Some on screen pairings just work, and once audiences see that chemistry, they never stop asking for more of it. Black Hollywood has given us some of the most iconic duos in film and television history, and while a few of them have reunited over the years, most fans agree it has not been nearly enough. Here are the pairings we are still begging Hollywood to bring back together.
Martin Lawrence and Will Smith turned “Bad Boys” into one of the most beloved buddy cop franchises in movie history, with four films spanning nearly three decades and a chemistry that only seems to get better with age. Their back and forth as Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett has become a blueprint for what a great on screen partnership looks like, and after the massive success of the most recent installment, fans are already hoping this is not the last time Miami sees these two in action together.
Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan built an entirely different kind of duo with the “Rush Hour” trilogy, blending fast talking comedy with Chan’s signature physical stunt work in a way that had never quite been done before. It has been over two decades since the third film, and fans have spent years asking for a fourth installment that never materialized. Given how rare this pairing of styles is, a reunion would feel less like a sequel and more like an event.
Ice Cube and Mike Epps carried the “Friday” franchise into two of its most quotable sequels, with Epps stepping in as Day Day for “Next Friday” and “Friday After Next” after Chris Tucker exited the series. The two built their own version of the comedic chemistry that made the original film a classic, and with talk of a fourth “Friday” movie circulating for years, fans are hoping Cube and Epps get the chance to close out the story together on screen one more time.
Jada Pinkett-Smith and Queen Latifah have shared the screen more than once, first in “Set It Off” and later as part of the unforgettable ensemble in 2017’s “Girls Trip.” Their dynamic as part of that friend group was a major reason the film became such a cultural moment. With talks of a sequel swirling, fans are excited to see the two of them anchor a project together again, ensemble or otherwise.
Morris Chestnut and Taye Diggs have built one of the most enduring friendships in Black cinema through “The Best Man“ franchise, spanning the original film, its holiday sequel, and the Peacock series that continued the story decades later. Their characters’ bond became a defining piece of the trilogy’s emotional core, and after the most recent chapter wrapped its story, fans are hopeful this will not be the last time these two share the screen.
Omar Epps and LL Cool J starred together in 1999’s “In Too Deep,” playing opposite sides of an undercover crime drama that showcased both actors’ range outside of their more familiar roles. It has been over two decades since audiences saw this pairing, and with both actors continuing to build strong dramatic résumés separately, a reunion in a similarly gritty project feels overdue.
Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard have shared some of the most memorable scenes in modern Black film and television, first in 2005’s “Hustle & Flow” and later reuniting as Cookie and Lucious Lyon on “Empire.” Their ability to bring both heartbreak and comedic timing to the screen made them one of the most talked about pairings of the last two decades, and fans have made it clear they are ready for round three.
Martin Lawrence and Tisha Campbell defined nineties sitcom chemistry as Martin and Gina on “Martin,” a partnership so iconic it still gets referenced constantly in pop culture today. Outside of occasional reunions and interviews, the two have not shared a major project together since the show ended, and longtime fans continue to hold out hope for a reunion special or a new project that lets them recreate that magic.
Kerry Washington and Tony Goldwyn spent seven seasons building one of television’s most talked about will they won’t they dynamics as Olivia Pope and Fitz Grant on “Scandal.” The show’s ending left plenty of fans wanting more closure for the pair, and with political dramas still performing well, a limited series reunion feels like exactly the kind of project that could bring Shondaland fans back in full force.
Taye Diggs and Sanaa Lathan first paired up in 2002’s “Brown Sugar,” a film that became a defining entry in early 2000s Black romance cinema, before later crossing paths again through “The Best Man” franchise. Their early chemistry in “Brown Sugar” still gets brought up constantly whenever the topic of underrated Black love stories comes up, and fans have long wondered what a modern day follow up might look like.
Taken together, this list is proof that some pairings simply do not have an expiration date. Whether it is comedic timing built over decades, a slow burn romance fans never got full closure on, or a buddy dynamic that defined an entire genre, these are the collaborations audiences keep coming back to and keep asking to see again.
