I had the glorious opportunity to share my favourite movie of all time (Raiders of the Lost Ark) with a friend over the weekend and I was astonished by just how many incredible, truly classic scenes were in that movie.
It got me thinking: what are your favourite movies of all time and, more specifically, what are your scenes from that movie?
I have a few favourites.
— The ending of The Thing.
— The moment in Alien when John Hurt’s stomach explodes.
— The whole opening section of Raiders of the Lost Ark.
That’s just a few of my own favourites — what are yours?
Comments
119 responses to “Off Topic: Favourite Movie Scene Of All Time”
No mention of the ending to Babe?
The truck chasing the bike in Terminator 2. Or maybe the car chase in The Blues Brothers.
Chases are cool.
Blues Brothers? Which one? It’s basically car chases with musical interludes! (And is AMAZING).
I assume he means the final car chase from the concert to downtown Chicago when their cruiser finally falls apart, but I personally prefer the first one through the shopping arcade. Sets the tone really well.
Or possibly (in a separate comment to avoid moderation) the massive pileup that ends with John Candy saying “We’re in a truck”.
I need to watch it again. This time next week, I’ll be in Chicago, so I should consider it research.
I should probably have said “chases”, true. But if I have to pick one, let’s say the one in the mall
If we’re talking Blues Brothers, it’s hard to go past this part:
Every car chase in ronin. The whole of the heat.
The hammer fight in Old Boy.
This. Amazing scene.
The third scene mentioned in the entire thread… I am not disappointed. 🙂
I just watched Mad Max and was blown away by the two big action scenes.
The Rock on Fast and Furious 7. Gets out of hospital bed, flexes his muscles and his arm cast breaks off. To daughter “Daddy has to go to work.”
The Matrix had a couple of good ones.
Oh man, even better was his line after he takes out the drone and Letty says “did you bring the cavalry?”
And his reply:
“Woman, I am the cavalry”
Yeh! The super tornado sandstorm scene in Fury Road was the best thing I’ve seen this year. That reminds me I still have yet to play some Mad Max.
Every scene in Mad Max Fury Road was fantastic!
My favourite is when they start chasing Furiosa and they end on the Doof Warrior.
The Doof mobile. Best vehicle hands down.
When the whale jumps over the boy to his freedom in Free Willy.
I like the directors cut version better
Chuck Norris is stuck under a mound of dirt in a 4WD and tries to drive out but can’t so he skulls a can of lager smashes it with his fist and somehow the car has more power and he gets out of that pile of dirt. The power of beer.
Death Star trench run in Star Wars.
Battle of Hoth in Empire Strikes Back.
Bank robbery / shootout in Heat.
The opening farmhouse scene in Inglorious Basterds
Oh, and I’ll add another one from The Thing since Mark’s mention of the ending just brought it up in my memory – the defibrillator scene 🙂 The blood test scene was also great.
Just thought of a couple more, more for their use of music and the context in which they sit in their respective films than anything else… “Tiny Dancer” in Almost Famous and the final scene of Rushmore.
The roll into the trench still sends shivers up my spine. Still works, every time.
YES. Almost Famous is full of magical scenes, but i only get shivers during that one.
Come to think of it… I’m going to watch that tonight. Thanks!
Yep, right up there with my absolute favourite movies. Especially the extended cut. I’ll always have a soft spot for Kate Hudson because of that movie, despite the fact that pretty much every other thing she’s been in has been garbage.
Absolutely. Didn’t she get a supporting actress statue for it..? Well deserved.
Every now and then I’ll watch a movie and when the credits start to roll, I exhale slowly and watch every second of it so I can acknowledge each and every person who made that perfection possible – from the director, to the leads, to the truck drivers, to the caterers.
Almost Famous and In Bruges are the only ones which spring to mind.
I include The Big Lebowski in that category, too.
The Coen brothers cheat at filmmaking, somehow. They’re so good at it something MUST be amiss.
Hey McFly, you bojo! Those boards don’t work on water! UNLESS YOU’VE GOT POWAH!
As fast as you can. As fast as I can? As fast as you can.
