Summary
Even if two actors appear in the same kinds of movies with the same directors during the same time period, they don’t always end up working together. It’s easy for fans to draw up dream casting lists to pair up their ideal acting duos, but the movie industry rarely works out so simply. Sometimes, what seems like a match made in heaven never comes to fruition, for a variety of reasons.
Actors who move in the same circles tend to overlap at some point, so it’s surprising to see two similar actors with zero shared credits. Actors from the same country and even the same family don’t always get the chance to work with one another. They can have similar careers running in parallel to one another for decades without teaming up. In some cases, they seem so compatible that it’s easy to wonder why they have remained on separate paths.
10 Great Movie Duos Who Only Worked Together Once
While many actors stick together no matter what, some of the greatest movie duos in history only shared the screen on a single occasion.
10Denzel Washington & Al Pacino
Two Of Hollywood’s Heavy Hitters Have Made Plenty Of Cop Movies
Al Pacino rose to fame long before Denzel Washington started to break through, but they have had plenty of time to work on a movie together. Washington is often associated with playing detectives and police officers, which is something that Pacino has also done well in movies likeHeatandSerpico.Pacino and Washington could have made a compelling set of partners if they had ever had the chance to combine their talents.
Pacino often gives his best performances when he’s opposite a calmer and more grounded presence like Robert De Niro or John Cazale. This suits Washington perfectly.
Both Pacino and Washington have scored awards in historical biopics and intense dramas. However, their shared territory hasn’t meant that they have worked with many of the same directors, which could be a big reason why they are yet to collaborate. Pacino often gives his best performances when he’s opposite a calmer and more grounded presence like Robert De Niro or John Cazale. This suits Washington perfectly.
9Daniel Day-Lewis & Christian Bale
Two British Method Actors With A Lot In Common
Both Daniel Day-Lewis and Christian Bale have earned reputations for their complete commitment to their roles, and their ability to disappear into whatever character they play. Day-Lewis and Bale’s method acting techniques have earned them huge success over the years, but they have never had the chance to share the screen together. Both actors have been outstanding in supporting roles, so they could have easily been in the same movie without their star power being too much to handle.
Both actors have been outstanding in supporting roles, so they could have easily been in the same movie without their star power being too much to handle.
Although both English actors have similar acting styles and impressive ranges, their differences are even more interesting. Day-Lewis is famously secretive, and he rarely gives interviews. He probably never would have considered some of the high-profile roles that Bale has taken on, like in the MCU or theDark Knighttrilogy.Day-Lewis has now retired from acting, so he and Bale will never get the chance to collaborate.
8Emma Stone & Colin Farrell
Yorgos Lanthimos' Favorite Collaborators Would Make A Brilliant Comedy Together
Both Emma Stone and Colin Farrell have starred inYorgos Lanthimos' movies, but not at the same time. Earlier in Lanthimos' career, Farrell’s curious brand of deadpan humor perfectly suited his idiosyncratic style in bothThe LobsterandThe Killing Of a Sacred Deer.Since then, Stone has taken pride of place as Lanthimos' muse, starring inThe Favourite, Poor ThingsandKinds of Kindness.
Although they are perhaps best-known for their comedy roles, both Stone and Farrell are just as compelling in dramatic movies.
Emma Stone and Colin Farrell are two of the best comedic actors in Hollywood.There’s still a chance that they could cross paths in one of Yorgos Lanthimos' future projects, but they could also collaborate on any number of movies. Although they are perhaps best-known for their comedy roles, both Stone and Farrell are just as compelling in dramatic movies.
7Elvis Presley & Marilyn Monroe
The Biggest Stars Of The 1950s Never Crossed Paths
Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe were the two biggest sex symbols of their time, but they never shared the screen with one another. Both starred in musicals, and both had enormous followings. It’s possible that they were simply too big to work with one another once they reached the height of their fame. Elvis' movies were designed as vehicles for the singer, and he might not have wanted to share the stage with one of the brightest stars in Hollywood.
Elvis Presely and Marilyn Monroe represented the glamorous image of Americana that spread all over the world following the Second World War.
Marilyn Monroe sadly passed away in 1962 at the age of 36, while Elvis Presley continued making hit movies for many years. Both performers were at the height of their popularity in the 1950s. They represented the glamorous image of Americana that spread all over the world following the Second World War, and if they had worked together it would have been a huge moment for American culture.
6Drew Barrymore & Vince Vaughn
The Two Romcom Stars Never Coupled Up
Vince Vaughn and Drew Barrymore both starred in several romcoms throughout the 2000s. They could have made a brilliant on-screen couple, but their paths never crossed, and they have left that era far behind them now. Given the similar styles of some of their comedies,it’s not hard to imagine them starring alongside one another. For example, Barrymore could have replaced Jennifer Aniston inThe Break-Up,or Vaughn could have taken Adam Sandler’s place in 50 First Dates.
Drew Barrymore gives some of her funniest performances when she is allowed to play manic characters, while Vaughn is a master of deadpan comedy.
