Romantic comedies regularly share common tropes, themes, and the same actors in different roles, yet the two romantic comedies, also known astwin films, replicate the same storyline.Released in 2011,No Strings Attached, starring Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher, hit theaters in January, andFriends With Benefits, starring Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis, was released six months afterNo Strings Attachedin July. Although these two rom-coms share an identical plot depicting the conventional friends to lovers trope, both films also include differences to somewhat distinctively set each other apart, yet one movie stood out more than the other.
No Strings AttachedandFriends With Benefitsexplore two different friendships, as both pairs agree to a casual, physical relationship, omitting any emotional ties or serious commitments. These two romantic comedies perfectly mirror each other, depicting the same story about the complexities of navigating a non-committed relationship, yet the only minimal differences are the characters, setting, and character dynamics. The continuous debate aboutwhich rom-com did better substantially speaks for itselfwith oppositeRotten Tomatoes scores, box office numbers, and various reviews.Friends With Benefitsmeets the expectations of a well-constructed film, asNo Strings Attachedfails to satisfy viewers.
Friends With Benefits Was Better Received Than No Strings Attached
Friends With Benefits has a higher Rotten Tomatoes score
Friends With Benefitsperfectly captured the tone and humor of a raunchy rom-com,earning a better reception thanNo Strings Attached.Both films’ box office numbers worldwide nearly earned similar quantities, yetFriends With Benefitswas considered a more preferable watch.No Strings Attachedpremiered on Jul 03, 2025, raking at $149.2 million and a 47% score on Rotten Tomatoes.Friends With Benefitssurpassed premiering on August 03, 2025, bringing in $149.5 million, earning a 69% score. Both romantic comedies are another addition to the twin film category, which includes other identical films with the same shared concept.
No Strings Attached: Every Song In The Movie
No Strings Attached is a 2011 romantic comedy starring Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher and here’s every song on the movie’s soundtrack.
Two films coexisting in the same year sharing related narratives is a common trend, as other films have experienced the same fate, including 2007’sKnocked UpandJuno, highlighting unexpected pregnancies, 2024’sThe First OmenandImmaculate, religious horror films, and 2006’sThe PrestigeandThe Illusionistrevolved around magic, love, and tragedy.Friends With Benefitsreceived mixed reviews, but was considered more fun to watch, praising Timberlake and Kunis’ comedic performances.No Strings Attachedhad its potential but was critiqued for its hastiness and cheesy writing, indifferent toFriends With Benefits, which further excelled and met the rom-com standards.
What Friends With Benefits Did Better Than No Strings Attached
Friends With Benefits is a superior rom-com
Friends With Benefitseffortlessly replaced characters Adam (Ashton Kutcher) and Emma (Natalie Portman) from theIvan Reitman-directedNo Strings Attachedwith leads that were more charismatic and amusing, delivering great comedic timing for an entertaining rom-com.No Strings Attachedfailed to impress viewersdue to the lack of character development, humor, and a predictable romantic storyline which fell flat.Friends With Benefitsis also predominantly set in New York, an ideal location for a romantic comedy, including iconic landmarks, Big Apple aesthetics, and flash mobs, which were relevant in 2011 and a fun addition to the film, later used as a romantic gesture by Dylan (Justin Timberlake).
The chemistry between Timberlake and Kunis was much more organic.
Friends With Benefitsis a well-rounded romantic comedy,in contrast toNo Strings Attached,which underperformed.Friends With Benefitsis the superior film due to funnier material, stronger character dynamics, and believable chemistry between both leads. Although the stories are identical,Friends With Benefitshas more engaging storylines revolving around Dylan and Jamie (Mila Kunis) first developing a friendship after both experienced bad breakups, while also exploring the realistic, emotional complications of non-committed physical relationships. The chemistry between Timberlake and Kunis was much more organic and created a natural connection between their characters, which makes the film more watchable.
