Seven movies to watch if you enjoy a complicated love triangle

For a while, love triangles felt like a relic of early 2010s pop culture. Remember Twilight’s Team Edward vs Team Jacob era? Or how The Vampire Diaries had people practically at war over Damon and Stefan Salvatore? By the late 2010s, though, they started to feel overdone. We moved on to more complex, less predictable love stories—ones that focused on self-discovery, independence, and even open-ended relationships. But in 2025, love triangles are back, and they’re messier (and more addictive) than ever.

This year, it feels like every major show and movie has a juicy love triangle at its centre. Amazon Prime’s The Summer I Turned Pretty and Materialists are leading the charge. The former, based on Jenny Han’s books, has reignited the Team Conrad vs Team Jeremiah debate, proving that nothing gets audiences more invested than a good old-fashioned romantic rivalry.

Then there’s Materialists, an upcoming rom-com directed by Past Lives filmmaker Celine Song. Starring Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal, and Chris Evans, the film follows a successful NYC matchmaker caught between her ex and a new suitor. It promises love, ambition, and the kind of emotional chaos that makes love triangles so irresistible.

Meanwhile, Hollywood's TV world isn’t far behind. Netflix’s Bridgerton turned up the drama in its latest season by teasing (and delivering) a love triangle involving Penelope Featherington, Colin Bridgerton, and Lord Debling—something fans didn’t see coming. Even Euphoria dipped into love triangle territory with the whole Cassie-Nate-Maddy situation in Season 2, proving that audiences love nothing more than watching relationships spiral into absolute chaos.

So, why are love triangles making a comeback? Maybe it’s the drama, the tension, or the thrill of choosing sides. Whatever the reason, they’ve become irresistible all over again. And if you can’t get enough of tangled romances and emotional stakes, here are a few films that deliver on all fronts. 

Water for Elephants (2011)

If you’re into star-crossed lovers and forbidden romance, Water for Elephants delivers. Set against the backdrop of a travelling circus in the 1930s, the film follows Jacob (Robert Pattinson), a veterinary student who joins the circus after a family tragedy. He quickly falls for Marlena (Reese Witherspoon), the star performer—who happens to be married to August (Christoph Waltz), the circus’s charming yet sadistic ringmaster. The love triangle unfolds with high stakes, danger, and stolen moments, making for a romance that feels both grand and deeply tragic.

Two Lovers (2008)

Joaquin Phoenix plays Leonard, a man torn between two very different women—and two very different futures. On one side, there’s Sandra (Vinessa Shaw), the caring, stable woman his family wants him to be with. On the other, there’s Michelle (Gwyneth Paltrow), the unpredictable, passionate woman he can’t resist, despite knowing she might break his heart. More than just a romance, Two Lovers explores themes of loneliness, mental health, and how past traumas shape our choices in love. It’s a quiet, melancholic take on love triangles—less about drama, more about emotional realism.

The Handmaiden (2016)

Park Chan-wook’s The Handmaiden is a psychological thriller that completely flips the love triangle trope on its head. Set in 1930s Korea during the Japanese occupation, the film follows Sook-hee (Kim Tae-ri), a pickpocket posing as a handmaiden to a wealthy heiress, Lady Hideko (Kim Min-hee). The goal? Help a conman (Ha Jung-woo) seduce Hideko and steal her fortune. But things take a wild turn when Sook-hee and Hideko develop their own passionate relationship, subverting expectations and transforming the story into something far more unpredictable. With twists, betrayals, and a darkly feminist edge, this film is far from your typical love triangle.

The Painted Veil (2006)

This one is a beautifully crafted period drama starring Naomi Watts, Edward Norton, and Liev Schreiber. Kitty (Watts) impulsively marries a reserved doctor, Walter (Norton), but falls in love with the charming and charismatic Charlie (Schreiber). When Walter discovers her affair, he takes her to a remote village during a cholera outbreak, setting the stage for a complex emotional journey of betrayal, redemption, and rekindled love.

The Edge of Love (2008)

Inspired by the life of poet Dylan Thomas, this World War II-era romance stars Keira Knightley, Sienna Miller, and Matthew Rhys. Vera (Knightley) and Caitlin (Miller) form an unlikely friendship while both are emotionally involved with Dylan (Rhys). As their relationships shift between love, jealousy, and deep companionship, the film explores the complexities of human connections and unconventional love triangles.

Guzaarish (2010)

Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai, and Aditya Roy Kapur lead this visually stunning Sanjay Leela Bhansali film. Hrithik plays a quadriplegic former magician, Ethan, who shares an unspoken love with his devoted nurse, Sofia (Aishwarya). However, her marriage complicates things, adding layers of sacrifice and longing to this emotionally charged love triangle.

Closer (2004)

Starring Julia Roberts, Jude Law, Natalie Portman, and Clive Owen, Closer is a brutally honest portrayal of love, attraction, and betrayal. Dan (Law) falls for Alice (Portman), but when he meets Anna (Roberts), he becomes obsessed with her—even though she’s with Larry (Owen). With its sharp dialogue and intense performances, the film dissects the messiness of human emotions and tangled relationships.

Lead image credit: IMDb

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