One of the many things fans are looking forward to in Thor: Love and Thunder (set to hit theatres on July 8, 2022) is the return of Thor and Quill's relationship. Although the two fought on the same side against Thanos, they also shared an apparent rivalry from the moment they met.
Their dynamic draws parallels to many iconic duos who exemplify the same type of relationship. Frenemies have been a long-running trope across various genres, and audiences love a complicated yet relatable relationship between two equally matched characters.
Sharpay & Gabriella - The High School Musical Series
High School Musical pitted long-time queen bee, Sharpay Evans, against newcomer Gabriella Montez. While the two girls are both very talented, their potential friendship is hindered by the fact that Sharpay is threatened by both Gabriella's talent and Troy's affections for her.
Although Sharpay is initially bent on sabotaging Gabriella, she is often on the same side as her when it comes to the arts and the good of their productions. Gabriella also never reciprocates her hatred nor does she stoop to the same level, still considering Sharpay to be somewhat her friend, and the two end the series on cordial .
Hiccup & Snotlout - How To Train Your Dragon
Hiccup's soft, gentle nature was heavily countered by Snotlout's loud, aggressive and overcompensating attitude in How to Train Your Dragon. Snotlout was always trying to best him or humiliate him, often in an attempt to appear cool or win female affection.
Despite these behaviors, Snotlout comes to Hiccup's aid and grows to be a staple part of his crew as the series progresses. Although his snide remarks and strive to display hypermasculinity don't diminish much, Snotlout still shows up when it truly counts, a classic frenemy move.
Thor & Quill - Infinity War & Endgame
From the moment Thor and Quill meet, there is an inescapable tension between them. At first, it's caused by Quill's apparent jealousy towards the attention Thor receives from the Guardians, but Thor's eventual self-invitation onto their ship in Endgame furthers this energy.
While the two obviously harbor some complicated feelings for one another, they put on a friendly front to try and fool everyone. Despite not being enemies, the two have some issues to work out before they can move on from this frenemy status, which will hopefully be explored in Thor: Love and Thunder, one of this summer's most anticipated movies.
Diana & Sandy - Identity Thief
After his credit card gets declined, Sandy realizes he is a victim of identity theft after he discovers he is in deep credit debt thanks to con artist Diana. Desperate to clear his name, Sandy decides to find Diana and bring her to justice (which is easier said than done).
Although the two start out as having a very bitter relationship, Diana and Sandy do have their soft moments amidst all their hardships. Despite finding themselves in unbelievably difficult situations, they keep each other grounded and honest, and they end the film with a warmer, more complex relationship than their initial hostility.
Nina & Lily - Black Swan
one of Natalie Portman's best movies, but it also gave viewers the great frenemy dynamic between Nina and Lily. Although their rivalry is mostly heightened on Nina's side, their relationship is incredibly complicated, with the two unable to be completely categorized as enemies or as friends.
Instead, they fall somewhere in between. While Lily does appear to have ulterior motives, Nina is both intimidated and intrigued by the other girl. By the end of the film, their relationship does not reach either end of the spectrum, leaving them exactly how they started: ionate frenemies.
Jessica & Bella - Twilight
Although she is one of Bella's few friends in Twilight, Jessica Stanley exudes frenemy behavior toward her. On Bella's first day, Jessica is evidently jealous of the attention she gets, especially when it comes to Mike Newton. While she hangs out with Bella often, she appears to do so almost begrudgingly, constantly having a snide remark ready.
Her ongoing jealousy, insincere front, and overall self-absorption, combined with her slight concern and consistency in Bella's life make her the perfect frenemy. From her first on-screen introduction to her shady speech at Bella's wedding, Jessica never really transcends that frenemy definition.
Peter & Ethan - Due Date
Having to suffer a long and perilous journey in order to be there for the birth of his child, Peter is infuriated with the cause of his troubles, Ethan. Despite this animosity, the two are forced to journey together, testing both Peter's patience and his chances to make it to his wife in time.
Although he carries a deep dislike for Ethan, Peter constantly tries to maintain a cordial acquaintanceship with the annoying man. Even though Ethan is mostly well-intentioned, he consistently gets in Peter's way, even purposely sabotaging him, rendering the two undeniable frenemies.
Buzz & Woody - Toy Story
While Buzz and Woody Toy Story. After Andy introduces Buzz to the other toys, Woody feels very insecure and even sabotages him to keep his spot as Andy's favorite toy.
Woody is also adamant about making Buzz realize he is a toy, shattering his belief about being a real space ranger. This ongoing rivalry, their small quarrels, and constant jabs at each other, paired with their willingness to work together, establish them as strong frenemies initially.
Bucky & Sam - Captain America: Civil War
Although the two share a mutual best friend - Steve Rogers - Bucky and Sam are not exactly pals yet in Captain America: Civil War. After their introduction in The Winter Soldier, the two haven't had a chance to warm up to one another before fighting alongside Cap again (nor do they have any interest in doing so).
Their tense relationship is part of what makes the duo so iconic, especially in the infamous car seat scene. While they hate each other's guts, Bucky and Sam are still on the same side and thus reluctantly remain civil. They maintain this frenemy energy until one of the best friendships in the MCU.
Regina & The Plastics - Mean Girls
Perhaps the epitome of what a frenemy relationship looks like is none other than the iconic classic: Mean Girls. Although the Plastics are shown as an enviable clique, Cady's infiltration proves them to not be as tight-knit as the rest of North Shore High School assumes them to be.
From backhanded comments to quick evictions from the group, the Plastics have plenty of issues amongst them. However, they are also very ive and friendly to one another on a surface level, perfectly embodying the frenemy trope.
