Movies are often a source of escapism for audiences, transporting them into new worlds and allowing them to live vicariously through the characters on screen. One of the most popular genres in cinema is romance, as viewers relish the thrill of watching two characters fall in love amidst an enchanting backdrop. However, there are times when these romances can feel less than genuine, leaving audiences feeling underwhelmed and disappointed. We’ll take a closer look at movie romances that felt totally forced, exploring why these pairings fell flat and failed to capture viewers’ hearts.
Updated on August 18, 2023, by Rafa Boladeras: This article has been updated with additional content to keep the discussion fresh and relevant with even more information and new entries.
15 Andy and Nate
The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
Andy’s (Anne Hathaway) and Nate’s (Adrian Grenier) relationship doesn’t work at all in The Devil Wears Prada. At the start of the film, they might look cute together, but as the film moves on, it gets more evident how bad of a fit they’re together. She might have a very demanding job, but he’s very needy and doesn’t care that much about it, as he only wants her to be with him and say how good he is the whole time.
He even uses the “you’ve changed” card because he has gotten a massive work opportunity going to Paris for work, and not staying by his side. What’s even more surprising in this misunderstood modern classic is that they rekindle their relationship at the end, as if everything Nate said and did was okay. Even worse, it’s going to be in a long-distance relationship, as he has gotten a job in Boston, and she’s working in New York. Andy deserved better than this immature sous’ chef.
14 Jim Preston and Aurora Lane
Passengers (2016)
In Passengers, Jim Preston (Chris Pratt) is woken up before time from his hibernation in a spaceship going to a new universe. He’s alone and mesmerized by another passenger named Aurora (Jennifer Lawrence), so he wakes her up, although he knows she’ll never be able to get back to hibernation. So basically, Jim is the most selfish man ever, as he just decided to impose his will on this woman he’s attracted to, even if that means she’ll never arrive at her original destination.
As the two spend time together, they fall in love and Jim eventually tells her what he did, creating a rift between them. In the end, she decides to stay with him even if she could return to hibernation. The movie sells this decision as true love when it’s probably much more a Stockholm Syndrome case dressed as love, as they don’t have that much in common and their love for each other starts with an incredible big lie.
13 Steve Rogers and Sharon Carter
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
Motion Pictures
Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) is an old-school guy (literary, and metaphorically), that’s why he’s still carrying a torch in the present for his old flame Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell), when she’s an old, Alzheimer-bound woman. Sharon Carter (Emily VanCamp) is a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent posing as a nurse in his building that flirts with him. In Captain America: The Winter Soldier they cross paths again at Peggy’s funeral, when it’s known that Sharon is her niece.
Kissing and dating the niece of the love of your life should already be a strange thing for Steve (or anyone), but things get even weirder when at the end of Avengers: Endgame he decides to go back in time and stay with Peggy, so he’s probably known Sharon since she was a baby. The relationship was born in the comics, but this might be one of those times when Sharon could’ve been any other beautiful skilled S.H.I.E.L.D. agent and things would’ve been less awkward at the Thanksgiving dinner.
12 Padmé Amidala and Anakin Skywalker
Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002)
The relationship between Padmé Amidala and Anakin Skywalker in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, specifically in Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, has been criticized by many viewers as being forced and unconvincing. The two stand-out reasons appear to be a lack of chemistry and poor writing. Many viewers felt that the actors who played Padmé (Natalie Portman) and Anakin (Hayden Christensen) did not have convincing chemistry on screen. Some viewers found their interactions awkward and stilted; others thought their romantic scenes lacked passion and sincerity.
More so, the script for the prequel trilogy has been widely criticized for its clunky dialogue and weak characterization. Some critics felt that the relationship between Padmé and Anakin was poorly written, with little development or explanation for why they were attracted to each other. Some of the dialogue between the two characters was also criticized for being overly dramatic and unrealistic, which may have made it harder for viewers to take the relationship seriously.
11 Rey and Kylo Ren
Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
The relationship between Rey (Daisy Ridley) and Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) during the whole new Star Wars trilogy, and especially Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker doesn’t make any sense at all. The fact that they kiss in that film is so unnecessary and strange that people are still wondering what happened in the J.J. Abrams film, and trying to fix it.