So apparently I like scenes where someone is on water then escapes by dropping into it.
Watching that just then, I couldn’t help but yell out ‘Serpentine!’
Also the recently mentioned self-sacrifice scene in Wreck-it Ralph, where he’s reciting the Bad Guy affirmation while taking the plunge. Welling every time.
Back to the Future II
When Doc wakes up to the TV show Howdy Doody Time
Oh man, so many to choose from.
– The truck chase scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark (stunt work!)
– The donkey scene in Clerks II
– That part in Children of Men when they take the baby through the warzone.
– Pick a scene (any scene) in Fury Road
– First Death Star battle in Star Wars (that music!)
– The lobby gunfight in The Matrix, for sheer spectacle
And I’m lucky enough to have seen all these on the big screen! \o/
Upvote just for Children of Men. Goddamn, I love that film.
– The Monster Truck scene in Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls.
– Drag Me to Hell when
the old curse woman vomits on the main character.– Toy Story 3
The Claw.LOOOOOOSEEEEEERRRRRR!
Aw, he wants to go off-road…
Cadby, from the Consulate, right? Man, this is weird.
If we’re talking Toy Story 3 scenes then it has to be the ending for me. I saw it in the cinema – it was at night, so no kids in there, packed full of adults and every single person in there was blubbering like a little baby.
Not up there as a favorite movie but a favorite scene that jumps out in my mind is from True Romance, the conversation between Dennis Hopper and Christopher Walken leading up to the moment Hopper is taken out.
Fantastic
Some great ones above! Here are a couple of mine.
“What colour is the boathouse at Hereford?” – Ronin.
USS Indianopolis monologue, Jaws.
12 Monkeys – When they’re in the mental institute. Love Gilliams style of directing with camera shots all off-centre to add to the “lunacy”.
Paths Of Glory – The battle scene with Kirk Douglas walking down the trench-line before going over the wall.
The Shining – Danny riding the tricycle around. A perfect steadicam shot.
The Great Dictator – End speech.
Children of Men – The long shot
+1 for The Shining. So tense! I almost jumped out of my shoes the first time I watched that sequence.
“My friends, you bow to no one.”
That scene where Gandalf tells Harry to use the force….
A classic scene from Lord of the Star Potter.
Love some of the ones above but choose anything from Hot Fuzz and you have mine.
Have you ever………….
🙂
The fight in the kitchen near the end of The Raid 2. Brutal, long and incredibly choreographed. Can’t think of any fight scenes to top it that immediately come to mind.
Also 99% of the Street Fighter movie was horrendous but when that truck is hurtling towards the bad guys while they’re watching it on TV and Zangeif blurts out “Quick! Change the channel!”, it still gets me.
I actually don’t mind the movie in a dumb action movie kinda way but that scene is a classic
Oh yes – almost any of the scenes out of The Raid or The Raid 2 are absolutely brilliant!!! That scene out in the muddy prison courtyard and the train scene with the “hammers chick” – AMAZING!!!
Jackie Chan vs Benny the Jet in Wheels on Meals. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gr8QJIPET-E
Enter the Dragon, when Bruce scores lightning quick points on O’Hara
It’s hard to pick one. The first two scenes that come to mind are the arcade fight scene in City Hunter (Jackie Chan is the best Chun Li) and the Arab Swordsman scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark. Knowing the story behind it makes it all the more funny.
Alec Baldwin’s scene in Glengarry Glen Ross immediately comes to mind. So many others.
Well the final duel between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader in return of the Jedi would have to be right up there. I’m trying to think of something slightly less obvious but I’m drawing a blank.
“All those moments will be lost, in time, like tears in the rain.” “Time to die…”
Edit: And basically every scene in John Wick. I have never had a movie make me cheer during every punch and gun shot as much as that.
also The Narrator vs. Tyler Durden “fight” at the end of fight club.
BladeRunner is such a great movie – and that scene is brilliant. Hard to pick one out in that movie though. The interrogation scene at the start is awesome too, as is the death scene for the snake dancer.
