The dynamic shared by two characters in a movie whose relationship is written honestly, and who are played by actors with great on-screen chemistry, can sometimes become even more memorable than any individual character. It’s rare that this is pulled off to its full effect, but it can be done. Whether they were brought together by charges of espionage or a desire to capture a killer shark, there have been plenty of great double acts throughout Steven Spielberg’s filmography.
From an archeologist-turned-adventurer and his estranged father to a small-town police chief and a daring marine biologist, here are the 10 Best Duos From Steven Spielberg Movies.
Frank Abagnale, Jr. & Carl Hanratty (Catch Me If You Can)
Steven Spielberg made his biopic of con man Frank Abagnale, Jr., Catch Me If You Can, as a cat-and-mouse thriller with a terrific sense of humor. A young Leonardo DiCaprio plays Abagnale, while Tom Hanks co-stars as the FBI agent on his trail, Carl Hanratty (based on real-life FBI agent Joseph Shea).
DiCaprio’s effortless charisma makes Abagnale an irresistible charmer, and Hanks plays Hanratty’s cluelessness to priceless effect in scenes where he encounters Abagnale without even realizing it.
Tintin & Captain Haddock (The Adventures Of Tintin)
The Adventures of Tintin, Steven Spielberg’s big-screen adaptation of the Tintin comics, doesn’t get as much attention as it deserves. It’s a rollicking cinematic adventure, with motion-capture animation that doesn’t slip into the uncanny valley.
The actual interactions between the actors allowed Jamie Bell and Andy Serkis to develop a real rapport as Tintin and Captain Haddock, respectively. It’s a shame we’ve never gotten the sequel we were promised because this could’ve been such a fun franchise to return to every couple of years.
Ben Bradlee & Kay Graham (The Post)
Filmed while the VFX shots were being rendered on Ready Player One, The Post marks the first on-screen collaboration between Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep. They were brought together by an important, timely story about the importance and power of the free press.
As Ben Bradlee and Kay Graham, two journalists determined to expose secrets about the Vietnam War that the Nixon administration has been keeping a secret, these two incredibly talented actors make for a sensational pair.
Indiana Jones And Short Round (Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom)
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is one of the most culturally problematic movies ever made. But as a pulpy adventure, it’s almost as much fun as Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Indy was given a kid sidekick in the form of Short Round, a fast-talking 11-year-old Shanghai cabbie played by The Goonies’ Jonathan Ke Quan. Harrison Ford had great chemistry with his young co-star, which helped to offset the one-dimensionality of the female lead, Willie Scott.
Oskar Schindler & Itzhak Stern (Schindler’s List)
Liam Neeson and Ben Kingsley share a subtle chemistry in the roles of Oskar Schindler and Itzhak Stern, respectively. Oskar Schindler isn’t a great guy when we first meet him in Schindler’s List. He’s a member of the Nazi Party, turning a blind eye to the horrors of the Holocaust.
When he finally comes around, Itzhak Stern is the guy who helps him write the list. He’s Schindler’s closest ally, and he’s fundamental in making Schindler’s heroic liberation of 1,200 Jews possible.
Captain Miller & Private Ryan (Saving Private Ryan)
Some critics have questioned the realism of Saving Private Ryan. There’s no way that the U.S. military would risk several lives on a mission to save one. But if you suspend your disbelief and accept that the story exists for thematic purposes, there’s a ton of historical accuracy in the little details.
Captain Miller gives his life to save Private Ryan’s, and in his final moments, he tells him to make the most of the life he’s been given. Tom Hanks and Matt Damon play this scene – and all of their scenes – beautifully.
Brody & Hooper (Jaws)
The great thing about Jaws is that it’s not about a shark; it’s about three very different guys (Brody, Hooper, and Quint) who are forced to work together by the threat of a shark. While they both clash with Quint’s abrasive demeanor, Brody and Hooper are good friends from the moment they meet.
They feel very differently about water – Hooper wants to live at sea, exploring the depths, while Brody hates the water and avoids it at all costs – but they’re both on the same page about the safety of Amity Island, and they’re both just as annoyed at the villainous mayor.
James Donovan & Rudolf Abel (Bridge Of Spies)
In Bridge of Spies, Steven Spielberg’s dramatization of the Gary Powers exchange, American lawyer James Donovan is hired to represent captured Soviet spy Rudolf Abel at the height of the Cold War. Donovan is expected to do a half-assed job, but he wants to ensure Abel his right to a fair trial, which quickly makes him a pariah.
Tom Hanks and Mark Rylance give riveting individual performances in their roles as Donovan and Abel, respectively, but they shine the most when they’re in a scene together and they get to bounce those performances off of each other.
Elliott & E.T. (E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial)
Steven Spielberg was reportedly brought to tears by Henry Thomas’ audition to play Elliott in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and it’s easy to see why. For a child actor, he gives a very human portrayal of Elliott.
The human element of Elliott is key to the story: his family neglects him and he doesn’t have any friends, so the only companionship he finds is with an alien who’s been stranded on Earth. Thomas had to act against a puppet, and he still managed to make Elliott’s friendship with E.T. mean something to millions of people.
Indiana Jones & Henry Jones, Sr. (Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade)
Steven Spielberg’s intentions with the Indiana Jones franchise was to create America’s answer to James Bond. So, it was fitting that in the trilogy-closing third installment, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, in which Indy reunites with his estranged father, Henry Jones, Sr. was played by Sean Connery, the original 007.
At the beginning of the movie, the pair’s relationship is strained, but after a daring, globe-trotting adventure, they bond like never before. Harrison Ford’s on-screen chemistry with Connery sells the duo as a real father and son, and their bickering is hysterical.
