Single Woman Seeks Good Man in Films.
- In The Adventures of Robin Hood, Maid Marian is quite cold to Robin despite his obvious charm, until he reveals that he is acting on behalf of the suffering innocent. (Then, he was not interested in her good opinion until it dawned on him that when she called him a "Saxon hedge-robber", what she really objected to in that list was the "robber".)
- In The Court Jester, Maid Jean seems indifferent toward Hawkins at first, and the fact that Hawkins comes off as a bumbling fool, especially compared to the Robin Hood Expy The Black Fox, seems to justify her attitude. When they spend some time alone together, prior to his taking the role of Giacomo the Jester, she confesses her true feelings to Hawkins, saying that she was attracted to his kindness and sensitivity; she is seen glancing longingly at Hawkins as he sings a lullaby to the infant king. She only seems cold and distant because she is focused on the task of overthrowing the usurper Roderick.
- The Craft: Legacy: Lily develops a big crush on Timmy after she and her coven cast a spell on him that makes him more sensitive and socially aware, including standing up to students who make sexist or otherwise offensive comments; even Frankie expresses that "woke Timmy" is hot.
- Crazy, Stupid, Love: Though it seems like Cal will be more of a "man" if he follows in Jacob's womanizing ways, the characters eventually realize that in genuine relationships women value kindness and honesty over charm and swagger.
- The Dark Knight Rises: Bruce's unwavering and earnest faith that Selina can be a better person, despite having every reason not to believe in her, is what eventually causes her to fall in love with him.
- Neha, the heroine of the Bollywood movie Dostana doesn't end up with either of the two good-looking guys, Sam and Kunal, who are willing to lie and cheat their way into her heart. She falls for Abhi instead, a kind family man.
- In The Fly (1986), the lovely reporter Veronica is initially interested in Seth for professional reasons — he's working on amazing teleportation technology and extends to her the opportunity to chronicle it for a book — but his gentle, endearingly awkward personality and passion for his work is genuinely attractive to her. When she acts on this he — isolated and lonely for so long — eagerly and tenderly responds in kind, having desired her from the moment he met her. He's a sharp contrast to her ex-lover and current editor Stathis, a seemingly confident but Clingy Jealous Guy who is constantly heedless of her wishes and feelings and even stalks her to figure out the true nature of her relationship with Seth. When he does, his attempts to sabotage it inadvertently lead to a Tragic Mistake on Seth's part that slowly undoes his mind, personality, and body...
- George of the Jungle: Ursula has no desire to marry her fiancé Lyle, who is a rude and pompous Jerkass. Her mother, who is equally rude and pompous, is forcing her to go through with it. She eventually realizes she's in love with George, who may not be very bright but is kind to her and respects her.
- Gender Inverted in Hairspray and the 2007 remake, where Link and Seaweed respectively fall in love with the kind-hearted and cheerful Tracy and Penny.
- The titular Honey starring Jessica Alba, was attracted to the sweet and friendly barber compared to the big-time producer who made unwanted sexual advances to her and then fired her when she declined.
- If You Believe: Litte Suzie (Susan's inner child) thinks Tom Weller is definitely Prince Charming. Susan (adult Suzie) tends to agree but thinks he's not serious enough, and she's afraid to start the relationship. Tom really seems to be the jackpot though: he's nice, sweet, clever, creative, rich, and loves family...
- Jason's Lyric: Lyric eventually falls for the good guy, Jason, after she seems to initially believe all the men are jerks like her gangster older brother, Alonzo "A-1".
- In Just Friends, Chris Brander is mocked during his teenage years for being fat but a smart and sensitive young man. He decides to abandon his old persona in order to chase wealth, power, and financial success, which he gains in spades. But when his flight is accidentally grounded in his old hometown ten years later, he realizes that he needs to rediscover many of the character traits he left behind in order to court his high school crush, a small-town "girl next door" character. A variation of the Childhood Friend Romance.
