I must admit, I’ve seen some rather questionable kissing scenes in my time, but few have left me as bewildered and uncomfortable as those you’ve mentioned here.
Few movie scenes are as emotionally charged as watching two characters who have triumphantly surmounted immense obstacles, deeply expressing their intense affection through a single, heartfelt kiss in films like ‘Casablanca’ and ‘The Notebook.’ This powerful moment on screen can be both moving and awkward.
Audiences have endured an excessive amount of poorly executed kissing scenes over the years, either due to poor writing, misguided chemistry, or shoddy technique. In some instances, the actors lacked the necessary chemistry, while in others, the directors failed to capture the appropriate mood or staging. Regrettably, we have been subjected to decades of awkward lip-locking moments in search of the most painful, embarrassing kisses ever committed to film.
11. Steve Rogers and Sharon Carter — Captain America: Civil War
Regarding the good Captain’s situation, it’s important to clarify that Steve Rogers has no idea his neighbor Sharon is connected to SHIELD, let alone one of its founders, when he begins to have feelings for her. However, even the convincing portrayals by Chris Evans and Emily VanCamp can’t make their kiss, in our view, anything but the most disappointing smooch in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
It’s possible you may have missed or weren’t aware, but at the outset of “Captain America: Civil War”, it’s disclosed that Sharon is the niece of Captain America’s WWII love interest, Peggy Carter (played by Hayley Atwell). Although they don’t have many scenes together that develop a romantic narrative, Cap and Sharon exchange an intense pre-battle kiss in front of his two closest companions – one of whom was also acquainted with Peggy.
Not only does the finale of “Avengers: Endgame” create an uncomfortable situation, it is revealed that Steve returned to the past to live with Peggy, a move that implies he was still in love with her while dating her niece. This raises questions about whether or not he was actually kissing his step-niece. Even if Steve established a life with a version of Peggy in an alternate timeline, it must have been awkward for him when he encountered the Sharon variant (if his actions didn’t erase her completely). It’s all rather convoluted and bizarre, adding to the list of questionable elements in the “Captain America” films.
10. Bella and Jacob — The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
It’s important to note that despite the criticism they’ve faced, the young stars of “The Twilight Saga” deserve recognition for their performances, given they were just teens when filming began. For instance, Robert Pattinson, who played Edward Cullen, was 22 during the first film, but Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner were only 18 and 16 respectively at that time. Remarkably, they managed to deliver compelling performances with sometimes less-than-ideal material.
An illustration – The passionate kiss shared between Bella Swan (Stewart) and Jacob Black (Lautner) in “Eclipse”, one of several dramatic scenes in the third movie of the series. To artificially introduce a love triangle, Bella is portrayed as frustratingly indecisive about her romantic relationships, despite accepting Edward’s proposal. When Jacob learns of the engagement while attempting to shield Bella from harmful vampires, Bella responds to his fury by awkwardly commanding him to kiss her.
In terms of acting, it appears Stewart’s portrayal may come across as overly dramatic in a romantic scene by emphasizing confusion, hesitation, and unease stemming from her character’s decision. However, this believable action is undermined by the excessive melodrama in filming and music (reminiscent of a soap opera), which makes Bella appear excessively repulsed in a moment intended to be romantic. The scene is further compromised by Jacob’s character being written as oblivious to social cues, leaving the scene with him seeming uninterested in her sudden change of heart and instead grunting “I gotta go.
9. Superman and Lois Lane — Man of Steel
It’s no surprise, considering they’re arguably the most iconic comic book duo ever, that Zack Snyder teamed Superman and Lois Lane in “Man of Steel”. Their union is so integral to the narrative that it’s hardly debatable whether actors Henry Cavill and Amy Adams share on-screen chemistry. Each excels in their roles individually, but their kiss, while significant, doesn’t warrant much excitement.
The timing of the situation is a matter entirely unto itself. Instead of before or after his intense fight with General Zod (played by Michael Shannon), Lois and Clark exchange a kiss. This moment occurs just a few minutes following Superman breaking Zod’s neck, with Metropolis in flames behind them. Despite the city being on fire, people trapped under debris, children separated from their parents, and likely individuals stuck in burning buildings, it seems Kal-El is preoccupied at that point.
In the storyline, since this character is faster than a speeding bullet, each second he spends in a romantic moment with his near-girlfriend could translate to a life saved. However, as we see in subsequent DC Extended Universe movies, Superman’s battles unintentionally put many innocent civilians at risk. Despite their preference for romance over rushing into battle, Batman (Ben Affleck) and The Flash (Ezra Miller) maintain focus on the bigger picture.
8. Kip Dynamite and LaFawnduh Lucas — Napoleon Dynamite
Some of the kisses depicted on this list, despite being ranked as some of the most disappointing in cinema history, possess a level of artistic beauty that makes them stand out individually.
