19 Worst Movie Kisses Ever Filmed (You’ll Cringe All Over Again)

19 Worst Movie Kisses Ever Filmed (You’ll Cringe All Over Again)

Movie kisses are supposed to make us swoon, not squirm. But sometimes, even the biggest stars can’t pull off a believable smooch.

Whether it’s zero chemistry, awkward angles, or just plain bad timing, these 20 kisses made audiences cringe instead of cry tears of joy.

1. Tobey Maguire & Kirsten Dunst – Spider-Man (Upside-Down Kiss)

Everyone remembers this moment as one of cinema’s most romantic scenes. Behind the glamour, though, Tobey Maguire was literally suffocating. Rainwater kept pouring into his nostrils through the mask, and he could barely breathe between takes.

Kirsten Dunst later admitted the kiss was pretty gross. The mask was soaked and muddy, and she had to peel it back awkwardly. What looked magical on screen was actually a battle against drowning and discomfort.

Sure, it became iconic, but knowing the truth makes it hard to watch without wincing. Sometimes movie magic requires real suffering. This kiss proves that what works visually doesn’t always feel good for the actors involved. Romance and near-death experiences shouldn’t mix, but here they absolutely did in the most uncomfortable way possible.

2. Jennifer Lawrence & Bradley Cooper – Silver Linings Playbook

Both actors are incredibly talented and brought emotional depth to their roles. Yet when it came time to lock lips, something just didn’t click. The spark that should have been there felt forced and mechanical instead of natural.

Chemistry can’t be manufactured, even with Oscar-worthy performances surrounding it. Their kiss felt like two people going through the motions rather than two characters falling in love. Audiences noticed the disconnect immediately, and it became a talking point after the film’s release.

Sometimes great acting can’t compensate for missing romantic energy. The rest of the movie worked beautifully, but that kiss landed flat. It’s proof that even A-list stars can struggle with intimate scenes. You can’t fake genuine attraction, no matter how skilled you are at your craft or how well-written the script happens to be.

3. Mariah Carey & Max Beesley – Glitter

Glitter became infamous for all the wrong reasons when it hit theaters. Critics tore it apart, and audiences stayed away in droves. Among the many issues, the romantic scenes between Mariah and Max felt particularly uncomfortable to watch unfold.

The chemistry was nonexistent, making every kiss feel staged and awkward. Mariah is a legendary singer, but acting—especially romantic acting—proved to be a different challenge entirely. Max tried his best, but you can’t create sparks where none exist naturally.

Every intimate moment in this film feels forced and painfully scripted. The kisses lack any genuine emotion or believable passion. When a movie struggles overall, the romantic moments often suffer the most. This kiss is a perfect example of how everything can go wrong when the foundation isn’t solid from the start of production.

4. Keira Knightley & Orlando Bloom – Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest

Keira and Johnny Depp crackled with energy whenever they shared the screen. But with Orlando Bloom, her supposed love interest, the romantic spark was completely missing. Their kiss felt obligatory rather than passionate or emotionally charged in any meaningful way.

Orlando is charming, and Keira is talented, but together they generated zero heat. The audience was supposed to root for their relationship, but the lack of chemistry made it difficult. Every romantic moment felt rehearsed and lifeless compared to the electric energy elsewhere in the film.

Sometimes co-stars just don’t connect romantically, no matter how hard they try. This kiss is a textbook example of mismatched energy. Fans noticed immediately and preferred Keira’s scenes with literally anyone else. When your supporting characters have more spark than the main couple, something went seriously wrong during casting or direction of those intimate scenes throughout production.

5. Angelina Jolie & Johnny Depp – The Tourist

Two of Hollywood’s most attractive people should create fireworks together, right? Wrong. Their kiss felt like watching two beautiful mannequins pressed together without any real emotion or connection. The chemistry was completely absent despite their star power and good looks.

Critics compared their dynamic to coworkers forced into an awkward corporate team-building exercise. Every romantic moment felt stiff and uncomfortable. Johnny and Angelina are both incredibly talented, but together they somehow cancelled each other out instead of amplifying their appeal.

The film struggled overall, and the lack of romantic chemistry didn’t help matters at all. Their kiss became a symbol of everything wrong with the movie. Sometimes casting directors assume beauty equals chemistry, but this film proved that assumption spectacularly wrong.

