Movies are very hard to make, requiring lots of planning in pre-production, but even then, sometimes the most iconic moments were not even in the original script. Let’s check out some of the most notable improvised moments in movie history!

These aren’t in any particular order of preference, but the general idea is that the improv couldn’t be just random, it had to actually make sense in the movie and add something to it. Also, it’s worth noting that many improvised movie moments - especially in modern comedies - are not here, because there would be too many to count. But you can still tell us your favorites in the comments!

Here’s Johnny! - The Shining

Here's Johnny - The Shining
Here's Johnny - The Shining. Source: Youtube

Perhaps the most famous improvised line in movie history right after Taxi Driver’s “you talking to me?” (we’ll get there), this iconic movie moment was improvised on the spot by Jack Nicholson. Stanley Kubrick was known to take up to 60 takes of some scenes until they were perfect - to the point of exhausting the actors, so it’s interesting that some of his most iconic scenes were actually improvised. Speaking of which…

Singing in the rain! - Clockwork Orange

Singing in the rain - Clockwork Orange
Singing in the rain - Clockwork Orange. Source: Idyllopus

Yeah, Stanley Kubrick again. The original scene on the script had no mention of the cheerful song the brutal protagonist sings while he and the gang violently raid a residence. When shooting day came, Kubrick felt something was missing and asked actor Malcolm McDowell to improvise something. In one of the takes, he started singing the song and Kubrick loved it, calling to get the rights to the song for $10.000 (according to IMDB).

HEY! - Django Unchained

Hey! - Django Unchained
Hey! - Django Unchained. Source: Yahoo

Leonardo DiCaprio’s lines in the scene were all spot on with the script, what WASN’T expected though, is that when he bangs on the table, the actor accidentally broke a crystal glass which caused his hand to start bleeding A LOT. However, immersed in the scene, he kept on playing the part like a pro while removing the shards from his hand. The small accident was added to the scene for continuity, but what you see in the final cut the real accident, including Leo’s following composed lines as the cleans the blood of his hands without showing any sign of pain. Someone give this man an Oscar--oh, wait.

Snap - Pretty Woman

Snap - Pretty Woman
Snap - Pretty Woman. Source: PopSugar

In one of the movie’s funniest scenes, Richard Gere is supposed to show Julia Roberts a beautiful necklace. As the actress is immersed in the scene and nearly touching to necklace to say her line, Gere closes the box on her hand, causing her to let out a real laugh that stayed on the final cut.

Like tears in rain - Blade Runner

Like tears in rain - Blade Runner
Like tears in rain - Blade Runner. Source: Youtube

Being widely regarded as one of the greatest movies of all time, you’d think the making of Blade Runner was smooth sailing, but nope. The studios constantly clashed with Ridley Scott, forcing him to cut down a lot of the movie’s most atmospheric scenes for lower runtime and notoriously making him change the ending and add narration over the slower scenes. All of this was later fixed on a special edition director’s cut curated by Ridley Scott himself (the best version of the movie you’ll find), but one thing that remained in all versions was the final line from the replicant played by Rutger Hauer as he’s dying. The original line was “All those moments will be lost in time”, but the actor cleverly added “Like tears in rain”, which perfectly compliments the movie’s philosophical themes and makes the final monolog even more heartbreaking.

Nope - Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark

Nope - Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
Nope - Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. Source: Pinterest

This gag has been repeated many times after Indy, but the funny thing is that it was never supposed to be in the movie. Originally, Indy was supposed to fight the swordsman in a largely choreographed whip vs. sword fight, but at the day, Harrison Ford was feeling ill due to food poisoning and suggested to director Steven Spielberg they replace the scene with the gag, and the rest is history.

And speaking of Harrison Ford...

I know - Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

I know - Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
I know - Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. Source: Youtube

The original script for this episode of the Star Wars saga had the lines “I love you” and “I love you too”, but on shooting day they felt the line didn’t make the character justice, so Harrison Ford, once again, gave his idea that stayed on the final cut, replying with a simple “I know” - which has a lot more to do with the character.

In English, please - The Usual Suspects

In English, please - The Usual Suspects
In English, please - The Usual Suspects. Source: Carly Hearts Movies

The entire line up scene is pretty much a blooper that made into the final cut, as no actors were given directions on how to say the line, so they just made it up - which notoriously, lead to a moment of legit laughter and unprofessionalism that created the most remembered scene from the movie.

You talking to me? - Taxi Driver

You talking to me? - Taxi Driver
You talking to me? - Taxi Driver. Source: Hardly Worth Explaining

One of several Martin Scorsese's masterpieces, Taxi Driver is a dark story of a man with twisted morals, and having a young immersed Robert De Niro on the part, they ended up creating one of the most iconic scenes in movie history out of improvisation. Originally, the scene was simply the character talking to himself in the mirror, but no dialogue was written. De Niro acted out a simple acting exercise and the scene became a classic moment in movie history.

Oops - The Dark Knight

Oops - The Dark Knight
Oops - The Dark Knight. Source: Movie Pilot

This may just be the single most perfect moment of improvisation in movie history. If you’re wondering why that explosion of the hospital in The Dark Knight was so good, it’s because they ACTUALLY blew an entire building to the ground - definitely the right way to get the perfect look, but the problem was that they only had one take, and midway through the scene, the explosions stopped for a few seconds, and instead of asking what the hell was wrong, Oscar winner Heath Ledger plays out a legendary performance of brief confusion still in character that became one of the movie’s most iconic scenes and the final proof anyone needed this was a performance for the ages. May he rest in peace.


I’m sure there were many other improvised movie moments we missed, so why don’t you tell us your favorites? Did you know these were all improvised? Let us know in the comments and follow us on Facebook for more awesome content every day!