Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace - Senate Scene
Probably one of the least successful films of the massive franchise was "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace." Fans particularly didn't like this installment because of its lackluster script. The movie didn't age well either, thereby fading away in time even though it did introduce the iconic Jedi Temple on Coruscant, among many other never-before-seen world-building elements.
However, it did have this ever-so-popular senate exchange, which was paused and poured over multiple times by viewers. The scene featured Asogians participating in the senate and gained much fame for its exceptional character designs, such as that of the Darth Maul.
Boogie Nights - Self-Assurance
The 1997 Mark Wahlberg film titled "Boogie Nights" was one of a kind in the age it was released. It was highly inspired by the life of the adult actor John Holmes, while it also featured a few glimpses associated with its director Paul Thomas Anderson.
In this scene, the protagonist Dirk Diggler has a self-assurance talk in the changing room, during which he pulls out his genitals to remind himself of what made him famous in the first place. The audience just couldn't get enough of the scene and had to pause it, even though what they were looking at was a prosthetic.
Thor: The Dark World - Chalkboard Scene
It is safe to say that the feature films from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) are always full of Easter eggs. Loyal fans know they must watch out for anything significant to the plot of another movie that has already been released or might be in the future.
This particular scene in the film involved Dr. Selvig writing a bunch of gibberish on a chalkboard that numerous viewers ignored without a second thought. The true Marvel fanatics, however, paused the moment to see what was written. Unsurprisingly, quite a few of the terms here, such as "Nidavellir," relate to events from movies released after this one.
Iron Man 2 - Superhero Hotspots
Marvel would take the lead if there were an Easter egg competition among film franchises. Eagle-eyed fans could spot another one of these in "Iron Man 2," when the protagonist Tony Stark was in a meeting with Nick Fury near the movie's end.
An interactive map of the world can be seen behind Stark. Being no ordinary map, it had hotspots representing all superhero activity on Earth. While many of these were known, such as Thor's hammer in New Mexico and one in Africa that represents Wakanda, a particular hotspot can be seen in the Atlantic Ocean. Fans believe this is the hero Namor from Atlantis.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame - Street Scene
Remember that Easter egg competition we talked about? Disney's classics would secure the second rank just behind Marvel if that were a thing. Disney produced some of its greatest films, including "Pocahontas" and "Hercules" around the same era as "The Hunchback of Notre Dame." The studio put Easter eggs in them like chocolate chips in cookies.
This particular scene follows the protagonist, a bell ringer at the Notre Dame in Paris named Quasimodo, singing from atop a roof and looking down on the street. The girl seen at the bottom-left is Belle from "Beauty and the Beast" reading a book. Other characters from Disney also appear during the same song.
The Back-Up Plan - Iconic Behind
Jennifer Lopez is a very popular singer from the United States. While she's mostly known for her voice, J-Lo's also made a name for herself as an actor. Among her films is "The Back-up Plan," which has one scene, in particular, that was paused a bit too much by viewers.
When her character is pregnant after artificial insemination, she stops by to examine her new figure in a mirror a few months into gestation. And that is where the camera behind her character shows her backside momentarily. Even though a body double played that part, Lopez's fans could not help but pause and stare.
There’s Something About Mary - Ouch! Zipper Scene
Ben Stiller has to be one of the best actors to portray a comedy scene with finesse. His film "There's Something About Mary" still counts as one of his best, and while it featured numerous scenes that would make people crack up each time they're played, one in particular 'stuck' in history as the most paused scene.
While Stiller's character is getting ready for prom, his genitals get stuck in his zipper. All men would know how painful that can be, and the scene is enough to make anyone wince. It's not hard to guess at exactly which point most viewers opted to pause the scene.
The Graduate - Going Into the Bedroom
Movies back in the day had a thing for love triangles. A few were released in the '60s, including this dark comedy titled "The Graduate." While Dustin Hoffman loves a girl, her mother likes Hoffman and tries to make a pass in this scene.
