The superhero genre is extremely popular at the movies right now. Filmmakers have found a way to make our favorite heroes from the comic books spring to life on the big screen. Marvel, DC, and other properties have an endless number of heroes and stories waiting to be explored.
Where there are epic stories about heroes, there are usually epic love stories attached. Whether it’s Clark Kent and Lois Lane over at DC, or Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy at Marvel, these relationships make our amazing heroes relatable. If a couple is really compelling, audiences will cheer when they get together and weep when they fall apart because they are that invested.
When it comes to all these superhero movie adaptations, some couples achieved that status and created a pairing that everyone believes in and roots for. Their connection balances out the heroic action with emotional weight.
However, there are also plenty of couples so bad they actually took away from the movie. Whether it was because their chemistry was off, the execution was bad, or the pairing just didn’t make sense, this movie genre is filled with couples that missed the mark.
Here are 8 Couples That Ruined Superhero Movies (And 8 That Saved Them)
Hurt: Clint and Laura Barton (Avengers: Age of Ultron)
Unfortunately, Age of Ultron spent too much time needlessly setting things up rather than focus on the story at hand. Part of the problem was choosing to focus on Clint, his wife Laura, and their family.
Whether you like it or not, Jeremy Renner’s Clint Barton/Hawkeye is probably the least important character on the Avengers team. Age of Ultron tries to change that by giving him more of a backstory and showing that he has a loving wife and family.
However, this whole relationship detracts from the story. Including this couple at all is just bizarre. Not only does it feel like a shoe-horned in addition, but Clint and Laura’s relationship offers little to the story — other than the idea that if Clint passes, he will leave Laura alone to raise their kids.
This Avengers film needed more of the Avengers, not more of Hawkeye and his family.
Saved: Peter Quill and Gamora (Guardians of the Galaxy)
Guardians of the Galaxy works because of its wacky and fun team dynamic. Peter Quill/Star-Lord and Gamora’s relationship illustrates that the most.
Both of these characters have wildly different personalities. Peter is cocky but funny, and Gamora is serious and driven. On paper, it seems like the two would clash — and they certainly do at times, including when they first meet. It’s actually these different qualities that make them a good match, because they balance one another out.
Peter and Gamora have a rocky personal history, and that’s where they are able to build common ground. Not to mention, Chris Pratt and Zoe Saldana play off each other very well on screen and make this relationship believable. They make a good team, and a great superhero couple.
Hurt: Stephen Strange and Christine Palmer (Doctor Strange)
Doctor Strange is not the best MCU film. It’s trippy and weird, but it also follows a familiar origin story formula — including the hero’s romantic relationship that barely gets fleshed out.
Before Stephen Strange’s accident, he was involved with his fellow doctor, Christine Palmer. They had a past connection, and it fizzled out — largely due to Strange’s extreme narcissism. Now that he has superpowers, though, Strange finds his way back to Palmer.
Not only is this a storyline we’ve seen a million times, but it’s so obvious that these two characters are bad together. Not just because of Benedict Cumberbatch and Rachel McAdams’ minimal chemistry, but because it’s difficult to believe that Christine would take back Strange after the way he treated her.
This relationship feels more like a plot device than a genuine connection.
Saved: Diana Prince and Steve Trevor (Wonder Woman)
Wonder Woman proved to be the beacon of hope the DCEU sorely needed. Gal Gadot grounds it with her charismatic performance, but just as important to the film’s success is the relationship between Diana Prince and Chris Pine’s Steve Trevor.
Steve crashes into the waters of Themyscira and exposes Diana to the realities of World War I. Together the two travel to the front lines of the war to bring an end to it.
Their dynamic is central to the entire story, and the reason it works so well is because the chemistry is palpable between Gadot and Pine. From their shared battle sequences to quiet conversations on a boat or in a snowfall, the two display multiple sides of the relationship that completely work.
This connection makes Steve’s passing hit that much harder — both for Diana and the audience. The two created a pairing worth investing in.
Hurt: Logan and Jean Grey (X-Men)
Logan/Wolverine is one of the most iconic superheroes in existence, and he is certainly the most central character within the X-Men franchise. Jean Grey is one of the most powerful mutants there is, and her contributions are invaluable to the time. Both these character have layered personalities as it is, but their romance just bogs all that down.
