Charming characters are hard not to fawn over. Our idling of such duos is not just important for our own continuous obsessing (or jealousy), but for directors hoping to score with audiences. There’s a reason why you’ll see familiar pairs making multiple appearances together on screen and often it comes down to one word: chemistry. When you find something that works why change it, right? Whether these folks actually dig each other in real life is questionable, but there’s something about them we’re drawn to and we all need some make believe in our lives, one way or another.
Hollywood has made a lot of moolah off pairings dating back decades, much of the time they were contracted to do so by the studio. Think Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy (who did nine films together and also dated off screen), Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor (who rocked eight films together) or Lucille Ball and Bob Hope (who were doubled up on four features)—these were members of the Golden Age of Hollywood.
But this recipe hasn’t been forgotten in modern days, keeping with the tradition and adoration that often spawns relationships off screen too (Woody Allen and Mia Farrow, for example). Sometimes this can lead to really bad working relationships, but that’s a whole other article.
Instead lets remind ourselves of some of the latest and greatest actors to share the screen, over and over again.
Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence
Key movies: Silver Linings Playbook, Serena, American Hustle, Joy
Why they work: Quirky, heartfelt, playful and deeply dramatic, these two actors share a common appreciation for depth and versatility in acting while proving they aren’t afraid to tackle hard subject matter together. Sure there’s always been speculation they’ve have shared romance off the screen, but there’s been multiple interviews where the honesty of their friendship outweighs such speculation. Or maybe they’re just that good at acting. There’s also a 15-year age gap, but like that really matters.