I prefer the interrogation scene at the beginning and the scene where the replicant, who was an exotic dancer, gets shot running through the glass.
Did you see this?
https://web.archive.org/web/20060506211308/http://www.thewavemag.com/pagegen.php?pagename=article&articleid=24031
Man, that is gold
The scene in the first Child’s Play when Mrs Barkley comes home alone with Chucky and finds the batteries still in the box. Such a tense scene. Love it.
This is too hard. All these scenes running through my head.
– They Live – Sunglasses fight scene
– Escape from LA – The very last scene – Snake Plissken turns off the world.
– For a few dollars more – El Indios speech.
– Brother – The Chopstick scene.
– Godfather 2 – The very last scene. Do you know who I am…. Antonio ANDOLINIIIIIII.
I got so many more ahh well. Thanks for this. brightened up my mooD!
Oh and in pulp Fiction – the watch story!
Thank god someone said the Pulp Fiction watch story.
best scene in the film, great monologue by Walken
Good call with A Few Dollars more. I also love the final duel with El Indio and the Colonel.
I love that movie! So many good scenes. Like casing the bank!
Not a movie scene, but probably my favorite moment from One Piece besides the entirity of the Water 7 arc.
Luffy punching a world noble in the face: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjmKy-Rcp6Y
As for movies: Trench Run, Hoth and the Endor forest bike chase/DS2 reactor run.
A few scenes in the Matrix
All of MP The Holy Grail – Help help I’m being opressed! Tis but a flesh wound. Get on with it!
Don’t stop me now Shaun of the Dead
And many many others
– The opening sequence in From Dusk Til Dawn.
-The racist midget scene in In Bruges (in fact, ALL of that movie is brilliant).
– Plenty of others! But I can’t go without mentioning the…
!Spoilers for inside Out!
the quick cut in the credits where it shows what’s happening inside the mind of a cat.. I kept the tears in throughout the third act but they just bucketed out as my gut split. I think it’s possibly the funniest thing I’ve ever seen, and it’s certainly the best joke in any Pixar film.In Bruges is excellent.
Some of my favourites:
Train station scene in The Untouchables
Battle of Hoth in Empire Strikes Back
Blues Brothers – all of it
The extended gun fights in Hot Fuzz
The Swamp of Sadness in Neverending Story (so fucking sad)
The food fight in Hook
Death Star trench run in A New Hope
The single-take extended fight sequence in the restaurant building in The Protector
Jackie Chan assembling the gun on the roof of the shopping mall in New Police Story.
Club Obi-Wan in Temple of Doom
The first helicopter flight to Isla Nublar in Jurassic Park
‘Bring out the gimp’ in Pulp Fiction
Andy playing the music over the PA in Shawshank Redemption
Starlord’s opening sequence in Guardians of the Galaxy
Hoverboard in the tunnel in Back to the Future
When I was a kid Temple of Doom was my favourite Indiana Jones because of the awesome opening in the restaurant that was kind of like a riff on Bond movies. shame the rest of the movie was so rubbish. Rewatched it when I was a bit older and realised how much better Raiders and Crusade are.
Trauma inducing
Monsieur LaPadite and his delicious milk. Brilliant.
Also, as mentioned, the watch from Pulp Fiction.
Lloyd the Bartender and Jack in the Shining.
Almost all of the Life of Brian.
The end of Casablanca.
Haha, yes! Romanes eunt domus!
For something a bit different than other suggestions here – the scene in Being John Malkovich where John Malkovich enters his own portal into the world of John Malkovich’s.
Battle of Endor is pretty high on my list.
Getting the Delorean up to 88mph in Back to the Future 1 and 3
Statue of Liberty walking scene from Ghostbusters 2.
Bill Gates ‘cameo’ and Operation ‘get behind the darkies’ in South Park movie. Cracks me up every time even though i know it probably shouldn’t.
That’s what makes you human mate. It’s a piss-take* of society and you’re supposed to laugh. Natural reaction that means you have emotions.
* – from the Japanese term “Pistake!”
Was just chattin with a mate the other day on favorite movie scenes, but we went in to the best villain intro scenes.