Rey and Kylo share a connection with the force, as both are two parts of balancing it, one light, the other dark, and that’s great, but there’s no need for a romantic connection. Fans were so flummoxed at the decision that Disney has tried to justify it as a “gratitude kiss” or a “kind of sibling kiss” (like Luke and Leia in the first Star Wars film), but that makes even less sense. Sometimes in a galaxy far, far away, strange romantic decisions are made.
10 Owen Grady and Claire Dearing
Jurassic World (2015)
The relationship between Owen Grady and Claire Dearing in the film Jurassic World has also been criticized. In fact, fans and critics had a lot to say. Like Padmé and Anakin’s relationship, there was no chemistry between the actors who played Owen (Chris Pratt) and Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard). Additionally, Some viewers felt that the relationship was poorly developed, with little explanation or build-up to their attraction.
Their sudden interest in each other felt contrived and unearned, which made it hard for viewers to connect with the relationship. Their relationship was actually seen as a subplot that was unnecessary and distracting, taking away from the larger, more exciting story of the dinosaurs and the park. Some viewers even felt that the romance was inconsistent with the rest of the rest of the Jurassic Park franchise. The previous films had focused on the dinosaurs and the dangers they posed rather than on romantic relationships between human characters. This sudden shift in focus felt jarring and out of place.
9 Bruce Banner/Hulk and Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow
Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
Three key issues stood out among critics and viewers about the relationship between Bruce Banner/Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) and Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) relationship in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. First, the relevance of their relationship was questioned. Some viewers felt that the relationship was unnecessary and irrelevant to the larger story of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Instead of adding depth to the story, the romance felt like a cheap and unconvincing way to add an extra layer of drama. Secondly, there were concerns about inconsistency.
In previous films, both characters were shown to be complex and independent, and their sudden attraction to each other felt out of character and forced. Perhaps the most agreed-on concern was the timing of Banner and Natasha’s romance. It was introduced in Avengers: Age of Ultron, which had a lot of plot and character development packed into a single film. Some viewers felt that the romance was introduced too hastily and without enough time to develop, which may have contributed to the feeling that it was forced.
8 Amsterdam Vallon and Jenny Everdeane
Gangs of New York (2002)
In the 2002 Martin Scorsese film Gangs of New York, the characters Amsterdam Vallon (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Jenny Everdeane (Cameron Diaz) are central to the plot. Amsterdam is a young man seeking revenge against Bill the Butcher, a powerful gang leader who killed his father years earlier. Jenny is a pickpocket and a member of Bill’s gang, who becomes Amsterdam’s love interest. Despite the prominence of their relationship, many critics and audiences felt that their romance was forced and lacked authenticity. While both are talented performers, their performances in Gangs of New York were not their most potent.
Some critics felt that their acting was wooden and lacked the emotional depth required to sell their characters’ connection. Additionally, the film takes place in a historical setting, focusing on the rival gangs of New York City in the mid-1800s. Some viewers felt that the romance between Amsterdam Vallon and Jenny Everdeane felt out of place in the gritty and violent world and that the characters’ motivations for being attracted to each other were not well established.
7 Arthur Curry/Aquaman and Mera
Aquaman (2018)
Arthur Curry, also known as Aquaman, and Mera’s relationship was a significant part of the 2018 blockbuster hit Aquaman. However, despite the on-screen chemistry between the two characters, many critics and audiences felt that their relationship was forced. Aquaman was a fast-paced action-adventure movie, and the romance between Arthur and Mera may have felt like an unnecessary distraction from the film’s central storyline.
Some viewers felt the movie would have been just as good without the romance between the two characters. Moreover, the film’s reliance on tired romantic tropes, such as the “opposites attract” dynamic between Arthur and Mera, may have also contributed to the feeling that their relationship was forced. Although the trope can work well in some films, in Aquaman, it may have felt overused and predictable.
6 Sersi and Ikaris
Eternals (2021)
While Sersi and Ikaris’ relationship was essential to Eternals, some viewers and critics felt it was forced. One reason why the relationship may have felt forced was the limited screen time for both characters. Eternals had a large ensemble cast, and Sersi and Ikaris were not given enough time to develop their characters fully. This lack of character development may have made it challenging for audiences to connect with them and believe in their relationship. Their relationship was also not well established.
The movie did not explain how or why the two characters fell in love. This lack of explanation made it emotionally challenging for audiences to invest in the relationship. Moreover, the relationship may have felt forced because it was not true to the character’s comic book history. In the comics, Sersi and Ikaris have a tumultuous and complicated relationship that is not fully explored in the movie. This lack of adherence to the source material may have disappointed comics fans and made the relationship feel contrived.
