The Fugitive
Do you remember The Fugitive with Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones? Try to remember the tense confrontation between the two main characters. When Ford yells that he did not murder his wife, Jones screams, “I don’t care.” Apparently, he was supposed to say “That isn’t my problem”, but Jones was able to convince the writers to change it.
The Fugitive
Midnight Cowboy
There’s one moment in Midnight Cowboy that felt so natural you might have even failed to catch it. We’re referring to the scene when Dustin Hoffman shouts out, “I’m walking here!” What actually happened was that one driver failed to notice the signs about the shoot, drove right into the filming area, and almost hit Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight!
Midnight Cowboy
Ghost
Whoopi Goldberg might have won an Oscar for her role in Ghost, but she should also be recognized for her great improvisation skills! In the movie, she’s the psychic hired by Molly to get in touch with Sam. Whoopi is the one who should be credited for the ominous, “Molly, you in danger, girl!” line.
Ghost
A Few Good Men
The unwavering popularity of A Few Good Men can be partly attributed to a single line: “You can’t handle the truth!” Shows like The Simpsons, How I Met Your Mother, and Community have all paid tribute to the movie by incorporating it into their very own scripts. However, the line was actually all Jack Nicholson!
A Few Good Men
When Harry Met Sally
Who isn’t at least familiar with When Harry Met Sally? This movie is a must-watch for anyone who loves romcoms. But here’s what you must know: the scene when Harry is fooling around with an accent and saying, “I would be proud to partake of your pecan pie”? That was improvised! Luckily, Meg Ryan went with it and the director ended up loving it.
When Harry Met Sally
The Dark Knight
Heath Ledger received a posthumous Oscar for his role as the Joker in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight. Fans will know that he actually practiced method acting for the role. That preparation seems to have been really effective and it shows in certain scenes in the movie. Remember the scene when the police officers are applauding Gordon for his promotion? The Joker wasn’t actually supposed to join in on the fun, but it was nonetheless chilling when he began clapping slowly.
The Dark Knight
Deliverance
Deliverance is not a film for the faint-hearted. One of the most disturbing scenes in the entire movie involves a hillbilly instructing Ned Beatty’s character to “squeal like a pig”. The character ends up obeying the attacker, but various members of the cast have taken credit for coming up with this part. At least we can all agree that it was a truly shocking scene.
Deliverance
Good Will Hunting
The heartwarming tale of Good Will Hunting is always going to have a special place in our hearts. But did you know that Robin Williams actually came up with the closing line on the spot? You might even notice that the camera is shaking a little — that’s because even the cameraman was laughing so hard!
Good Will Hunting
Being John Malkovich
Being John Malkovich is an… unorthodox movie, to say the least. It almost makes sense that an unplanned shot would be placed in the final edit. Does the line “Hey, Malkovich! Think fast!” ring any bells? That scene was reportedly off the cuff. Luckily, it got caught on tape and it is now one of the most iconic scenes in the movie.
Being John Malkovich
The Usual Suspects
Brian Singer isn’t the type of director who is always cool with improvisation. But he decided to let it go for one scene in The Usual Suspects. Remember the infamous lineup scene? The end result might have been humorous, but it was apparently supposed to be completely serious! The culprit? Someone allegedly kept farting — Pollak claims it was Del Toro.
The Usual Suspects
Goodfellas
Let’s not forget the incredibly tense scene in Goodfellas. “Do I amuse you?” Jose Pesci asks, veering off script and amplifying the drama as the rest of the characters went silent! We’re sure that the exchange is a reason it’s one of the most popular gangster movies ever made, right up there with The Godfather trilogy.
Goodfellas
The Silence of the Lambs
Dr. Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs is already quite frightening in himself. However, we daresay that Anthony Hopkins was able to make the character even scarier with his performance. The actor actually came up with some of the character’s ticks. Do you remember the “fava beans and a nice Chianti” scene and the hissing sound he makes? Yup, that was all Hopkins’s doing.
The Silence Of The Lambs
Taxi Driver
“You talkin’ to me?” No line in Taxi Driver is as memorable as De Niro’s monologue in front of the mirror. It’s understandable that you’re confused why it’s in the list. You got that right — it was unscripted!
