Few Hollywood duos have matched the natural humor and warmth of Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt during their time filming Passengers (2016). But according to a now-iconic behind-the-scenes story, even the Oscar-winning actress had a moment of embarrassment when her co-star caught her indulging in a musical guilty pleasure — belting out Cher’s 1998 megahit “Believe.”
The Soundtrack of the Spaceship Avalon
During a promotional appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Pratt playfully exposed Lawrence’s endearing on-set habit: spontaneously breaking into song between takes. The choice of song? Not a dramatic ballad or current chart-topper, but Cher’s auto-tuned pop anthem that changed the course of late-’90s music.
Pratt recalled trying to rehearse lines on the sci-fi set — only to be interrupted by Lawrence’s unmistakable voice echoing through the soundstage, passionately singing “Do you believe in life after love?”
“She’d just start singing it out of nowhere,” Pratt joked, laughing. “We’d be in the middle of a really serious scene, and then suddenly — boom — Cher.”
Jennifer Lawrence’s Seven-Word Reaction
When DeGeneres confronted Lawrence about the story, the actress’s response became an instant classic. Genuinely surprised that her co-star had noticed the habit, Lawrence’s face reportedly turned red before she exclaimed in disbelief:
“What an annoying tic! Oh my God!”
The seven-word reaction — both horrified and hilarious — perfectly captured Lawrence’s trademark mix of humility and self-awareness. Fans quickly embraced the line, which spread across entertainment outlets as yet another example of the actress’s unfiltered authenticity.
A Bond Built on Humor
The anecdote not only gave audiences a glimpse into Lawrence’s playful personality but also reflected the easy chemistry she shared with Pratt — something critics widely praised as one of Passengers’ strongest elements.
Directed by Morten Tyldum, the film told the story of two passengers, Aurora Lane (Lawrence) and Jim Preston (Pratt), who wake up 90 years early on a spacecraft traveling to a distant colony. While the movie explored isolation, morality, and romance in deep space, off-screen it was filled with laughter and light moments like Lawrence’s impromptu Cher performances.
Even composer Thomas Newman’s elegant score couldn’t compete with the unexpected soundtrack Lawrence provided on set.
“Believe” — A Song That Refuses to Fade
Cher’s “Believe” remains one of the best-selling singles of all time, a defining anthem of the late 1990s that revolutionized the use of auto-tune in pop music. Its message — resilience and self-empowerment after heartbreak — has since become iconic.
For Lawrence, who has admitted in past interviews that she often breaks into song to shake off nerves or boredom, the tune was the perfect outlet for energy on an otherwise serious set.
A Moment of Unscripted Humanity
In an industry where every sound bite and photo op is polished, Lawrence’s candid “annoying tic” confession reminds fans why she remains one of Hollywood’s most beloved stars: she’s human, unpredictable, and unafraid to laugh at herself.
So while Passengers may be remembered for its futuristic romance and sleek visuals, for Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence, the real soundtrack of the film will always be — unmistakably — Cher.