14 Romance Movie Characters Shooting Their Shot Ranked From “That Would Never Work IRL” To “That’s Actually A Good Move”
Most people enjoy a good love story, but often times the romance in movies feels a tad unrealistic, or even profusely preposterous. Occasionally, it's so ridiculous that you're sitting on your couch unconvinced that what you're watching COULD NOT POSSIBLY WORK in real life.
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Sometimes it's a bad, corny pickup line that somehow works, or it can be an awful, bold follow-up after initial rejection. Whatever the case, we're going to examine some romantic moves from movies and rank them from least to most likely to have success in real life.
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Oh and WARNING: THERE ARE SPOILERS AHEAD, but all of these movies have been out for, like, seven years or more.
14.The Notebook: Threatening to fall from very high up if your crush won't go on a date with you.
WHAT HAPPENED IN THE MOVIE: In this scene, Noah follows Allie around asking her for a date. She says no multiple times, so Noah hangs from the Ferris wheel and threatens to drop off. She caves, he gets his date, and eventually love ensues.
HOW IT'D PROBABLY GO IN REAL LIFE: For starters, hanging from a Ferris wheel bar with one hand will probably result in plummeting into the afterlife unless you have wild arm strength. Separately, getting a date through extortion is wack. Most people have too much pride to even double text, so it would take someone with zero dignity/self-respect/common sense to repeatedly beg for a date when someone has emphatically said, "NO." In the moment this move might get you a "yes" just so you'll hang on, but back on ground level, chances are you'd get a restraining order before you'd get a date.
CHANCES OF SUCCESS: 0.1%
Here's the entire scene:
13.The Graduate: Showing up at your crush's wedding, yelling their name from across the way, then locking all their guests in a church while you two run off.
WHAT HAPPENED IN THE MOVIE: Elaine's about to get married to someone when Benjamin arrives and bangs on a glass window outside, repeatedly calling her name — a super chill and stable thing to do. This works in the movie because Elaine flees the wedding for Benjamin, who locks all of her wedding guests in the church using a giant cross to jam the door. Elaine and Benjamin run off, hopping on a bus together to end the movie. IMPORTANT NOTE: Benjamin hooked up with Elaine's mother and she didn't want him dating her daughter.
HOW IT'D PROBABLY GO IN REAL LIFE: Generally, I think hooking up with your love interest's mom probably ruins your chances with them, then having the audacity to also interrupt their wedding is just the cherry on top of the no-chance-in-hell sundae.
CHANCES OF SUCCESS: 0.1%
Here's the full scene:
12.Bridget Jones's Diary: Reading your crush's diary, finding some not-so-nice things written about yourself, and buying them a new diary to signify a fresh start.
WHAT HAPPENED IN THE MOVIE: Bridget and Mark are love interests who are about to hook up. While Bridget is in the other room, Mark takes a look at her diary and sees some not-great things written about himself. Mark leaves. Bridget realizes he's read her diary and she is worried that he's upset. Mark returns with a freshly purchased diary for a "new start," and they're lovey-dovey happy. The end.
HOW IT'D PROBABLY GO IN REAL LIFE: Mark already had Bridget's interest, but this wouldn't make someone go all in with you, killing trust and violating personal boundaries all in one. I'm not sure why Bridget was worried about how Mark felt when she realized he went through her diary, because she's the one who had been violated. If I go through your phone and find an unflattering text about me, whose fault is that?! Forget about her diary, where was Bridget Jones's dignity. This would go poorly, it would lead to an argument, and the diary reader would likely be given the boot.
CHANCES OF SUCCESS: 0.5%
Here's the full scene:
11.Say Anything: Playing a meaningful song outside of your crushes window.
WHAT HAPPENED IN THE MOVIE: After being dumped by Diana, Lloyd pulled up outside of her place with a boombox and blared "In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel, a song that previously played during their intimate moments.
HOW IT'D PROBABLY GO IN REAL LIFE: Showing up unannounced and blaring a song, even one that means something between you and your romantic interest, is definitely not the move. If your crush doesn't get annoyed by this invasive, noisy nonsense and call the authorities, the neighbors just might.
CHANCES OF SUCCESS: 0.6%
Here's the full scene:
10.The Wedding Singer: Singing to your crush on a plane.
