Romantic scenes are a common occurrence in popular Hollywood films. At specific moments during filming, actors and actresses are known for their ability to be guided by chemistry alone, leading to a spontaneous and special moment that ends up feeling more “real” to the viewer. Sometimes, these moments become iconic events, even though the kiss was done in the spur of the moment without much prior planning.
Naturally, there are also times when onscreen kisses have little effect on the audience, especially if the pair on screen are not believable as a couple to begin with. Making a great film requires a collective effort of the work of a large team of people, each of which having a specific role to ensure that the final product is something that will be palatable and enjoyable. As the following unrehearsed kisses suggest, often a pure moment of bliss not only amplifies the film, but gives audiences something to remember a long time after they’ve watched the film.
Spectacular Onscreen Kisses That Were Unrehearsed Or Unplanned
Top Gun (1986)
Top Gun is a well-known cult classic starring Tom Cruise (Maverick) and Kelly McGillis (Charlie) playing opposite each other in what was supposed to be a story that didn’t suggest any kind of spark between the pair. In the original script, the moment where Cruise surprises her with a kiss after she confesses she wants to keep her feelings for him a secret wasn’t even a part of the original story.
Top Gun
Improvising In The Moment
As it was initially written, the conversation was meant to bring their “romance” to a conclusion of sorts, although what ended up happening in filming changed the course of the movie forever. Forgetting his lines, Cruise decided to go in for a kiss rather than starting over from the beginning of the scene. The director loved the scene, hence why it ended up in the final edit later. We love happy mistakes like these, and what coincidence that it became one of the most iconic kisses in Hollywood.
Improvising In The Moment
Stranger Things (2017)
Season 2 of Stranger Things introduced a budding young romance in the form of Lucas and Max, played by Caleb McLaughlin and Sadie Sink. As the season 2 started drawing to a close, the pair shared a sweet kiss, solidifying their feelings for each other and giving audiences what they had been waiting for all season. This is the kind of romantic payoff that makes the exruciating tension all worth it. We loved seeing these two cuties go through the motions.
Stranger Things
The Story Behind The Kiss
While the original script did not call for a kiss between Caleb and Sadie, it was the showrunners who first suggested that they have a kiss. According to insiders, this stressed Sadie out quite a bit. The showrunners later suggested that she had known about the kiss all along, and that it wasn’t completely spontaneous. Later she recalled that while it made her uncomfortable at first, she didn’t feel pressured into doing it in the end.
The Story Behind The Kiss
Lost in Translation (2003)
Popular at its time of release, Lost in Translation tells the story of a washed up Hollywood star (played by Bill Murray) and his interactions with a young woman called Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson). Set in the illustrious Tokyo, the climax of the film leads to him bidding her farewell in a sweet moment that ended with a kiss. This was a slow-burn, offbeat kind of romantic film that focused more on human relationships than intimacy.
Lost In Translation
Scarlett Was In The Dark
As it turns out, Scarlett did not know that Murray was going to lean in for the kiss, especially as it wasn’t a part of the script to begin with. The peck became a sweet moment capping off the relationship the viewers had seen unfold onscreen, so director Sofia Coppola decided that she wanted to keep it in the final cut. Critics agree that Scarlett’s reaction made it even better!
Scarlett Was In The Dark
The Office (2005)
Known for its improvised scenes across all nine seasons, this popular US comedy featured an iconic kiss between two characters that ended up shocking viewers all over the world. The kiss between Michael Scott and Oscar Martinez, initiated by Scott to show he is a tolerant person and accepting of Martinez’ sexuality, drew in many laughs and gasps from audiences. This was a phenomenal moment for many in the LGBTQ+ community.
The Office
The Allied Embrace
According to Nunez, the scene was meant to conclude with an embrace. Scott Carrell later shared that he wanted to kiss his co-star on the lips to show the world he was an LGBT ally, especially as he realised this would be a big moment for a show that had millions of weekly viewers. When Nunez realised Carrell was going in for a kiss, he stayed in character, and the rest was comedy gold.
