13 Worst Movie Roommates You’d Never Want To Live With

Living alone sounds great and all, until you factor in the costs, upkeep of a place, and downright loneliness. Whether it’s a student entering their first dorm room, or an adult shacking up with a partner or another person, many people opt to have roommates. As hinted at, there are plenty of benefits to having a roommate. And also plenty of downfalls.

As we’ve learned throughout Netflix‘s creepy Worst Roommate Ever docuseries, even those who appear the most gentle and clean-cut can turn out to have nightmare personalities you’d never want to share a living space. In the world of cinema, these cons can come in the form of an annoying chatterbox, an intrusive snob, or a psychopathic killer.

For our viewing pleasure, many films have depicted some downright awful roommates, who will make most people appreciate their living situation that much more.

13 Carter Hayes

Pacific Heights (1990)

Patty and Drake in Pacific Heights are a couple ecstatic to renovate the snazzy Victorian house they just purchased in beautiful San Francisco. To help offset some of the costs, they rent out a few of the units. One of their new tenants is a man named Hayes. Though he dresses fancy and has a nice car, he doesn’t want the couple to delve too far into his credit history and background. As psychological thriller fans could predict, this tenant ends up being more trouble than he’s worth.

Eviction Notice Now

As soon as Hayes shows up and locks himself in the apartment, Patty and Drake should’ve wiped their hands clean of this man. However, if they’d done the sensible thing, we’d have no movie. And while they aren’t technically “roommates,” they all live nearby and even separate units in the house don’t seem like far enough. He infests the place with bugs, stalks them, fights with them, and is an overall awful person to be anywhere near when one lays their head to rest.

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12 Spike

Notting Hill (1999)

Set in the beautiful London neighborhood where it gets its namesake, Notting Hill is a romantic comedy from 1999. William Thacker owns a bookshop and is still coping with his divorce after his wife left him for someone else. One day, an American actress named Anna Scott walks in. There to help him with all of these changes is his friend and roommate Spike.

He Means Well

It’s tough to include Spike on this list because he’s a fun guy. But, as Will quickly finds out, he is a pretty lousy roomie. Even if we can get over the fact that he constantly walks around in his underwear and a t-shirt, he is unreliable, messy, and a bit clueless. Would viewers want to be friends with Spike? Maybe. However, he has a lot of growing up to do before he can be a decent live-in companion.

Stream on Starz

11 Gil and Brynn

Bridesmaids (2011)

When Annie in Bridesmaids is asked to be the maid of honor at her best friend Lillian’s wedding she knows she should be happy. She also knows her life should be better than it is. Her business shouldn’t have failed. Her boyfriend shouldn’t have left her. And her paychecks at her new job should be a lot heftier. But Annie must be there for her best friend and do her best to keep a smile on her face even when things inevitably go wrong.

What Happened In Their Family?

Annie lives with two British siblings named Brynn and Gil who don’t have a lot of screen time but solidify themselves as horrible roommates in a short time. Both are pretty awful. They read Annie’s diary, use her belongings, and later claim they didn’t, and are exhausting to be around. And how they evicted Annie? “I’d like to no invite you to no longer live with us.” Sure, it sounds more polite, but they gave her no notice and forced her out immediately. This pair is better off with each other.

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10 Davey Stone

Eight Crazy Nights (2022)

Davey Stone in Eight Crazy Nights was a bright kid with a loving family and friends. He was a basketball star, waiting for his parents to arrive at his big game. Instead, the police arrived, informing him his parents were dead. Now as an adult, Davey is a drunk, criminal, and apathetic to everyone and everything. He gets in trouble with the law and ends up under the eye of Whitney, a friendly elderly man.

He’s Angry With the World

Through a series of events, Davey ends up living with Whitney and his sister Eleanore. The holiday spirit in this Hanukkah film must be what kept them from kicking Davey out after day one. As is abundantly clear in almost every scene at the start, Davey is a jerk. He’s cruel, messy, and seemingly enjoys riling people up. It’s nice to see Davey grow up and heal his past wounds by the end. Still, he was one awful roommate and most would think twice about inviting him into their home.

