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40 Times Actors Had To Do Just One Scene In The Whole Movie But Absolutely Nailed It
Although many things make a movie into an iconic one, and it’s rather a symbiosis of many factors over just one, there’s still one thing that might be just a teeny bit more important than the others - the performance of the actors. Really, what’s a movie if an actor delivers a performance that’s not believable, relatable, or immersive in any way? Best to just read a book in that case. But, in the world of good performances, there are also plenty of excellent ones, just like the best one-scene performances that we’ve gathered on our list!
While most of these one-scene performances are attributed to Hollywood actors who played the role of the main character in the movies we’ve selected, plenty of supporting actors shined their brightest and won awards for their incredible performances. And you know what, every famous actor in a leading role needs a supporting actor to supplement their performance and give the plot a whole new depth and perspective. So, watching a movie with some of the best actors’ performances in supporting roles makes it much better. Wouldn’t you agree? Don't know about you, but we’re adding it to our list of things that make for an iconic movie.
So, ready to look at our picks of Hollywood's best one-scene performances? If so, scroll on down below and check them out! For now the submissions are in no particular order, so if you’d like to see one of these performances on the top of our list, give it your vote. Lastly, share this article with your cinema-crazy friends, too!
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Alan Rickman In Harry Potter Deathly Hallows Part 1 (2010)
Alan Rickman (as Professor Snape), who was on screen for just 1 minute, 15 seconds in the first Deathly Hallows film, had a total screen time of only 43 minutes in all eight Harry Potter movies.
Bill Murray In Zombieland (2009)
Bill Murray played himself in Zombieland, and it was the best 'cameo' ever.
Billy Crystal And Carol Kane In The Princess Bride (1987)
Billy Crystal and Carol Kane play the wonderfully unhappy married pair Miracle Max and Valerie, who dabble in the kind of magic that could perhaps give our fallen hero, Westley, new life. Despite Valerie's rants, Miracle Max manages to save the day and bids the rescue team farewell with the catchphrase, "Have fun stormin' da castle".
"Enjoy taking over the castle"? Really? I've never been more disappointed in BP.
Christopher Walken In Pulp Fiction (1994)
Christopher Walken's monologue in Quentin Tarantino's masterwork Pulp Fiction, released in 1994, is one of the movie's most enduring passages. In his role as Captain Koons, Walken relates the tale of his father's gold watch and the lengths he took to ensure that it would be passed down to his son as a family relic to young Butch Coolidge (Bruce Willis). As only Walken can, he delves into the obscene and profane specifics of how his father was able to conceal the watch while a five-year prisoner of war in Vietnam.
He hid it in the one place he knew he could hide something.....his a$$
Kenneth Tigar In The Avengers (2012)
In this scene, Tigar plays an elderly man who refuses to bend down before Loki after the latter orders everyone to do so. The only person who challenges him is the elderly man with a German accent. This sentence has a murky double meaning that suggests the elderly man is a Holocaust survivor.
"There are always men like you" is such a chilling thing to say. It doesn't matter if you beat the current big bad because there will always be someone else ready to take their place.
Drew Barrymore In Scream (1996)
She not only performed admirably in the 12-minute opening act, but she also received top billing, and the movie was promoted as being about her.
Evan Peters In X-Men: Days Of Future Past (2014)
Despite appearing on screen for only 5 minutes and 15 seconds in X-Men: Days of Future Past, Evan Peters (as Peter Maximoff/Quicksilver) is responsible for one of the finest movie scenes ever.
Bronson Pinchot In Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
Serge has an unclear regional accent. He famously offers Foley an espresso with "a lemon twist" after falling in love with him right away.
Anne Hathaway In Les Misérables (2012)
Just see how well she performed "I Dreamed a Dream"! Many people, anticipated the vocally impressive anthem version. Still, they actually got Anne delving into the subtleties and feelings that Fantine would genuinely experience at that precise moment. She's not singing it to hit every note exactly, but it's not a nice tune. She is a broken woman trying to sing while barely managing her emotions.
