All 10 Kisses In Love Actually, Ranked

Introduction

Love Actually is a romantic classic that has captured the hearts of many with its ensemble cast and heartwarming stories. Released in 2003, it has become a beloved film, especially during the festive season. The movie, directed by Richard Curtis, celebrates romantic love, friendship, careers, and missed opportunities, making it a timeless piece of cinematic art. One of the most memorable aspects of Love Actually is its remarkable kissing scenes, each encapsulating a unique and emotive moment. In this article, we will rank all ten kisses in Love Actually, from the most heartwarming to the least memorable, and explore the significance of each kiss in the context of the film's stories.

Karen (Emma Thompson) kissing Harry (Alan Rickman) on the cheek in Love Actually

Love Actually's stories were about romantic love, but they also celebrated friendship, careers, and missed opportunities. Some of Love Actually's storylines are more believable than others, but all of them have a sort of magic. There are many iconic scenes, including Andrew Lincoln's cue cards, and since Love Actually is primarily a romantic comedy, most of the stories follow romantic love. However, some of Love Actually's characters also face tragic and heartbreaking stories, like Karen and Sarah's, and not all characters get a happy ending. Although some aspects of Love Actually didn't age well, it remains one of the best Christmas films and has some remarkable quotes, likable main and side characters, as well as iconic kisses.

Mark (Andrew Garfield) leaving Juliet's house with cards in Love Actually

10. Karen and Harry

Karen and Harry's first kiss in Love Actually is just a peck on the cheek. It happens when the two meet at the mall for some late-minute presents, and, although it's very fitting for their relationship, which seems to have lost its spark, there's nothing romantic about their relationship, despite looking like a solid marriage until that point. The two share two children, and their non-existent displays of affection foreshadow the cheating. The two also share a very quick peck on the lips before Harry hands her the Joni Mitchell CD, leading to the most heartbreaking scene in Love Actually, which is why their kisses take the last spot.

Karen (Emma Thompson) wiping her tears in Love Actually

9. Carla and Tony

Tony is a supporting character in Love Actually, and he appears in a few scenes, mostly involving his best friend, Colin. At the end of the rom-com, Tony goes to the airport to welcome his friend, who brings back a new girl, Harriet. After he introduces her, she reveals she brought her sister with her, Carla. Right after she meets him, Carla kisses him on the lips, which pleasantly surprises him. Since there's no storyline involved, Carla and Tony's kiss isn't very remarkable.

Denise Richards's Carla kissing Abdul Salis's Tony in Love Actually

8. Jamie And His Girlfriend

At the beginning of the film, Jamie is dating an unnamed girlfriend who is too sick to attend Juliet and Peter's wedding. Before leaving, Jamie kissed her, despite her sickness, bringing his usual charm. The kiss would've been endearing given her sickness. However, their storyline came to a halt shortly after, as Jamie found out she was cheating on him with his own brother, making the whole thing tragic.

Jamie (Colin Firth) kisses his girlfriend (Sienna Guillory) on the forehead in Love Actually

7. Juliet and Peter

Juliet and Peter's wedding happens around the 10-minute mark in Love Actually, but their romance doesn't take a lot of spotlight given Mark's storyline. Although Juliet and Peter seem like a very stable couple, there aren't many details about their relationship, and they barely have any meaningful scenes together. Juliet and Peter shared a kiss in their wedding scene, and they seemed happy together, but there's nothing worth remembering about the couple.

Juliet and Peter (Keira Knightley and Chiwetel Ejiofor) kiss at the wedding in Love Actually

6. Juliet and Mark

Although it's highly controversial, Juliet and Mark's storyline in Love Actually is iconic. Despite Juliet being married to his best friend, Mark turns out to be in love with Juliet, although the audience finds out the two didn't spend too much time together. Their storyline leads to the most memorable Love Actually scene, with Mark confessing his love as he shows her several cue cards. After he leaves, Juliet follows him on the street and gives him a quick kiss. Although the scene is problematic due to infidelity and doesn't make too much sense, it's one of the most remembered moments from Love Actually. It is also aesthetically perfect, with Christmas lights behind them.

Juliet (Keira Knightley) kissing Mark (Andrew Garfield) in Love Actually

5. Jamie and Aurelia

Jamie and Aurelia's storyline isn't too believable, since they don't speak the same language before Jamie proposes. However, there is a certain charm to their relationship, and they have many cute moments together. Perhaps the fact that they felt very comfortable in silence with one another made Jamie learn Portuguese and propose, showing that Aurelia was also learning English. During Love Actually, Jamie and Aurelia share two kisses, and they're both endearing. The first one happens after the two part ways before his return to England, leaving Jamie so astounded he gets in a car crash. The other is Mr. Darcy-romantic, with them kissing after his romantic yet corny proposal.

Colin Firth and Lúcia Moniz as Jamie and Aurelia almost kissing in Love Actually

4. Sam and Joanna

Sam's crush brings the cutest moments in Love Actually. Sam was an 11-year-old whose mom just died, but he couldn't help being in love with one of his classmates, Joanna. He spent the film pining over her and trying to get her attention and even chased her to the airport near the end of the film to confess his feelings. Although it initially looked like he had failed, Joanna came back from the gate and sweetly kissed him on the cheek. Although there are many improbable technicalities about their airport story, their sweet kiss on the cheek is the epitome of childlike innocence.

Joanna (Olivia Olson) kissing Sam (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) in Love Actually

3. John and Judy

John and 'Just Judy' met on the set while filming a stand-in for an adult film, but they turned out to be Love Actually's most unproblematic couple. Their subplot is lovely and relatable, with them spending quite a lot of time chatting before John asks Judy out for a drink. After their date, John walks Judy home, and the scene perfectly depicts the uncomfortable and awkward moments after a successful first date, wondering whether to kiss the other person. Judy made the first move, and their kiss was wonderfully down-to-earth, leading to John's excited reaction as he jumped down the street in one of the sweetest moments of Love Actually.

John (Martin Freeman) and Judy (Joanna Page) kissing in Love Actually

2. David and Natalie

Despite the criticism around the Prime Minister dating his employee, the two had enough chemistry to pull it off. Natalie is one of the most honest characters, and they get together near the end of the movie. After finding Natalie's house, David drove her family to the school play, they went backstage to avoid attention. It all failed because, while they kissed for the first time, the curtain opened, putting them in the spotlight, one of the most used romantic tropes that work. Natalie also waited for him at the airport and kissed him again in front of the cameras, so the spotlight wasn't an issue for any of them.

David (Hugh Grant) kissing Natalie (Martine McCutcheon) in Love Actually

1. Sarah and Karl

Sarah and Karl's kiss is easily the best kiss in Love Actually, and even actress Laura Linney agrees. Their story works on many levels, and it's the most relatable yet tragic story in the rom-com. Sarah had a longtime crush on her co-worker, which is relatable, and, when he finally reciprocated, it came to a halt because of Sarah's devotion to her brother, Michael. Despite their tragic short-lived story, their scene is filled with lust and chemistry, and their highly-anticipated kiss lives up to expectations. After their first kiss, Sarah's excited reaction was wholesome, adorable, and relatable, regardless of her sad Love Actually storyline.

Sarah excited on the stairs after kissing Karl in Love Actually