Relationships with a large age gap aren’t new in film, or in reality, in any way.Many have been depicted on screen, involving people of all genders. From the Oscar contender dramaCarolto the more recent thrillerBabygirl, these dynamics have been explored many times through a fictional lens. However, one combination of an age-gap romance seems to still get more attention than any of the others, as when an older woman is in a relationship with a younger man, questions are raised.
This has been delved into with comedic undertones in theAmerican Piefilms, taken more seriously inAdore,and by embracing feminine independence like inShirley Valentine. With a recent influx of relevant productions likeThe Idea of You, the conversation has been brought back to the forefront, which may result in these topics becoming much more normalized in public discourse.
10Prime (2005)
Directed By Ben Younger
InPrime,Uma Thurman plays a 37-year-old Manhattanite who starts seeing a 23-year-old artist (Bryan Greenberg).This romantic comedy focuses on the softer, more fun aspects of such relationships, with both parties getting something positive out of their shared experience.
She discovers a sense of freedom and spontaneity that she’d been missing, and he learns to appreciate the value of hard work and the appeal of a more experienced partner.They have some sweet moments together, the actors having the type of dynamic that was part of that mid-2000s charm.
Which ’80s teen romance movies still hold up today?
As society changes, there are, naturally, some films that age badly. However, upon revisiting some ’80s high school rom-coms, I was surprised that there were still some titles that held up. The movie that stood out the most for me was Pretty in Pink. I think it was a great commentary on the class divide, but in the context of teenagers, it made the rather deep topic feel less heavy while sticking to the message at hand.
Prime
Cast
Prime is a romantic comedy directed by Ben Younger, featuring a career-focused professional from Manhattan who becomes involved with a young painter. Unbeknownst to her, the painter is the son of her psychoanalyst, leading to unforeseen complications in their relationship.
Through the addition of Meryl Streep as Greenberg’s mother and Thurman’s therapist, the plot thickens with hilarious results.As soon as she discovers that the young man her client is dating is her son, her stance immediately shifts from supportive to combative. However, as Streep’s character explores this apparent conflict of interest, it casts a very telling light on how a lot of people feel about the topic. However, the three of them help each other in their relationships and the movie leaves audiences with an uplifting outlook, and the feeling that anything’s possible.
9The Idea of You (2024)
Directed By Michael Showalter
In the recent hit rom-comThe Idea of You, Anne Hathaway plays a recently divorced, glamorous art gallery owner who begins a relationship with a young pop star (Nicolas Galitzine). The chemistry that the actors share is electric, and the things they bond over are completely believable and relatable. As a film, it tackles the repercussions on a baseline level. Hathaway’s character’s daughter is the one who is affected the most, while her ex-husband mocks her.
The Idea of You
Based on the acclaimed, contemporary love story of the same name, The Idea of You centers on Solène (Anne Hathaway), a 40-year-old single mom who begins an unexpected romance with 24-year-old Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine), the lead singer of August Moon, the hottest boy band on the planet. When Solène must step in to chaperone her teenage daughter’s trip to the Coachella Music Festival after her ex bails at the last minute, she has a chance encounter with Hayes and there is an instant, undeniable spark. As they begin a whirlwind romance, it isn’t long before Hayes’ superstar status poses unavoidable challenges to their relationship, and Solène soon discovers that life in the glare of his spotlight might be more than she bargained for.
The reception to the film was mostly positive, with Hathaway being praised for bringing to life this romantic story, allegedly based on some real-life fan fiction.Of course, there was still some negativity floating around.
These notions might seem outlandish, yet it’s what many actresses have to deal with on a daily basis.
Media tried to make the public believe that Hathaway was too unattractive inThe Princess Diaries, too overweight inThe Devil Wears Prada, and too old inThe Idea of You.These notions might seem outlandish, yet it’s what many actresses have to deal with on a daily basis.
8Lonely Planet (2024)
Directed By Susannah Grant
Laura Dern sets off for a writer’s getaway in Morocco, nursing a broken heart after a long relationship falls apart, and meets Owen (Liam Hemsworth), who is there with his girlfriend.Although there’s an immediate connection, Katherine (Dern) keeps him at bay for various reasons. Fate keeps bringing the two together, and he goes through a breakup of his own as the person he traveled to the retreat with ends up cheating on him. Soon after, romance inadvertently blossoms.
Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet follows the interconnected lives of several individuals as they navigate personal struggles and search for meaning in a contemporary urban setting. The film explores themes of isolation and connection in a rapidly changing world.
As feelings grow deeper, Katherine loses the novel she’s been working on for the past couple of years.This blow throws a spanner in the blossoming relationship, and she deems their infatuation a mere distraction, leading to the two parting ways. Yet it seems this romance was much more than she initially expected, as he becomes the inspiration for her next literary endeavor. The topic of age was something she treated as a feeling she didn’t want to pay heed to, but it turned out to be the inspiration she needed all along.
7Babygirl (2024)
Directed By Halina Reijn
Nicole Kidman delivers an unabashed performance in this sensual thriller co-starring Harris Dickinson.With a focus on female pleasure, the movie takes a look at career dynamics in the workplace.
However, Kidman is keen to take on more challenging roles and continues to surpass all expectations.
While she’s no stranger to sexually explicit projects, this particular one offers an insightful look at how switching certain stereotypical gender roles can affect interpersonal relationships. With a reception at the Venice Film Festival was as divisive as the subject matter itself,the consensus among viewers was that Kidman and Dickinson’s chemistry was off the chain.
Babygirl
Babygirl revolves around a high-powered CEO who risks her career and family by engaging in a passionate affair with her much younger intern. Released in 2024, this narrative explores themes of ambition, power dynamics, and personal sacrifice.
CitingIndecent ProposalandBasic Instinctas influences,this film is certain to leave an impression (viaIndieWire).Kidman also starred alongside Zac Efron inA Family Affair,another recent movie exploring a romance with a significant age gap.
6How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998)
Directed By Kevin Rodney Sullivan
Angela Basset “did the thing” when she starred in this empowering romantic comedy-drama.It’s the story of a powerful, career-focused mother, who takes some time for herself and embarks on a vacation romance with Winston (Taye Diggs), a man half her age. What starts as a very casual fling during a Jamaican getaway, soon develops into something more.How Sella Got Her Groove Backdoes a fine job of having the characters navigate the obstacles that are presented by an age gap such as this.
How Stella Got Her Groove Back
How Stella Got Her Groove Back follows Stella Payne, a successful stockbroker, as she takes a vacation to Jamaica to unwind from her demanding career. While there, she meets a charismatic young man named Winston and begins to rediscover her passions and zest for life. Directed by Kevin Rodney Sullivan, the film stars Angela Bassett and Taye Diggs, exploring themes of love, rejuvenation, and self-discovery.
While she finds his immaturity cumbersome, he finds her confidence and straightforwardness controlling.There’s also a lot of conflict with Winston’s mother, who’s only a year older than Stella. Yet when tragedy strikes, and the two realize that their connection is deeper than just a passing tryst, they decide to give it a proper go. There’s a lot of heart in this bittersweet film that was seen as mildly shocking at the time. Yet seeing a strong, independent woman find her bliss is always a joy to watch.
5Something’s Gotta Give (2003)
Directed By Nancy Myers
Diane Keaton plays the mother of a young woman (Amanda Peet) dating a much older man (Jack Nicholson).As in typical Nancy Myers style, relationships between people overlap, and hilarity ensues. Erica (Keaton) develops a bond with Nicholson’s Harry, but due to their complicated predicament, not much happens at first. This leaves her to start a relationship with the charming Dr. Julian (Keanu Reeves), imbuing her with a lot of confidence andjoie de vivre, which in turn becomes more attractive to Harry.
Something’s Gotta Give
Something’s Gotta Give is a romantic comedy directed by Nancy Meyers, starring Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton. The film follows a successful but aging bachelor who falls for his much younger girlfriend’s mother. Also featuring performances by Keanu Reeves and Amanda Peet, the story explores themes of love, aging, and self-discovery amidst the backdrop of the Hamptons.
While the romance with Julian isn’t the main focus of this heartwarming comedy, it allows Keaton’s character to feel much more open and receptive to the advances of someone else, who might seem more suitable.What the film does well is allow for this seemingly mismatched pairing to be important and impactful.Erica’s feeling desired helps her explore her feelings for Harry, which shows how there are many ways a relationship can affect someone.
4No Hard Feelings (2023)
Directed By Gene Stupnitsky
Jennifer Lawrence brought all her charm and charisma to this raunchy comedy, which saw her acting comeback after taking a bit of a break.No Hard Feelingswas a welcome return, with some well-timed jokes and a surprising amount of sweetness to the story.
