Top 40 Kissing Scenes That Weren’t Supposed To Happen (And Some That We Were All Waiting For)
On our favorite TV shows and movies, it's always the scene with the "big kiss" that changes everything. Whether it solidifies two characters' relationship with each other or just makes the plot thicken, you would think that these kisses were written into the script – but that isn't always the case.
From The Office to Stranger Things, there have been on-screen kisses that weren't technically supposed to happen. But ever since they did, there was no going back. Here are some of the most memorable kiss scenes that were a surprise to those on the receiving end!
Top Gun (1986)
In Top Gun, Maverick (Tom Cruise) and Charlie (Kelly McGillis) face off in the street, with Charlie telling Maverick that she doesn't want anyone to find out about her feelings for him. At that point the inevitable happens, and Maverick kisses Charlie.
This, apparently, wasn't supposed to happen and in the script the conversation went on. But sources say that Cruise actually forgot his line in that moment, so instead, he just kissed McGillis. Director Tony Scott liked the direction that scene took so much, that he ended up leaving it in the film.
Lost In Translation (2003)
In Lost in Translation, aging Hollywood actor Bob Harris (Bill Murray) and Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson), a young college graduate, spark an unlikely friendship in Tokyo. At the film's end, Bob and Charlotte's tender goodbye contains a kiss that was a total surprise to everyone on set.
Unsurprisingly, comic actor Murray is a great improviser says director Sofia Coppola, who said told The Daily Beast that Johansson didn't expect the kiss since it wasn't in the script. "I remember sometimes he would always spring things on her, and it was fun to get her reaction," Coppola said.
Edge Of Tomorrow (2014)
In Edge of Tomorrow, Major William Cage (Tom Cruise) dies in combat but ends up in a time loop that keeps sending him back to the day before the battle that kills him. He tries to get out of it with the help of Special Forces fighter Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt).
Screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie told Film School Rejects that the filmmakers tried to find a place where Cage and Vrataski kiss, but scrapped the idea because nothing seemed right. Blunt decided to just go for it one day while filming a scene, surprising everyone, and it worked out.
Game Of Thrones (2017)
Game of Thrones' season seven episode "Stormborn" saw Yara Greyjoy (Gemma Whelan) and Ellaria Sand (Indira Varma) kiss on a ship just before they're attacked. The actresses weren't told to kiss, but instead decided to do it anyway while filming the scene.
"It just seemed like something we should do. We led it, very much so. It was meant to be a suggestion [of flirting] and then it became more... than we expected because it seemed right," Whelan told Entertainment Weekly. One person who was certainly shocked was Whelan's stunt double, who incidentally also had to kiss Varma!
American Hustle (2013)
American Hustle stars Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence as the mistress and wife, respectively, to Christian Bale's character. Incidentally, Adams and Lawrence don't share a lot of screen time together, except for one scene in which Lawrence's character furiously kisses Adams's character, before breaking away and laughing maniacally.
Adams apparently pitched the idea to director David O. Russell, who wasn't sure how it would play out. "I came up with the idea, but [Lawrence] executed it in a way that felt driven purely from character... And the laugh [she] gives after? That was genius," Adams said in a press conference.
This Iconic Kiss Actually Wasn't Enjoyable
In Sam Raimi's first Spider-Man, fans got the chance to see Tobey Maguire show us what he can do as the wall-crawling, web-slinging superhero, Spider-Man. He didn't let us down either, as the hero has seen a reboot twice, but fans still love Maguire's rendition the most.
The scene critics were all talking about afterward is one that still stands the test of time — the moment when Spider-Man hung upside down to come in for the big kiss with his love interest, Mary Jane. Maguire said the kiss wasn't a great experience for him because of the fact he was upside down, but viewers loved it
Read Missed Kisses: Celebs Who Did Not Want to Kiss Their Co-Stars on Hareal to learn about other celebrities who did not want to go in for a smooch with their co-star.
Teen Wolf (2011)
Dylan O'Brien's improvisation skills actually ended up getting his character into a relationship on MTV's Teen Wolf. Early on in the series, O'Brien suddenly kissed co-star Holland Roden on the cheek in one of their scenes. This led fans to actually want their characters, Stiles and Lydia, to end up together.
