On-Screen Affection
Part of what makes on-screen smooches so satisfying is the fact that the screenwriters will create so much palpable tension between the two characters that the audience is practically shouting at the screen for the two to get together. When it comes as a total, unscripted surprise, a kiss between two characters is exciting in a totally different way. When even one of the actors in the scene is surprised, the audience is guaranteed to be caught off guard.
On Screen Affection
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Anyone watching Star Wars: The Last Jedi will remember the tender scene between Luke and Leia, when Luke gently kisses her forehead before walking away. Mark Hamill actually admitted that this was not scripted.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Luke and Leia
This particular scene was especially moving since Luke was parting from Leia forever, and Mark Hamill was actually saying goodbye to this character that he has been around for years. Sadly, Carrie Fisher passed away before the film was released, so this will be one of the last scenes that we’ll ever see her in.
Luke and Leia
ER
Throughout the show’s run, fans of ER wondered whether anything would ever happen between Dr. Dough Ross, played by the dreamy George Clooney, and Nurse Carol Hathaway, who was portrayed by Juliana Margulies. Fans were often left on the edge of their seats waiting to see if anything would ever take place.
ER
Dr. Doug Ross and Nurse Carol Hathaway
When George Clooney left the show, many fans were left heartbroken thinking that this relationship was doomed. Once Juliana Margulies decided to leave as well, the show decided to give fans what they wanted, and the much-anticipated kiss finally happened.
Dr. Doug Ross And Nurse Carol Hathaway
Lost In Translation
Lost In Translation is a much loved film that tells the story of Bob, an aging movie star, played by Bill Murray, who befriends Charlotte, a young college grad, played by Scarlet Johansson, and the story of their unlikely friendship. In the final scene, Bob unexpectedly kisses Charlotte on the lips and says something inaudible to the audience.
Lost In Translation
Bob and Charlotte
The reason why Scarlet Johansson looked so surprised in this scene was because it was actually not scripted, so her surprise was actually genuine. Murray felt that he could add in the unplanned moment, and director Sofia Coppola ended up liking the effect and left it in the final cut.
Bob And Charlotte
The Office
Any fan of The Office will surely count the hilariously awkward moment between Michael and Oscar after Oscar reveals that he is gay. Michael wants to prove to everyone that he is the most accepting and not homophobic person possible.
The Office
Michael and Oscar
Of course, Michael chooses to express his solidarity with a very unnecessary kiss that is hilarious cringe-worthy. Oscar Nuñez admitted that the scene originally had the characters hugging, but Steve Carrell decided at the last minute to go in for the kiss, to hilarious effect.
Michael And Oscar
Edge of Tomorrow
Edge of Tomorrow is a film featuring Emily Blunt and Tom Cruise that tells the story of Major William Cage who is stuck in a time loop that takes him back to the day he died in battle over and over. He recruits Special Forces agent Rita Vrataki in order to help him out.
Edge Of Tomorrow
Cage and Rita
The filmmakers wanted to make sure to fit in a romantic scene in between all of the action-packed fight scenes. However, this proved to be more difficult than expected. Luckily, Emily Blunt decided to sneak in a surprise kiss that was not in the original script, and it ended up working perfectly.
Cage And Rita
Orange Is the New Black
In the first season of Orange Is The New Black, were are introduced to characters Piper Chapman and her ex-girlfriend Alex, who are both incarcerated. In many flashback scenes, we see how their relationship went through its highs and eventual lows.
Orange Is The New Black
Piper and Alex
Many fans of the show were hoping for the two to eventually reconcile, but the way it happened truly surprised everyone. Despite their complicated past and previous betrayals, the two ended up sharing a very unexpected kiss in the prison’s chapel.
Piper And Alex
The X-Files
The X-Files was one of the most successful shows of the 1990’s. When it came to the idea of a relationship between main characters, FBI agents Fox and Scully, the show runners knew that they definitely want to write a conventional romantic relationship between the two.
The X Files
Fox and Scully
Fans had pretty much given up on the idea of a romance between the two, when in season 7, a truly unexpected kiss between the two shocked everyone. Although the kiss took place in an alternate universe, fans were pleased. In later seasons, the two eventually got together, but the fact that it took so long made it that much more satisfying.
Fox And Scully
American Hustle
American Hustle tells the story of conman Irving Rosenfeld, played by Christian Bale, partner Richie DiMaso, played by Bradley Cooper, Rosenfeld’s wife Rosalyn, played by Jennifer Lawrence, and his mistress, Sydney Prosser, played by Amy Adams.
American Hustle
Sydney and Rosalyn
Despite their dynamic of being Rosenfeld’s wife and mistress, the two women share a very unexpected close scene. While the two argue, Rosalyn suddenly grabs Sydney and kisses her. Amy Adams came up with the idea of the kiss, but Lawrence executed it unexpectedly, creating a real feeling of surprise.
Sydney and Rosalyn
New Girl
New Girl was one of the most successful comedy TV shows in recent times. One of the best aspects of the show was the fact that the actors were allowed to improvise lines and scenes. That’s how the iconic kissing scene between Nick and Schmidt ended up happening.
New Girl
Nick and Schmidt
When Schmidt finds out that Nick is dealing with a health scare, he ends up grabbing him and kissing him “Godfather style” right on the mouth. Max Greenfield, who played Schmidt, admitted that the unexpected kiss took actor Jake Johnson by surprise and was even a little uncomfortable for him. As the two continued working together for years, Johnson eventually grew accustomed to Greenfield’s style.
Nick And Schmidt
Gilmore Girls
For years when Gilmore Girls was on TV, fans were deeply invested in Rory and Lorelai’s love lives. Many were especially interested in the dynamic between Lorelai’s tension with diner owner Luke. For years, fans wondered if they would ever get together.
