On June 25, 1993, a romantic comedy opened in theaters across the United States that would become the center of conversation for decades after. Starring the legendary Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, the picture was titled Sleepless In Seattle and was written by Jeff Arch and Nora Ephron, who also directed.

The film was a sensational success at the box office, as it returned a gross turnover of $227.8 million against a budget of only $21 million. Aside from its success, Sleepless in Seattle has not been without controversy, and has been described in different quarters as 'toxic' and 'problematic.'

Nevertheless, there is still a lot of support for the classic, and many fans believe that it still worth watching. We examine why.

Where The Problems Begin

The synopsis for Sleepless in Seattle on Rotten Tomatoes reads, "After the death of his wife, Sam Baldwin moves to Seattle with his son, Jonah. When Jonah calls in to a talk-radio program to find a new wife for his father, Sam grudgingly gets on the line to discuss his feelings."

"Annie Reed, a reporter in Baltimore, hears Sam speak and falls for him, even though she is engaged. Unsure where it will lead, she writes Sam a letter asking him to meet her at the Empire State Building on Valentine's Day."

When Harry Met Sally star, Meg Ryan played the reporter Annie Reed, who fell for Sam Baldwin, portrayed by Tom Hanks. At the time when Annie asks Sam to meet him at the Empire State Building, she is in a relationship with a character named Walter Jackson (Bill Pullman).

Bill Pullman and Meg Ryan in Sleepless in Seattle
via: TriStar Pictures

This is where the problems seemingly begin for Sleepless in Seattle. Other than the fact that he now stands between his girlfriend and her new found crush, Walter is practically the perfect boyfriend. Perhaps in order to make him less likeable to the audience, the character was riddled with a multitude of weaknesses: he was a hopeless dancer who also had to contend with all manner of allergies. RELATED: Mindy Kaling Wants To Reboot 'You've Got Mail' With Tom Hanks And Meg Ryan

Supportive Of Stalker Behavior

Instead of ending her relationship with Walter in order to pursue her new flame, Annie simply grows cold towards him, and effectively begins to stalk Sam. She uses resources at her work place to find out where he lives, and then hires a private detective to investigate details of the widower's life and report back to her.

In that sense, the film is essentially seen to be supportive of stalker behavior. To make matters worse, Arch and Ephron decided to replicate Annie's nonchalance with Sam. After moving to Baltimore, he starts dating a new woman known as Victoria, who is practically the mirror character for Walter: she is portrayed as nervous and too cringe worthy.

In the same way that Annie is dismissive of Walter, Sam doesn't treat Victoria with the love and care you would expect from a boyfriend, which raises the question why he would want to be in a relationship with her in the first place.

Predictably, the story ends with a happily-ever-after for Sam and Annie, after they meet at the Empire State Building. RELATED: Why Tom Hanks Is Not A Fan Of This Female Celebrity

Impressed Fans And Critics Alike

Despite all these complications, Sleepless in Seattle is a film that has impressed fans and critics alike. Famous film critic Roger Ebert was generous in his praise, as he wrote on his website, "Sleepless in Seattle is as ephemeral as a talk show, as contrived as the late show, and yet so warm and gentle I smiled the whole way through."

Scene from 'Sleepless in Seattle'
via: TIFF

He also raved about Hank and Ryan's performances: "The actors are well-suited to this material. Tom Hanks keeps a certain detached edge to his character, which keeps him from being simply a fall guy."

"Meg Ryan, who is one of the most likable actresses around and has a certain ineffable Doris Day innocence, is able to convince us of the magical quality of her sudden love for a radio voice, without letting the device seem like the gimmick it assuredly is."

Nearly 30 years later, it appears as though the movie gets as much love today as it did back then. One cinephile by the username 'Longtime_Geek' recently commented on the Roger Ebert review, saying, "I'm a movie fanatic and have been for 60 years. I love almost every genre imaginable. But in a time of social distancing and self-quarantine, I'm concentrating on three specific genres: Thrillers, comedies and romance movies."

"Sleepless in Seattle takes me away from my worries, and lets me relax and enjoy a budding romance between two characters I care about. I enjoyed it [at] the theater almost 30 years ago, and I still watch it every year or two to this day." NEXT: Here's Why Fans Are Still Bothered By Matt Lauer's Interview With Anne Hathaway