Top 10 Improvised Scenes in Movie History

While we appreciate a good script, some of the greatest moments in movies come from when talented actors are given the leeway to go off-book. Here are 10 of the greatest scenes born of improvisation in movie history. Subscribe: goo.gl/9AGRm
What did you think of the list? Do you agree with our selections, or do you think some of our picks are overrated. Do you think we snubbed some of your favorite improvised scenes in our list? Do you have a favorite scene from the work of Robin Williams or Bill Murray?
Let us know in the comments!
THE LIST
Bridesmaids (2011)
A lot of this movie was the talented comedic actresses in the cast going off book, but Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone’s “Air Marshall” exchange takes the cake.
Apocalypse Now (1979)
Marlon Brando’s performance as Col Kurtz was largely made up on the spot. And while we don’t endorse actors not learning their lines, we can’t fault what came of it in this instance…
Iron Man (2008)
Robert Downey, Jr surprised everyone in his comeback performance as Tony Stark. Everyone - because most of what he said wasn’t in the script.
The Jazz Singer (1927)
Al Jolson’s improvised dialogue pretty much invented the entire concept of talking in movies. Think about that.
Caddyshack (1980)
Bill Murray’s been giving improvised performances his whole career, but his hilarious ad libbed “Cinderella Story” on the golf course made Caddyshack the movie it is today.
Goodfellas (1990)
The “Funny How?” exchange between Joe Pesci and Ray Liotta was a genius bit of collaboration between Joe Pesci and Martin Scorsese - and no one else in the scene.
The Breakfast Club (1985)
The climactic scene in which the teenagers finally bond over how they came to where they were was based entirely on the actors’ knowledge of the characters. And it worked.
This is Spinal Tap (1984)
It goes to 11.
A Clockwork Orange (1971)
The home invasion scene never came together, until Malcolm McDowell was given reign to improvise on the next take. His brutal song-and-dance number makes this one of the most chilling scenes in movie history.
Robin Williams
From “GOOOOD Morning Vietnam” to Night at the Museum, Robin Williams was master of improv, and his riffs enriched every role he ever inhabited. We’ll miss his unique voice for years to come.
Our friends over at IndieWire put together some seriously inspired MOVIE LISTS: bit.ly/12x0UpF and CineFix is bringing 'em to life!

[@brechelt1]

Protip: When creating a Top-10, you make "This is Spinal Tap" #11.

[@AbuDhabiDude]

Best post in the whole comments section!

[@johnpena8704]

The real LPT is always in the comments

[@enettereese1295]

You sir win the comments even a year later

[@devlincarter1446]

Actual genius.

[@kennethbutler1343]

"It's a fine line between genius and stupidity"

[@americansuperdad5769]

Harrison Ford's classic improv: Princess Leia, "I love you!" Han Solo, "I know."

[@ameliasv222]

Yeah, that was iconic. But I get why they didn't include it, that was one line not a full scene.

[@afriend9428]

*jes*

[@y_fam_goeglyd]

@@ameliasv222 From what I read, Ford rewrites virtually everything Lucas writes for him.

[@trevorbrown6654]

Wasn't the scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark where Indiana Jones pulls out his pistol and shoots a sword wielding henchman improvised? The script called for a proper fight scene but apparently Harrison Ford was suffering from dysentery at the time and just did not have the energy to do it so Spielberg suggested he shoot the guy after an elaborate display of swordsmanship. The result is pure comedy gold.

[@iangallagher4135]

Yah they actually filmed the fight but decided the dude getting shot is better

[@y_fam_goeglyd]

Ford suggested it to Lucas. They were sick, running out of film and money, and Ford pointed out that Indy would just shoot the guy instead. They didn't film the fight, but they had practised it for about 2 weeks IIRC. To me, it's still the funniest scene I've ever seen, and I love Mel Brooks films! Ford has a thing for "rewriting" Lucas scripts. It started in Star Wars. He'd say, "you can write this shit, George, but I sure can't say it!" (Undoubtedly interspersed with a few invectives lol.)

[@TellurianMan]

DiCaprio cuts his hand in Django and smears it on homegirl's face is some boss improv.

[@DH_Artist]

B. Pavlic I heard somewhere that there’s a secret cut in that scene where they fixed his hand but Tarantino loved the idea so he added fake blood to Leo’s hand to wipe on the girl’s face.

[@nobody-tj1mv]

@@DH_Artist This.

[@AshleyJohnson-wl3zi]

DH_Artist I truly hope so because he would of lost a ball if that was me

[@bubbaguy4411]

@@DH_Artist Yes and no..they did indeed fix up Leo's hand...but, it was Kerry's (Broomhilda) idea to have the "blood" smeared over her face.

[@jenniferchough]

No, that was fake (the smear, not the cut). He did indeed cut his hand for real but you must know that smearing real blood on someone's face is considered a biohazard and would constitute all sorts of legal issues. They treated his hand but Tarantino really liked Kerry's idea of having Leo's character smear it on her face so they fixed up some fake blood for it.

[@LilyRose8959]

The Star Wars scene with Han Solo talking into the microphone to the other storm troopers was ad libbed. Harrison Ford forgot what he was supposed to say and just babbled, until he shot the mic and yelled to Mark Hammel "Luke, we're gonna have company."

[@megcreelman1050]

Yes! All time favorite.

