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When Harry Met Sally’s 25th Anniversary: 10 Pop Culture Couples Who Wouldn’t Exist Without Them

Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal in "When Harry Met Sally"
1989's When Harry Met Sally inspired a slew of other pop culture best friends-turned-lovers.

They’ll have what she’s having! In 1989 director Rob Reiner and late screenwriter Nora Ephron created one of the most iconic romantic comedies of all time, When Harry Met Sally

Related: PHOTOS: Best TV couples ever

The smash followed Harry Burns (Billy Crystal) and Sally Albright (Meg Ryan) through years of friendship before the pals became romantic. This groundbreaking classic paved the way for a proliferation of couples on the big and small screen, who started out as friends before finally moving to the next level. 

On the 25th anniversary of When Harry Met Sallythe flick premiered on July 14, 1989Us Weekly looks at those also-beloved pairs who wouldn’t exist without this timeless rom-com: 

ross and rachel
Friends’ Ross and Rachel dated on and off throughout the series and eventually had a baby together.

1. Friends: Ross Geller and Rachel Green

They’re each other’s lobsters! Fans rejoiced when the nerdy Ross (David Schwimmer) finally got together with the stunning Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) on Friends in the second season of the sitcom. They fought like cats and dogs (“We were on a break!”) and eventually had a baby together. 

Related: PHOTOS: Most romantic movies of all time

2. Gilmore Girls: Lorelai Gilmore and Luke Danes

They’re all in! When Lorelai (Lauren Graham) finally opened her eyes and dated diner owner Luke Danes (Scott Patterson), Gilmore Girls fans breathed a sigh of relief. Of course, it took four seasons and plenty of wrong fits for Rory’s mom to finally see what was right in front of her, but better late than never!

buffy and spike
Buffy and Spike’s hot romance started from a place of friendship…and loathing.

3. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Buffy Summers and Spike

She wouldn’t let him rest in peace! Sure, Spike wasn’t the first vamp Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) fell for, but their love was hot, messy, and complicated. Spike (James Marsters) started off as a bonafide villain before joining the Scooby Gang to help in season 4, but when he fell for Buffy, Spike showed that vampires don’t need souls to be good guys. 

4. Legally Blonde: Elle Woods and Emmett

Forget Warner Huntington III! When Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) was dumped by her preppy boyfriend in this 2001 film, she enrolled in Harvard Law School to win him back. Along the way she fell for the much smarter (and cuter) TA Emmett (Luke Wilson). 

ron and hermione
After years of friendship, Harry Potter’s besties Ron and Hermione finally got together.

5. Harry Potter: Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger

It’s Lev-ee-OH-sa! Harry Potter’s best pals Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) and Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) spent more than five books and movies as besties, who were often at each other’s throats. But then those pesky hormones kicked in and the pair took things to the next levelwhile still managing to help save the world.  

6. Miss Congeniality: Agent Gracie Hart and Agent Eric Matthews

He thinks she’s gorgeous, he wants to date her! She pretended to be girlie pageant contestant Gracie Lou Freebush, but FBI agent Gracie Hart (Sandra Bullock) was tough as nails. It quickly attracted the attention of her coworker Eric Matthews (Benjamin Bratt).

pam and jim
The Office’s Pam and Jim were best friends long before they started dating.

7. The Office: Jim Halpert and Pam Beesly

PB & J! Few TV couples were as celebrated as The Office’s Jim (John Krasinski) and Pam (Jenna Fischer). The Dunder Mifflin coworkers had instant chemistry, and though they both got serious with others—sorry Roy and Karen—they only had eyes for each other. “Jam” eventually married and had kids, but never stopped teasing Dwight. 

8. New Girl: Jess Day and Nick Miller

He meant something like that. New Girl fans were on Cloud 9 when grumpy Nick Miller (Jake Johnson) grabbed his quirky roommate Jessica Day (Zooey Deschanel) in the hallway of their apartment, engaging in a passionate makeout session. What followed was a confusing and hilarious relationship.

cher and josh
Clueless’ Cher ultimately decided that her stepbrother Josh was the guy for her.

9. Clueless: Cher and Josh

As if! Though she spent much of the 1995 movie lusting after the cultured Christian, Cher (Alicia Silverstone) finally realized that her ex-stepbrother Josh (Paul Rudd) was the guy for her. After all, she doesn’t date high school boys. 

10. The Mindy Project: Mindy Lahiri and Danny Castellano

French her, you idiot! After years of friendship, coworkers and best pals Mindy Lahiri (Mindy Kaling) and Danny Castellano (Chris Messina) tried to join the Mile High Club in the mid-season 3 finale of the popular comedy. The pair fought and even split up, but managed to find their way back to one another in the end. 

Tell Us: What Harry and Sally-esque pop culture couples would you add to this list?

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