Taxi Driver
The Warriors
The movie The Warriors came out in 1979 and we have to say, David Patrick Kelly was exceptional in it. And not just when it comes to acting. “Warriors, come out to play!” has to be the most annoying taunt in movie history. That part was all Kelly, but the directors loved it enough to keep it in the final edit.
The Warriors
Apocalypse Now
Marlon Brando was one of the greatest actors in Hollywood history. We all know him for his handsome face and employment of method acting. However, he was also quite the diva. In Apocalypse Now, he failed to memorize the lines for his role and ended up adlibbing for a total of almost 20 minutes in the movie!
Apocalypse Now
Blade Runner
Do you remember the ‘tears in rain’ soliloquy in Blade Runner? Apparently, it was largely penned by Rutger Hauer himself! One of the greatest speeches to be found in sci-fi cinema, and it wasn’t even part of the original script.
Blade Runner
Jaws
We can wax poetic about the critically-acclaimed Jaws, but let’s focus on a single scene featuring Roy Scheider as Chief Martin Brody. In particular, try to remember the scene where he says, “You’re gonna need a bigger boat.” The ominous line was actually improvised! Impressive.
Jaws
Raiders Of The Lost Ark
Raiders of the Lost Ark is responsible for one of the best fight scenes in movie history. We can’t think of anything that tops the brief sword vs. gun fight in the movie. Apparently, Ford was suffering from dysentery at the time and therefore unable to perform fight scenes. He suggested that he could “just shoot the sucker” and that’s exactly what happened! Iconic.
Raiders Of The Lost Ark
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
Gene Wilder is a legend and even the director knew that. This is the reason why the actor had a lot of control over the scenes his character was in. Reports say that Wilder refused to take the role unless he could tweak the screenplay to his liking. Do you remember the duplicitous entrance made by Willy Wonka? Yup, that one was proposed by the actor himself.
Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory
RoboCop
Occasionally, actors would ask for the approval of the director first. That worked well for Kurtwood Smith and director Paul Verhoeven who withhold a single line in the movie so that they can capture authentic emotions from the other cast members. Keep this in mind when you watch the movie and the other cast members looked absolutely shocked after the “Give me my fu*kin’ phone call” line.
RoboCop
A Clockwork Orange
Sometimes it’s difficult to get a scene right and no one knows this better than Stanley Kubrick. While shooting the home invasion scene in A Clockwork Orange, the director was being increasingly upset because they couldn’t seem to get it right. Frustrated, he told the actors, “Just do whatever you want.” Malcolm McDowell proceeded to sing “Singing in the Rain” and it was exactly what the scene needed.
A Clockwork Orange
Full Metal Jacket
Kubrick actually wrote the screenplay for Full Metal Jacket, but he wasn’t strict when it comes to adhering to the original script. This is especially true when R. Lee Ermey joined the cast. A former Marine, the actor had a lot of free rein over his role. In fact, Kubrick would later reveal that about half of his character lines were unscripted!
Full Metal Jacket
Saving Private Ryan
Spielberg’s war masterpiece Saving Private Ryan was extremely well-written, but one of the most memorable scenes in the film was actually unscripted. We’re talking about the scene when Captain Miller and Private Ryan were sitting in rubble as the latter tells the story of his eldest brother making out with a girl. The credit goes entirely to Matt Damon.
Saving Private Ryan
This is Spinal Tap
The tale of these 80’s rocker wannabees has certainly made a mark in history. But did you know that This is Spinal Tap was actually very reliant on improvisation? Yes, that also includes the iconic “It’s such a fine line between stupid and clever” bit.
This Is Spinal Tap
Dr. Strangelove
Stanley Kubrick’s surreal masterpiece Dr. Strangelove was undeniably bizarre. This also carried over to the film’s creative process. Stanley Kubrick and his team chose to go with a ‘retro-script’ which involved a lot of improvisation from the cast members. So that scene when Sellers goes into a Nazi salute? Completely improvised.
Dr. Strangelove
Zoolander
Do you remember the scene in the graveyard in Zoolander? No other scene in the movie quite captures Zoolander’s personality than when he asks the hand model why male models would be great assassins right after the other guy explains it. Despite how perfect it looked, it was actually the result of Ben Stiller forgetting his line and David Duchovny winging it!