[@bobfeet573]

charmedfan7704 that's what brought me here

[@partydean17]

charmedfan7704 that is my favorite scene in the movie. "How are you?" lmao

[@normdeplume4082]

charmedfan7704 I

[@currykingwurst6393]

charmedfan7704 *Hamill

[@Splattercat]

Biggus Dickus scene in Monty Python: The Life of Brian. None of the extras were told what the scene entailed. they were simply told "Don't laugh, no matter what". Genius directing and genius performance. :)

[@FernieCanto]

Splattercat Also, the name of Biggus Dickus's wife was also improvised on the spot, no *nobody* knew what it would be.

[@Splattercat]

Fernie Canto That as well, thank you. :)

[@MajoraTheBard]

They were told that if they would laugh they wouldnt get payed

[@ezio1612]

Xander Brood I'm pretty sure that's fake though

[@7382932]

Splattercat REally?

[@globalpigeon6571]

RIP Robin Williams. Such a big part of so many peoples childhoods

[@MATTierial]

God, I had no idea the heart-to-heart scene from Breakfast Club was entirely ad-libbed. That scene is incredible, and now I have an entirely new appreciation for it, and all of the actors involved.

[@RussFaulkner]

Yup.

[@lastsaneman19]

The single greatest improv scene of all time is Rutger Hauer's "Tears in Rain" monologue in the movie Blade Runner directed by Ridley Scott.

[@evanjazzista]

Lovemachine I gave you a "thumb up" but that speech was actually written by Hauer. He suggested to Ridley Scott to let him say a few off-the-script words before dying, but he had been having in mind most of the speech for a couple of hours by then. Nevertheless, great cinema moment!

[@lastsaneman19]

I gave you a "thumb up" but actually, Hauer's speech was adapted from the original script that Scott had provided him, which also mentioned various 'gates' and battles that had no other prior connection to the bladerunner universe. However Hauer decided to give it his own spin and everyone was so impressed that they finished in one take.

[@deanshaw6588]

RIP to ROBIN WILLIAMS the man who made many of us laugh

[@KnolltopFarms]

+Dean Shaw His work with Jonathan Winters is some of the best all-time comedy I've ever had the privilege to enjoy, and I hope you did too...Aloha, KTFs

[@ijnet9247]

It's hot! Damn hot! Real hot!

[@jameslandon4126]

He just made me want to stuff dog shit in his mouth so he'd shut the fuck up for a second.

[@elliotdavis2489]

Nanu Nanu

[@joeporreco2751]

Williams made anyone who seen any of his movies laugh if not then you have no sense of humor at all.

[@OokamiKageGinGetsu]

Best Bill Murray line: Ghostbusters - "It's true, your honor, this man has no dick." I don't know if that was improvised or not, but total classic.

[@oneshot4940]

Here at Agustta

[@malcolmkirkpatrick722]

Sigourney Weaver: "Do you want this body?" Bill Murray: "Is this a trick question?"

[@chrishansen8806]

Best scene ever

[@lindseyreece8127]

The mere mention of Robin Williams brings me to tears. I remember every detail of the moment I heard he had passed away and it still makes my heart hurt more than I can say.

[@aslan9334]

It hit me hard too - i was at work and heard it on the radio

[@ashleyking8153]

Johnny Depp in "Pirates of the Caribbean" singing, "I've got a jar of dirt!" All the reactions of the rest of the cast were their actual reactions to Johnny Depp.

[@scottgrindrod]

That's a Brando moment. Depp hadn't bothered to learn any of his lines, so they put in an earpiece under his wig through which a stage hand read him his lines.

[@bebophakusho8581]

@@scottgrindrod That's the fifth film... Not the second one.

[@JonathanOutside]

Bill Paxton"s line "That's it man! Game over, man! Game over!" from Aliens.

[@roryrichards3272]

David Kerr j

[@SCA84]

JonathanOutside What about "Somebody ring the dinkster" ?

[@nathanisaksson]

That should be Number ONE!

[@katiestewart5688]

And his 'express elevator to hell'

[@DadCanInJapan]

A lot of comments here are about improvised lines, whereas this list is of whole scenes that were improvised.

[@ameliasv222]

Indeed. I think it's because those are easier to remember, but it wasn't the point of this list.

[@christ5469]

An honorable mention goes to Eli Wallach in The Good, The Bad And The Ugly. The entire scene where he's in the store looking for a revolver is off the cuff and the storekeeper's reactions are genuine. From Wallach mixing and matching revolver parts to when he puts the "CLOSED" sign in the storekeeper's mouth, it was all improvised.

[@r0bw00d]

In _Spaceballs_, Rick Moranis ad-libbed the entire scene where he was playing with the action figures. The script only called for him to play with the dolls--he did everything else.

[@ebinrock]

Gotta wonder how he really played with his dolls - cough - action figures when he was a kid.

[@robthomas946]

This is Rick improv in Ghostbusters (at his house party) Ted! Annette! I'm glad you could come, how you doin', give me your coats. Everybody, this is Ted and Annette Fleming! Ted has a small carpet cleaning business in receivership; Annette's drawing a salary from a deferred bonus from two years ago! They got fifteen thousand left on the house at eight percent.

[@classicanimatedcartoonshd1441]

When Harrison ford shot the swordsman in Indana Jones. That was improvised, he was supposed to fight him with his whip, but Harrison was feeling very ill that day so he just decided to shoot him and they kept it in the movie.

[@zackjohnson9928]

Unfortunately it was food poisoning

[@leonblum816]

I love this one!

