Pulp Fiction

A central element in a film is the chemistry between its master character reference , and in many case , the mainacting duosseem too different from each other to do work well on screen – and to everyone ’s surprise , these actors turned out to have heavy interpersonal chemistry . Throughout film chronicle , there have been acting brace that have had such good chemical science on concealment that they worked together in more than one undertaking , and in many cases , player have such matching energy or like acting style that they are guaranteed to work well together . In other cases , of grade , work duos have been so bad that they completely ruined the movie .

However , there are many others that seem like complete opposites and end up bring outstanding performances thanks to their unexpectedly good interpersonal chemistry . In many cases , these surprisingly good acting duos made their movies better than they already were , while others actually economize their projection from nonstarter and made them memorable . Here are 10 example of pretend duos with surprisingly good alchemy .

10Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

snog Kiss Bang Bangis a drollery crime movie written and send by Shane Black , based on the 1941 novelBodies Are Where You Find Themby Brett Halliday . It follows Harry Lockhart ( Robert Downey Jr. ) , a criminal who unexpectedly becomes an actor when he ’s misguided by one , and Perry van Shrike ( Val Kilmer ) , a private research worker hired to give Harry on - the - job guardianship for his screen door psychometric test . Harry and Perry end up involved in a murder investigation , which brings out the best of Downey Jr. ’s and Kilmer ’s comedic acquisition .

While Downey Jr. is have intercourse for infusing his characters with a unique sense of temper ( and his natural charisma ) , Kilmer is best known for more dramatic , serious roles . Together , they bestow a good balance of dry humour , neat timing , and perfect delivery and interchange of quick lines that made their performance the best part ofKiss Kiss Bang Bang .

9Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning in Man on Fire

Man of Fireis an action thriller organize by Tony Scott and based on the 1980 novel of the same name by A.J. Quinnell . Man of Firefollows John Creasy ( Denzel Washington ) , a former CIA SAD / SOG military officer who takes a job as the bodyguard of Lupita Ramos ( Dakota Fanning ) , the daughter of an car maker in Mexico City . Washington and Fanning had unexpected but incredible alchemy on silver screen , best shown during Creasy ’s fourth dimension coach Lupita to become a more positive natator , which was the key moment for their character to bond . Their chemistry definitely makes Creasy ’s grim effort to deliver Lupita in full believable .

8Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe in The Nice Guys

The Nice Guysis a sidekick military action clowning motion picture directed by Shane Black . put in 1977 , it follows private eye Holland March ( Ryan Gosling ) and enforcer for hire Jackson Healy ( Russell Crowe ) as they team up to investigate the disappearance of a teenage girl . While Ryan Gosling is n’t a comedy actor , he has usher great comedic talent with a unique sense of liquid body substance , and Russel Crowe is well know for his dramatic roles . The Nice Guysproved that Gosling and Crowe ’s comedic styles go perfectly together , and their chemistry was such that their exchanges felt natural , making their interactions funnier and more pleasurable , and turningThe Nice Guysinto one of the best comedy in recent long time .

7Joe Pesci and Marisa Tomei in My Cousin Vinny

My Cousin Vinnyis a comedy movie directed by Jonathan Lynn . When two young New Yorkers are arrested in Alabama , put on trial for a law-breaking they did n’t commit , and unable to afford a lawyer , they are defended by the cousin-german of one of them : Vinny Gambini ( Joe Pesci ) , who arrives with his fiancée , Mona Lisa Vito ( Marisa Tomei ) . Although Pesci and Tomei seem like an uneven couple ( and even their characters do ) , they are primal inMy Cousin Vinny ’s comedy , and their interactions bring some residual amidst the topsy-turvydom make by Vinny ’s want of experience as a attorney . amazingly , Tomei ’s charisma and Pesci ’s strong presence were a corking combination .

6Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson in The Lighthouse

The Lighthouseis a psychological thriller directed by Robert Eggers . It follows Ephraim Winslow ( Robert Pattinson ) and Thomas Wake ( Willem Dafoe ) , two 19th - century lighthouse steward on an set-apart island off the coast of New England . As day pass , Ephraim is haunt by strange and mysterious sight that put him and Thomas in peril . Dafoe and Pattinson brought tension to the screen door as Thomas was very demanding with Ephraim and the latter was bug out to drop off his sanity , but also a mountain of camaraderie , as seen when they pass a nighttime produce drunk and dancing around .

