Some of the greatest lines and scenes in famous movies were either accidental or improvised. Who would have thought some of these epic movie lines came from a clever ad-lib? It’s hard to imagine these films without the talented casts’ clever improvements or mistakes. Luckily, when you have great talent like Robin Williams and Robert Downey Jr., mistakes can turn into some of our favorite parts of the movie.
1. The Godfather (1972)
Every movie buff knows the scene where mob boss Don Vito Corleone sits behind his desk, slowly petting his cat. The tension of the scene began to build with each stroke. The funny part was that the cat wasn’t supposed to be there. Director Francis Ford Coppola found the cat on the set and thought it would make an interesting addition to the scene. Thanks to the cat, it was an iconic scene.
2. The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005)
One of the funniest scenes in this Steve Carell hit comedy was when he got his chest waxed. Being the dedicated actor Carell is, he went all in and did the waxing live. His reactions, as well as those of his co-stars, are priceless and make the scene even funnier. What he initially thought would be a funny bit was one of the movie’s best scenes.
3. The Dark Knight (2008)
Heath Ledger gives the performance of a lifetime in the second installment of The Batman trilogy, The Dark Knight. Known as a method actor, Ledger stayed in character as The Joker both on and off the set, a trait many of his co-stars found terrifying. Not being one to shy away from a bit of improv, Ledger begins a slow, deranged clap as Commissioner Jim Gordon gets promoted in front of his fellow officers. The scene was so eerie it completely encompassed the lunatic the Joker was. Director Christopher Nolan left it in and made a wise decision.
4. Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope (1977)
There is a scene in this sci-fi classic where a group of stormtroopers are on the hunt for Luke Skywalker and his buddies. Not only are Stormtroopers bad shots, but they also don’t know when to duck. One of them clearly whacks his head on a door frame. Director George Lucas loved the blooper and even added a pronounced bonk effect later in editing.
5. Thor: The Dark World (2013)
The Norse god Thor shows off his improv skills when he walks into his home and hangs his hammer on a coat rack. The gag made everyone on set laugh so much that the director kept it in the movie. It goes to show you Chris Hemsworth is more than just a strong jawline and ripped physique. The man can also make people laugh.
6. Forrest Gump (1994)
One of the most iconic lines in one of the most quotable movies ever came about by accident. The famous line, “My name is Forrest Gump. People call me Forrest Gump,” was improvised by Tom Hanks when he froze up and forgot his line. Luckily, the line was kept in the film, and it is one of the more famous lines of the Oscar-winning film.
7. The Avengers (2012)
Tony Stark eating has been a running gag on the set of The Avengers for most of the franchise films. Many fans know that Robert Downey Jr. is famous for always munching on food throughout the films. Truth is, Downey Jr. was habitually sneaking food on the set, so the director caved and wrote it into the script, resulting in the iconic character having a weird quirk throughout the series of movies.
8. The Usual Suspects (1995)
This 1990s crime thriller is known for its famous twist at the end. But there’s another scene viewers also love. When brought into police custody, the suspects are arranged for a criminal line-up to see if they can be identified. The scene is supposed to be serious, but the actors couldn’t stop belly laughing due to a particular cast member suffering from unwanted flatulence. The scene stuck, and movie fans are better off for it.
9. Django Unchained (2012)
Quentin Tarantino is known to push boundaries in his films, and his dedication has led to some amazing acting performances. One in particular was Leonardo DiCaprio’s role as a slave owner in Django Unchained. In a scene where Leo is supposed to slam a glass down in a fit of rage, he accidentally cuts his hand open, leaving a trail of blood. Leo stayed in character so well that Tarantino kept the scene in the movie, making it even more realistic.
10. Midnight Cowboy (1969)
The famous line New Yorkers have adopted as their own: “Hey! I’m walkin’ here,” was completely improvised. The producers could not get the streets closed due to a limited budget, meaning they had to film around actual pedestrians. The line shouted by Dustin Hoffman was a real reaction due to a city cab almost driving into the actors. Who knows what New Yorkers would be yelling at if Hoffman hadn’t uttered this now completely New York phrase?
11. Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
Robin Williams is no stranger to improvisational comedy. A lot of his biggest acting roles involved him ad-libbing and improvising scenes. While filming for Mrs. Doubtfire, Williams wears a whipped cream facemask to hide his identity from the social worker, Mrs. Snelling. The set’s lights were so hot that the mask began to melt. Rather than cutting, Williams rolled with the mishap, delivering clever lines like, “I’m melting like a snow cone in Phoenix,” and “Now you have a little cappuccino,” as the cream dripped from his chin to her tea glass. Leave it to Robin Williams to turn a blunder into comedy gold.
12. Scent Of A Woman (1992)
Who would have thought Al Pacino was so great at improv? The actor was so dedicated to his role as a blind man that he wore blindfolds to help him understand what it’s like to be a person with limited sight. There’s a scene where Pacino crashes into a city trash can that was so realistic it couldn’t have been just acting. Pacino was dealing with his new “lack of vision,” and he fell into the trash can. I think Pacino could have pulled off this performance either way, but this accident looked completely authentic, and I’m glad they decided to leave it in the film.
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