Drew Barrymore gives some of her funniest performances when she is allowed to play manic characters, while Vaughn is a master of deadpan comedy. Barrymore and Vaughn’s comedic sensibilities are obviously compatible, and they worked in similar movies for years, but the stars never aligned for them to appear in the same movie. They could even have become a romcom power couple.
5Margot Robbie & Chris Hemsworth
Two Of Hollywood’s Most Successful Australians Have Shared Similar Career Paths
Australian actors Margot Robbie and Chris Hemsworth have shared similar career trajectories.Both honed their skills working on popular Australian soap operas, with Robbie inNeighboursand Hemsworth inHome and Away.Before too long, Robbie and Hemsworth both made the leap to American movies, and they are now two of Hollywood’s most bankable stars. Despite these similarities, the Aussie duo are yet to appear in the same movie.
With any luck, there’s a chance Robbie and Hemsworth could collaborate on something other than their Austrlian tourism commercial with Russel Crowe.
Robbie and Hemsworth are both in high demand, so there’s a good chance that their paths could cross in the future.Margot Robbie’s upcoming moviesinclude adaptations of The Sims and Monopoly. Hemsworth recently showed with his performance as the villain inFuriosa: A Mad Max Sagathat he isn’t afraid to make some bold choices and ham it up. With any luck, there’s a chance Robbie and Hemsworth could collaborate on something other than their Austrlian tourism commercial with Russel Crowe.
4Marlon Brando & Grace Kelly
Brando And Kelly Almost Worked Together In On The Waterfront
Grace Kelly had a short career in Hollywoodbefore leaving everything behind to become the Princess of Monaco, but she still got the chance to work with many of the movie industry’s greatest leading men. She starred opposite Jimmy Stewart, Cary Grant and Clark Gable all within the span of a few short years. Although Marlon Brando was making a name for himself at the time, he and Kelly never worked together.
Kelly got the chance to work with many of the movie industry’s greatest leading men in her short career.
Grace Kelly’s relationships were often the subject of tabloid gossip. It became public knowledge that she was romantically involved with some of her co-stars at various times, including Bing Crosby. There were also rumors that she shared a brief fling with Marlon Brando, although this remains the topic of some controversy. This could be a reason whyKelly turned down a role opposite Brando inOn the Waterfront.Eva Marie Saint and Brando both went on to win Oscars for the movie.
3Keanu Reeves & Jason Statham
The Martial Arts Stars Should Team Up At Some Point
Keanu Reeves got his start in Hollywood much earlier than Jason Statham did, appearing in hits throughout the 1990s includingSpeedandPoint Break.After a career as a model and an elite-level diver, Statham broke into action movies with his collaborations with Guy Ritchie. Reeves and Statham didn’t have much in common during these early years except for the fact that they were both action stars, but they have recently converged on similar styles.
Both action stars do a lot of their own stunts, and they would be a fantastic on-screen duo either as allies or enemies.
With the smash-hitJohn Wickfranchise, Keanu Reeves kickstarted the renaissance of Hollywood martial arts movies. Statham has also been showing off his martial arts training in recent years. Both action stars do a lot of their own stunts, and they would be a fantastic on-screen duo either as allies or enemies. With their effortless rugged charms and their masterful dry wit,Statham and Reeves are kindred spirits of the action genre.
2Shirley MacLaine & Warren Beatty
The Gyllenhaals, the Skarsgårds, the Afflecks, the Cusacks.The movie industry is brimming with families of actors who often work closely together.Warren Beatty and Shirley MacLaine tell a slightly different story. The brother and sister were both among the most famous and successful actors of their day, but they never appeared in the same movie. They could have been a brilliant on-screen duo if they had ever decided to team up.
The brother and sister were both among the most famous and successful actors of their day, but they never appeared in the same movie.
Despite the siblings never working with one another, they have always been supportive of one another’s careers. MacLaine had already scored her first Academy Award nomination by the time her younger brother made her film debut, but he soon caught up in that regard. He eventually earned a whopping 14 Oscar nominations in total, in acting, directing, writing and producing.
1Tom Cruise & Leonardo DiCaprio
Cruise And DiCaprio Started Out On Similar Paths
Tom Cruise is always the star of his own show, and he doesn’t often share the spotlight with any stars who are on his level. This comes as a shame sometimes, because it means that audiences never get to see what might happen if he teamed up with actors of Leonardo DiCaprio’s caliber. Cruise may have become more and more of an action star in the 21st century, but there was a long time when he and DiCaprio had been appearing in similar movies.
Cruise may have become more and more of an action star in the 21st century, but there was a long time when he and DiCaprio had been appearing in similar movies.
DiCaprio has never let his stature get in the way of a good movie, and he has starred alongside comparable acting heavyweights such as Daniel Day-Lewis, Brad Pitt and Robert De Niro.TheMission: Impossiblefranchise has caused some people to forget just how good an actor Cruise really is, but he belongs on the same list as these stars. If Cruise ever wanted to restate his credentials, doing so in a movie with DiCaprio would be a bold way of doing so.