WHAT HAPPENED IN THE MOVIE: Robbie gets on the same flight as Julia and her fiancé, then sings her a song proclaiming his love for her over the loudspeaker. Note: Robbie and Julia do have history and feelings for each other, but she's on her way to marry someone else because they don't yet realize they're in love with each other.
HOW IT'D PROBABLY GO IN REAL LIFE: Let's skip the fact that you'd be kicked off the plane and arrested for trying to sing over the intercom and pretend you had support and permission from the flight attendants. Still, there's no way this goes well. Most of the people on the plane aren't in the mood for a noisy spectacle and your crush would likely be embarrassed/off-put by the uncomfortable attention even if they like you. That said, there are some people who enjoy being the center of a spectacle and if your crush is one of 'em, I suppose this has a shot.
CHANCES OF SUCCESS: 0.9%
Here's the full scene:
9.10 Things I Hate About You: Interrupting your crush's soccer practice to sing at them from the bleachers.
WHAT HAPPENED IN THE MOVIE: In an effort to win Kat over, Patrick sings "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" to her from the bleachers during her soccer practice.
HOW IT'D PROBABLY GO IN REAL LIFE: I could never support the act of unsolicited singing at someone. Regardless of how smooth you are and how good your vocals sound, I don't see this going well, especially nowadays with phone cameras. You'd likely wind up getting roasted in the comment section of a viral TikTok and embarrassing your crush. Again, I'm sure a small selection would welcome the attention and perhaps even find it romantic, so it's higher than the previous entries.
CHANCES OF SUCCESS: 3.5%
Here's the full scene:
8.Love Actually: Silently declaring your love for your crush (who happens to be your best friend's partner).
WHAT HAPPENED IN THE MOVIE: On Christmas Eve, Mark lets Juliet know he's in love with her through cue cards, while her husband Peter (Mark's BEST FRIEND) is in the other room. Juliet plants a big smooch on Mark's lips.
HOW IT'D PROBABLY GO IN REAL LIFE: Trying to holler at your best friend's spouse is a next-level garbage-human move, and there's something about doing it on Christmas Eve that manages to earn bonus, festive-scumbag points. If the person you're attempting this on happens to secretly be in love with you too and they also lack a conscious or respect, congrats, you might be soulless mates! If not, you're probably going to lose your best friend and be known as a terrible, untrustworthy person by everyone in your circle.
CHANCES OF SUCCESS: 5.5% (That may seem high, but sadly some people do cheat with their partner's close friends in real life. SOURCES: It happens on Maury all the time, I seent it!)
Here's the full scene:
7.Fifty Shades of Grey: Popping up at your crush's work as if it were coincidence.
WHAT HAPPENED IN THE MOVIE: After having previously met once before, Christian tracks Ana down at her job, a hardware store, where he buys some...suggestive items (rope, masking tape, etc.) and does some light flirting, setting up an opportunity to see her in the future.
HOW IT'D PROBABLY GO IN REAL LIFE: I mean, it's a bit stalker-y, no? I think this falls under the category of undeniably creepy behavior and its success rate is solely dependent on whether or not the person is into you. If they're attracted/intrigued, then it could be the start of a love story, but if they're not, it could be the beginnings of your new reputation as the local weirdo.
CHANCES OF SUCCESS: 10% and that's generous.
Here's the full scene:
6.Hitch: Handing cash to your romantic interest at a bar to pretend you're mistaking them for a waiter.
WHAT HAPPENED IN THE MOVIE: Hitch approaches a woman who is surrounded by guys at the bar, he hands her $20, requests drinks, and walks away as if he thinks she's a bartender. Annoyed, she follows him and tells him she doesn't work there, then he reveals that he was just trying to get her away from all those thirsty fellas.
HOW IT'D PROBABLY GO IN REAL LIFE: This could draw someone away from a group so you can have one-on-one time, and they could find this move unique and be intrigued, BUT I think you've got to be prepared to part ways with that $20, because I could see someone pocketing the cash instead of chasing after you.
CHANCES OF SUCCESS: $20 says there's a 40% chance that it works.
Here's the full scene:
5.The Great Gatsby: Asking your ex's cousin to invite them over for tea where you'll be waiting to surprise them.