The older woman calls him up at the house and talks to Hoffman's character for a while, dropping several hints about her intentions. Once he doesn't get it, she calls him up into her bedroom only to be topless in front of him moments later. The scene was brief and therefore paused repeatedly by viewers wanting a better look.
The Cabin in the Woods - The List of Horror Figures
The horror film from 2011, "The Cabin in the Woods," had this particular scene of Richard Jenkins standing in front of a whiteboard with multiple horror figures listed on it. Detailed on-screen text only briefly visible might not generate audience interest all the time, but viewers paused this one to assess all the characters in it.
These frightful creatures may not have appeared in the same film, but people wanted to see the collection jotted down by the formally dressed man. A few archetypes only make cameos in the movie, while others have more extended roles. The horror starts at a remote cabin in the woods.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit? - Jessica Rabbit's Car Crash Scene
If the trend is not apparent yet, this shall clear the air a bit. People usually like to pause on video moments that appear for a split second. Sometimes it's because of potential Easter eggs on-screen. In others, it's much more basic than that. Counted among the greatest animated films of all time, "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" gets paused for the latter reason.
When the antagonist follows Jessica Rabbit and Detective Eddie Valiant into a car crash, Jessica is tossed into the air with her legs apart. However, it's only apparent if the scene is paused at the right moment and needs some speedy fingers if viewing on Youtube.
Tron - Mickey Mouse
Disney's had this habit of putting in Mickey Mouse everywhere they could. For example, in this semi-animated sci-fi film called "Tron." The scene involves a hijacked solar sailer (a freight transportation unit) with the ever-so-subtle Mickey Mouse silhouette in the background and large ears prominent enough for viewers to catch on the screen.
Unlike traditional sci-fi films, this one had a unique story. The protagonist gets trapped in the digital world and is forced to play video games with only two results; win or die. The design and animation in this film were out of the ordinary, and video game lovers adored every bit of it.
The Lion King - S.F.X
A series of controversies surrounded Disney classics for a long time, with each having at least one scene with something people could oppose. One of them was in the classic "Lion King," where Simba, the lead character collapses on a hill. Dust flies from under him, forming the letters "SE*" in the air, as seen in this picture.
The producers denied this completely and claimed that the letters read "SFX" to pay homage to the special effects team that had worked on the feature. Nonetheless, few even noticed, while most enjoyed the film for its fantastic story and direction. The animated classic won two Oscars for its music.
The Little Mermaid - Wedding Scene with the Priest
The producers of "Lion King" did have an excuse for their "SFX" scene. However, it was difficult to let the animators slide with the one in the 1989 film "The Little Mermaid." When the antagonist, Ursula, is marrying Eric, the priest at the altar can be seen sporting an unmistakable bulge in the front of his pants.
Even though it needs a careful look or a pause at the right moment to notice it, it is there. Disney has fixed this in the new versions, but this is not something that the animators could not know of. Instead, they later claimed that it was the priest's protruding knee.
Deadpool 2 - Vanisher’s Death
The "Deadpool" films are possibly the funniest superhero films ever. While there are more than a few Easter eggs in the film for comic book lovers, there's one in particular that had everyone halt and take a closer look for a fantastic surprise.
When the bunch of superheroes is landing from an aircraft, all of them die except for our main hero, Deadpool. When the character named vanisher (invisible otherwise) crashes into electric wires, he flashes on the screen for a while. To the surprise of the fans, he is played by none other than the Oscar-winning actor Brad Pitt.
Fight Club - Tyler Durden's Starting Appearances
Speaking of cameos by Brad Pitt, he makes a few of those at the beginning of the Oscar-nominee movie "Fight Club" in 1999. His role becomes permanent after a while (spoiler alert), but until then, he appears to disappear a few times, or so it seems. As the film progresses, his character solidifies.
But before then, people wanted to see what flashed so fast and had to pause to get a better look. Similarly, most people went back to watch these scenes once the film had ended and the mystery was unveiled that Durden was merely imagination and not a real person—sort of a second personality.
