Ranking the 2015 MTV Movie Award nominees for Best Kiss

The crowning achievement of the MTV Movie Awards is Best Kiss. It's a necessary, telling category. Frankly, a kissing scene is often the most interesting part of a movie. (See: “Talladega Nights,” “The Notebook,” and “Cruel Intentions,” which all won in this category.) How do this year's nominees hold up? We rank them from fifth to first.

5. Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson: “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”

So it's a cute moment. There's quippy dialogue. Evans is in his chill Eddie Bauer gear and Johansson is commanding and stony. But the idea of kissing in public as a masquerade is the stuff of ancient teen movies and, more recently, “Inception.” We already had this nomination in 2011 with Ellen Page and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and that was both funnier and more intense. 

4. James Franco and Seth Rogen: “The Interview”

A surprise man-on-man smooch in front of a cheering crowd. Nothing wrong with that. But like most of “The Interview,” this comic moment was more self-consciously “crazy” than funny. I appreciate James Franco unleashing his inner Dave Franco with that silly “Lord of the Rings” act as a prelude to the big kiss. 

3. Rose Byrne and Halston Sage: “Neighbors”

I didn't expect “Neighbors” to be one of my favorite comedies of last year, but give it up: Zac Efron brought it. And better yet, Rose Byrne muuuurdered that movie with her surprising verve and sort of stole the whole thing. While this scene with Halston Sage isn't one of its finest scenes, it's still a decent moment showcasing her character's interesting arc. Byrne is also damn charming in the upcoming comedy “Adult Beginners” with Nick Kroll, if you're looking to see more of her gift for timing.

2. Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone: “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” 

Will “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” be remembered as a watershed moment in comic book cinema? Definitely not. Overwhelmingly not. But the chemistry between Anthony Perkins' personal Mii Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone obviously works for a reason, and in this golden-tinged moment, we get a healthy reminder of why their relationship dynamic was often more compelling than the rest of the movie. 

1. Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort: “The Fault in Our Stars”

“The Fault in Our Stars” is not the best example of a weepy romantic drama to come out in the past few years, but Shailene Woodley's performance was so magnetic and cool — and shockingly un-cloying, given the subject matter. This kiss is downright alive. You believe the characters' connection. Maybe I'm sympathetic because I still think Woodley's Oscar snub for “The Descendants” was the biggest award snafu of the past five years, but I'm confident in saying this is the undeniable winner of the 2015 Best Kiss trophy.