- Romantic Comedy will often employ this trope, as it's very effective for UST and creating a moment between the two Love Interests.
- Anne and Gilbert share a Passionate Look when the two reconnect in a gazebo in Kevin Sullivan's adaptation Anne of Avonlea (1987). They also hold each other's gazes at least twice in Anne of Green Gables (1985) during important tests at school.
- Jack in Apartment Zero does this with half the characters and a cat.
- The Batman (2022) has several instances between Batman and Catwoman, but the first is a comedic moment— he's checking if the contact lenses he uses for recording video fit her eyes, since he's lending them to her for reconnoisance.
- Beyond the Lights: Kaz and Noni share a particularly long gaze after he saves her from jumping off a balcony (in fact, the only reason they break it when they do is because Macy comes along and FORCES them to by literally dragging her daughter away from her rescuer). And thus their relationship begins.
- Bender and Claire have a lot of these in The Breakfast Club. Allison and Andy also share a few after her makeover, a sign of their growing feelings towards one another.
- Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away: Between Mia and the Aerialist at the beginning, which causes him to miss a trapeze and fall Down the Rabbit Hole.
- In The Duff, one happens between Wes and Bianca on the think rock which leads to The Big Damn Kiss, but it's brief.
- Enchanted has Robert and Giselle doing this at the ball during their Dance of Romance.
- Ex Machina. Ava lampshades this trope when asking if Caleb is attracted to her. At the end of the movie Ava gives a Long Last Look at the body of her fellow Fem Bot Kyoko, barely glancing at Caleb as she leaves him trapped in a room where he's probably going to starve to death. This shows she's been faking her attraction to Caleb all this time.
- Godzilla (2014): Joe and Ford share a look through a window when they first see each-other at the police station: Joe manages a weak smile, while Ford doesn't return the smile and hesitantly looks away. This sets up father and son's dynamic: Joe tries to make pleasant small talk with his son in a thinly-veiled attempt to make it seem like everything's okay between them, while Ford feels resentful, dismayed and troubled at how his father has fractured their relationship with his endless obsession.
- A platonic version is used at the end of Goodbye Solo, when William and Solo part ways for the last time. It's particularly effective because William is leaving to commit suicide, something that Solo has spent the entire film trying to prevent him from doing. And they both know that Solo has failed.
- The "long distance love-scene" from Laurence Olivier's film version of Hamlet, where Hamlet and Ophelia hold each others' gaze from opposite ends of a corridor.
- Katniss and Peeta do their fair share of this in The Hunger Games. Especially when they're in the cave.
- In Peter Jackson's King Kong (2005), Ann and Kong find themselves gazing into each other's eyes often during her captivity and their reunion in New York features a very meaningful one. Heck, even the poster for the film has them doing this!
- In Lemonade Mouth, this happens between Wen and Olivia while writing 'Determinate'. They then go back to awkwardly writing the song.
- In the Little Women 1994 adaptation starring Winona Ryder and Christian Bale, Jo and Laurie share one before Laurie's Anguished Declaration of Love and The Big Damn Kiss.
- The Mission: Impossible Film Series has Ethan Hunt and Ilsa Faust, sometimes-rival superspies and secret agents who nevertheless have crackling UST and a clear, deep affection — at the least — for each other. Ilsa's second film appearance, Mission: Impossible – Fallout, features a Hospital Epilogue which pretty much consists of Ethan and Ilsa gently touching each other's faces while drinking in the sight of each other like they've been separated for decades.
- The film version of The Mortal Instruments: Magnus and Alec have one when they first meet. Cue the squeals of fangirls everywhere."Him. The one with the blue eyes."
- Clary and Jace also share one of these when Clary accidentally falls on top of him.
- In National Treasure, the first variant occurs twice between Ben and Abigail twice. First, when they are arguing about her coming along with them to keep the Declaration safe: they gaze deeply into each other's eyes and Ben gives in to Abigail, with the Jefferson Memorial in the background. The second time it happens is when the adventurers are down in the tunnel beneath Trinity Church; Ben grabs Abigail, and they look deeply into each other's eyes soulfully before they kiss.