WHAT HAPPENED IN THE MOVIE: Gatsby used to have a romantic connection with Daisy. In an effort to be reunited with her, Gatsby asks Daisy's cousin, Nick to invite her to his place. Gatsby anxiously has the place fixed up with beautiful floral arrangements and baked goods where the two reunite and rekindle their fling.
HOW IT'D PROBABLY GO IN REAL LIFE: This is the only getting-back-with-your-ex move on this list, and it's a pretty extravagant one. In real life, exes spark their reunions in such undramatic ways, like a "Merry Christmas" text after months of not talking, or a random like on a social media photo to spark a conversation. It's never flowers, baked goods, and elaborate planning, so I'm willing to bet that if someone did this for an ex, there's a solid chance it works.
CHANCES OF SUCCESS: 50%
Here's the full scene:
4.Shrek: Interrupting your crush's wedding and professing your love.
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WHAT HAPPENED IN THE MOVIE: Fiona is about to tie the knot with Farquaad, who is marrying her solely to become king. Shrek interrupts, reveals the truth, and declares his love.
HOW IT'D PROBABLY GO IN REAL LIFE: If you interrupt your love interest's wedding at the buzzer because you KNOW FOR A FACT that that their groom/bride is only marrying them for wealth, power, or whatever superficial reason, you're doing them a massive favor! I'd recommend bringing hard evidence instead of pulling up with some "Trust me, bro" type allegations, but Shrek didn't have immediate proof and it worked out for him. Once you've exposed their would-be spouse's ulterior motives, saying "I love you" is a heck of a way to shoot your shot, but if you've put in the work and won their heart like Shrek had done with Fiona, it's actually feasible that this bold move could work.
CHANCES OF SUCCESS: 55%
Here's the full scene:
3.Hitch: Sending walkie-talkies to your crush's work to ask them out.
WHAT HAPPENED IN THE MOVIE: Hitch met Sara Melas at a bar and didn't ask for her number, but he tracked down her work and sent a pair of walkie-talkies, which he used to ask her out on a date.
HOW IT'D PROBABLY GO IN REAL LIFE: I think this is actually so outrageous that it could legitimately work. I know of happy couples who initially met, didn't exchange info, and one of them found the other person's social media to ask them out. This is basically just that, but with walkie-talkies. It's also a solid move because you're presenting actual date offers. A lot of folks despise the vague, "Let's chill sometime" invites, but if you come like Hitch did, offering different days, times, and activities, and doing so in a completely unexpected manner, you might shock and awe someone into going out with you.
CHANCES OF SUCCESS: 60%
Here's the full scene:
2.Friends With Benefits: Organizing a flash mob to ask your hook-up out on a real date.
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WHAT HAPPENED IN THE MOVIE: After being friends with benefits who develop feelings and have a falling out, Dylan wins Jamie back by setting up a flash mob and asking her to join him at a café for their first real date.
HOW IT'D PROBABLY GO IN REAL LIFE: It's a grand gesture so I'm guessing even a person who hates attention or crowds or dancing might be able to look past that and appreciate the effort it took to organize something like this. Plus, if you're already hooking up, you've got some rapport, so the chances of this earning a first date acceptance seem fairly high.
CHANCES OF SUCCESS: 65%
Here's the full scene:
1.Crazy, Stupid, Love: Interrupt your romantic interest mid-conversation at a bar and bluntly hit on them.
Warner Bros. Pictures
WHAT HAPPENED IN THE MOVIE: Jacob walks up to Hannah while she's talking to her friend. Jacob interjects himself into their conversation and is open about his intent, telling Hannah that he finds her attractive, offering to buy her a drink, and inviting her to go home together. (NOTE: This doesn't immediately work. In this scene, Hannah rejects Jacob, though later, she sees him at the bar again and takes him up on his offer to hang out.)
HOW IT'D PROBABLY GO IN REAL LIFE: Walking over and speaking to your romantic interest? What a concept. If you're sharp-dressed and smooth-talking like Jacob is in this scene, of course it might work. While it's generally rude to interrupt people's conversations, this is probably the most normal, least invasive option you'll find on this list, so that's why it's ranked here. It's less creative and striking than others, which is probably why it's more likely to work IRL.
CHANCES OF SUCCESS: 70% on average, but take whatever your confidence is on a scale of 1–99 and that's a more accurate chance of success.