Roden revealed in an interview that the producers liked what they saw, so they had to redo the scene around 12 times to get it just right. Eventually, the writers of Teen Wolf gave the fans what they wanted, but not until seasons later.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)
Fans have been divisive over Star Wars: The Last Jedi, but one thing most everyone can agree on is how heartbreaking Luke Skywalker's (Mark Hamill) final goodbye to his sister Leia (Carrie Fisher) was. This was especially true since it was underscored by Fisher's passing a year prior to the film's release.
Luke kisses Leia on the forehead before walking away, a sweet gesture that overcame Hamill "in the take." "It... was really momentous for me because Luke was saying goodbye to his sister forever," Hamill told Entertainment Tonight, adding that he can't watch the scene due to the real-life loss of Fisher after filming.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 (2015)
At the end of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2, Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks) and Haymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson) share a kiss that wasn't on the script. Harrelson told Entertainment Tonight that the kiss was completely improvised and jokes about where he might have found the motivation for it.
"I have a crush on Elizabeth Banks, I'm not going to lie. I think she's a beautiful woman, I think she's a marvelous actress, and I just love her as a person... She didn't know I was even going to do it, and I just kissed her," he said.
The Office (2006)
In the premiere episode of The Office's season three. Michael Scott (Steve Carrell) learns that his employee Oscar Martinez (Oscar Nuñez) is gay, which prompts Scott to display his acceptance in the most awkward way. Michael forces a kiss on Oscar, which wasn't in the script.
"[We] were just supposed to hug, and he kept hugging me. And that particular take he came in really close, and I'm like, 'Where is he going with this?' Oh, dear, yes here we go," Nuñez told The A.V. Club. Thankfully no one laughed, so they were able to use the priceless moment!
Jurassic World (2015)
If you've seen Jurassic World, then you saw the kiss between Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) and Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard). There was initially no kiss in the script and the scene was filmed that way at first, but Pratt spontaneously kissed Howard on the the final day of filming.
Director Colin Trevorrow reportedly took Pratt aside and suggested they add in a kiss – without telling Howard. "The idea was we're just going to have Chris Pratt surprise [Howard] in front of 200 people... and that's the take that's in the movie," Trevorrow said in behind-the-scenes footage.
A Room With A View (1985)
Helena Bonham Carter was only 18 when she starred in her breakthrough role as Lucy Honeychurch in Room with a View. The film involves a passionate kiss between Lucy and her new friend George, played by Julian Sands.
The production crew wanted the perfect moment for George and Lucy to kiss, so Carter was caught off guard when they sprung the idea on her one day. Carter has said that the kiss was completely improvised and it was a bit of a challenge, since she didn't have much kissing experience at that age.
Stranger Things (2017)
Season two of Netflix's Stranger Things premiered with an accompanying after-show called Beyond Stranger Things, where it was revealed that the kiss between Max (Sadie Sink) and Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) at the Snow Ball was entirely unplanned. Co-creator Ross Duffer said he initially brought the kiss up as a joke, but Sink was "so freaked" by the idea that he decided to add it at the last minute.
Duffer told Sink it was her "fault" the kiss ended up happening. This caused an outrage among fans, especially since misconduct allegations all throughout Hollywood were coming to light.
New Girl (2012)
Halfway through the first season of New Girl, in the episode "Injured," Schmidt (Max Greenfield) kisses Nick (Jake Johnson) on the mouth twice when he thinks that Nick is not well. In On Air With Ryan Seacrest, the actors said the kiss was improvised, but that they do improvise kisses a lot.
Greenfield said that the crew didn't think the kiss was appropriate, but Greenfield kept adding it in anyway. "They usually don't put it in... and finally they put it in after about the seventh time I'd done it," Greenfield said.
Orange Is The New Black (2013)
In Orange is the New Black, things aren't easy for Piper (Taylor Schilling) when she ends up in jail with ex-girlfriend Alex (Laura Prepon). While fans see them together in flashbacks, it was still a surprise (or maybe not) to fans when they ended up reuniting with a steamy kiss in a chapel.