No Hard Feelings
Facing the potential loss of her family home, a woman reluctantly agrees to go on dates with a wealthy couple’s shy and socially inept 19-year-old son. As she navigates this arrangement, she finds the young man to be more difficult than anticipated, all while racing against the clock to save her home.
The age gap in this film isn’t as jarring as in other films of the genre,and Lawrence’s performance has the right amount of immaturity and vulnerability. Representing a generation of millennial women, Maddie Barker is stuck in a loop of monotony, with no clear purpose in life.
As she tries to seduce an awkward and shy Percy the two form a genuine bond that endes up being the very hart of the movie.
When she finds herself in a financial bind, she decides to take on a job that turns out to be more than she bargained for.As she tries to seduce an awkward and shy Percy (Andrew Barth Feldman) the two form a genuine bond that ends up being the very heart of the movie. It brings a fresh perspective to the conversation, addressing it with clever humor and a lack of inhibitions.
3Y Tu Mamá También (2001)
Directed By Alfonso Cuarón
InY Tu Mamá También, Maribel Verdú takes a wild and spontaneous journey with two younger men, as she deals with heartbreak.Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna play a couple of young best friends who want to seduce a beautiful older woman but to no avail. Only when her personal life starts falling apart does she decide to join them on an unplanned road trip through rural Mexico. Passions flare, and the three explore their sexuality — and their jealousy.
Y Tu Mamá También
Julio and Tenoch are two teenagers who, together with Luisa, an older woman, embark on a journey to a paradise beach. On a road trip through Mexico, the three end up getting involved and learning a lot about themselves and their relationships.
With the events of the fateful road trip disappearing in the distance, it turns out that Luisa (Verdú) has died and knew about her diagnosis the whole time.As her life was coming to an end, and her marriage was falling apart, she wanted to do one more thing just for herself. Additionally, the young men’s friendship turns out to be based on lies and indiscretions, and Luisa’s actions are also a parting gift that exposes the cracks in their immature relationship.
2Good Luck To You, Leo Grande (2022)
Directed By Sophie Hyde
Emma Thompson stars in this story of a widow who wants to experience pleasure for the first time in her life. Having been raised conservatively and worked as a religious studies teacher, she has been repressed in one way or another for years. As her relationship with an open-minded, young sex worker (Daryl McCormack) develops, she learns more about herself as well as her body. The age gap in this dynamic allows the movie to showcase the generational differences that can impact people’s perceptions of intimacy.
Good Luck to You, Leo Grande
Good Luck to You, Leo Grande is a drama-comedy directed by Sophie Hyde, starring Emma Thompson as a retired widow seeking intimacy and self-discovery with a young sex worker, played by Daryl McCormack. The film explores themes of sexual liberation and human connection, presenting a nuanced portrayal of personal growth and relationships in later life.
Through deep talks, a lot of physical exploration, and cathartic openness, both characters learn a lot about each other and themselves.Thompson delivers a raw and uninhibited performance, while McCormack does a great job of guiding her through a world that’s completely new to her. With its sparse sets, and very few actors, the film allows viewers to feel very connected to the two leads as they spend their sessions together.
1The Graduate (1967)
Directed By Mike Nichols
Anne Bankroft’s Mrs. Robinson is a firm fixture in pop culture, with the name being synonymous with the “older woman, younger man trope.“As Dustin Hoffman’s character navigates a directionless time in his life, he embarks on a torrid affair with his parents' much older acquaintance. Their relationship isn’t particularly deep, as he offers her some excitement in her loveless marriage, gaining companionship during an uncertain time in his life.
The Graduate
In The Graduate, Dustin Hoffman stars as college student Benjamin Braddock, who becomes involved in an affair with an older woman, Mrs. Robinson, played by Anne Bancroft. The film explores themes of alienation and the generation gap in 1960s America, and features a memorable soundtrack by Simon & Garfunkel.
The way Mrs. Robinson is portrayed as a villain of sorts once her younger lover starts dating her daughter does the character a disservice, contributing to why these types of relationships have largely been perceived negatively.The truth of the matter is much more complicated and layered.It’s probably one of the most well-known films exploring this trope, and it’s clear to see that cinema has come a long way since then.
