Romance is a popular staple of all sorts of fiction as a main plot or a subplot. The science-fiction genre is no expectation, and the adaptation of Stephanie Meyer’s sci-fi romance The Host has just hit theaters. So we're looking at some of the best romances in sci-fi movies to see where this one went wrong.
10. Joel and Clementine – Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Kicking off this list is Michel Gondry’s Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Starring Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet this movie takes place mostly in the mind of Joel, a man who tries to erase all memories of his ex-girlfriend, Clementine. During the process Joel realizes how much he loves her and does everything he can to protect his memories.
9. Michael and Susan – Perfect Sense
Perfect Sense is a love story that happens to be set during the end of the world. Set in Glasgow, Michael is a chef, and Susan is a scientist researching a strange disease that starts to make people lose their senses. Ewan McGregor and Eva Green gave great performances and had fantastic chemistry together in what was a surprisingly positive movie.
8. Superman and Lois Lane – Superman Series
Superhero films and comics often employ sci-fi elements, and many superheroes have some sort of romantic interest. One of the best portrayed on film is between Superman and Lois Lane in the Superman series, particularly as their romance blossoms after an interview, which leads to the famous flying scene and Superman's willingness to sacrifice for Lois when she finds out his real identity. Bryan Singer’s Superman Returns homages the first movie, including the first meeting between the pair and has Superman longing for his love.
7. Winston Smith and Julia – 1984
George Orwell's 1984 is one of the great examples of dyspotic fiction and a fantastic piece of English literature. It has been adapted a few times, including by the BBC in 1954, a film adaptation in 1956, and the most famous version, which starred John Hurt, in 1984. Winston Smith is an Outer Party worker for the Ministry of Truth with a secret hatred for The Party and its leader Big Brother. He finds a like-minded woman in Julia, and they form a relationship as they look for love in a culture that subverts the idea before the Party and Thought Police tear them apart.
6. Freder and Maria – Metropolis
Metropolis is a classic piece of sci-fi, silent filmmaking, and German Expressionism. As well as being a story of class warfare and discrimination, there is also a love story as Freder, the son of the city’s leader, becomes fascinated by the angelic Maria and journeys down to the underground city of the workers to find her as a mad scientist tries to use Freder’s love to his advantage.
5. Kathy, Tommy and Ruth – Never Let Me Go
A sci-fi love triangle features prominently in Mark Romanek’s adaptation of Never Let Me Go. Set in an alternative version of Britain, there has been a scientific breakthrough that helps people live to 100. But it creates a new underclass of people. Three people in this underclass are Kathy, Tommy, and Ruth, three friends who know each other from school. Kathy is love with Tommy, but Tommy ends up starting a sexual relationship with Ruth as it tells the story of their friendship from the 70s to the 90s. This is a world where the underclass believes it could be given more years to live if its men and women prove they are in love.
4. Han Solo and Princess Leia – Star Wars Original Trilogy
Not all relationships run smoothly. That is certainly the case for Hans Solo and Princess Leia as they have a love-hate relationship and act almost like small children who pretend they hate each other when they really like each other. Their relationship blooms throughout the course of the trilogy, leading to the pair confessing their love in “The Empire Strike Backs” before being separated by the forces of the Empire.
3. Sarah Connor and Kyle Reese – The Terminator
The Terminator is a classic time-travel movie that proved James Cameron’s talents as a director and gave us some of the most memorial characters in cinema. Kyle Reese was sent back in time to protect the mother of John Connor, the future resistance leader against the machine. Sarah Connor is a scared teenager who grows closer to Kyle during the movie.
2. WALL-E and E-V-E – WALL-E
Who said a romance should be limited between two humans or even two living organisms? One of the most touching relationships in recent film history is between the robots WALL-E and E-V-E, one a loner who simply longs to hold hands and the other focused on her directive. Over the course of their Pixar movie they relationship blooms in a highly expressive, nearly silent fashion.
Dishonorable Mention: Anakin Skywalker and Palme – Star Wars Prequel Trilogy
Whilst the original Star Wars Trilogy gave us Han Solo and Princess Leia, we unfortunately get Anakin Skywalker and Padme in the prequel trilogy. Starting with “The Phantom Menace”, we see a 10-year-old Anakin meet with a 14-year-old Palme which is creepy and it does not get any better when we see the pair played by a wooden Hayden Christensen and Natalie Portman speaking stiff dialogue that only George Lucas knows how to supply. Making it even worse is Anakin's turn to the dark side, which he does because Palpatine exploits Anakin’s nightmares of Padme's death.
1. Neo and Trinity – The Matrix Trilogy
Neo and Trinity’s relationship was written in the stars and prophesied by The Oracle. Trinity declaring her love to dead Neo was all part of his journey to becoming the messiah of their world. Both characters are willing to go to hell and back for each other, risking their lives and even the lives of others to save each other.