Not only did Anne Hathaway commit to having her hair cut during this scene - allowing for only ONE take - she refused to have her fiance on set while filming it. She didn't want him to see her in that space. She won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for this roll
she also ate only what fantine would have eaten prior to the role
I never really understood this song until Anne sang it in this movie. Such emotion!
Why do people not get that sometimes they are not wanting perfection because the average person isn’t a great singer and it’s meant to portray an average person. A fave movie is “Paint Your Wagon” where Lee Marvin sings, with or without other cast members. He can’t sing a lick and that’s so in-character. Perfect, with “Wandering Star” the best song.
I didn’t like this film. All of the actors are great but when you sing you can’t “feel” that much or you go out of tune. Hugh Jackman should have sung Javert not Valjean, it’s too high for him and made his voice sound shrilly. There’re only close-ups or panoramic. The costume designer, Paco Delgado, won an Oscar for his work and you can hardly see it.
Would have been a scandal if she didn't win, though a scandal that would not surpass the lack of Oscars that Ennio Morricone never got.
I'm not a fan of musicals and have never seen any version of Les Misérables, but I've listened to Hathaway sing I Dreamed a Dream on YouTube because it's so incredible.
How well she performed the song? It's an objectively terrible performance.
I loved the comments by Tina Fey and Amy Poehler at the Golden Globes about this scene!
Donnie Wahlberg In The Sixth Sense (1999)
Despite spending only around three minutes on screen in The Sixth Sense, Donnie Wahlberg (as Vincent Grey) was so wonderfully menacing.
Judi Dench In Shakespeare In Love (1999)
Shakespeare in Love only had Judi Dench's Queen Elizabeth on screen for around eight minutes. Nevertheless, she was so outstanding and powerful that she took home the Best Supporting Actress Oscar.
I think it was more to do with the Academy thinking they should have given her an Oscar for Mrs Brown.
Gloria Foster In The Matrix (1999)
If there is one thing, we can be sure of, Lana and Lily Wachowski's sci-fi epic The Matrix posed many issues for us to consider. As Neo (Keanu Reeves) embarks on a journey of self-discovery to save humanity against an evil race of sentient robots, The Oracle (Gloria Foster) was thankfully able to fill in some of the gaps about the who, what, and why of it all.
"Don't worry; as soon as you step through that door, you'll start feeling better. You'll remember that you don't believe in any of that 'fate' c.rap. You're in control of your own life... remember? Here - take a cookie. I promise, by the time you're done eating it, you'll feel right as rain."
Viola Davis In Doubt (2008)
Acting opposite Meryl Streep, Viola Davis just had one scene—a mere eight minutes—but it was enough for her first Oscar nomination. She is both devastating and flawless in the film. With each tear, you can sense the agony in her character's face as she struggles to persuade herself that she is doing morally, even though she is aware that either position is doomed to failure. This scene demonstrates why Viola is the best, which is for a reason.
Matthew McConaughey In Wolf Of Wall Street (2013)
McConaughey is barely in two scenes of the movie, but when Leo DiCaprio stares at him and tries not to laugh while he pounds his chest, it's too hysterical. Truly unforgettable.
Jonathan Groff In Hamilton (2020)
Despite spending a total of nine minutes on stage, he received nominations for both a Tony and an Emmy for the performance. But let's not play around. He's worth it because he's Jonathan Groff.
Bill Murray In Little Shop Of Horrors (1986)
Arthur Denton is that patient, and the more painful his dental procedure is, the giddier he becomes.
Gene Hackman In Young Frankenstein (1974)
The renowned Gene Hackman's one scene in the classic movie, which follows hard-boiled roles in movies like The French Connection (1971) and The Conversation (1974), was made even more unforgettable by the opportunity to witness him alter modes. His interaction with Peter Boyle's Frankenstein monster as Harold, the Blind Man, is undoubtedly the funniest moment of his over 60-year career.