Zoolander
The Shining
How can we ever forget the most iconic scene in movie history? The Shining is still one of the best-known thrillers, for a very good reason. However, you might not know that the “Here’s Johnny!” bit was actually unscripted. Nicholson decided to go with it as an homage to The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.
The Shining
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
This is arguably the most famous love confession in all of cinematic history. In Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Hans Solo and Princess Leia share a tender moment. Leia tells him “I love you” and Solo responds with, “I know.” This wasn’t actually in the screenplay, but Harrison Ford’s delivery certainly felt authentic.
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
Young Frankenstein
Do you remember the comedic genius of Marty Feldman in Young Frankenstein? In the role of Igor, he would improvise and deliver one of the best lines in the film: “What hump?” The director loved the addition and kept it in the final edit.
Young Frankenstein
Animal House
National Lampoon produced Animal House, so is it really a surprise that the cast members had to draw from their improv theater background for certain parts of the movie? Regardless, it’s amazing that John Belushi came up with the whole cafeteria scene. Squeezing food out of his cheeks and the “I’m a zit— get it?” line were, in fact, not in the original script.
Animal House
Dumb and Dumber
Who didn’t enjoy watching Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels play the roles of Lloyd and Harry in Dumb and Dumber. Do you remember when the pair began playing tag while on the way to Aspen and Jim Carrey makes the ‘most annoying sound in the world’. It was completely improvised by the actor, apparently.
Dumb And Dumber
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
In The Fellowship of the Ring movie from The Lord of the Rings trilogy, there is a scene where Aragorn screams in grief. He thinks that his friends have died and the sight of a smoldering body intensifies the emotion. However, the truth is that Viggo Mortensen kicked a helmet and broke a toe in the process! Ouch.
The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter was a great influence during many people’s formative years. How can we forget Harry and Ron’s epic joyride in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, after all? Not to mention the subsequent conversation the pair had with the Weasley parents. Apparently, the discussion had to be taken multiple times. In the end, it was Mr. Weasley’s improvised “What exactly is the function of a rubber duck?” that made the cut!
Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets
Ghostbusters
We bet you didn’t know that Rick Moranis was initially an improv performer. Luckily, his skills transferred over to a career in Hollywood. Do you remember the speech he made in the party scene in Ghostbusters? According to the director, that bit was not in the script. “Rick just made all of it up as he was doing it,” he admitted. Impressive!
Ghostbusters
Caddyshack
We bet you’re at least familiar with Bill Murray. Luckily, his decision to leave SNL did not mark the end of his comedy career. He also starred in films like Caddyshack and gave it a dose of his own brand of comedy. He actually came up with Dalai Lama on his own. Don’t forget about the Cinderella moment either! He is definitely a man of many talents.
Caddyshack
Knocked Up
Seth Rogen was reunited with Freaks and Geeks writer Judd Apatow while shooting Knocked Up. This time, Apatow was the director and he allowed the cast members a lot of freedom. We can partly attribute the success of the movie to this quality. Rogen contributed bits like the references to the classic Spielberg film Munich.
Knocked Up
Aliens
A lot of people dislike sequels because they usually cannot reach the level of success of the first movie. Luckily, that was not the case for Aliens. In this installment, Sigourney Weaver is paired with Bill Paxton. Remember the resigned yells of “Game over, man”? Nope, it wasn’t in the screenplay.
Aliens
Tootsie
It’s safe to expect amazing unscripted lines when you have Bill Murray in the cast. Director Sydney Pollack knew this and let the man have a lot of freedom when it comes to his script. Murray delivered an improvised speech for the party and the best thing about it was that the cast didn’t know about it beforehand.
Tootsie
The Third Man
Legendary Orson Welles is certainly one of the film greats. Who doesn’t know his name, after all? Here’s one of his best improvisations from The Third Man: “In Italy for 30 years under the Borgias, they had warfare, terror, murder, bloodshed. They produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and the Renaissance. In Switzerland, they had brotherly love, five hundred years of democracy and peace. And what did they produce? The cuckoo clock.”
