Lights, cameras, and action are the buzzwords for Hollywood, but in the background, it is often about laughter, jokes, and harmless mischief. With hours spent on set, actors are bound to find creative ways to lighten the mood, usually at the expense of their co-stars. Playful banter to elaborate tricks, and pranks have become the favorite pastime of stars. Such moments not only make them amusing but also demonstrate that the people are truly strong in the relationship. So here are 15 unforgettable times when actors proved they're just as entertaining off-screen as they are on it. Please note, this article is entirely based on the writer's opinion. Reader's discretion is advised.
1. George Clooney on Brad Pitt
On Ocean's Eleven, George Clooney and Brad Pitt became known for their playful jibes and pranks during filming. And then there's the time that Clooney got carried away, setting up a practical joke for a fake injury. Clooney pretended to be hurt on the set, when he "gets well" and later pretends that he did all that just to mess with Pitt's head. Brad, known for his coolness, was freaked out for a moment, but Clooney just laughed at his expense. Friendly rivalry has always been a part of their on-screen chemistry.
2. Matt Damon on George Clooney
Matt Damon has always been known for playing pranks on his fellow actors, and one of his favorite targets is his good friend George Clooney. During the shooting of The Monuments Men, Damon replaced Clooney's phone with a new one and filled it with strange ringtones and text messages from "mysterious" contacts. Clooney did not suspect anything at first, and things got so confusing that he spent half a day wondering if he was being pranked. This is one of the most hilarious ongoing stories from Hollywood: a war of pranks between the two.
3. Matt Damon on Ben Affleck
While shooting The Last Duel, Matt Damon just could not resist the urge to pull a classic prank on his long-time friend and frequent collaborator, Ben Affleck. He secretly switched Affleck's costume with one much more ridiculous for the setting of the film's medieval backdrop. Affleck was a good sport, however, and did not notice the switch immediately. When he came onto the set, he surprised everyone working on the production. This incident created a running gag between the two and added a little comic relief to their heavy-duty work in the film.
4. Chris Evans on Scarlett Johansson
Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson's pranking relationship has often been a source of laughs during their Avengers days. During the filming of Age of Ultron, Evans realized that this was the perfect time to take advantage of Johansson's love for practical jokes. He started hiding things in her costume, such as fake bugs and random items in her pockets. This Johansson, so mischievous, retaliated with a joke proposal stunt and had Evans sweating over it for just a moment as he realized that she was pulling his leg, and this pranking each other became an interminable tease that only ignited their off-camera friendship.
5. Jennifer Lawrence on Josh Hutcherson
The queen of pranks on the set of Hunger Games is Jennifer Lawrence. She keeps Josh Hutcherson on his toes most of the time. Among her most memorable pranks is sneaking into Hutcherson's trailer and totally rearranging everything in it. She also placed a fake snake under his bed, which really freaked him out for a short time. Lawrence's playful pranks were so famous that the entire cast, from Liam Hemsworth, joined in on the jokes. As per Hutcherson, he had no idea how to handle her, especially since she loved catching him off guard with harmless but hilarious gags.
6. Brad Pitt on Jonah Hill
Brad Pitt is such a serious actor, but still an old prankster. During one shoot for Moneyball, Brad Pitt pulled a really funny prank on Jonah Hill. He made Hill believe that his lunch had been mistakenly put at the table in front of some other actor's trailer while, as a matter of fact, it was his food. Hill was not a big fan of pranks, but he found himself in a bewildering situation only to realize later that Pitt had orchestrated the whole thing. Their chemistry was undeniable, and the prank just added to the fun of their time together on set.
7. Tom Hiddleston on Chris Hemsworth
Tom Hiddleston is infamous for his humorous side, so it's of no surprise when he pulled this prank on Thor co-star Chris Hemsworth while shooting the movie. One break during shooting Hiddleston found an opportunity to slip into Hemsworth's trailer and mess it all up again. Hemsworth was preparing for the next scene when he walked into this chaos, fully confused, until he saw Hiddleston barely holding back laughter. This wasn't the last prank between them, and their friendship became as iconic as their on-screen rivalry.
