Filmmaker Quentin Tarantino recently called Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade "boring," insisting that Sean Connery's role as Indy's father wasn't even interesting. Clearly a controversial stance, many Indiana Jones fans see Connery as an excellent Henry Jones Sr., and agree that his chemistry with co-star Harrison Ford is wonderful.
On-screen chemistry between two actors isn't just a concept reserved for Indiana Jones, either, with plenty of films over the years having thrived or failed as a result. But good chemistry is not something that can be planned for and as such, there have been unexpected triumphs all thanks to on-screen relationships landing well with audiences.
Harrison Ford & Sean Connery
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
The third installment of the Indiana Jones franchise arrived in 1989, bringing Sean Connery and Harrison Ford together to play father and son. As far as memorable duos go, Redditor vcjr78 acknowledges this with, “Ford and Connery in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.”
A major part of what made Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade so much fun was the relationship between Indy and Henry Jones Sr. After two films without meeting Henry, it quickly became clear that much of Indy’s no-nonsense demeanor stems from being raised by someone who places the highest emphasis on his work.
Matt Damon & Phillip Seymour Hoffman
The Talented Mr Ripley (1998)
Anthony Minghella’s 1998 adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s classic murder novel brought some heavyweight talents together. Reddito NoHandBananaNo thinks the chemistry between Matt Damon’s Ripley and Philip Seymour Hoffman’s Freddy Miles was tops, stating, “This is gonna sound weird but Tom Ripley and Freddy in The Talented Mr Ripley.”
While the two characters are hardly friends, watching Hoffman’s Miles antagonize and taunt Damon’s Ripley is just one of the highlights of this doomed relationship. Hoffman intensifies Miles’ awful personality, making audiences side with Ripley – a far from loveable character who gets what he wants through murder and some pretty brilliant quick thinking.
Danny Glover & Mel Gibson
Lethal Weapon Franchise (1987-1998)
A strong and believable relationship between buddy cop movie characters isn’t always that easy to find. Redditor Silent_Palpatine is confident that the Lethal Weapon films have these qualities, saying, “The Lethal Weapon movies had great chemistry between Danny Glover and Mel Gibson.”
It’s clear that audiences immediately picked up on how fun it was to watch Glover and Gibson play off each other. The first film spawned three sequels and few action films could pull off a similar trajectory in terms of box office success. This is largely due to Glover and Gibson’s ability to make each outing feel fresh, with plenty of action and laughs.
Tom Hanks & Gary Sinise
Forrest Gump (1994)
Robert Zemeckis scored a massive hit with this Tom Hanks lead dramedy, bringing in six Oscars. Redditor Lazy_Ad_6232 believes that the Hanks and Sinise relationship is second to none, saying, “Tom Hanks and Gary Sinise made the perfect pair in Forrest Gump.”
Gump (Hanks) and lieutenant Dan Taylor (Sinise) met in Vietnam, and Gump saved the lieutenant’s life. Post-war, the film goes on to detail the peculiar friendship that builds between Gump and the now legless Taylor. There’s just the right amount of tension between the two – largely due to Taylor, and Gump keeps things endearingly simple.
Meg Ryan & Billy Crystal
When Harry Met Sally (1989)
Hailed as one of the greatest romantic comedies of all time, When Harry Met Sally was viewed in a somewhat ground-breaking light upon its release. The performances were a major part of this, and Redditor peanutj00 agrees, stating, “Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal in When Harry Met Sally.”
Regardless of how well the film may or may not have aged, it’s hard not to be swept up by the drama that begins to unfold between Ryan and Crystal’s characters. Rom-coms don’t tend to have especially long lifespans, but When Harry Met Sally continues to be an audience favorite. That kind of staying power can’t exist without memorable performances.
Richard Pryor & Gene Wilder
(4 Films 1976-1980)
It’s rare that two comedic genius’ such as Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder get paired together in a string of films, but it’s certainly a treat to watch. Redditor callmemacready gets right to the point with their vote for these two with, “Gene Wilder Richard Pryor.”
Pryor and Wilder may have had excellent on-screen chemistry, but in real life they did not typically spend time together (per Biography). Wilder stated that this was because he wanted to keep their on-screen chemistry fresh when they next worked together. If that’s the case, then his plan definitely worked – their chemistry remains fresh to this day.
Jim Carrey & Jeff Daniels
Dumb and Dumber (1994)
Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels found instant acclaim as utter fools Lloyd Christmas and Harry Dunne in this Farrelly Brothers classic. Despite the extremities of idiocy the pair go to, Carrey and Daniels make it believable. Redditor ediblecheez5588 ranks the pair high, explaining, “Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels, maybe my top comedic duo.”
Dumb and Dumber was a key initial part of the gross-out comedy genre and the film has since solidified itself as one of the best comedies of all time. Watching Carrey and Daniels is a genuine treat, and although the subsequent prequel and sequel didn’t fare as well, for pure comedic chemistry, not much tops the pair’s performances in the original film.
John Krasinski & Emily Blunt
A Quiet Place (2018)
Actor and filmmaker John Krasinski was hugely successful with this 2018 apocalyptic thriller. Krasinski and real-life wife Emily Blunt play a couple trying to survive a world invaded by aliens. Their performance earned Redittor DJColdCutz’s support, listing the couple with a simple, “John Krasinski and Emily Blunt in Quiet Place.”
Because the aliens in A Quiet Place hunt by sound, there is much whispering and even some sign language. It’s a difficult environment in which to build an engaging chemistry between characters, but Krasinski and Blunt completely pull it off. This is likely due to their real-life marital status, but even if it weren’t for this, Krasinski and Blunt just seem to work together.
Paul Rudd & Jason Segal
I Love You, Man (2009)
There’s plenty of opportunity for on screen chemistry in this 2009 John Hamburg directed comedy that sees Paul Rudd desperate to find a male friend. It’s an easily overlooked gem and this is a shame because as Redditor RandomDent6x7 notes, Rudd and Segal are a great match: “Paul Rudd and Jason Segal in I Love You, Man.”
Rudd seems to work well with practically anyone, but he finds a genuine kinship with Segal. The desperation of Rudd’s character to do something as seemingly simple as to just fit in, juxtaposed with Segal’s laid-back worldview, makes for constant comedic potential. In fact, their work together is so good, it’s a shame that a sequel has never materialized.
Vince Vaughn & John Favreau
Swingers (1996)
Today both Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau are huge stars, known for a variety of different projects. But in 1996 they were up-and-coming actors who took a chance on a low-budget independent film. It changed their lives and their work as a duo in the film was good enough to be Redditor Versace__tamagotchi’s top pick, “Vince Vaughn and John Favreau in Swingers.”
There’s something about Vaughn’s character’s incessant nattering and bravado that endears viewers rather than repels them. On the other hand, Favreau gains the audience’s sympathy thanks to his character’s soft-spoken and calm behavior, and it’s often the case that the calmer his reaction, the funnier the relationship between him and Vaughn gets. They pushed this shtick even further with 2001’s Made, though the results were mixed.