Fast Times at Ridgemont High - Pool Scene
People who were in their teenage/middle age during the '80s would instantly understand why audiences might most pause a particular scene from the film "Fast Times at Ridgemont High." The moment in question was when Phoebe Cates exited a pool and unclasped her bikini. This was probably the most iconic pool/bikini moment in the industry's history up until then.
Even though this is shown in the film as another character's imagination, this steamy scene was a favorite among fans who had to rewind and pause it more than a few times. The plot navigated similar themes of teenage parties and the associated lifestyle.
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope - The Head Bang
George Lucas is one great director. In this scene from "Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope," a few stormtroopers line up in front of a door, and one of them accidentally bangs his head when passing through. When Lucas saw this, he merely added a comedic sound effect to it rather than opting for a retake.
Laurie Goode, the actor who played this trooper, was interviewed by Hollywood Reporter much later down the road. Goode declared that the culprit behind the bang was his upset stomach. And instead of opting for a retake, he didn't break character since no one said "cut."
The Wizard of Oz - Munchkin Scene
The 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz" was an excellent work of art by director Victor Fleming. The movie was so great that it was watched and admired for multiple decades to follow. However, there was just one scene that really bothered fans.
While the three protagonists are walking through the forest, viewers can see a silhouette of a man's body hanging somewhere in the background. However, after the studio mastered the reel, it became clear that the shape was merely a large bird. An urban legend even said that it was one of the actors who played a munchkin. However, thankfully, that's not true
The Wolf of Wall Street - Nursery Scene
Nominated for five Oscars, the Leonardo Dicaprio starring 2013 blockbuster "The Wolf of Wall Street" was a hit and a commercial success. The plot follows a few investment experts and their larger-than-life lives. It features loads of naughty moments throughout.
However, one of these moments, in particular, involves the great actress Margot Robbie. DiCaprio and Robbie are in a nursery where Robbie spreads her knees apart to tease the lead character, not knowing there's a camera in the room. And for the briefest moments, the recording device's view is shown on-screen, not leaving much to the viewer's imagination. Unsurprisingly, this is where the fans loved to pause.
3 Men and a Baby - Ghost Scene
"3 Men and a Baby" was a comedy released in 1987 starring Tom Selleck, Steve Guttenberg, and Ted Danson. Although the film was a great comedy to watch, this scene from a room had fans pausing it to see a creepy boy standing in the background looking at the actors.
Urban legend tells that a boy died in this apartment long ago, and his ghost that haunted the apartment was in this scene. However, the makers later clarified that they shot this scene in a studio, and the boy was a cardboard cutout of Danson folded in half, which was accidentally left there during the shoot.
Basic Instinct - Catherine Trammel's Interrogation
Sharon Stone played the adult novelist Catherine Tramell in this 1992 thriller. The film was famous for its sensual plot, and this steamy scene where Tramell uncrosses her legs to reveal that she was wearing nothing underneath got everyone to pause.While Stone didn't bare it all, the dialogue of the scene was good enough to have the detectives in the room sweating.
The interrogation scene follows Tramell writing a book about a character who kills her husband. And following the book's release, her rockstar husband is found dead. Naturally, in the ensuing investigation, she becomes the prime suspect in a murder case.
Jurassic World - The Pterosaurs Attack
While a trend is becoming apparent, i.e., people mostly pause scenes with things coming on screen for split-second cameos of either lists or indecent exposure, this one was slightly different. The 2015 edition of the film series called "Jurassic World" had a cameo from none other than the singer Jimmy Buffett.
In this scene, pterosaurs wreck havoc on the street, and everyone starts running left and right. Buffett, too, rises from his seat amidst the crowd with two margaritas in hand, wearing an orange shirt. And who better could they have chosen for the scene than the guy who sang a hit song about margaritas?
