The Most Toxic Movie Couples, Ranked By How Badly They Need To Break Up

Why They're Bad For Each Other: In the David Fincher film adaptation of Gillian Flynn's psycho-thriller Gone Girl, Nick (Ben Affleck) and Amy (Rosamund Pike) are a pair of deeply disturbed characters whose marriage is merely a performance built on mutual lies and manipulation. Their crimes against each other include infidelity, a faked kidnapping, revenge schemes, and a calculative pregnancy designed to lock down their dysfunctional marriage indefinitely. With each twist and turn in the plot, it becomes harder to discern who's worse between the poisonous pair. They're mutually bad for each other, perilously entangled in an endless cycle of deception that keeps them shackled to each other for all the wrong reasons. At least the fact that they're toxic is part of the narrative, here, which can't be said for all disastrous film couples. 

Their Most Toxic Trait: The most toxic component in Nick and Amy's relationship is their obsession with creating illusions. At the beginning of their relationship, Nick is drawn to Amy's “Cool Girl” persona, which proves to be an illusion she fabricated to impress him. When he realizes she isn't the woman he thought he married, he cheats on her. To get back at him, Amy creates another illusion by faking her own disappearance and framing him for her “murder.” The layers of illusion continue to pile on top of each other, burying their relationship so deep in deception that it becomes hopeless to dig their way out. As destructive as they are, they don't seem to want to dig themselves out of it anyway.

Why They're Bad For Each Other: The relationship between Joker (Jared Leto) and Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) in Suicide Squad is sensationalized as an intense, Bonnie-and-Clyde-style love story. However, their hyper-passionate dynamic bleeds into abusive behavior on Joker's part. Joker takes advantage of Harley's unconditional love for him  by constantly putting her in dangerous situations, knowing that she will not leave him. She loved him before he was the villainous Joker, and thus clings to the belief that there is still good in him beneath the layers of face paint and abuse. 

Their Most Toxic Trait: Joker is emotionally abusive toward Harley Quinn. He uses her as a pawn in his schemes, berates and threatens her, and smooth-talks his way back into her good graces whenever she tries to leave the relationship. Harley Quinn operates under the pretense that loving someone means putting up with their villainous traits. In this case, Joker is a villain by multiple definitions. 

Why They're Bad For Each Other: In the partner-swapping drama Closer, Anna (Julia Roberts) and Larry (Clive Owen) take each other to hell and back. Caught in a web of lust and betrayal, their connection is intertwined with another couple - Dan (Jude Law) and Alice (Natalie Portman) - throughout the film. Dan cheats on Alice with Anna. Anna marries Larry and cheats on him with Dan. Anna goes back to Dan and cheats on him with Larry. And so on and so forth. It's completely clear that none of these characters knows what they want, and thus trap themselves in an endless cycle of emotional destruction and romantic vengeance. 

Not only is Anna and Larry's relationship marred by infidelity and distrust, but also by manipulation and blackmail. When Anna attempts to divorce Larry, he refuses to sign the papers until she sleeps with him one last time. She relents, but doesn't sign the divorce papers - and lies to Dan about it - ultimately going back to Larry in the end, even though they've both completely destroyed their trust in each other. 

Their Most Toxic Trait: Anna and Larry's tumultuous relationship is the result of two impulsive, destructive masochists. No matter how much they torture each other, they always fall back into the relationship. Not only do they hurt one another, but their on-again-off-again romance hurts Dan and Alice, too - whose relationship never recovers from the multiple twists and trysts within the sordid love square. 

Why They’re Bad For Each Other: The book-to-screen relationship between Anastasia (Dakota Johnson) and Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan) in the Fifty Shades of Grey franchise has been heavily critiqued for romanticizing a partnership that seems far from healthy. Their dynamic operates under the guise of a BDSM relationship, which can be a sexually enriching experience for both parties when done right. Unfortunately, this couple gets it all wrong. In reality, a healthy BDSM relationship hinges on thorough communication and consent. Christian and Annastasia's relationship possesses neither of those components. He controls every aspect of Anastasia's life inside and outside the bedroom - including her career, finances, and friendships - even when she clearly isn't giving enthusiastic consent. Though Anastasia signs the dotted line on their submissive/dom relationship contract, it doesn't give Christian free rein to do whatever he wants, whenever he wants, without regard for her comfort. While other films like 2002's Secretary give a more accurate depiction of BDSM relationships, this one misses the mark. It's not sexy, it's just abusive. 

Their Most Toxic Trait: It's hard to pick out Christian's single worst trait. He's an emotionally marred, egotistical rich boy who uses the veil of BDSM to excuse his patriarchal behavior. On the other hand, Anastasia's toxicity stems from her belief that she can change him. She never wholeheartedly embraces his kinks, and submits to them with the underlying motive of “fixing him.” Together, they make a volatile pair of uncommunicative, manipulative misfits that would be better suited without each other. 

Why They're Bad For Each Other: Throughout The Godfather trilogy, the relationship between Kay (Diane Keaton) and Michael (Al Pacino) is tumultuous. Their marriage is often overshadowed by Michael's devotion to the Mafia - a dangerous lifestyle that Kay resents and fears raising their children amidst. In The Godfather Part II, she aborts their unborn son - passing it off as a miscarriage - to save him from a life of corruption that comes with running the “family business.” When Michael finds out about the abortion, he becomes violently angry with Kay, and they divorce, reconciling a decade later in Part III. 

The storminess in their relationship stems largely from Michael's misogyny. He operates under the belief that women are not equals in a marriage, and that they must submit to their husbands. Kay - who is an independent, intellectual woman - does not share this ideal. Though they seem to truly love each other, their clashing ideals - exacerbated by Michael's criminal lifestyle - a partnership is an offer they should refuse.

Their Most Toxic Trait: Michael is a patriarchal narcissist whose main familial concern is fathering an heir to his family mob business. Meanwhile, Kay values her autonomy too much to be a submissive Mafia wife. Sadly, they are misaligned. 

Why They’re Bad For Each Other: The scariest thing in the Twilight trilogy isn't bloodthirsty vampires or monstrous werewolves - it's Edward and Bella's relationship. It starts off romantic enough. Bella (Kristen Stewart) is the socially awkward new girl in town who falls for the pale-skinned outcast Edward (Robert Pattinson), and isn't swayed when she finds out he's a vampire. However, in the saga's second installment, New Moon, when Edward leaves his warm-blooded girlfriend, allegedly for her own good, and sends her spiraling into a deep, catatonic depression, it's clear that Bella's codependent connection to him is unhealthy. It's one thing to be “unconditionally and irrecoverably in love” with someone. It's another thing to be so wrapped up in another person - or vampire - that the world comes to a complete stop without them. 

Their Most Toxic Trait: Bella is codependent, which bodes well for Edward, who is controlling. Bella literally changes herself - from human to vampire - to be with Edward, which is meant to be read as a grand romantic sacrifice, but it's light years away from being romantic given the circumstances. Changing for a partner is never healthy, especially when that partner demonstrates possessive qualities - from stalking to hyper-jealousy - like Edward does throughout the series.