Moviegoers Pick Best and Worst On-Screen Couples

by Mark Hurley & Nora Murphy | Published February 12, 2009

Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling are moviegoers' favorite couple in The Notebook (2004).

Every Valentine’s Day, film fans tend to look to the screen to see couples that show what love is about, while looking sexy in the process. Fandango surveyed more than 2,000 fans to choose their favorite screen couples of the past 25 years. The results were not a surprise, with big box office films and former Sexiest Man Alive winners making the list.

Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams take the top spot with 14 percent of votes for their performance in the chick flick, The Notebook (New Line Platinum Series). (It’s too bad their romance ended off screen.) Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie literally falling in love in the sexy action flick Mr. & Mrs. Smith (Widescreen Edition) came in second place with 10 percent of votes.

Going back to films that were released more than ten years ago are Richard Gere and Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman (15th Anniversary Special Edition) (nine percent), followed by Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey in Dirty Dancing (six percent). Coming in fifth is the couple known for launching the biggest grossing film of all time: Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet in Titanic (five percent).

Rounding out the top 10 are Swayze (again) and Demi Moore in Ghost (Special Collector’s Edition), newcomers Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in Twilight, the late Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal in Brokeback Mountain, a second appearance by Pitt with Geena Davis in Thelma & Louise and, lastly, Johnny Depp and Juliette Binoche in Chocolat.

These fan favorite films with sexy leads are bound to be playing in DVD players nationwide this Saturday. (Unless, of course, you’re Jennifer Aniston.)

At the same time, in honor of those who are perfectly content with being single on February 14th, Fandango asked those same visitors to choose their least favorite film couples of the past 25 years. Fans had their choice of more than 60 mismatched or just plain unappealing on-screen couples, and were also given a chance to write in a couple that they felt had been overlooked.

Coming in at number one, with nine percent of the total votes, were Mike Myers and Jessica Alba from the 2008 flop The Love Guru (Single-Disc Edition), proving that nobody wants love advice from a heavily bearded Myers. At number two, Woody Allen makes his first appearance on the list for his pairing with Charlize Theron in The Love Guru (Single-Disc Edition). Allen also comes in at number seven with Julia Roberts from Everyone Says I Love You. (Perhaps Allen will take the hint from fans and start pairing himself with more age-appropriate partners in his movies, but who can blame him for coupling himself with two of the most beautiful women in Hollywood.)

Also making the list are Kevin James and Adam Sandler (I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry), Katherine Heigl and Seth Rogen (Knocked Up), Anne Heche and Harrison Ford (Six Days Seven Nights), Kate Winslet and Jack Black (The Holiday) and Nikki Blonsky and Zac Efron (Hairspray).

Jennifer Lopez tied Allen with two appearances on the list, one with Ralph Fiennes for Maid in Manhattan, the other with at-the-time-fiance Ben Affleck in Gigli, showing us that “Bennifer” was about as successful on-screen as off.

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COMMENTS | POST A COMMENT

Comment by Danny R on 5/23/09 at 8:17 am

This just shows that on-screen couples are only as good as the script allows them to be.
Provillus Hypavera

Comment by nanalaf on 5/26/09 at 10:33 pm

No I disagree with Danny R

Sometimes, people make the movie. The script could be really good, but two people could be a physical or a psychological mismatch and bring down a movie, while two people who would have an amazing compatibility could bring up an okay script.
Annie

Comment by denver criminal lawyer on 5/31/09 at 8:03 pm

On-screen chemistry usually appears more natural if there is some off-screen attraction towards each other. Hollywood movies are a best example of that.

Comment by Heartbeat Monitors on 6/16/09 at 9:35 pm

Often I find the individuals cast are directly related to the success of the film. In my opinion no script can make up for a lack of chemistry between the actor/actress

Comment by Mauro on 6/27/09 at 6:45 am

Generally individual cast are directly related to the success of the film… Marketing is too important and media too

Forex

Comment by las vegas golf vacations on 7/13/09 at 9:36 pm

Awww, I kind of thought Kevin James and Adam Sandler made a good couple.

Comment by All About Babies on 8/07/09 at 3:27 am

Congrats for Rachel and Ryan for being favorite couple in The Netbook.

Comment by Forex Automoney on 9/21/09 at 4:23 am

From my personal opinion, Rachel is one of the best when it comes to such scenes and she is number 1 on my list. Nice to be visiting your blog again, it has been months for me. Well this article that I’ve been waited for so long. I need this article to complete my assignment in the college, and it has same topic with your article. Thanks, great share.

Comment by أسواق وأعمال الخليج on 9/30/09 at 9:29 am