Denis Ménochet In Inglourious Basterds (2009)
Denis Ménochet's portrayal doesn't overstate the significance of the historical truth that the scenario depicts. He uncomfortably puts us up close to the bottomless pathos and sorrow of a historically or fictionally underappreciated figure: a nameless, real hero whose sincere goal resulted in disaster and death, not triumph.
Gary Oldman In True Romance (1993)
As he personifies the type of human garbage that engages in the flesh-peddling business, Oldman's portrayal of Spivey as a deranged and demented pimp is compelling. Oldman surely made the most of his one scene in the movie with his hazy eye, scarred visage, and scarcely understandable language.
I have loved Gary Oldman forever. You can rarely ever tell its him in the movies he does
Edie Mcclurg In Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987)
As she idly chats on the phone to a friend while oblivious to the angry customer, the "Car Rental Agent," as the character is credited, first comes out as overly upbeat. Nevertheless, she is ready to give it straight back to him following Neal's outburst.
Dave Bautista In Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
That replicant, Sapper Morton, is played by Dave Bautista. He is both physically and intellectually strong, as evidenced by the many books in his library.
I loved him, in this movie, i never though to see Bautista doing a scene like that.
Kathleen Freeman In The Blues Brothers (1980)
In the comedic classic The Blues Brothers, Kathleen Freeman steps up to the plate and takes some well-deserved lumps (1980). The woman who plays Sister Mary Stigmata, a.k.a. "The Penguin," summons Jake (John Belushi) and Elwood (Dan Aykroyd) Blues to a meeting in her office to talk about the church. Jake attempts an ill-conceived attempt to obtain the money through illicit means as the tax authorities close in, which causes Sister Mary to exhibit "The Penguin."
"It pains me that the two young men I raised to believe in the Ten Commandments have returned to me as two thieves! With filthy mouths, and bad attitudes! Get out! And don't come back... until you've redeemed yourselves". That she mysteriously glides backwards into her office as if she's on wheels after saying the last part is the icing on the cupcake of hilarity.
Gene Jones In No Country For Old Men (2007)
The writing in the film, but especially in this sequence, is so incisive and precise, and Javier Bardem's understated, eerie performance will give you shivers. But seriously, we don't talk about how fantastic the shopkeeper is enough. He deserves the praise since he is just as brilliant as Bardem (who won the Oscar for his performance).
Vanessa Redgrave In Atonement (2007)
Old Briony is portrayed by Vanessa Redgrave, who only makes a brief, five-minute appearance at the film's conclusion. She's the reason it all comes together — the keyboard clacking, the supercuts of certain important scenes, and everything being shown from different perspectives. It was astounding. It was executed flawlessly and was really subtle. Her acting is simply amazing.
Steve Park In Fargo (1996)
In the Coen Brothers' epic Fargo, the dinner scene between Mike (Steve Park) and Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand) is seen as both challenging to watch and humorous at the same time. Even though it would seem impossible, Park's awkwardness as the sexually frustrated engineer from Eden Prairie, Minnesota, is dripping with what we like to refer to as "second-hand embarrassment.". Because Park's character experiences such intense emotional upheaval in this four-minute moment that seemingly lasts for four hours.
Chris Evans In Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010)
Actor and skateboarder Lucas Lee has a beef with Scott that is required by the league. The man is more in love with himself than with his ardent followers.
Taika Waititi In Hunt For The Wilderpeople (2016)
In addition to writing his own screenplays and directing his own movies, Taika Waititi frequently appears in front of the camera, too. And each time he does, this witty Kiwi makes us laugh. In What We Do in the Shadows, he plays a sweet vampire, and in Thor: Ragnarok, he plays a silly rock monster, but in Hunt for the Wilderpeople, he portrays the most eccentric preacher in New Zealand.
This is an amazing movie! Great performances. So quotable. Highly recommend! "Ricky Baker, uh, Ricky Baker!!!"
David Thewlis In The Big Lebowski (1998)
Knox Harrington, played by David Thewlis, embodies the existential, sublime weirdness that the Coen Brothers aim for in their movies. He plays hardly more than a bystander in a conversation between The Dude (Jeff Bridges) and Maude Lebowski in The Big Lebowski (Julianne Moore). Thewlis' Harrington is "Maude's associate" and truly irritates The Dude.
