- We’ve picked the 50 most iconic kisses in pop culture history.
- They range from movies to royals to awards shows.
- “When Harry Met Sally…” turns 30 this week – and so does Harry’s swoon-worthy New Year’s Eve speech that is sealed with a kiss.
- Visit INSIDER’s homepage for more stories.
Kissing is a big part of life – everyone wants to know if they’re good at it, bad at it, tips on how to do it better, etc.
It is no wonder, then, that kissing is also a big part of pop culture.
From Britney Spears and Madonna’s infamous lip lock at the 2003 VMAs, to the moment Noah and Allie finally reunite in the rain in “The Notebook” – some kisses stay with us forever.
We’ve rounded up the 50 most iconic kisses in history. Keep scrolling to see if your favorite lip-lock made the cut.
The kiss between a soldier and a nurse celebrating the end of World War II.
Greta Zimmer and George Mendonsa had never met before their famous kiss, and had no idea that they had been photographed until years later. But their kiss made the cover of Life to celebrate the end of World War II, has inspired countless copycats that visit Times Square, and has even been recreated as a giant statue in both Sarasota, Florida and San Diego, California, called "Unconditional Surrender."
That said, the picture isn't without its controversies. Some believe the kiss depicts sexual assault, as the two were perfect strangers. Further, the man was drunk and the woman allegedly had no idea he was there until he had his arms around her and began kissing her.
"I felt that he was very strong. He was just holding me tight. I'm not sure about the kiss," the woman in the picture said during her interview with the Veterans History Project. "It was just somebody celebrating. It wasn't a romantic event."
The famous rain kiss between Noah and Allie in "The Notebook."
There are many things to love about 2004's "The Notebook," but the most enduring moment of the film is when ex-lovers Noah and Allie reunite amid a thunderstorm after years of being apart due to class differences and World War I. The whole movie up to that point had been building up to their reunion, so obviously it had to be epic - and it was.
The recreation of the famous rain kiss in "The Notebook" by stars Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling at the 2005 MTV Movie Awards.
One of the reasons that "The Notebook" became so beloved was possibly due to the real-life love story of its stars Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling. The chemistry between the two of them was palpable.
When the two won the 2005 MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss they decided to recreate said kiss... and it was amazing.
The audience's reactions, plus everyone's obsession with the real-life romance, makes this the most widely-remembered MTV Movie Awards moment ever.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's first public kiss as a married couple.
The entire world was watching when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle - now the Duke and Duchess of Sussex - shared their very first kiss as husband and wife. Their romance was a real-life fairytale.
Prince William and Kate Middleton's first public kiss as a married couple.
Will and Kate will always be many people's first royal romance. Not since Charles and Diana had the British royal family captivated the world's attention this way.
Their first post-wedding kiss on the balcony showed the world that fairy tales do exist - and spawned a delightful meme based on the flower girl's unimpressed face in the bottom left.
The long-awaited first kiss between Ross and Rachel on "Friends."
The story of Ross and Rachel literally began in the pilot episode of "Friends," but went through many ups and downs, before the two finally got back together in the series finale. Throughout all 10 seasons of the show, which is about a group of friends in New York City, the Ross and Rachel tension lingered in the background. But the defining moment of their relationship remains their first kiss in the doorway of their daily hangout spot Central Perk - after having a gigantic fight.
Audiences had been waiting for two years for these two "lobsters" (aka soulmates) to begin a relationship, and even though they didn't officially begin dating for a few more episodes, any "Friends" fan will still get butterflies from this moment.
The famous on-stage kiss between Britney Spears and Madonna at the 2003 MTV VMAs.
In 2018, two female musicians kissing doesn't seem like it would cause a ruckus, but in 2003, when Madonna and Spears locked lips (as well as Madonna and Christina Aquilera, though Brit's smooch was said to be steamier) the world "exploded," according to Spears' former manager Larry Rudolph.
The very first Disney "True Love's Kiss" in "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."
Beginning a long-running tradition of true love curing all, "Snow White" is the very first damsel in distress to be woken by her prince and one true love. You can trace all the other iconic magical Disney Princess kisses - "Tangled," "Sleeping Beauty," "The Little Mermaid," "Beauty and the Beast," to name a few - back to this one kiss that cured Snow White's apple poisoning.
This couple sharing a kiss on their wedding day after Massachusetts became the first state to legalize gay marriage in 2004.