[@fabienneselinger3899]

I learnd this from fact fiend

[@Alpha0727]

They supposedly tried to shoot the fight scene, but after a few failed attempts, Harrison Ford basically went fuck it, I’m shooting him.

[@patrickmcdaniel2048]

Most of the cast for Raiders had food poisoning during filming, which is why the fight scene with the swordsman was Harrison Ford just shooting the guy. It wasn't exactly improv because everyone had decided that's what they were going to do. However, in true improvisational form, at one point John Rhys-Davies actually shit his pants during filming because he was so sick. Unfortunately it didn't make it into the movie

[@Hummingbird-yu3kt]

Johnny Depp and Dana Carvey are both adlib kings. But I'm glad you did the tribute to Robin Williams...he was, and always will be, comic genius.

[@jasonrothbaum7266]

I thought this list was awesome - until I was reminded that Rutger Hauer's speech in Blade Runner was improvised. That has to be the most amazing improvised moment in film.

[@dalwand]

Like tears... in the rain

[@kevdmiller]

It's almost impossible to believe that was improvised. Just brilliant. Hats off to you Mr. Hauer. You are missed.

[@lochlannturner4086]

I love that so much. But I don't think it was improvised I think it was just written by Rutger Hauer just wrote it

[@josephlowry4320]

I would definitely agree with you on that one, that's scene was beautiful Rutger Hauer is an great actor, rest in peace Rutger Hauer we all love you.

[@majerstud]

It wasn't improvised so much as modified from the original. But there is no comparison to the original and what Rutger created,

[@varamonte]

Thanks for the mention of the scenes, yet not even showing a real portion of the scenes you are talking about.

[@jordantouchet5633]

Ikr

[@wrathofdionysus3246]

Ezra Po The point is to get you to go watch those movies if you haven't, and/or not giving the great scene away. I was thankful they didn't run some of those scenes any longer than they did (especially the scene from Full Metal Jacket. Even though it didn't get a spot, that scene is a goldmine).

[@qqleq]

Ezra Po Copyright issues.

[@dougpbcc]

+qqleq2 how does watch mojo do it?

[@nemome5837]

The scene in Jurassic Park where the dinosaur chomped the blood-sucking lawyer in two was completely improvised. The CGI T Rex got carried away and they just kept the camera rolling. Directors hate to shout "CUT!"

[@FreakieFan]

lol?

[@sebastianalcina8108]

It wasn't CGI, it was an animatronic Nobody talks to me in parties. :(

[@RomanticAnalog]

Um if you knew anything about how they shot this scene they used both. In this particular scene it was the CGI as the animatronic version wasn't capable of such swift, realistic movement........I make up friends in my head!

[@nemome5837]

Dominic White So it wasn't a real CGI dinosaur?

[@passthebutterrobot2600]

Also the dino that ate Wayne Knight improvised "Helloooooo Newman" before biting him, although sadly that one didn't make the final edit

[@MrWizeazz]

Bill Murray actually whispered “Hail Hydra” to Scarlet Johansson in “Lost in Translation”

[@SergeGolikov]

Bullshit

[@timgroot4231]

Basically the entirety of "The Mask" with Jim Carry, and some parts of both Ace Ventura movies

[@kaned5543]

Damn. It's been two years and I still cry over Robin Williams. I couldn't explain it to you, but I suppose some people make an impact without even meeting you.

[@mattdickie4696]

No explanation needed. If he'd lived to be 500 years old, he still would have died too soon.

[@ebinrock]

Indeed @@mattdickie4696 . He was a rare talent.

[@Sunprism]

He did 14 hours of improv for Ferngully....Originally, his role was planned to be about eight minutes long

[@heywoodjablowme1624]

How about Rutger Hauer's improvised "tears in the rain" monologue at the end of Blade Runner?

[@Justmindless]

THANK YOU!

[@ihateidiotcomments]

Blade Runner was just epic old enough to have seen it in the movie theater. Seen it countless times over the yrs.

[@BelieveInUrself93]

That was improvised?!?!?!

[@heywoodjablowme1624]

+CommandoXProductions There was a "goodbye" monologue in the script that was just sci-fi drivel... it was too long and dragged the scene out without doing anything for Hauer's character, Roy. The night before shooting, Hauer streamlined most of the sci-fi nonsense and added the "tears in the rain" line to let the audience connect with Roy's humanity... amazing how those few little words add so much to the character. Hauer recited the lines without consulting anyone beforehand, so Scott and the crew were shocked and captivated when he spoke his rewritten lines. They broke out in applause and tears when he finished.

[@arlosmith3075]

I FUCKING LOVE that monologue. It is my favorite scene in one of my favorite movies.

[@thomasking5472]

"I came here to kick ass and chew bubble gum. And I'm all out of bubble gum." And it's not here

[@isaacgleeth3609]

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass, and I'm all out of bubblegum."

[@animatorFan74]

Actually this video is about whole scenes, not just one line of dialogue, which might be why it's not here...?

[@Somelikeitthrift]

That isn’t a whole scene

[@AnodyneHipsterInfluencer]

Best line ever.

[@Allupertti]

It's time to kick gum and chew ass And i'm all out of ass -Dick Kickem

[@michaelwood8168]

You could have done top ten with Robin Williams, now THAT would have been a top ten!

[@mikeg4972]

Just what I was thinking.

[@josephlowry4320]

Me too it was nice that they include some of the best improvised scenes by the funny man himself Robin Williams, it would be really nice to do an list about him, rest in peace Robin Williams.

