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It’s no surprise that people tend to get quite invested when watching a movie. Even though deep down they understand that the stories and the people portrayed on the screen are fictitious, sometimes the acting is just so good, they forget all about it.
However, there are times when something feels off; when the story is not believable, the setting is somehow wrong, or there is simply no chemistry between the actors whatsoever. The latter is what members of the ‘Pop Culture Chat’ community recently discussed when the user ‘Joanna_Valdes’ asked them about the romantic leads in movies that had zero chemistry. People covered all sorts of pairings in their answers, so scroll down to find them on the list below, and see if you have sat through at least one of the listed movies.
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#1
Dan Radcliffe and Bonnie Wright together were so awkward, and it didn’t help that the screenwriters gave them such weird interactions (the “open up, you” and the shoelace-tying scenes give me so much secondhand embarrassment).
Pamela24 8 months ago
I primarily blame the screenwriters for this. Everything that made Harry and Ginny endearing as a couple was taken out. I'm still not sure if Bonnie Wright is a bad actress but I feel like neither of them could really do much with what they were given.
Mikey Kliss 8 months ago
The film writers definity messed up all these movies
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LokisLilButterknife 8 months ago
I totally blame the screenwriters for this. I loved Ginny in the books- she was fiery, confident, intelligent, but also empathetic. The movies turned her into some strange, simpering, girl that would fall at Harry’s feet.
Nitka Tsar 8 months ago
They practically grew up together. I imagine that has something to do with it too
HelluvaHedgehogAlien 8 months ago
Ginny in the books was awesome. Heck, the books were AWESOME. The movies did great, but they also adapted some changes and cut out most of the lines of one of my favorite characters.
tigerlilly 8 months ago
I wasn’t a huge fan of these two in the books, but the movies were just painful to watch.
Certainly not Dan 8 months ago
Radcliffe has no chemistry with anyone! It gets more embarrassing as the films go on. He’s surrounded by incredible talent, people who’ve been knighted, ennobled for their skills, and then there’s poor old Dan only able to show happy/sad/angry. To be fair the character is insufferable too
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#2
Anne Hathaway and Adrian Grenier as Andy and Nate in The Devil Wears Prada Yessss all of their interactions in this movie are like you'd speak to an annoying brother or house-mate
#3
Thor had more chemistry with Capt Marvel in their few seconds of interaction than this.
#4
I mean, the answer here has to be Cara Delevigne and Dane Dehaan in “Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets”, right?
I legitimately thought they were related. For about 30-40 minutes before realizing that wasn’t the case and then becoming aggressively bored by it and shutting it off.
Savannah greenleaf 8 months ago
I may have to use the phrase "aggressively bored" in normal conversation now. Yes I set my goals low.
#5
Ok, hear me out - Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn in Funny Face. Audrey obviously respects Fred and sees him as a mentor and that comes through in the film and Fred obviously sees Audrey as a sweet young girl but that’s the problem - they were badly matched as he was too old for her and looked too old for her and they had no romantic chemistry whatsoever. I actually really dislike this film because I do not believe whatsoever that they love each other.
#6
Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp in The Tourist. Johnny was completely miscast which ruined the movie for me.
clairebear 8 months ago
I disagree it was Johnny. He has to have something to work against. Being pretty does not an actress make.
#7
I’m surprised nobody mentioned Emma Watson and Dan Stevens yet. Has the live-action Beauty and the Beast faded from public consciousness that quickly?
#8
Jamie Dornan felt like the material was beneath him, he was practically fully clothed in his love scenes with Dakota while she fully nude, the sex scenes were completely vanilla and mechanical, and the author kept interfering with the production. There was no way they were going to have a good production.
#9
I thought Henry Cavill and Amy Adams were devoid of chemistry in Man of Steel - they seemed so awkward together.
Mohsie Supposie 8 months ago
I just can't see Amy Adams as Lois Lane! Especially with the grey filter! What is that all about anyway?
#10
Emily VanCamp and Chris Evans as Sharon and Steve in Captain America: Civil War. Sibling vibes
#11
Channing Tatum and Mila Kunis in Jupiter Ascending. I unapologetically love that movie but their chemistry is just soooo bad.
*I love dogs!!*.
#12
The new Mr and Mrs Smith. I was trying to explain to my husband why I didn’t like it and I realized it was the pairing. They’re both good actors, but I think they aren’t good actors together. But I mean, the chemistry obviously was out of control in the original. I’m sure it’s hard to find that again.
#13
The Happening. These two are supposed to be married. (Except she had Tiramisu with some other clown).
#15
Julia Roberts and Brad Pitt in The Mexican.
Absolutely painful to watch.
I guess they are friends in real life and thought it would be fun to do a movie together...this means there was probably no chemistry read, which explains EVERYTHING.
