20 iconic love interests who don't live happy ever after

This 2009 romantic comedy-drama starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt  and Zooey Deschanel is rather emotionally exhausting, but intoxicating, as well. The two seem good as a couple, but Deschanel's Summer never got comfortable enough in the relationship to offer a long-term commitment, which she claims is something that doesn't interest her, in general. Meanwhile, Tom (Gordon-Levitt) thought the two had a good thing going, only to eventually see the writing on the wall as a result of Summer's wishy-washy nature. Following their breakup, the two run into each other, and Tom learns Summer is engaged to somebody else. It's a kick to the teeth, and another reason to loathe Deschanel's character. 

The romantic subplot between Boon (Peter Riegert) and Katy (Karen Allen) got annoying at times, and was highly dysfunctional, but nonetheless important to the storyline of this classic 1978 farce from National Lampoon. The romance seemed doomed by the movie's end, but they did make up after Boon took Katy for granted enough to go cheating with her creepy philosophy professor. As the end of the movie states: "Boon and Katy Married 1964. Divorced 1969."

This legendary, multi-Academy Award-winning satirical romantic comedy never spoils whether or not the film's main characters -- Alvy (Allen) and Annie (Diane Keaton) -- remain together at the end of the movie. In fact, the whole film is essentially about why the relationship didn't work. Throughout, it becomes obvious from watching this exhausting classic that it's understandable why both parties have such trouble trying to find everlasting love. 

In a fictional moment within this fictional 2007 film, Celia (Keira Knightley) and Robbie (James McAvoy) do get together through the writings of Briony (Saoirse Ronan). She's Celia's younger sister, and as a young teen, purposely destroyed the lovers' relationship out of jealousy by claiming Robbie raped another woman. The aftermath severely altered the lives of Celia and Robbie, who never got back together. All while leaving Briony the rest of her life, essentially, trying to "atone" for her spite.  

Brenda Walsh (Shannen Doherty) and Dylan McKay (Luke Perry) made for one of the most beloved fictional teen couples in network television history. However, they never seemed destined to be together forever. Dylan couldn't make up his mind between Brenda and Kelly (Jennie Garth), and was not reliable in many other aspects of his tortured life. Meanwhile, Brenda's dream of independence and being an actress also played a part in the fact that these 1990s' lovebirds couldn't make it work. Sadly, Perry and Doherty have both passed on, but their 90210 legacy will live forever.

Another case where a couple breaks up early in the film, then leaves the audience wondering if they may get back together. The uniqueness of this 2006 romantic comedy-drama is that Brooke (Jennifer Aniston) and Gary (Vince Vaughn) continue living in the same condo post-breakup. Now, while both come to terms with the reasons for the initial breakup, the idea of the two getting back together never seems plausible. After the condo is sold and each goes their separate ways, they meet on the streets of Chicago, enjoy a pleasant conversation and smile as they move on -- perhaps with the possibility of giving it another shot. 

The popular 1995 drama was best on the 1992 best-selling novel. The four-day, 1965 affair between Italian war bride  Francesca Johnson (Meryl Streep), living in Iowa, and acclaimed National Geographic  photojournalist Robert Kincaid (Clint Eastwood), makes for one of the most lauded movies of all time. However, Francesca's family was going to return from their trip and Robert traveled for his job. It would never work, but that didn't stop Francesca from pining after Robert for years to come.

Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) went through plenty of relationships during the course of this popular series (1997-2003). However, Angel (David Boreanaz) will always be her one, true love. The two dealt with a lot, with Buffy essentially helping him move on from his violent vampire ways and feel comfortable doing good despite being the arms of a slayer. In the end, though, Angel knew Buffy deserved better, and he went to hell for her in order to save the world. They ultimately broke up with Angel, knowing Buffy needed to lead a normal life. 

"Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of your life." Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) knew it was the right choice to give up his love for Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman) and save her husband to continue fighting the Nazis in 1942. Arguably the greatest ending to any love story ever made, complete with great lines, and the fact that these two lovers will not stay together at the end. It's obviously the right choice, as Rick doesn't seem ready to settle down. 

When FedEx systems analyst  Chuck Noland (Tom Hanks) survived a plane crash, he had just proposed marriage to his girlfriend Kelly Frears (Helen Hunt). Most, including Kelly, presumed Chuck to be dead, but he washed up on that deserted island, where he stayed for five years, before fashioning a boat to make a break for it. By the time he returned to civilization, Kelly was married with a daughter. One of the more poignant moments in the popular 2000 movie came when Chuck visited Kelly's house. It was a needed reunion between the two, highly entertaining and properly handled. Even though they were essentially the love of each other's life, too much time had passed and they could not go back to their pre-crash relationship. 

