50 Worst Movie Ex-Girlfriends
Steer clear...
Beth McIntyre Black Swan (2010)
The Ex-Girlfriend: A former ballerina, Beth (Winona Ryder) was forced to retire by NY ballet company director Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel), a man she was having an affair with.
Her Post-Break-Up-Behaviour: Bitter, twisted, dependent on booze, Beth’s a sinking ship – and she doesn’t mind who she drags down with her.
Erica Somethings Gotta Give (2003)
The Ex-Girlfriend: Playwright Erica (Diane Keaton), who falls for her daughter’s much older boyfriend Harry (Jack Nicholson).
Her Post-Break-Up-Behaviour: Erica uses the personal details of their relationship in a play – in which Harry ends up dead.
A scene that, apparently is played for laughs.
She then goes on to dating sexy young doctor Julian (Keanu Reeves).
Rene Mallrats (1995)
The Ex-Girlfriend: Rene Mosier (Shannen Doherty), who breaks up with beau Brodie Bruce (Jason Lee) after a heated argument.
Her Post-Break-Up-Behaviour: Sure, you’ve got to move on, but Rene rubs salt in Brodie’s wounds by shacking up with his arch nemesis, Shannon Hamilton.
She then gives the mother of mixed signals by having sex with Brodie in a lift.
Maggie Runaway Bride (1999)
The Ex-Girlfriend: Maggie Carpenter (Julia Roberts), who is renowned for being the ‘runaway bride’ – a woman who can never go through with getting married.
True to form, she ditches Ike (Richard Gere) at the altar, too.
Her Post-Break-Up-Behaviour: After running away, Maggie finally gets over her issues and agrees to marry Ike.
But she lets him stew for a while, anyway, which is still really mean.
Evelyn Draper Play Misty For Me (1971)
The Ex-Girlfriend: More of an ex-lover than an ex-girlfriend, but still nuts enough to warrant a place on this list.
Evelyn Draper (Jessica Walter) becomes obsessed with radio DJ Dave Garver (Clint Eastwood) – and really wants him to be hers.
Her Post-Break-Up-Behaviour: After sleeping with Dave and being given the cold shoulder, Evelyn destroys his career, has insane tantrums and attempts to kill herself at his house.
Suzie The Foot Fist Way (2006)
The Ex-Girlfriend: A spandex-wearing cheat, Suzie (Mary Jane Bostic) betrays husband Fred’s (Danny R. McBride) trust by giving her boss a handjob at an office party.
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He forgives her, and takes her back.
Then she sleeps with Fred's idol, martial arts artist Chuck "The Truck" Wallace. On their sofa.
Oh, and then she stands watching when Chuck beats Fred up for interrupting.
Her Post-Break-Up-Behaviour: Suzie’s like a dog with a bone – she just won’t accept the relationship’s over, hounding Fred to the point of desperation.
His response? Take a pee on his wedding ring.
Laura High Fidelity (2000)
The Ex-Girlfriend: Laura (Iben Hjejle), who dumps music lover Rob Gordon (John Cusack), leaving him to wallow in a depressed fug.
Her Post-Break-Up-Behaviour: Though she’s by far the nicest on this list, Laura’s not perfect – take the moment when she admits to sleeping with Ian (Tim Robbins), sending Rob into a tailspin.
Bridget The Last Seduction (1994)
The Ex-Girlfriend: Well, ex-wife if we’re getting technical. Bridget steals a load of cash from her druggie hubbie and leaves town.
Her Post-Break-Up-Behaviour: Bridget attempts to trick another guy into killing her ex-husband for her.
When she ends up doing it herself, she just pins it on the other guy.
What a gal.
Lisa Kramer Along Came Polly (2004)
The Ex-Girlfriend: Lisa Kramer (Debra Messing) doesn’t waste any time – she cheats on Reuben Feffer (Ben Stiller) during their honeymoon with a ridiculously muscular scuba instructor.
Her Post-Break-Up-Behaviour: Just when Reuben is starting to fall for Polly Prince (Jennifer Aniston), Lisa turns up and says she wants to get back together with him…
Elsa Schneider Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade (1989)
The Ex-Girlfriend: Schneider (Alison Doody) is an ice-blonde with killer cheekbones, and a thing for any guy with the surname Jones.
Her Post-Break-Up-Behaviour: Elsa treats Indy (Harrison Ford) horribly.
For a start, she’s working undercover for the Nazis and has no real vested interest in him.
Oh, and there's the fact that she's not actually Indy's ex - she's his dad's...
Josh Winning has worn a lot of hats over the years. Contributing Editor at Total Film, writer for SFX, and senior film writer at the Radio Times. Josh has also penned a novel about mysteries and monsters, is the co-host of a movie podcast, and has a library of pretty phenomenal stories from visiting some of the biggest TV and film sets in the world. He would also like you to know that he "lives for cat videos..." Don't we all, Josh. Don't we all.