Raiders of the Lost Ark - Confrontation with the Nazis
Indiana Jones is one of the most loved heroes of Hollywood, with his fame spread all across the globe. Harrison Ford played the character in four films in the series, and the first one of them was "Raiders of the Lost Ark," released in 1981, which set the threshold standard for its sequels.
And extraordinary it was. The antagonist Belloq played by Paul Freeman, talks in this sequence as the viewers can see a fly land on his face and crawl into his mouth. Freeman doesn't break character and continues with the scene delivering his dialogues as effectively as expected. People paused to see clearly if that indeed just happened.
Man of Steel - Outer Space Battle
While Marvel shall undoubtedly win the race, its direct competitor DC Comics is not much behind with Easter eggs in their films either. In the 2013 Superman movie titled "Man of Steel," a fight sequence leads Superman and General Zod into outer space. DC fans saw a glimpse that had them pause to see if they read the text right.
As both characters crashed into an artificial satellite, viewers spotted the logo of Wayne Enterprises, a company owned and operated by Bruce Wayne, a.k.a. Batman. While many fans would already know, the company has a subsidiary known as Wayne Aerospace, a military defense contractor.
Ghostbusters - Ghosts On the Loose
This is one scene where all adult movie fans would have paused for sure, as it features the famous adult film star from the late 1900s, Ron Jeremy. He is seen among the crowd when ghosts go loose in the popular action comedy "Ghostbusters," starring Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and Sigourney Weaver.
Jeremy was possibly one of the first people from the adult industry to make an appearance in mainstream films. That is, however, common now, with adult actors appearing in all sorts of film genres, including rom-com, suspense films, and thrillers. However, viewers from that era found it surprising and paused to make sure it was real.
Teen Wolf - Celebration Climax
"Teen Wolf" was a basketball-themed film starring Michael J. Fox. While it wasn't as famous as a few of his other movies, this one did have a selective following, with people watching multiple reruns of it. In the climax scene, a guy cheering in the crowd can be seen with his zipper down when they win the basketball game.
Fans paused over this moment as it seemed like his genitalia was on display, but the only thing visible was a white patch. Another theory says this guy's shirt was peeking from his open fly. All that debate over a moment only on the screen for around a second.
Total Recall - The Club Scene
Hollywood fans would know that the former mayor of Texas, Arnold Schwarzenegger, is more popularly known as an actor. He's mainly known for his action movies, which were released in the late 20th century. "Total Recall" was one of these many blockbusters. It featured life on another planet with aliens.
A woman in a club comes on-screen with a trio of breasts instead of a pair. People could not believe their eyes and had to pause to see if it was really so. The actress who played the character, Lycia Naff, said in an interview that she was a bit embarrassed after this role for all the attention.
Iron Man - Captain America's Shield
In one of the scenes in the 2008 MCU film "Iron Man," we see Captain America's shield lying on Tony Stark's table in his workshop while he's getting suited up in his superhero costume. This is another one of those Easter eggs that needed to be paused at the opportune moment.
This one was big in terms of the storyline, considering that fans got to know who out of the MCU possibly manufactured this magical shield. Interestingly, the first MCU appearance of Captain America was in the 2011 film "Captain America: The First Avenger," which was followed by two other dedicated features in the same decade.
Psycho - Skeletal Reflection
Popularly known as the 'Master of Suspense,' director Alfred Hitchcock released the thriller titled "Psycho" in 1960. The film is so great that it has a rating of 8.5/10 on IMDb and ranks 32 out of the 250 greatest movies on the website. This feature was well acclaimed in its time and was nominated for four Oscars.
A particular moment had the lead character Norman Bates, played by Anthony Perkins, looking at the camera while the narrator told the story. The scene featured his face being flashed with a superimposed skeleton while he gave out an evil smile. Countless fans paused over this scene to see the eerie special effect.
Signs - The Alien
The character seen in this image is an alien for sure, and Joaquin Phoenix's character was shocked when he first saw it in footage on the television in this 2002 suspense titled "Signs." While aliens appear for more extended periods in the rest of the film that follows, they only make cameos in the beginning, thereby having viewers pause this moment to make sure.