[@GasCityGuy]

Robin Williams is the King of improv! Heard a story once that after the first episode or two of Mork and Mindy the writers would just insert, "Robin speaks here' into the script.

[@jegbliverkaldtchuckyellega746]

They did ^^ He got the part of Mork because when he auditioned he was askes to "sit down" and he sat on his head :) The Director said he was hired because he was the only alien :D

[@jesternario]

The Marx Brothers had scripts with pages that just said "Harpo does something funny."

[@zendell37]

+jesternario Yea, kinda sad they weren't even "Honorable Mentions"

[@jesternario]

agreed

[@FreakieFan]

Yeah, i remember that. Such legends!

[@howardbennett9339]

Obviously that didn't go well, I've never seen any of them do anything funny at all.

[@kriscryns2609]

LOL.

[@pottedplantentertainment2020]

"I got a jar of dirt" from Pirates of the Carribean is legendary improv 😂

[@jacklincoln7786]

Midnight Cowboy. Dustin Hoffman: “...I’m walking here, I’m waolking here”

[@kevdmiller]

Such a great moment.

[@VinnyDaQ]

R. Lee Ermey's entire performance in Full Metal Jacket was improved except for about 3 lines. He gets my vote for best movie Improv performer of all time.

[@scottgrindrod]

I had a friend who was in the Marines tell me that he and most of the other soldiers believed there was some top-secret comedy camp that drill instructors went to because everyone had a drill instructor who was insanely funny. He explained that when you fucked up, you got double tested. Because while you were getting *totally* reamed out, it was also so hysterical that it took enormous amounts of willpower to not bust out laughing. Because if you cracked a smile, you'd get extra punishment, and if you laughed, God have mercy on your soul. Ermey was a former real life drill instructor, so he just did what they all naturally do, or learned at secret drill instructor comedy camp.

[@tomquimby6432]

@@scottgrindrod Marines are not soldiers, soldiers are in the Army.

[@tomquimby6432]

R Lee Ermy was a drill Sargent so he just did that.

[@traveller4790]

Ermey was good, but he was just being himself in "Full Metal Jacket." He was a retired Marine who was also a former Drill Instructor, and when he finally succeeded in pestering Kubrick to let him portray Gunnery Sergeant Hartman all he did was the same things he did when he was a DI. The scene is improvised because the dialogue wasn't in the script, but Ermey wasn't just pulling his lines out of a hat - they were lines he had used in the past. In short, he was just being himself. Robin Williams is and will always be the master of ad lib and improv. But that's just me.

[@traveller4790]

@@tomquimby6432 "Soldier" is a term used to describe Army troops, to be sure, but it's also a generic term used to describe members of the Armed Forces. So yes, Marines are in fact "soldiers;" they just happen to be soldiers who are Marines. Chill out, dude, it ain't that big a thing.

[@MrReiloon]

Here, think of it this way. Robin Williams isn't dead, he's just waiting in the jungle 'till someone rolls a 5 or a 7

[@FPSBuzz]

God damnit

[@ki11bunny]

***** "In the jungle you must wait, until the dice read five or eight."

[@rainyday4970]

MrPurby Tiisler I so wish that were true.

[@jamesmcintosh4085]

How could you forget "We're gonna need a bigger boat" from Jaws.

[@magnificentfailure2390]

They're gonna need a bigger list.

[@epen1898]

"You're gonna need a bigger boat."

[@ArcaneAzmadi]

Because they said "we're not just talking about single lines, it has to be back and forth, give-and-take, entire scenes". I love it when people ask supposedly rhetorical questions with straightforward answers.

[@MFPhoto1]

What about The Godfather? "Leave the gun. Take the cannoli."

[@the0wolf15]

Or any of Don Correlone’s dialouge in the first one

[@bearcb]

An advice for life

[@DreamGyrl360]

I'm mad because you won't let me hear any of the monologues; now I have to go watch Ironman -- again -- now I have to go watch Apocalypse Now -- AGAIN -- now I have to go watch all these dang movies again!! I'm ENJOYING what you have to say but I WISH you could have played a lil more of the clips.

[@beowulfthedane]

I got two for you both from Harrison Ford. In the "The Empire Strikes Back", after Princess Leia says "I love you" to Han he was supposed to say "I love you too!" Ford saw it as more in Character if he said it with his face but said "I know" instead. In "Raiders of the lost ark" he was supposed to fight the guy with the giant sword but improvised pulling his gun and shooting him.

[@tylerisawolf2286]

They included those in their 'Best unscripted lines' list.

[@tylermoore9351]

Wesley Eskildsen Well in Raiders, Harrison was sick at the time of the shoot and Spielberg was the one who told him, just shoot him. Still a great improved scene :D.

[@apugalypse_now]

Wesley Eskildsen Both happened because Harrison Ford was sick/tired/bored and not really in the mood to draw the scene out.

[@Evelina_412]

+Tyler Moore The way I remember it was that he was sick and asked Spielberg ,,Can't I just shoot him?"

[@iainjames03]

+Wesley Eskildsen The whole "boring conversation anyway" bit in A New Hope was unscripted too, I believe

[@MsMimilala]

The therapy sessions in one flew over the cuckoo's nest were improvised 👌

[@tbrodigan]

"I'm walkin' here"... Dustin Hoffman's character Rizzo from Midnight Cowboy. Happened when a car actually broke through the set unintentionally. Such a pro.