- In Kate & Leopold Kate says that Leopold is handsome, honest, and courteous. Stands when you walk into a room. Brings you brioche in bed. She realizes that he is someone who came along and knew exactly what she wanted without asking.
- In The Knight Before Christmas Brooke Winters has been burned in love before when her ex-boyfriend cheated on her. Cole's charm, chivalrous ways, kind-hearted treatment of her young niece Claire and just general niceness really warm her to him - the main problem is as far as she can tell he's either deluded and thinks he's a time-displaced knight from the 14th Century or he actually is a time traveller and destined to return there (we know from following Cole's part of the plot that it's the latter). In the end, he decides to stay in 2019 with her.
- In Maleficent, Maleficent is willing to befriend Stefan (and slowly falls in love with him) only when he gives up his attempt to steal from the fairies and behaves like a nice boy. Their relationship breaks apart when he is again overcome by greed and ambition. In the end, she is subtly implied to take an interest in Diaval, who has been loyal to her and protective of little Aurora all through the film.
- Marvel Cinematic Universe:
- In Captain America: The First Avenger, there were hints that Peggy Carter was beginning to fall for the pre-serum, humble Nice Guy Steve Rogers.
- Best exemplified in Agent Carter. Peggy has a framed picture of pre-serum Steve inside her desk drawer. She didn't fall in love with Super-Soldier Captain America; she fell in love with Steve Rogers, the skinny kid from Brooklyn who was too dumb to run away from a fight he couldn't win and too damn nice for his own good.
- Avengers: Age of Ultron: Natasha Romanoff freely admits to Bruce Banner that this is why she wants to be with him.note It's worth noting that Bruce has several good reasons why a relationship would be a bad idea, despite his obvious attraction.Natasha: All my friends are fighters. And here comes this guy who spends his life avoiding the fight because he knows he'll win.
- She also previously implicitly flirted with Steve in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, but he turned her down since he couldn't trust his heart to a woman who wasn't even sure who she was.
- In Avengers: Infinity War, the hardened, cynical, traumatized Wanda Maximoff is in a relationship with the gentle and compassionate Vision, the culmination of two previous films of Ship Tease.
- MCU Spider-Man Trilogy: Michelle Jones ("MJ") is a classic example of The Cynic, Deadpan Snarker loner and resident Troll to the highest degree (in her earlier appearances, at least), which is heavily implied to be the result of coming from a broken home and having a largely Friendless Background. However, she actively spurs the advances of Brad Davis and falls hard for the dorky, sweet, and kind-hearted All-Loving Hero Peter Parker, who, in turn, likes her back because of her quirks, not despite them. Once they get together, MJ shows herself to be a much nicer person deep down because of it.
- In Captain America: The First Avenger, there were hints that Peggy Carter was beginning to fall for the pre-serum, humble Nice Guy Steve Rogers.
- In The Mask, Tina falls in love with Nice Guy Stanley Ipkiss. In the end, when Stanley asks her if she really wants him to get rid of the Mask since that means she'll be stuck with just him, she promptly throws the Mask into the river herself.
- Peggy Brandt is also hinted to be this when she and Stanley first meet and discuss the letter he sent to her "Ask Peggy" column. Though she winds up selling him out to Dorian for the reward he was offering, apologetically saying she couldn't afford to lose her condo. While she was under the impression that Dorian wouldn't hurt Stanley, the criminal was lying and - in a deleted scene - throws her into the printing press after putting on the mask.Stanley: ...You really think hundreds of women are looking for a guy like me?
Peggy: Sure... I'm one of 'em.
- Peggy Brandt is also hinted to be this when she and Stanley first meet and discuss the letter he sent to her "Ask Peggy" column. Though she winds up selling him out to Dorian for the reward he was offering, apologetically saying she couldn't afford to lose her condo. While she was under the impression that Dorian wouldn't hurt Stanley, the criminal was lying and - in a deleted scene - throws her into the printing press after putting on the mask.
