10 Rom-Com Couples Whose Horrible Chemistry Ruined Their Movie

1. Anne Hathaway & Topher Grace – Valentine’s Day (2010)

This series of interconnected stories, based on the challenges and wins that love presents, is bound to keep you interested as the movie jumps from couple to couple. While there were several couples within the film that displayed both romantic magnetism and passion, one that fell flat was Anne Hathaway and Topher Grace.

Without that specific, tantalizing spark, the plot of the movie can lack the energy and excitement it so desperately needs. Even though most of Valentine’s Day left viewers on the edge of their seats, “Liz” and “Jason” just felt rushed and plain old platonic. There was a lack of intense stakes between the two, and there wasn’t much for a viewer such as myself to root for.

2. Jennifer Lopez & Ralph Fiennes – Maid in Manhattan (2002)

Similar to Anne Hathaway and Topher Grace’s characters, this specific dynamic in Maid in Manhattan left something to be desired. Jennifer Lopez has a bubbly and energetic aura, which is often presented in many of her other films. Whereas Ralph Fiennes tends to portray a stoic, reserved intellectual.

These specific characters didn't fit well together, and made their relationship feel extremely unbelievable, making the film too unrealistic to dive into. It felt less like a fairytale and more like a political press tour gone rogue.

3. Dakota Johnson & Jamie Dornan – Fifty Shades of Grey (2015)

Despite Fifty Shades of Grey diverging from stereotypical rom-coms and leaned more towards erotic drama, the stiff and awkward energy between both characters made the premise of this movie almost laughable.

A take on the original book, the plot of this franchise can be described as “steamy” and “intense,” but the characters portrayed by Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan severely lacked both chemistry and emotional connection. What should have felt like smoldering tension ended up looking like two coworkers doing a trust exercise in dim lighting.

4. Natalie Portman & Ashton Kutcher – No Strings Attached (2011)

This film had all the right elements: a fun, modern premise, two attractive leads, and the classic “friends with benefits” trope. But somehow, the chemistry between Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher was flatter than a soda left open overnight.

Portman’s cool, cerebral energy clashed with Kutcher’s boy-next-door goofiness, resulting in a dynamic that felt more sibling-like than steamy. Their scenes lacked the flirtatious tension and slow-burn buildup this kind of plot demands, leaving the audience with very little payoff.

5. Emma Watson & Dan Stevens – Beauty and the Beast (2017)

A take on the animated original, Beauty and the Beast had some big shoes to fill in terms of emotional resonance and magical charm. Sure, the production of the movie went over without a hitch, but the animated version definitely won in terms of chemistry and believability.

Belle, portrayed by Emma Watson, had a reserved and timid demeanor throughout the film, while the prince, played by Dan Stevens, was mostly abrasive and crude. Their personalities seemed to clash throughout the movie, making the pairing seem more like a Stockholm syndrome situation than anything. Not to mention the awkwardness of Watson’s character flirting with a CGI beast for most of the runtime made the acting feel even stiffer than it already was.

6. Kristen Stewart & Robert Pattinson – Twilight series (2008–2012)

Twilight reigned as the start of an era, between popularized debates of Team Jacob vs. Team Edward and a cultural takeover of YA fantasy romance. Yet one of the few complaints that's stuck over the years is the wooden delivery and often lifeless chemistry between Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson.

Of course, their real-life romance fueled fan obsession, but their onscreen dynamic often lacked the romantic electricity that the story so desperately needed. Long stares and muttered dialogue can only go so far.

7. Reese Witherspoon & Vince Vaughn – Four Christmases (2008)

Reese Witherspoon is typically a rom-com queen — charming, sharp, and full of energy. Vince Vaughn, on the other hand, brings chaotic, fast-talking comedy that works great in buddy comedies but often bulldozes softer romantic beats. Together, their styles never synced up in Four Christmases.

The relationship felt more like two people trying to get through the holidays than two people actually in love. Their banter seemed forced, and any affectionate moments came off as staged rather than sincere.

8. Sarah Jessica Parker & Matthew McConaughey – Failure to Launch (2006)

On paper, this pairing makes sense — two big stars in the rom-com prime of their careers. But in reality, the spark just wasn’t there. Sarah Jessica Parker’s type-A character felt perpetually irritated by Matthew McConaughey’s laidback slacker, and not in a fun, opposites-attract kind of way — more like a therapist trying to fix a patient she can’t stand. Their dynamic lacked romantic build-up or emotional payoff. It was more transactional than transformational.

9. Cameron Diaz & Jude Law – The Holiday (2006)

While The Holiday is beloved for its cozy vibes and ensemble cast, the pairing of Cameron Diaz and Jude Law never fully clicks. Diaz’s high-strung energy contrasts sharply with Law’s smooth, soft-spoken demeanor, but instead of feeling like a cute contrast, their interactions come off stiff and overly scripted. Their scenes lacked the kind of romantic tension that made Kate Winslet and Jack Black’s subplot feel unexpectedly more sincere and charming by comparison.

10. Kate Hudson & Dane Cook – My Best Friend’s Girl (2008)

This raunchy rom-com was marketed as edgy and hilarious, but the central romance between Kate Hudson and Dane Cook fell completely flat. Hudson had her usual charm, but Cook's character was so aggressively off-putting that any attempt at romance felt forced and borderline unpleasant. There was no believable reason for their characters to end up together, which made the happy ending feel like a stretch, and not the good, rom-com kind.