Sometimes a film or television series can strike gold, with the cast bouncing off one another and their relationships coming through the screen in an incredibly believable way. Other times, they seem forced, trite and fake, and that’s what brings us to 9 on screen couples with no chemistry today.
9. Trinity and Neo – The Matrix Franchise
Not entirely surprising as neither actor are known for their romantic acting chops, but in a series of films with such a fantastical premise, the most unbelievable part of them is the relationships between Keanu Reeve’s Neo and Carrie-Anne Moss’ Trinity.
Related: Matrix Resurrections: 5 Reasons It’s Not As Bad
8. Owen and Claire – Jurassic World Franchise
In many ways, the Jurassic Franchise doesn’t hold a candle to the original Jurassic Park films (or at least the first two anyway), and that includes the chemistry or lack thereof of the two leading characters. Compare this to the chemistry between Sam O’Neill and Laura Dern in the original and you’ll see what I mean.
7. Peter Parker and Mary Jane – Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man Franchise
Perhaps a controversial entry in a list of on screen couples with no chemistry, but whilst Tobey Maguire’s Peter Parker is still top tier, his relationship with Kirsten Dunst’s Mary Jane never seemed real to me. Take Andrew Garfield’s Peter Parker and Emma Stone’s Gwen Stacy as an example of an example where Peter has truckloads of chemistry with his partner.
Related: 60th Anniversary of Spider-Man: 7 Biggest Moments In Spidey History
6. Rachel and Bruce – Batman Begins
There are not many issues with Batman Begins but the relationship between Katie Holmes Rachel Dawes and Christian Bale’s Bruce Wayne is the most prominent. Maybe this is one of the reasons why Christopher Nolan decided to recast the part for the sequel The Dark Knight?
5. Dean and Lisa – Supernatural
Dean has plenty of onscreen flings, but one of the only actual relationships he has is with Lisa. Sam makes him promise to go back to Lisa and live a happy life at the end of season five, which Dean does, but every scene between the pair seems so boring and bland. Perhaps that’s the point as Dean clearly misses hunting and his brother.
4. Christian and Anastasia – 50 Shades Franchise
You wouldn’t expect the two titular characters of a franchise of films centered around BDSM, sexual power dynamics, and more to be on a list of on-screen couples with no chemistry, but here we are. One of many reasons these films are a dumpster fire of cinema, Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson tried their best, but my God…
3. Padme and Anakin – Star Wars Prequels
The prequels weren’t particularly well received at release, and as time has gone on that has only worsened. Supposedly dating at the release of the second film, the chemistry between Natalie Portman’s Padme and Hayden Christensen’s Anakin didn’t translate to the big screen.
2. Frank and Claire – House of Cards
A power hungry husband and wife eager to get to the highest point in the US government, whilst dealing with romances with third parties and back stabbing friends and family? Should have been a piece of cake for Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright, but unfortunately, it never materialized on the screen.
1. Jackie and Fez – That 70s Show
Lastly in this list of on-screen couples with no chemistry… One of the biggest missteps of the show as a whole, was having Jackie end up with Fez, when everyone and their dogs could see there was zero chemistry between the two, certainly compared to Jackie and Kelso.
There we have it then, any other on-screen couples with no chemistry you can think of?
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