Linen and Daily were among the 77 same-sex couples to get married on May 17, 2004, when Massachusetts became the first state to legalize gay marriage. It would be another nine years until gay marriage was legalized throughout America, but this day proved that the tide was turning in favor of marriage equality.
The (potentially) staged kiss between Al and Tipper Gore at the 2000 Democratic National Convention.
Much has been speculated about this kiss between then-presidential candidate Al Gore and his wife Tipper. Many people believed that it was staged in order to humanize Al (who was seen by many as a little stiff), while others believed it was a genuine expression of how much he loved his wife.
Though the Gores have split up since, ask anyone about about the kiss - they'll most likely have an opinion.
The couple kissing on the streets of Vancouver during a riot.
When the Vancouver Canucks lost the 2011 Stanley Cup in game seven, it resulted in a riot on the streets of Vancouver.
Riot police stepped in, but a couple in the background seemed non-perturbed. Some believe the photo was staged, but the man in the photo, Scott Jones, told CBC that he "was just trying to calm [his girlfriend] down."
As of 2015, the couple was still together and living in Australia.
The kiss at the end of "Ghost," when Sam is finally able to say goodbye to Molly.
Molly and Sam's real-world love story comes to an end when Sam is murdered, but Sam's spirit lives on, and he eventually finds a psychic (Oda Mae) to continue communicating with Molly. While the graphics may be cheesy, the movie - a rare combination of romance and suspense - was an unexpected hit that won multiple Academy Awards.
The upside-down rain kiss between Spider-Man and Mary Jane in "Spider-Man."
This kiss has been parodied and imitated so many times, it'd be impossible not to include it on this list. Never mind that Tobey Maguire said he couldn't breathe because he had water pouring up his nose - it's still swoon-worthy.
It's always fun to see the nerdy guy (Peter) get the girl of his dreams, even though Mary Jane didn't know it was Peter at the time.
The kiss between Luke and Laura on "General Hospital" at their wedding, signifying the (temporary) end to their drama.
Mention Luke and Laura to anyone who was watching TV in the '80s and their eyes will glaze over as they remember the glory days of daytime soaps.
"General Hospital" was supposed to be about the goings-on at a hospital in the fictional town of Port Charles, but in true soap opera fashion, it focused mostly on relationship drama.
Luke and Laura's 1981 TV wedding was watched by 30 million people, making it the most-watched daytime soap episode ever, to this day.
The New Year's kiss in "When Harry Met Sally..."
Has there ever been a more heart-eyes inducing speech than Harry's to Sally on New Year's Eve? "I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible," he said, kissing her.
Swoon.
The long-awaited kiss between Troy and Gabriella in "High School Musical 2."
Love interests Troy and Gabriella don't kiss at all in the first "High School Musical." While they get close, they are always interrupted.
The second movie is much of the same, until the very last scene when the teen power couple finally gets to lock lips under the sprinklers. This classic story of the jock and the nerd falling in love (while singing) will live on as one of the Disney Channel's greatest films.
When Adrien Brody shocked Halle Berry by kissing her when he won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 2003.
Brody, who at 29 remains the youngest actor to ever win an Academy Award for Best Actor, was so overcome and by his win for his role in "The Pianist" that he kissed presenter Halle Berry.
In 2017, Berry talked about the kiss on "Watch What Happens Live," where she told host Andy Cohen "'What the f--k is happening right now?' That was what was going through my mind." Thankfully, according to Berry, there are no hard feelings. "And because I was there the year before and I know the feeling of being out of your body, I just f---ing went with it," she continued.
The kiss Rose and Jack share on the bow of the Titanic during "Titanic."
"I'm flying Jack!" Once Jack took Kate to his "king of the world" spot at the front of the ill-fated Titanic, you knew a serious kiss was coming. These two star-crossed lovers cemented their spot in movie history with this sunset smooch.
Piper and Alex's first kiss in jail in "Orange is the New Black."
While it's not their first kiss - the two had been a couple before their time in Litchfield prison - it's the first time Piper allows herself to give in to her feelings for her ex-girlfriend Alex. The two had a complicated history - Alex is the reason Piper was arrested - but clearly they still had a lot of love for each other. The fact that it takes place in Litchfield's chapel is just icing on the cake.
The first "passionate" kiss between two men on prime-time TV during "Dawson's Creek."
The season three finale of "Dawson's Creek" was focused mostly on the show's main love triangle of Pacey, Joey, and Dawson. But the show didn't forget about the recently out-of-the-closet Jack McPhee, who got to have his very first kiss with Ethan, a college student. Sadly, Ethan was revealed to have a boyfriend, but it set Jack on the path to being his true self.
