Type: Romantic Film: The Princess Bride Featured Characters: Westley and Buttercup
A princess and a farm boy. A princess and a pirate—a timeless love story that still stands as an achingly perfect romantic blueprint in every way. He has no fortune, and therefore, he leaves, promising that he’ll always come for her, which he does. She waits for him, fully in heart, even when she agrees to marry Humperdinck to save Westley after discovering that he’s the Dread Pirate Roberts.
Countless TV shows and films use The Princess Bride as an archetype for storytelling. Once Upon a Time, for instance, draws numerous parallels between Westley and Buttercup through their main couple, Emma Swan and Killian Jones. Parks and Recreation’s principal romance, Leslie Knope and Ben Wyatt, even dress as Westley and Buttercup during Halloween. Their relationship is revered for a reason, and much of it boils down to this idea of true love conquering all.