It is one thing to pick out some great movies, but it is another to pick out your favorite scene. If you have loved a movie so much that if someone wanted you to choose the best scene, it would take some time. While some films will be easy, others may not be. These are scenes that stand out more than any other moment. It might be the protagonist having their pinnacle moment, the climax, or just a great action scene. No matter what the tone is these are scenes that make the best films even more memorable. When you discuss with your friends about the movie, you can point out that one scene that will make everyone smile as they go through the scene in their heads. With that said, here are ten best scenes in already excellent movies.
#10: American Psycho – Hip to be Square
(Scene via Fandango Movieclips/Lionsgate Films)
My favorite scene in American Psycho is when Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale) lures a business associate Paul Allen (Jared Leto) into his apartment. He makes sure Paul is drunk, so he does not pay attention as Patrick prepares to murder Paul. Patrick is dancing around the apartment giving facts about the music he is playing with such charisma. His unexpecting victim just sits there listening along to him ramble on about each track. Paul has some suspicion as he sees Patrick put on a raincoat. Once his guard is down again after a new song is put on, Bateman gets Paul’s attention right before butchering him with an ax. Bateman turns friendly host to a screaming lunatic. Bale’s performance from charismatic host to a psychotic killer to casually smoking to relax is incredible. We see many sides to his character and we get to learn about his favorite tunes. Remember, it is hip to be square.
#9: Shaun of the Dead – Girl in the Garden
(Scene via Fandango MovieClips/Universal Pictures)
One of my favorite movies and the movie I have seen the most out of anything is Shaun of the Dead. A hilarious zom-rom-com that is full of excellent scenes, but there is one in particular that is truly excellent. When Shaun (Simon Pegg) and Ed (Nick Frost) confront a girl in the garden whom they think is drunk. The scene is full of great moments from Ed grabbing a camera to take a photo of the girl trying to eat Shaun’s face or the climatic impalement, this scene is golden.
#8: Let Me In/Let the Right One In – Pool Climax
(Scene via Fandango Movieclips/Magnolia Pictures)
I am aware that this is two movies. However, both have the exact same scene in the final act. As the bullies try to kill Owen/Oskar (Kodi Smit-McPhee/Kare Hedebrant) in the school pool, his vampire friend Abby/Eli (Chloe Grace Moretz/Lina Leandersson). The scene is brutal and tense. Watching the scene, you are eager for Owen/Oskar (depending which adaption you are watching) to be saved by Abby/Eli. The main difference is the Swedish version is more violent. You see a severed head and arm while you only see some blood in the American version. Either way, it is an excellent conclusion to a compelling drama about these two characters as they develop their relationship. Yes, it is a much better love story than Twilight.
#7: Get Out – Betrayal
(Scene via Fandango Movieclips/Universal Pictures)
Everything feels off throughout Get Out. You don’t quite know what to expect, but Rose’s (Allison Williams) family is no good. However, the film lends you to believe that she has to be on the same side as her boyfriend Chris (Daniel Kaluuya). We get the signal by her phone call his Chris’s friend Rod (Lil Rel Howery). Rose is cold and calculated with her words as she tries to throw off Rod. Allison’s acting in this scene is phenomenal. Her voice evokes so much emotion, but her face is as blank as can be. This shows how she is just as crazy as the rest of her family. Towards the end of their call, we see the rest of her family sitting by watching the call take place. The haunting twist just goes to show how unsafe the entirety of the film really is.
#6: Alien – Chestburster
(Scene via Fandango Movieclips/20th Century Fox)
If you read the 10 Shocking and Brutal Movie Moments list I wrote a few weeks ago then you know that I love this iconic scene. Not only that we see the aftermath of the facehugger that was attached to Kane (John Hurt), but we see the genuine horror on the cast’s faces. Yes, that is right, the cast was truly horrified at what they experienced. Ridley Scott did not tell them what was going to happen. There were some hints to guide the cast on how to act out the scene, but the chestburster was placed as a surprise. Horror movies should scare the audience, but if they scare the cast too then, that is an added bonus along with saying a lot about the film itself.