This kiss is iconic not because of its quality (though it's a perfectly fine kiss), but because of the barriers it broke for the LGBT+ community: it was the first "passionate" kiss between two men on prime-time TV.
When the temporarily alive Casper kisses Kat during their dance in "Casper."
Devon Sawa was a late-'90s heartthrob for a reason - when he (as Casper) asks Kat "Can I keep you?" during their dance, pre-teen girls all over the world fell in love. The whole movie had been building up the friendship between Casper, the titular friendly ghost, and Kat, an alive human.
Their sweet kiss proved that not all first kisses are awkward (even if one of you is a temporarily reanimated ghost).
When Kathryn helps Cecile practice "first base" in "Cruel Intentions."
This is just a super steamy kiss. In a movie with no shortage of sex, lies, and scheming, the most oft-referenced moment is this less-than-romantic scene between Kathryn and Cecile, when Kathryn helps Cecile practice "first base" (she's really trying to manipulate Cecile and ruin her life).
Though the two are on-screen enemies, Selma Blair and Sarah Michelle Gellar have proven to be great friends off-camera, and they frequently recreate this kiss.
This mid-train ride kiss by a World War II-era couple.
The events of the Dunkirk evacuation were recently brought back into the public eye with Christopher Nolan's World War II epic "Dunkirk." But before that, the most enduring image from the ordeal was this photo of a British solider returning home and being greeted by his girlfriend, who was too relieved to wait for him to exit the train.
Claire and Jamie's first kiss after 20 years of separation in "Outlander."
After a heartbreaking 20 years apart, Claire finally travels back in time to reunite with her long-lost love Jamie in the 1780s - and they reunite with a beautiful kiss.
Ron and Hermione finally sharing a kiss after eight movies of anticipation in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2."
Even though the actors found it awkward, and not every fan was happy about the changes from the book to the movie, the kiss between Ron and Hermione in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2" after years of dancing around their true feelings for each other is just... important. One of the greatest love stories of the 21st century, these two!
The oft-parodied beach kiss in "From Here to Eternity."
The scandalous affair between soldier Warden and Karen, the wife of his captain, in 1953 classic "From Here to Eternity," spawned this risqué roll in the waves - an oft-parodied kiss throughout pop culture.
While the kiss seems relatively tame nowadays, in the '50s it was downright scandalous - the movie in general, about three soldiers on a Hawaii naval base right before Pearl Harbor, sent many tongues wagging when it was released, and featured many a censored scene.
When, after four seasons of bickering, Luke finally got up the nerve to kiss Lorelai in "Gilmore Girls."
Luke and Lorelai had one of the best first kisses on TV. After seemingly ignoring their very clear feelings for each other for four long seasons, Luke realizes that "he can see her face" (aka that he's in love with Lorelai), asks her on a date, and finally kisses her at the end of the fourth season finale.
The dissolution of their relationship is still a sore subject for "Gilmore Girls" fans, but for one moment, these two were perfect. However, Luke/Lorelai detractors also point to this kiss as the moment the show stopped being about the quirky town of Star's Hollow, and started becoming a typical WB melodrama.
The adorably innocent first kiss between Thomas J. and Vada in "My Girl."
Any '90s kid will tell you that "My Girl" is probably one of the most heartbreaking movies they've ever seen. However, before tragedy strikes it's a sweet story about two best friends navigating their pre-teen years.
Their first kiss, initiated by Vada, is really more of a peck than anything, but it becomes much more significant as the climax of the movie occurs.
Desmond and Penny's emotional reunion during "Lost."
Fans were completely sold on the star-crossed love story of Desmond and Penny after season four episode "The Constant," which is frequently cited as an all-time great episode. It was all about their relationship, and how important they were to each other, and was a rare episode that didn't focus on what was going on on the island with the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815.
However, fans were forced to wait until the end of the season to actually see Desmond and Penny reunite after Penny's boat rescues Desmond and other survivors. Their kiss had so much love and history behind it - it's hard to watch without either tearing up or getting the chills.
Buffy and Spike's show-stopping kiss in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."
Whether Buffy should have ended up with Spike or Angel in "BTVS" is still a sore subject for many, 15 years after the last episode aired. The vampire slayer was in love with two vampires! Objectively though, Buffy's first kiss with Spike at the end of the show's phenomenal musical episode is much more epic than her first kiss with Angel.
