Is there anything more gripping than a truly bitter rivalry? The clash between two personalities is at the core of modern drama. If you want to get a taste of what true competition is like, dive into these five classic pairings from novels and movies.

Sherlock Holmes vs. Professor Moriarty
The greatest detective in the history of fiction had to have a foe who could challenge his deductive reasoning, and Moriarty was just such a man. Known as the “Napoleon of crime,” the wicked professor worked behind the scenes in several cases before dying along with Holmes in their final struggle.

Terry Molloy vs. Johnny Friendly
Elia Kazan’s classic On The Waterfront boasts one of Marlon Brando’s finest performances, and it also gets a rivalry simmering that explodes into an orgy of violence at the end. Molloy is a dockworker who rankles under the corruption of union boss Johnny Friendly, and the final battle between the two is epic.

Vincent Hanna vs. Neil McCauley
Michael Mann’s Los Angeles crime caper Heat stars Al Pacino and Roberd De Niro at their scenery-chewing best as a cop and a robber who dance around each other in a ballet of violence.

Noah Calhoun vs. Lon Hammond Jr.
The movie adaptation of Nicholas Sparks’s novel The Notebook is one of the most romantic films of the modern era, and the battle over the lovely Allie Hamilton has crushed hearts around the world.

Tristan vs. King Mark
One of the oldest romantic tragedies in the Western canon, Tristan and Isolde tells the tale of a doomed romantic triangle spurred on by a love potion that ends poorly for everyone concerned.