The Third Man
The Devil Wears Prada
We doubt that anyone will ever forget Meryl Streep’s performance as the titular fashion editor. As usual, she delivered an unforgettable performance. It’s obvious how well she knew the character and as supporting evidence, she even created some of the best quotes in the movie. “Everybody wants to be us”, for example.
The Devil Wears Prada
The Godfather
Do you remember the scene in The Godfather when the character of Paulie Gatto is murdered? I bet you do. It might not exactly for the death, per se, but for Richard Castellano’s line: “Leave the gun— take the cannoli.” The last part was his own addition, but it certainly made for a great touch.
The Godfather
Casablanca
Ah, who can ever forget the classic line from Casablanca: “Here’s looking at you, kid.” While Humphrey Bogart didn’t exactly come up with the line on the spot, it was something he regularly told Ingrid Bergman whenever they played poker during breaks. The writers heard about it and decided to put it in the movie!
Casablanca
Titanic
Did you know that the first scene they filmed for Titanic was the iconic nude drawing session? It’s understandable that both leading actors would be nervous. Maybe that’s why Leo DiCaprio fumbled with his line. He tells Kate Winslet, “Go lie on the bed… I mean the couch.” It’s a minor error, but he was meant to tell Kate to recline on the couch. Nonetheless, James Cameron liked it and decided to use it for the final cut.
Titanic
Lost In Translation
Fans of Lost in Translation have always wanted to know what Bill Murray ended up whispering to Scarlet Johansson towards the end of the film. Here’s what they ought to know: the scene was actually not in the script! A lot of people have asked the two various reiterations of the question. Bill Murray claims that it is between him and Scarlett.
Lost In Translation
40 Year Old Virgin
Let’s be clear, 40 Year Old Virgin is certainly one of the funniest movies recently made. There were a lot of great parts and it’s rather difficult to choose a single favorite moment. You probably didn’t know that the cast was full of improv artists. That’s one of the reasons the movie is as hilarious as it is. Remember the part where Steve Carrell gets his chest hair removed? The reaction was as real as the wax they used.
40 Year Old Virgin
Clueless
You couldn’t have forgotten about the Valley party in Clueless! Cher (Alicia Silverstone) walks in on Donald Faison’s character just as he was about to get his head shaved. Someone is asking him about his decision and he went off the cuff with, “I’m just keepin’ it real.” Faison first heard the line from a kid in his neighborhood and decided to use it then!
Clueless
Bridesmaids
An instant comedy class, Bridesmaids definitely delivered a lot of laughs. Can we ever forget the entire dress shopping sequence? I doubt it. What you don’t know is that some parts were actually the result of the actresses’ improvisation. The scene when Maya Rudolph drops to her knees in the middle of the street and defecates in the middle of the street is one example.
Bridesmaids
Pretty Woman
Julia Roberts and Richard Gere made a great pair in Pretty Woman. Let’s go on a trip down memory lane. Remember when Edward gets a necklace for Vivian? That’s certainly in the script, but Gere shutting the box as Roberts holds out her hand was not! It was a small prank that everyone loved.
Pretty Woman
Forrest Gump
We don’t need to introduce you to this quotable movie, do we? When Forrest Gump and Bubba meet, Tom Hanks says, “My name is Forrest Gump. People call me Forrest Gump.” It’s not in the script, but the director was absolutely charmed by it.
Forrest Gump
American Beauty
Did you know that American Beauty was very lenient about scripts and improvisation? It’s true. There was no solid script for the dinner scene, in fact. The cast members were given a rough idea of how it was supposed to go down, but they had full control over the scene. The flying plates and shocked reactions would have been hard to fake otherwise.
American Beauty
Reservoir Dogs
Reservoir Dogs was Tarantino’s first film, but it would already set the tone of his future movies. Which part is improvised, you ask? It’s the scene when Mr. Blonde chops off Nash’s ear, speaks into the decapitated ear, and dances like crazy. Madsen deserves credits for everything in that part!
Reservoir Dogs
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Did you know that in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, Ralph Fiennes actually came up with different versions of Voldemort’s last speech? The reason? He wanted to gain different responses from the cast member at every take. What an impressive amount of dedication!
Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows
The Terminator
We all know the “I’ll be back” line from the film The Terminator. However, I’m sure that you don’t know that it wasn’t actually in the script. The iconic line uttered by Arnold Schwarzenegger was actually made on the spot! It’s not every day that our random utterances make a significant impact on pop culture.
The Terminator
Citizen Kane
Can you imagine Citizen Kane opening with anything but “Rosebud”? Neither can we. However, the reality is that Orson Welles delivered the wrong line. The first line in the script was actually, “No, my sled…” It’s great that Welles was also the director of the film — he decided to use the mistake as an opportunity. We daresay that it was the correct move.
Citizen Kane
The Wizard Of Oz
We all remember Judy Garland saying, “I’ve got a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” It wasn’t actually in the script! You’ll be surprised to learn that it was actually an important mistake. In fact, it completely changed the movie. From After The Tornado, the title was changed to The Wizard of Oz. Even the setting changed! Here’s what Bert Lahr, who played the Cowardly Lion, had to say about it: “Before that, everyone on the project understood it was set in Kansas — certainly a very strange part of Kansas, but Kansas nonetheless. I think even Judy was surprised to hear herself saying those words, but as soon as she did, it made so much sense that we were all on board with setting the film in a magical foreign land.”
The Wizard Of Oz
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
Is there a more iconic moment in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest than Jack Sparrow repeatedly singing, “I got a jar of dirt!”? Probably not. It was actually the result of Johnny Depp’s quick thinking! Just take a look at Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley’s reactions. They were completely surprised because it wasn’t in the script!
Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
A Series of Unfortunate Events
Sorry Neil Patrick-Harris, but Jim Carrey is still Count Olaf in our hearts. This is partly because of how the latter was able to completely emulate the character in the movie adaptation of A Series of Unfortunate Events. Several of his lines were actually made off the cuff. This one was particularly memorable: “Wait! Let me do that one more time! Give me the line again. Quickly, while it’s fresh in my mind!”
A Series Of Unfortunate Events
Inglorious Basterds
Christoph Waltz might have gone on to win an Oscar for his performance in Inglourious Basterds, but there was one scene that his character was played by someone else. During the choking scene, it was actually Quentin Tarantino’s hands we were seeing! The director was apparently unsatisfied by strangulation scenes in other movies and decided he wanted the real thing. With Diane Krueger’s consent, he actually began to strangle her — that’s why the fear in her eyes seemed so real.
Inglourious Basterds
Foxcatcher
Did you know that the scene where Channing Tatum headbutts the mirror was actually not part of the script? Yes, the actor completely improvised that part in Foxcatcher. Ouch. It might have hurt, but at least no one can say that Tatum is a mediocre actor.
Foxcatcher
The Wolf of Wall Street
Margot Robbie was a fairly new talent when she appeared in The Wolf of Wall Street. She was able to demonstrate her acting skills and work ethic when she refused Scorsese’s offer to cover her up in the seduction scene. Robbie refused, knowing that it would not make sense for her character. She reportedly had to down three tequila shots before proceeding to film the part!
The Wolf Of Wall Street
The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Don’t be confused by the other Spider-Man movies. We’re talking about The Amazing Spider-Man 2 featuring former real-life couple Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone. Specifically, there was a part when the latter yelled, “Peter!” Yup, you guessed that right — it was not in the script. Still, it was perfect because she immediately covered her mouth afterward.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
It was frustrating to watch our beloved Indy repeatedly ignore his father’s advice in the Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Indy only faced the music when Elsa betrayed him. Sean Connery had an excellent response when Harrison Ford asks him how he knew: “She talks in her sleep.” It wasn’t in the script, but everyone on set loved it.
Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade
Thor: The Dark World
You might have missed this adorable moment if you weren’t paying attention. When Chris Hemsworth makes his entrance in Thor: The Dark World, he ends up hanging his hammer on a coat rack! It might not have been in the script, but it was simply too big an opportunity to waste.
Thor: The Dark World
Inception
Everyone was amazed at Inception as well as its great writing and mind-blowing premise. Let’s not forget the great acting, either. Do you remember Tom Hardy saying, “You mustn’t be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling”? The line didn’t have ‘darling’ in the original script, but it was a great addition.