The music swells, and the two finally act on their long-simmering sexual tension... starting down the road of what would ultimately become a wholly dysfunctional relationship.
Nick and Jess' surprise first kiss in "New Girl."
You might not think that the line "Let's just suck it up and French a little" would lead to one of the most romantic first kisses in recent sitcom history, but "New Girl" has never been predictable. The show, about a group of friends living together in an LA loft, proved it could be funny and sexy with this scene.
After a season and a half of unspoken attraction to Jess, Nick finally acts on his feelings by grabbing her, spinning her around, and laying one on her in season two episode "Cooler." While their relationship has been divisive among fans, we can all agree their first kiss was breathtaking.
Ennis and Jack's intense reunion in "Brokeback Mountain."
After a romantic summer spent together, cowboys Jack and Ennis separate for four year, going on to marry and have kids.
But when they reunite with an intense up-against-the-wall kiss, it's clear their feelings are just as strong as they were that summer.
The movie opened the dialogue for same-sex marriage, and ushered in a new era of queer cinema.
When Daphne finally plants one on Niles after seasons of unrequited love in "Frasier."
Even though "Frasier" was ostensibly about the goings-on of pretentious radio host Frasier, the love story between his brother and their father's caretaker is one of the most memorable storylines.
Fans of the Daphne/Niles relationship had to wait a full seven seasons for the couple to act on their connection - and even though Niles had been in love with Daphne for years, she's still the one who gets up the courage to kiss him. "Frasier" fans everywhere cheered - even if Niles was married, and Daphne was engaged.
When Mulder and Scully share a sweet New Year's kiss in "The X-Files."
If you've ever heard the term "shipping," which is "the act of one wanting/supporting two individuals involved in a romantic relationship" according to Urban Dictionary, you have Mulder and Scully to thank - these two were the original "ship."
There was no actual romantic action between these two until season seven episode "Millennium," in which the two agents kiss on New Year's Eve. Even though it's just a "friendly" kiss, it still caused shipper hearts everywhere to explode. In a show mainly focused on the heavy material of government conspiracies, aliens, and other supernatural occurrences, the relationship of Mulder and Scully was a welcome distraction.
Jim and Pam's first kiss in "The Office."
It only took two seasons of pining for Jim to admit his feelings to Pam, but to fans it felt like much longer. Their sweet kiss, which takes place right after Jim tells Pam that he loves her, ignited many shippers' hearts - which were broken when Pam revealed that she was still planning on marrying her fiancé, Roy, anyway.
"The Office" was a cringeworthy comedy about people in the workplace, but it was never more heartwarming than when it focused on Jim and Pam.
Sam and Diane's very passionate first kiss in "Cheers."
Sam and Diane, one of the pillars of the will-they-won't-they trope, had an almost violent energy - seconds before they kiss they both tell each other they've fantasized about punching each other.
What makes this kiss iconic? It kicks off 10 more seasons of their relationship drama - most kisses cannot claim that. Even though Long left "Cheers" (both the bar and the show) in season five, her memory lingered. Plus, her special appearance in the series finale proved why Sam and Diane were so compelling in the first place.
Josh and Donna's celebratory kiss in "The West Wing."
"The West Wing" is a political drama about the day-to-day at the White House, but fans clamored over the Josh and Donna relationship for seven seasons thanks to their whip-smart banter.
Arwen and Aragorn at Aragorn's coronation in "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King."
Arwen and Aragorn face a number of trials and tribulations in their relationship, mostly stemming from the fact that Aragorn is a human and Arwen is an elf, and that her father disapproves.
But by the end of the saga, Arwen's father gives them his blessing, and the two reunite for good at Aragorn's coronation - and Arwen officially gives up her immortality to be with him.
Real life couple Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield's "kiss" during an episode of "Saturday Night Live."
"The Amazing Spider-Man" co-stars Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone fell in love while filming, and remained a pretty private couple (they broke up in 2015, after dating for four years).
Fans and "SNL" viewers were delighted when the two teamed up for a skit in which they pretended not to know how to kiss like normal people. It was hilarious, gross, and proved that the two actors don't take themselves too seriously.
Lady and Tramp's accidental smooch in "Lady and the Tramp."
The spaghetti kiss between these two pups has become one of Disney's signature moments - you can pretend it doesn't cross your mind whenever you eat spaghetti, but we all know the truth.
The first interracial kiss on American TV between Kirk and Uhura on the original "Star Trek."
This 1968 interracial kiss was groundbreaking at the time.
