You Won’t Believe the 12-Year Age Gap Between Jennifer Lawrence and Her Co-Star!

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In the movie “No Hard Feelings”, there’s a substantial difference in age between the main characters, but this disparity plays a crucial role in the narrative. Following a short hiatus, Jennifer Lawrence re-emerged on the silver screen in the comedic film “No Hard Feelings” about sex. Directed by Gene Stupnitsky, “No Hard Feelings” features Jennifer Lawrence as Maddie Barker, a woman residing in Montauk, New York, who’s at risk of financial ruin and works as both an Uber driver and bartender. At the same time, Percy Becker (Andrew Barth Feldman) is the offspring of affluent cryptocurrency investors, who are pushing him to prepare for university since he seldom goes out and lacks experience with women.

In a predicament where Maddie’s car gets seized due to unpaid property taxes on her inherited house, she stumbles upon the Becker family’s Craigslist ad seeking someone to companion Percy, in return for a Buick Regal. The intention was to help Percy break out of his shell before he heads off to Princeton University in autumn, but it turns out to be quite a struggle for Maddie. The novel No Hard Feelings, despite stirring up debate due to the significant age difference between Maddie and Percy, was crucial to their tale, mirroring the real-life age disparity between the actors portraying them.

Jennifer Lawrence Is 12 Years Older Than Andrew Barth Feldman

In “No Hard Feelings”, the Becker family sought a young individual, preferably under 25, to accompany Percy on dates, introduce him to the dating scene, and social events. However, Maddie, who required the Buick for her Uber job to cover her debts, replied to their posting despite being 32 years old.

At nineteen years old, Percy exhibited significant social discomfort, causing concern for his parents who aspired for him to be prepared for university. To some extent, this social awkwardness could be attributed to his upbringing by his parents. The age disparity between Maddie and Percy stirred debate upon the announcement of No Hard Feelings, but it was only a slight difference compared to Lawrence and Feldman.

As a movie enthusiast, I’d like to share a bit of trivia about the cast of “No Hard Feelings.” Jennifer Lawrence, who played Maddie, was born in 1990, making her 32 when we filmed the movie. On the other hand, Andrew Barth Feldman, portraying Percy, was born in 2002, which means he was only 20 during filming. Interestingly, this age gap mirrors that of their characters, adding a layer of authenticity to their on-screen bond. However, it’s worth noting that some viewers found this age difference to be potentially problematic.

Did No Hard Feelings’ Age Gap Controversy Hurt The Movie?

Controversy arose over the film “No Hard Feelings” upon the release of its first trailer, due to Maddie appearing to pursue Percy without initially clarifying their age difference. Critics accused the movie of endorsing grooming, despite Percy being older than 18. However, his immature portrayal may have led viewers to misconstrue the film’s intentions before its release. Ultimately, the age gap controversy didn’t significantly impact the movie, as it became clear that the storyline wasn’t what people initially assumed when watching the trailers.

The movie “No Hard Feelings” did exceptionally well at the box office, raking in over $87 million according to Box Office Mojo, and garnered positive feedback from most critics, particularly commending Jennifer Lawrence’s acting. While the film received some criticism, it was generally mild and didn’t have a significant negative impact on the movie. Ultimately, the buzz generated by its initial trailer, whether intentionally or not, helped propel the success of “No Hard Feelings.” Moreover, the age difference between Maddie and Percy played a crucial role in shaping their unique friendship stories depicted in the film.

Other Romance Movies With Significant Age Gaps

More Films Are Featuring A Romance Between An Older Woman & A Younger Man

Age differences are frequently present and sometimes debatable in romantic narratives, particularly in popular Hollywood films. Although these movies often depict age-gap relationships between consenting adults, they can still raise concerns. For instance, the 1954 film “Sabrina” showcases a substantial 30-year difference between its lead actors, Audrey Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart. In the movie, their characters have a 20-year age gap, which seems less striking, but the added complexion of Hepburn’s character’s father working for Bogart’s character introduces another problematic dimension to the disparity.

In a similar vein, the classic film “Pretty Woman” (1990) features a significant age difference between its leads, Richard Gere and Julia Roberts, with Gere being 40 years old and Roberts just 22. The movie has been criticized for its questionable portrayal of sex workers, and the age disparity exacerbates this issue, since it’s Gere who holds all the power as he hires a struggling Roberts when she’s at her lowest point.

Beyond these films, it’s worth noting that a significant number of Woody Allen’s romantic movies often portray May-December relationships, typically involving an older man and a younger woman. Given the troubling accusations against him, this aspect is striking. Despite being mostly shunned by Hollywood, he persists in filmmaking, primarily in Europe.

In contrast to the common perception, not all age-gap romances in movies are problematic. In fact, there has been a shift in recent times, with many films showcasing the older woman, younger man dynamic. The year 2024 witnessed a surge of such romance movies. Nicole Kidman graced our screens in no less than two of these productions. In “Babygirl”, she portrayed a CEO who engages in a steamy affair with her intern (Harris Dickinson). In “A Family Affair”, she plays an author who embarks on a romantic journey with her daughter’s boss (Zac Efron).

2024 Movies With An Older Woman-Younger Man Age Gap
Title Stars Age Gap
Lonely Planet Laura Dern & Liam Hemsworth 23 years
The Idea of You Anne Hathaway & Nicholas Galitzine 12 years
Babygirl Nicole Kidman & Harris Dickinson 29 years
A Family Affair Nicole Kidman & Zac Efron 20 years

What sets these movies apart is their intense focus on the female characters’ sexuality, a refreshing change from Hollywood’s typical portrayal of middle-aged women as either mothers or wives. Instead, these films allow their leading ladies to be multidimensional characters with vibrant sex lives. For instance, the film No Hard Feelings revolves around Percy’s sexual awakening, but it is Maddie’s bold and natural sexuality that makes the movie captivating and worthwhile.

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2025-04-21 14:15