The Allied Embrace
Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
Tom Cruise is making our list for a second time today, thanks to the role of Major William Cage in Edge of Tomorrow. As the story goes, Cruise’s character was stuck in a time loop and had to experience the day before he dies in battle repeatedly. During the course of the story, he gets assistance from a special forces fighter called Rita Vrataski, portrayed by Emily Blunt. When you are facing death on a daily basis, you want to get some kind of break!
Edge Of Tomorrow
The Surprise From Emily
While history shows that the producers were keen on a kiss between the pair, they had a hard time placing a good moment and filming the right scene for where it may be appropriateThey didn’t have to do much planning. Emily Blunt is said to have taken the reins, planting a kiss on her co-star to his surprise and the astonishment of the crew. As it turned out, this added another layer to the film, and ended up being one of the more memorable moments of the picture altogether.
The Surprise From Emily
Game of Thrones (2011)
Game of Thrones has become a cult classic since it first hit our screens in 2011, and while season 7 might not rank as one of the best of the bunch, there were major twists that brought plenty of excitement along for the ride. One of the most memorable moments included a kiss between Ellaria Sand and Yara Greyjoy, played by Indira Varma and Gemma Whelan respectively. As it turns out, the kiss was completely unrehearsed!
Game Of Thrones
The Stunt Double Kiss
While written to showcase subtle flirting between the two, the chemistry between the characters escalated beyond that and the women decided to go with the moment. As it turned out, the scene was so powerful that Indira had to kiss a stunt double later too. The scene was a great precursor to the memorable fight against Euron Greyjoy, which fans often recall as a highlight of the season altogether. Good choice!
The Stunt Double Kiss
New Girl (2011)
As in The Office, Fox’s New Girl had a lot of improvisation between characters, and one kissing scene in particular was a bout of off-the-cuff improv that had producers gasping. While the characters in the show had many kisses among themselves and in their storylines, this particular kiss was between Nick (played by Jake Johnson) and Schmidt (Max Greenfield). The combination of quirky comedy and unusual relationships made this show something of a breakthrough hit.
New Girl
Not Their First Kiss
As Jake shared later, this wasn’t the first time the pair had locked lips, as Max had a knack for planting pecks on him during the course of filming all the seasons of the show. In the first season, one of these kisses ended up making the final edit. Learning that his best friend was facing a medical problem, Schmidt loses his nerve and ends up planting a wet one right on Nick’s mouth. While Jake wasn’t exactly a fan of the moment, he learned that he should be prepared for them in the future.
Not Their First Kiss
Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)
In one of its most epic scenes, Star Wars: The Last Jedi features a moment where Luke has to say goodbye to Leia Fisher. As Mark Hamil walks away, he plants a kiss on the forehead of Carrie Fisher in what is the most memorable part from the film. Mark later said that he did this as a genuine gesture of kindness and that he felt it was the right thing to do in the moment.
Star Wars The Last Jedi
Not Watching The Scene Back
Once it made the final cut, Mark admits that he struggled to watch the scene, especially as it was related to Luke bidding his beloved Leia goodbye forever. They had both played the characters for so long that the love story was ingrained in them in a way. As Carrie died prior to the release of the film, Mark admits that he never watches the scene back now, as it is too emotional, albeit that he will remember the moment for the rest of his life.
Not Watching The Scene Back
Teen Wolf (2011)
MTV could never have imagined how popular their teen paranormal series would get, but by the early 2010’s Teen Wolf had taken the world by storm. Dylan O’Brien plays a stereotypical geek called Stiles Stilinski in the series, with his storyline having a romantic arc with Lydia Martin, the character portrayed by actress Holland Roden. We loved his wolfish spirit and her tender and innocent attitude. It made their dynamic completely believable.
Teen Wolf
O’Brien Paved The Way
Television scripts often go through multiple rounds of rewrites, even while a specific episode is being filmed. As it turns out, a peck that Dylan placed on his costar’s cheek in the earlier seasons of the show (which was unscripted at the time) led to the showrunners changing tack and working a romantic interest into the foray for the pair. Fans could not get enough of that sweet moment, which eventually became a focal point of the series itself.
OBrien Paved The Way
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 (2015)
While fans of the series will likely remember some of Katniss’ kisses more than the one on our list, if you paid attention to the kiss between Effie Trinket and Haymitch Abernathy you may like to know that it was never part of the plan for it to happen! Woody Harrelson planted the kiss in a somewhat impromptu fashion, surprising his costar in doing so. With a film series as intense as this one, these moments of tender brevity are sorely needed.
The Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 2
The Secret Crush
Even while shooting the film, Woody was outspoken about the fact that he had a slight crush on Elizabeth to begin with. The kiss was apparently done in a bid to make his dreams come true. The kiss ended up working so well, that the director kept it in the final cut, and the rest is cinematic history. Well, we can all say that we all saw this one coming.
The Secret Crush
Jurassic World (2015)
Jurassic World was an epic blockbuster that broke records at the box office around the world. The love connection between Owen Grady and Claire Dearing was a memorable one, in part because Dearing was meant to be a frigid character focused primarily on her work. While the script did not call for a kiss between Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard, it was orchestrated ahead of time without telling Bryce, in order to get the most natural reaction out of her.
Jurassic World
While 200 People Were Watching
A crew of 200 stood by on the last day of filming, ready to see the moment where Chris kissed Bryce, and to see if it would go down without a hitch. The surprise kiss ended up being a very tender moment, and showed a new side to the vulnerable relationship created by the storyline in the film. The kiss made the final cut, and now everyone gets to see this moment etched in cinematic history.
While 200 People Were Watching
Room with a View (1985)
Year before Helena Bonham Carter played Bellatrix LeStrange in Harry Potter, she starred in Room with a View alongside Julian Sands. In the film, her portrayal of Lucy Honeychurch got raving reviews, and in one scene, talking to her friend George, they share an intimate and tender kiss. This was one of the most impactful moments in the 80s romantic drama experience overall. Carter made many incredible romance dramas before becoming the edgy actress that she is known as today.
Room With A View
Nothing Less Than Awkward
As was the case with many improvised kisses on the list, the moment does have a slight awkwardness to it. For Helena, at the age of only 18, this was an entirely new experience. While she was surprised to find out it had been planned beforehand, she rolled with the moment, and in the end the result was cinematic gold. Kudos to her, we do not know if we could have gone with the suddenness of this smooch!
Nothing Less Than Awkward
ER (1994)
Before Grey’s Anatomy dominated the medical TV airwaves, ER was the show of the moment, featuring many interesting twists and turns and having a couple of love stories of their own to share. Giving George Clooney a platform to launch his career, his portrayal of Doug Ross landed him the attention of many admirers around the world. His love story with Carol Hathaway (played by Juliana Marguilies) was well supported by fans of the series, even after he left the show for greener pastures in Hollywood.
ER
The Triumphant Return
The show ran for a spectacular amount of seasons, and as the years wore on, the actress also decided that she was going to leave the series. In her final scenes, the writers were keen on getting George back for that ever elusive kiss between the characters. While fans were waiting for the moment for years, some recalled it being a surreal moment, and the perfect way to close this story arc with a happy ending.
The Triumphant Return
The Good Wife (2009)
Julia Margulies gave the world another surprise smooch that got tails wagging, in the form of her role as the lead in the 2009 series The Good Wife. Her character ends up working for her old flame from law school, and throughout the series, many fans hoped for a kiss between the pair, who had electrifying chemistry on air. Well, she really did end up becoming “The Good Wife” after all!
The Good Wife
Years Later It Finally Happened
It took more than 2 years for the moment to happen, and the sexual tension between the pair broke in a steamy kiss that everyone was waiting to see. Their passionate kiss in the elevator happened during the finale of season two, providing a big surprise to fans of the show, and leaving them with a lot to talk about before the series returned from hiatus for season 3, thankfully.
Years Later It Finally Happened
Orange Is The New Black (2013)
Perhaps the show that put Netflix originals on the map, Orange Is The New Black saw a wonderful run for the network, and introduced the streaming service to fans from around the world. Telling the story of Piper Chapman (played by Taylor Schilling), the series follows her entering prison and actually viewers finding out that she wound up there in the first place thanks to the wheeling and dealing of her ex, Alex (Laura Prepon).
Orange Is The New Black
The Kiss Everyone Was Holding Out For
While their in-prison relationship was naturally tumultuous, there was a moment in the series where the pair shared a steam kiss in a chapel of all places. While fans appreciated the moment, and the very impromptu kiss, as it turns out people were no longer as keen to see the pair end up together. The kiss was well received, albeit shocking to many viewers. What a powerful show, with such a phenomenal ending.