Alfre Woodard In 12 Years A Slave (2013)
The minor role of Alfre Woodard is challenging, but she captures the essence of the character. Even though she hasn't been in that situation in a while, Mrs. Shaw recalls what it was like to be enslaved. We can tell from the actor's portrayal that Mrs. Shaw now sees herself as more in line with wealthy women.
Julia Butters In Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (2019)
Even though Butters only appeared in two sequences, she held her own well against Leo DiCaprio. Although the film's original version was 4.5 hours long, they allegedly shot a lot more of her. However, some of it was edited out.
Harry Belafonte In Blackkklansman (2018)
Harry Belafonte only appears in one scene in the entire movie, yet you'll never forget it. In it, his persona visits a local Black student union to talk about the lynching of Jesse Washington in real life. A KKK initiation and Belafonte's terrifying monologue about the destruction of Washington are edited together in the scenario, coupled with his explanation of how the 1915 motion picture The Birth of a Nation affected the US. Finally, it ends with chants for "Black power" and "white power" from both groups. This scene was filmed with Belafonte, who stepped out of retirement, and the entire event will give you chills.
Dean Stockwell In Blue Velvet (1986)
We have to give the perpetually oddball director David Lynch a lot of the credit for this entry. When he teamed together Dean Stockwell, and Dennis Hopper for one of Lynch's oddest takes in Blue Velvet, the master of the surreal, exquisite, and bizarre struck a nerve. Who is creepier in this scene—lipsync Stockwell's to Roy Orbison's "In Dreams" or Hopper's character's an almost orgasmic response to it?
Mariah Carey In Precious (2009)
Mariah was on the screen for a little period of time, but she was really impressive. Now people can forget about the disaster that was Glitter, finally!
Alec Baldwin In Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)
Baldwin plays Blake, a man tasked by "Mitch and Murray" to motivate the underachieving salespeople. His seven-minute "Always Be Closing" monologue, which benefits from Mamet's masterful pacing and cinematography, is unquestionably the most memorable scene in a movie starring many famous actors.
This speech is like the epitome of the worst things about corporate sales and that 'push push push' drive that is killing people. So many CEO's refer to it as this 'goal' and completely missed the point which was that this guy, who isn't really doing the job, is hired to come and do this speech then leaves right after, leaving everyone to feel both motivated and somehow lacking, but to also do the work while others benefit from it. It's a fantastic scene but...ugh it's such a brainwashing that is done to people in the guise of 'motivation'.
Adrien Brody In Midnight In Paris (2011)
The 2011 film Midnight in Paris is a joy to watch. A few of Midnight's high spots include appearances by Ernest Hemingway (Corey Stoll), F. Scott Fitzgerald (Tom Hiddleston), and Pablo Picasso (Marcial Di Fonzo Bo). Still, few can match the curiosity of Adrien Brody's Salvador Dali. Although he was officially seen at a party earlier in the movie, Dal's silence nevertheless allows him to be added to the list through his interaction with contemporary Gil Pender (Owen Wilson).
Veronica Ngo In Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)
The Star Wars series, which has spanned over 40 years, is a grand space opera of good vs. evil in which the forces of light and darkness clash. Unfortunately, the tiny guy frequently gets lost at the seams in this epic story. The Star Wars story mainly focuses on the main characters in this intergalactic conflict—Rey, Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, and Kylo Ren—but one specific scene in The Last Jedi is a reminder that many other minor characters sacrifice their lives for the greater good.
The most useful character in the whole movie, what a waste that she wasn't around longer
Michelle Williams In Manchester By The Sea (2016)
Williams appears briefly in a few of the flashback scenes, but she is utterly devastating in the current-day moment. It would be a movie spoiler to explain the context of her dialogue with Casey Affleck's character, but suffice it to say that she brings tears to your eyes for the entire ten or so minutes that she is onscreen. For this sequence, she received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress that year, and she very certainly deserved it.
