History FriendlyEnemy / Film

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[[FriendlyEnemy Friendly Enemies]] in movies.
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!!Animated
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Megamind}}'': Megamind and Metroman are an interesting example, although they appear to dislike each other at the start, it's later revealed that Metroman likes Megamind, calling him "little buddy", and Megamind loses all motivation when he thinks Metroman's dead. This is because there's no indication that Metroman has a SecretIdentity or life outside his heroics, and Megamind spends all his time in prison planning to destroy Metroman, or in his lair trying to do so. Add to that the film's Comicbook/LoisLane {{expy}} never dated Metroman and it all falls into place, they have no life or meaningful relationships apart from each other; they're friends by default.
* In ''WesternAnimation/WreckItRalph'', since Ralph is a PunchClockVillain and Fix-It Felix a PunchClockHero, neither bears the other any particular enmity and they actually get along pretty well in their off hours, Felix even trying to keep an anniversary celebration a secret so as not to hurt Ralph's feelings, and inviting him in when he does find out so Ralph doesn't feel left out. The Nicelanders, though, treat Ralph as if he actually ''is'' a villain, and ostracize him to the point it [[spoiler:nearly causes their game to get unplugged]].

!!Live-Action
* In ''Film/AmericanGangster'', although drug baron [[Creator/DenzelWashington Frank Lucas]] and cop [[Creator/RussellCrowe Richie Roberts]] don't meet until the final 20 minutes of the film, Lucas immediately displays a grudging respect for Roberts when the latter turns down his offer of a bribe. The closing montage shows the amicable relationship evolving as the two work together to bring down NYPD's corrupt officers.
* Burton Mercer, played by Creator/JohnCandy, in ''Film/TheBluesBrothers''. He never seems anything other than amused at the brothers' antics, and insists on watching their show before arresting them.
* ''Film/BridgeOfSpies'': Unlike his fellow Americans gripped by anti-Soviet hysteria, defense attorney James Donovan always treats Abel with dignity and respect, even when it endangers himself or his family. Similarly, Rudolf Abel is always well-spoken and deferential to his American captors.
* Rick Blaine (Creator/HumphreyBogart) and Captain Louis Renault (Creator/ClaudeRains) in ''Film/{{Casablanca}}'' are a textbook example until [[spoiler: the closing scene, when, impressed by Rick's heroic sacrifice, Renault does a HeelFaceTurn. Rick famously declares, "Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."]]
* Early on in ''Film/{{Casino}}'', mobster [[Creator/JoePesci Nicky Santoro]] sends his son to a little league team coached by a Las Vegas police detective; the two are seen chatting pleasantly about his son's progress. This is when Nicky was newly arrived in Vegas and before his increasingly AxeCrazy antics made him public enemy number one.
* ''Film/CatchMeIfYouCan'': Frank Abagnale Jr. (Creator/LeonardoDiCaprio) and Carl Hanratty (Creator/TomHanks). This is based on real life. While Hanratty was a [[CompositeCharacter compilation of the men]] that chased Abagnale throughout his criminal career, he remained friends with several of them after he went straight.
* In ''Film/ForgettingSarahMarshall'', Peter Bretter tries his best to hate Aldous, who has cuckolded him for over a year. However, Aldous' cheerful personality and lack of malice makes this so difficult that he eventually gives up.
* ''Film/FrenchKiss'' has one between Creator/JeanReno's Inspector Cardon and Kevin Kline's thief, Luc. Luc once saved Cardon's life, and Cardon believes that Luc will go straight if he has a chance, despite having stolen a $100,000 necklace. [[spoiler: Fortunately, he's right.]]
* ''Film/TheFugitive''. Richard Kimble calls US Marshal Sam Gerard as soon as he's found his wife's killer, despite the fact that the man has been pursuing him and tried to gun him down a few hours earlier, having clearly recognized him as someone he needs on his side.
* ''Film/GodsAndGenerals'' has a rather touching scene of a [[UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar Union soldier and Confederate soldier]] standing sentry duty on Christmas and commiserating across a river (including about how General Burnside is a GeneralFailure). They then each walk out to the middle of the river and trade a few puffs on a pipe for a mug of coffee.
* ''Film/{{Heat}}'': Vincent Hanna (Creator/AlPacino) and Neil [=McCauley=] (Creator/RobertDeNiro). The two men are both dedicated to their professions (one is a cop, the other a criminal), but they understand each other very deeply.
%%* Hyoe Tadokoro in ''Film/TheHiddenFortress''.
%%* In ''Film/TheImaginariumOfDoctorParnassus'', Parnassus has this relationship with [[LouisCypher Mr. Nick]].
* ''Film/JamesBond'' movies:
** General Gogol, head of the Soviet KGB in a number of Roger Moore-era films, is very much this character. He convinced M to have [[EnemyMine Bond and Anya work together]] in ''Film/TheSpyWhoLovedMe'', treated Bond as a WorthyOpponent in ''Film/ForYourEyesOnly'', and later appeared as a ReasonableAuthorityFigure in ''Film/{{Octopussy}}'', in contrast with the main villain [[GeneralRipper Orlov]].
** General Pushkin in ''Film/TheLivingDaylights'' continues the pattern, as he and Bond appear to, at the very least, have a healthy mutual respect for each other. When given the order to assassinate Pushkin when it appears that he's an insane hardliner, Bond initially protests because he can hardly believe that Pushkin is the kind of man he's being depicted as. [[spoiler: Sure enough, Pushkin is being framed, and the two end up working together to the point where Pushkin has a minor BigDamnHeroes moment for Bond at the climax.]] This is likely because the role was originally intended to be filled by General Gogol, but by the time filming started the actor was too ill for anything beyond a cameo appearance at the end.
** Valentin Zukovsky occupies the same role, as Bond's ex-KGB counterpart in the post-Soviet Pierce Brosnan-era films. They two are briefly hostile in their first reunion in ''Goldeneye'' but quickly but their differences aside to help Bond's mission, and in ''Film/TheWorldIsNotEnough'' despite enduring considerable misery at his hands, Zukovsky even goes as far as to rescue Bond from captivity.
* In ''Film/TheManFromUNCLE2015'', the CIA and KGB handlers, Saunders and Oleg, are friendly with each other, to the point of Saunders sending regards to Oleg's wife and being on a FirstNameBasis.
* ''All'' the main characters are this at various points in ''Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean''. Most notably are Jack Sparrow and Captain Barbossa who are almost consistently on opposite sides ''and'' have a personal quarrel with one another[[note]]Barbossa was the one who staged the mutiny which cost Jack the ''Black Pearl'' prior to the [[Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanTheCurseOfTheBlackPearl first film]][[/note]], yet they are consistently quite friendly with one another and work ''incredibly'' well together.
* In ''Film/ThePrincessBride'', the Man in Black and Inigo Montoya start off as this, merrily discussing fencing techniques and complimenting each other's swordsmanship during their duel. Of course, [[HeelFaceTurn the "Enemy" part doesn't last too long]].
* ''Film/PulpFiction'': Marsellus Wallace seems to be the film's BigBad, but he is the employer and friend of the characters in the first and third story, and even in the second story, where he is the main enemy, greater antagonism comes from the minor character, Zed.
* In ''Film/ReservoirDogs'' Joe Cabot is friends with Mr. White, but Mr. Blonde is definitely far more evil than Joe, and [[spoiler: Mr. Orange, who is the policeman among them]] is an enemy of Joe and Blonde.
* In ''Film/RobinAndMarian'': Myth/RobinHood and the Sheriff of Nottingham have grown into this. Just before their DuelToTheDeath, the two old enemies kneel in prayer, side by side. Robin then helps the Sheriff to his feet, and the Sheriff tells him: "God be with us, Robin."
* Hannibal Lecter and Clarice Starling in ''Film/TheSilenceOfTheLambs'' display a surprisingly genuine respect for one another, in spite of their contrasting alignments.
-->'''Hannibal Lecter''': Clarice, people are going to think we're in love.
* ''Film/TheyShallNotGrowOld'': British veterans of UsefulNotes/WorldWarI featured in the documentary almost universally praise the captured Germans, describing them as boys much the same as the British who just wanted the war to end. There are many shots of British soldiers and German [=POWs=] posing, smiling and playfully exchanging hats. One veteran appreciatively notes how so many Germans would immediately volunteer for stretcher duty without being asked.
* Subverted in ''Film/TheWatcher'' between David Allen Griffin (Creator/KeanuReeves) and Joel Campbell (Creator/JamesSpader). David ''thinks'' that this is what their relationship has become, but Joel does ''not'' agree.
* Magneto to Charles Xavier in the ''Film/XMenFilmSeries''. As in most incarnations, they started out as very close friends who eventually found themselves on separate sides due to their ideological differences, and some friendship still remains. The two play chess together at the end of the first film, and Magneto is genuinely horrified when Xavier is disintegrated by Phoenix in ''The Last Stand'', sincerely grieving for him and promptly shutting Pyro up when he tries to talk disparagingly about Xavier:
-->'''Magneto''': Charles Xavier did more for mutants than you will ever know. [[AntagonistInMourning My single greatest regret is that he had to die for our dream to live]].

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* In ''Disney/WreckItRalph'', since Ralph is a PunchClockVillain and Fix-It Felix a PunchClockHero, neither bears the other any particular enmity and they actually get along pretty well in their off hours, Felix even trying to keep an anniversary celebration a secret so as not to hurt Ralph's feelings, and inviting him in when he does find out so Ralph doesn't feel left out. The Nicelanders, though, treat Ralph as if he actually ''is'' a villain, and ostracize him to the point it [[spoiler:nearly causes their game to get unplugged]].