5Kate Winslet and Jim Carrey In Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mindis a amatory sci - fi play movie directed by Michel Gondry . It follows Joel Barish ( Jim Carrey ) and Clementine Kruczynski ( Kate Winslet ) , who separately undergo a procedure to delete each other from their memories after their complicated human relationship comes to an end . Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mindis one of Carrey ’s best spectacular roles , surprising the consultation as he ’s best experience for his physical comedy . Winslet , while lie with for dramatic roles , plays a complex character that is both wanton and hard to love , while Carrey bring vulnerability not often seen in his part . Together , they brought a beautiful and relatable portrayal of how complex romantic kinship are .

4Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro in Meet The Parents

Meet the Parentsis a clowning movie directed by Jay Roach . It tells a serial of unfortunate events that follow Greg Focker ( Ben Stiller ) while confab his girlfriend ’s parents , Jack ( Robert De Niro ) and Dina Byrnes ( Blythe Danner).Meet the Parentshas an unexpected duo of a clowning thespian ( Stiller ) and a more serious actor ( De Niro ) who is get laid and praise for his role in the ganger and offence genres – and yet , their comedic chemistry and timing were on point in time throughout the whole movie . The interpersonal chemistry between De Niro and Stiller was key inMeet the Parents ’ success , making way for two sequels : Meet the FockersandLittle Fockers .

3Robin Williams and Nathan Lane in The Birdcage

The Birdcageis a comedy movie directed by Mike Nichols and the English - language remake of the 1978 Franco - Italian movieLa Cage aux Folles . The Birdcageis the story of Armand Goldman ( Robin Williams ) and his partner Albert ( Nathan Lane ) , as they prepare to conform to the family of Armand ’s Logos ’s fiancée – the problem is , her founding father is an radical - conservative Republican Senator . Armand is more serious and in ascendency while Albert is more sensitive and force by his emotions , which makes way for some funniness gems throughout the whole picture show . Surely , both Robin Williams and Nathan Lane were masters of comedy , but in addition to their comedic chemistry on screen , they bring a lot of bouquet to their dynamic .

2Anjelica Huston and Raul Julia in The Addams Family

The Addams Familyis a black comedy movie directed by Barry Sonnenfeld and based on the cartoons by Charles Addams and the 1964 television set series of the same name . The Addams Familyfocuses on the title character , a outlandish , gentle , macabre family led by Gomez ( Raul Julia ) and Morticia Addams ( Anjelica Huston ) . Morticia and Gomez are one of the most democratic and beloved pair in fable , and their unique dynamic want an equally unique do duo – and Anjelica Huston and Raul Julia were a amazingly good cast decision . WhileThe Addams Family ’s story and dialog might not be the best , Huston and Julia brought passion to every scene they had together .

1John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson in Pulp Fiction

flesh Fictionis a crime movie written and directed by Quentin Tarantino . form by four segment arranged out of decree , Pulp Fictionintroduces two gunslinger – Vincent Vega ( John Travolta ) and Jules Winnfield ( Samuel L. Jackson ) – as they deal with different challenges over the class of one chaotic day . Travolta and Jackson have very different acting styles , but they brought the best out of each other inPulp Fiction , which in turn made the moral force between Vincent and Jules fun and credible , even though they had very different views on fairly much anything .

John Travolta ( known for his work in musical theater in the 1970s ) and Samuel L. Jackson ( known for his use in Spike Lee picture show ) together as the mainacting duoin a movie surely seemed like a strange estimate back in the 1990s , and their on - cover chemistry was a real surprise .

Pulp Fiction Movie Poster

Robin Williams in The Birdcage Kate Winslet in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Ryan Gisling

Robert Downey Jr and Val Kilmer with guns in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

Dakota Fanning handing Denzel Washington a flower in the Man on Fire movie

Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe peek around a corner in The Nice Guys

Joe Pesci and Marisa Tomei in court in My Cousin Vinny

Thomas and Ephraim outside the lighthouse in The Lighthouse 2019.

Clementine holds a coffee cup and looks sad while Joel lies down and sleeps in bed in bed Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Ben Stiller Greg takes a lie-detector test from Robert De Niro in Meet the Parents

Robin Williams and Nathan Lane sitting on a bench in The Birdcage

Gomez and Morticia sitting next to each other in The Addams Family

Vincent and Jules outside an apartment in Pulp Fiction

Pulp Fiction

The Nice Guys