Williams was amazing in this film. I don't think I've ever seen her deliver a less than stellar performance.
Alfred Molina In Boogie Nights (1997)
In Boogie Nights, Molina truly steals the show as a jittery, high-on-drugs smack dealer who has a thing for the glam metal band Night Ranger. As he negotiates a botched drug deal, the screen is filled with his vigor and senseless rantings. He ultimately uses a 12-gauge shotgun to chase Dirk Diggler (Mark Wahlberg) and Reed Rothchild (Thomas C. Reilly) from his home.
This character is supposed to be Eddie Nash, who was involved in the John Holmes murders. There is another film called Wonderland made about the murders, in which the Eddie Nash character is played by Eric Bogosian
Philip Seymour Hoffman In Hard Eight (1997)
The unidentified, lower-class heckler, played by Phillip Seymour Hoffman, seemed to enjoy deterring the older, more experienced gambler.
What a terrible, terrible loss. He put everything into every role, big or small. I was so sad when he passed.
Molly Shannon In The Santa Clause 2 (2002)
My goodness. I'm a movie fan but this list was assembled by someone with an opposite liking for movies than I. I haven't seen 90% of the movies on this list.
Was this list sponsored by amazon!??! what's with all the BUY NOW buttons????
BP does this sometimes. And doesn't care to mention that
Load More Replies...Where is the love for Danny Trejo? He has been in a bunch of things as a cameo and is always fantastic.
Wilford Brimley in the Absence of Malice with Paul Newman and Sally Field. Media gone wrong and other political dramas. She writes a series of stories that rips his life apart, and gets revenge by setting up everyone to incriminate themselves. Wilford Brimley shows up after everything spills out into the public. And it's like an adult catching a bunch of kids fighting in a playground. Epic disappointment. Sad that he has to ground them, take their toys away, arrest them, fire them. Shames them basically. It's a fun scene even if you haven't watched the rest of the movie.
I'm astonished that the one performance in motion picture history that perfectly embodies this category is missing from this list. I am referring, of course, to Beatrice Straight in Network (1976). With a scene she won her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. At just under six minutes, Straight still holds the record for the shortest screen time to win an Oscar!
Except for the butchering of two of the classic lines (Princess Bride and Network) there were some good mentions.
Kevin Bacon - Planes Trains and Automobiles and John Candy in Home Alone - both tip top.
I always liked that fellow in Wolf of wall Street who ran the strip mall brokerage. When Leo asks him if this is legit he responds, ehhhhhhhhhhhhhh...
My goodness. I'm a movie fan but this list was assembled by someone with an opposite liking for movies than I. I haven't seen 90% of the movies on this list.
Was this list sponsored by amazon!??! what's with all the BUY NOW buttons????
BP does this sometimes. And doesn't care to mention that
Load More Replies...Where is the love for Danny Trejo? He has been in a bunch of things as a cameo and is always fantastic.
Wilford Brimley in the Absence of Malice with Paul Newman and Sally Field. Media gone wrong and other political dramas. She writes a series of stories that rips his life apart, and gets revenge by setting up everyone to incriminate themselves. Wilford Brimley shows up after everything spills out into the public. And it's like an adult catching a bunch of kids fighting in a playground. Epic disappointment. Sad that he has to ground them, take their toys away, arrest them, fire them. Shames them basically. It's a fun scene even if you haven't watched the rest of the movie.
I'm astonished that the one performance in motion picture history that perfectly embodies this category is missing from this list. I am referring, of course, to Beatrice Straight in Network (1976). With a scene she won her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. At just under six minutes, Straight still holds the record for the shortest screen time to win an Oscar!
Except for the butchering of two of the classic lines (Princess Bride and Network) there were some good mentions.
Kevin Bacon - Planes Trains and Automobiles and John Candy in Home Alone - both tip top.
I always liked that fellow in Wolf of wall Street who ran the strip mall brokerage. When Leo asks him if this is legit he responds, ehhhhhhhhhhhhhh...