15 Actors Who Openly Clashed With Their Co-Stars
Film sets can look glamorous, but they run on tension as much as talent.
A scene gets rehearsed, reworked, and repeated until it finally clicks, and that grind can make even the calmest person a little sharp around the edges.
When two actors bring different styles, instincts, and limits, the chemistry can turn prickly without warning. Most of the time, everyone keeps it moving and the smiles show up right on schedule for the cameras.
Still, a clash that starts in private can leak into public, especially when interviews roll around and someone decides to be honest instead of diplomatic.
The wild part is how quickly a behind-the-scenes story can attach itself to a project, almost like a second plotline that fans can’t stop following.
1. Vin Diesel vs. Dwayne Johnson — Fast & Furious Franchise
Back in 2016, The Rock posted something on Instagram that made everyone’s jaw drop.
He called some male costars an ugly name while filming The Fate of the Furious, and people knew he meant Vin Diesel.
Their beef got so intense that they filmed scenes separately to avoid each other.
Eventually, Johnson left the main franchise entirely to star in his own spinoff, Hobbs & Shaw, proving sometimes you just gotta go your separate ways.
2. Bill Murray vs. Lucy Liu — Charlie’s Angels
Imagine showing up to work excited, only to have someone insult you out of nowhere.
That’s what happened to Lucy Liu when Bill Murray started hurling mean comments at her during Charlie’s Angels.
Liu wasn’t having it and stood up for herself, which actually paused production temporarily.
Murray didn’t return for the sequel, and honestly, nobody blamed the cast for wanting a drama-free set the second time around.
3. Ryan Gosling vs. Rachel McAdams — The Notebook
Plot twist: the couple from one of the most romantic movies ever actually couldn’t stand each other at first.
Ryan Gosling literally asked the director to bring in another actress to read lines with because he found Rachel McAdams so difficult.
They argued constantly during filming, making everyone on set super uncomfortable.
However, they eventually sorted things out and even dated in real life later, which is the ultimate enemies-to-lovers story.
4. Charlize Theron vs. Tom Hardy — Mad Max: Fury Road
Filming in the scorching desert for months would make anyone cranky, but these two took it to another level.
Tom Hardy showed up late constantly, which drove punctual Charlize Theron absolutely bonkers.
Years later, Theron admitted she was scared of Hardy’s intense behavior on set. Hardy eventually apologized, acknowledging he was difficult to work with during that time.
At least they made an incredible movie despite all the chaos behind the cameras.
5. Kim Cattrall vs. Sarah Jessica Parker — SATC
For six seasons, Samantha and Carrie seemed like besties, but reality told a different story.
Reports suggest Cattrall and Parker basically ignored each other when cameras stopped rolling, with cast members literally picking sides.
Things got worse over the years, with Cattrall publicly refusing to appear in revival projects alongside Parker.
She even skipped a brief cameo opportunity in the reboot, making it crystal clear their friendship was purely fictional.
6. Dustin Hoffman vs. Meryl Streep — Kramer vs. Kramer
Method acting can go way too far, and Dustin Hoffman proved it during this Oscar-winning film.
He actually slapped Meryl Streep without warning during a scene, thinking it would make her reaction more genuine.
Streep later called his behavior cruel and completely unprofessional, which makes total sense.
Just because you’re trying to create realistic drama doesn’t mean you get to actually hurt your coworkers, even if you’re both incredible actors.
7. George Clooney vs. David O. Russell — Three Kings
George Clooney is usually Mr. Nice Guy, so when he gets into a fight, you know something went seriously wrong.
Director David O. Russell reportedly treated extras horribly, and Clooney wasn’t about to let that slide.
Their argument got physical, with the two actually getting into a scuffle on set.
Clooney later said he’d never work with Russell again, and he’s kept that promise for over two decades now.
8. Julia Roberts vs. Nick Nolte — I Love Trouble
Sometimes chemistry just doesn’t happen, and boy, did it not happen here.
Julia Roberts and Nick Nolte disliked each other so much they filmed their scenes separately whenever possible, using stand-ins for over-the-shoulder shots.
Nolte later said Roberts wasn’t nice, while Roberts called him completely disgusting.
Their movie was supposed to be a fun romantic comedy, but audiences could totally feel the awkward vibes through the screen.
9. Tom Hardy vs. Shia LaBeouf — Lawless
Shia LaBeouf has admitted he can be a handful on set, and Tom Hardy apparently experienced that firsthand.
Reports suggest their on-set tension got pretty uncomfortable during this prohibition-era drama.
LaBeouf’s intense method acting style clashed with other cast members’ approaches, creating friction throughout filming.
Though both are talented actors, their different working styles made collaboration challenging.
10. Bill Murray vs. Chevy Chase — Saturday Night Live
SNL has launched countless careers, but it’s also witnessed some epic backstage drama.
When Chevy Chase returned to host after leaving the show, Bill Murray was not happy to see him.
Their argument turned physical right before showtime, with the two comedy legends actually throwing punches backstage.
Cast members had to pull them apart, and their rivalry lasted for years afterward.
11. Debra Winger vs. Shirley MacLaine — Terms of Endearment
Winning Oscars doesn’t mean you have to like your costar, as these two proved beautifully.
Shirley MacLaine and Debra Winger clashed constantly during filming, with MacLaine finding Winger difficult and unpredictable.
Their tension was so obvious that MacLaine even mentioned it during her Oscar acceptance speech, thanking Winger for making her work harder.
Winger later admitted they simply didn’t get along, but at least their conflict created some seriously powerful on-screen moments.
12. Jamie Foxx vs. LL Cool J — Any Given Sunday
Football movies are intense, but apparently the drama continued even after they yelled cut. Reports suggest Jamie Foxx and LL Cool J had a serious on-set incident during this sports drama.
Details remain somewhat murky, but cast members confirmed tension between the two actors throughout production.
Director Oliver Stone had his hands full managing not just football scenes but also keeping his cast from tackling each other off-camera.
13. Jennifer Grey vs. Patrick Swayze — Dirty Dancing
Nobody puts Baby in a corner, but apparently somebody made her pretty annoyed on set.
Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze had worked together before and didn’t exactly love the experience the first time.
Both actors discussed their tension openly in interviews, with Swayze calling Grey a bit of a perfectionist. Grey found Swayze’s joking around frustrating when she was trying to nail difficult dance sequences.
Despite their issues, they created movie magic that people still obsess over decades later.
14. Wesley Snipes vs. Ryan Reynolds — Blade: Trinity
Ryan Reynolds loves to joke around, but Wesley Snipes apparently wasn’t laughing during Blade: Trinity.
Snipes allegedly stayed in his trailer for most of the shoot, refusing to come out or cooperate with the director.
Reynolds later described the experience as incredibly weird and uncomfortable, with Snipes only communicating through Post-it notes sometimes.
15. Shannen Doherty vs. Alyssa Milano — Charmed
Playing magical sisters on TV doesn’t mean you’re actually close in real life, as Charmed fans discovered.
Shannen Doherty and Alyssa Milano had serious tension throughout the show’s run, making the set pretty uncomfortable.
Their feud eventually led to Doherty leaving the series after three seasons, with Milano reportedly giving producers an ultimatum.
Years later, both actresses have discussed their conflict, though their versions of events don’t exactly match up perfectly.