The Kiss Everyone Was Holding Out For
Cheers (1982)
Cheers is one of the most notable TV shows of the 80’s, and in the show characters Diane and Sam had somewhat of a bitter relationship. Known for being at odds, showrunners quickly noted that there was chemistry between Ted Danson and Shelley Long underneath all the sarcastic comments. Fans eventually caught on to the idea as well, and soon the writers were making plans to set up a big kiss between the pair that nobody would see coming.
Cheers
Out of the Blue
As season one come to an ending, the pair was having a massive argument, and it was safe to say that reconciliation would not be taking place anytime soon. Out of the blue, the two locked lips and shared one of the most memorable and spectacular kisses in the history of television. It was completely unexpected and it ended up being a fan favorite moment for many years to come.
Out Of The Blue
Gilmore Girls (2000)
While viewers of the chic drama Gilmore Girls had their eyes on the love conquests of the young Rory, mom Lorelai also had her fair share of romantic ups and downs, most notably with long-time friend Luke. Best friends from the start of the series, stars Scott Patterson and Lauren Graham had undeniable chemistry and their spark grew as the series was unfolding. We absolutely loved how adorable these two were together.
Gilmore Girls
No Forgetting The First Kiss
It would be a couple of seasons before the pair finally locked lips, in the finale of season 4 nevertheless, and fans were thrilled that it had finally happened. Lorelai and Luke had such a passionate kiss that was so out of the blue, that few viewers actually saw it coming. While their relationship was tumultuous, there can be no denying that their first kiss was unforgettable, to the crew, fans and the participants themselves.
No Forgetting The First Kiss
The X-Files (1993)
Fox and Scully are two of the most loved characters in 90’s TV history. The pair would investigate supernatural phenomena together each week, while also siphoning off some sexual tension between them whenever possible. Fans were keen to see a romance develop and while the chemistry between David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson was undeniable, the creator of the show was adamant that a romance would spoil what was already a great series with strong characters.
The X Files
The Surprise Kiss
Viewers knew how the show creator felt about the idea of a romance between the two leads, so when a surprise kiss happened in the seventh season, tongues were wagging. The kiss took place in an alternate reality, so it didn’t mess with any ideas about the actual storyline at first, but it was so memorable that eventually when the two became a couple down the line, it was more believable and felt like something that had been in the works for ages.
The Surprise Kiss
Frasier (1993)
While many people remember Friends as the biggest sitcom of the 90’s, Frasier fans might have something to say about that. The popular series had fans keeping an eye on one particular relationship that was always bordering on the edge. Daphne and Niles may seem like an unlikely pair at first, but if you watch closely, the latter mentions his love for her as early on as episode 3 of season 1! It would be a while until they finally shared a kiss, however.
Frasier
Lucky Number (Season) 7
While Niles keeps his feelings to himself as first, if only for the fact that he is actually married at that point. After his divore, he doesn’t tell Daphne he likes her because she is mixed up in all kinds of other relationships. While obvious to the viewer, Daphne is kept in the dark all the way until season 7. When he finally confesses his feelings, we realise just how strongly he has grown to love her, and the result is a kiss that is as memorable as it was long. Expected, perhaps, but electrifying nevertheless.
Lucky Number
American Hustle (2013)
American Hustle was a star-studded film including character portrayals by Christian Bale, Amy Adams, and Jennifer Lawrence. The story revolves around the life of a con artist called Irving Rosenfeld, his partner Sydney Prosser as well as his wife Rosalyn. The scene in question does not involve Irving and his wife, however. The steamy moment involves Amy and Jennifer, in fact! We love it when unexpected romances like these pop out of nowhere.
American Hustle
The Kiss of a Maniac
In the scene, Mrs. Rosenfeld (Adams) kisses Prosser (Lawrence) angrily before breaking away and laughing like a maniac. The idea is credited to Amy Adams, who talked to the director about it before and didn’t give Jennifer a heads up about it. As you can imagine, it led to a spontaneous reaction and the scene was better than they could have imagined it would ever be. The moment played out perfectly and is memorable for its unique nature.
