The 13 Most Inspiring Movie Proposals of All Time Inline
Photo: Courtesy of Selznick International Pictures1/13Gone With the Wind
The ever-dashing Rhett Butler proves kissing is much more effective than speaking when he manages to silence Scarlett O’Hara’s refusals to his marriage proposals and declarations of love by doing so. The tactic (and perhaps his self-professed skill) quickly turns her answer from utter disgust and disapproval to an adamant yes.
Photo: The Everett Collection2/13Walk the Line
“I know I’ve said and done a lot of things that hurt you, but I promise I’ll never do that again. I only want to take care of you . . .” Johnny Cash’s heart-wrenching proposal to June mid-song onstage (after numerous failed attempts) is only fitting for their passionate, true-life love story.
Photo: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures3/13Runaway Bride
The fifth time proves the charm for Maggie when she gets on bended knee and proposes to Ike by quoting his own wording for the perfect marriage proposal: “I guarantee that at some point, one or both of us is gonna want to get out of this thing. But I also guarantee that if I don’t ask you to be mine, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life, because I know, in my heart, you’re the only one for me . . .”
Photo: Courtesy of BBC Films4/13Far From the Madding Crowd
Bathsheba entertains proposals from many a suitor, but farmer Gabriel Oak’s unparalleled moral compass, dreamily scruffy facial hair, and not-so-subtle gift of a baby lamb for her to raise eventually land him her love and devotion.
Photo: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures5/13Love Story
As students graduating Harvard and anticipating a painful separation, Oliver pops the question to girlfriend Jenny out of the blue. “Why?” she asks him, to which he sheepishly and perfectly replies, “Cuz,” in what is perhaps the purest, most uncomplicated demonstration of young love on film.
Photo: The Everett Collection6/13Coal Miner’s Daughter
Well before Loretta Lynn’s money and fame, the soft-spoken and substantially older Doolittle Lynn shows her the small stack of saved bills in his wallet and asks to marry her. Just a girl, she smiles shyly and says, “Go ask Daddy.”
Photo: Courtesy of Juno Pix7/13The Wedding Singer
In a sweeping romantic gesture (and victory for underdogs everywhere), Robbie boards Julia’s plane to Las Vegas to stop her from marrying her insufferable fiancé by serenading her with an original song about growing old together. Spoiler alert: It works like a charm.
Photo: The Everett Collection8/13The Proposal
After working together for years, faking a marriage to avoid deportation, then hilariously falling in love for real in the process, one can’t help but cheer when Andrew asks his boss Margaret to marry him—so that he can date her while living in the same country, naturally.
Photo: Courtesy of Universal Pictures9/13Love Actually
Despite never having a full conversation, writer Jamie learns his sweet Portuguese housekeeper Aurelia’s native tongue so that he can ask for her hand in marriage. As her entire hometown watches and places bets on the outcome, Aurelia reveals in her glowing reply that she has been hard at work learning English, too.
Photo: Courtesy of Focus Features10/13Pride & Prejudice
Darcy’s original proposal is shunned by Elizabeth when she thinks he’s meddled with her sister’s marriage plans, but thankfully their epic love story is remedied when they find each other in the moors after a sleepless night and he tells her, “You’ve bewitched me, body and soul . . . and I never want to be apart from you.”
Photo: Courtesy of Castle Rock Entertainment11/13When Harry Met Sally . . .
This cult classic is proof that often the greatest love story is when two best friends simply admit they’re meant to be together. “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!” Harry says to Sally. Hear, hear.
Photo: The Everett Collection12/13Sweet Home Alabama
While they don’t end up being the match made in heaven that she hoped for, Southern belle Melanie can’t be faulted for feeling inclined to say yes to Andrew after he proposes by leading her into a dark room, turning on the lights to reveal the space as the empty Tiffany & Co. flagship, and entreating her to pick out whichever diamond ring she’d like.
Photo: Courtesy of HBO13/13Sex and the City
After what Mr. Big put Carrie through over the years, there was a collectsive rejoicing when she got her modern-day Cinderella proposal, replete with Mr. Big on bended knee, slipping a bejeweled blue Manolo onto her foot—in the walk-in closet to end all walk-in closets, fittingly.