Sam Malone (Ted Danson) is a ladies' man who was never meant to settle down. So, it was no surprise he didn't find everlasting love with either Diane (Shelley Long) or Rebecca (Kirstie Alley). In end, Sam's true love was his bar. Cheers was the only thing he could be faithful to and command his full attention toward. And, it was the perfect way to conclude one of the greatest sitcoms of all time.

It was his creek and his show, but Dawson Leery (James Van Der Beek) doesn't end up with longtime friend, occasional flame and soulmate Joey Potter (Katie Holmes). The two were part of a noted love triangle with fellow buddy Pacey Witter (Joshua Jackson). In the end, Joey lands with Pacey, whom she actually dated more consistently than Dawson, possibly because her caring, nurturing nature is best put to use with the erratic Pacey. Meanwhile, Dawson fulfilled his dream of working in Hollywood as a writer and producer, and all seems right in their fictional world. 

Among the various love interests of Rory Gilmore (Alexis Bledel), Jess (Milo Ventimiglia) challenged her the most. In the end, specifically from the Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life miniseries released in 2016, Rory does not end up the Jess, who is actually doing much better in life than the rather underachieving young woman -- both professionally and personally. However, when they did meet up during that revival, Jess again made Rory think while attempting to bring out her best.

Arthur Fonzarelli (Henry Winkler) might be the greatest fictional ladies' man of all time. However, he truly met his match with Carol "Pinky" Tuscadero (Roz Kelly), essentially the female Fonzie. Cool, confident and a tough-as-nails wonder in pink, "Pinky" and Fonzie made for one All-Star couple. And, according to TV legend, that was the plan for them to be in a long-term relationship. However, Kelly reportedly clashed with the cast and producers, and was basically written off the show. 

There should actually be a college-level course available to discuss the ending of his popular, nine-season CBS sitcom (2005-'14). A good chunk of the faithful viewership hated the ending, which was received as a letdown since Ted Mosby's wife Tracy (the "Mother" in the title) was never warmly accepted upon her late entrance, and eventually dies. Meanwhile, we learn Robin (Cobie Smulders) and Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) divorced a few years after being married. It's not surprising, but rather heartbreaking, since that was the most entertaining couple on the show -- good and bad -- and arguably the love of each other's lives. However, in the final scenes, we learn that a reunion between Ted (Josh Radnor) and Robin might be in the making. Come on!

Another case where audiences should be fine that the main love interests don't end up with each. When it comes to this 14-time Academy Award-nominated musical romantic-comedy from 2016, it's the perfect ending. Musician Seb Wilder (Ryan Gosling) and aspiring actress Mia Dolan (Emma Stone) have plenty of positive moments as a couple, but the biggest value of their relationship was that each consistently, almost painfully, encouraged the other to follow their professional dreams. In the end, they didn't make it as a couple, but Mia found her calling as an actress and Seb opened his jazz club -- thanks, in big part, to the other.

Viewers of a certain age and generation likely remember how popular the TV wedding between Rhoda Morgenstern (Valerie Harper) and boyfriend Joe Gerard (David Groh) in October 1974 proved to be. However, the bliss didn't last long between the happy couple. By the next season of the famed sitcom, Rhoda and Joe separated, and when Season 4 rolled around, they had divorced. Which left fans of the show up in arms, with Gerard even receiving hate mail because of the decision.

There might not be a more entertaining couple than Alexis Rose (Annie Murphy), the ditzy socialite daughter of the Roses, and Ted Mullens (Dustin Milligan), the town veterinarian from the ultra popular comedy series (2015-'20). As a collective, they are quite quirky, but highly fun to watch. However, when the couple decided to break up at the end of the series (when Alexis opted not to follow to the Galapagos Islands, where he'll begin a new job), it was quite understandable. The two wanted different things in life, and neither was going to stand in the way of the other doing so. An amicable split was just what the doctor (pun intended) ordered. 

Though Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld) and Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) were not a couple through the duration of his classic sitcom, the former love interests flirted with getting back together on occasion. And, during the much-maligned, two-part series finale, their true feelings for the other nearly came out. Then the plane they were on leveled off and both eventually ended up in jail. The end to this beloved sitcom was tough enough to watch, so it was a good thing they didn't put Jerry and Elaine together for good measure. 

This beloved ABC coming-of-age sitcom (set in the 1960s and '70s) that ran from 1988-'93 got it right in the end. Kevin Arnold (Fred Savage) and Winnie Cooper (Danica McKellar) were best off as friends. Yes, the series ended with the two as a couple that seemed destined to be together. However, the fact that the two went off in separate directions after high school, and Kevin ended up married to an unnamed woman and started a family, while still good friends with Winnie, provided perfect closure.