#16
I love love love the Fast saga but you can never convince me that Michelle Rodriguez and Vin Diesel want to have sex with each other. Ever.
kelsischloe1986 8 months ago
I disagree on this one. They fit together quite ruggedly. Both were tough, independent, and over all had the same personality.
#17
Not a movie but in grey’s anatomy izzy and george having a moment for a few episodes was so hard to watch, there was zero chemistry between the two characters. like why did they write that in? it seemed so unnecessary.
allthatandaduck888 8 months ago
I hate every scene with Izzy in it. She killed Denny and then everyone feels bad for her? Make it make sense!
#18
Audrey Hepburn and any male lead who was at least 10-20+ years her senior. She was born 1929. Humphrey Bogart (1899) Fred Astaire(1899) William Holden (1918) Gary Cooper (1901) and on and on. As charming and brilliant as she is an actor, the story was completely unbelievable and you're just left with such an ick about it. I know people LOVE these movies and they were really well received, but they are just so unwatchable to me !
#19
These 2 always gave me siblings vibe in every scene. He has better chemistry with Danai
#20
From Justin to Kelly. Like you could not convince me that either Kelly or Justin wanted to be in this movie together, but they were contactually obligated to do so. Also the rumours that Justin was hooking up with Paula Abdul did not help him be a convincing romantic lead with that extra context.
#21
Showing my age but Denise Richards and Pierce Brosnan had absolutely no spark.
#22
Jack Black and Kate Winslet in The Holiday even thought their arc is definitively better than Jude and Cameron’s. Great acting, just a lack of sexual chemistry. .
#23
Ashton Kutcher and Reese Witherspoon in Your Place or Mine.
#25
Matthew McConaughey & Jodie Foster in Contact ('97) is an all timer. Great movie but possibly the most awkward makeout in film history.
They have amazing friendship/ sibling-type chemistry IMO, but every movie Cary Grant & Katharine Hepburn starred in together as lovers just made me go huh...? Who approved that!
Tabitha 8 months ago (edited)
From what I understand about Cary Grant and how he was with his wives, if he and Katherine Hepburn had ever gotten together, she would’ve gotten tired of him and his shenanigans pretty quickly. She was way too smart and independent to have put up with anyone who wanted to fence her in, no matter how good looking they were.
#26
Hugh Grant/Andie McDowell in Four Weddings and a funeral.
#27
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a movie or series where Emma Roberts has chemistry with her male co-star.
What do you think ?
Flora Porter 8 months ago
No mention of Notting Hill? Negative chemistry between Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts.
Jessica SpeLangm 8 months ago
I do my best to avoid watching films with either of these actors. I just think in most of the movies they're in, they are so "stiff" with their portrayal of the characters.
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funkybluegirl (she/her) 8 months ago
What about Christian Bale with both Katie Holmes and Maggie Gyllenhaal, in the Dark Knight movies?
StumblingThroughLife 8 months ago
I've (fortunately?) only watched 6 of the films above, and of the 6, I agree 100% with the lack of chemistry.
Sabbie Bradley 8 months ago
Hugh Grant and Sarah Jessica Parker in Did You Hear About the Morgans? - worst chemistry I've ever seen, can't imagine who thought it was a good idea to put those 2 together.
Kathy O'Sherry 8 months ago
I disagree, personally. I thought they were great and it was heartbreaking.
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Captain Kyra 8 months ago
If you're are talking about the film, the male lead had no chemistry with anyone in any movie I ever saw him in. If you are talking about the Netflix series, I wholeheartedly disagree. Toby Stephens makes love to the camera, he'd have chemistry with a rock.
Load More Replies... Flora Porter 8 months ago
No mention of Notting Hill? Negative chemistry between Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts.
Jessica SpeLangm 8 months ago
I do my best to avoid watching films with either of these actors. I just think in most of the movies they're in, they are so "stiff" with their portrayal of the characters.
Load More Replies... funkybluegirl (she/her) 8 months ago
What about Christian Bale with both Katie Holmes and Maggie Gyllenhaal, in the Dark Knight movies?
StumblingThroughLife 8 months ago
I've (fortunately?) only watched 6 of the films above, and of the 6, I agree 100% with the lack of chemistry.
Sabbie Bradley 8 months ago
Hugh Grant and Sarah Jessica Parker in Did You Hear About the Morgans? - worst chemistry I've ever seen, can't imagine who thought it was a good idea to put those 2 together.
Kathy O'Sherry 8 months ago
I disagree, personally. I thought they were great and it was heartbreaking.
Load More Replies... Captain Kyra 8 months ago
If you're are talking about the film, the male lead had no chemistry with anyone in any movie I ever saw him in. If you are talking about the Netflix series, I wholeheartedly disagree. Toby Stephens makes love to the camera, he'd have chemistry with a rock.
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