Cover BIll Murray and Scarlett Johansson in ‘Lost in Translation’ (2003) (photo: Focus Features via IMDB)
BIll Murray and Scarlett Johansson in ‘Lost in Translation’ (2003) (photo: Focus Features via IMDB)
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Love doesn’t have to be about midnight kisses and fancy flash mobs. Sometimes, it can be as simple and deep as friendship
Candlelit dinners and grand romantic gestures often monopolise Valentine’s Day. But what about the kind of love that doesn’t come with sweeping surprises and a heart-shaped box of chocolates? It’s not the most sellable of movie themes, but platonic love deserves its moment. It’s deep, meaningful, and oftentimes more enduring than the mushy stuff. After all, not all soulmates are lovers. Some are the ones who make you laugh, save your life (literally or figuratively), or simply sit beside you in comfortable silence.
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Here’s to the friendships that prove love doesn’t need a kiss at the end to be worth celebrating.
1. Joey Tribbiani and Phoebe Buffay (‘Friends’)
Above ‘Friends’ (photo: IMDB)
‘Friends’ (photo: IMDB)
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Fun fact: in the course of planning the last season, Lisa Kudrow and Matt LeBlanc, who played Phoebe Buffay and Joey Tribbiani, respectively, floated the idea that their characters had been fooling around the past 10 years. This pitch, however, was nixed because their platonic relationship made more sense. And, also, we can't not have Mike, Phoebe’s eventual husband played by the lovable Paul Rudd, who was terrific.
So, in a show where almost everyone paired off, Joey and Phoebe remained blissfully untouched by romance. Their bond was defined by shared eccentricities. From being each other’s backup spouses to their hilarious guitar and French lessons, their friendship was warm, weird, and delightful.
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2. Dory and Marlin (‘Finding Nemo’)
Above ‘Finding Nemo’ (photo: IMDB)
‘Finding Nemo’ (photo: IMDB)
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Anxious, overprotective Marlin (voiced by Albert Brooks) and free-spirited, forgetful Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) are the ultimate odd couple, but their deep-sea journey proves that friendship can form in the most unexpected places. Marlin initially finds Dory exasperating, but as she helps him (and he helps her), their relationship becomes one of trust and mutual care—best illustrated when she tearfully pleads, “When I look at you, I'm home.”
3. Harry Potter and Hermione Granger (the Harry Potter series)
Above ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’ (photo: IMDB)
‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’ (photo: IMDB)
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Whether Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) should have ended up together remains a hot debate, but let’s discuss what’s canon for now. Their friendship endured a doomed elf society, growing pains, and life-or-death battles. Hermione was Harry’s fiercest defender, and Harry, despite his occasional cluelessness, always had Hermione’s back. One of their most touching moments? A simple, wordless dance in The Deathly Hallows: Part 1. It's a reminder that sometimes friendship can be the thing to keep you going.
4. Hawkeye and Black Widow (‘Avengers’ franchise)
Above ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ (photo: IMDB)
‘Avengers: Infinity War’ (photo: IMDB)
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Superheroes are rarely allowed soft moments, but Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) and Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) always had time for each other. Their bond, forged in espionage and near-death experiences, was one of unshakable trust. Whether it was their banter about what happened in Budapest or their heart-wrenching standoff on Vormir, they were proof that some of the strongest bonds don’t need romance.
5. Max Rockatansky and Imperator Furiosa (‘Mad Max: Fury Road’)
Above ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ (photo: IMDB)
‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ (photo: IMDB)
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In a post-apocalyptic world where survival trumps sentimentality, Max (Tom Hardy) and Furiosa’s (Charlize Theron) partnership was built on necessity until it became something more. Not romance, but respect. From their tense first meeting to when Max silently offers Furiosa his blood to save her life, their bond is forged in battle and mutual survival, making it one of the most compelling platonic relationships in action cinema.
6. Vada Sultenfuss and Thomas J. Sennett (‘My Girl’)
Above ‘My Girl’ (photo: IMDB)
‘My Girl’ (photo: IMDB)
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Childhood friendships rarely get more poignant than that of Vada (Anna Chlumsky) and Thomas J. (Macaulay Culkin). Their days were spent riding bikes, playing games, and navigating the confusing world of growing up. Thomas J. was the only one who truly understood Vada, making their friendship all the more heartbreaking. Who hadn’t shed a tear when Vada cried, “He can’t see without his glasses”?
7. Elaine Benes and Jerry Seinfeld (‘Seinfeld’)
Above ‘Seinfeld’ (photo: IMDB)
‘Seinfeld’ (photo: IMDB)
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They dated once but realised they were much better off being friends, an uncommon and refreshing dynamic in sitcom history. Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and Jerry’s (Jerry Seinfeld) relationship was built on snark, sarcasm, and unspoken loyalty, proving that exes don’t have to be enemies. Whether they were making terrible decisions together or ruthlessly mocking each other, their friendship was the real heart of Seinfeld.
8. Bob Harris and Charlotte (‘Lost in Translation’)
Above ‘Lost in Translation’ (photo: IMDB)
‘Lost in Translation’ (photo: IMDB)
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A fading actor and a young woman adrift in Tokyo might sound like the beginning of a controversial romance. However, Bob Harris (Bill Murray) and Charlotte’s (Scarlett Johansson) connection was something else. It was parts ephemeral, bittersweet, and meaningful. They shared late-night conversations and moments of quiet companionship. That final whispered goodbye demonstrates that some of the most important relationships in life are the ones that don’t need to last forever.
9. Mary Poppins and Bert (‘Mary Poppins’)
Above ‘Mary Poppins’ (photo: IMDB)
‘Mary Poppins’ (photo: IMDB)
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If ever there was a friendship sprinkled with magic, it’s this one. Bert (Dick Van Dyke) adored Mary Poppins (Julie Andrews), but their dynamic was never about unrequited love. Think fun, adventure, and whimsy. Whether they were leaping into chalk paintings or dancing with chimney sweeps, their camaraderie was effortless, charming and, above all, timeless.