Leaving aside the intriguing speculation that overturns the entire narrative of “Napoleon Dynamite,” the 2004 independent comedy is situated in the moderately-sized suburban town of Preston, Idaho. Here, a group of eccentric, self-contained, and unusually driven young adults strive to inject excitement into their otherwise mundane lives by resorting to unusual methods. Kip Dynamite (portrayed by Aaron Ruell as a socially awkward aspiring entrepreneur) seeks change, in part, by venturing into an online relationship with a woman named LaFawnduh Lucas (played by Shondrella Avery). In his quest to adapt himself according to what he perceives as LaFawnduh’s standards, he — much like other characters in the film — discovers contentment in accepting and showcasing the most genuine, awkward aspects of his character.
This ultimately leads to one of the most memorable wedding scenes in a film, where Kip and LaFawnduh share their first kiss as man and wife. To put it lightly, it’s more like they bring their lips close together rather than a traditional kiss. The families’ perplexed reactions are priceless, and to top it off, Kip follows with a serenade that is equally dedicated to his wife and technology.
7. Harry and Hermione — Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
Much like the awkward kiss shared by Kip and LaFawnduh in “Napoleon Dynamite,” the kiss between Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) was intended, one might say, to be less than romantic. However, the producers seemed intent on amplifying this discomfort, pushing it to levels that may have been a bit too intense for comfortable viewing.
As a dedicated Harry Potter fan, if you can’t remember any romantic moment between Harry and Hermione, don’t worry! That’s because there wasn’t one in the actual storyline. Instead, during their mission to destroy the Horcruxes in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” a powerful dark energy vortex emerged from Salazar Slytherin’s locket, which Harry and Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) encountered. To prevent Ron from destroying it with the Sword of Gryffindor, the locket projected an illusion—a vision of Harry and Hermione scolding Ron, and when that didn’t work on the real Harry, the fake one started passionately kissing the fake Hermione to try and sway him.
It’s an immediately jarring scene, not least of all because it contains more nudity than anyone expected to see in a “Harry Potter” film. But the cruelty of it all combined with how sweaty and slimy the locket makes them appear as they unnaturally and almost vindictively writhe around makes for a kiss we wish we’d never seen — which, to be fair, is something that happens in basically every “Harry Potter” movie.
6. Squints and Wendy — The Sandlot
In simpler terms, “The Sandlot” is a film that embodies a romanticized depiction of childhood, harkening back to a supposedly less complex era for boys. The story unfolds in the 1960s and revolves around a band of elementary school-aged lads who bond over endless baseball games on a small field within their community, affectionately known as “the sandlot.” Regrettably, amidst camaraderie and playful banter, an element of this nostalgic boyhood fantasy involves treating women disrespectfully without consequence.
In a typical scenario often depicted in stories about young boys, “The Sandlot” features a humorous plotline where Squints, who is typically the instigator, devises a plan to steal a kiss from a high school lifeguard named Wendy (Marley Shelton). While the other boys amuse themselves by making odd remarks and awkwardly staring at her from the pool, Squints (Chauncey Leopardi) takes it a step further by pretending to drown so she’ll administer mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. After several minutes of this, he seizes the back of her head and pulls her towards his lips forcefully.
Beyond being extremely unsavory, his actions appear to be vindicated by the outcome, making Squints’ pursuit of “the girl” seem justified. Despite being kicked out of the pool, she later gives him a smile suggesting either forgiveness or worse, admiration for his actions. Towards the end of the film, it’s disclosed that she even consented to marry him at some point in time. The kiss and storyline come across as a form of wish-fulfillment, condoning rather disturbing behavior.
5. Beverly and Howard — Howard The Duck
Fans of Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) might recognize Howard the Duck as a significant cameo in James Gunn’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” trilogy. What they may find surprising is that he was not just an Easter egg, but actually headlined his own movie way before audiences were familiar with characters like Rocket Raccoon.
The 1986 movie presents an unusual blend, teetering awkwardly between science fiction and comedy, tinged with absurdity. As Howard becomes more involved with a musician named Beverly (played by Lea Thompson), it’s unclear what the film’s intentions are for their relationship. In fact, it seems implausible to imagine a human and a duck, especially in a live-action setting. However, their initial scenes together portray her as his Lois Lane, implying a strong romantic connection reminiscent of Superman and Lois Lane.
The situation escalates to an unexpectedly intense level when Beverly invites Howard to share her bed one night and playfully feigns initiating sexual activity with him. It remains unclear what the joke is, but this seduction leaves both Howard (and likely the viewers) feeling extremely uneasy. She concludes this joke by planting a kiss on his oxygen mask, forcefully pressing her lips against his plastic mouthpiece.
4. Rey and Ben — Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
In the galaxy far, far away, it could be argued that the Skywalker family isn’t particularly known for romantic bliss and instead, they seem to be more associated with conflicts. Anakin Skywalker’s (Hayden Christensen) love story with Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman) is a challenging one to witness, as their relationship unfolds in a way that seems destined for failure from the start, culminating in circumstances so fraught with turmoil that it ultimately results in their offspring unknowingly kissing each other.
