Barbara War Of The Roses (1989)
The Ex-Girlfriend: After years of married life, Barbara (Kathleen Turner) tires of husband Oliver (Michael Douglas) and begins to despite him.
When she realises that she’d rather he be dead than be with her, she files for divorce.
Her Post-Break-Up-Behaviour: When Oliver refuses to leave the house, the two engage in all-out warfare.
Barbara’s tricks?
Locking Oliver in his sauna, nearly killing him with a monster truck and serving pate that she claims is made from his dog.
Joanne Kramer Vs Kramer (1979)
The Ex-Girlfriend: Another ex-wife, Joanne (Meryl Streep) puts husband Ted (Dustin Hoffman) in a right spot when she selfishly abandons him and their young son in order to “find herself”.
Her Post-Break-Up-Behaviour: Over a year after Joanne left Ted, she returns to demand custody of their son Billy.
Considering how close Ted and Billy have become, it’s the worst possible thing she could do.
Aside from walking out on them in the first place.
Sylvia Three Men And A Baby (1987)
The Ex-Girlfriend: English rose Sylvia (Nancy Travis), who once dated goofy actor Jack Holden (Ted Danson).
Her Post-Break-Up-Behaviour: Sylvia had a baby after sleeping with Jack.
Instead of telling him about it, she dumps the baby on his doorstep one morning – and takes off without a forwarding address…
Elle Woods Legally Blonde (2001)
The Ex-Girlfriend: Perky blonde bombshell Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon), who’s dumped by her boyfriend because she’s not smart enough.
Oof.
Her Post-Break-Up-Behaviour: Sure she’s sweet and determined, but there’s a distinct whiff of desperation about Elle as she follows her ex-boyfriend (Matthew Davies) to law school in order to win him back.
Luckily, she realises she’s better than him in the end – and has a law degree to boot. Hurrah!
Jean Grey X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
The Ex-Girlfriend: Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) should be dead.
After sacrificing herself at the end of X2 , though, she comes back as the Dark Phoenix.
Her Post-Break-Up-Behaviour: Jane’s first act as the Phoenix?
Killing ex-boyfriend Cyclops (James Marsden).
She then threatens to destroy San Francisco – and sort-of-lover Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) with it…
Julianne My Best Friends Wedding (1997)
The Ex-Girlfriend: Julianne (Julia Roberts) made a pact with Michael O'Neil (Dermot Mulroney) that if they weren’t married by the time they were 28, they’d get hitched.
Except now Michael’s marrying somebody who Julianne thinks is totally wrong for him…
Her Post-Break-Up-Behaviour: Julianne attempts to ruin the wedding in any way she can.
Including kissing Michael on the day of his wedding.
Sheesh.
Roxy Scott Pilgrim Vs The World (2010)
The Ex-Girlfriend: Just one of Ramona’s (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) evil exes.
Roxy (Mae Whitman) is part of a league of seven evil exes that Ramona’s new boyfriend Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) has to defeat if he wants to date her.
Her Post-Break-Up-Behaviour: Bifurious, in a word.
Equipped with a metallic whip and the ability to vanish into thin air, she fights Scott (and Ramona) after he dares to date her.
Julie Vanilla Sky (2001)
The Ex-Girlfriend: Julianna ‘Julie’ Gianni (Cameron Diaz), who was once head-over-heels in love with wealthy publisher David Aames (Tom Cruise).
Until he ended it.
Her Post-Break-Up-Behaviour: Extreme to say the least – when Julie discovers that David is now seeing Sofia Serrano (Penélope Cruz), she attempts to kill herself and David by crashing her car.
He lives (but is disfigured).
She dies.
Jenny My Super Ex-Girlfriend (2006)
The Ex-Girlfriend: Jenny Johnson (Uma Thurman) is dumped by new beau Matt (Luke Wilson) when he discovers she’s an egotistical, demanding superhero called G-Girl.
Well, she did break his bed during sex.
Her Post-Break-Up-Behaviour: Never date a superhero.
Jenny aka G-Girl just can’t let Matt go without a fight, which means destroying his romance with co-worker Hannah (Anna Faris).
Is that a shark we see hurtling towards his apartment?
Taylor Vaughn Shes All That (1999)
The Ex-Girlfriend: An uber-popular high schooler, Taylor Vaughan (Jodi Lyn O'Keefe) dumps her jock beau Zack Siler (Freddie Prinze, Jr.) in order to date Real World celebrity Brock (Matthew Lillard).
Her Post-Break-Up-Behaviour: Taylor attempts to make shy dork Laney Boggs’ (Rachael Leigh Cook) life a misery when she dares to show an interest in Zack.
Nobody chows down on Taylor’s leftovers…
