These are the duos we love watching get away with it. Our 30 favorite pop culture partners in crime, from Walt and Jesse to Thelma and Louise

These are the duos we love watching get away with it.

Our 30 favorite pop culture partners in crime, from Walt and Jesse to Thelma and Louise

These are the duos we love watching get away with it.

By Kevin Jacobsen

Published on August 2, 2025 08:00AM EDT

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Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul on 'Breaking Bad'; Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon in 'Thelma & Louise'; Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis in 'Natural Born Killers'. Credit:

Ben Leuner/AMC; MGM/courtesy Everett; Warner Bros./Courtesy Everett

There's something undeniably compelling about criminal behavior on the big or small screen — watching someone choose a dangerous, alternative path to find success, freedom, or a combination of both. Add in a partner in crime, and you've captured our full attention.

Cinema and television have taken advantage of our fascination with thieves, crooks, and killers, particularly when they're a pair. Whether taking from real life (Bonnie and Clyde; Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid) or creating wholly original partners (Walter White and Jesse Pinkman; Thelma and Louise), these are the dangerous duos that live rent-free in our heads.

Here are some of our favorite partners in crime from film and TV.

Walter White and Jesse Pinkman — Breaking Bad (2008–2013)

Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul on 'Breaking Bad'. AMC

We're pretty sure that launching into a meth production/distribution partnership isn't the best way to take a student under your wing. But that's exactly what this former science teacher (Bryan Cranston) did with his ex-student (Aaron Paul). And, sure enough, a little drug dealing did lead to a little murder. —*Abby West*

Nancy and Andy Botwin — Weeds (2005–2012)

Mary-Louise Parker and Justin Kirk on 'Weeds'. Showtime

Talk about a family business. Nancy (Mary-Louise Parker) couldn't seem to keep her deceased husband's brother, Andy (Justin Kirk), out of her Mary Jane distribution biz. Good thing they had such a comfortable rapport. —*A.W.*

George Jung and Diego Delgado — Blow (2001)

Johnny Depp and Jordi Mollà in 'Blow'. Everett Collection

This biopic proves the old adage that there's no honor among thieves. When times are good and the money is flowing, everything's great between these two coke dealers, played by Johnny Depp and Jordi Mollà. But when things go bad, they go *really* bad. —*A.W.*

Thurgood and Brian — Half Baked (1998)

Dave Chappelle and Jim Breuer in 'Half Baked'. Everett Collection

These stoner pals (Dave Chappelle and Jim Breuer) have noble intent when they steal lab-grade marijuana to raise money to get their friend out of jail. And, unsurprisingly, these nice guys get into hilarious trouble with both the cops and a rival dealer. —*A.W.*

Stringer Bell and Avon Barksdale — The Wire (2002–2008)

Idris Elba and Wood Harris on 'The Wire'. HBO

There was no such thing as good guys and bad guys on *The Wire*, or, at least, not as demarcated by the thin blue line, but drug lord Avon Barksdale (Wood Harris) and his business-minded consigliere Stringer Bell (Idris Elba) were the Baltimore Police Department's public enemies No. 1 and 2. Yet, loyalty only goes so far on the streets, and they ended up just as complicit in their own downfall as any detective. —*Keith Staskiewicz*

Dale Denton and Saul Silver — Pineapple Express (2008)

James Franco and Seth Rogen in 'Pineapple Express'. Everett Collection

What happens when a pot smoker and his dealer have to go on the run and become best buds? If it's Seth Rogen as ne'er-do-well process server Dave and James Franco as easygoing low-level dealer Saul, you get one really funny bromance of a movie. —*A.W.*

Juliet Hulme and Pauline Parker — Heavenly Creatures (1994)

Melanie Lynskey and Kate Winslet in 'Heavenly Creatures'. Everett Collection

Based on true events, *Heavenly Creatures* follows the close friendship between Juliet Hulme (Kate Winslet) and Pauline Parker (Melanie Lynskey), teenage girls who go to great lengths to protect their relationship in an oppressive environment that threatens to tear them apart — even if it means plotting murder. —*Kevin Jacobsen***

Pedro de Pacas and Anthony Stoner — Up in Smoke (1978)

Richard "Cheech" Marin and Tommy Chong in 'Up in Smoke'. Showtime

Hey, who are we to judge a little recreational drug use? Or a lot? Or enough to give a blue whale a serious case of the munchies? But the 5-0 are continuously harassing these blurry-eyed jesters, played by stoner icons Richard "Cheech" Marin and Tommy Chong, for their copious intake of that wacky tobacky. —*K.S.*

Jimmy "the Gent" Conway and Henry Hill — Goodfellas (1990)