Though the kiss itself isn't romantic - in typical "Star Trek" fashion, the Enterprise's crew is taken hostage by aliens - it still represents a huge shift in the TV landscape, and the episode, "Plato's Stepchildren," will be remembered forever.
Scarlett and Rhett's almost-kiss in "Gone with the Wind."
Yes, Rhett and Scarlett eventually kiss in the Civil War epic, but their almost-kiss is even more emotional. It's when Rhett tells Scarlett "You should be kissed, and often. And by someone who knows how." That line permanently cemented Rhett Butler as a heartthrob.
While the story centers on the romance between Rhett and Scarlett, it also touches on the hardships that war brings - like kissing the one you love goodbye as he goes off to fight.
Jude and Connor's kiss on "The Fosters" — the youngest same-sex kiss on TV.
The kiss between Jude and Connor in a season two episode of "The Fosters," a show about a blended family of foster, adopted, and biological kids, has been established as the youngest same-sex kiss on TV. The actors playing Jude and Connor were 15 and 16, and playing 13-year-olds.
The kiss is short, but meaningful. A 2013 Pew Research Center survey found that 12 is the median age in which kids start feeling like they may not be straight - which just means that "The Fosters" is helping TV reflect real life.
David and Natalie's backstage make-out during "Love Actually."
Classic Christmas film "Love Actually" is filled with great kisses because it tells the stories of multiple London residents, so you can take your pick. But the first kiss between David, the Prime Minister, and Natalie, a former staff member, wins for its pure adorableness.
The two, after being separated due to a misunderstanding, finally reunite at a primary school Christmas pageant, and try to slyly kiss backstage, but are almost immediately discovered.
George and Mary's post-wedding kiss in "It's a Wonderful Life."
When George Bailey realizes he may have to shut down his business, he contemplates suicide, but an angel comes to his rescue by showing him how much good he has done in life through various flashbacks.
Anchoring the tale is the sweet love story between Bailey and his ever-supportive wife Mary. This sweet kiss comes as a result of the two using their honeymoon fund to cover the costs of Bailey's failing business - confirming that all they really need to be happy is each other.
Josie and Sam's very public smooch in "Never Been Kissed."
When a rom-com has a name like "Never Been Kissed," you know there's a big kiss coming. Luckily, "Never Been Kissed" doesn't disappoint.
After coming clean about being an adult journalist who went undercover as a high school student for a story, Josie dejectedly gives up on her crush, English teacher Sam. But, of course, he shows up in front of the whole town and they have a show-stopping kiss in the middle of the baseball field.
Gus and Hazel's kiss in the Anne Frank Museum in "The Fault in Our Stars."
"The Fault in Our Stars" is only a few years old, so calling it a classic might be a bit premature - but it's definitely going to become one.
The love story between these two terminally ill teenagers reaches peak romance when they finally kiss upon reaching the top floor of the Anne Frank Museum in Amsterdam. While the kiss was controversial, with many people claiming it was inappropriate, the museum issued a statement of support for the scene as it was written in the book, saying "In the book it is a moving and sensitively handled scene."
The kiss (and unintelligible whisper) at the end of "Lost in Translation."
This story of strangers in a strange land finally finding human connection was nominated for multiple Academy Awards.
While the story of Bob, an aging movie star, and Charlotte, a recent college graduate, both of whom are staying in a hotel in Japan, isn't exactly a traditional love story, it does end with a single kiss - solidifying that these two people had a real relationship and cared for each other greatly.
Lizzie finally kissing Gordo in "The Lizzie McGuire Movie."
After 65 episodes and an entire movie of unrequited love, Lizzie, on a school trip to Rome with her friends, finally wises up and kisses Gordo, who's been in love with her the entire time - after she gets to live out her pop star dreams and performs in front of thousands of adoring fans.
All 2000s kids are still mad they never got more "Lizzie McGuire" episodes, to learn what happened to their favorite couple.
Kurt and Blaine's post-serenade smooch on "Glee."
The Kurt/Blaine relationship, affectionately known as "Klaine," was an important plotline throughout "Glee" - it's easy to forget that for a significant chunk of season two, Kurt's love for Blaine was unrequited.
But after becoming visibly moved by Kurt's musical (duh) tribute to their school's mascot, Blaine admits to Kurt that he reciprocates Kurt's feelings, and the two kiss. The glee clubs at McKinley High and Dalton Academy had many different romantic relationships, but Kurt and Blaine played an important part throughout the show's next four seasons.