[@effi7107]

Dumb & Dumber: The most annoying sound-Scene was also improvised by Jim Carrey. You can clearly see Jeff Daniels suprised face :D

[@ElspethElliott]

The guy in middle genuine annoyance

[@iamchillydogg]

Efthymia S So was squeezing the ketchup and mustard.

[@andrewmaddennn]

So was "WE LANDED ON THE MOON!"

[@jonlocke1624]

"Big gulps huh? Well, catch ya later." I could've sworn I heard that line was improvised too. It was suppose to be a simple transition scene and he wasn't suppose to talk to the extras -- I guess that's why they look a little stunned. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJDNZqd6qsaegbc

[@markyounger1240]

Are pets heads are falling off

[@Bayan1905]

The death of a celebrity never really affected me, no matter who it was, sure it may have been sad but I never knew them personally, until that of Robin Williams. I grew up in the 80's and 90's and remember so many of his movies and stand up. He was one of those people who just was an awesome talent, you were in tears after a comedy routine, but then to see him in dramatic movies like Insomnia, and one that is more depressing now than ever, What Dreams May Come. He was one of, if not the best.

[@rahimick5]

Another great one is Leonardo DiCaprio in Django cutting his hand for real when he banged his hand down on the table and broke a glass. He continued the scene by putting his hand on the head and face of the actress who legitimately looked terrified.

[@rahimick5]

@Alexander Supertramp Oh really? I hadn't heard that. Link?

[@theczar8435]

Actually really disappointed I didn't see Rutger Hauer's "Tears in the Rain" final dialogue in Blade Runner. One of the best improvised speeches and death soliloquies in film history.

[@williamozier918]

I would go with #2 being Han Solo, "I know."

[@tracegreathouse3295]

agreed

[@allova332]

Peter Griffin-"Fuck Off".

[@avisco01]

That's just one line. The video is about entire scenes. Of course, they didn't show any of the scenes in their entirety which is probably why there's some confusion.

[@mizinoinovermyhead.7523]

Actually more fitting with this one is the shooting scene from Indiana Jones. Ford was sick that day and didn't feel like going through the whole choreographed fight. Instead he adlibbed the pulling the gun and shooting the guy cutting the scene down from several minutes to several seconds.

[@jtrenoweth]

Robin Williams was the king of improv

[@mojo3443]

“Yeah but these go to eleven” funniest thing I think I ever heard. that’s something I would definitely say

[@barrishautomotive]

God damnit. It's 2020. Robin Williams has been dead for 6 years, but when you bring it up I still get all teary. What the hell is wrong with me?

[@dankester5607]

The entire opening of Full Metal Jacket. I am glad it got a mention, but it DEFINITELY deserves it's own spot.

[@DevonPalmer98]

Some of my favorite are 1. Like tears in the rain- blade runner 2. Game over man- aliens 3. Warriors come out to play- the warriors 4. Indiana jones shooting guy with sword - Indiana jones 5. I know (Han Solo line) - Star Wars

[@MarkLewis...]

Indiana Jones shot a guy with a sword?! Didn't know a sword has bullets. I totally improvised that.

[@BrianMcKinny]

Five years later, and I still find it hard to believe that Robin Williams is gone. Such an incredible talent will never again be seen in my lifetime, I'm sad to say. A true genius. Godspeed, Robin. We miss you down here!

[@russwaddel08]

One scene you missed was Saving Private Ryan. Matt Damon made up the story in between takes of the girl and his brothers. He was telling the story to Tom Hanks, and Speilberg loved it so much, that he included it in the final film. You could have also included The Dark Knight, as Heath Ledger did most of the scenes off the cuff as well.

[@GamecockRock90]

the greatest moments in cinema... improv the greatest moments in sports... improv What does these moments teach us? Talent is great, but being able to think on your feet is what separates the great from the legendary.

[@scoobysnactime]

Thats deep man

[@andrewweber958]

Dude! No Blade Runner final monologue!? What the Heck! It was incredible and easily beats out most of the scenes on this list.

[@mediaphile]

+Andrew Weber Probably because it wasn't improvised. There was a soliloquy in the script, which Rutger Hauer rewrote (and definitely improved). But it wasn't improvised.

[@Silvandrim]

I thought the last line was improv?

[@chiffmonkey]

"Like tears in rain" was improvised.

[@Silvandrim]

chiffmonkey that's what i thought. either way, it was delivered perfectly.

[@golan345]

But if we're doing Harrison Ford improving one line, it really has to go to his scene in Empire Strikes Back. Or when he shoots the sword guy in Indiana Jones, as that pretty much was the definition of never bring a knife to a gunfight.

[@daveglander1]

Rutger Hauer.. "I've seen things, you people, would not believe... " etc. When Ridley Scott lets you go and refuses to stop filming, you know it's special. I know Scorsese has the monopoly on letting actors go full tilt and creating magic, but this one moment from Hauer is just magical. Iconic. Just ..... amazing. I guess it is easily overlooked, except the day after his death. RIP.

[@tiffsaver]

I don't think you have to have a lot of dialogue to make a huge impact in a scene. For example, for sheer improvisational magic, when Richard Gere slammed the jewel case on Julia Roberts' hand, it was a pure delight. Also, the "Mouth Of Truth" scene between Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn was incredible. For as much as I LOVED the drill sargeant's monologue in "Full Metal Jacket," often the best movie magic occurs when it happens in brief and unexpected moments.

[@tinapug2228]

Why didn't they show the whole scene rather than bits and pieces and describing the rest of the scenes that were improv?

[@opunaya8955]

Probably worried about takedown strikes being filed against the video.