The Kiss Of A Maniac
Love Actually (2003)
Love Actually has got to be one of the most iconic romantic comedies in history, albeit that the storyline can be somewhat simple and at times frustrating to watch (especially if you’re going through a breakup). These types of films want you to believe in love even though there is no guarantee that it will actually work out. Rom Coms typically also don’t tell you what happens after the climactic kiss in the final scene, leaving that to the imagination and up to fantasy.
Love Actually
The Kiss From a Stalker
One of the more memorable scenes in Love Actually involves actor Andrew Lincoln going to his best friend’s house and confessing his love to the supposed friend’s wife! The cue card scene may have become a commonly used meme, but when you think about the context (an act of betrayal), it’s got a different twist to it. The actor later said he thought the character had a stalker vibe to him, and even though the movie ends with a happy ending for him, he can’t imagine that it sends a good message to others about stealing your friend’s spouse. Ouch!
The Kiss From A Stalker
Gigli (2003)
Gigli is well known as one of the worst films of all times, taking home Razzie after Razzie in the year following its release. While bad writing is to blame, a lot can be said as well for the supposed romance between Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck. A couple at the time, casting directors thought the pair would not only draw in audiences, but that their real life chemistry would translate to on screen chemistry. Boy were they wrong about that!
Gigli
A Lifeless Romance
The movie follows the life of a mobster that ends up kidnapping a child with mental disabilities. Why the writers thought it appropriate to add a romantic twist to the plot, we can’t quite say. While the kiss between the pair was fairly lifeless and not quite considered as spectacular as others on our list, Gigli gets a notable mention as an example of where things can go wrong even when it seems that the odds might be stacked in your favor.
A Lifeless Romance
Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002)
Star Wars Episode II
Padme and Anakin are two of the most beloved characters of the Star Wars movie franchise. Particularly notable in the prequels, their love story would eventually affect the rest of the series as well. While they first fell in love in Attack of the Clones, their story continued to be an “against all odds” type of romance that fans fell in love with right off the bat. The force was strong in this one.
Notable Lack of Chemistry
While the storyline was well written, some viewers suggested that there was very little chemistry between Natalie Portman and Hayden Christensen. At times, their dialogue felt a little forced but it got the job done. While they do have some tender moments and a kiss that many will recall for general direction, a lot of people were still left wondering why Padme even fell in love with her partner altogether. Unfortunately, we’ll never know.
Notable Lack Of Chemistry
Passengers (2016)
Passengers
In what was meant to be one of the biggest films of 2016, Passengers saw Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence stuck on a spaceship engineered to help humans migrate to a new planet. Jim (played by Pratt) wakes up unexpectedly 90 years before the 240 year journey. He realises that there is no way for him to get his sleeping pod working again, and all of this leads to him crossing paths with Aurora, played by Lawrence. By crossing paths, we mean that he opens her sleeping pod purposefully without telling her, effectively “killing” her because he liked the way she looked. Yikes.
The Whole Thing Was Creepy
Naturally, the pair hit it off and reside to the fact that they are going to die on the ship. Life is going well until Aurora discovers the truth. Jim is outed as a creep and she regrets the steamy on air kisses that they experienced together. We don’t give away the ending, but irrespective of how it plays out, Jim sentenced his beloved to die on the ship without her consent. In the year 2020, that is so not okay!
The Whole Thing Was Creepy
The Mummy (2017)
A third entry on the list, Tom Cruise is part of another steamy romance in 2017’s The Mummy, opposite Anabelle Wallis. Not to be confused with the Brendan Fraser film, in this cringeworthy story pretty much everything about the movie feels forced. The stereotypical (and somewhat unnecessary) romance really made critics even more upset by the nature of the film, leading to some rotten reviews online. Some things should just stay dead.
The Mummy
The Notable Age Gap
While the characters, who had a notable age gap between them, struggled to convince viewers of their chemistry, there was one scene where they shared a passionate embrace that was somewhat more reassuring about their performances as a couple. While fans still cringed at the idea as a result of what it took away from the overall storylines, the scene is part of Tom’s “three for three” on our list, capping off some of most memorable kissing scenes in the history of modern cinema.
The Notable Age Gap