You need genuine connection, not just gorgeous faces, to make audiences believe in on-screen romance and feel invested in the characters’ relationship.

6. Halle Berry & Billy Bob Thornton – Monster’s Ball

Monster’s Ball is a raw, emotional film that doesn’t shy away from difficult scenes. The kiss between Halle and Billy Bob is intensely uncomfortable, though perhaps intentionally so. Still, viewers found it more disturbing than emotionally moving or romantically compelling in context.

The entire sequence feels invasive rather than intimate. While both actors committed fully to their roles, the kiss itself crosses into territory that makes audiences squirm. It’s meant to show desperation and connection, but instead it just feels wrong and unsettling.

Sometimes directors push boundaries too far in pursuit of realism. This kiss is technically well-acted but emotionally exhausting to watch. The discomfort overshadows any romantic or emotional intent.

While the film won Halle an Oscar, this particular moment remains one that viewers remember for all the wrong reasons. Art can be uncomfortable, but this scene pushes past meaningful discomfort into something genuinely hard to witness without cringing throughout.

7. Sylvester Stallone & Sharon Stone – The Specialist

Action stars don’t always translate well to romantic scenes, and this kiss proves it painfully. Sly and Sharon had absolutely zero chemistry, and their kiss dragged on forever. It felt more like a business transaction than a moment of passion or genuine romantic connection.

The length of the kiss made everything worse. What might have been forgiven as a brief awkward moment instead became an endurance test for viewers. You could practically see them counting seconds until they could finally pull apart and move on to the next scene.

Sharon is known for her sensuality, and Sly for his action hero presence. Together, though, they created nothing but discomfort. The kiss looked rehearsed and mechanical, lacking any spontaneity or genuine emotion.

When a romantic moment feels like watching two people negotiate a contract, something has gone terribly wrong. This remains one of the most uncomfortably long and chemistry-free kisses in action movie history without question.

8. Julia Roberts & Nick Nolte – I Love Trouble

Behind the scenes, Julia and Nick reportedly couldn’t stand each other during filming. That real-life tension bled onto the screen in the worst possible way. Their kiss was as cold and hostile as their off-screen relationship, making it painfully obvious they wanted nothing to do with each other.

Romantic comedies need charm and warmth to succeed. This one had neither, thanks to the leads’ mutual dislike. Every intimate moment felt forced and icy. Audiences could sense the animosity, and it killed any chance of believing in their characters’ romance.

Sometimes actors can fake chemistry professionally despite personal differences. Julia and Nick couldn’t or wouldn’t. Their kiss remains one of the most notoriously uncomfortable in rom-com history.

When real-life feuds invade fictional romance, everybody loses. This film serves as a cautionary tale about casting actors who genuinely can’t work together harmoniously, no matter how talented they might be individually in other projects.

9. Robert Pattinson & Kristen Stewart – Twilight

Twilight fans may disagree, but objectively, their kisses were stiff and awkward throughout the series. The vampire-human tension was supposed to create electric chemistry, but instead it just looked hesitant and uncomfortable. Every kiss felt tentative rather than passionate or emotionally charged.

Robert seemed perpetually unsure, and Kristen’s signature nervousness didn’t help matters. Their real-life relationship added another layer of weirdness to watching their on-screen romance unfold. Fans defended it as “vampire restraint,” but it mostly just looked like two people who didn’t know how to kiss convincingly.

The franchise made billions despite the awkward intimacy. Still, their kisses remain a frequent target of criticism and parody. When your romantic leads generate more memes than genuine swooning, something didn’t work.

The story carried the films, but the physical chemistry left much to be desired. These kisses became iconic for being uncomfortably stiff rather than romantically memorable in any positive way whatsoever.

10. Angelina Jolie & James McAvoy – Wanted

Wanted delivered incredible action sequences and mind-bending stunts. The romantic chemistry, however, was nowhere to be found. When Angelina and James kissed, it felt confusing rather than passionate. Audiences weren’t sure if it was supposed to be romantic, strategic, or just plain awkward.

James seemed genuinely uncomfortable, and Angelina’s usual on-screen magnetism somehow disappeared. The kiss lacked context and emotional buildup, making it feel random and out of place. Instead of adding depth to their relationship, it just created more confusion about what their dynamic was supposed to be.