5 Thor and Jane Foster
Thor (2011)
The relationship between Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) has been a topic of much debate among critics and viewers of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). While some fans find the relationship romantic and exciting, others believe it is forced and lacks chemistry.
In Thor, the God of Thunder is banished to Earth and meets Jane Foster, a scientist studying anomalies in the desert. From the start, it is clear that the two characters have an instant attraction to each other. However, their relationship is never given the time to develop naturally. This sudden attraction seemed to come out of nowhere and lacked depth, making it difficult for viewers to connect with the characters on an emotional level.
4 Michael Corleone and Kay
The Godfather (1972)
When The Godfather starts, Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) has just come back from the war and has a girlfriend named Kay (Diane Keaton). They’re in love until he has to start taking care of the family business, killing Sollozo and McCluskey and going to hide in Sicily. Here’s where the relationship between them should’ve ended forever, as he fell in love with a sixteen-year-old local girl (some things in the film haven’t aged that well), named Apollonia and marries her. Things between them don’t end because Michael is still in love with Kay no, it’s because she’s killed in a car bomb intended for him.
Michael then decides to go back to America, take care of his family, and rekindle his love story with Kay, after two years of not knowing anything of each other. It’s still surprising that she takes him back, and they marry. This doesn’t make sense at all. It’s no surprise that they make each other unhappy for the rest of the trilogy, even if they have two kids together, as the foundation of their relationship amounts to “she took him back after two years without contact because… reasons”.
3 James Bond and Dr. Madeleine Swann
No Time to Die (2021)
No Time to Die was one of the most anticipated movies of 2021. It marked the end of Daniel Craig’s tenure as Bond and brought back fan-favorite Léa Seydoux as Madeleine Swann. However, despite the hype surrounding the movie, many critics and viewers felt that the relationship between Craig’s Bond and Seydoux’s Swann was forced and lacked chemistry.
Madeleine Swann was introduced in the previous Bond movie, Spectre (2015), as a love interest for Bond. However, their romance in that movie was rushed and underdeveloped. In No Time to Die, the filmmakers attempted to expand on their relationship, but it felt forced and contrived. The film opened with Bond and Swann in a seemingly happy relationship, but it was quickly revealed that they had grown apart and were no longer together. This sudden shift in their relationship was jarring and left many viewers feeling disconnected from their characters.
2 Kili and Tauriel
The Hobbit Film Trilogy
The Hobbit film trilogy, directed by Peter Jackson, introduced a new character named Tauriel, played by Evangeline Lilly. Tauriel was not present in the original novel but was added to the movies to add a female character to the predominantly male cast. Tauriel’s relationship with Kili, one of the dwarves in Thorin’s company, was a major plot point in the second and third movies. However, many critics and audiences felt their romance was forced and lacked authenticity.
Tauriel was created to add a love interest for one of the dwarves, and Kili was the lucky recipient of her affection. Their romance felt like a plot device rather than a natural progression of their characters. It was as if the filmmakers felt obligated to add a romantic element to the story and simply chose two characters to fit the bill. Additionally, their relationship lacked depth and nuance. There was no actual development of their characters or their relationship. They meet, flirt, fall in love, and that’s about it. There was no real exploration of their feelings or motivations, making it difficult for viewers to invest emotionally in their relationship.
1 Mark Bellison and Anna McDoogles
The Invention of Lying (2009)
The Invention of Lying, set in a world where lying does not exist, follows the story of Mark, a struggling writer who suddenly discovers the ability to lie and uses it to advance his personal and professional life. Mark and Anna’s relationship is a central part of the movie and is introduced as a potential romantic connection from the very beginning. However, viewers have often felt that their relationship was forced and lacked depth. Their interactions are often awkward throughout the movie, with little indication of genuine attraction or romantic interest.
Additionally, the characters are not given enough time to develop their relationship, with the movie’s focus on Mark’s personal and professional growth taking precedence over his romantic pursuits. The movie’s premise, where lying is impossible, means that characters are often blunt and straightforward in their communication, leaving little room for nuance or subtext. As a result, Mark and Anna’s conversations often feel superficial and lacking in the emotional complexity necessary for a convincing romantic relationship.