[@fesham5811]

In the case of Ironman, they probably have to show almost the entire movie..

[@ZombieBoss1945]

Tina Pug

[@oliveranderson928]

Copyright? Obviously?

[@saheliumd7182]

Oh Robin Williams, why did you have to go?

[@pineappleagent1]

He didn't hate living. He had a Debilitating disease that was slowly eating away at his motor skills and his mind.

[@hutch13pbbc]

"A debilitating disease" with which he hated living. he didn't say he hated his entire life - he stated it in the resent. but for that sake - he battled with life long depression. let's pretend we all knew him personally and what ewas truly in his heart.

[@pineappleagent1]

hutch thirteen It's what pushed him to commit suicide. Not just hating his life. He fought depression and knowing how influential he is he probably understood that he inspired those who also have depression to keep going. He probably wouldn't have done it if he didn't have the disease. Also being depressed doen't nessisarily mean you are suicidal.

[@bobfeet573]

I have crippling depression

[@martythemartian99]

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Paul Reuben was told to keep dying by the director, so he kept dying... and dying....and dying... and dying... and dying... ... ... ...

[@WrenFaithBridger]

...and the credits roll...and dying...and dying...and dying...

[@akshataharish2431]

So thoughtful of you for not pinpointing any work of the great Robin Williams and accompanying the short clip .... Gone but not forgotten thank you. Rip

[@jleem311]

I legit almost cried when Robin Williams, he's one of my favorite actors ever and yeah, it was tragic

[@jameslandon4126]

He was even more annoying than Bill Murray.

[@ducatil-twin3379]

Oh be quiet.

[@narmale]

At least he died as he lived: improving his own death

[@negativeindustrial]

Ironman was mostly improvised dialogue?!? If you know the character, this was nearly a perfect movie on all fronts INCLUDING dialogue. Someone must have been a prolific Ironman reader!

[@AUlostchick09]

It's because rdj and tony stark are basically the same exact person. Rdj is a bit more settled down these days, but take a look in his past. He was decidedly a "billionaire playboy" (not sure about the genius or philanthropist part, and definitely toss in Tony's alcoholism except replace booze with I believe heroin or coke for Robert) in his younger days. Sometimes I think even Robert forgets he's not tony stark.

[@jonweik4091]

Kayling05 he has said sometimes he finds it hard to seperate the two because how similiar they are or were

[@GCAT01Living]

Neg Ative I think it helps that Robert Downey Jr and Tony Stark are the same person.

[@ZesPak]

Kayling05 And replace billionaire with maybe millionaire. But yes, RDJ IS Tony Stark.

[@zoroarkking18]

I guess that essentially, RDJ is to thank for the movie being a successful kick-off to the MCU, considering some actors might have dropped the ball without a real script. Not to say that actors who can't improvise well are less talented, it's just good they got an improviser for the lead role.

[@nina-thi]

"I love you" "I know" is a good one. That answer is just so much more Han Solo than simply "I love you too". Iconic.

[@danton15h25]

Saving Private Ryan when Matt Damon tells the story about his brothers to Tom Hanks just before the final stand. as the entire story was made up on the spot by Matt

[@vadaoliver9316]

Finger print

[@creamy3598]

Dark Knight, the button mishap with Heath Ledger in the hospital scene.

[@lobster5588]

***** Yes, it was. Ledger also created the torture scene by himself.

[@lobster5588]

***** You may recall that the Joker pressed the button twice. The second time by the bus was improvised.

[@mccallish2451]

It wasn't improvised the bombs were meant by Christopher Nolan to not explode. The only thing improvised by Heath Ledger is his reaction

[@alex-wx6mn]

TheEnterestingEnderman also when Ledger claps while he's locked up

[@sunup_timber3107]

***** That movie was sooooooo great

[@nightbane2]

"Home invasion from A Clockwork Orange" *ROBIN WILLIAMS* Me: WTF!?

[@Justice237]

Turn on the annotations

[@Yumi_Jay]

Heath ledgers Joker blowing up the hospital scene comes to mind. While waiting for effects to go off having Joker play around with the control made it good.

[@SMbigpapi]

R.I.P. R Lee Ermey

[@1qwasz12]

Although not totally improvised scene, Ermey's dialogue was almost straight off the cuff.

[@corryborowic5601]

clockwork is one of my all time favorites but the full metal jacket scene is just brilliant improv. I'd rank it higher

[@willemverheij3412]

Missed the Marx Brothers, they where notorious improvisors both on stage and in movies. Pretty much their entire careers where based on improvisation. Where ever they went in life, people where worried about them playing pranks and embarassing them. And they took great joy in embarassing people who took themselves very seriously.

[@JadisAmalthea]

+Willem Verheij Sorry to disappoint you, man, but its a known fact that literally everything in the Marx Brothers movies was scripted. The writers just knew who they were working with and wrote for each actor what they thought they'd do. Sometimes they were vague, yes, leaving stuff like "Harpo does something funny" in the script but mostly it was all scripted. Just FYI.

[@willemverheij3412]

Jadara Hino I'll take Harpo's word for it. He describes in his book how the filming of the cocoanuts went down. Their director would ruin his own movie by constantly laughing at their adlibs while filming, and while he laughed the marx brothers wandered off to go gamble and do other stuff. They had to put the director in a soundproof booth where he could laugh all he want and they had jail cells brought to the set to keep the Marx Brothers from wandering off, they had a phone inside it so they could call their bookies from there. How much Groucho and Chico adlibbed may be debateable, but that Harpo improvised a lot he did is clear. And I assume that his brothers reactions to his unscripted bits would be improvised as well. They always tried to outdo each other after all.