Jean is already involved with Scott Summers/Cyclops when Logan enters the picture. This inevitably pits Logan and Scott against one another for Jean’s affections, which is weak drama at best. Outside of that, Hugh Jackman and Famke Janssen just don’t have that spark for this tortured relationship to be believable.
Their shared experiences add a little weight to Jean’s eventual passing at Logan’s hands, but the relationship is not as deep or emotional as it could have been.
Saved: Wade Wilson and Vanessa Carlysle (Deadpool)
Deadpool is violent and hilarious, but it’s also surprisingly emotional due to Wade and Vanessa’s relationship.
Wade first meets Vanessa, who is an escort at the time, in a bar. The two have an instant connection, and they start a relationship. The film shows all of the little moments between Wade and Vanessa, making viewers see them fall in love with one another and invest in the relationship.
All this happens before Wade ever becomes the wise-cracking, fourth-wall-breaking Deadpool. When he finds out he has terminal cancer, it’s evident how much that affects both him and Vanessa. He’s not just beating up bad guys; he’s trying to find his way back to Vanessa, too. This gives him a realistic motivation, and makes for a couple to root for until the very end of the movie.
Hurt: Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson (Spider-Man)
Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson’s romance is a staple in the comic books. Unfortunately though, this couple didn’t translate to the screen in Spider-Man.
Part of the problem is a misstep in casting; Tobey Maguire is endearing as the mild-mannered, nerdy hero, but Kirstin Dunst was the wrong choice to play Mary Jane. She doesn’t capture Mary Jane’s snappy personality, and the chemistry between these two actors just isn’t there.
It’s difficult, because audiences always want to root for the guy to get the girl. Because the characters don’t mesh well on screen, though, that complicates our ability to really root for the pair. Part of Peter’s motivation as a superhero is his love for Mary Jane, but when that love feels forced, it also makes that motivation harder to buy into.
As iconic as this couple is, their relationship in the Spider-Man movies doesn’t do it justice.
Saved: Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle (Batman Returns)
You can tell an onscreen romance is good when it elevates the movie. That’s what Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle’s complicated, tragic relationship does for Batman Returns.
On the surface, the two seem to be on the opposite side of the spectrum. Bruce Wayne is Batman, a vigilante fighting for justice, while Selina Kyle is Catwoman, a mysterious villain seeking revenge on her former boss. Yet, sparks still fly between the two — whether their masks are off or on.
What makes them such a good match is because they both have a tortured past that defines their present. Bruce lost his parents, and Selina nearly lost her life (good thing she has eight more). Michael Keaton and Michelle Pfeiffer sizzle on screen, making that attraction clear.
The hero and villain were always doomed from the start, but their dynamic is incredibly fun to watch.
Hurt: Bruce Banner and Betty Ross (Incredible Hulk)
Bruce Banner/Hulk and Betty Ross are an example of a couple that the movie clearly wants people to root for, but ultimately falls flat.
The Incredible Hulk finds Bruce on the run after his gamma radiation incident. He tries to look for a cure while Betty’s father, Colonel Ross, tracks him down. Eventually, he makes his way back home to reunite with Betty, but all that build-up has little payoff.
Edward Norton didn’t make for the greatest Bruce Banner, but Liv Tyler as Betty is even worse. She exists purely to be Bruce’s muse, and Tyler’s performance matches that hollowness. Their past relationship is implied, but nothing about the way they interact with one another will make viewers believe this is the love of Bruce’s life.
This is a subpar relationship in a subpar MCU movie.
Saved: Clark Kent and Lois Lane (Superman)
Plenty of good relationships have graced the big screen, but few can match the beginnings of Clark Kent and Lois Lane’s iconic relationship in 1978’s Superman.
What is particularly fun about this pairing is that there’s two sides to it. There’s Clark and Lois, and Lois’ crush on Superman. With the former, Clark tries to hide his real identity from Lois by playing up his nerdy and unassuming image. At the same time, Lois is completely taken by the handsome and heroic Superman. These various dynamics grow and continue to play out in this film and the sequels that follow.
This is a relationship that will make viewers smile just because it is so fun and endearing. Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder own their roles, and build this relationship in a lighthearted but believable way.
Hurt: Thor and Jane Foster (Thor)
The mighty Thor has an interesting backstory filled with different takes on Norse mythology and magic. While the MCU’s Thor is a fun origin story, Thor’s backstory gets overshadowed by his relationship with Jane Foster and his time on Earth.
