Biggest Hollywood Breakups That Shocked Fans

High profile relationships often unfold in front of cameras, so when they end, the details can dominate the news cycle. Timelines, legal filings, and career updates quickly become part of the story, and fans look for clear facts to understand what happened.

This list gathers ten headline making splits with straightforward information about the relationships, the separations, and the aftermath. Each entry focuses on confirmed milestones, official filings, and public statements that shaped how these breakups were reported.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie

The pair met while filming ‘Mr. & Mrs. Smith’ and began a relationship in 2005. They married in August 2014 at their estate in France and share six children, three of whom were adopted before their wedding and three of whom are biological. Their creative collaborations included ‘By the Sea’, which they released in 2015.

Angelina Jolie filed for divorce in September 2016 citing irreconcilable differences. The case involved extended proceedings over custody and financial matters, including ongoing disputes related to the Miraval wine business. Various court orders addressed custody arrangements as the parties continued to negotiate agreements.

Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt

Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt married in July 2000 in Malibu after several years of dating. They were one of the most photographed couples in entertainment during the early 2000s and attended numerous industry events together.

They announced their separation in January 2005 and finalized their divorce in October 2005. The settlement divided property and addressed financial terms, and both parties issued statements at the time asking for privacy while confirming the amicable nature of the split.

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes began dating in 2005, welcomed their daughter Suri in April 2006, and married in November 2006 in Italy. Their public appearances were frequent during this period, and both actors continued to release projects while balancing family life.

Katie Holmes filed for divorce in June 2012 in New York. The parties reached a settlement within weeks, and Holmes was granted primary residential custody of their daughter with Cruise receiving visitation. The agreement also addressed financial support and jurisdiction for future matters.

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner started dating in 2004 and married in June 2005 in a private ceremony. They have three children together, and over the years both actors discussed co parenting logistics in interviews while maintaining active film careers.

They announced their separation in June 2015 and filed for divorce in 2017, with the judgment finalized in October 2018. The settlement included joint legal custody and arrangements for physical custody that accommodated work schedules, along with the division of assets acquired during the marriage.

Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth

Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth met while filming ‘The Last Song’. They dated on and off for several years, became engaged in 2012, ended the engagement in 2013, and reconciled in 2016. They married in December 2018 in Tennessee.

Hemsworth filed for divorce in August 2019 citing irreconcilable differences. The divorce was finalized in January 2020, with terms covering property division and the handling of personal assets. The two did not have children together, which streamlined portions of the settlement.

Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner

Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner legally married in Las Vegas in May 2019 and held a second ceremony in France in June 2019. They welcomed two daughters in 2020 and 2022 while both continued acting and touring commitments, including Turner’s return to television and Jonas Brothers concert dates.

Jonas filed for divorce in Florida in September 2023 citing irreconcilable differences. Subsequent filings led to a temporary agreement regarding the children and mediation sessions in October 2023, which produced an interim arrangement while longer term terms were negotiated in court.

Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn

Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn began their relationship in 2016 and maintained a low public profile during their time together. Alwyn received songwriting credits under the pseudonym William Bowery on Swift’s albums ‘Folklore’ and ‘Evermore’, which documented their creative collaboration.

Reports of their breakup surfaced in April 2023. Because the couple did not have joint property announcements or public legal filings related to marriage or custody, the split primarily involved residency changes and professional commitments that continued separately after the news became public.

Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake

Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake dated from 1999 to 2002 after meeting as children on ‘The Mickey Mouse Club’. Following the breakup, Timberlake released the single ‘Cry Me a River’ in 2002, which attracted significant attention because of its subject matter and timing.

Public interest in the relationship resurfaced when Spears published her memoir ‘The Woman in Me’ in 2023. The book included references to the period of their relationship and breakup, and it provided dates and context that clarified the timeline for readers.

Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart

Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart began dating during the production of the ‘Twilight’ films. Their relationship overlapped with the release schedule of the franchise, which kept both actors in the public eye for several years.

In July 2012 Stewart issued a public apology after photos surfaced showing her with the director of ‘Snow White and the Huntsman’. Pattinson and Stewart separated in 2013, and the split concluded a period of on set collaboration and promotional obligations tied to the final films.

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West married in May 2014 in Florence and have four children together. Their relationship frequently intersected with television, including appearances connected to ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians’ and later ‘The Kardashians’.

Kardashian filed for divorce in February 2021, and the divorce was finalized in November 2022. Court documents set terms for joint legal custody, defined a parenting schedule, and specified monthly child support to be paid by West, along with the division of properties and financial accounts.

Share the breakup that surprised you most in the comments and tell us what detail made it stand out.