9 Charlie Barber

Marriage Story (2019)

A movie about a couple going through a divorce? No thanks. The premise is so simple it reads as dull, yet it works. Marriage Story follows Charlie and Nicole, a married couple living in New York with their son. Their relationship is strained and when Nicole receives a job offer in California, she accepts, setting the first domino in play for the ensuing divorce and custody battle.

Right Where It Hurts

Neither Charlie nor Nicole are perfect characters. Their flaws are what connected them to so many viewers. Yet even with all of this, many would agree that Charlie would be a worse living mate. One of Nicole’s complaints is that he’s selfish and it’s hard to argue she’s wrong. Charlie is so laser-focused on his career that he forgets to be there for those around me.

Even the closest roommates get into spats now and then, and Charlie’s knack for saying the most hurtful thing to Nicole would not get anyone jumping to cohabitate with him.

8 Jason, Martin, Jonah, Jay

Knocked Up (2007)

Knocked Up is a romantic comedy about the disastrous effects of a one-night stand. Allison Scott is a reporter making headway in her career, but her sister thinks she needs to let loose and have a bit more fun. Ben Stone is the complete opposite, lazy and unmotivated, spending most of his days goofing off with his roommates. The two meet each other at a club, hook up, and the resulting pregnancy changes their lives forever.

Fun in Doses

As is expected in a romance, the couple is the central focus of the story. But looming in the background are Ben’s obnoxious roommates. They don’t seem to intentionally want to make Allison uncomfortable, which is nice, but they do so nonetheless. While they seem like they might be fun for a few hours, maybe even a night, their constant partying and lack of boundaries would be a nightmare to live with. Between the four of them, it’s a toss-up for who’s the worst.

7 Nomi Malone

Showgirls (1995)

Showgirls is a divisive film that polarized audiences back in 1995 and continues to garner split opinions. The protagonist, Nomi, hitchhikes to Las Vegas with aspirations of being a showgirl. She accepts a job as a stripper and hopes to work her way past the other talent to see her name in lights. She rooms with a young professional named Molly whom she meets on her first day in the city.

The Worst Main Character

Our introduction to Nomi is… interesting to say the least. She pulls a knife on a guy she hitched a ride with. This is supposed to make her seem “tough.” Instead, she just comes off slightly unhinged. And thus begins the journey of Nomi making choices where it feels like filmmakers thought it came off as empowering, but highlighted how self-absorbed, entitled, and ruthless she was.

Nomi distances herself from Molly, the person who gave her a place to stay when she was in a rough spot, and generally treats her like crap. The moral of Showgirls: Molly deserved better.

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6 George Lutz

The Amityville Horror (2005)

The Amityville Horror began as a book before turning into a horror franchise. The Lutz family consists of George, Kathy, and her three kids from a prior relationship. Their new home in Amityville, New York is massive with a great yard, but there’s something eerie about it. George begins acting strange the longer the family is in the house. When Kathy learns of the previous owners’ tragic story, she wonders if this new start may cause their eventual end.

Worst Stepdad of the Year

George is a sweet guy trying his best to step into the father role. But when the house changes his personality, he becomes one of the worst (and creepiest) roommates anyone could imagine. He is cruel to the children, emotionally and physically distant from Kathy, and has spurts of anger. If he wants to win over the kids, especially Billy who has taken the longest to warm up to him, George may want to chill with the demonic possession.

Stream on Max

5 Tessa Young and Steph Jones

After (2019)

Let’s be frank, when trying to think of a “worst” character in After, there are many characters who could fit the bill. This Wattpad and Harry Styles-inspired romance begins with Tessa, a reserved girl heading off to college.

She meets a lot of people within her first few days. Hardin, a brooding British bad boy and eventual love interest, and her roommate, Steph. Steph is seen as the complete opposite of Tessa. She’s wild and likes to party, drink, and have sex. Pure and innocent Tessa would never!

