The Shocking Truth Behind Hollywood's Most Iconic Kissing Scenes

From Tobey Maguire almost suffocating on the set of ‘Spider-Man’ to the actors who wouldn’t stop smooching when the director called ‘cut!’, some of the most intriguing backstories to onscreen kisses have become iconic in their own right. Let’s dive into 11 wild stories behind Hollywood kissing scenes that will make you laugh, cry, and maybe even squirm in your seat.

1. Tobey Maguire Almost Suffocates on the Set of ‘Spider-Man’

The now-famous upside-down kiss between Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man and Kirsten Dunst’s Mary Jane Watson in the 2002 film ‘Spider-Man’ almost had a disastrous ending. According to Maguire, he had to be held upside down for so long during filming that he almost passed out. Who knew being a superhero could be so hazardous to one’s health?

2. The Never-Ending Kiss in ‘The Notebook’

Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams’s kiss in ‘The Notebook’ is one for the ages, but did you know that the actors got so caught up in the moment that they didn’t even stop when the director yelled ‘cut’? The footage of the kiss is so passionate that it makes you wonder if the two actors actually had chemistry off-screen.

3. Richard Gere and Julia Roberts's Faux Romance

In the 1990 film ‘Pretty Woman’, Richard Gere and Julia Roberts shared a now-iconic kiss that set the tone for their on-screen relationship. But did you know that the actors had to reshoot the scene multiple times because they couldn’t stop laughing? We guess you could say that their on-screen chemistry was equal parts real and fabricated.

4. ‘La La Land’ Stars Can’t Stop Smiling

Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone shared a beautiful on-screen kiss in the 2016 film ‘La La Land’. However, their real-life chemistry is what makes the scene so memorable. According to the director, the two actors were smiling so much that they had to be told to stop and refocus. Who wouldn’t smile with Emma Stone around though?

5. The On-Screen Couple Who Hated Each Other

Rumors of actors clashing on set are hardly new, but the tension between Richard Gere and Debra Winger during filming of ‘An Officer and a Gentleman’ was especially palpable. In one scene, the two actors share a passionate kiss, but did you know that they didn’t even like each other in real life? Guess that's what makes their on-screen chemistry so amazing.

6. Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis’s Dirty Dancing Drama

In the 2010 film ‘Black Swan’, Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis shared an infamous kiss that set tongues wagging. However, the scene took so long to film that Portman almost threw up from exhaustion. Who knew dancing could be so brutal?

7. Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore's Pottery Class

Who can forget the iconic kiss between Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore in the 1990 film ‘Ghost’? The scene took place in a pottery class, and while it may have looked romantic on camera, the real-life scene was more like a mess. According to Moore, Swayze was covered in clay and water, making the kiss more of an awkward mess than a romantic moment.

8. Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth’s Off-Screen Chemistry

Before they were engaged, Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth shared an on-screen kiss in the 2009 film ‘The Last Song’. According to the director, the two actors had such great chemistry on set that it was obvious they were destined to be together.

9. Gerard Butler and Hilary Swank's Slippery Slope

In the 2007 film ‘P.S. I Love You’, Gerard Butler and Hilary Swank share a passionate kiss in a rainy scene. However, the filming didn't exactly go as planned. According to Butler, Swank slipped on a rock and fell into the water during the middle of filming.

10. Marlon Brando and Vivien Leigh's Steamy Kiss

Marlon Brando and Vivien Leigh shared an iconic kiss on the set of ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ in 1951. What makes the kiss so memorable isn't just the passion but the extreme heat that the actors had to endure during filming. According to Brando, the set was so hot that they both ended up drenched in sweat.

11. Sandra Bullock and Ryan Gosling’s Uncomfortable Encounter

Ryan Gosling and Sandra Bullock shared an on-screen kiss in the 2007 film ‘Murder by Numbers’. However, the real-life kiss was more awkward than romantic. According to Gosling, he was so nervous about kissing Bullock that he started sweating, while Bullock was reportedly laughing so hard she snorted. Who knew being a Hollywood star could be so tough?