Romances are the heart and soul of iconic teen movies. The films’ central focus is usually the main couple, with the two often facing difficult circumstances before coming together. Numerous fan-favorite pairings have come from teen movies, from Cady and Aaron in Mean Girls to Troy and Gabriella in High School Musical.
However, not all teen movie couples have what it takes to survive long-term. Rather, many on-screen romances would translate horribly in the real world. While most film couples have their ups and downs, some iconic teen couples have absolutely zero chances of still being together today.
10 Jess & Joe (Bend It Like Beckham)
Jess and Joe share an inappropriate relationship throughout Bend It Like Beckham. While Joe pushes Jess to be her best in soccer, he also abuses his authority as her coach.
Joe actively pursues Jess, despite her young age and their problematic power dynamics. He also ignores her boundaries. Jess turns Joe down, but he persists, eventually wearing her down at the airport. Although the two might make long-distance work for a bit, Jess likely broke up with Joe after gaining some hindsight.
9 Zack & Laney (She’s All That)
Zack and Laney’s entire relationship emerges from a bet in She’s All That. A prideful Zack takes Laney under his wing merely to spite his ex-girlfriend. Laney remains oblivious to the bet until the climax of the film.
Zack and Laney also have little in common beyond the bet. Zack is a popular party goer while Laney is a quiet art lover. The two have very different personalities and run in distinct circles. The couple’s toxic past and lack of common interests make their breakup inevitable, likely soon after they graduate high school.
8 Sam & Josie (Never Been Kissed)
High school romances can be cute — but not when they’re between an undercover adult and a confused teacher. When Josie attends high school again for a work story in Never Been Kissed, she falls for her English teacher, Sam.
Sam and Josie have an awkward and largely inappropriate relationship after that. Sam’s creepiness aside, the couple’s romance is built entirely on facades and large gestures. The pair fails to build a healthy, stable foundation for themselves. As a result, the couple is destined to break up eventually, especially as Josie realizes the problematic context of Sam’s initial attraction.
7 Baby & Johnny (Dirty Dancing)
Dirty Dancing gave viewers the iconic enemies-to-lovers story of Johnny and Baby. However, many factors limit the romance’s sustainability shortly after its epic lift.
For starters, Baby and Johnny come from very different walks of life with very separate ambitions. The two also share a questionable age gap; while Baby is around 17 and just getting a start on life, Johnny is in his mid-20s. These factors allow the couple to have a memorable romance but limit their long-term potential. Baby and Johnny will cherish their time together but ultimately are better suited as a fun summer fling.
6 Bender & Claire (The Breakfast Club)
Bender and Claire are a classic “bad-boy falls for the good-girl” pairing in The Breakfast Club. The pair largely contribute to each other’s character development. Yet, it’s clear the two won’t last long after detention.
Bender ignores Claire’s physical and emotional boundaries, constantly making her uncomfortable for his own enjoyment. His character uses Claire as an emotional crutch to become a “better person.” Claire, in turn, gravitates toward Bender simply to rebel against her goody-two-shoes image. Since both characters fulfill these goals by the end, the couple has little reason to stay together afterward.
5 Danny & Sandy (Grease)
Danny and Sandy’s summer fling gets extended in Grease. The two share an effortless romance at first, but their relationship struggles to survive their high school setting.
While Sandy and Danny work things out by the end, Sandy compromises too much for their relationship to last happily. She undermines herself constantly to be accepted by Danny, from using the cringy makeover romance trope to easily forgiving his too-forward advances. These imbalanced power dynamics ensure that — unlike Greased Lightning — Danny and Sandy’s relationship would not fly today.
4 Josh & Cher (Clueless)
Josh helps Cher grow into a better person in Clueless. Meanwhile, Cher helps Josh loosen up and see the fun in life. The two better one another, but their relationship is too situational to last well beyond the end credits.
Cher is too free-spirited and ambitious to be held down by Josh’s need for routine and stability. She is also way too young to follow through on catching the bouquet, especially before she can mature and see the world. Cher and Josh likely realize that they work better as uplifting ex-step siblings than as a long-term romantic couple.
3 Shane & Mitchie (Camp Rock 1&2)
Shane and Mitchie’s romance was the highlight of both Disney’s Camp Rock and its cringe-worthy sequel, Camp Rock 2. However, their relationship was also awfully one-sided and meant to end.
Mitchie was constantly providing support to Shane, whether it be validating his music or being an emotional outlet. Shane never reciprocates those efforts and only sees Mitchie’s worth after hearing her voice. The two also frequently clash over how to run Camp Rock. Mitchie may be the missing piece Shane needs, but she probably ended things after a few summers (hopefully through a song during Final Jam).
2 Cady & Aaron (Mean Girls)
Aaron was Cady’s first real relationship in Mean Girls. Cady’s inexperience with boys makes her latch onto the first guy she thinks is cute without knowing anything about him. Aaron also fails to really understand Cady, falling for her fake persona as a Plastic.
Cady and Aaron’s mutual attraction alone is not enough to keep their relationship going. Cady is a driven and hard-working student who needs someone mature and confident to level with her. Aaron prefers to take a backseat and never helps resolve conflict. Aaron may have been Cady’s first teen love, but there is no way he’s her last.
1 Sam & Austin (A Cinderella Story)
Sam and Austin are a modern Cinderella and Prince Charming in A Cinderella Story. Sadly, this includes them being yet another rushed and mismatched pair.
Sam and Austin only work together when Austin pretends to be Nomad. As Austin the jock, he proves to be an uncaring bystander that has little regard for Sam. Sam, on the other hand, is a hard-working person willing to stick up for what’s right. The couple’s mutual love for writing can only take them so far, and trying to make their relationship work long-term is like Sam waiting for rain in the drought — “useless and disappointing.”