10 Movie Duos Who Lacked Onscreen Chemistry

      Certain movie couples exhibit intense onscreen chemistry, but others display a lack of connection that can be hard to ignore.

      Katie Holmes and Christian Bale in Batman Begins

      In Batman Begins (2005), while the film itself is fantastic, the chemistry between Christian Bale as Batman and Katie Holmes as prosecutor Rachel Dawes feels unconvincing.

      In the concluding scene, Rachel tells Bruce Wayne she can't be with him as he stands amidst the ruins of Wayne Manor, and there is hardly any spark between them. Neither character appears heartbroken over the breakup, which seems odd given that he recently saved her life twice and disclosed his secret identity.

      Bale's chemistry with Maggie Gyllenhaal, who took over the role of Rachel in 2008’s The Dark Knight, proved to be far more convincing, as did his dynamic with Marion Cotillard as Talia al Ghul and Anne Hathaway as Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises.

      Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie in The Tourist

      In The Tourist (2010), both Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie are talented actors, yet their pairing fails to ignite any chemistry.

      The plot follows Depp's character, a math teacher on holiday in Europe, who finds himself entangled in a perilous situation involving Jolie’s character Elise. Despite both actors receiving Golden Globe nominations for their performances, the film was rated only 21% by critics on Rotten Tomatoes, who attributed some of its shortcomings to the lack of chemistry between them.

      Chris Evans and Ana de Armas in Ghosted

      In Ghosted (2023), Chris Evans’ character Cole develops feelings for Ana de Armas' Sadie, only to discover she is a secret agent.

      Sadly, both critics and viewers found their chemistry unconvincing, with the film receiving a mere 25% on Rotten Tomatoes' Tomato Meter and a 55% audience rating.

      Chris Evans himself acknowledged to Variety: “We could have been better.” If you search for the various montages of their kissing scenes on YouTube, you might understand his point.

      Jonah Hill and Lauren London in You People

      In Netflix's rom-com You People (2023), the relationship between Jonah Hill and Lauren London's characters may seem implausible. According to Andrew Schulz, who portrayed Jonah Hill’s character’s cousin in the film, the two never actually kissed on camera; instead, the final scene involved CGI.

      “There’s a funny detail — I’m not sure if I should share this — but in the final scene, they don’t even kiss,” Schulz mentioned on The Brilliant Idiots podcast. “It’s CGI. I swear.”

      Netflix representatives did not respond to MovieMaker’s inquiry about the use of CGI for the kiss. However, The Los Angeles Times noted that the film was shot during the Omicron wave in late 2021, which may explain the absence of kisses due to COVID-19 protocols.

      Billy Baldwin and Sharon Stone in Sliver

      During the production of the 1993 mystery-thriller Sliver, Sharon Stone and Billy Baldwin's onscreen chemistry was so lacking that they have been bickering about it even 30 years later.

      Stone portrays Carly, a book editor who moves into an apartment building unaware of a string of murders occurring there. She then becomes involved with one of the prime murder suspects, Zeke (Baldwin).

      However, don’t think for a second that Stone and Baldwin maintain a friendship. In March, Stone accused the late producer Robert Evans of pressuring her to sleep with Baldwin to enhance their lackluster chemistry.

      The following day, Baldwin responded on X: “I have so much dirt on her that it would make her head spin, but I’ve remained quiet.”

      Henry Cavill and Amy Adams in Man of Steel

      In Man of Steel (2013), Henry Cavill plays Superman while Amy Adams portrays Lois Lane, his iconic love interest. If their kiss felt awkward, the actors provided some insight as to why.

      During an appearance on The Graham Norton Show, Adams mentioned that she attempted a kissing technique she learned from director David O. Russell while working on The Fighter.

      “David O. Russell likes to see the tongue, like in a 1980s music video,” she explained. “I tried that with Henry. It didn’t work.”

      “Too much, too much,” Cavill replied, to which Adams added, “I seem like such a creeper. Poor Henry.”

      Zooey Deschanel and Mark Wahlberg in The Happening

      In M. Night Shyamalan's disaster film The Happening (2008), Mark Wahlberg and Zooey Deschanel portray a married couple attempting to survive an inexplicable event causing mass casualties.

      Despite their individual talents, the pairing of Deschanel and Wahlberg lacks a convincing dynamic, making it difficult to believe in their relationship.

      Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon in Four Christmases

      Reese Witherspoon