Some of the most jaw-dropping moments in movies can happen so quickly that one must simply pause and rewind to get what just happened. Some make us wonder if the director’s deliberately making the scene short because of their inappropriate nature, or just wanted to add a cool detail to mess with our heads.
Either way, the pause button’s there to reveal what's too fast (or too steamy) for the eye to catch! These incredible scenes are so short that if you blink you might miss them. Yet, the Internet is ever watchful. Here they are for your leisurly viewing pleasure!
Scanners (1981)
It was one of the very first films with which David Cronenberg became recognized, and even though it’s not as well-known as other films on this list, it has developed quite the following! Scanners, was released in 1981 and although all its script is mention-worthy we don’t want to spoil it for anyone.
It follows people with psychic powers and their devastating effects. This particular scene, however, involves a person and his head, or better yet, him missing it. Everything happens so quickly, but still, it’s become one of the movie’s best-known scenes and people can’t seem to be getting enough of rewinding it!
Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
Okay, Fast Times at Ridgemont High was certainly not one of the best films of the century, but it did attract a gigantic audience. It was, after all, one of the films with which Phoebe Cates got recognized! This scene might just be her getting out of the swimming pool, but understandably, it got paused a surprising amount of times.
There are many good performances on this Hollywood’s coming-of-age film, and it has even created a long-standing legacy for such films. We can’t help but wonder if Phoebe wasn’t as pretty as she was, whether or not the scene would have been paused and rewinded as much as it has!
Wild Things (1998)
Although scenes like this one in films right now are not unheard of, back when Wild Things was released the audience was amazed. There are many scenes in swimming pools in this movie, but arguably, no other scene beats the one with Denise Richards and Neve Campbell sharing a kiss.
The reason why the scene became so viewed is understandable. But we can’t help but wonder if the scene would have the same effect nowadays! No matter what, all of the film’s actors grew to have incredible careers, and it’s safe to say that they’ll all remember this scene themselves!
Basic Instinct (1992)
There are scenes and movies that can either make or break an actor’s career. Luckily for Sharon Stone, Basic Instinct deemed her famous. Her seductive persona and beautiful looks made her character, Catherine Tramell, into one to get inspired by. Especially in the scene where she’s being interrogated, people couldn’t get enough of her!
She simply crosses her legs in the scene, but that was enough for people to pause, rewind, and watch over and over again. The film, with all fairness, was great, but all of its fans can agree, that this scene was one of the things that made it so good to watch!
Cabin in the Woods (2012)
Even though it was the very first film that Drew Goddard ever directed, Cabin in the Woods wound up getting incredible reviews by all sources. That had to do with a lot of things, including the ingenious script and incredible directing skills, but also the great performances and special effects.
This scene has been paused so many times for all the different reasons. As the scientists are trying to figure out what kind of monsters the films’ protagonists could be attacked by, they made a whiteboard list. Filled with monsters and practical jokes alike, this whiteboard was one to remember!
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Ever since it was released in 1939, The Wizard of Oz film has been affecting different generations of children and adults alike. After all, it’s one of the most watched film out there! There’s one scene in particular though, that’s attracted much attention out of nowhere!
While the old gang is strolling down yellow brick road, there’s a strange shadow visible on the background. A rumor quickly started that it was a munchkin hanging itself. Luckily though, the production did address the subject later on, and explained how they had hired exotic birds from the zoo to roam the studios.
Teen Wolf (1985)
Teen Wolf might not have been Michael J. Fox’s most famed project in 1985, as the first Back to the Future film was also released that year, but it was certainly fun to watch! It’s not unheard of for entire productions to sometimes miss small details and release the final product with an accidental inaccuracy of some kind.
Seeing how crowded the scene we’re talking about is, this accident was understandable. While a celebration is going on in the last scene, some guy in the crowd faces one of the most embarrassing moments of his life. His pants’ zip is down, he notices is, and then zips it back up.
The Little Mermaid (1989)
There are some films that Disney created that are so timeless, no matter how many years go by, children of all ages will love them. The Little Mermaid is a perfect example. Given that it was released in 1989, there are some scenes, especially revolving around Ariel’s transformation, that were some slightly inappropriate for children.
Seeing the film today, it’s understandable why they were cut short. Especially in the scene where Ariel’s by the beach enjoying her legs, we get a glimpse of her bare body, covered only by her hair. Nowadays it might not seem such big a deal but back then, it’s surprising how they released such content.