Robert De Niro and Ray Liotta in 'Goodfellas'. Everett Collection

Martin Scorsese's 1990 organized crime masterpiece is one of the few films that gets away with having no truly likable characters. That's because the real attraction comes from the life they live, the cars, the coke, the back-door entry. And by the time Ray Liotta's Henry Hill betrays his half-Irish mentor, Jimmy Conway (played by the part-Irish Robert De Niro), it's clear that no one is a hero. —*K.S.*

Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly — Chicago (2002)

Catherine Zeta-Jones and Renée Zellweger in 'Chicago'. Miramax/Everett

These two scintillating "killer-dillers" may not have committed any crimes together, but, by the end of the film, they've both gotten away with murder and become partners in a dazzling musical act. Let's just say the men in their lives had it coming (and all that jazz). —*K.J.*

Huey and Frank Lucas — American Gangster (2007)

Chiwetel Ejiofor and Denzel Washington in 'American Gangster'. Everett Collection

Frank (Denzel Washington) can't quite get his brother Huey (Chiwetel Ejiofor) to learn that the key to keeping your drug empire is keeping a low profile. No flashy clothes or extravagant purchases. As soon as Frank himself ignores that rule, it's all downhill from there. —*A.W.*

Billy and Wyatt — Easy Rider (1969)

Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper in 'Easy Rider'. Everett Collection

Though they were just setting out after a good time at Mardi Gras, Billy (Dennis Hopper) and Wyatt's (Peter Fonda) cross-country journey — along with some LSD — teaches them that there's a lot more to seek out of life. But that realization comes too late to do them any real good. —*A.W.*

Manny Ribera and Tony Montana — Scarface (1983)

Steven Bauer and Al Pacino in 'Scarface'. Everett Collection

Manny (Steven Bauer) is the best right-hand man a drug lord like Tony (Al Pacino) could want. But, shockingly, that still doesn't work out so well for him. —*A.W.*

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid — Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)

Paul Newman and Robert Redford in 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid'. Everett Collection

With the combined good looks and charisma of Paul Newman and Robert Redford, these Wild West brigands could have driven a bus full of nuns into an orphanage and we'd still be in their thrall. So what's the big deal about taking some money from E.H. Harriman of the Union Pacific Railroad? The two actors would team up again as another pair of historical and lighthearted criminals a few years later in 1973's *The Sting*. —*K.S.*

Hi and Ed McDunnough — Raising Arizona (1987)

Holly Hunter and Nicolas Cage in 'Raising Arizona'. Everett Collection

Nicolas Cage is Hi, an ex-convict; Holly Hunter is Ed, a police officer who loves him anyway. The pair marry and hope to have children, but Ed is infertile and Hi's record means they cannot adopt. Desperate, the duo learns of quintuplets born to a local wealthy family and kidnaps one of the newborn sons. Hijinks ensue! —*K.J.*

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Lee and Charlie Strom — The Killers (1964)

Clue Gulager and Lee Marvin in 'The Killers'. Everett Collection

The film begins from their perspective, but it becomes obvious very quickly that these are no good guys. Played coldly and ruthlessly by Lee Marvin and Clue Gulager, the hitmen in this 1964 adaptation of an Ernest Hemingway short story (it was filmed previously in 1946 with Burt Lancaster) are the direct antecedents of the ones in *Pulp Fiction* (1994): They're scary, but you can't take your eyes off of them. —*K.S.*

Brandon Shaw and Phillip Morgan — Rope (1948)

Farley Granger and John Dall in 'Rope'. Everett Collection

What makes the Leopold and Loeb-esque murderers (John Dall and Farley Granger) in Alfred Hitchcock's self-contained, essentially real-time *Rope *so frightening is that they're in possession of their faculties. They strangle a former classmate to death just to see if they can get away with it, turning a cold-blooded killing into a twisted academic experiment. —*K.S.*

Sal Naturile and Sonny Wortzik — Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

John Cazale and Al Pacino in 'Dog Day Afternoon'. Everett Collection

When a simple bank robbery goes awry, these partners in crime decide to make a last stand, taking hostages and making demands. But things just continue to go wrong for both the brains of the operation (Al Pacino) and his henchman (John Cazale). —*A.W.*

Dr. Evil and Mini-Me — Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999) and Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002)

Verne Troyer and Mike Myers in 'Austin Powers in Goldmember'. Everett Collection

Of course a narcissist like Dr. Evil (Mike Myers) would adore the idea of a "mini" clone of himself. And even though he barely says anything, Mini-Me's (Verne Troyer) ardent loyalty to Dr. Evil knows no bounds. —*A.W.*

