The Lord Of The Rings (2001 - 2003)
The Cool Friends: The boundaries are a bit blurred on this one, because technically, Sam is Frodo's employee rather than his friend, but over the course of their journey, the bond deepens somewhat. Not like that…
Coolest Moment: "I can't carry it for you," says Sam to his fallen comrade at the foothills of Mount Doom. "But I can carry you!" That's some serious friendship, right there…
Withnail & I (1987)
The Cool Friends: Withnail and Marwood, a pair of out of work actors living together in a dingy flat in Camden Town. Much of their relationship manifests itself in the form of bickering and sniping, and you kind of get the feeling that both of them would be better off without each other. Still, they're great company for the viewer…
Coolest Moment: Having spent the afternoon getting blind drunk, the pair roar into a village tea shop and proceed to boom out orders at the startled proprietor. "We want the finest wines known to humanity," begins Withnail. "We want them here and we want them now." Unsurprisingly the police are soon called.
Star Trek (1979 - 1991)
The Cool Friends: Louche ladies man James Tiberius Kirk, and his coldly logical crewmate, Mr. Spock. They couldn't be more different as people, and yet their mutual respect soon buds into one of the most enduring friendships in sci-fi history.
Coolest Moment: If Spock's death scene doesn't choke you up, you're neither human nor Vulcan. "I have been, and always shall be, your friend." Excuse us, we've got something in our eye...
When Harry Met Sally (1989)
The Cool Friends: Harry and Sally might end up as lovers, and there might be a sexual undertone present throughout most of their relationship, but first and foremost they're best friends, looking out for each other whenever they're suffering from issues of the heart. Eventually, the realisation dawns that they're happier in each other's company than anyone else's, and inevitably, one thing leads to another.
Coolest Moment: The moment when Harry drops everything in order to comfort Sally over the news that her ex is getting married. Sure they end up in bed together, but his heart was in the right place!
Thelma & Louise (1991)
The Cool Friends: A couple of feisty females on the run from the law and the unwanted attentions of a string of predatory suitors. Compadres until the very last, they help each other through to some approximation of a happy ending, albeit a profoundly bittersweet one.
Coolest Moment: Pulling over a truck driver who'd been making obscene gestures at them, the girls demand an apology. Failing to get one, they put a bullet in his fuel tank, sending the truck sky-high.
Back To The Future (1985 - 1990)
The Cool Friends: We were never too clear on how exactly a teenage boy and a middle-aged scientist became friends, but taking the odd premise out of the equation, the two are as loyal a duo as they come, continually ploughing through time and space to dig each other out of trouble. Great Scott!
Coolest Moment: The Doc's sudden arrival at the end of the first film, ushering Marty and his girlfriend into the DeLorean before uttering the immortal line: "Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads." Gold.
Shaun Of The Dead (2004)
The Cool Friends: Shaun and Ed, slackers extraordinaire who find themselves remarkably adept at zombie-slaying when the world starts going to hell in a handcart. Whether swapping banter in the pub or battering the walking dead to pieces with various garden implements, they hardly spend a waking minute apart.
Coolest Moment: Raiding Shaun's record collection to find weapons with which to assault their zombie aggressors. " Batman soundtrack?" "Chuck it!"
Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid (1969)
The Cool Friends: A pair of constantly bickering outlaws, Butch and Sundance share one of the silver screen's finest bromances, needling each other throughout proceedings like an old married couple. An old married couple that rob banks and trains for a living…
Coolest Moment: The collective "SHIT" with which they jump from a towering cliff-top into a gorge below.
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
The Cool Friends: Prison fixer Ellis "Red" Redding, and wrongly accused "tall drink of water" Andy Dufresne. Initially something of an odd couple, they become inseparable during their time behind bars, and eventually end up reunited on a sandy beach down Mexico way.
Coolest Moment: The ice-cold beers enjoyed with the other inmates on the prison roof after Andy manages to charm the chief guard with some helpful tax advice.
Star Wars (1977)
The Cool Friends: An ice-cool space smuggler and his giant, humanoid dog… seeing it written down like that, it's nigh on impossible to imagine a cooler pair of friends than Han and Chewie. They might not be of the same species, but they always seem to be on the same page!
Coolest Moment: We always get a little choked when Han urges Chewie to leave him in Jabba's clutches in order to help Leia. "Chewie, this won't help me!" says Han. "Save your strength, there'll be another time! The princess – you have to take care of her! Do ya hear me, huh?" Chewie's resultant howl is a heartbreaker…