Inception
The Incredible Hulk
Did you know that no lines were supposed to be spoken in the bar scene in The Incredible Hulk? Yup. Robert Downey Jr. completely invented his lines on the spot. We doubt we’ll ever forget him saying, “I hear you have an unusual problem. What if I told you we were putting a team together…”
The Incredible Hulk
The Hangover
The Hangover was comedic gold, but some parts of the movies were unscripted! Yeah, that includes the moment that Zach Galifianakis did rather obscene things to do the baby. The actor has actually expressed regrets, though it was only a doll. “The one improv that will haunt me for the rest of my life, is the [ scene where I ] make the baby [unknowingly mimic a sexual act].”
The Hangover
Shaun of the Dead
Did you know that the cast had to improvise a lot when filming Shaun of the Dead? Yup. But perhaps the most impressive bit of unscripted acting was when Ed was telling Shaun stories about regulars. You might even remember something about a porn star lookalike. Every single one of those stories was invented on the spot!
Shaun Of The Dead
Good Morning Vietnam
Did you know that most of the radio broadcasts in Good Morning Vietnam were unscripted? It sounds unbelievable— until you remember that Robin Williams played the charming host in the movie. With that in mind, it’s not difficult to believe that he randomly came up with, “Goooood morning, Vietnam! Hello campers, remember Monday is Malaria day! That’s right, time to take that big orange pill.”
Good Morning Vietnam
Crazy Stupid Love
Crazy Stupid Love was full of great dialogue and exchanges, but some of the most enjoyable scenes in the movie weren’t penned by the screenwriters. Believe it or not, the Dirty Dancing reenact was improvised by Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. What made them do it? “Well when I go out dancing with my friends and we get drunk, we try and do the Dirty Dancing lift. That’s where it came from and it seemed like a good idea at the time,” Gosling said.
Crazy Stupid Love
50/50
If you’ve seen 50/50, you would probably be familiar with the head-shaving scene. Fun fact: it wasn’t in the original script! Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen simply played it by ear. What’s interesting is that they could only do it once. It’s a good thing that the first take ended up being perfect!
50/50
Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
Anyone who knows about Sacha Baron Cohen and his work ethic would not be surprised to hear that Borat was mostly unscripted. Let’s narrow it down to the scene with the feminists. He goes on to say that a woman usually has a “brain the size of squirrel”. Apparently, that bit was all Sacha.
Borat: Cultural Learnings Of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation Of Kazakhstan
Annie Hall
If you watched the film, there’s no way you could forget when sneezes right into the box of coke! Apparently, it wasn’t part of the script. Woody Allen couldn’t help it, but it was so endearing they decided to use it anyway.
Annie Hall
The Departed
The Departed combines the aforementioned Jack Nicholson and Leonardo DiCaprio. The former plays a mobster and the latter portrays a cop who goes undercover. Do you remember the tense scene when Nicholson drops the gun right before pointing it at DiCaprio? That was off the cuff and the more observant viewers will be able to notice genuine shock on the younger man’s face.
The Departed
Wonder Woman
While both Gal Gadot and Chris Pine played the boat scene by ear, the actor says he doesn’t deserve the same amount of praise as the actress. Here’s what he told Entertainment Weekly: “She’s delivering lines like, ‘My father is Zeus’ – sh*t that is just so ridiculous. And she has to say it with a straight face, with a certain amount of innocence and earnestness. I get to react like any human being would to hearing something as ridiculous as that. So I had it easy.”
Wonder Woman
Mars Attacks!
Tim Burton’s Mars Attacks! had quite the impressive cast. Jack Nicholson, Natalie Portman, and Pierce Brosnan are just some of the names you’ll find in the credits. Let’s focus on Frank Welker for the list. He was the one who coined the Martians’ barking! “Ack! Ack! Ack!”
Mars Attacks!
Django Unchained
Another great Quentin Tarantino film makes the list! Django Unchained starred Leonardo DiCaprio, Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington and Christoph Waltz. Let’s think about the bloody hand ordeal for a minute. DiCaprio played the evil plantation owner who cuts his hand on the table. While filming, he actually did cut it! But he carried on filming until the scene was done.
