Maybe we all just crave a summer fling because it (usually) looks so damn irresistible on the big screen. Who hasn't fantasized about a sexy camp counselor, lifeguard, or chiseled dance instructor? Don't most flights and train journeys begin with a silent prayer that some stunning adventurer will be in the next seat? Aren't you the teensiest bit bummed when you return from a summer abroad with absolutely nothing to report?
We get it. Just remember that while many of these cinematic summer romances are worth pining after, there are plenty that turn out to be total duds. For every Baby and Johnny, there's a Lisa and Robbie. Sometimes you get a story to tell the grandkids. Sometimes you get a story to tell the judge.
Roll the tape.
BEST: Noah & Allie (Ryan Gosling & Rachel McAdams), The Notebook (2004)
These two visit every cliched location for a summer romance: An ice cream parlor, the movies, and a carnival. Plus, the summer fling has the benefit of actually lasting past the summer (give or take a few years and dramatic misunderstandings).
BEST: Tony & Maria (Richard Beymer & Natalie Wood), West Wide Story (1961)
Over the course of a few sweltering New York summer days, this aspiring Romeo and Juliet couple attempts to cross racial and cultural boundaries in the name of love. What results is one of the most touching, poignant, tragic depictions of first love ever seen onscreen, and set to music.
BEST: Princess Ann & Joe (Audrey Hepburn & Gregory Peck), Roman Holiday (1953)
These two really only had a day together, but oh, what a day it was. Everything's just a bit more glorious in Italy.
BEST: Frances & John (Grace Kelly & Cary Grant), To Catch a Thief (1955)
He's a cat burglar, she's a mischievous heiress...what could possibly go wrong? Shout-out to fireworks and the French Riviera for upping the romance factor.
BEST: Sandy & Danny (Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta), Grease (1978)
We could do without Danny's sexual innuendos, but there's no denying that this summer fling was worth singing about on the bleachers.
BEST: Baby & Johnny (Jennifer Grey & Patrick Swayze), Dirty Dancing (1987)
The ultimate summer romance. Anyone else like to pretend that these two ran off together for real, with Baby joining the Peace Corps and Johnny adding local dances to his repertoire?
WORST: Lisa & Robbie (Jane Brucker & Max Cantor), Dirty Dancing (1987)
Lisa learned the hard way that her summer crush was a total sleaze. That'll teach him to not lock his cabin door.
WORST: Kat & Tim (Annabeth Gish & William R. Moses), Mystic Pizza (1988)
A big fat no to dating the married man who has hired you to babysit his kid.
BEST: Wednesday & Joel (Christina Ricci & David Krumholtz), Addams Family Values (1993)
Paula Abdul said it best: Opposites attract.
WORST: Drew & Lauren (Larenz Tate & Jada Pinkett Smith), The Inkwell (1994)
Lauren was such a snob to poor Drew, though his decision to ditch her and lose his virginity to a married woman was only marginally better.
BEST: Céline & Jesse (Julie Delpy & Ethan Hawke), Before Sunrise (1995)
Raise your hand if you bought a Eurostar pass in hopes of finding your ultimate scruffy soulmate.
BEST: Lucy & Osvaldo (Liv Tyler & Ignazio Oliva), Stealing Beauty (1996)
If you're determined to lose your virginity, the Tuscan countryside in summertime is as good a place as any.
BEST: Annette & Sebastian (Reese Witherspoon & Ryan Phillippe), Cruel Intentions (1999)
Things didn't really work out for these two (ahem), but it's still hard to not be swept up by their end-of-summer crushing and Counting Crows-soundtracked lovemaking.
BEST: Ben & McKinley (Bradley Cooper & Michael Ian Black), Wet Hot American Summer (2001)
This clandestine hook-up happily resulted in a wedding by the lake. Isn't summer camp amazing?
WORST: Tamsin & Mona (Emily Blunt & Natalie Press), My Summer of Love (2004)
Sorry, but discovering that your lover is a big fat liar with some serious issues overshadows the fact that she has great taste in music.
BEST: Lena & Kostas (Alexis Bledel & Michael Rady), The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005)
This summertime fling was like a Greek version of Romeo & Juliet, minus everyone dying.
WORST: Cristina, Juan & María Elena (Scarlett Johansson, Javier Bardem & Penélope Cruz), Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
Okay, so the sex was hot. Ultimately, however, Cristina realized that hooking up with a lothario and his temperamental ex-wife was more trouble than it was worth. And that was before her friend Vicky almost got shot.
BEST: James & Em (Jesse Eisenberg & Kristen Stewart), Adventureland (2009)
Despite Ryan Reynolds's evil intentions, these theme-park employees just can't quit each other.
BEST: Sam & Suzy (Jared Gilman & Kara Hayward), Moonrise Kingdom (2012)
In which two 12-year-olds who are far cooler than they have any right to be make us feel all nostalgic and wistful about young love.
WORST: Leigh & Jason (Kristen Bell & David Lambert), The Lifeguard (2013)
Long story short: She's 29. He's in high school. Can't even type that without picturing a group of Wendy Williams audience members booing in outrage.
WORST: Franck & Michel (Pierre Deladonchamps & Christophe Paou), Stranger by the Lake (2013)
Is mind-blowing sex with a sexy Frenchman worth potentially being murdered? Non.
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