- Our Miss Brooks: Just before, and after, Miss Brooks and Mr. Boynton share a kiss in the cinematic series finale of the series of the same name.
- In Pacific Rim, Raleigh Beckett and Mako Mori share several long gazes with each other. The film doesn't really elaborate on their growing feelings for each other, but the unspoken words in the stares they give each other says enough.
- Pirates of the Caribbean:
- Will and Elizabeth have this quite regularly between them as their romance blossoms in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.
- Philip and Syrena have a lot of gaze-holding going on in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.
- In the Olivier version of Richard III, Lady Anne has a deer-in-the-headlights version with Richard during the seduction scene.
- A platonic version happens between Adam Stanheight and Lawrence Gordon of Saw. After Larry cuts off his own foot and Adam kills Zepp, the doctor comforts the wounded and chained voyeur that he will come back with help. They hold it for a few seconds.
- A very sweet example in The Secret Garden (1993) where Dickon and Mary, both children yet, sit together on the swing in the garden and for a moment seem to forget anything around them as they look at each other - causing Colin, who feels ignored, to snap them out of it in jealousy.
- Parodied in Soapdish, as the characters in the Show Within a Show soap opera do this to a ridiculous extent.
- In The Sound of Music, Captain Von Trapp and Maria are doing this for most of the time they're dancing the Laendler, but by the time Maria stops dancing it's become so intense that they're practically making out.
- Star Wars has a few:
- Star Wars: Attack of the Clones: This happens between Anakin and Padme twice: once as a gentle lover's gaze into each other's eyes, and then later as an indicator they are about to have The Big Damn Kiss- and they do.
- The Force Awakens has multiple variations:
- The antagonistic variation occurs twice between Kylo Ren and Rey. The first time happens as he's looking through her mind against her will and she pushes him back and looks into his. The second time occurs during a standstill in their lightsaber duel and Kylo offers to teach her the ways of the Force. The two hold a very long stare as Rey attempts to rally that power to fight back.
- Poe Dameron and Finn lock eyes multiple times: after Finn rescues Poe and they agree to escape together, when they see each other has survived and are reunited at the Resistance base, and pre-battle walking past each other without breaking eye contact.
- A platonic example happens between Luke Skywalker and Rey at the end, while she is holding out his father's lightsaber for him to take. Rey in particular looks to be on the verge of tears.
- The Last Jedi offers multiple ones between Kylo and Rey again, usually in light casting it as Ship Tease. Their Force Bond conversations are held exclusively while staring into each other's eyes, meeting or travelling in person is accompanied by intense gazes, and they keep their eyes locked when he asks her to rule by his side.
- Rogue One: A possibly romantic though still ambiguous one takes place between Jyn and Cassian, in which they spend an entire elevator ride gazing intently into each other's eyes.
- Twilight consists of Edward and Bella doing this for two straight hours.
- The lead couple in Underworld (1927) share a lot of those looks.
- In The Vow, a very blatant Held Gaze - employed when the two meet each other in a line waiting for permits - kicks off the romance between Paige and Leo, the two protagonists.
- In The Wedding Planner, this happens in a Meet Cute that combines Literally Falling in Love with Held Gaze when the eponymous wedding planner, played by Jennifer Lopez is saved by Matthew McConaughey. Actually, this trope is a prime motivator for the sparking UST the engaged doctor (McConaughey) and Lopez's character display towards each other in the film.
- In When in Rome, lead protagonists Nick and Beth share two extremely passionate Held Gazes, one right after they meet and one that ultimately leads to The Big Damn Kiss while at the museum.
- Wife vs. Secretary: Whitey is the "secretary" part of the love triangle that also includes her boss Van. While Van never actually cheats on his wife they do have an attraction for each other, as seen in the long held gaze that happens after Whitey helps a drunk Van to his hotel room.