Indeed, for a long time, Luke (Mark Hamill) and Leia’s (Carrie Fisher) kiss on Hoth in “The Empire Strikes Back” reigned supreme as the worst kiss in the “Star Wars” canon — until the Supreme Leader himself threw his cracked helmet into the ring. The “Empire” kiss is mostly bad because it was retroactively made incestuous by revelations in “Return of the Jedi.” On the other hand, the kiss between Kylo Ren/Ben Solo (Adam Driver) and Rey Skywalker (Daisy Ridley) in “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” is indefensible from the start.
In this narrative, it seems illogical for these two characters to share such an intimate bond given their backgrounds, especially considering he’s a tyrannical leader who inflicted immense suffering on her. One could list approximately a thousand reasons why they shouldn’t be close. This plot device appears to be an artificial twist, attempting to have the best of both worlds, which is puzzling and contentious enough that even Daisy Ridley, years after the fact, continues to address its confusing nature.
3. Johnny and Lisa — The Room
It’s not surprising at all to find “The Room” on this list, given that it’s one of the most awkwardly romantic and bizarre films ever produced. This movie, masterminded by leading actor Tommy Wiseau, appears to be a serious, occasionally sensual drama-thriller, but ends up as an unexpectedly comical tragedy revolving around Johnny (Wiseau), a man with emotional instability who is taken aback when his openly hostile girlfriend Lisa (Juliette Danielle) leaves him for another man.
As a devoted admirer, I must say, before their bond seemingly crumbles completely, Johnny and Lisa do engage in an intense night of lovemaking, which Wiseau portrays strikingly close to reality. Despite its length, this intensely intimate sex scene is far from sensual, reminding me oddly of two people forcefully kissing Barbie dolls – a sight I haven’t seen since my childhood days.
These flat, retreating pecks are even more cringe-inducing as the scene tries to convince you that something approximating sex is taking place. The dissonance between the actor’s faces and the rest of their bodies is so distracting it borders on breaking the fourth wall, as you can’t help but pity all involved in Wiseau’s all-too-revealing fiasco.
2. Preston and Shay — Blank Check
As a gamer, I can’t help but cringe when recalling the questionable romantic scene from the 1994 Disney film “Blank Check.” The kiss between eleven-year-old Preston Waters (Brian Bonsall) and thirty-one-year-old FBI agent Shay Stanley (Karen Duffy) is something I’d never defend. It certainly feels out of place in a movie aimed at kids, don’t you think?
As a gamer, I’d say: In this movie, things get pretty complicated as I find myself in possession of a million bucks that was snatched by crooks – and it doesn’t take long for those bad guys to start sniffing around me. It’s a cat-and-mouse game, with an FBI agent named Shay on their tail. We go out on what seems like a regular date, but she surprises me at the end of the film by revealing her true identity as an agent and tells me to give her a call when I turn 17. To top it all off, she plants a kiss on me before disappearing!
Over the past few years, a particular topic has gained significant popularity and sparked strong criticism from newcomers. When Disney opted not to feature the controversial show “Love, Victor” on their streaming platform Disney+ in 2020, they faced accusations of hypocrisy due to their policy of protecting young viewers from mature themes while still allowing them access to shows like “Blank Check.” Meanwhile, Bonsall has expressed his pleasure about the film’s continued success, years after its initial release.
1. John McBurney and Amy — The Beguiled
In many movies, there are numerous on-screen kisses that fall flat. Unfortunately, we can’t cover all of them here, but one that stands out as particularly questionable, both within the storyline and in real-life context, is the kiss from the opening scenes of the 1971 Clint Eastwood thriller “The Beguiled.” This film, directed by Don Siegel, known for “Dirty Harry,” features Eastwood as John McBurney, a Union corporal who’s injured and trying to avoid Confederate soldiers during the American Civil War. The kiss in question is problematic due to its context within the story and real-world implications.
The individual John initially comes across while searching for sanctuary is a 12-year-old girl named Amy (Pamelyn Ferdin), who resides in a remote, all-female Christian boarding school. It’s there that he eventually leads McBurney. Before this sequence of unsettling events unfolds, though, John needs to keep Amy silent on their journey to prevent soldiers from noticing them – tragically, he silences her by kissing her forcefully on the lips.
The situation becomes even more unsettling due to ongoing, unproven whispers that Eastwood and Siegel failed to inform Ferdin prior to filming that she would be involved in a kissing scene. In 2022, Ferdin discussed the scene on her Facebook page without directly acknowledging the rumors, but regarding the kiss she stated, “I don’t believe such an act would be tolerated in today’s society, but it contributed to a powerful scene.
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2024-10-22 14:30