With the market for movie and TV show releases more saturated than ever, and so many established stars in the industry spreading the wealth, it's not so common anymore to come by an acting duo that sticks together and reconvenes for repeat affairs. Whether it be Robert Redford and Jane Fonda, or Joe Pesci and Robert De Niro, long-running track records of collaboration seem more like a Hollywood pastime. Even Matt Damon and Ben Affleck's extensive bromance feels like a rare commodity.
Well, not so fast. There are still a few prolific acting duos in the 21st century. Some of which have been established, while others are on their way to becoming something special. Before we list our picks for the top 10 duos of the century, a special anticipatory shout out goes to Ana de Armas and Chris Evans. No, they are not getting married. They are currently in production to star in Dexter Fletcher's next movie, Ghosted. The movie will be de Armas and Chris Evans' third together in the last five years, following Knives Out and The Gray Man. They clearly enjoy working together, and their extensive, shared screen time in Knives Out was likely a catalyst for this professional relationship.
10 Winston Duke & Lupita Nyong'o
Winston Duke and Lupita Nyong'o are both still relatively fresh in their acting careers, but between Marvel's Black Panther and Avenger films, as well as Jordan Peele's Us, the two have certainly become synonymous with one another. While their Marvel characters don't share a ton of screen time together, Us showed us how comfortable and natural these two are together and how much they can elevate each other's performance. It is really no surprise to learn their relationship dates all the way back to their time at the Yale School of Drama. With a recipe in place for a lifelong friendship, as both actors continue to ascend and find more work, we can likely expect more quality collaborations down the line.
9 Eugene Levy & Catherine O'hara
One of the more underrated duos of the last century goes to the quirky, oddball comedic pairing of Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara. It's almost amazing the two are not romantically involved off-screen. But if any Hollywood duo qualifies as a work marriage, it's these two. While their relationship dates all the way back to the 1970s, Levy and O'Hara have starred in five projects together since the dawn of the 21st century: Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, Over the Hedge, For Your Consideration, and most notably, the hit TV series, Schitt's Creek. Despite working closely together to pump out six seasons of the show, we still would not be surprised if Levy and O'Hara decided to team up once again in the near future. With nearly 50 years of performing together, their knack for comedic timing and uncanny chemistry makes for a joyous experience each time they take the screen together. Here's to more of them in the future.
8 Saoirse Ronan & Timothée Chalamet
Although they are young, Saoirse Ronan and Timothée Chalamet represent Hollywood's best shot at a generational duo. Both actors have experienced extraordinary commercial and critical acclaim, and they have joined forces three times already to deliver noteworthy work. Greta Gerwig knows the magic that can happen when these two are together as she has directed them together twice in Lady Bird and Little Women. The beauty here is that both performers couldn't be more different in each of these movies, yet just as effective. The two most recently starred in Wes Anderson's The French Dispatch. Due to the nature of the movie's structure, they didn't share screen time, but chalk up three quick joint ventures for a pair that has demonstrated exquisite chemistry in awards worthy romance. Producers and directors seeking a duo to build a relationship drama around will have Ronan and Chalamet in mind for many years to come.
7 Brendan Gleeson & Colin Farrell
Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell have only appeared in two movies together, but because of the roles they have taken in Martin McDonagh's darkly comedic In Bruges and The Banshees of Inisherin, their dynamic chemistry makes it feel like they are a veteran duo. We can thank McDonagh in advance for saying he won't take 14 years to pair Gleeson and Farrell once again. In both instances, Farrell has taken home the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Motion picture - Musical or Comedy, while Gleeson has been nominated each time for Best Supporting Actor. When these two are together in a McDonagh movie, we can expect unique, petty comedy and drama that tickles our humor and our brains in ways other duos can't. What these two lack in frequent collaboration, they make up for with rich substance in the time we do get with them.
6 Will Ferrell & John C. Reilly
The top pure comedy duo on this list goes to Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly. The comedic blockbuster era may be in the rearview, but Ferrell and Reilly did the most to gift us belly laughs for years to come while they could. We can forgive the complete blunder that was Holmes & Watson, because their knack for silly, immature comedy in Step Brothers and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby is so memorable and iconic. We can't help but get the feeling these two have starred in over 10 movies together, even though it has only been three.
5 Cillian Murphy & Tom Hardy
Quietly, Cillian Murphy and Tom Hardy have joined forces just as many times as any acting duo has this century. This is the top bromance on the list, thanks to Christopher Nolan and Peaky Blinders. It's an incredible treat when the Netflix original gangster epic pits Murphy's Tommy Shelby in a room to match wits with Hardy's Alfie Solomons. Their interactions have an added layer of depth other dynamics in the show are missing. We can't help but savor every expression and every word when Tommy and Alfie get together. But as mentioned above, their track record begins with Christopher Nolan's Inception. The mind-bending box-office smash featured Hardy's breakout in a small, but meaty role. Murphy's supporting performance was also notable, and the two shared a few scenes together. From there, they would go on to costar in The Dark Knight Rises and Dunkirk, two more Nolan films.
4 Jennifer Lawrence & Bradley Cooper
Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper started their acting partnership on fire with David O. Russell's Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle. Both movies placed Lawrence and Cooper at the Oscars, with Lawrence picking up the coveted Best Actress win for Silver Linings Playbook. Since then, they have gone on to costar in Serena, and Joy, another David O. Russell feature. While the latter films did not receive as much adoration and respect, the relations between Lawrence and Cooper remain a strong point to elevate the material in each movie. The first two movies feature the duo as fun characters with big personalities and detailed complexity. The way their unconventional love flows in Silver Linings Playbook is truly indeliable.
3 Ryan Gosling & Emma Stone
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We are not saying Emma Watson and Miles Teller would have made for a worse La La Land, as initially planned by Damien Chazelle, but we certainly won't complain with the results of Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling. That heartbreaking last shot in La La Land works so tremendously given the top tier on-screen chemistry between Stone and Gosling. Thanks to great romantic work in both Crazy, Stupid Love, and Gangster Squad, the relationship in La La Land feels so real and lived in. That last shot feels like a payoff that was years in the making. Their careers built up to that joint venture, and Stone took home the Oscar for Best Actress while Gosling earned a Best Actor nomination. It has been more than six years now since Gosling and Stone's love last graced a screen, and we may never see it again. If not, we are left with a collection of three movies that display a masterclass in romantic chemistry.
2 Julia Roberts & George Clooney
When we tell you Julia Roberts and George Clooney are the best of friends, we don't just mean they star in a lot of movies and enjoy working together. No, Roberts attended the Kennedy Center Honors in late December in support of Clooney's lifetime humanitarian achievement. She even spoke on his behalf. The two have starred in five movies together since 2000. They bring a level of class to their shared scenes reminiscent of old Hollywood stars. You just can't fake that type movie magic without real-life mutual adoration and respect. Between Ocean's Eleven, Ocean's Twelve, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Money Monster, and Ticket to Paradise, we have seen this duo age like fine wine. Though some of these entries don't top each of their highest achievements in film, they do hold a special place in movie history for the moments shared.
1 Amy Adams & Christian Bale
Amy Adams and Christian Bale have starred in three movies together, and each time it has netted both of them an Oscar nomination. The Fighter, American Hustle, and Vice all see Adams and Bale in top form, a good indicator that they bring out the best in one another. Each dynamic could not be more different from the last as each performer is able to fully inhabit their character while still being able to play off each other and bring tangible human connection to the screen. The only thing left for these two to do is win an Oscar in a movie they star in together. That should cement them as one of the most prolific acting duos, not just of this century, but of all time.