Perry Smith and Dick Hickock — In Cold Blood (1967)

Scott Wilson and Robert Blake in 'In Cold Blood'. Everett Collection

Based on a true story (and, for star Robert Blake, strangely foreboding of another real-life story), this adaptation of Truman Capote's true crime book follows the process of a single terrible act, from its planning to its ultimate punishment, through the eyes of its two perpetrators. —*K.S.*

Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow — Bonnie and Clyde (1967)

Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty in 'Bonnie and Clyde'. Everett Collection

The ultimate lovers on the run, Warren Beatty's Clyde and Faye Dunaway's Bonnie shoot, rob, and kill their way to a bloody end, changing American film and film criticism in the process. —*K.S.*

Corky and Violet — Bound (1996)

Gina Gershon and Jennifer Tilly in 'Bound'.

Gramercy Pictures/courtesy Everett

The Wachowskis' tense erotic thriller centers on Corky (Gina Gershon), an ex-convict who hooks up with Violet (Jennifer Tilly), a gangster's moll. Longing for freedom, Violet finds an opportunity to embezzle money from the Mafia and the pair navigate the tricky waters of how to get away with it. —*K.J.*

Holly and Kit — Badlands (1973)

Sissy Spacek and Martin Sheen in 'Badlands'. Everett Collection

Terrence Malick's story of a murder spree in America's heartland was inspired by the same true story that later spawned Bruce Springsteen's "Nebraska." It's a melancholy, dreamlike fairy tale punctuated by violence, and Martin Sheen is perfect as the charismatic, but dangerous rebel who charms Sissy Spacek's naïve but complicit teenager. —*K.S.*

Mickey and Mallory Knox — Natural Born Killers (1994)

Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis in 'Natural Born Killers'. Everett Collection

Mickey (Woody Harrelson) and Mallory (Juliette Lewis) are what happened after Bonnie and Clyde died and Hell spit them back up again for more, and Oliver Stone's film is their story turned up to 11: a screaming, chaotic assault of frenetic imagery and culture criticism. It's like a two-hour guided tour of a sadistic person's headspace. —*K.S.*

Clarence Worley and Alabama Whitman — True Romance (1993)

Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette in 'True Romance'. Everett Collection

The lighter half of Quentin Tarantino's two "murderous couples" writing credits, Clarence (Christian Slater) and Alabama (Patricia Arquette) aren't really that sadistic at all. On the run from some unsavory types they stole a suitcase of cocaine from, all they want to do is spend their days making out and communing with Elvis. —*K.S.*

Annie Laurie Starr and Bart Tare — Gun Crazy (1950)

Peggy Cummins and John Dall in 'Gun Crazy'. Everett Collection

Bart (John Dall) is a young man with an obsession with firearms. Annie (Peggy Cummins) is a carnival sharpshooter. They're a match made in heaven, at least until they begin a series of armed robberies in lieu of a honeymoon. —*K.S.*

Vincent Vega and Jules Winnfield — Pulp Fiction (1994)

John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson in 'Pulp Fiction'. Everett Collection

They can casually discuss the romantic implications of foot massages, and then bust into an apartment like a black-suited, Bible-citing hurricane, shooting its occupants dead. Jules (Samuel L. Jackson) may be the one with the wallet that proclaims it, but both of these guys are bad mofos. —*K.S.*

Dick Dastardly and Muttley — Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines (1969–1970)

Dastardly and Muttley on 'Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines'. Everett Collection

Man's best friend, indeed. Muttley (voiced by Don Messick) put up with his accident-prone villainous boss through everything, though he may have let loose a little laugh at Dastardly's (Paul Winchell) talk of the next great plan. —*A.W.*

Louise Sawyer and Thelma Dickinson — Thelma & Louise (1991)

Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis in 'Thelma & Louise'. Everett Collection

The murderous cross-country trip in that blue Thunderbird taken by waitress Louise (Susan Sarandon) and sheltered housewife Thelma (Geena Davis) is possibly the most well-known female buddy film, famous as much for their journey of self-discovery as for the feminist undertones (and, yes, the revelation of Brad Pitt). —*A.W.*

Lou Langston and Jackie Cleaver — Love Lies Bleeding (2024)

Katy O'Brian and Kristen Stewart in 'Love Lies Bleeding'.

Anna Kooris/A24

Love can make you do wild things. Such is the case for gym manager Lou (Kristen Stewart) and bodybuilder Jackie (Katy O'Brian) who enter a passionate romance in 1989 New Mexico. After Lou's sister is hospitalized because of her abusive husband, Jackie takes matters into her own hands, going down an increasingly dangerous path. —*K.J.*

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