It was Prepon's first time portraying a character in a same-sex relationship on-screen, but she says that it worked out. "[The] main thing I learned was whether it's a man or a woman, if there's chemistry, there's chemistry," Prepon told After Ellen.
Cheers (1983)
Of all on-screen kisses that have wowed fans, the one between Sam (Ted Danson) and Diane (Shelley Long) in Cheers was definitely one of them. For all of the first season, Sam and Diane would spar with each other until a heated argument in the season finale ended in a passionate kiss.
Fans were floored when it happened, but perhaps the producers knew it was in the cards all along. Long told Yahoo! Entertainment that she and Danson had chemistry with each other before they landed the roles. "Right off the bat there was something special between us," she said.
Gilmore Girls (2004)
Gilmore Girls fans spent the first four seasons agonizing over whether Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Luke (Scott Patterson) would end up together. At the end of season four, writers gave in and Luke and Lorelai finally share a kiss after confirming the status of their relationship. Many of us saw it coming, but others couldn't believe it.
Fans were arguably shocked when it finally happened and then they were pretty upset when the diner-owner and small-town hotelier broke up. Perhaps it only proved that these two were meant to stay in each other's friend zones.
Fraiser (2000)
Fraiser fans couldn't believe it when Niles (David Hyde Pierce) and Daphne (Jane Leeves) finally locked lips in season seven. The kiss was a long time coming, especially since Niles falls in love with Daphne as early as the third episode when he first meets her. Despite how obvious it is, she acts oblivious.
Throughout the series he keeps his feelings a secret, at first because he is married, but later because she was involved with other men. When Fraiser accidentally reveals Niles' feelings in season seven, Daphne finds herself falling for Niles.
Friends (1995)
Pretty much anyone who has seen Friends knows that the kiss between Ross (David Schwimmer) and Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) in season two was bound to happen. Still, everyone lost their minds when the one thing they wanted to happen actually happened.
Ross and Rachel have what might very well be the most typical "will they or won't they" plotline in television history but in the end, they most certainly did and then some. After the initial kiss in season two, they've come a long way for the remaining eight seasons.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer (2001)
In Buffy the Vampire Slayer, it seemed that Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) couldn't possibly be romantically involved with a vampire. After all, it was her calling to defeat them. But fans couldn't deny that Spike (James Marsters), though he was a vampire, was in love with Buffy.
It took six seasons to get there, but in "Once More, with Feeling," all the characters reveal their truths in the infamous musical episode. But aside from the song and dance, what really made this episode memorable was the kiss that Buffy and Spike share at the very end.
New Girl (2013)
New Girl fans knew from the start that Jess (Zooey Deschanel) and Nick (Jake Johnson) had undeniable chemistry. But most people also know that it's not a great idea to start hooking up with your roommates.
Still, fans were rooting for Nick and Jess to happen and they finally got what they wanted midway through season two. A lot of us knew that this kiss probably shouldn't have happened – at least, not in the way that it did. One can't deny that Nick realized his feelings for Jess in that episode.
The X-Files (1999)
Fans of The X-Files were frustrated to see Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) stay so focused on their job and not each other. But creator Chris Carter notoriously is not a fan of the will-they-or-won't-they trope, which is why we rarely see Mulder and Scully's relationship play out on screen.
But Carter still allowed fans to see what they've all been waiting for when Mulder and Scully share a New Year's kiss in season seven (but it does take place in an alternate reality). Still, their platonic friendship does develop into romance by the end of the series.
The Vampire Diaries (2012)
When The Vampire Diaries premiered in 2009, we thought the last thing we needed was another vampire romance drama. But we were hooked when Elena (Nina Dobrev) started falling for Stefan (Paul Wesley), and more so when his brother Damon (Ian Somerhalder) entered the picture to cause trouble.
Of course, a love triangle ensued and when Elena finally kissed Damon in season three, it was clear where the real chemistry was. It sort of helped that Dobrev and Somerhalder had dated in real life, which is probably why their characters' kiss was so authentic.
