Few romantic pictures in the modern age of Hollywood have impacted moviegoers all across the world quite like the beloved 2004 juggernaut The Notebook, which famously starred Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams as a star-crossed couple in the 1940s whose love story transcended time and defied the odds. Based on the popular Nicholas Sparks novel of the same name, the captivating classic told the tale of how lumber mill worker Noah Calhoun and heiress Allie Hamilton met and fell head-over-heels in love with one another in the summer of 1940 in South Carolina.

When their vastly different backgrounds threaten their life-altering love affair, Noah and Allie fight to preserve their profound connection and are faced with unfathomable obstacles like war, disapproving parents, and rival romantic suitors. Cinema greats James Garner and Gena Rowlands notably co-starred in the drama as the older versions of the devoted duo, with both sets of actors dominating every scene they were in and helping make The Notebook one of the most celebrated romance movies of all time.

The Notebook was a summer sleeper hit that grossed more than $117 million during its original theatrical run and garnered widespread appreciation from fans everywhere, who awarded the poignant picture an impressive A CinemaScore. McAdams and Gosling notably took home the MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss and the film swept the Teen Choice Awards, winning all eight of the accolades it was nominated for. While the bona fide tear-jerker has become synonymous with the romantic genre in the twenty years since its sensational debut, one can’t help but ponder just how well the iconic flick holds up in the two decades since its release.

Gosling & McAdams’ Chemistry Still Sizzles

In order to bring to life an epic love story like Noah and Allie’s, the actors cast in the lead roles had to have palpable chemistry that would capture the heart and soul of Sparks’ words and characters, and Gosling and McAdams more than rose to the occasion. Though the talented stars would ultimately go on to bring their romance from the silver screen into real life after the cameras stopped rolling, the duo were less-than-fond of one another during production of the flick despite their sizzling connection.

Filming was tumultuous for the pair and they surprisingly had a combative relationship on set, with Gosling even attempting to have McAdams replaced during production and begging director Nick Cassavetes to “bring somebody else in for my off-camera shot” because he felt the actress was not being cooperative with him. The mounting tension and heightened dislike for one another during filming must have worked some major movie magic because fans could feel every passionate fight, longing gaze, and explosive kiss they shared in the celebrated classic.

Cassavetes was even baffled by their romance (which lasted a few years), expressing in 2006:

“They hated each other. They didn’t talk to each other. They had separate everything….I gave them five minutes and they warred and had a big screaming match. And now they’re dating? You know there’s that old adage, a thin line between love and hate.”

A Relationship That Continues to Last the Decades

Part of the undeniable allure of The Notebook is the profound bond between Noah and Allie and the many special moments the adored couple experienced throughout the sweeping picture. From dancing in the middle of an empty street to romantic trysts on the beach to writing someone 365 love letters, the devotion the couple felt for one another was truly unparalleled. The older versions of the pair were just as committed to one another as their younger counterparts, as Noah would diligently go every day to visit his lady love at her nursing home in hopes of sparking a memory of their timeless romance.

One of the greatest aspects of the drama is that it tugs on the heartstrings of audiences and invokes a feeling of longing and nostalgia, with fans yearning for a poignant love like Noah and Allie’s. It’s impossible not to swoon when Noah tenderly tells Allie, “The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more, that plants a fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds. And that’s what you’ve given me.”

That’s exactly how viewers felt as their romance spanned decades and overcame countless trials and tribulations, including Allie’s devastating dementia, with Noah reading her their powerful love story and never leaving her side. Just as their relationship stood the test of time within the movie, the story still resonates with audiences today.

Let’s Not Forget the Red Flags

Despite the many admirable qualities both Noah and Allie possess, fans have often glossed over the fact that their epic romance didn’t get off to the best start and waved a pretty big red flag when it began. Allie was actually on a date with another man at a carnival when Noah first approached her, completely smitten by the young woman and determined to win her over. When Allie and her suitor were on a Ferris wheel, Noah dangerously climbed up and planted himself firmly between the two, introducing himself and asking her on a date.

After firmly turning him down multiple times, Noah ultimately coerces Allie into finally agreeing after he threatened to drop and fall from the ride, and continues to pursue her by claiming he can be whoever she wants him to be. While some might feel that this was a grand romantic gesture by Noah, he essentially manipulated Allie into agreeing to date him by threatening bodily harm to himself.

Of the thrilling first interaction, Dr. Bianca Bush (professionally known as “The College Psychiatrist”) concluded that the interaction could be classified as “toxic” before going on to elaborate:

“That’s something that we see still today in so many different iterations. If you don’t talk to me, I’ll take these pills . . . they have this ‘bad boy, good girl’ dynamic.”

While their many explosive make-ups and break-ups and impassionated arguments are also simply reflective of young people being in love, the origins of their romance and Noah strong-arming Allie into a date isn’t exactly a bright spot in the flick (despite how it was made to appear). Regardless of this little hiccup, the fact that the pair were willing to make sacrifices for one another and put in the hard work it takes to make a relationship successful was quite obvious, as they grew out of their immature antics and became stable, mature, and committed couple for the rest of their lives.

Justice for Lon

One character from the cult classic that truly drew the short straw was none other than Allie’s handsome and compassionate beau, Lon Hammond Jr. (James Marsden), whom she agreed to marry after tending to his wounds as a nurse when he was a soldier during World War II. Following a whirlwind romance, the couple gets engaged and it seems as though wedding bells will soon be ringing, that is until Allie spots a newspaper article with a picture of Noah while trying on her wedding dress which causes her to promptly faint.

While fans cheered at Noah and Allie’s long-awaited reunion and iconic kiss in the rain, Lon truly didn’t deserve to be dropped the way he was after thinking he would spend the rest of his life with Allie. Even after confessing her infidelity to Lon, he forgives her and wants to take her back, but everyone knows that the only man Allie will forever love and be devoted to is Noah. Even though Lon was not Allie’s one true love, he still deserved better, and it was sad to witness him lose the person he hoped to grow old with. Yet, had Allie not broken things off with Lon, fans wouldn’t have been given the satisfaction of seeing her heartfelt reunion with Noah.

The Power of Love Prevails

Despite elements of the couple’s relationship and dynamic likely not flying in today’s day and age, it was a different time in the 1940s and society was quite different. The Notebook skyrocketed Gosling and McAdams to superstardom and established them as certified movie stars, and the film has landed on countless critics’ lists and entertainment sites’ most romantic movies of all time and one of the best chick flicks to ever grace the silver screen.

The Notebook is a superior must-see and will remain a timeless entry in the fan-favorite genre, with its phenomenal performances, touching screenplay, engrossing atmosphere, and iconic kiss helping cement its status as one of the finest romantic pictures ever. In their glowing review of the beloved drama, the Midwest Film Journal accurately wrote that both Gosling and McAdams “spark cinematically everlasting magic in a romance that’s no tawdry Harlequin hay-roll. The Notebook excels most when contemplating love’s obligations and responsibilities, that unique balance of fire and calm.”

Rent/Buy The Notebook on Prime Video.