Skip to Content

The Most Iconic Movie Proposals of All Time

From Pride and Prejudice to The Notebook.

Headshot of Charlotte ChiltonBy Charlotte Chilton
when harry met sally
Castle Rock Entertainment

Movies have long served as the inspiration for grand romantic gestures and dramatic proclamations of love. They've set the bar for many of what is expected from significant others. From cinematic moments on the Empire State Building to intimate moments typically involving candles, these proposals are some of the most romantic in movie history for a reason. Prepare for a total sob fest.

1

1940: Pride and Prejudice

pride and prejudice, lobbycard, from left, greer garson, laurence olivier, 1940 photo by lmpc via getty images
LMPC//Getty Images

Since the day Pride and Prejudice was penned by Jane Austen, fans of the novel and its many film adaptions have rooted for Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet to get together. The iconic scene where Darcy professes his love for Miss Bennet—and simultaneously insults—has been played by many actors, but none more memorable than Laurence Olivier in 1940.

2

1988: Coming to America

coming to america
Paramount

Coming to America is the classic case of boy meets girl, boy and girl fall in love, girl finds out boy is a prince. There's nothing more romantic than the scene when Eddie Murphy's character finds his girlfriend, Lisa, on the subway to profess his love and renounce his title for all to see.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
3

2002: A Walk to Remember

a walk to remember proposal
Warner Bros. Pictures

Despite their intense love story throughout the entire film, the scene where Landon Carter proposes to Jamie Sullivan was unequivocally the most romantic. The couple spent the evening looking at comets through a telescope before the teenager popped the question to his dying girlfriend.

4

1954: Sabrina

audrey hepburn and william holden in sabrina
Bettmann//Getty Images

After only one evening with the newly debuted Sabrina Fairchild, David Larrabee was ready to propose marriage. In fact, after just one dance together, he called off his engagement to another woman.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
5

1994: Little Women

little women 1994
Columbia Pictures

Perhaps one of the most heart-wrenching proposals ever was when Jo March turned down Laurie in Little Women. Don't feel too bad for these two though, it eventually all worked out. Laurie married Jo's little sister, Amy, and Jo found happiness with Professor Bhaer.

6

2003: Love Actually

love actually
Universal

Tracking down the love of his life was a job that required the whole town. In one of the most endearing and concluding scenes of Love Actually, Colin Firth's character takes a chance on love and proposes to Aurelia at the restaurant where she worked in Portugal in front of all of her friends and family.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
7

1957: An Affair to Remember

die grosse liebe meines lebens, affair to remember, an
United Archives//Getty Images

Both involved with other parties, but having fallen in love aboard a ship traveling to New York, Terry McKay and Nick Ferrante suggest a different kind of proposal. The two promise each other to meet at the Empire State Building in six months if they still loved each other. What ensues is one of the most memorable cinematic moments in history.

8

1998: The Wedding Singer

the wedding singer proposal scene
New Line Cinema

Note to self: If you're ever trying to win someone back, serenading them over the loud speaker of a plane will do the trick. At least, that's what Robbie Hart (Adam Sandler) did to win Julia Sullivan (Drew Barrymore) back.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
9

2002: Sweet Home Alabama

sweet home alabama proposal
Buena Vista Pictures

It's every girl's dream to have all of Tiffany & Co. closed to the public, then have someone who looks like Patrick Dempsey tell you to "pick one" post-proposal. Melanie Carmichael (Reese Witherspoon) enjoyed this fantasy and our expectations will never be the same again.

10

2002: Sweet Home Alabama (Again)

sweet home alabama proposal scene
Touchstone Pictures

Who knew that one of the most romantic proposals of all time would happen between six year olds? Sweet Home Alabama brings this childhood promise back around when Melanie realizes she's made a mistake and tracks down Jake (Josh Lucas) to repropose.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
11

1968: Funny Girl

barbra streisand
Archive Photos//Getty Images

After leaving her role with the Ziegfeld Follies, Fanny Brice joins the love of her life, Nick Arnstein, aboard a ship. It's there that they decide to get married upon their return to New York. The proposal is romantic and sweet—and there was nothing funny about it.

12

2018: Crazy Rich Asians

while you were sleeping proposal scene
Hollywood Pictures

There was a lot that led to Rachel Chu heading back to New York without her boyfriend, Nick Young. But ultimately it was the emerald sparkler (a.k.a his mother's blessing) that brought the two of them together and gave us another great plane proposal for the history books.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
13

1990: Pretty Woman

pretty woman proposal
Buena Vista Pictures

Who wouldn't want to look outside their window to find Richard Gere pulling up in a limousine? After realizing he could lose Vivian Ward (Julia Roberts), Gere's character arrives at her apartment with flowers and a ring to win her back.

14

1995: While You Were Sleeping

while you were sleeping proposal
Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, Inc.

After the many pitfalls of a romantic comedy, While You Were Sleeping leads to one of the most epic movie proposals of all time. By simply sliding the ring into the coin slot at Lucy's train station job, Jack reveals that he's brought his whole family along to pop the question.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
15

1996: Jerry Maguire

jerry maguire
TriStar Pictures

Although it's the classic "you had me at hello" scene that everyone thinks of with Jerry Maguire, the proposal is not to be overlooked. Though, we'll admit, the proposal is slightly anti-climatic, as it's used to get Dorothy (Renée Zellweger) not to move away.

16

2005: Walk the Line

walk the line proposal
20th Century Fox

Johnny Cash and June Carter had a real-life love story that Reese Witherspoon and Joaquin Phoenix recreated for Walk the Line. There's no better scene than when Cash proposes to Carter onstage in front of 7,000 people.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
17

2018: Night School

night school
Universal

Listen up, guys: Do not replicate this proposal, as it may result in a fiery disaster. Besides that hiccup, Teddy Walker's (Kevin Hart) idea for his Night School proposal remains sweet, just dangerous.

18

1999: Notting Hill

notting hill
Working Title Films

After a messy breakup, a heartbroken Will (Hugh Grant) almost doesn't take movie star Anna Scott back. Her response? "The fame thing isn't really real, you know. Don't forget, I'm also just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her." That does the trick.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
19

2018: A Star Is Born

a star is born 2018
Warner Bros.

While there were many heart-melting moments in A Star is Born, the proposal with the tied guitar string ring and private moment just between Ally and Jack was one of our all-time favorites.

20

1999: Stepmom

mandy moore and shane west in 'a walk to remember'
Archive Photos//Getty Images

In another Julia Roberts classic rom-com, her character in Stepmom is woken up to a proposal in bed by her boyfriend (Ed Harris). Mind you, this is only the beginning of her road to becoming a stepmother.

Watch Next 
when harry met sally
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Page was generated in 6.1351039409637