This movie was directed and written by M. Night Shyamalan and also featured Mel Gibson, who played the lead. Gibson is a widowed man living on a farm in Pennsylvania with his children and his brother, played by Phoenix.
Star Wars: Episode VII: The Force Awakens - Déjà vu Climax
The déjà vu, kind of a scene in "Star Wars: Episode VII: The Force Awakens," appeared at the movie's end when Daisy Ridley's character goes atop a mountain to find Luke Skywalker. The place that she reaches is apparently the first Jedi Temple, where Skywalker is seen with his back turned towards Rey.
Fans paused here to discuss whether this sanctuary was actually a graveyard. A similar scene appeared in the 1980 prequel of the film, titled "The Empire Strikes Back," where Skywalker is out searching for Yoda. The movie also features other great actors such as Henry Ford, Oscar Isaac, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill.
The Rescuers - Flight Scene
Disney's animators have proven to be quite naughty when it comes to putting in Easter eggs or not removing the ones that can turn out to be controversial. Here is one that caused a disaster and had the makers apologize over it and recall millions of DVDs.
In the studio's '70s classic "The Rescuers," the lead characters Bianca and Bernard are taking a flight on a pack of sardines on the back of a bird. While they fly across an apartment building, one of the windows has a topless woman inside. The scene is unmistakably clear if a fast hand pauses the movie at the exact millisecond.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier - Captain's Culture Checklist
Captain America was frozen in time for about 70 years before he resumed his journey in the film "Captain America: The Winter Soldier." That was one reason he was confused about numerous things and wanted to touch base with all of the great moments in history that he'd missed.
Now, this list was one that he made for that particular purpose. While many lists appear through Marvel films, this one, in particular, was interesting even for the people who are not MCU fans. The list we see here was for the American release, whereas there are different versions available for releases in other countries.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier - The British Version of the List
Here's the British version of Captain America's list for the United Kingdom release of the film "Captain America: The Winter Soldier." While the American version had things such as Steve Jobs, this British version has editions in a few items such as "The World Cup (1966)," which was the only soccer cup won by the UK.
There were other editions of this list for audiences of other languages. For example, the French version had "France 98" on it, while the South American version had "Shakira" and "Maradona's Hand of God." And MCU knew best that a tailored version for each edition shall be best to get their audience's attention.
Tron - Pac-Man
Even though Disney's sci-fi film "Tron" was released much before the internet became a household thing globally, fans took all chances to upload this scene, particularly because it featured Pac-Man. Viewers can also hear the iconic sound effects from the game in the background of the actor speaking in this scene.
The game appeared in the film for a good two to three seconds before the shot changed. The film featured a man being trapped in a digital space and being forced to participate in video games. The addition of this scene would have made it an ideal watch for gaming fans.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 - The Horcrux at Play
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1" was the seventh installment of the "Harry Potter" film series and was largely based on the three wizards going about looking for the antagonist Voldemort's Horcruxes. The trio plan to switch places, keeping them since they're emotionally disturbing for the possessor.
Now, fans of this fantasy film would know of the undertone love connection between Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger. So when Weasley is safe-keeping one of the Horcruxes at one point in the plot, he imagines flashes of Harry Potter and Granger kissing, which frustrates him. People could discern the two wizards unclothed and paused at this moment to verify.
Pulp Fiction - Apartment Shootout
The 1994 drama "Pulp Fiction" was directed by Quentin Tarantino and would be noted in Hollywood history as a classic. The star cast of the film included Samuel L. Jackson, John Travolta, and Uma Thurman created some unforgettable moments in this feature, which also included Jackson's delivery of "Ezekiel 25:17" from "The Bible."
One such scene included an apartment shootout involving the two hitmen played by Jackson and Travolta. However, the eagle-eyed viewers could spot bullet holes in the wall behind them before any shots were fired, as seen in this still. Nonetheless, the movie was a hit and is rated eighth on the "IMDb Top 250 movies" list.