Django Unchained
The Jazz Singer
Now The Jazz Singer is considered as one the greatest films of all time. In its own right, it was revolutionary. I mean, it was the first feature-length talkie! Al Jolson, the main character, created his famous line on the spot, “Wait a minute, wait a minute, you ain’t heard nothin’ yet!”
The Jazz Singer
The Terminator
Up next is the James Cameron film, The Terminator. And guys, Cameron actually allowed a completely unscripted moment to make it into the film. And that was a smart choice as the line became one of the most quoted movie lines. Once Arnold Schwarzenegger isn’t allowed into the police station, the script says he should leave in disappointment. However, Schwarzenegger had a different idea and just said, “I’ll be back.” Cameron loved the line so much that he made this originally “minor character” a major one in the film and its sequels.
The Terminator
Pulp Fiction
From one Quentin Tarantino masterpiece to another. Samuel L. Jackson, John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Ving Rhames and Bruce Willis made up the brilliant cast of Pulp Fiction. And who could forget that famous scene with Jackson and the hamburger. Although you probably don’t know that what happened next wasn’t in the script at all. Jackson decided in that exact moment to flip the table without warning anyone. The actor’s reactions were very real.
Pulp Fiction
This Is 40
Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann played a married couple with kids. And if you call Paul Rudd accidentally farts during a scene, but hey, it worked! Rudd realized the whole thing matched his character. While the filming crew and Lesli Mann weren’t thrilled with his fart, they kept it in the film!
This Is 40
The Dark Knight
Heath Ledger used method acting to properly train for his role in The Dark Knight. While he didn’t invent a line, he actually invented something else. Like when he responds to Commissioner Gordon’s promotion. That slow, sarcastic clap was all his own doing. Iconic.
The Dark Knight
Guardians Of the Galaxy
Chris Pratt is a comedic genius and everyone knows it. While he was on the hilarious series Parks and Recreation, he did a bit of improve. So it’s really not surprising to know that he created a hilarious scene in Guardians of the Galaxy. The director asked the actor to issue an apology in the scene. Instead, Pratt used a hysterical and obscene gesture which was even featured in the trailer! Oh, Star-Lord, you wicked beaut.
Guardians Of The Galaxy
The Avengers
Don’t forget the hilarious and endearing scene showing the Marvel heroes enjoying the Mediterranean dish of shawarma after they saved the world That’s all because of one improvised line. Robert Downey Jr. interjected as many lines possible when he almost died, but he was saved by the Hulk. Remember when he asked, “what’s next?” It was after this that he came up with the shawarma idea!
The Avengers
Home Alone
Macaulay Culkin was a HUGE star in the 90’s and it’s all thanks to Home Alone. He made all of us laugh at his many elaborate pranks while burglars tried to rob his family. But did you know that the movie’s most quoted line was invented by Culkin himself? That’s right, “You guys give up, or are you thirsty for more?” was all his doing!
Home Alone
Tarzan The Ape Man
Nope, this isn’t the 1981 version with Bo Derek but rather the original 1932 version! Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O’Sullivan were the stars of this movie. But let’s talk about the unscripted moment, shall we? All the script said was for Tarzan to call his jungle friends. In real life, Weissmuller was an excellent yodeler and that’s how Tarzan’s signature echo cry came to life!
Terminator 2 Judgment Day
Terminator 2: Judgement Day
There is a scene in Terminator 2 where Schwarzenegger looks beaten up or rather that he “looks like he needs a vacation.” But it was all Schwarzenegger who added in that line, “I need a vacation.” Smart!
Tarzan The Ape Man
The Godfather, Again
Let’s revisit one of history’s most classic films, The Godfather. Think about the scene where Marlon Brando is petting a cat. Turns out that wasn’t in the original script. Some claim that a stray cat just wandered onto the set and Brando thought it would be genius to stroke it while ordering a violent mob act.
The Godfather Again
Superbad
When you have a hilarious cast, you let them have a lot of freedom on set. So many unscripted moments made it into the Superbad and we’re not surprised. Such as when McLovin is in the cop car with Officers Slater and Michaels, portrayed by Bill Hader and Seth Rogen. Their entire semen conversation was created on the spot by Hader and Rogen. While the scene actually lasted four minutes, only one minute made it into the film.
Superbad