Are Single Rooms Available?

Steph is painted as a horrible roommate, allowing her friend Hardin in their room any time without informing Tessa and doesn’t stick up for her when others tease her (or plot against her). But our main character isn’t the best either. Once her relationship progresses with Hardin, he becomes her focus. She abandons Steph and her other friends, dumps all of her problems without reciprocating, and moves out with little notice. Honestly, both of these ladies are the worst.

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4 Rebecca

The Roommate (2011)

In The Roommate, Sara is a college freshman who is paired to room with Rebecca. It’s a little strange how similar they look, but Rebecca seems nice enough. Rebecca experienced a lot of heartache, such as the death of her sister and a harassing ex-boyfriend. While the two get along at first, as the semester goes on Rebecca becomes increasingly possessive of Sara and jealous of those who dare come between them.

Sleep With One Eye Open

This horror film goes in the expected direction most “obsession” movies fall into. Rebecca begins to glom onto Sara, molding her identity to her new roommate. And because of the genre, some murder if thrown in there. Besides her homicidal tendencies, Rebecca is just downright annoying. Sara is a sweet girl and tries her best to deal with Rebecca, but even nice people have their limits.

Rent on Apple TV

3 Charles Lee Ray

Child’s Play (1988)

The iconic doll killer Chucky may take the prize for worst roommate and worst toy. Though now a staple in horror, before 1988’s Child’s Play, the world didn’t know about Charles Lee Ray. He was a criminal who died and came back to life. But his soul got trapped in a Good Guy doll. This doll ends up in the possession of Andy, a sweet little boy who lives with his mother. Despite Andy telling people there’s something off with this toy, no one listens. But they will soon enough.

No, We Don’t Wanna Play

Since Chucky often slept in the same room, and even in the same bed, with Andy, one could consider them roommates. One signal of an awful roommate is one who keeps you up all night, preventing a good night’s sleep. Sure, for most of us, that’s because of loud music or incessant talking. But because you’re fearing they might murder you is also up there. And when he tried to possess Andy’s body? Not cool, dude.

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2 Tom

Cry Wolf (2005)

Owen Matthews in Cry Wolf is the new kid in town, showing up to his new boarding school trying not to disappoint his father (again) by getting kicked out. With a British accent, he sticks out in this New England town and quickly ingratiates himself with his roommate Tom’s friends.

To ward off boredom, they capitalize on the fear a recent murder in town has caused and invent a serial killer that’s stalking the campus. But soon it becomes clear that their made-up murderer may not be pretending anymore.

Rather Be Alone

Tom, played by Jared Padalecki, gets off to an odd start with Owen. In their first meeting, the two shake hands as Tom informs him he just used the bathroom and didn’t wash his hands. Nice. And while it’s great that Tom invited Owen into his friend group, he also unknowingly (or knowingly?) put him into the eventual killer’s line of vision. He jumps to conclusions, snapping at Owen when their room is trashed despite evidence it wasn’t him. All in all, Tom is one guy we’d rather enjoy from afar.

Rent on Apple TV

1 Hedy Carlson

Single White Female (1992)

Allie in Single White Female is a software designer living with her fiancé Sam. But once she discovers he’s been cheating, her living arrangements are thrown into disarray. A woman named Hedy answers Allie’s ad seeking a new roommate, and the two instantly hit it off. But pesky Sam is trying to win Allie back and it seems to be working. Hedy won’t accept this and will go to whatever lengths to keep her new roommate close.

Too Close for Comfort

Even before the film takes a darker turn, Hedy’s roommate etiquette is questionable at best. Erasing Sam’s voicemails is invasive. Hurting the dog she got because she’s jealous of the furry friend is downright evil. Of course, the further the film continues, Hedy’s actions become more unhinged. While most people would agree that wanting to bond with your roommate is a good idea, this gal takes it several steps too far.

Rent on Apple TV