We recently asked the BuzzFeed Community to tell us which actors had the best onscreen romantic chemistry of all time, and whew, baby, did they deliver. So, here are actors who had the most palpable, sexual chemistry in movies/TV shows:
1. Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashley as Anthony and Kate in Bridgerton (2020-present)
"I really don't want to be dramatic, but between [Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashley's] still moments of barely touching, looking into each other's eyes, and almost kissing, I was sitting of the edge of my seat. I could barely breathe — I had goosebumps!"
"Their chemistry was so, so good. Like, you can’t properly express that kind of yearning if there isn’t intense chemistry to back it up, and they delivered — every. single. time."
2. Quinta Brunson and Tyler James Williams as Janine Teagues and Gregory Eddie on Abbott Elementary (2021-present)
"I feel like in recent years, we’ve lost the magic of a good slow-burn TV couple — I think the binge-watching format has caused this, TBH. So, it has been absolutely perfect to watch Quinta and Tyler as Janine and Gregory on Abbott Elementary — they're slowly realizing they like each other, and each week I tune in to see what’s going to happen. Their chemistry is off the charts, so much so I would watch Quinta and Tyler in a rom-com together on top of this. So good."
3. Riley Keough and Sam Claflin as Daisy Jones and Billy Dunne in Daisy Jones & the Six (2023)
"I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Riley Keough and Sam Claflin's chemistry in Daisy Jones & the Six was just down-right electric. I hung on to every single yearning stare, rock 'n' roll performance on stage, and deep conversation they had. No one but Keough and Claflin could've brought these characters to life the way they did — they captured Daisy and Sam's love affair so beautifully. And the sexual energy between them? Come ON, now! Please go watch them in this show — you'll thank me later!!!"
—BuzzFeed
4. Katherine Moennig and Sarah Shahi as Shane and Carmen on The L Word (2004-2009)
"The chemistry between Katherine Moennig and Sarah Shahi as Shane and Carmen on The L Word remains unmatched. I thought my TV was going to melt any time they looked at each other. Why these two didn’t have their own show is beyond me."
"I loved them together (what little time they had together I was so invested!). I wish they could be cast together in another TV show again. (And yes: Katherine Moennig made me gay.)
5. Lauren Ridloff and Barry Keoghan as Makkari and Druig in Eternals (2021)
"Lauren Ridloff and Barry Keoghan in Eternals! They weren’t even the main couple, but they had more chemistry than them. I was so invested in their few scenes — they were just so natural together."
"Yes — like, the main couples were gorgeous, but I was so immediately entranced by them!! The little nudges and flirty smiles? They truly stole the movie for me."
6. Jodie Comer and Sandra Oh as Villanelle and Eve on Killing Eve (2018-2022)
"Eve and Villanelle from Killing Eve. Their chemistry was undeniable, and every time they’re in a scene together, the tension was so palpable."
7. Taraji P. Henson and Michael Ealy as Lauren and Dominic in Think Like a Man (2012)
"I mean...there are just no words. Taraji P. Henson and Michael Ealy were so, so, SO hot together in Think Like a Man. The movie came out 11 years ago, but that doesn't mean I've stopped thinking about their romantic chemistry. After I watched them onscreen together, I immediately googled if they were together IRL — it all looked so natural. These actors truly delivered the good stuff."
—BuzzFeed
8. Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani as Leilani Brooks and Jibran in The Lovebirds (2020)
"I really thought Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani had incredible chemistry in The Lovebirds, and after watching the film, that’s all I said to anyone. They felt like that couple you know are meant to be together because no one could communicate with them the way they communicated with each other."
9. Kristen Bell and Jason Dohring as Veronica Mars and Logan Echolls on Veronica Mars (2004-2019)
"Kristen Bell and Jason Dohring on Veronica Mars — I think the showrunner said their relationship wasn't originally planned? But, it ended up being the romantic focus of the series, movie, and books — and thank goodness for that."
10. Michelangelo Fortuzzi and Lukas von Horbatschewsky as Matteo and David on Druck (2018-present)
"I think Matteo and David from the Skam German remake, Druck, had amazing chemistry. They had such an ease with each other, it honestly felt like you’re watching a real couple on your TV screen. Also, the decision in Druck to take Skam’s original story and change it up to tell a love story between a cis man and a trans man was unmatched."
11. Erika Alexander and Terrence C. Carson as Max and Kyle on Living Single (1993-1998)
"From the beginning of the series, they had a hilarious, bickering relationship only Erika Alexander and Terrence C. Carson could pull off. But once they finally got together after years of sexual tension, their dynamic on screen was palpable! Their romantic chemistry is one of the best parts of Living Single, and something I'll never get sick of watching."
—BuzzFeed
12. Rachel Brosnahan and Luke Kirby as Midge Maisel and Lenny Bruce in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017-2023)
"Rachel Brosnahan and Luke Kirby in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel were just...every scene they’re in together, they just sparked."
13. Angel Bismark Curiel and Indya Moore as Papi and Angel on Pose (2018-2021)
"Papi gave Angel the utmost respect, constantly lifted her up, and pushed her to pursue her modeling dreams. It's very corny, but anytime they expressed their feelings for each other, it's very passionate."
14. Eliza Taylor and Alycia Debnam-Carey as Clarke and Lexa on The 100 (2014-2020)
"I am hashtag #Bellarke until the end, but from the first scene Clarke and Lexa shared, they played off each other's characters so well. Despite all of the bad blood between their people, they understood each other as leaders and loved each other so much that even after her death, Lexa still protected Clarke."
15. Sanaa Lathan and Omar Epps as Monica and Quincy in Love & Basketball (2000)
"Their chemistry was amazing, and I think they were together in real life for a little while after? I wouldn't be surprised if they were!"
16. Winona Ryder and David Harbour as Joyce and Hopper in Stranger Things 4 (2022)
"I just started watching Stranger Things for the first time last year (yes, I know I'm 100 years late to the party), but I'm SO happy I'm here. I watched Seasons 1-3 before Season 4 dropped last May, and in every episode leading up to the end of S4, I was rooting for Joyce and Hopper to get together. No one but Winona Ryder and David Harbour could've delivered such an intense, hilarious, and loving dynamic. I loved whenever they had silly arguments, even in the most dangerous situations — and when they finally kissed in S4, I was ecstatic (to say the least!)."
—BuzzFeed
17. Gina Rodriguez and LaKeith Stanfield as Jenny Young and Nate Davis in Someone Great (2019)
"Gina Rodriguez and LaKeith Stanfield had wonderful chemistry — as you watched their relationship play out, it felt very real, and you wanted their screen time to last longer. Someone Great is centered around the friendship between the three female leads, but it's a rare movie where both the friendships and the love story were equally compelling, and that's because of the cast."
18. And finally: Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford as Leia Organa and Han Solo in the Star Wars franchise
"It helped that you got to see the progression of their relationship over three films. But, when they saw one another for the first time in who knows how long in The Force Awakens? It was heart-melting."
Note: Some submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.
Let's flip the switch a little bit here, folks: Tell us which two actors had the WORSTTTTTT onscreen romantic chemistry of all time (and *why you think so*) in the comments below.