Aladdin - Sebastian's Cameo
Disney fans would best know both these characters in the still shown here. While Genie was a character in the animated film "Aladdin," Sebastian was from "The Little Mermaid." However, people who've watched the former movie in detail would know that Sebastian does make a cameo in it while Genie pulls out a few tricks from his cookbook.
Now, Disney is well known for its Easter eggs and puts in a few now and then in its films. Genie's character was voiced by the famous comedian and actor Robin Williams and was a great success globally. ''Aladdin'' was also critically acclaimed and received two Oscars.
Dirty Dancing - The Climatic Lift
This is another unique moment in film history that was most paused. While others had Easter eggs or sensual moments that the fans loved, this scene in the movie "Dirty Dancing" was viewed repeatedly by dancing students or enthusiasts who wanted to learn to perfect this movie, i.e., "the lift."
This scene comes near the film's end when Patrick Swayze lifts Jennifer Grey during their final dance. One that they had prepared for all summer. It follows a little speech by Swayze's character telling his counterpart that she'd made him a better person. All in all, the ending was dramatic and made even better with the climatic lift.
The Seven Year Itch - Marilyn's Iconic Dress
Marilyn Monroe is an actress popular for a very short-lived career. However, her beauty made a scene in one of her movies probably the most popular in Hollywood history. Even the people who haven't watched her comedy titled "The Seven Year Itch" would have likely seen this poster hanging on walls and being shared over the internet.
As iconic as this still is, it was inspired by a '40s magazine photoshoot according to Biography.com. Photographer Sam Shaw decided to replicate that as a scene for this movie. This happens when the wind coming from the subway blows Monroe's dress over her knees while she acts playful about it.
The Matrix - The Iconic Bullet Dodge
This scene was probably 'the one' that made the 1999 sci-fi "Matrix" a must-watch after the studio included it in the trailers. The climatic fight scene between the protagonist Neo and the villain has Neo using all of his powers for a great action sequence, including this iconic bullet dodge.
While the antagonist fires several bullets at him, our hero dodges them by making a move reminiscent of the limbo dance. He does get hit by the last two shots while he calls one of his alliances for help. This sequence was created using CGI and special effects, and viewers frequently paused at this scene to examine it.
Not Another Teen Movie - Multiple Scenes
Chris Evans famously played Captain America in the MCU "Avengers" and "Captain America" film series. However, he wasn't as famous before and did a range of other films, including this comedy spoof movie named "Not Another Teen Movie," which takes on several scenes from other popular rom-com hits.
The obvious sensual theme, as well as some of the most iconic references from Hollywood history throughout the film, made fans pause in multiple scenes. A few great moments in the movie included one with Evans' chest covered in cream topped in cherries and the iconic Marilyn Monroe still from "The Seven Year Itch," among many others.
Zootopia - Disney Soundtrack (Animal Versions)
This moment only appears briefly in "Zootopia." The Disney film released in the mid-2010s featured animals that acted like they were living as humans, primarily focussing on the story of a rabbit detective and a con-artist fox working on a case together. The family movie is fun to watch.
In this particular scene, we see the screen of a character's iPod, with the animal version names of a few Disney soundtracks. For example, "Ara-bunny Nights" is a name for the classic "Arabian Nights," which was in "Aladdin," whereas "Let It Goat" is a spoof name for "Let It Go" from the movie "Frozen,'' sung originally by Idina Menzel.
The Godfather - The Horse Head
"The Godfather" films were head turners and had people watch reruns despite having long runtimes. Stunning direction and acting made these iconic and to be written down in Hollywood history as few of the best films ever released. One scene, in particular, had viewers pausing over and over again.
This particular moment involved a person waking up to find his favorite horse's head severed and placed beside him in his bed. The filmmakers used a prop head for rehearsals until the props department bought the real one for the final takes. People couldn't believe it was true and had to pause to make sure.