If you’re hunting for that one specific Adam Scott Reese Witherspoon movie to stream tonight, I’ve got some news that might be a little annoying: it doesn't actually exist.
Not a feature film, anyway.
It’s one of those weird Mandela Effect things where we’ve seen them together so much on our TV screens that our brains just fill in the gaps and assume they must have done a rom-com or a prestige indie drama at some point in the last twenty years. But nope. Aside from their massive run on HBO, these two haven't shared a movie set.
Honestly, it’s kind of a missed opportunity.
The Monterey "Marriage" That Fooled Everyone
The reason everyone searches for an Adam Scott Reese Witherspoon movie is simple: Big Little Lies. For two seasons, they played Ed and Madeline Martha Mackenzie. They weren't just co-stars; they were the quintessential "stable but simmering" suburban couple.
Madeline was this high-octane, Type-A Monterey mom who could start a war over a school play. Ed was... well, Ed. Adam Scott played him with this "Steady Eddie" energy—lots of Patagonia vests, a slightly-too-long beard, and a level of patience that felt almost supernatural.
Because the production value of Big Little Lies was so high—basically seven-hour movies directed by Jean-Marc Vallée and Andrea Arnold—it's easy to misremember the series as a film. It had the A-list cast, the cinematic wide shots of the Pacific Coast Highway, and that moody, expensive atmosphere.
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Why their chemistry (or lack thereof) worked
There’s been a lot of internet debate about whether Reese and Adam actually had chemistry. Some fans on Reddit swear they felt like total strangers. Others argue that was exactly the point.
- Madeline was still hung up on her ex, Nathan.
- Ed was the "safe" choice she made to rebuild her life.
- Their relationship was built on a foundation of "fine," which eventually cracked.
When Madeline’s affair with the theater director came out, that tension became the show’s backbone. Watching Adam Scott pivot from "lovable nerd" to "deeply betrayed husband" was a masterclass. It made people want to see them in something else—something where they weren't constantly lying to each other over expensive glasses of Chardonnay.
That Time Adam Scott Snorted on Reese (Literally)
Even though they haven't done a movie, they have plenty of behind-the-scenes stories that sound like something out of a comedy script.
Adam Scott actually told a story on Conan about a particularly awkward moment during the filming of Season 2. They were doing a heavy scene, and Reese made a joke between takes. Adam laughed so hard that—and this is his account—a string of snot flew out of his nose and wrapped itself around his face.
He didn't know what to do. He just sat there. Eventually, a makeup person came over with a tissue and cleared it up, but he spent the next six months wondering if he should apologize for the "snot incident." If that isn't a scene from a lost Adam Scott Reese Witherspoon movie, I don't know what is.
The Production Powerhouse Factor
While they aren't sharing the screen in a film, they are both absolute titans in the production world.
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Reese Witherspoon’s company, Hello Sunshine, basically owns the "prestige book adaptation" market. Adam Scott has his own production ventures, including work on Party Down and Severance.
There were rumors for a while that they might collaborate on a film project under the Hello Sunshine banner, but so far, Reese has been busy with The Morning Show and Adam has been trapped in the basement of Lumon Industries for Severance Season 2.
Will Big Little Lies Season 3 happen?
This is the closest we’ll get to seeing them together again anytime soon. Nicole Kidman basically let it slip recently that a third season is in the works.
If it happens, we’ll see:
- How Ed and Madeline are doing after their vow renewal.
- If the "Monterey Five" can actually keep a secret in the long run.
- Whether Adam Scott finally gets to play something other than the "supportive husband."
Where to see them if you're craving that vibe
Since you can't find a movie starring both of them, your best bet is to look at their individual filmographies that capture that same energy.
If you like Adam Scott's dry, slightly cynical husband vibe, you have to watch Friends with Kids. It’s a movie that feels very much like it exists in the same universe as a Reese Witherspoon project.
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If you want Reese at her "Madeline Mackenzie" peak, Election is the blueprint. Tracy Flick is just Madeline before she moved to a house with a view of the ocean.
The Verdict on a Future Collaboration
Is an Adam Scott Reese Witherspoon movie actually possible?
The industry loves a reunion. We’ve seen it with Julia Roberts and George Clooney, or Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling. Actors who work well together tend to seek each other out. Given that Big Little Lies was a career highlight for both, it’s not out of the question that they’d want to do a 90-minute feature where they don't have to worry about murder cover-ups.
For now, we have to settle for the 14 episodes of television gold they gave us.
Actionable Next Steps:
If you’ve already finished Big Little Lies and are looking for that specific Scott/Witherspoon itch to scratch:
- Stream "Severance" on Apple TV+: It shows a completely different side of Adam Scott—darker, more complex, and definitely not the "Steady Eddie" of Monterey.
- Check out "The Morning Show": If you want to see Reese Witherspoon operating at her maximum intensity level, this is where she’s at now.
- Rewatch Season 1, Episode 7 of Big Little Lies: Pay close attention to the scene where Ed performs at the trivia night. It’s arguably the best "acting" moment between the two of them, film or otherwise.
There's no movie yet, but in the world of Hollywood, "never" usually just means "not this year."