and things are going well for a while...until a third person enters the picture. Suddenly, this person begins to have second thoughts and cannot decide between the two. Do they pick the person who gives off golden-retriever-sweet energy? Or do they pick the person who is rebellious and mysterious? Popular amongst many, the love triangle trope is one that almost always has viewers sitting at the edges of their chairs waiting to see who will be the ultimate winner.
If you're a fan of a ménage à trois of sorts, take a look down below at eight iconic movie and television love triangles.
If you're a nerdy teenage girl, do you go for the hot, popular jock or your equally nerdy archnemesis? Well, this is the exact situation that main character Devi finds herself in throughout the series Never Have I Ever. And even though Paxton (the hot jock!) finally agrees to be in a relationship at the end of the season two finale, all bets are off—especially since Ben (the nerdy archnemesis) learns a pivotal truth at the end of the season. And who knows, with newcomer Deacon Phillippe in season three, there might even be a third love interest for Devi.
The first Twilight film came out back in 2008. And for years, the werewolf lovers and vampire lovers were at war. In the five-film series, Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) finds herself falling for vampire Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson). But as her relationship with friend and werewolf Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner) continues to evolve, fans are left wondering "Team Edward" or "Team Jacob?"
In The Summer I Turned Pretty, Belly's been in love with Conrad, the older Fisher brother, for as long as she can remember. After sparks fly (literally), it feels like something might finally happen between the two of them. But when Conrad turns her away, Belly runs right into the arms of Jeremiah—her best friend and the younger Fisher brother. But...she still has conflicting feelings. While fans will have to wait until next season to see what happens, there is good news: Season 2 is already in production.
In this hilariously relatable film, main character Bridget Jones (Renée Zellweger) finds herself torn between two men—her boss Daniel Cleaver and lawyer Mark Darcy. Due to its massive success, Bridget Jones returned to screens in 2004 in the sequel Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, and again, in 2016 in Bridget Jones's Baby.
Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) had a few notable romances throughout the duration of the SATC series. But the two that captivated fans the most? Mr. Big and Aidan. However, fans ultimately got their answer to the question "Who did she choose?" in the Sex and the City films, and most recently in the reboot, And Just Like That...
We have the famous love triangle (and Ellen Pompeo's phenomenal acting skills) in Grey's Anatomy to thank for the iconic "Pick me. Choose me. Love me" monologue. After beginning a relationship with her resident doctor boss, Meredith learns he's actually married. The question then shifts from "Should I be dating my boss?" to "Who will he pick?"
When Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) find themselves trapped in an arena, where the individuals are forced to fight to the death until only one survives, the two strike up a pretend relationship to survive—only it turns into something more. The only problem is Katniss left behind a love interest, Gale (Liam Hemsworth), at home.
Another case of two completely different guys falling for the same girl? Dean, the charming "good guy" and Jess, the town's "bad boy" both fall for main character Rory Gilmore in the 2000s hit television show.