8. Julia Roberts on George Clooney
Julia Roberts and George Clooney built a career based on collaborative pranks. With Money Monster, Julia Roberts elevated her game. During one very intense scene, she made sure that George Clooney was completely clueless that his script had secretly been taped upside down. And as soon as the scene starts, Clooney tries to read his lines but realizes something is wrong. Roberts, donning her quintessential smile, sat back, as Clooney tried to rehearse his dialogue once again; after all, he is, and has forever been, himself, a perfect prankster also.
9. Leonardo DiCaprio on Jonah Hill
Leonardo DiCaprio is witty, and while filming The Wolf of Wall Street, he used Jonah Hill's nervousness to execute a funny stunt. He devised a fake meeting with a die-hard fan in which Hill believed he was on the verge of meeting a serious fan of his acting. But when Hill approached the fan, it proved to be a hidden camera set-up with DiCaprio grinning in the background, unable to stop himself from laughing uncontrollably over Hill's shocked reactions. Confessing after the filming was over that he was both terrified and impressed, Hill became an easy target for more pranks during the remaining filming.
10. Margot Robbie on Alexander Skarsgård
During the shooting of The Legend of Tarzan, Margot Robbie decided to pull a prank on her co-star Alexander Skarsgård during one particularly serious scene. Knowing his seriousness about not leaving character, Robbie secretly switched his on-set water bottle with one filled with vinegar. Mid-break, when Skarsgård took a sip, he was priceless in his reaction and completely broke the stoic facade. The cast and crew burst out in laughter as Skarsgård attempted to recover from the sour surprise. Robbie later said it was just her way of lightening up the very serious set and proving her more lighthearted side.
11. Bryan Cranston on Aaron Paul
Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul would often spend more time playing pranks on each other than rehearsing behind the scenes of Breaking Bad. Cranston's favorite trick was hiding Aaron Paul's clothes or putting strange items in his dressing room. One time, Cranston told Paul that he was going to be covered in bright pink paint during his on-screen death scene. Paul panicked, only to find it was one of Cranston's classic pranks. Such moments helped build the very strong friendship that viewers see in the on-screen relationship of their characters.
12. Johnny Depp on Penélope Cruz
Johnny Depp is infamous for his antics, and in Pirates of the Caribbean, he focused all his pranking on Penélope Cruz. During a scene where she had to wear a heavy, elaborate costume, he replaced some of her clothing items with very large, goofy ones just so she would crack up. Penélope Cruz has a fantastic sense of humor and did not even flinch but played along with him and had fun. Their friendship behind the scenes was as engaging as the adventure-filled world of Pirates.
13. Kristen Wiig on Bill Hader
Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader were one of the most popular couples on Saturday Night Live. They didn't save their chemistry for sketches alone; they constantly pranked each other off-stage as well. Wiig's favorite prank was to secretly switch Bill's script with a new version, adding nonsensical lines to confuse him during their live skits. In another show, she one time replaced one of his dialogue lines with hilarious words such as "banana boat," replacing it with "spaghetti western," and cracking Hader himself up in mid-performance. But pranks also were just how the duo helped manage their energy.
14. Ryan Gosling on Emma Stone
Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone are another great couple who seem to be always on screen together and play lots of pranks. While shooting La La Land, Gosling filled Stone's trailer with inflatable pool toys, Stone was shocked at first but soon transformed the situation into a funny moment by "interviewing" each inflatable toy as if they were real people. It is because their prank wars and tight co-star connection really brought real depth to their characters' relationship, something which fans absolutely enjoyed.
15. James McAvoy on Michael Fassbender
The prank war with James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender on set for X-Men: First Class became almost legendary, at par with their in-film rivalry. McAvoy, the trickster that he is, managed to sneak into Fassbender's trailer one day, and replace all of his clothes with ridiculous, oversized costumes. Fassbender, quite confused for the moment, knew not how to react until it was betrayed by McAvoy's laughter. Their playful banter helped lighten the mood on those tense days of filming, and it is obvious that the two enjoyed every minute of it.
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