Hollywood legends Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn have been a couple for decades, and have starred in several films together along the way. Russell first gained fame as a child star in Disney productions during the 1960s and 1970s, before transitioning into a leading man by the early 1980s. While he's spent decades on the Hollywood A-list and starred in many high-profile films, perhaps his greatest work happened alongside friend and frequent collaborator John Carpenter, on sci-fi/horror classics like Escape from New York.
Hawn also started acting in the 1960s and spent the next while appearing in lots of comedies and musical productions, although many forget she won an Oscar for her first big role, that coming in 1969's Cactus Flower. She later appeared in Steven Spielberg's theatrical film debut The Sugarland Express, and like Russell, would become a major star in the 1980s thanks to films like Private Benjamin and Wildcats. Russell and Hawn began dating in 1983 and have been a couple ever since, a rarity in Hollywood.
When two actors of Russell and Hawn's caliber are an item, it's no surprise they would do some work together. If anything, it's more surprising that they've only collaborated in five movies to date. Here's the full rundown.
The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band (1968)
A Walt Disney production, The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band from 1968 technically marked the first time Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn worked on a movie, back when they were both still quite young. Based on a biographical book by Laura Bower Van Nuys, The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band unsurprisingly focuses on a traveling family band in 1888 that moved to the then Dakota Territory, not yet the two states it is today. Once there, the Bower family experiences political strife as they President Glover Cleveland, and their neighbors vote Republican. Also unsurprisingly, The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band is a musical. Russell plays a younger member of the family band named Sidney, while Hawn only shows up in a small bit role, although her screen presence is apparent right away. Notably, the two actors don't actually share any scenes.
Swing Shift (1984)
Ed Harris, Westworld) eventually comes home. While critically acclaimed, Swing Shift bombed at the box office, making back about half its budget. Hawn and Demme clashed behind the scenes too, with Demme removing the phrase "A Jonathan Demme Film" from the credits.
Overboard (1987)
A cult comedy, Overboard is easily the best known instance of Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn starring together. That's despite its premise being problematic when looked at seriously through a modern lens. Russell plays blue-collar carpenter Dean Proffitt, who does work for a spoiled heiress named Joanna (Hawn), only to get stiffed on the bill. When Joanna has an accident and loses her memory, Dean convinces her she's his wife and mother to his sons.
Despite being gaslit and kidnapped, after Joanna's memory returns, she decides she's happier with Dean and family and returns to them. It's the kind of movie no one really thought much of in the 1980s but now seems a bit creepy. Overboard got bad reviews and dismal box office at the time of release, becoming a cult item later on video and cable. A race and gender-swapped remake was released in 2018, which saw Anna Faris and Mexican comedian Eugenio Derbez play the lead roles. It got worse reviews but did better financially. It doesn't seem destined to be a future cult classic though.
The Christmas Chronicles (2018)
It took several decades for Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn to share a movie again, but 2018's Netflix movie Santa Claus himself, who sets out to save Christmas for the children of the world after a sleigh accident throws things off schedule. Helping him do this are new friends Kate and Teddy Pierce, whose roof Santa landed on. While not an amazing effort, The Christmas Chronicles charmed many, earning mostly positive reviews and lots of viewership on Netflix. Hawn appeared in the und surprise role of Mrs. Claus, and for fans of the couple, seeing them play the first couple of Christmas proved delightful. If anything, there probably wasn't enough of Hawn and Russell together in The Christmas Chronicles, but that would soon be rectified.
The Christmas Chronicles 2 (2020)
Two years later, Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn would return as Santa and Mrs. Claus in The Christmas Chronicles 2, also on Netflix. This time, through a series of fantastical circumstances, Kate is transported to the North Pole, along with Jack, the son of her mom's new boyfriend. Once there, they're taken in by Santa and Mrs. Claus, but all isn't happy. A malevolent elf named Belsnickel wants to overthrow Santa and steal the ancient religious artifact that powers his famous village, the Star of Bethlehem. The Christmas Chronicles 2 got similarly good reviews and also drew a large audience. While a Christmas Chronicles 3 isn't yet greenlit, it does seem likely to happen if the cast is up for returning, as the series has quickly become a holiday staple for the streaming giant. Russell and Hawn were again great together onscreen, and one wonders where they'll team up next.
