Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams’ iconic MTV Best Kiss moment, made us thank heavens that The Notebook went to Gosling over Tom Cruise.

Even after two decades since Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams graced the screen with their iconic performances in The Notebook, people’s love for the Nicholas Sparks-adaptation is still the same. Therefore, in a tribute to their sizzling chemistry, we’re taken back to 2005 when the duo earned the MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss.

While their onscreen smooch was certainly worth an award, let’s just say their acceptance speech was another kiss worth remembering. But this smoldering on-screen romance might have never happened, or could have taken a different course, had The Notebook cast Tom Cruise instead of Ryan Gosling.

Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams’ Kiss Worth Remembering  

Since Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams donned the roles of Noah and Allie, in the film adaptation of Nicholas Sparks’ The Notebook, their performances have been hailed as one of the most captivating and passionate depictions of love, in cinematic history. Particularly, their onscreen chemistry is what drew audiences into a world of forbidden love and enduring passion, with a connection that transcends the screen.

Depicting the extraordinary love affair despite societal barriers between Noah Calhoun and Allie Hamilton, Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams showcased intensity, vulnerability, and a deep connection. But among all, it’s their iconic kiss that became an epitome of true passion leading the stars to win the MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss in 2005. Years later, a video of the event resurfaced via @ight, and we can’t take our eyes off of the duo.

Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams in The Notebook | image: New Line Cinema

When Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams won the Best Kiss award, audiences were treated to a recreation of their romantic clinch, proving that their chemistry wasn’t just movie magic—it was real and comfortable. Therefore, appearing on stage to accept their award, instead of giving an acceptance speech, Gosling and McAdams offered a live example of their romantic perfection, as the duo engaged in The Notebook-adapted kiss in front of live audiences.

Tom Cruise and Rachel McAdams Romance in an Alternate Reality 

While the kiss between Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams at the 2005 MTV Movie Award event refreshed our memories about the film and reminded us of the duo’s chemistry, it also made us wonder how things might have turned, had Tom Cruise been cast in the lead role. According to E News, back in 1996, when Steven Spielberg had expressed his interest in directing The Notebook, he had picked Cruise for the lead role.

Unfortunately, as scheduling conflicts got in the way, both Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise had to bid adieu to the project, which simultaneously suffered delay before director Nick Cassavetes came along. It was Cassavetes, who immediately knew he wanted Ryan Gosling as his star. And in the end, with a bit of convincing skills, the filmmaker was finally able to cast Gosling as Noah Calhoun.

Tom Cruise in a still from Top Gun: Maverick | image: Paramount Pictures

But what if Tom Cruise had indeed joined the cast as Noah, alongside Rachel McAdams’ Allie? Perhaps, the Top Gun star would have wooed his co-star with his signature charm and high-octane energy. But unfortunately, that’s not exactly the stuff of epic romances, right? Cruise might have undoubtedly delivered his heart-wrenching lines while rocketing through his stunts, but it’s Ryan Gosling’s brooding intensity and his iconic rain-soaked kiss with McAdams that turned The Notebook into a cult classic. And we’re glad about that.

The Notebook is currently available to watch on Netflix.