There aren’t many things worse than sitting down to watch a movie that promises romance, excitement, tension, and thrills, only to discover for a few minutes that the leads have no chemistry with each other. There’s a reason why productions of any kind tend to do “chemistry reads” with cast members to see how well they work together, even before anyone is officially cast. This chemistry doesn’t always have to be romantic — but in a rom-com, it definitely is.
However, the films are still released, and their audiences are disappointed by the lack of spark between the lead actors. Even consummate professionals, veterans of the world of rom-coms, or simply actors who are really great at other things, sometimes can’t get past this simple hurdle, and since the film relies solely on the power of romance, these films often feel like they’re missing some key elements. It’s hard to pinpoint what makes chemistry great and what doesn’t, but you definitely notice the lack when there isn’t any.
Because we love torturing ourselves, we’ve revisited some of the most famous couples in rom-com history, whose actors, while professional, just couldn’t seem to pull it off. Some of these films are famous for their flops, and some have been huge hits but have failed to stand the test of time. Maybe there’s a weird energy, maybe they don’t play off each other’s vibes the way they should, or maybe they’re simply unbelievable as a romantic duo together. For whatever reason, these films tried to make it work, but left the audience reading.
10 rom-com couples with absolutely zero chemistry
Despite their best efforts, we do not ship any of them together.
Gallery source: Emma Stefanski
Read more: The 10 Worst Romantic Comedy Clichés

Movies that are shockingly rated PG
These movies are filled with content that may not be suitable for young children. But they’re all rated PG anyway.