Gilmore Girls
Luke and Lorelai
Although it took four full seasons, the two finally ended up coming together. When the two then-friends were talking, Luke got frustrated with her and told her to just stop talking, and then out of the blue, he took her in his arms and kissed her. Fans would always enjoy this unexpected moment.
Luke And Lorelai
Jurassic World
A later addition to the Jurassic Park film franchise, Jurassic World featured some tension between velociraptor trainer Owen Grady, played by Chris Pratt, along with Claire Dearing, played by Bryce Dallas Howard. Although the two have a complicated past, fans wondered if they would ever reconcile.
Jurassic World
Owen and Claire
On the last day of filming, the film’s director took Pratt aside and suggested that the two characters kiss, despite the fact that it was not in the script. In order to get a genuine response, the director did not tell Howard about this idea. This ended up giving the scene a real and genuine feel, and it ended up staying in the final film.
Owen And Claire
Teen Wolf
MTV series Teen Wolf sees socially awkward Stiles Stilinski, played by O’Brien, falling for classmate Lydia Martin, played by Holland Roden. Stiles is so incredibly shy that many fans thought he could never get over it in order to pursue Lydia.
Teen Wolf
Stiles and Lydia
The scene that changed the trajectory of the two characters’ relationship took place when Stiles unexpectedly kissed Lydia on the cheek. This scene ended up in the final episode, which let show runners see how fans would react to a potential relationship. Reactions were positive and the two ended up in a relationship.
Stiles And Lydia
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2
Fans who were devoted to The Hunger Games franchise stuck it out until the fourth film, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2. In this final installment, Haymitch Abernathy, played by Woody Harrelson, cheekily kisses Effie Trinkett, played by Elizabeth Banks.
The Hunger Games Mockingjay – Part 2
Effie and Haymitch
It turns out that that kiss was not originally in the script, and that Woody Harrelson actually had a little crush on Elizabeth Banks, so he decided to go for the opportunity to kiss her. Luckily, it ended up working well for the characters as well.
Effie And Haymitch
Top Gun
In the iconic scene from classic film Top Gun, Charlie (who is played by Kelly McGillis) admits that she has feelings for Maverick, played by none other than Tom Cruise. Charlie makes it clear that she does not want anyone to know about her feelings, when suddenly Maverick kisses her.
Top Gun
Maverick and Charlie
The passionate kiss was not scripted, and was due to a funny reason. Tom Cruise actually forgot his lines, and had the idea that a kiss would speak volumes, so he went for it. The director ended up keeping the unscripted kiss in the final take, and the rest is history.
Maverick And Charlie
Stranger Things
Stranger Things has been one of the most successful Netflix original series. Beginning in the second season, a romance between Max and Lucas began to blossom. As tensions arise, eventually the two admit to one another that they have developed feelings. Eventually, the two ended up kissing.
Stranger Things
Max and Lucas
However, there was a lot of anxiety involved for the actors, as the kiss was not originally scripted and was added in last-minute by the show runners. Sadie Sink, who plays Max, took initiative and went for it, but many fans still criticized the scene as necessary.
Max And Lucas
Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones will go down in history as one of the most successful shows of all time. Season seven included an unexpected moment between characters Yara Greyjoy, played by Gemma Whelan, and Ellaria Sand, played by Indira Varma.
Game Of Thrones
Yara and Ellaria
Even though the two characters had been quite flirtatious, fans were still stunned by the unexpected kiss. It turns out that this kissing scene was totally improvised between the two actresses. Directors decided that the kiss worked well and chose to keep it in the final cut of the scene.
Yara And Ellaria
Room With a View
Helena Bonham Carter is one of the most versatile and prolific actresses of her day. In A Room With A View, she played Lucy Honeychurch. In one scene, Lucy is chatting with George, who is played by Julian Sands, eventually the two share a kiss.
Room With A View
Lucy and George
Since the kiss was not originally in the script, Carter admitted that it was totally improvised and ended up being a little bit clumsy. She was just 18 at the time and had not had much experience with this sort of thing, but she decided to go for it anyways.
Lucy And George
Love Actually
Love Actually tells the story of several different romances and interweaves them together. One scene that fans will never forget takes place between Mark, who is played by Andrew Lincoln, and his best friend’s wife Juliet, who is played by Keira Knightley.
Love Actually
Mark and Juliet
Mark decides to confess to Juliet how he feels and he does so silently using cue cards. Juliet smiles and Mark walks away, but eventually she catches up to him and goes in for a very unexpected kiss. Although the scene was meant to be sweet, audiences actually did not respond well to it, as it was seen as a betrayal.
Mark And Juliet
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
In Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, Anakin and Padme’s relationship becomes a central part of the plot. The two characters choose to run away from their responsibilities in order to be together. Sadly, most fans agree that there is no real chemistry between Natalie Portman, who plays Padme, and Anakin, portrayed by Hayden Christensen.
Star Wars Episode II Attack Of The Clones
Anakin and Padme
Most fans agree that their body language is awkward and that the lack of chemistry makes the dialogue seem very strained. That’s why many fans felt that the kiss between them was quite unnatural. Many wondered why the two were even drawn to one another at all.
Anakin And Padme
The Mummy
A similar thing happened with the film The Mummy, which featured Tom Cruise playing Nick and Annabelle Wallis playing Jenny. Similarly, most fans agreed that the two did not have any believable chemistry and that any romantic scenes between the two felt cringey instead of lovey.
The Mummy
Jenny and Nick
Many fans pointed out that the very large age gap between the two contributed to the uncomfortable nature of the relationship, and that Wallis looked truly uncomfortable the whole time. Many have suggested that if they two had a friendly, banter-filled relationship instead that it would have worked much better.
Jenny And Nick