Movies with plenty ofromanceand stories that hinge on romantic relationships are always fun to watch, but a big age gap can put a damper on the genre. It’s not uncommon for actors to have age differences onscreen, and this can sometimes work in favor of the plot as it adds a complication or additional barrier that the couple must overcome to get their happily ever after. However, it can also cause problemsif the age gap is significant enough that the viewer starts to question if the relationship is believableand that the chemistry between the characters is genuine.
Recently,movies likeThe Idea of YouandFamily Affairhave been tackling the subject of age-gap romance from the fresh perspective of an older woman dating a younger man. However, for most of movie history, many onscreen relationships have been between men much older than their female costars, and the stories have been played straight, with no commentary on the nuance of these relationships. In some cases,the age difference is so pronounced that it takes the audience out of the narrativeand makes them question the entire romance.
10Ellie Sattler & Alan Grant - Jurassic Park (1993)
Age Difference: 20 Years
Steven Spielberg’s sci-fi adventure blockbusterJurassic Parkis a beloved movie for a reason, and there are many aspects of the film that have aged tremendously well.However, the age gap between Laura Dern’s Ellie and Sam Neill’s Alan has gotten more noticeable with time. Despite the fact that Ellie and Alan spend most of the movie apart, their relationship and connection are a driving force behind their need to survive and be reunited as the park turns into a dangerous nightmare.
It’s easy to believe that Ellie and Alan share a love for dinosaurs, but a romantic relationship doesn’t make as much sense within the story.
However, romance isn’t a pivotal plot line inJurassic Park. It feels as though Ellie and Alan were put together to create more emotional tension and provide a reason for Alan to change his opinion on kids. This might be why two actors with such a significant age difference were cast. It’s easy to believe that Ellie and Alan share a love for dinosaurs, but a romantic relationship doesn’t make as much sense within the story.
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9Sabrina & Linus - Sabrina (1954)
Age Difference: 30 Years
Audrey Hepburn is one of thebest actresses of Old Hollywood, andSabrinawas far from the only time that she played opposite a much older man as her love interest. Though Humphrey Bogart was also no stranger to age-gap romances, both on and off screen, their romance in the 1954 romantic dramaSabrinahas given the film a mixed legacy.Bogart and Hepburn are equally iconic performers and giveSabrinaa lot of star power,but it’s clear throughoutSabrinathat they don’t belong together romantically.
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Sabrinawas eventually remade in 1995, with Harrison Ford and Julia Ormond as Linus and Sabrina. Though the pair are still over 20 years apart, it’s slightly less jarring than the 30 years between Bogart and Hepburn, who plays Sabrina with enough naiveté to make the character seem even younger. While both actors are charming,it’s hard to root for Sabrina and Linus to work things out with the knowledge that he’s manipulating her and could be her father.
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8Juliet & Mark - Love Actually (2003)
Age Difference: 12 Years
The issue with Keira Knightley’s relationships inLove Actuallyisn’t necessarily the age gap, as twelve years isn’t a shocking difference, but the fact thatshe was only 17 when she was filming.Though Knightley’s Juliet marries Peter (Chiwetel Ejiofor), who is also several years older than Knightley, her story revolves around Mark’s (Andrew Lincoln) affection for her. Many factors, not only the age gap, made this storyline inLove Actuallyparticularly controversial.
In some ways, age gaps become less important and controversial when both parties are well into adulthood, making Knightley’s age a significant problem.
Despite its popularity and fame,Love Actuallyhas been a lightning rod for discussion and controversy since it premiered in 2003. The fact that Knightley was so young exacerbated the issues of betrayal and creepiness that plagued her dynamic with Mark. Her costar, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, was just 5 years younger than Knightley but plays a child in the film, whereas Knightley was getting married. In some ways, age gaps become less important and controversial when both parties are well into adulthood, making Knightley’s age a significant problem.
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7Rita & William - Edge Of Tomorrow (2014)
Edge of Tomorrowis agreat time loop moviethat’s an overlooked addition to both Tom Cruise’s and Emily Blunt’s filmographies.This sci-fi thriller is a fantastic addition to the genre that builds on the tension with every loopand sees both Cruise and Blunt give unforgettable performances. As Cruise has established himself as one of the biggest action stars of the 21st century, it’s not surprising that many of his female costars and onscreen love interests are significantly younger, but the 20-year difference inEdge of Tomorrowis slightly staggering.
Blunt holds her own next to Cruise, and they make a compatible pair,but as their onscreen romance develops, it’s hard to believe that Blunt’s Rita wouldn’t have something to say about their age gap. Of course, it’s likely impossible not to develop feelings for someone after spending many time loops together, but William’s attachment to Rita, even when she doesn’t remember him, is a little unreasonable. ThoughEdge of Tomorrowdoes a great job uplifting Rita and making her a strong female character, this makes it less likely that she would fall for the older William.
Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
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6Buddy & Jovie - Elf (2003)
Age Difference: 13 Years
Though Zooey Deschanel looks very different inElf, as she isn’t sporting her signature long dark hair and bangs, it’s still the quirky, indie darling starring alongside the slapstick comedy actor Will Ferrell. Ferrell’s character, Buddy, is suffering from a case of arrested development, as he’s a human who was raised by elves in the North Pole, butthe fact that Ferrell is 13 years older than Deschanel is hard to miss.As Jovie, Deschanel might be cynical and worldly compared to Buddy, but she’s much younger.