Thor crashes into a desert in New Mexico, where Jane, who happens to be studying the exact topics that relate to Thor’s background, hits him with her car. From there, though, Jane spends more time fangirling over Thor than she does actually liking him.
Thor, too, seems to develop feelings very quickly for a woman he just met. It’s reasonable to think that he would care for Jane. However, the climactic moment when Thor breaks the rainbow bridge doesn’t have as much emotional impact because his relationship with Jane isn’t that fleshed out.
Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman are good actors, but they can’t pull this relationship off.
Saved: Tony Stark and Pepper Potts (Iron Man)
Tony Stark/Iron Man can come across as a character who only cares about himself. A lot of his actions throughout the Iron Man films seem to support this idea, but his relationship with Pepper Potts shows what he’s willing to do for the people he cares about.
Pepper starts out as Tony’s personal assistant. Rather than being a passive player, though, Pepper is smart and confident, keeping Tony in his place. Her collected and focused personality contrasts Tony’s gung-ho attitude about everything. Because of that, the two complement each other very well.
Robert Downey Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow have a fun dynamic as the two characters. It’s entertaining to watch them fire off one-liners back and forth at each other, which creates a relationship that is real and emotionally deep. Pepper makes Tony a better superhero, making them a great couple.
Hurt: The Joker and Harley Quinn (Suicide Squad)
The Joker and Harley Quinn are a well-known villainous couple. Their story is twisted and forever intertwined, but none of that comes across in Suicide Squad.
This is another example of an error in the casting stage. Margot Robbie is an amazing Harley Quinn, and probably the best version of the character we will ever get on screen. The same cannot be said for Jared Leto as the Joker, who drags the movie down with his bizarre, exaggerated performance.
When you put the two together, sparks don’t fly like they should be for such a notorious couple. Robbie and Leto lack the chemistry needed to make audiences believe in it. The Joker’s main reason for being in the film is to get Harley back, but when their connection isn’t there, it makes you wonder why the Joker is in this movie at all.
Saved: Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy (The Amazing Spider-Man)
While The Amazing Spider-Man series ultimately wasn’t as successful as what came before it, the relationship between Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy is one of the most compelling romances in any superhero movie.
This version of Peter is a stuttering nerd trying to make a connection with his crush, the brilliant Gwen Stacy. When the two do come together, it’s like fireworks on screen.
Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone have so much raw chemistry that they make it look effortless. Part of that is likely because the two dated in real life at the time, but if anything, that’s more of a testament to how great this relationship was.
No matter how far fetched the actual superhero plot got, this couple was enough to propel the movie forward. Peter and Gwen really are the heart and soul of The Amazing Spider-Man and its sequel.
Hurt: Natasha Romanoff and Bruce Banner (Avengers: Age of Ultron)
Avengers: Age of Ultron had a few things going against it, but none were as jarring — or just plain random — as the pairing of Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow and Bruce Banner/Hulk.
The two shared some screen time during the first Avengers, but nothing in that film ever hinted at romantic tension. With Age of Ultron, though, the filmmakers do a complete 180 with that and try to shove this relationship right in viewers’ faces. Maybe this was an attempt to heighten the stakes for the characters. However, when the movie gives us mere minutes to wrap our heads around a relationship between Black Widow and the Hulk, it’s not an affective strategy.
The chemistry isn’t there between Scarlett Johansson and Mark Ruffalo romantically. This movie already has enough going on without trying to force another romance between two ill-fitting characters.
Saved: Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter (Captain America: The First Avenger)
No other romance in the MCU has the right amount of chemistry, emotional stakes, and character growth wrapped into it like Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter in Captain America: The First Avenger.
Steve starts out as a scrawny kid with a big heart. Peggy sees that even before Steve takes the super-soldier serum, impressed by his charisma.
As the movie progresses, that mutual respect builds towards a romance that provides them both with motivation and higher stakes. It becomes that much harder to see Steve sacrifice himself at the end of the movie to save everyone else — all the while, promising Peggy a dance.
Chris Evans and Hayley Atwell were perfectly cast in their roles, and they work so well together on screen. This couple really does have it all, even if they don’t have a happy ending.
Who is your favorite superhero couple? Let us know in the comments