[@Ace_Hunter_lives]

+Willem Verheij Love the Marx Brothers! Great call!

[@greggoeglein8827]

Roy Scheider's "You're gonna need a bigger boat" line from Jaws was improvised.

[@pat.traynor]

A great line, but just one line. These were entire scenes.

[@jonathanbaenziger3182]

Almost the total entirety of John Candy's appearance in Home Alone. He made the appearance as a favor to John Hughes and improvised just about all his lines.

[@jsch2489]

Another great scene was from the Joker in "The Dark Knight". The Button to crush the hospital behind him was supposed to work but it didn't. But they only had one chance to film this scene. So he improvised and didn't even look back. I'm such a huge Fan :3

[@lyraxjager2120]

+Nini Cookie this hands one of my absolute favorite scenes of all time

[@lordoftheflies24]

+Nini Cookie Have you watch the making of? Nothing was improvised in that scene. That being said, Heath Ledger was perfect as the Joker.

[@akshayneha]

+Nini Cookie Please go to watchmojo if you want dark knight in every top ten list ever.. please for the love of god kindly realise that nolan is not even near the class of the kind of directors and movies cinefix chooses.. so please, stop saying joker this joker that nolan this nolan that dark knight blah blah.. ive seen enough of this shit on watchmojo.. let cinefix stay true to cinema

[@akshayneha]

+Nini Cookie the narrator already mentioned in the beginning of the video that he's not talking about single lines or gestures but whole scenes .. which are usually at least 20 seconds long.. theres nothing great about being surprised by an explosion

[@orinanime]

+akshayneha while I agree about Nolan being overrated, it wasn't just the surprise that was real or special. it was the explosion's delay and Ledger staying in character acting confused and continuing to click the detonator in frustration and and the quirky way he gets the hell out of dodge when it finally goes off.

[@laydbakk1]

Two of the best improv'ers of all time; Robin Williams and, Jim Carey...

[@MrGsteele]

Jim Carey is a dick.

[@zackjohnson9928]

Yeah Robin was the real deal nice guy

[@Floridaman1780_]

Don Rickles was the master. Except, he did it in real time, in real life, all the time. He did hours of comedy shows with no written act. He was the master of improvisation.

[@randyatlantis2388]

But both could be very annoying.

[@isabellarenzi2431]

How about the line "Hey I'm walking here!" ... Dustin Hoffman from Midnight Cowboy.

[@addyturner7546]

I love that they didn’t say much about Robin Williams. So much respect. I’m so sad he was my favourite actor as a kid.

[@pSycHomNKy]

Indiana Jones shooting a swordsman on Raiders of the Lost Ark...supposed to be a prolonged fight, but Harrison Ford was ill with the flu. A running gag had him shoot the swordsman when he wasn't feeling up to recording the shot, with the swordsman playing it off nicely. The studio loved the scene so much that they kept it in.

[@zackjohnson9928]

It was food poisoning

[@ebinrock]

Ha! Not only did Han shoot first, but so did Indy!

[@chasedoesgaming4315]

Why wasnt Roy's death speech from Bladerunner in here? The guy made one of the most well remembered soliloquies in film history by making up something on the spot and throwing out 99% of his lines for that scene.

[@TheNinnyfee]

The line-up scene in The Usual Suspects is missing.

[@WrenFaithBridger]

Usually I'd say "Seriously" in agreement...but there was nothing serious about that scene! Classic!

[@buddyfett1341]

Harrison Ford "I know" Empire Strikes Back

[@TheTGS]

Leave the gun, take the cannoli.

[@timo.6634]

YES! My favorite movie line of all time.

[@raymesquite9157]

The Godfather.

[@etangbose4755]

ray mesquite part 2

[@znout65]

so not even an honorable mention for Heath Ledger's many improvised moments in the joker or the cast reaction to the alien popping out in the first alien movie? I mean both of those were so improvised the cast didn't know what was happening and we got their real reactions on film.

[@dablasit]

znout65 I feel like the dudes at Cineflix just want to be hipsters about those lists, kind of "hey im making a list of stuff you probably haven't seen and the ones that are more mainstream are just gonna be mentioned because we're not mainstream like that and we appreciate cool stuff that it's not noticed by the layman"

[@tbartels19]

PapeBlaSit The movies they choose we're incredibly mainstream. Goodfellas, apocalypse now, caddyshack, bridesmaids, Spinal tap, a clockwork orange, they even had Iron man.

[@MrGuuudFeelingz]

This isn't WatchMojo

[@ChloeCinema]

The alien popping out wasn't improv. How would they improvise special effects out of nowhere. It was planned and in the Alien script. The main cast except for the guy who died in the movie just didn't know about it.

[@TheGoGoat91]

Zombie Ducklings agreed it doesnt count since scott wanted a raw reaction from the actors, so he simply didn't told them about what was gonna pop out of the dudes chest

[@NL-rj9uk]

That scene from A Clockwork Orange. . 'Singing In the Rain' .. is still haunting to me. Bravo to Malcolm McDowell for selling such a character.

[@xazz]

I've never had a #1 inspire actual emotion in me. Robin Williams was a gift

[@Tyrunner0097]

I still can't get over how prophetic the first spoken words in movie history were: "Wait a minute, you ain't heard nothing yet!"