- Isabel and Donald in Mozart and the Whale. In this case, there was no question of choosing a bad boy over Donald. The problem was that they were both autistic and thus constantly and very painfully stepping on each other's emotional toes.
- The whole love story of Mr. Deeds Goes to Town and its remake.
- Frank Capra loved this trope. In Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, the cynical Saunders falls for the earnest, naive but ultimately forthright and honorable Jefferson Smith. And in It's a Wonderful Life, Mary Bailey chooses George Bailey over the wealthy Sam Wainwright.
- The Party has a sweet and shy French singer looking to break into Hollywood with the help of her 'willing' agent. All throughout the movie, she talks with A-list members of the scene and is ready and set to become a star. But during the climactic scene, when it comes down to becoming a starlet or being with the extra-good guy Hrundi V. Bakshi? She chooses Bakshi.
- In Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, the heroine chooses her nerdy Husband over the Jerk with a Heart of Gold who is wooing her. This being a Shah Rukh Khan movie, they end up being the same person.
- In The Rocketeer, in the Love Triangle between Jenny, Neville Sinclair, and Cliff, it is Cliff's concern for her welfare and Sinclair's manifest phoniness that sends Jenny back to Cliff.
- Out of all the guys who want her and despite being able to pick any guy she wants, Olivia from She's the Man preferred honest "Sebastian" (who is actually his twin sister Viola in disguise). She would later fall in love with the real Sebastian.
- In Something New, Kenya has to choose between two very different nice guys.
- In The Sorcerer's Apprentice, Becky has been friends with Dave since childhood. At first, Becky only considers Dave a friend, but at the end of the movie, she genuinely falls in love with him.
- Nyota Uhura from Star Trek (2009) reboot is in a relationship of Spock. Why does she like him? Because he was genuinely interested in her character and intelligence, as well as being honest, brave, and intelligent.
- In Star Wars:
- Princess Leia falls for self-described scoundrel Han Solo, but she only does so after his Character Development turns him into a Lovable Rogue.
- In The Last Jedi Rey develops feelings for Kylo Ren — but only because he is kind to her and she believes that he will turn from the Dark Side. She calls him Ben to emphasize that she sees the good in him, and to encourage him to embrace it. When he doesn't, she shuts him down cold at every turn and nearly kills him in a fit of rage in The Rise of Skywalker. But when he finally returns to the Light to redeem himself and becomes Ben Solo again, she kisses him.
- She also shares significant Ship Tease with Finn, a genuinely Nice Guy who always shows care and concern for her, throughout the trilogy.
- In Tucker & Dale vs. Evil Allison rebuffs Chad's creepy advances and eventually falls in love with the awkward yet decent hillbilly Dale.
- Most of Tyler Perry's movies have this. Usually, the woman is someone who has serious problems (i.e. on drugs, single parent) and resists at first, then falls in love.
- From Where the Heart Is, Novalee was initially with her Jerkass boyfriend Willy Jack, having no one else and carrying his baby at the time, until he abandoned her at a Wal-Mart. Ultimately, she fell in love with and married Forney, the local librarian.
- The same situation with Novalee's friend Lexie, who was attracted to several bad boys who tended to leave her pregnant and run off on her. She would later marry dorky Ernie the Exterminator who, despite looking rather frumpy and plain, had a heart of gold.
- In Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Jessica is madly in love with Roger, for the reason cited on the main page. After Eddie saved the day, she gave him a cool "My hero" and pounced on Roger for a Sickeningly Sweethearts moment. Furthermore, when Eddie incredulously asks for confirmation that she's married to Roger, Betty Boop responds with "What a lucky gal." The only straightforward reason she gives for what she sees in him is "He makes me laugh".
- In The Whole Nine Yards, Jimmy "The Tulip's" wife Cynthia falls for Oz mostly because he's a really nice guy.
- X2: X-Men United has Jean Grey give Wolverine a speech about this: "Women like to flirt with a dangerous man. They don't marry him. They marry the good guy."
