There are many ways to introduce romance to a story, from love at first sight to best friends who become lovers. However, not all films use these structures, with many choosing to embrace another popular and beloved trope instead: enemies to lovers.
While this may seem to be the right choice in terms of plot and fan-serving, it can be a disservice to its characters, forcing two incompatible people together into a relationship too unhealthy to survive beyond the end credits. From starting a relationship on lies and power imbalances to embodying the white savior trope, some enemies-to-lovers arcs are more toxic than admirable.
10 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
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10 Things I Hate About You gives audiences one of the most iconic enemies-to-lovers in movies. However, it also depicts a very unhealthy version of the trope.
While Kat genuinely takes an interest in Patrick, he initially only begins courting her as a means of payment. Although Patrick and Kat ultimately find love together, the foundation of their relationship is based entirely on lies and interwoven high-school love politics. Their arc is soured further by the fact that Kat is also the one to confess her feelings first, despite being deceived and hurt by the boy.
9 How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days (2003)
The sheer manipulation in How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days makes Andie and Ben's romance a toxic arc that has not aged well as a rom-com. While Andie pursues Ben to prove she can scare off a man in ten days, Ben dates her to prove he can make any woman fall in love with him in the same amount of time.
Motivated by their own egos and determination, the two constantly deceive one another and end up falling in love. Their constant bickering and terrible breakup prove they aren't well-suited together, but the icing on the cake is Ben stopping Andie from interviewing for a better position in order to just stay and be with him instead.
8 Geek Charming (2011)
Starting off on completely the wrong foot, Dylan and Josh go from hating each other's guts in their cafeteria meeting to a happy couple by the end of Geek Charming. Despite their happily ever after, the underrated live-action Disney film taints their relationship arc with too many lies and complications before their resolution.
No matter his final product, Josh initially begins spending time with Dylan out of his own gain and jealousy, hoping to do an exposé on the popular girl for his documentary. Dylan -- while aware of his film project -- is oblivious to his true intentions, an aspect that keeps their relationship toxic even after they make up.
7 The Proposal (2009)
The Proposal is often remembered for Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds' comedic roles. This is especially due to their formidable and fun journey from people who can't stand one another to a perfect match for each other.
However, the start of their relationship is entirely inappropriate and a gross misuse of Margaret's authority over her assistant Andrew. That power dynamic of boss and employee and her coercing him into the proposal hovers over their relationship arc, no matter how many wholesome and intimate moments they share.
6 Dirty Dancing (1987)
While Baby's character development in Dirty Dancing is empowering and progressive, her relationship arc with Johnny is certainly not. Although they're remembered for their chemistry, a deeper look reveals the issues underlying their romance.
They may not start as enemies exactly, but there is animosity initially between them, especially on Johnny's side, as he heavily judges Baby and the posh lifestyle she has in comparison to his own. Johnny speaking on Baby's behalf against her father, their lack of any meaningful interaction before falling in love, and their ages all make them a less reputable enemies-to-lovers arc than most.
5 The Breakfast Club (1985)
The Breakfast Club saw John, the bad boy criminal, frequently bullying the group's goody-two-shoes princess, Claire. As expected, by the end of the film, the two share a romantic connection.
While their slow bonding over detention with the others gives their relationship slight merit, it's hard to see past John's horrible and unkind initial treatment of Claire, especially since it's mostly unwarranted. His vulgar comments and actions toward her evidently make her uncomfortable, yet he doesn't relent from pestering her until well into the film. Although the future of their relationship is ambiguous, its toxicity means their arc should perhaps end after that detention.
4 Pocahontas (1995)
Disney's Pocahontas is already widely recognized for its problematic and historically inaccurate depictions. Both issues are spearheaded by Pocahontas and John Smith's toxic relationship.
Not only is John there as a colonizer, but his initial attitude toward Pocahontas and her tribe is completely ignorant and offensive rather than charming in any way. By falling in love with him, Pocahontas' growth and the empowering autonomy depicted before John's arrival get completely decimated in favor of another white savior storyline. Their relationship proves to be impulsive, inappropriate, and limiting more than anything.
3 Beastly (2011)
A modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast, Beastly offers a more refreshing take on the tale. Yet it still reflects the main characters' toxic relationship just as equally as past renditions, now via Lindy and Kyle (aka Hunter).
While this time, the Beast doesn't kidnap the father, Kyle still takes advantage of Lindy and her father's situation to take her home with him. Rather than her safety, he is more motivated by his own baseless infatuation with her and the opportunity she symbolizes. Their toxic relationship thrives on miscommunication and secrets, highlighting the issues inherent to the classic story that gets too romanticized in film.
2 Avatar (2009)
In Avatar, Jake and Neytiri's bridging of two worlds sets them up to have a wonderful enemies-to-lovers arc. Unfortunately, that potential and their future as a couple is founded on Jake's lies and betrayals.
Originally sent to infiltrate the Na'vi community, Jake's change of heart does not diminish the fact that his contributions brought great danger to Neytiri's home, destroying the Hometree and leading to many deaths -- including her father's. Plus, their relationship is a glaring depiction of the white savior trope, another element that adds to the toxicity of their romantic journey.
1 365 Days (2020)
Despite its popularity among audiences, 365 Days is an overly sexualized and romanticized portrayal of one of the worst enemies-to-lovers arcs in movies. Starting as Laura's kidnapper, Massimo is an aggressive and obsessive man whose demeanor toward her is incredibly disrespectful and entitled.
Although he attempts to be charming through his proposal of falling in love over 365 days, he essentially torments Laura until she develops Stockholm syndrome. Not to mention how their "love story" perpetuates misogynist views and romanticizes coercion and the male gaze. As such, Laura's gradual transition from hate to passionate love is incredibly problematic and one of the worst usages of the enemies-to-lovers trope.