[@Draxis32]

Where's the "I'm WALKIN' HERE I'M WALKIN' HERE!" scene from Midnight Cowboy?!

[@TheMonthlyJack]

people already know about it.

[@jgarling]

Draxis32 Its not a scene its a line. As they said at the beginning of the video they wanted scenes.

[@Benchpress33]

Draxis32 that was just because the taxi ignored the closed set sign it was more of a last ditch then a improv

[@sharonloozz3271]

I thought that one would be on here too

[@bcaye]

Good question. Can you name the actor and character?

[@checkyoself9]

Thanks for playing the music over Robin Williams's #1 spot. If only Robin had just shut up altogether so I could feel how awesome your video editing skills are.

[@ShadowcZ-pu9gl]

Yes of course the master of inprove is Robin Williams. God I have a tear in my eye , why’d that amazing man have to go ?

[@nordicfatcheese]

"It's game over man, it's game over! The f*ck we gonna do now?!" You forgot that one.

[@shagster1970]

Absolutely! Aliens.

[@HYLOBRO]

When people say a scene was improvised it gives more conventional audience members a faux impression of what it means. They think that the camera was rolling and they just came up with it on the spot(much like Dustin Hoffman apparently did in Midnight Cowboy) but 95% of the time it just means that in rehearsal between the actors the spitball and improvise, like the idea, approach the director, then shoot different versions of the scene, some with the non-scripted dialogue and some without. For your health :)

[@HYLOBRO]

*between the actors *THEY* spitball..*

[@mrastralweeks9396]

That definitely isn't the case in Apocalypse Now

[@Alagboriel]

Or Leonardo DiCaprio in Jango

[@ronaldpetersen255]

Always love Mr Williams work, RIP and thanks for the laughs!!

[@scottkellogg3502]

The "Eleven" scene from "Spinal Tap" had a prop in it that had an eleven on it: How did they improvise the 11 painted on the amp?

[@xbird532]

They improvised the reaction

[@lochlannturner4086]

Well you don't see the number 11 in the same shot that you see them saying it. They could have just edited it in

[@MrCquixote]

bridesmaids was funny?

[@CineFix]

Average Gatsby yes.

[@crapster3810]

Average Gatsby yes it was

[@johnnyisherela]

Average Gatsby imagine the female version of the hangover

[@MrCquixote]

Oh I have seen it, I think I laughed maybe once the whole time.

[@jonathanmelia]

Well, that's one more than me.

[@dajusta87]

Leonardo Dicaprio when he cuts his hand in D'jango Unchained

[@nudl3Zz]

justun chan that was an accident, not improvised

[@dajusta87]

nudl3Zz he improvised the part when he smothered the girl's face with his blood and the look of shock and fear in her eyes were probably legitimate.

[@iammojay]

+justun chan ... Apparently, she is still very angry that Dicaprio did that and that Tarantino didn't cut the scene. I guess it's a legitimate beef, but it's also a phenomenal scene.

[@charlesvandergrift3126]

+justun chan Leo needs an Oscar for that one. Fantastic scene.

[@trysometruth]

justun chan Seriously. The girl had to be praying that Dicaprio didn't have undiagnosed AIDS. I get the "give everything for the camera" stuff, but he was taking a chance with another person's life there. I guess nothing bad happened thankfully.

[@schnitzelmegapixel]

You guys.... putting that robin tribute at the end.. I DID NOT EXPECT TO CRY TODAY

[@dementeddaniel666]

Jaws - "You're gonna need a bigger boat."

[@Steeleperfect]

You found Bridesmaids funny? You should have a farting contest sometime. The subtle wit involved would blow your minds.

[@keatonsmith5669]

Cinefix? New channel? You're like WatchMojo, only better for some reason.

[@arminengaming]

Keaton Smith Because WatchMojo is terrible, especially when they add things like Naruto and DBZ on a top ten animes list, both of which are poorly animated and written. DBZ is fun, but Naruto is terrible. WatchMojo doesn't have any clue as to what's a good, well, anything, and they don't show the other things they thought about adding in like CineFix does.

[@sergeantdornan7000]

arminenreviews I think the only reason DBZ and Naruto took the top spots is because of how well known and how successful they were when they made their debut's worldwide. I am not particularly fond of Naruto but in truth it gained a relatively large following thus making them a top spot.

[@greysonvaughan3731]

Keaton Smith Cinefix doesn't constantly contradict itself

[@arminengaming]

John Theriault Well it's in cases for lists for things that should even have Naruto on them. Especially for the best anime made ever, because popularity does not lead to an anime being the best. Bleach is terrible and yet it's popular.

[@sergeantdornan7000]

arminenreviews On your note of, "popularity does not lead to an anime being the best," I must disagree. My argument with that is popularity shows how great it is, to gather an audience that size makes a film whether it is from feature length to a short to a television series the more money generated and the more of an audience that is drawn toward it makes it so great. More of an audience makes it one of the "best" regardless of the critical components that must make a film a masterpiece. Yes Bleach is terrible and Naruto in my eyes is just as terrible. I don't think they should deserve those spots and popularity, but its success makes them the best in MANY people's eyes.

[@whatintarnation4983]

RIP Robin Williams, you will forever be the star of improve...shinning so bright so the rest of us can watch in amazement.

[@carlroyle3055]

Sorry just didn't think the guy was funny especially his improv I know I'm in the minority there but just never got it.

[@robertburns2415]

You really blew it. Best improv scene ever Rick Moranis in Spaceballs. The one where Dark Helmet is playing with the dolls.