From Richard Gere to Zendaya: America's Celebrity Crushes Across Generations

Okay, not everyone fantasizes over paper versions of their favorite celebs, especially considering every generation connects to their heartthrobs differently. Where this may (still) mean watching Pretty Woman over and over again on VHS, it could also mean getting notifications about every reel featuring Zendaya. No matter what, thanks to the rise of social media and apps like Cameo, nearly every generation’s favorite stars feel closer than ever.

We’re comparing celebrity obsessions and “hall passes” across generations from Boomers to Zers for a deep dive into America’s collective crush diary, exploring how they shape our real-life relationships, fantasies, and everything in between.

For the purposes of this survey, we are defining a “hall pass” in a relationship as an agreement between partners that allows one or both individuals to have a temporary, consensual romantic or sexual encounter outside the relationship, often in the case of a hypothetical celebrity encounter.

Key Takeaways

The Evolution of America’s Celebrity Crushes

Celebrity crushes have been a part of our lives for a long time, offering us some distance from reality when we need it most. From Baby Boomers to Generation Z, each has had its own roster of icons and starlets who captured the collective imagination, supporting our human tendencies toward lust and admiration.

When it comes to feelings towards their first celebrity crush, over a third (37%) felt infatuation, and 5% experienced obsession. Despite these intense feelings, discussing these crushes was less common decades ago, since 63% rarely or never discussed their first celebrity crush. Since the way we can express and experience these feelings about our on-camera paramours has changed over time, here we are – and here’s the tea.

Baby Boomers: The Golden Age of Glamour

For baby boomers, Richard Gere epitomized sophistication with roles in films like Pretty Woman and An Officer and a Gentleman. And that hair! Raquel Welch, with her stunning looks and undeniable screen presence, became a symbol of sultry beauty and allure, especially after her iconic role in One Million Years B.C.

These two represented an era of classic Hollywood glamour, where celebrity crushes were – and literally had to be – admired from a respectful distance. Back then, it would truly be a treat to see someone on television, on a late night talk show or cameo. Awww, boomers!

Generation X: The Era of Cool

Generation X had a more laid-back approach and yearning for their celebrity crushes. John Stamos, with his role as Uncle Jesse in Full House, was cool and collected – and his charm (alongside his Elvis impersonations) made him an instant favorite.

Salma Hayek, with her fiery beauty, unique inflection, and natural talent (cue Desperado), captured hearts in the same sexy way. These celebrities were seen as relatable and therefore lovable, like people who would still smile at you on the street and hold open a door, all while knowing you know who they are. A literal hall pass?

Millennials: The Hometown Heartthrob

Millennials grew up in the golden age of the heartthrob – where teen magazines were adorned with celebrities you could really fall in love with (they were interviewed about their favorite movies and food, after all). Leonardo DiCaprio, with his boyish good looks and stellar performances in movies like Titanic and Romeo + Juliet, was the romantic ideal. And Hilary Duff, the girl-next-door star of Lizzie McGuire, embodied the perfect blend of sweetness and charm that made her feel, well, more real.

More widely-available access (thanks, paparazzi) meant a more intense emotional connection to celebrity crushes as a young millennial, as these stars grew up alongside them, eating the same kind of chips and playing the same video games, for goodness’ sake. Was that real life?

Generation Z: The Social Media Darlings

Generation Z has taken celebrity crushes to a whole new level, thanks to the increasing influence of snippet social media. Justin Bieber and Zac Efron, both absolute idols who evolved into global superstars, have maintained massive followings for years. Zendaya, with her multi-talented prowess (literally – what can’t she do?) and a wise, relatable personality, represents the kind of multi-faceted female that many want to be in a relationship with.

For this generation, blurring the lines between fantasy and reality is easy to do – which makes sense when you can follow Zac Efron’s (insane) physical transformation or see if Zendaya’s still into Tom Holland in real-time on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. This almost makes Gen Z more nonplussed than generations before, since they feel they got to know them passing by in the proverbial halls of entertainment to become an easy, realistic choice for a “hall pass.”

America's Most Beloved Celebrities: A State-by-State Breakdown

From coast to coast, America's celebrity crushes reflect a fascinating mix of enduring icons and modern stars (Elvis Presley still got votes, for real).

In the east, Connecticut is charmed by Justin Timberlake and Natalie Portman, Delaware is into Will Smith and Zendaya, and stubborn New Yorkers (still) adore Robert De Niro and Jennifer Lopez. In the west, Colorado opts for the charisma of Michael B. Jordan and the buxom Scarlett Johansson, sunny California claims Jennifer Aniston and Leonardo DiCaprio, and Brad Pitt – alongside Jennifer Aniston again – are beloved in Arizona and Washington.

In the South, Alabama loves Denzel Washington and Sandra Bullock, while Elvis (yes, Elvis!) and Britney Spears still bring the heat for those in Arkansas and Mississippi. Texas and Tennessee both love Jennifer Aniston – don’t we all – alongside Leo and Denzel.

Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston (yes, AGAIN) remain a dynamic duo in Missouri, and throughout the Midwest, Clint Eastwood is loved in Idaho, Kansas, and Michigan, often with, you guessed it, Jennifer Aniston. The tips of our country, Hawaii and Maine, love Harrison Ford and Julia Roberts – two timeless beauties.

Court cases probably added to the rugged appeal of Johnny Depp for many fans across the nation, since he’s still the biggest crushed-upon celeb overall in Alaska, Indiana, Utah, Oregon, and North Carolina. We don’t need to tell you who his female counterpart is, right?

Shifting Perspectives on Celebrity Crushes

Despite the allure of celebrity crushes, 70% of people do not believe in the concept of a “hall pass” in a relationship, indicating that while these crushes are fun, they are rarely taken seriously enough to impact real-life commitments. That said, 42% of people say social media has influenced the intensity of their celebrity crushes, and 40% believe that Gen Zers take celebrity crushes more seriously than previous generations.

Why? It’s likely due to the omnipresence of celebrities in our digital lives, including in older generations (who doom scroll just like the rest of us, make no mistake), so it appears to be “taken more seriously” when really it’s just “widely and publicly available information.”

No matter who you’re crushing on in front of the camera, one thing is very likely: you’re NOT going to meet them in real life – so crush away safely from a distance. Your freedom may depend on it!

Methodology

This survey was completed in May 2024 across a pool of 1,000 Gen Zers, 1,000 Millennials, 1,000 Gen Xers, and 1,000 Baby Boomers, with 30% identifying as men, 68% as women, and 2% as non-binary.