Overall, this age gap is far from the biggest and relatively tame by Hollywood standards, but it’s impossible to ignore.
ThoughElfmines the fact that Buddy is a visibly grown man for comedy, the love story between him and Jovie makesElfslightly less magical. It’s nice that Buddy helps Jovie connect with her Christmas spirit and care about things again, but he could’ve done the same with a woman a little closer in age. Overall, this age gap is far from the biggest and relatively tame by Hollywood standards, but it’s impossible to ignore.
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5Dodge & Penny - Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World (2012)
Age Difference: 22 Years
Since Keira Knightley began acting at such a young age and was consistently cast in romantic comedies and dramas, she played opposite older men for a long time. She plays Penny inSeeking a Friend for the End of the World, a young woman who meets Steve Carell’s Dodge in the final days before the apocalypse when they’ve both ended their previous romances. Going on an offbeat odyssey to find some meaning in their last days on Earth,the romantic angle of their relationship never quite lands in the film.
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Seeking a Friend for the End of the Worldtakes its time to cultivate their connection,but it’s easy to interpret their dynamic as more of a father-daughter relationship. It’s a bittersweet tragicomedy that ends with Dodge and Penny facing down the end of the world together, and though you’re glad they’re not alone, it doesn’t change the fact that he’s noticeably older than her. There are some sweet moments in the movie, and their affection appears genuine, but their chemistry is slightly uncomfortable.
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012)
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4Robert & Virginia - Entrapment (1999)
Age Difference: 39 Years
Sean Connery first rose to fame in the 1960s for playing James Bond,and over thirty years later, he played the love interest of Catherine Zeta-Jones when she was 30 years old. Connery was nearly 70 at the time that the actors collaborated onEntrapment, which is a massive age difference, even for Hollywood. Following the story of an insurance investigator and a master thief, the premise ofEntrapmentis inherently packed with tension and intrigue.
As a thriller,Entrapmenthas some fun moments and set pieces, but its romance diminishes the quality.
As the story progresses, Robert and Virginia grow closer, attached to each other’s skills and thieves and their dangerous game of cat and mouse. While Robert is supposed to be an aging thief, somewhat past his glory days,Entrapmenttakes this to the extreme, making the relationship between them cross into borderline creepy territory. As a thriller,Entrapmenthas some fun moments and set pieces, but its romance diminishes the quality.
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3Don & Kathy - Singin' In The Rain (1952)
Age Difference: 21 Years
Singin' in the Rainis one of the most beloved movie musicals of all time and holds up almost flawlessly today. However, one of the most glaring issues with the project is the fact that Gene Kelly is so much older than Debbie Reynolds.Kelly was an established star and well-known in Hollywood at this point,while this was Reynolds' breakout role. This power dynamic is reflected onscreen through Don’s fame, butSingin' in the Rainnever addresses the age gap.
Since he was such an iconic performer and skilled dancer, Kelly was the love interest of much younger women many times throughout his career. However,Singin' in the Rainrelies on the relationship between Kathy and Don and the fact that it’s such true love. The problem with this is that Kelly could be Reynolds' father, andwhile they have chemistry, it reads as more platonic than romantic onscreen.Despite this,Singin' in the Rainhas remained an enduring classic.
Singin' in the Rain (1952)
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2Pat & Tiffany - Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
Age Difference: 16 Years
Jennifer Lawrence would go on to win the Oscar for Best Actress at just 22 years old for her performance inSilver Linings Playbook. Her character, Tiffany, had already been married and widowed when she met Pat (Bradley Cooper) in the movie and began their offbeat romance. Though Pat and Tiffany are compatible and have a lot in common,their age difference is particularly noticeable because Lawrence was so young when they were filming,and Cooper was 37.
InSilver Linings Playbook, it’s clear that Pat is emotionally immature, putting him on the same level as Tiffany and making their dynamic more equal.
While this is far from the biggest onscreen age difference in a romantic comedy, it’s impossible to ignore the fact that Lawrence was just entering adulthood, whereas Cooper was in his late 30s. InSilver Linings Playbook, it’s clear that Pat is emotionally immature, putting him on the same level as Tiffany and making their dynamic more equal. However, if the pair hadn’t gone through so much turmoil separately, their relationship would be more offputting.
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1Will & Amy - High Noon (1952)
Age Difference: 28 Years
As one ofGary Cooper’s best Western movies,High Noonstands out in the genre as it has a pacific message and features a strong female character.Grace Kelly plays opposite Cooper as his wife, Amy,who is desperate to convince her husband, Will (Cooper), not to engage with the outlaws who have come to town to kill him. Much ofHigh Noonis propelled by the dynamic between Amy and Will, with Will slowly seeing her point of view, but their age gap is hard to miss.
Kelly was 28 years younger than Cooper, and while her youth and inexperience play a role in the narrative, it’s slightly unbelievable that the beautiful young Kelly would be with Cooper. Will is retiring from his life as a Marshal after being newly married to Amy, but it’s obvious that they’re at vastly different points in their lives. InHigh Noon, theirromanceisn’t as compelling as their ideological differences and the structure of the story, which takes place in real-time.