The Good Wife (2011)
When The Good Wife's Alicia (Julianna Margulies) started working for her former law school flame Will (Josh Charles), we all could tell that their new professional relationship was going to take an inappropriate turn. That's why it was so gratifying to finally see them share a passionate kiss in an elevator in the season two finale, after they'd spent much of the season trying to figure out how to have an affair.
It was all the more satisfying that Alicia, guilty that she just kissed her boss, goes home and sleeps with her estranged convict of a husband.
Shameless (2014)
On Showtime's Shameless, people were rooting for Ian (Cameron Monaghan) to come to terms with his sexuality in a healthy way. We were all there for this journey, which is why when he finally shares a kiss with Mickey (Noel Fisher) in public, fans couldn't be more proud.
It was a kiss that was definitely "shameless" and one that we were all waiting for. We can't say much else without giving too much away, but needless to say, we were all pretty satisfied that these two finally got what they wanted deep down.
Outlander (2014)
If you haven't heard of Outlander, it's probably because it's one of those shows that's only available on Starz. The show follows WWII nurse Claire (Caitriona Balfe), who gets transported back to the 18th century and falls in with rebels from the Scottish Highlands. Out of necessity, Claire marries one of them named Jamie (Sam Heughan).
Almost too easily, Claire and Jamie fall in love and their first kiss on the night of their honeymoon was steamy. When people first saw this kiss they couldn't help but wonder if Claire even wanted to return to her own time.
E.R. (2000)
Few people remember that George Clooney got his start on the early '90s television series E.R. as Dr. Doug Ross. Throughout the series Doug sort of has a thing with Nurse Carol Hathaway (Juliana Marguiles), despite his womanizing ways.
By 1999, Clooney left the show to pursue his film career and we can't blame him. When Marguiles was ready to leave the show too, producers surprised everyone when they asked Clooney to return for a scene after he'd been gone for a year. The kiss Doug shares with Carol in season six was the happy ending they deserved.
The Mindy Project (2014)
The season two finale of The Mindy Project had us all shocked when – spoiler alert! – Mindy (Mindy Kaling) kisses her best frenemy Danny (Chris Messina). The passionate kiss certainly changed things for the characters' dynamic, especially since they were also co-workers.
"You can't script chemistry," Kaling explained in a panel about the show. She went on to say that it was the chemistry between Mindy and Danny that led to the kiss and her desire not to jerk fans around with a will-they-or-won't-they plot that would just end up frustrating them.
The West Wing (2006)
One can only imagine what really goes on inside the White House, which is probably why The West Wing was a great show despite the fact that it was all fiction. What people loved more than the actual politics was the relationships between the characters. The one between Josh (Bradley Whitford) and Donna (Janel Moloney) was a particular favorite.
So when they finally kissed in season seven, it's no wonder Donna said, "It was bound to happen sometime." The producers of the show noticed this chemistry since season one, but waited for the perfect moment.
Parks And Recreation (2011)
At first, when Ben (Adam Scott) entered the picture on Parks and Recreation, he was a lot more serious than Deputy Director of the department Leslie (Amy Poehler). They definitely didn't get along from the start, but eventually they start warming up to each other.
By season three, Ben admits to Leslie that he likes her while on a road trip and they end up kissing. Needless to say, Ben and Leslie were an unlikely couple but throughout the rest of the series, people fell in love with them as a couple.
Northern Exposure (1993)
Remember the early '90s show Northern Exposure? Joel (Rob Morrow) was a New York City doctor who moves to Alaska to work as a doctor. There he meets Maggie (Janine Turner), a bush pilot with whom Joel was seemingly always at odds.
As many know, when two characters spar like Joel and Maggie did, there's underlying tension there. So when they finally hooked up in season four, we just knew it was bound to happen – even if Maggie had to punch Joel in the face twice before their kiss actually happened.
Moonlighting (1987)
In the late '80s sitcom Moonlighting, the tension between Maddie (Cybill Shepherd) and David (Bruce Willis) was so palpable that we could all see their eventual romance from ten miles away, or rather, the very first season.
The kisses they shared before they did the deed at the height of season three were some of the best to be filmed for television. It was that these two wanted each other, but when writers actually had Maddie and David hook up, we learned that sometimes it's best not to get what you want.