#5: No Country for Old Men – Coin Flip
(Scene via Fandango Movieclips/Miramax Films)
Believe it or not, I recently saw No Country for Old Men. One scene that struck me despite nothing happened, and you might say it is a bit of a throwaway. However, there is a lot of power behind it. Yes, that is the gas station scene in which we see Anton (Javier Bardem) talking to the gas station attendant (Gene Jones). The conversation is full of tension and shows the audience how menacing and odd Anton is as an antagonist. He tries getting the gas station attendant to call the coin flip, whether it is heads or tails. Just a simple conversation about a coin flip makes for one of the most powerful scenes in the entire movie, and one of my favorites of all time. The dialog is brilliantly written along with Gene and Javier’s performances. This is a classic scene and shows how much Javier Bardem owns this film. So, would you call it?
#4: 10 Cloverfield Lane – Dinner Time
(Scene via FandangoNOW Extras/Paramount Pictures)
This has to be one of the most intense movies I have ever seen. The first time seeing the second film in this sci-fi anthology series had me on the edge of my seat and sweating the entire time. As Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and Emmett (John Gallagher Jr.) have a cautious dinner with their eccentric host, Howard (John Goodman), things turn dangerous. The whole scene is quiet, awkward, and tense. Emmett tries his best to lift the mood before Howard shutting him down. There is a growing tension during dinner. Michelle is not here willingly and finds this to be the perfect moment to make for an aggressive move to escape. The scene is methodically paced with an immense build-up to one of the several attempts Michelle makes to escape from Howard’s bunker.
#3: Saving Private Ryan – D Day
(Scene via Fandango Movieclips/Dreamworks)
A debate can be had for the best war movie of all time, but no matter who you talk to, they will mention Saving Private Ryan. The audience gets one of the most realistic looks what how brutal, and awful war truly is. Right at the start of the film, you see the invasion of Normandy. Regarding film, this is one of the greatest battle scenes of all time. Due to the real history, this makes for a depressing realization at the same time as you enjoy the wonderfully choreographed battle that is extremely gory. People lose their limbs, set on fire, get exploded, and so many more gruesome deaths are compacted into one major battle. You get a sense of tone for the film by the realism and know what you are getting into right away.
#2: Silver Linings Playbook – Diner Date
(Scene via Fandango Movieclips/The Weinstein Company)
While Silver Linings Playbook is fantastic, there is not a scene better than Pat (Bradley Cooper) and Tiffany (Jennifer Lawerence) at the diner. The two start to have a calm conversation, but their personalities crash into a heated argument. Tiffany explodes after a comment made by Pat that makes things go from bad to explosive. The writing and acting in this scene is superb as these two mentally ill people clash against one another. While Bradley is phenomenal here, we get one of the best performances in Jennifer’s career.
#1: Pulp Fiction – Tasty Burger
(Scene via Miramax Films)
Tarantino is one of my favorite filmmakers, but Pulp Fiction is his best, I will fight anyone on that, even though most would not argue. Every scene with Vincent (John Travolta) and Jules (Samuel L. Jackson) is absolutely gold. While picking either their car ride conversation involving McDonald’s or everything that goes down in the apartment that they must retrieve the briefcase from is difficult, I had to go with the apartment. With Samuel L.’s memorable monologue, the bullets being shot at Vincent and Jules somehow missing, and Samuel L. having that tasty burger, how can anyone complain about this part of this Tarantino classic? All I want is to try that burger that Jules loved so much.
Each movie here I love to death along with these scenes. Ranging from the dramatic, brutal, comedic, or just flat out explosive, these are arguably some of the greatest scenes in cinema history. With that history, there are thousands of terrific movies with some excellent moments in them. Comment below some of your favorite scenes from movies you love.
Header via Lionsgate Film
Tristan Zelden 