Greatest Unscripted Film Scenes

Gun Vs. Sword


The original script called for a long sword fight but a day earlier Ford got a severe case of food poisoning and didn't have the energy to film the scene as written. After a discussion with director Steven Spielberg, the scene was changed and became an iconic part of Indiana Jones mythos.

Why Male Models?


Zoolander asks, "Why male models?" Prewitt answers with a lengthy explanation, after which Zoolander responds again, "Why male models?" Stiller forgot his original line and just repeated his previous line instead. This prompted Duchovny to ad-lib his response "Are you kidding? I just told you like a minute ago." The scene ends up reinforcing the movie's narrative of the brainless male model stereotype and Stiller turned a gaffe into one of the funniest parts of the film.

The Cat


Thing is, the cat was never part of the original script. Some reports say that Coppola plopped the feline into Brando's lap just before filming began. Other reports say Brando found "il gatto" roaming around the set, picked him and gave him an offer he couldn't refuse.



Take The Cannoli


Castellano's original line was "Leave the gun" but drawing from an earlier scene where Clemenza's wife reminds him to bring home some cannoli, he improvised the now famous line "Take the cannoli."

"I Don't Care."


The line wasn't part of the script but those three words reinforced to Kimble, and audiences, that it didn't matter to Gerard whether the doctor was guilty or innocent of the crimes for which he was accused. He was going to get his man - no matter what.

Slow Clapping


As the officers in the room applaud the announcement Ledger begins, unscripted, to slowly clap - never changing his facial expression. It was just a simple improvisation but one that was unsettling and darkly brilliant.



Delayed Explosion


However, Ledger stopped walking during the pause and in a moment of improvisation began fidgeting with the remote detonator in a very Joker-esque manner - bringing a slight amount of dark humor to what would have just been a serious scene.

Spitting Blood


Smith and Verhoeven briefly had discussed the unscripted moment before filming the scene but neglected to inform the extras - which was evident by their real and disgusted surprise as the scene unfolded.

Necklace Laugh


Her laugh was so honest, and the scene so good, that Marshall decided to leave it in the film as is.

Think Fast!


Neither the can throwing nor the reaction were scripted but the drunken extra in the car felt the opportunity was too good to pass up. Jonze thought the scene added to the character's frustration and left it in.
Instead of being fired, the extra was added to the final cut of the film and given a raise.

The Cinderella Story


This entire scene was developed by Murray on the spot saying in his 1999 book Cinderella Story: My Life in Golf: "The Cinderella Story was a spur-of-the-moment idea. 'Get me some flowers,' I said. 'Four rows of mums."

The Most Annoying Sound In The World


Even hitman Joe Mentalino's (Mike Starr) hissy fit reaction to the scene was unscripted, which makes the scene that much funnier.

Know How I Know You're Gay?


This entire exchange between Pete (Rudd) and Ben (Rogen) while in the car was completely ad libbed by the two actors. The scene is only a few seconds long on the final cut but as an extra on the DVD, the scene goes on for over six minutes.

Farting Wife


The entire story about Maguire's flatulent spouse was made up on the spot by Williams and not a part of the original script.

Game Over Man


The original line didn't include the "game over" part and was ad libbed by Paxton.

Party Talk


As a natural entertainer and comedian, Murray improvised the entire scene.

The Line Up


According to interviews on the DVD, the laughing during Del Toro's delivery was due to his constant farting while filming - boys will be boys.

Come Out To Play


Kelly spontaneously added the now famous line "Warriors, come out to play!”

"Mein Furher, I Can Walk!"


In a process known as "retro-scripting", Kubrick changed much of the script he co-wrote with Terry Southern to incorporate much of Sellers' improvised dialog, including this now famously unscripted scene from the end of his black satirical comedy.

Remembering The Brothers.


None of the story was part of the original script.

"You're Gonna Need A Bigger Boat."


Stunned, startled and filled with fear he stands up and utters the now famous line to Orca Captain Quint (Robert Shaw) completely off-script, "You're going to need a bigger boat.” Turns out, he was right.

"I know."


Ford decided that Solo wouldn't say something like that and instead, changed the line to simply "I know."

"Can You Hear Me Now?"


All of Madsen's lines and actions with the ear were improvised by him.

"Here's Looking At You, Kid."


According to reports, Bogart said the phrase "Here's looking at you kid" multiple times to Bergman while teaching her to play poker between takes.

The Sneeze.


So one of the most famous sneezes in cinema history was never actually intended to be part of the final film - it actually occurred during a scene rehearsal.

"Here's Johnny!"


The line was not part of Kubrick's original screenplay and was improvised by Nicholson.

Like Tears In The Rain.


As he reminisces about his past he says, "All those moments will be lost in time...," but then Hauer adds the unscripted and philosophical phrase "...like tears in rain."

"I'm Walking Here!"


Obviously this wasn't scripted and Hoffman's response and actions were all improvised, in character, as a result.

Singin' In The Rain.


McDowell decided to belt out "Singing in the Rain" and Kubrick was so pleased with how much better the scene became that he acquired the rights to use the song immediately.

"You Talking To Me?"


To this day, whenever someone walks by a mirror they can't help but utter his now famous line "You talking to me?"

"Hsss!"


Apparently it was something Hopkins did during rehearsals to creep out Foster - and Demme decided leaving it in was the best way to creep out his audience too.

Drill Sergeant.


Ermey wrote 150 pages of insults and Kubrick estimated that 50% of the character’s dialog was improvised by the former drill instructor.