Action movies don’t always need romance, and this film proves it. The kiss added nothing and detracted from the momentum. Sometimes directors should trust the action to carry the story without forcing unnecessary romantic moments.

This kiss remains a prime example of when less would have been significantly more. The film would have been better without it, letting the thrilling plot stand on its own merits entirely.

11. Emma Watson & Rupert Grint – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

Fans waited years for Ron and Hermione to finally kiss. When it happened, it felt more like watching siblings forced to kiss at a family reunion. Emma and Rupert grew up together on set, and their sibling-like bond was impossible to hide during this moment.

Both actors admitted it was incredibly awkward to film. They love each other like family, which made the romantic kiss uncomfortable for everyone involved. The final result shows that discomfort clearly. While sweet in context, it’s also painfully awkward to watch unfold on screen.

Sometimes fictional romance doesn’t translate when the actors have a different real-life relationship. This kiss is endearing because we love the characters, but objectively it’s uncomfortable. The actors’ genuine affection as friends actually worked against the romantic moment.

Fans appreciated the story payoff even while cringing at the execution. It’s a perfect example of when knowing the behind-the-scenes reality makes watching the scene significantly more awkward than intended originally.

12. Ben Affleck & Jennifer Lopez – Gigli

Gigli is widely considered one of the worst films ever made. Every romantic moment is a disaster, and the kissing scenes are no exception to that unfortunate rule. Despite Ben and Jennifer dating in real life at the time, their on-screen chemistry was bizarrely nonexistent and uncomfortable.

The kisses felt forced and awkward, lacking any genuine passion or believability. Critics and audiences alike cringed through every romantic scene. Even their real-life relationship couldn’t save the terrible dialogue and stilted direction that plagued every intimate moment throughout the film.

Sometimes real-life couples have negative chemistry on screen, and Bennifer proved it spectacularly. The kiss became symbolic of everything wrong with the movie. It’s a cautionary tale about assuming real romance translates to fictional romance automatically.

This film nearly derailed both their careers. The kisses remain some of the most uncomfortable in cinema history, proving that off-screen relationships don’t guarantee on-screen magic whatsoever, regardless of star power or publicity.

13. Nicole Kidman & Tom Cruise – Eyes Wide Shut

Nicole and Tom were married in real life when they filmed this psychological drama. Ironically, their on-screen kisses felt cold and overly choreographed despite their actual relationship. Every intimate moment seemed rehearsed and emotionally distant rather than genuine or spontaneous in any way.

Stanley Kubrick’s meticulous directing style may have contributed to the stiffness. The kisses lack warmth and feel more like carefully staged performances than natural expressions of affection. Even knowing they were actually married, audiences couldn’t feel any real connection between them on screen.

Sometimes direction can strip away natural chemistry completely. This film proves that even real couples can look uncomfortable when forced into overly controlled intimate scenes. The kisses feel clinical rather than passionate.

It’s a strange example of how too much control and perfectionism can actually ruin romantic authenticity. Their real marriage couldn’t overcome the coldness that Kubrick’s vision imposed on every carefully calculated frame of this controversial and divisive film.

14. Jennifer Lopez & Alex O’Loughlin – The Back-Up Plan

This romantic comedy had all the right ingredients but somehow failed to deliver genuine chemistry. The kiss scenes between Jennifer and Alex felt strangely mechanical and stiff. What should have been sweet and romantic instead came across as two actors going through the motions without real connection.

Alex is charming, and Jennifer is a seasoned performer, but together they just didn’t click romantically. Every kiss looked rehearsed rather than spontaneous. The audience needs to believe in the romance for a rom-com to succeed, and these kisses made that belief impossible to maintain.

The film’s plot was cute enough, but the lack of physical chemistry killed the romantic momentum. When kisses feel like choreographed dance moves rather than genuine moments of passion, the entire movie suffers.

This remains a frustrating example of casting that looked good on paper but failed in execution. Sometimes actors just don’t connect romantically, no matter how hard they try or how well-suited they seem on the surface initially.

15. Madonna & Willem Dafoe – Body of Evidence

Body of Evidence tried desperately to be a steamy, provocative thriller. Instead, it became unintentionally hilarious, and the kiss between Madonna and Willem is a perfect example of why. What’s supposed to be seductive lands somewhere between unsettling and awkwardly funny instead.

