The most romantic gestures in rom-com history
From Say Anything's boombox to Notting Hill's "I'm just a girl...," these are cinema's grandest declarations of love

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Clockwise from top left: Notting Hill (Universal Pictures), Love & Basketball (New Line Cinema), Amelie (20th Century Fox), Say Anything (UGC-Fox Distribution) Graphic: The A.V. Club
Running through the airport to stop a lover’s flight. Making a big speech in front of a crowd of strangers. Picking the perfect song for a serenade. These are the kind of classic Grand Gestures that have been perfected throughout the history of the romantic comedy. Not every great rom-com has one, but the ones that do tend to make a lasting impact. Sometimes it’s big—like meeting a stranger at the top of the Empire State Building. Sometimes it’s small—like handing someone a deck of cards. But with the right actors and the right context, a good romantic gesture can elevate a solid rom-com into a true classic. Read on for The A.V. Club’s picks for the best romantic gestures in romantic comedy history.