Some great ones:
Dark Knight – Joker’s intro, the bank heist and everyone pretty much double crossing eachother until only the Joker was left
Dark Knight Rises – Bane’s intro, didnt think Nolan could outdo the Joker one, but that whole plane scene was an awesome way to introduce Bane.
Fast & Furious 7 – Jason Statham’s visiting his brother in the hospital, and as he leaves the aftermath of destruction all around him.
I also love a good one/long take scene : Children of Men – War scene/car chase scene, Good Felllas – Copacobana night club scene, The Protector – Staircase Fight, Gravity – the opening.
The entirety of Spaceballs is a highlight, but this particular scene is probably my favourite:
Ludicrous Speed!
Three way showdown in “The Good the Bad and the Ugly’ it is for me.
I like action movies 🙂
“Flashpoint” End Fight (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smLAFCVNpwA)
“Police Story 2” Playground Fight (I can’t find it with the original soundtrack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUBnyWsjn1k)
“Wheels on Meals” Jackie vs Benny the Jet (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M645871Re7k)
“The Matrix” Lobby Shootout (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuslUzbJEaw)
The drug deal from Boogie Nights:
http://www.joblo.com/videos/movie-clips/boogienights-sisterchristian
Too many great scenes already mentioned but here it goes:
there will be blood – “I drink your milkshake”
dr strangelove – president mumford phones the USSR
unforgiven – william money confronts little bill
atonement – that long single shot of dunkirk
no country for old men – the conversaton in the gas station “how much have you lost on a coin toss”
Everyone on this list is a winner
So few people understand when I say I drink their milkshake.
I liked the Punch Dancing scene in Hot Rod
Off the top of my head:
– The whole sequence of Ripley finding Newt, facing off against the alien queen, escaping the explosion, then facing off against the queen AGAIN (with loader this time).
– Clocktower lightning strike scene in Back to the Future
– Battle of Hoth
– Farmhouse scene at the start of Inglorious Basterds
– Opening 12-13 minute shot of Gravity
– Beach landing in Saving Private Ryan
– Interstellar docking scene
– Crossing the streams in Ghostbusters
– Guardians of the Galaxy: sharing the burden of the Infinity Stone
There’s heaps more that I can’t think of right now that I’ll feel guilty about later 😉
The court case in I Am Sam. God damn that shit was heartbreaking! I’m welling up just thinking about it 🙁
Zero G fight scene in Inception.
“…some things in here don’t react well to bullets.” – Hunt for Red October
“Federal Wildlife Marshall” – Jay and Silent Bob
“What colour is the boathouse at Hereford?” – Ronin (Bit of raspberry chop)
Shootout from Heat
THE Godfather 2 scene.
“Say hello to my little friend!” – Scarface
“Yours……not mine” – (future movie)
“I’m your Huckleberry.” – Tombstone (Hell is coming with me!)
Bruce Lee V O’Hara – Enter The Dragon
Edit: Oh and end shootout of Unforgiven. Just brilliant.
THIS LIST IS AWESOME!! I love you guys!!
The protector – stair fight scene.
Mission impossible – where he’s hanging from the wire in that silent room.
Raiders of the lost ark – melting scene.
300 – the epic battle.
Evil dead 2- the hand scene.
Casino royale – parkour scene
Enemy at the gates – hiding in dead bodies
Matrix reloaded – car chase
True Lies: “Yeahbut they were all bad!” (Runner up: “But what about their husbands?” “DICKLESS! Let’s face it if they did their jobs, I’d be out of a job!” “Hahaha, those eediots…”)
Collateral: “Yo homie, that my briefcase?”
Army of Darkness – It’s a trick:
Army of Darkness – Pit of Death:
The final scene from The Usual Suspects, and the final scene from Primal Fear
The light-bike scene from the Tron reboot
The opening bank heist in The Dark Knight
The D-Day landing in Saving Private Ryan
T-Rex attacking the kids in the car scene from Jurassic Park (that rippling water still gives me chills)
So many to choose from…
The scene in Hero where the calligraphy school is attacked by archers rates a mention.