Fight Club (1999)
When Fight Club was released in 1999 many minds were blown away by the brilliance of both the film’s directing and scripting team. Although the end’s turnout wasn’t at all expected, the kind director, David Fincher, had actually been trying to give it away since the very beginning!
In fact, before we even get introduced to Brad Pitt’s character, Tyler Durden, he appears in not one, but four different occasions! Only his appearances are so small, we could miss them by simply blinking! The film wound up granting director and actors alike numerous Academy Award nominations.
Total Recall (1990)
Speaking about action movies, Total Recall was a must-see back in the ‘90s. Not only did it feature tough-guy Arnold Schwarzenegger, but it also had some pretty bizarre scenes throughout! After all, the entire movie follows around our protagonist trying to figure out if what he’s living is true or not.
One of the things that probably might have tipped him that something was off, was when he visited the so-called Last Resort club. There, Quaid met this woman that had one excess body part. Although nowadays there are even Halloween costumes of such nature, back in 1990, it was understandable why people felt the need to pause the scene!
Psycho (1960)
While there are very many scenes in Psycho that can get stuck to one’s head for life, the very last one is arguably the one that most people remember! Once Norman Bates is finally arrested, he stares deeply into the camera. The scene is accompanied by his mother’s voice.
During it, however, we get to see not only Anthony Perkins’ creepiness to its full extent but also an image of his skull trying to make its way through. Without a doubt, thriller films would not have been the same without Hitchcock’s input on the genre and that scene was probably one of the reasons why.
The Lion King (1994)
No matter how many times we see The Lion King it never gets old. It follows Simba’s journey from being a child to his adulthood. The plot, the songs, and the characters have made this movie into a classic; no wonder Disney felt the need to redo it in 2019 with new technology.
In the scene where Simba returns to his rock and gazes into the stars, they seemingly form a three-letter word. Not to spoil it for anyone, but it supposedly implies what his parents had to do to bring him into the world. Although we’ll never know if it was intentional, it’s certainly a pause-worthy moment.
Boogie Nights (1997)
This film follows a young man’s life as he’s trying to make it in the adult film industry. By the plot alone, Boogie Nights was set for success. As the film provides the audience with many pause-worthy scenes, there have been some in which most viewers felt the need to pause.
With little time for Mark Wahlberg to go through a cosmetic surgery, the film’s crew had to create prosthetics in order to enlarge some specific parts of his body. The scenes in which we get to see the prosthetics in action are also the ones that have been paused the most!
Tron (1982)
When speaking of successful sci-fi films of the past century, Tron is definitely worth mentioning. In all sci-fi productions, the use of their movie props has always been ingenious. In the first Tron film, however, a surprising famous character of the time makes a cameo appearance!
Of course, we’re talking about no one other than Pac-Man. Although his scene lasts merely three seconds, not only is Pac-Man’s figure visible in the film, but also the sound effects! It might be getting lost given the scene’s dramatic nature, but all fans were amazed to see their favorite game on the big screen.
Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)
This movie franchise really requires no introduction. The Star Wars films date back to the ‘70s and their legacy has lasted through time. In fact, their genius special effects and plot have influenced all sci-fi films and series that have been released ever since then.
There’s one goof, however, on the Star Wars: A New Hope film that still makes everyone who sees it giggle. When a group of stormtroopers is entering the hallway, one of them accidentally hits his head on the door. George Lucas even added a tribute of this goof on one of his newest films, Star Wars: Attack of the Clones.
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)
On the E.T. film of Steven Spielberg, there’s the infamous Halloween scene where our favorite alien stumbles upon a child dressed as Yoda from Star Wars. Probably in an attempt to pay tribute to this unique film, George Lucas also added a small detail quoting E.T. on one of his!
In Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace during one of the scenes in the Galactic Senate, there’s a group of aliens that appear to be the same species as E.T. Although we will never know if one of them’s actually our little extraterrestrial, it’s considered to be a very nice addition to the film.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
Yet another little detail on a Star Wars film, this time though on one of the newer ones, The Force Awakens. This one comes with a slight spoiler alert for the franchise fans that for some reason have yet to see it as we’ll be talking about the very last scene of the film!
It’s, of course, the part of the movie where Rey encounters her hero, Luke Skywalker, on a foreign island. As she goes on to hand him his lightsabre, he’s seen standing next to what appears to be a tombstone. Although we do not know whose it was, fans assume it’s the one of his deceased wife.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988)
Winning three Academy Awards with a single movie is certainly not an easy task to pull off. Yet for Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, the production seems to have done it effortlessly! With all of the film’s unique characters, arguably, Jessica Rabbit particularly stood out, especially for the male audience.
