Kathleen Turner
You have to start with the neo-noir that made them both stars: 'Body Heat' (1981). Their chemistry as the scheming lawyer Ned Racine and the femme fatale Matty Walker is the stuff of legend—sultry, dangerous, and unforgettable. Turner became one of the biggest
stars of the 80s, showcasing a remarkable range that went far beyond her breakout role. For a taste of her adventurous, comedic side, watch her team up with Michael Douglas in the action-romp 'Romancing the Stone' (1984). Then, for a completely different vibe, see her Oscar-nominated performance in Francis Ford Coppola's 'Peggy Sue Got Married' (1986), where she plays a woman on the verge of divorce who gets a chance to relive her high school years.
Glenn Close
William Hurt was part of one of the great ensemble casts of the 1980s in 'The Big Chill' (1983), and Glenn Close was central to that film's success as Sarah Cooper, the compassionate doctor who hosts her college friends after a shared tragedy. Their scenes together are full of shared history and quiet understanding. Close, of course, went on to become one of her generation's most acclaimed and versatile actresses. To see her at her most iconic, you can't miss 'Fatal Attraction' (1987), where she terrified a generation as the spurned Alex Forrest. For a masterclass in manipulation and period drama, her turn as the Marquise de Merteuil in 'Dangerous Liaisons' (1988) is an absolute must-see.
Geena Davis
In 'The Accidental Tourist' (1988), Hurt played a travel writer numbed by grief, and Geena Davis played the quirky, life-affirming dog trainer who pulls him from his shell. The role won Davis an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and it's easy to see why. She's the vibrant, beating heart of the film. Davis built a career playing unforgettable, often unconventional women. Her defining role is arguably in 'Thelma & Louise' (1991), the landmark feminist road movie where she and Susan Sarandon created one of cinema's most iconic duos. For something equally empowering but more joyous, 'A League of Their Own' (1992) showcases her star power as the formidable baseball catcher Dottie Hinson.
Holly Hunter
James L. Brooks's 'Broadcast News' (1987) is a perfect film, and the triangle between Hurt's handsome but shallow news anchor, Albert Brooks's brilliant but sweaty reporter, and Holly Hunter's genius producer is its core. Hunter is a force of nature as Jane Craig, a woman of fierce intellect and emotional vulnerability. Her work is always worth seeking out. She won a Best Actress Oscar for her stunning, silent performance in Jane Campion's 'The Piano' (1993), a role that cemented her as a fearless and transformative actor. For a completely different but equally memorable performance, watch her in the Coen Brothers' madcap comedy 'Raising Arizona' (1987), where she is hilarious and heartbreaking as a police officer desperate for a baby.
Sigourney Weaver
Before 'The Big Chill' or 'Body Heat', Hurt starred opposite Sigourney Weaver in the 1981 thriller 'Eyewitness'. He plays a janitor who pretends to have seen a murder to get closer to a TV reporter he's obsessed with, played by Weaver. It's a tense, character-driven story that hinges on their dynamic. Weaver, already a star from 'Alien' (1979), would go on to build one of the most impressive careers in Hollywood. To see her at her action-hero best, 'Aliens' (1986) is the obvious, and correct, choice. Her performance as Ellen Ripley is legendary. Then, watch her powerful, Oscar-nominated work as primatologist Dian Fossey in 'Gorillas in the Mist' (1988), a role that showcases her commanding presence and deep empathy.
Viggo Mortensen
In David Cronenberg's 'A History of Violence' (2005), Hurt makes a terrifying late-film appearance as crime boss Richie Cusack. His chilling, under-10-minute scene opposite Viggo Mortensen's character earned him an Oscar nomination and showed he could dominate the screen with just a few lines. Mortensen's lead performance as a small-town family man with a secret past is a masterwork of coiled tension. Mortensen is an actor of incredible dedication and range. While he is globally beloved as Aragorn in 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy, his work with Cronenberg continued with the brutal and brilliant 'Eastern Promises' (2007), which earned him his first Best Actor Oscar nomination. For a more recent and gentler performance, see his heartfelt work in 'Green Book' (2018).
Scarlett Johansson
Toward the end of his career, Hurt found a new audience by entering the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the stern General, and later Secretary, Thaddeus 'Thunderbolt' Ross. He appeared in five MCU films, often sharing scenes with Scarlett Johansson's Natasha Romanoff, particularly in 'Captain America: Civil War' and 'Black Widow'. It connected him to a new generation of stars, with Johansson at the forefront. Beyond her Black Widow role, Johansson has built a remarkable and varied career. For a glimpse of her early promise, 'Lost in Translation' (2003) is a modern classic that captures a profound sense of connection and melancholy. For a tour-de-force of acting, her raw and devastating performance in 'Marriage Story' (2019) is simply unmissable.
