The Best Film and TV Love Triangles That Always Spark Heated Debates
We all have that one fictional couple we’re deeply invested in, maybe to a concerning level. In honor of A24’s romantic comedy The Materialists, we’re breaking down our favorite film and television love triangles that leave our watch parties divided on who should be endgame. Warning: This article might cause intense arguments with your best friends.
Film Love Triangles
Bridget, Mark, and Daniel in the Bridget Jones’s Diary franchise
Bridget Jones’s Diary is a Pride and Prejudice-inspired saga that follows Bridget (Renée Zellweger) as she navigates adulthood and all the relationship drama that comes with it. On the one hand, Mark Darcy (Colin Firth) loves Bridget unconditionally, but Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant) is just so dreamy!
How could a girl choose? We’ll help you out. Choose Darcy. Daniel is nothing but trouble. At least he’s beautiful.
Tashi, Art, and Patrick in Challengers
To be honest, I still have no idea what the ending of this movie meant, but I loved the journey that got us there! Challengers is a tennis romance that follows Tashi (Zendaya), an elite athlete who loses it all when she breaks her leg.
While tennis is off the table for her, Tashi coaches her husband, Art (Mike Faist), to become the greatest tennis player of all time. Too bad she totally has a thing for her ex-boyfriend Patrick (Josh O’Connor), who just so happens to be Art’s ex-best friend. To add insult to injury, Patrick is hellbent on beating Art in a tennis match. Talk about messy.
Amy, Jo, and Laurie in Little Women
We don’t give Louisa May Alcott enough credit for creating one of the most historical love triangles of all time. In every iteration of the film, fans have been divided on which March sister belonged with Laurie.
If you want to feel giddy, watch the incredible chemistry between Timothée Chalamet, Florence Pugh, and Saoirse Ronan in Greta Gerwig’s film adaptation of Little Women.
Bella, Edward, and Jacob in the Twilight franchise
Did we ever really leave our vampire era? Bella (Kristen Stewart), Edward (Robert Pattinson), and Jacob (Taylor Lautner) stole our hearts, and we’ve been their spider monkeys ever since! Twilight sparked heated debates that continue to this day. Whether you were Team Jacob or Team Edward, you were ready to die on that hill defending your favorite guy.
Katniss, Peeta, and Gale in The Hunger Games franchise
The love triangle that had debates sweeping through your middle school cafeteria was The Hunger Games. Before Gale’s (Liam Hemsworth) fall from grace, fans were torn between him and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) for Katniss’s (Jennifer Lawrence) heart.
Is it wrong to say I was Team Finnick (Sam Claflin)?
TV Love Triangles
Carrie, Big, and Aidan in Sex and the City
Two words: Team Aidan. Sex and the City revolves around Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) and Mr. Big’s (Chris Noth) tumultuous on-again-off-again relationship. However, Aidan (John Corbett) will always be the one who got away—and the one Carrie should’ve ended up with.
For decades, the world has been divided between Aidan and Big, but Carrie’s one true love might be a beautiful pair of Manolo Blahniks.
Rory, Dean, and Jess (and Logan) in Gilmore Girls
Complete transparency, Gilmore Girls should be considered a love square. You can’t debate Rory, Jess, and Dean but not include Logan! Rory’s (Alexis Bledel) relationships are emotional rollercoasters, and each guy has their good qualities.
Dean (Jared Padalecki) started out amazing as Rory’s first love, but his fall from grace was painful to watch. Jess (Milo Ventimiglia) and Rory connected intellectually, but she and Logan (Matt Czuchry) connected emotionally. It’s truly impossible to choose! Well, let’s be honest, we’re not choosing Dean.
Serena, Dan, and Nate in Gossip Girl
Serena, we’ll never forgive you for letting Nate go. Dan (Penn Badgley) and Serena’s (Blake Lively) love story was the catalyst for Gossip Girl, but it was clear a part of her heart still belonged to Nate (Chace Crawford).
Neither guy is a bad choice until you remember Dan committed the ultimate act of betrayal against Serena. We’ll let you find out yourself.
Robin, Ted, and Barney in How I Met Your Mother
Kids, let us tell you the story of how the world still debates which couple should be the endgame. How I Met You Mother told the story of Ted (Josh Radnor) searching for his wife with his best friends at his side. His love for Robin (Colbie Smulders) was at the heart of the story for nine years, but Robin couldn’t help but fall for Ted’s best friend Barney (Neil Patrick Harris).
Both guys were great with Robin, which makes this choice so challenging to make!
Brooke, Peyton, and Lucas in One Tree Hill
Lucas, we’re so disappointed in you. One Tree Hill knew how to make a fantastic love triangle that fans are divided on to this day. To be honest, Lucas (Chad Michael Murray) didn’t deserve either of these ladies! Brooke (Sophia Bush) and Peyton (Hilarie Burton) were best friends who endured so much drama, thanks to Lucas’s wandering eye.
Lucas truly dropped the ball on his relationship with Brooke, and she deserved so much better. Hey Peyton, give Jake Jagielski (Bryan Greenberg) a call instead.
Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah in The Summer I Turned Pretty
One of the greatest love triangles of all time is between Belly (Lola Tung) and the Fisher brothers. First of all, dating both brothers is insanely messy. Fans are anxiously waiting for season three of The Summer I Turned Pretty to see if Belly chooses Conrad (Chris Briney) or Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno) once and for all.
Let us know your favorite love triangle on our Instagram, @reeltalkandreviews!