It’s the scene of the infamous Why Don’t You Do Right song where the detective lays eyes on Jessica Rabbit. Even if she’s an animated character, the scene wound up attracting much attention. Jessica, on her revealing red dress and seductive manners, rules over the scene creating one of the film’s most memorable moments!
Three Men and a Baby (1987)
Wondering what Three Men and a Baby and Star Trek have in common? The answer is simple, Leonard Nimoy! The film was actually directed by Spock himself! Apparently, there’s a figure that’s been dubbed as a ghost in one of the film’s deleted scenes.
In a later interview, Tom Selleck partly revealed that it was probably a cardboard of Ted Danson. Talk about the right use of movie props! However, that happened in 2017, three decades after the film was released. Up until then, a big percentage of the audience actually thought it was a ghost!
Jurassic World (2015)
Jimmy Buffett’s become famous for songs like Margaritaville, and apparently, the Jurassic World cast were big fans of his work. In fact, in the 2015 film, in the scene where the city’s attacked by pterodactyls, Jimmy Buffett is right there taking a sip out of a couple margaritas.
As the crowd starts panicking and running towards all directions, Jimmy grabs a hold of the cocktails and starts running as well. Although we should advise him to watch out for his alcohol intake, anyone who’s noticed this brief cameo found it to be incredibly amusing!
Iron Man (2008)
Nowadays, it’s no secret how most of Marvel’s films are linked together. After all, over the past decade, we’ve seen so many blockbuster Avengers films. However, it all started with the Iron Man movies. As the production already knew what was going to happen, they couldn’t help but give us a hint.
In fact, Captain America’s shield has appeared in not one, but two Iron Man films, dating back to the very first one, in 2008. Both times, the shield was a movie prop on Tony Stark’s laboratory and it wasn’t even finished! But still, noticing it today makes for a nice addition to the film!
Man of Steel (2013)
Speaking of superheroes and bombshells, Marvel is not the only company with these like-minded tricks up their sleeves. In fact, in the Man of Steel film of 2013, there’s a surprising detail on the space-fighting scene. Although the fans had mixed feelings about the film, it did have the perfect reference for what was to come.
We’re speaking about Batman v Superman film, which was released after three years. In the scene where Superman launches into space to fight General Zod, they find themselves grabbing onto a Wayne Enterprises satellite! Although the logo’s barely visible through all the action, those who have noticed it, gave DC the thumbs up.
The Rescuers (1977)
If we thought that the scene in The Little Mermaid was somewhat inappropriate, we clearly hadn’t been informed yet about this one frame on The Rescuers film. For some unexplained reason, Disney likes to surprise the viewers with some cameos or appearances, however, in this case, they did something different.
In the scene where our mice protagonists fly off strapped on a tin can on a bird’s back, they pass through different apartment buildings. Just for a split second, one specific apartment is visible, and an unclothed woman happens to be by the window! Keeping in mind the era, it’s a miracle how they managed to get this past production!
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
One of Stephen Spielberg’s many masterpieces was the Raiders of the Lost Ark film. It was first released back in 1981 and ever since then, it’s become an all-time classic! In the scene where Belloq’s operation gets interrupted by Indy, though, something extraordinary happens, that little have noticed.
There’s an actual fly walking on Raul Freeman’s mouth and yet he still managed to deliver his line flawlessly! In a later interview of his, Raul revealed that he didn’t actually eat the fly, as there were some frames cut off from the scene. No matter what, it would have been some additional protein added onto his diet!
Signs (2002)
For every one that absolutely loves all films to do with aliens, Signs with Joaquin Phoenix is a must-watch. The film was released back in 2002, and as the director, M. Night Shyamalan is slowly and steadily building up the tension, no aliens are actually seen. Or so everyone thought...
Although it’s not in the best definition, our hero sees an alien on his TV in the very beginning of the film. Having already watched it though, it’s understandable why people felt the need to rewind and pause that specific part of the film, to get the perfect glimpse of what’s to happen.
Burn After Reading (2008)
By now, we can all recognize Brad Pitt’s talent in acting. One of the many films that have granted him his success was, of course, Burn After Reading in 2008. Although he wounds up dead half-time, he still got to showcase his talent. However, his death scene was so sudden that it made us wonder if it actually happened.
In fact, he’s simply hidden in George Clooney’s closet and gets shot with a smile on his head when he got found out. The entire scene lasts less than thirty seconds, so many of us viewers felt the need to rewind and pause in order to make sure that it happened!