Madonna’s acting limitations became painfully obvious in dramatic scenes. Willem tried his best, but even his talent couldn’t save the bizarre chemistry between them. The kiss feels forced and uncomfortable, lacking any genuine sensuality or believable passion that the scene desperately needed.

Critics savaged the film, and this kiss became a symbol of its failure. When aiming for sexy but landing on weird, you’ve missed the mark entirely. The scene is memorable only for how uncomfortable it makes viewers feel.

Some movies should never attempt erotic content, and this is definitely one of them. The kiss remains a cautionary example of misguided ambition and miscasting that no amount of dramatic lighting could possibly fix or salvage successfully.

16. Adam Sandler & Drew Barrymore – The Wedding Singer

Adam and Drew have wonderful chemistry overall, and their friendship shines throughout the film. Surprisingly, though, their actual kissing scenes are notoriously awkward and stilted. The warmth they share in every other scene somehow disappears when their lips actually meet on camera.

Both actors have admitted the kisses felt uncomfortable to film. Their genuine friendship apparently made the romantic physicality weird rather than natural. The kisses look forced and hesitant, breaking the spell of their otherwise charming dynamic that works perfectly in every other moment.

The movie succeeds despite the awkward kisses because everything else works beautifully. Their verbal chemistry and emotional connection carry the romance. Still, the physical kisses remain a weak point that fans notice and discuss.

It’s proof that great overall chemistry doesn’t automatically translate to great kissing scenes. Sometimes friends make better on-screen couples in every way except the actual physical intimacy, which can feel forced and uncomfortable despite genuine affection existing between them.

17. Ryan Gosling & Rachel McAdams – The Notebook (First Kiss)

Wait—The Notebook? Yes, but specifically the first kiss, not the iconic rain scene everyone remembers fondly. That initial kiss has clunky pacing and feels surprisingly unromantic despite the beautiful setting. The timing feels off, and the chemistry hadn’t quite developed yet between them.

Rachel seems uncertain, and Ryan appears to be rushing through it awkwardly. The famous rain kiss came later and redeemed everything, but this first attempt is genuinely uncomfortable. The angle is weird, the rhythm is off, and it lacks the passion that defines their later scenes together.

Even great on-screen couples have awkward moments, and this is theirs. Thankfully, they found their rhythm as filming progressed. This kiss proves that chemistry can develop over time and isn’t always instant.

Their later kisses are legendary, but this first one deserves acknowledgment for being surprisingly awkward. It’s a reminder that even the most iconic screen couples sometimes need time to find their groove and develop the magic that makes audiences swoon.

18. Zac Efron & Taylor Schilling – The Lucky One

The Lucky One is a romantic drama that desperately needed romantic spark. Unfortunately, Zac and Taylor generated absolutely zero chemistry together. Their kisses felt obligatory and completely devoid of passion or genuine emotion that could have saved the lackluster script and direction.

Zac is undeniably charismatic, and Taylor is talented, but together they created nothing but awkwardness. Every kiss looked rehearsed and uncomfortable. The audience needs to feel the romance in a romantic drama, and these two made that impossible despite their individual talents.

The film flopped partly because the central relationship felt so hollow and unconvincing. When your leads can’t sell the romance, the entire movie crumbles. Their kisses became a symbol of everything wrong with the adaptation.

Chemistry can’t be forced or manufactured through good looks alone. This film proves that casting attractive actors isn’t enough—they actually need to connect romantically on screen. The kisses remain some of the most disappointingly flat in recent romantic drama history unfortunately.

19. Jennifer Aniston & Jason Bateman – The Switch

Jennifer and Jason are both incredibly charming individually and have great comedic timing. Together romantically, though, they feel more like old friends awkwardly trying too hard to create something that isn’t naturally there. Their kisses look forced and uncomfortable rather than sweet or passionate.

The problem is they have friend energy, not romantic energy. Every kiss feels like watching two people who genuinely like each other but have zero romantic attraction. The discomfort is palpable, and it undermines the entire romantic premise of the film completely.

Rom-coms live or die on the romantic chemistry between leads. This one struggled because the kisses felt so wrong. Both actors tried their best, but sometimes casting just doesn’t work out romantically. They would have been perfect as best friends in a different movie.

As romantic leads, though, they created nothing but awkwardness. This film proves that likability and charm aren’t enough—you need genuine romantic spark to make audiences believe in love, not just friendship between appealing characters.