3 off the top of my head
Mooby boardroom scene in Dogma
the long cut in avengers through the city with the worms
the battle for helms deep
Tried to upvote but it wouldn’t let me. That scene with Roy would have been mine. Beat Arnie’s self-awareness in T2 by 10 years.
Haven’t seen it here yet so here goes…
The first coliseum scene in Gladiator, and the big reveal in front of the Emperor. Such great action, drama and music. Loved it!
Hard to pick, but a few that have stayed in my mind (I’ve been vague as to avoid spoilers):
Kingsman: The Secret Service – The inside church massacre scene
Ted 2 – The “Trix are for Kids” bit with Liam Neeson
John Wick – When the assassins break into his house and he gets his pistol out to take them all out.
Big Hero 6 – When Baymax’s fist has the software disk in it towards the end.
All I can think of right now.
the william wallace death scene from braveheart.
the Elias death scene from platoon.
the 14 mins of the flight of the valkyries scene from apocalypse now for the absurdity of it all.
the 45 min chase from original gone in 60 seconds.
castle of cagliostro chase. if spielberg can stand up in a theatre and say its the best car chase scene, who am i to argue.
close encounters of the third kind when the mothership comes down and makes devil tower look like an ant hill.
That braveheart scene is amazing
Thought of another one!
The title sequence of Watchmen. Holy shit that was poignant.
… And repairing the solar mirror in Sunshine.
KANEEEEDAAAAA!!!!!
So why don’t you use the regular army? What do you need us for?
‘Cause some damn fool accused you of being the best.
Dillon! You son of a bitch!
What’s the matter? The CIA got you pushing too many pencils? Huh? Had enough?
Make it easy on yourself, Dutch.
The bank heist and subsequent escape attempt in Heat.
This. The way the camera follows the action. Just glorious. Top notch script too
The spine-tingling moment during the Battle of Endor when Arvel Crynyd (Green Leader) screams and sends his A-Wing crashing through the bridge of the Executor as Admiral Piett dives futilely for cover, sending the colossal star dreadnought hurtling down to plow into the surface of the Death Star and explode in a mighty plume of flame.
I swear I posted here already.
This is a tough one. I’m going to go with something super obscure because it’s the first thing that’s come to my head.
“A kiss from Lea” a super satisfying little epilogue moment from The Tiger Brigades – a great French crime film that’s a little like pre WW1 Untouchables.
1812 overture for V for Vendetta
Ballroom scene from Beauty and the beast
Intro to Up
The Matrix (Smith/Neo subway fight or rescue of Morpheous)
Red dog being reunited with his master
Sword fight at the top of the cliff in The princess bride
1. 2001 A Space Odissey – Entire final sequence.
2. Hero – When that drop of blood falls on the petal (leaf? can’t remember) and colors it and suddenly the whole forest scenery turns red. Overload.
3. Cheesy mentions: Nolan’s endings of both The Dark Knight and Inception.
4. The Last Emperor Pretty much every freaking scene, but the ending is just superb.
Top 3 for me:
the ending to the Usual Suspects
the climactic scene from In Bruges with the clocktower jump (tears)
or the car chase at the end of Death Proof.
Late to the article, so most have been said already. But I have to add the shuttle massacre from the ’80s Transformers, and the critic’s flashback/ending from Ratatouille.
The church scene in Kingsman (It just was so out of the blue & I couldn’t stop smiling in the cinema)
The opening scene of Guardians of the Galaxy (CP’s singalong with the movie title coming up old-style)
The end scene in Odd Thomas (when you realise it wasn’t ice cream….)
Jared Leto’s hospital realization as the camera zooms out to show his arm in Requiem for a Dream
Ashton Kutcher trying to kill himself in the bath in The Butterfly Effect
Two that come to mind recently are both in Southpaw, one where the shot is just on Jake’s eyes as he drives away and you instantly get a feeling of his mindset and anguish and the other being the lobby accident… My partner and I knew it was coming from the trailers but it just felt so visceral and real to watch we were both left shaken after it.