Finding Dory (2016)
An entire generation of millennials grew up watching Finding Nemo over and over again. Naturally, when the sequel was released over a decade later, people went crazy over it. Finding Dory found incredible amounts of success given that the characters had all preserved their humor and top-notch performances!
One character was missing, though, so the production only thought it appropriate for her to make a cameo appearance. When Dory was in the infamous dentist’s fish tank, his niece, the fish exterminator called Darla, makes an appearance. It wasn’t the first nor will it be the last time that Pixar surprises its audience like that!
Before I Go to Sleep (2014)
It shouldn’t come as a surprise seeing what kind of an effect Nicole Kidman has on her fans. After all, not only is she a great actress, but also an incredibly beautiful person. When Before I Go to Sleep was released in 2014, the viewers couldn’t help but get taken back from her one-of-a-kind bare-bodied scene.
The film follows around Nicole’s character, Christine, who, due to some past accident, now wakes up every morning not remembering a thing about her life. Although up to hear it might sound like some famous romantic comedy, the film takes a horrific twist soon enough that had the audience wanting more.
The Exorcist (1973)
At the time when The Exorcist was released in 1973, it was a ground-breaking thriller movie. In fact, the film was so scary that despite its outdated effects, it still scares people to the very day. The genius plot, the outstanding performances, and the incredible visual effects have made this movie into every thriller fan's must-see.
It turns out, even though there are many pause-worthy scenes, if we pause at the right moment, we can actually get a glimpse of the infamous demon’s face! Again, even though the effects are quite old, his face can still bring a person nightmares for the next couple of nights!
Pulp Fiction (1994)
Every Quentin Tarantino film is pure Hollywood gold. Pulp Fiction arguably had a lot to do with his reputation as a director, not to leave out any other of his film-masterpieces. It was released in 1994, and much like today’s Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood, it featured all the A-list actors of the time!
In the scene where Bruce Willis’s character Butch, with his girlfriend, Fabienne, played by Maria de Medeiros, are planning their next move, we get to see Bruce in all his glory. It’s no wonder why the audience felt the need to pause and rewind, as that was a sight we don’t often get to witness.
Tarzan (1999)
Although it wasn’t the first time when we got familiarized with Tarzan’s story when Disney made a movie off of it in 1999 everyone loved it. From the plot to the songs, written by Phil Collins himself, every detail of the film was well-thought and well-executed.
On one of the film’s songs, however, we get to see a Disney throwback to a different movie, as they are so famed for doing so. We’re, of course, talking about the Trashing the Camp song, which concludes to a unique drum solo. During it, Mrs. Potts and Chip from Beauty and the Beast make a cameo appearance!
Titanic (1997)
No one’s a stranger to the Titanic film. It might have been released back in 1997, but it remains one of the best romantic stories of all time. It wasn’t just the story, however, that amazed the viewers, as the film was spotless in every single aspect. After all, it won ten Academy Awards!
One of the most memorable scenes in the film is none other than the scene where Jack makes a sketch of Rose, without any clothes on, just her necklace. The famous line and the importance that the drawing had on the plot have made this scene unique. No wonder so many people were urged to pause.
Suicide Squad (2016)
Here is another wild scene in a movie that viewers couldn’t help but pause for. In 2016’s Suicide Squad, Margot Robbie made her first appearance as the Joker’s female sidekick, Harley Quinn. Not only did the audience felt the need to pause in this scene, but so did the actors.
Suicide Squad was released in 2016, and even though it ended up getting mixed reviews, there are some quite memorable scenes on it, including the one where Margot Robbie or else Harley Quinn puts on her uniform for the first time. The next film of this series is going to be released in 2021.
She’s the Man (2006)
Amanda Bynes was a big thing back in the early ‘00s, and every film in which she played was a fan-favorite. She hasn't acted for some time now as she's struggling with her mental health and addictions. However, she did announce her engagement on Instagram.
One of our favorite films with Amanda was She’s the Man. In it, her character, Viola, pretends to be her brother to make the soccer team. When she gets found out, however, she ends up flashing not only the rest of the team but also the audience, to prove her identity.
The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
This film was one of Scorsese’s most recent masterpieces. The Wolf of Wall Street was released in 2013, and even though the movie in its entity is quite memorable, there are some scenes, in particular, that have been watched the most. By combining DiCaprio and Robbie in a single scene it’s no wonder why the audience paused!
The film might not have actually won an Oscar, but it did get five nominations. With all fairness though, DiCaprio did find himself with a Golden Globe Award for his incredible performance. As for Margot, she wound up landing roles like that of Harley Quinn for which we’ve already talked about!