The 30 Most Iconic Duos Of All Time

Some icons come in pairs.

There have been plenty of duos that have made massive impacts on history, each in their own ways. From fictional characters to musical double acts, their impact is everywhere.

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Whether they're real or fictional, animated or live-action, the pairs on this list still remain fresh in the minds of people everywhere. Two is better than one, after all!

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So here are some of the most iconic duos of all time:

31. Trixie Mattel and Katya Zamolodchikova

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They both competed on Season 7 of RuPaul's Drag Race, but it's their success after the show that made these two icons. Nowadays you can catch them anywhere from their TWO YouTube shows (UNHhhh and I Like To Watch), their podcast (The Bald and the Beautiful), their two books, or they're live tour.

30. Marlin and Dory — Finding Nemo

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Marlin never could've found his son without Dory. Though she lives with short-term memory loss, Dory was able to help Marlin through the most challenging obstacles and reunite him with Nemo, and he, in return, helped her overcome her disability.

29. SpongeBob and Patrick — SpongeBob SquarePants

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Many of us remember watching SpongeBob and his friends in Bikini Bottom growing up. Most notably, we remember the yellow sponge engaging in many undersea shenanigans with his best bud, Patrick. Usually seen blowing bubbles, going jellyfishing, or just annoying Squidward, these two made our childhoods with their joyous antics.

28. Rick and Morty — Rick and Morty

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Though these two are parodies of Doc Brown and Marty McFly, Rick and Morty have proven themselves to be very different people. Rick always drags his grandson along on his many dangerous adventures, which have undoubtedly traumatized Morty beyond belief. Their relationship is toxic and codependent, but the two of them always succeed in shocking audiences while still making them laugh.

27. Shrek and Donkey — Shrek

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Donkey was the first creature not to see Shrek as a monster, and that made a lasting impression on the big, green ogre. Though the latter takes him for granted and tries to push him away, Donkey persistently stays by Shrek's side, both out of friendship and a need for a place to stay.

26. Troy and Abed — Community

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Troy and Abed in the morning! These two were the power couple of Greendale Community College. Troy and Abed solidified their bromance with their unforgettable Spanish Rap in the show’s second episode. Since then, we’ve seen both of them rock Greendale to its core by building blanket/pillow forts, hosting a fake talk show, or battling Blorgons.

25. Wayne Campbell and Garth Algar — Wayne's World

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These two metalheads rocked their way into all of our heads after their breakout debut on Saturday Night Live. With so many iconic catchphrases, hilarious jokes, and extreme close-ups, Wayne and Garth always gave audiences the most excellent shows. Even after so many years, their magic has not disappeared. Party on, guys.

24. Thelma & Louise — Thelma & Louise

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We all know those two friends who drove off that cliff. Thelma and Louise became feminist icons upon their film's release, as they were women who rebelled against patriarchal norms and tried to be free to live, and ultimately die, on their own terms.

23. Bonnie and Clyde — Bonnie and Clyde

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These two were responsible for multiple robberies in the 1930s until they were both gunned down in Bienville Parish, Louisiana. The infamous duo's popularity reignited with the release of their 1967 biopic, and the two of them have been synonymous with crime, romance, and tragedy akin to Romeo and Juliet.

22. Brian and Stewie Griffin — Family Guy

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These two are the best parts of Family Guy. Though Brian and Stewie started out the series hating each other, the duo had many hilarious adventures together over the years, taking them across the world, history, and even the multiverse itself. Their wild and hilarious stories not only succeeded in entertaining audiences but also brought Brian and Stewie closer together and made them the best of friends.

21. Link and Princess Zelda — The Legend of Zelda

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Over the years, Link has rescued the Princess of Hyrule from many evils, but mostly from the Demon King, Ganon. However, Link and Zelda's relationship has grown to the point that the two of them need each other equally to protect Hyrule. Though the two of them have appeared at many different points in Hyrule's history, the one constant is that they have each other to lean on, arguably making them the most extraordinary couple in video game history.

20. Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee — The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

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Though he started out working as Frodo's gardener, Sam soon joined him on his quest to destroy the One Ring after eavesdropping on him and Gandalf. Throughout their entire journey, Sam remained loyal to Frodo, refusing to let him go alone and sharing the burden with him. He even went as far as carrying Frodo up Mount Doom when he was too weak to do so. Though Frodo is the hero of this epic adventure, he is nothing without his most trusted companion.

19. Bud Abbott and Lou Costello

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Who's on first, again?

18. Felix and Oscar — The Odd Couple

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"Can two divorced men share an apartment without driving each other crazy?" These two pioneered the comedic trope of two opposites living together with their landmark comedy. With Felix tidy and organized and Oscar sloppy and carefree, the titular couple set the ultimate standard for sitcoms decades after their TV debut.

17. Lucy and Ricky Ricardo — I Love Lucy

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As the leads of one of the most important sitcoms of all time, the Ricardos redefined television with their loving and laugh-inducing episodes as husband and wife.

16. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson — Sherlock Holmes

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"Elementary, my dear Watson!" Sherlock Holmes is hardly seen solving mysteries without his faithful friend/confidant, Dr. Watson.

15. Jules Winnfield and Vincent Vega — Pulp Fiction

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This Tarantino duo is known for the black and white suits, distinguished haircuts, and long-winded discussions about cheeseburgers, foot massages, and divine intervention. After looking at these two, you'll always hear Dick Dale's "Misirlou" playing in your head.

14. Woody and Buzz Lightyear — Toy Story

Pixar / Via YouTube

Feeling threatened by Andy's love for Buzz, Woody clashes with the toy space ranger throughout their first film together. However, while Woody and Buzz started out as bitter rivals, they soon develop a close friendship as they try to escape from Sid's house and return to Andy. Their greatest moment together is arguably their flying back to their owner, which cemented the wonder and magic of Pixar films.

13. Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock — Star Trek

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As the gut-driven captain of the U.S.S. Enterprise, Kirk frequently clashed with the calculated logic of Mr. Spock during their many fantastic adventures across the cosmos. Nevertheless, both men developed a friendship that soon grew into a brotherhood that ran deeper than blood. Live long and prosper, you two.

12. Doc and Marty — Back to the Future Trilogy

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Marty McFly has been a loyal friend and assistant to Doc Brown since he was a kid, as his fascination for the latter's inventions led to helping him with all his scientific pursuits. Most notably, he joined Doc as he unveiled his legendary DeLorean and traveled back and forth through time, both making and breaking history.

11. Joey and Chandler — Friends

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Friendship goals right here. These two guys have been best friends since day one, as they share a love for sitting on their recliners, watching Baywatch, and playing foosball. Though they have had their rough patches, they've shown us that no matter what obstacles get in their way, they will always be best buds.

10. John Lennon & Paul McCartney — The Beatles

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This duo was the creative force behind the Beatles, as John and Paul wrote most of the band's legendary songs together. No matter who you think is the best Beatle, you can't deny that these two made for one of the all-time greatest musical duos.

9. Scooby-Doo and Shaggy — Scooby-Doo

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Zoinks! Scooby-Doo and Shaggy have graced many a child's TV with their hilarious adventures. These two buddies share a love for eating mountains of food, solving mysteries, and running away from scary monsters. They're not the greatest detectives in the world, but they're undoubtedly two of the most popular.

8. Snoopy and Woodstock — Peanuts

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Though Snoopy is close to Charlie Brown, his best friend is arguably Woodstock. Ever since this cute yellow bird first landed on Snoopy's nose, the two of them have been inseparable. Though Woodstock annoyed him with his presence, Snoopy eventually warmed up to the little birdy, and the two of them became the cutest pals in the world.

7. Tom and Jerry — Tom and Jerry

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These two were cartoon violence at its greatest. For decades, we've watched Tom try to get rid of Jerry through countless methods, only for the latter to hilariously and brutally defeat him at every turn. As the literal embodiment of a cat and mouse chase, Tom and Jerry's rivalry continues to run strong and will probably do so ad infinitum.

6. Romeo and Juliet — Romeo and Juliet

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Their classic tragedy has been retold many times before, with many versions of Shakespeare's play having been made. But the story is always the same for these two "star-cross'd lovers." Each caught up in a bitter feud between their two houses, Romeo and Juliet find love in each other but are soon driven apart by death. It's not the most hopeful teenage romance, but it's arguably one of the most iconic.

5. Bert and Ernie — Sesame Street

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Bert and Ernie showed countless children that two people with totally different personalities can happily coexist, making them the best "odd couple" still on TV.

4. C-3PO and R2-D2 — Star Wars

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There's hardly a time when these two droids aren't arguing together on-screen. C-3PO and R2-D2 remain two of the most well-known characters in Star Wars and pop culture as a whole, as they're responsible for Luke Skywalker setting off on his adventure and, therefore, saving the galaxy from the Empire.

3. Mario and Luigi — Super Mario Bros.

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Though Mario is the star of this prominent entertainment franchise, there have been times when even he needed the help of his younger brother, Luigi. These two video game icons have repeatedly worked together to fight countless villains and save a variety of worlds. If you're into gaming and you want a second player, you can always bet on Mario and Luigi.

2. Batman and Robin — DC Comics

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For decades, Batman was rarely seen fighting crime without his young ward, Robin. Bruce Wayne adopted young Dick Grayson after the latter lost his parents, taking him under his wing to help him become another Caped Crusader. This Dynamic Duo has long protected the people of Gotham City from many dastardly villains as costumed vigilantes, and their exploits have made them a crucial part of pop culture.

1. Han Solo & Chewbacca — Star Wars

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Like Threepio and Artoo, this legendary smuggler and his Wookie companion instantly became science-fiction icons with the staggering success of Star Wars. Though his last name is Solo, Han never flies the Millennium Falcon without his faithful co-pilot in the chair next to him. 

Do you agree with this list? Are there any iconic duos that I missed? Please let me know in the comments section below.

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