Teen movie couples are important; so important in fact that we just spent hours of our precious time ranking the best ones from the years 2000-2009. You are welcome.
The glorious decade of low-rise jeans, capri's and slightly-tinted-but-mostly-clear sunglasses gave us many wonderful things like AIM and Destiny's Child. But most importantly, those years gave us many high school rom-coms that we now cherish. Troy and Gabriella. Edward and Bella. Viola and Duke. These couples taught us how to love, or in some cases, just how to like like someone.
We only picked couples from movies that more or less took place in high school and/or were specifically about teenagers. Here is our list from worst to best and we're sorry if you disagree with your number one spot. Feel free to yell at us in the comments about it:
16. Bella and Edward, Twilight
Although we love us some Twilight, these two were kind of the worst. She could only survive with him in her life, and he was weirdly obsessed with her from the beginning. We don't care if the Twi-hards hate us, because deep down, even you know it's true.
15. Lizzie and Gordo, The Lizzie McGuire Movie
The reason why one of the greatest coming of age stories of all time, The Lizzie McGuire Movie, is so low on the list is because Lizzie and Gordo didn't actually get together. But still, Hilary Duff was #goals personified when she got to be a pop star in Italy.
14. Nicole and Carlos, Crazy/Beautiful
We love when teen romances have some drama, but their whole deal was a little heavy for us. Plus Kirsten Dunst looks so annoying when she cries and she was blubbering quite a bit in this flick. There's someone much better for her on this list.
13. Sara and Derek, Save The Last Dance
These two were insanely adorable, but this 2000s couple didn't really have lasting power. They were headed down completely different career paths! One training to be a doctor and the other training to be a dancer? They wouldn't have made it past Freshman year.
12. Mary and Patrick, Saved!
This movie had a lot going on. It dealt with teen pregnancy, religion, mental health issues and even conversion therapy. Plus, it was a great introduction to 2000s Mandy Moore. Basically, there was other stuff we were more interested in than a love story. Sorry, guys!
11. Aquamarine and Raymond, Aquamarine
We love this movie! Shout out to baby Emma Roberts and pre-2015 smokeshow Jojo. However, Sara Paxton and Jake McDorman lack chemistry and their kisses were just plain awkward. We're not talking good awkward like Princess Diaries (see below), we mean the awkward that makes you want to look away or turn off the movie all together.
10. Sam and Austin, Cinderella Story
Three words: Chad Michael Murray. He was in his prime, and with our queen Hilary Duff they were a fairytale in this classic 2000s movie. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see them act as a couple that much so we can't really judge their compatibility. And even Sam says herself in the end she was open to dating new dudes in college. Respect.
9. Troy and Gabriella, High School Musical
This couple has every quintessential teen movie stereotype going for them; they are from different worlds, one is popular, one is the new kid, they sing and dance, they stay together in the end, etc. They were totally "Breaking Free" from the "Status Quo." So what if we have seen the movie so many times that we quote every song? It's a classic. But to be honest, they were slightly boring in comparison to the other couples above them.
8. Kate and Scott, John Tucker Must Die
Special mention to the hotness that is John Tucker, played by Jesse Metcalfe. He is the ultimate ladies man, but the couple we chose to highlight was Brittany Snow and baby Penn Badgley, before Gossip Girl cut his perfectly long tresses. They were destined to be together from the beginning.
7. Juno and Paulie, Juno
This is seriously one of the sweetest movies ever made. It is very real and honest, but it also makes you fall in love with Ellen Page and Michael Cera together.
6. Jamie and Landon, A Walk To Remember
We are not here to make anyone cry but it is hard not to when you think about this movie. This was the movie that introduced us to Nicholas Sparks in the teen genre, before The Notebook was a thing. Mandy Moore was cute, and obviously Shane West was our middle school crush. Also, he married her right before she died! C'mon, if that doesn't get you going, check to see if you have a soul in there.
6. Cady and Aaron, Mean Girls
We weren't sure which Mean Girls couple to pick, because we also voted for Trang Pak and Coach Carr. (Just kidding) In the end Cady and Aaron Samuels won because, well, we love Aaron Samuels. And yes, you must use his full name. Also, 2000s Lindsay Lohan is our favorite Lindsey. Grool.
4. Amelia and Michael, Princess Diaries
This movie gave us unrealistic expectations for life. We wake up everyday thinking our grandma is going to surprise us with the news that we are actually royalty. It never happens, though. But at least Mia and Michael gave us a more realistic expectation for a fun, happy relationship with a best friend. Even if they didn't end up together in the second movie, their teen romance was fit for a king.
3. Danielle and Matthew, The Girl Next Door
Is the juice worth the squeeze? When it comes to love, yes. This movie is every teenage boy's fantasy: a porn star moves in next door and then they fall in love. It's a wildly funny and unconventional love story and that is why it's in our top three.
2. Torrance and Cliff, Bring It On
All you have to do is watch that tooth-brushing scene and you'll know why they come in at number two.
1. Viola and Duke, She's the Man
A beautiful tomboy? A hot jock? You know we had to make this couple number one. Amanda Bynes is killer in this movie. She is hilarious and hapless as the sweet main character Viola. And while Channing Tatum was still learning how to act, he was so pretty to look at. Bless those sweaty soccer scenes. Viola + Duke = True Love 4eva!
Do you agree with our list? Disagree? We would love to hear your thoughts, as long as those thoughts don't include swearing at us.