There are film duos whose charisma led them to star in many films together, some in the same movie sagas and others across different genres. If chemistry is the key to an excellent performance, these pairs have proven that they get along so well in front of the camera that it’s hard to think of one without thinking of the other.
Bright Side collected a list of artistic couples, both from human and animated films, who became iconic for the sparks they generate when they’re on-screen together.
When this couple goes out on the dance floor, they’re quickly recognized for their chemistry. Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling have shown that they work well together, like in the film La La Land, the final sample of a trilogy of films that they carried out together which included the dramatic comedy Crazy, Stupid, Love of 2011, and the police movie Gangster Squad of 2013. “I can’t even imagine what my life would be without Ryan,” said Emma Stone of the actor who she also described as her “dear and most wonderful friend.”
The spark between Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper is clearly seen in the many films they starred in together, including American Hustle, Serena, and Joy. In 3 of the 4 movies they’ve appeared in, Jennifer Lawrence earned an Oscar nomination.
Back to the Future has all the necessary ingredients for a cinematic jewel: an original plot, great special effects, a captivating story, and characters that are easy to love, like the ones played by Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd. They, for fans of the trilogy, will always be Marty McFly and Dr. Emmett Brown. The possibility of a fourth chapter has been talked about for a long time. In fact, Lloyd laid out only one condition for making the fourth installment: “I can’t see doing another sequel without Michael.”
The king and queen of romantic comedies in the 1990s were Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks. Their reign began when they starred in Joe Versus the Volcano, conquering the hearts of viewers and winning big bucks at the box office. Sleepless in Seatle reunited the duo in 1993, and 5 years later, the couple starred in You’ve Got Mail. According to Ryan, working with Hanks was always “easy” because he listens and thinks they’re on the set “to have fun.”
Start your engines and tighten your seat belts, because now we’re going to talk about Paul Walker and Vin Diesel. The duo acted in 7 of the Fast and Furious movies together, a saga that proved to be a massive hit in the sub-genre of cinema that combines high-speed chases with blood-pumping action. “How lucky I am to call you my brother,” Diesel said in an emotional message when he remembered his partner who died in 2013. Today, the daughters of both actors maintain a bond as close as the one their parents had.
Derek Zoolander and Hansel may be enemies on the catwalk, but the actors who played those characters, Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson, are friends behind and in front of cameras. “We don’t see each other all the time, but when we do, it seems like we pick up where we left off,” shared Stiller. The chemistry between these 2 comedians led them to share a film set on numerous occasions, including while filming the movies, Night at the Museum and Meet the Fockers.
We’ll never know if Jack could have fit on the floating piece of wood and been saved along with Rose in Titanic. Still, there’s no doubt about the incredible chemistry that Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet showed on-screen. “Sometimes we do quote the odd Titanic line back and forth to each other because only we can, and we find it really funny,” the actress once explained. Self-avowed friends since that scene was shot in 1997, director Sam Mendes brought them together 11 years later for Revolutionary Road, a critically acclaimed movie.
A friendship between an ogre and a donkey is something that only the most creative of minds can conjure up. Luckily for everyone, these beings do exist, and they came together to create Shrek, one of the most successful animation franchises in history. Mike Myers and Eddie Murphy voiced the characters in the original version, drawing smiles and entertaining us with their adventures. Believe it or not, despite being 2 comedians with so many years on the scene, both coincided only in this movie saga.
Opposites attract, according to the old saying and from a non-romantic perspective, this premise holds true for actors Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker. The actors are the backbone of the hit movie franchise Rush Hour, which combines martial arts, humor, and crime. The Hong Kong-born actor explained that when the 2 actors met, he didn’t understand a thing Tucker was saying because of how fast he spoke in English. Still, he chose him as the partner with whom he’d end up having the most fruitful professional connection in his career.
Men in Black: International, which was released last year, did not conquer the public. The spin-off lacked many of the elements that made the saga so adored, including the presence of the original actors, Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones. The agents who safeguarded alien activity on Earth became an iconic duo. Although today it may seem hard to believe, initially, the roles were to be played by Chris O’Donnell and Clint Eastwood, as was shared by director Barry Sonnenfeld.
Tina Fey and Amy Poehler shared the stage of Saturday Night Live for many years and co-starred in 7 films — the most memorable being Mean Girls. They met when they took the same improv class in 1993. Poehler’s first impression of her friend, as she described in her autobiographical book, was that “she was sharp, shy and hilarious. Her name was Tina, and she was like me, but with brown hair.” They hosted the Golden Globes in 2013, 2014, and 2015, and have already been announced as the hosts that will liven up next year’s ceremony.
From comrades in Die Hard 3 to enemies in Unbreakable and Glass, the duo of Samuel L. Jackson and Bruce Willis has always performed well in Hollywood. “I enjoy working with Bruce,” said his co-star. An interesting fact is that the 2 were also part of the cast of Pulp Fiction, an iconic cinematographic jewel directed by Quentin Tarantino. However, they did not share any scenes.
Julia Roberts acted in more films with George Clooney than with Richard Gere, but the success of Pretty Woman makes it very hard to imagine. “As soon as she walked in it was like a lightbulb went on, the sun was on her, she’s incredible,” Gere said of his first meeting with the actress. After that movie was released, we had to wait 9 years for their unexpected reunion. In 1999, they both starred in Runaway Bride, although this film was not nearly as successful as the previous one.
Marlin would never have found her son in Finding Nemo without Dory’s help, and she would never have been able to escape the aquarium in the sequel without collaborating with her clownfish friend. This is how strong and vital the bond is that unites the 2 animals created by computer magic. Their voices were recorded by Albert Brooks and Ellen DeGeneres who coincided years before in another film, the 1998 version of Dr. Dolittle, starring Eddie Murphy.
Acting with your best friend is a pleasure that not many professionals get to experience, but that’s exactly what the British comedy duo, Nick Frost and Simon Pegg get to do. Together they have starred in almost a dozen movies, some of them highly regarded, such as Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and Paul. Their bond is so strong that both of them have served as best man in each other’s weddings.
Which duo from this list would you choose as the most iconic in cinema? Who else would you add? Tell us in the comments!
Leonardo DiCaprio, a household name, has many lesser-known facts. Named after Leonardo da Vinci, he faced early career challenges due to his unique name. DiCaprio grapples with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, has eco-friendly initiatives like buying an island for an environment-friendly resort, and has shown immense generosity, like supporting a South African girl and aiding the last living Titanic survivor.
Shaun of the Dead is one of the only zombie movies I can watch. Sorry- out of all the monster movie types, a virus causing humans to act that way is more likely than other types of monsters. It freaks me out! I like far-fetched/mythological type monsters and sci-fi. But I by no means can watch movies about serial killers, another villain type that actually exists.
Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper, I really CANNOT stand those two together. I really don't know why. Even though I like them as actors separately, I don't see any chemistry between them. On the contrary, Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling... WOW
I can't praise enough Tina Fey and Amy Poehler! They are talented, gorgeous, and most of all great Women Figures! #womenpower
#15 is a hugeee YES. I've watched every single movie they had together, just my favourite duos.
I love that you included Shrek and the donkey ion there, coolest duo of all films :P
