10 Movie Superheroes Who Dated Their Co-Stars IRL

It’s been twenty years since Spider-Man swung into theaters, becoming a pop culture hit and kicking off a major Hollywood trend. And no, we’re not talking about the unending craze of superhero movies.

We’re talking about how all three actors who have taken on the lead role of the radioactive spider-bite-suffering, web-slinging, blue-and-red spandex-wearing superhero started to date their on-screen love interests off-screen as well.

First, in 2002, we had Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst; then, in 2014, Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone followed suit. In the most recent reboot, Tom Holland and Zendaya became Hollywood’s favorite young couple.

While two sets of actors falling for each other could be considered a coincidence, three in a row may just be some sort of Cupid’s curse. With great chemistry comes great responsibility, am I right?

However, Spider-Man isn’t the only superhero franchise to have an on-set romance evolve into real life. Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner fell for each other while making Daredevil, and Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively met on set while co-starring in Green Lantern.

And those are just the most recent batch of superhero love matches. We have a list of 10 couples who have starred in superhero movies and dated for today's entertainment, so keep scrolling to see who we found!

1. Zoe Saldana and Bradley Cooper

The couple met on the set of 2012's The Words and dated briefly until 2013. Shortly after their 2013 breakup, it was announced that the couple would be getting back together on screen for The Guardians of the Galaxy.

Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

2. Melissa Benoist and Chris Wood

The Supergirl co-stars quietly began dating after Wood joined the CW series in its second season. This couple seems to have lasting power, getting married in 2019 and welcoming their first child in 2020.

Berlati Prod/Entertainment Pictures via ZUMA Press

3. Robert Downey Jr. and Marisa Tomei

While the two worked together in Captain America: Civil War as Tony Stark and Aunt May, Tomei and Downey dated briefly in 1994 after co-starring in Chaplin and Only You.

Marvel Studios

4. Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds

Even though Reynolds can admit that Green Lantern was a flop, it's doubtful he'd go back to change anything since that's where he met his now-wife, Blake Lively.

"I met Blake on the darkest crease in the anus of the universe called Green Lantern," the star joked during a July 2021 episode of the SmartLess podcast. "We were friends and buddies, and about a year and a half later, we went on a double date, but we were dating separate people."

But during a train ride to Boston, Reynolds shared it was "one of those silly moments out of a fairy tale" when he realized their friendship could evolve into something deeper.

Moviestore/Shutterstock

5. Nicholas Hoult and Jennifer Lawrence

The two first met during a screen test for X-Men: First Class, then dated on and off for five years before breaking up for good in 2014.

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6. Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst

The original Spider-Man and Mary Jane quietly started dating while making the 2002 movie. While they never went public about their relationship, director Sam Raimi confirmed it in a 2007 interview with the Sydney Herald.

"They eventually broke up before the second movie. I was concerned they wouldn't get the same chemistry back, but it was just me worrying," Raimi explained. "They really like each other, I think, very much. And that relationship probably just added to their ability to trust each other."Moviestore/Shutterstock

7. Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone

As we mentioned in the intro, the second Spider-Man star also fell for his love interest, this time being Gwen Stacy instead of Mary Jane Watson. The two had quite the chemistry and became a beloved couple in Hollywood before they split in 2015.

Columbia/Kobal/Shutterstock

8. Tom Holland and Zendaya

Three times the charm? It seems Spider-Man dating their leading lady has become quite the trend, a trend that the studio tried to prevent after casting Holland and Zendaya for 2017's Spider-Man: Homecoming.

Relationship expert Dr. John Gray noted in a recent interview, "When co-stars develop romantic feelings, it can create a unique dynamic that complicates both their personal and professional lives." He emphasizes that such relationships often lead to challenges in maintaining a professional environment. "It's crucial to navigate these feelings carefully," he added.

Obviously, we know that the co-stars didn't listen, as they're one of young Hollywood's most adored couples.

J Maidment/Columbia/Marvel/Kobal/Shutterstock

9. Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner

While Affleck may "regret" making 2002's Daredevil, he was able to find one thing to appreciate.

"That's where I found my wife," he told Playboy magazine in 2014. "We met on Pearl Harbor, which people hate, but we fell in love on Daredevil."

After a decade of marriage, the couple announced their separation in 2015 and finalized their divorce in 2018.

Moviestore/Shutterstock

10. Michael Keaton and Michelle Pfeiffer

Michelle Pfeiffer was the top choice to play Bruce Wayne's love interest, Vicki Vale, in the 1989 Batman, but apparently, Michael Keaton was against the idea since they had previously dated.

"To put a little fly in the ointment, Michael Keaton and Michelle Pfeiffer had previously dated and broken up," Batman co-star Robert Wuhl explained in 2019. "At the time, Michael told me he was trying to get back with his ex-wife. Keaton was firmly, and underline firmly, against that casting of Pfeiffer, and he and Peters got into it."

While Pfeiffer didn't get the part in the 1989 film, she was brought on as Selina Kyle/Catwoman in the 1992 sequel, Batman Returns.

Snap/Shutterstock

It's sometimes inevitable that actors will fall for each other while filming. Pretend love can blossom in the right circumstances, especially when there's already a superficial attraction, because let's be real, these celebs are HOT.

Who was your favorite superhero couple on the list? Did we miss one while doing our research?

Let us know in the comments section below. And be sure to share this with your fellow superhero-love-loving friends.