These Two Kissed And Realized Something Great
Who can hate a good old-fashioned rom-com? Throw one on during a rainy day, get a blanket, pop some popcorn, enjoy the show. The 2011 film Friends with Benefits featured a stud in Justin Timberlake, and beautiful Mila Kunis who think adding intimacy in the relationship won't lead to complications.
Sure enough, problems come from it and they end up not talking for a while. Timberlake's character spends time thinking about what he's lost and plots a way to win her back. In the end, he gets her back and seals the deal with a great kiss that symbolizes that they have ascended past friends with benefits.
Producers Shouldn't Have Made Her Do This
There are undeniably a bevy of women out there who'd line up to kiss an A-list actor like Brad Pitt. But surprisingly, some of his former co-stars didn't consider themselves to lucky. One example is Kirsten Dunst, who starred alongside Pitt in Interview with a Vampire.
The main reason she did not enjoy kissing Pitt was because she was only 11 years old at the time and Pitt was about 20 years her senior! That would be pretty gross for any young girl, but at the very least, Dunst's acting career was off to a solid start.
Kissing Steve Carrell Is Like Kissing A Cat
You already know that Steve Carrell can surprise a co-star with an unexpected (but hilarious!) kiss. But what about when that kiss is actually planned? And what if both characters were straight? That's exactly what happened in 2008's Get Smart when Maxwell (Carrell) kisses Agent 23 (Dwayne Johnson) to distract him.
It must have come as a shock to his character, but Johnson was prepared for it nonetheless. He once said in an interview that while Carrell's lips were soft like the bottom of a cat's paw, his tongue was like kitty litter!
One Might Say This Is A Hate-Filled Kiss
Dirty Dancing may be a classic to many, especially for the romance between Baby (Jennifer Grey) and Johnny (Patrick Swayze). Their teacher-student romance was solidified by a kiss that's perhaps just as important as the actual dancing in the movie!
But unfortunately, the feelings weren't actually there for these actors. Swayze divulged in his memoir that Grey was terrible to work with, which leads us to believe that kissing her must have been a chore. The actor noted that Grey was overly emotional and would be purposefully disruptive on set with her behavior.
She Hated Having To Kiss Him All The Time
Anyone who has seen How I Met Your Mother knows how much Lily (Alyson Hannigan) and Marshall (Jason Segel) love each other. They're certainly that annoying couple whose love almost makes you sick, but at the same time you say, Can you blame 'em?
But for a good part of the series, Hannigan has said that she hated kissing her on-screen husband. Segel was a regular smoker when the show started, but Hannigan hated that he reeked of nicotine. But this was enough to get Segel to quit the cancer sticks for good.
The Unexpected Relationship No One Saw Coming
Harry Potter has a mass following, and even the die-hard fans were a bit perplexed at the way the love interests in the series unfolded. Our most significant proof of this point was the relationship between Harry and Hermoine Granger. Everyone thought they would become a couple.
In the end, it was Ronald Weasley (Rupert Grint) who ended up with the clever Granger. In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2, Grint and Emma Watson share a romantic moment that both characters seemed to love. Not quite what the fans were expecting, but in the end, it was worth it.
It Was A Really Wet Kiss
If you followed the highly popular Hunger Games series, then you know how close Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) were. They were similar to that of Harry and Hermoine, except the former were the ones to lock lips.
In The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, the people finally got what they wanted. Lawrence and Hutcherson kissed, and it was the moment all the fans were waiting for from the trilogy. But many don't know that it wasn't all that enjoyable. Hutcherson once revealed that Lawrence was a "slobbery" kisser.
Everyone Wishes They Had A Kiss Like This
The Notebook is one of the most iconic love films of all-time. Ryan Gosling played a young adult named Noah who was head over heels for Allie, played by Rachel McAdams. In the beginning, Noah had to work for what he wanted because Allie was no easy case.
When the two finally touched lips, the film became even more heartfelt. But no kiss in that movie resonates with people more than the one in the rain. Surprisingly, getting the actors to kiss was just as difficult, seeing as how they hated each other during filming!
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