If art reflects life, aping the Hollywood style of romance is how life is inspired by art. Hollywood movies have undeniably taught us about love and planted a few notions in our heads. Here are the top 10 scripts which have possibly become an unofficial love guide to many.

1. Dislike for each other is the first step to falling in love – (The Way We Were)

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There are several movies where this formula has set the ball rolling for the script. The concept here is that people who hate each other, usually make sure they don’t cross roads. But somehow they do. The cute quarrels eventually lead to love. This formula could also be based on the theory: ‘opposites attract.’ This formula was used in the 1973 movie, The Way We Were, starring Robert Redford and Barbra Streisand. Although the movie is a drama, it reinforces the belief that there is a very thin line between love and hate. 

2. If you know she’s the one, never give up – (Before Sunrise)

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It rarely happens that people know who they want to spend the rest of their life with. If you are amongst the lucky few, hold on to that special person. Relationships come with their fair share of misunderstandings, irrational fights and temperament issues. But view them as a litmus test of your love for each other. After all, when you love someone, you need to accept the good and the not-so-good sides of their personality. And this has been pictured beautifully in the trilogy, Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, and Before Midnight. The first of the movies follows a young couple who meet quite accidentally in Paris and spend a magical night together, talking, debating, and getting to know each other. Find out for yourselves how the other two movies continue their story.

3. Keep distance from your ex – (The Wedding Date)

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Your ex is a part of your past and if the relationship did not work out, it is best to leave it behind. After all, there is no use working yourself up over something you can’t change. Interference of your ex in your present life or vice-à-versa could hinder your present or future love life. There is a reason your ex is your ex. This romantic concept is reinforced in the movie The Wedding Date, where the heroine hires a male escort to act as her boyfriend, in order to make her ex-fiancé jealous, who is the best man at her sister’s wedding. 

4. Friendship is the first step to romance – (Win a Date with Tad Hamilton) 

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Friendship is the strong foundation of a lasting romantic relationship. Aspects like money, fame, good looks etc., can win her attention for some time. But a girl will come back to you if she knows you understand her and have touched her soul. However, do make the big move before you get friend-zoned. In the movie, Win a Date with Tad Hamilton, a grocery store manager’s unrequited love for his best friend is unintentionally rubbed in his face when she wins a date with her celebrity idol. Eventually though, the manager gets his HEA.

5. Bring back the magic – (Date Night)

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Sooner or later every relationship tends to lose its shine as passion tends to dim. If you feel the romance fleeing from your relationship, it’s time to stir things up. Plan a getaway trip or some adventure sports to light up some sparks. It doesn’t need necessarily be something elaborate or grandiose. Even with little to no effort, you can bring back that spark into your relationship. In the movie Date Night, a married couple’s attempt to spice up their romantic life ends up with more excitement than they bargained for. However, it also underpins the notion that it is never too late to bring back that spark in your relationship.

6. Best friend to the rescue – (The Hangover)

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Every perfect love story needs a best friend to set things right. Whether it is to help you set up a date, plan the perfect proposal or for disaster management, you will always need a wingman a la Barney Stinson. This wingman sticks by you through all the ups and downs of your relationship and seldom judges you; instead, they take it upon themselves to plan a night out when you need it the most, or give you the much-needed kick to your rear when you deserve it. The idiom Friends forever, is shown in the movie The Hangover, where three friends piece together the events of the previous wild night in order to look for the fourth friend, to get him back to his wedding in time. 

7. Women fall for men with a sense of humor – (The Holiday) 

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Many Hollywood flicks will reinforce your belief in the fact that looks don’t matter to women, as long as you have a great sense of humor and have the gift of gab. This could be somewhat true in real life, but try to be presentable if you are not an owner of Greek god looks. Seeing the lighter side of things in life is an admirable quality that women value in men, and this is depicted in the movie, The Holiday, where the beautiful Kate Winslet meets the quirky and funny Jack Black.

8. Men fall for a good personality – (She’s All That)

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Several flicks in Hollywood defend the wildly popular belief that men usually fall for women with stunning good looks. On the other side of that coin, there are movies that show that a girl next door with average looks and a winsome personality too has a chance with the super-hot hero. This notion has been reinforced in the eminently forgettable teenage movie, She’s All That.

9. Women like men who teach them the value of individuality – (The Notebook)

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Many movies show upper-class women getting attracted to working-class guys who introduce them to the true value of being themselves, having taken off the manacles that society constricted them with. This has been shown with a sizzling chemistry between the lead pair of the movie, The Notebook.

10. Rejected suitors should pursue twice as hard – (50 First Dates)

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Pursuing the love of your life, in spite of being rejected, makes you look like a sensitive soul and often results in true love. This dedication is effective in melting the heart of your lady love. But this notion is taken to a whole other level in the movie 50 First Dates, where the heroine has a memory that lasts 24 hours. So, the hero has to woo her every day and make her fall in love with him, every day. Awww!

You just read what are the Hollywood movie notions are regarding love and romance. Tell us if you think of any other such popular notions in the comments below!

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