Top 9 movie/TV scenes that went off the script
Bill WilsonWhat is movie magic? Sometimes it’s a masterful screenplay. Sometimes it’s a director’s special touch, or perfect casting. Sometimes movie magic isn’t planned at all. Whether due to creative improv or complete accidents, some of the best scenes in film and TV happened by sheer chance. Today, we celebrate the top nine movie and television scenes that went off the script. Get ready to re-watch some of your favorite onscreen moments with even more appreciation.
Set in the year 1936, famed archaeologist and adventurer Indiana Jones must locate the legendary Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis can obtain it.
Off-Script Magic: During a wild chase through the street markets of Cairo, Indiana Jones encounters a fierce, sword-wielding bad guy. After the bad guy showcases some impressive sword handling skills, a tired Indiana Jones calmly pulls out his revolver and shoots him. Originally, the two were supposed to engage in a whip vs. sword fight. However, after Harrison Ford fell ill from a bad case of food poisoning, Steven Spielberg decided to change the scene.
Will Hunting, a brilliant but wayward M.I.T janitor, agrees to go to therapy and help a mathematics professor to keep himself out of jail.
Off-Script Magic: Will Hunting’s therapist, Sean Maguire, tells a personal story involving his late wife’s unusual farting habits. The funny yet intimate story makes Will uncontrollably laugh. Surprisingly, the entire story was made up on the spot. Not only did Matt Damon genuinely laugh, but the cameraman giggled, causing the frame to shake a tiny bit.
After receiving a job as a winter caretaker, Jack Torrance takes his family to an isolated hotel in the Colorado mountains. During their stay, sinister forces of the hotel gradually influence Jack to attack his family.
Off-Script Magic: After Jack Torrance chops his way through the bathroom door, he sticks his head through the splintered opening and yells, “Here’s Johnny!” Believe it or not, Jack Nicholson improvised the line, inspired by Ed McMahon’s catchphrase on the Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
A lunatic general uses a back-door mechanism to launch a nuclear attack on the Soviet Union. Meanwhile, in the Pentagon War Room, key personal frantically try to stop the attack.
Off-Script Magic: Although Dr. Strangelove is bound to a wheelchair, the nuclear scientist unexpectedly stands up at the end of the film and declares, “Mein Fuhrer, I can walk!” The stellar scene is a famous flub — Peter Sellers forgot his character was disabled.
Casablanca (1942) | Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu, FandangoNOW, Redbox.
A cynical nightclub owner Rick Blaine decides if he should help his former lover and her resistance leader husband flee from Nazi-occupied Casablanca.
Off-Script Magic: Before Rick’s former lover leaves Casablanca, Rick tells her “Here’s looking at you, kid.” Although the American Film Institute lists this line as the fifth most memorable movie quote, the line wasn’t in the script. Bogart used this phrase while teaching Bergman how to play poker between takes.
Pretty Woman (1990) | Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu, FandangoNOW, Sling.
Ruthless businessman Edward Lewis travels to Los Angeles for a business trip. Edward decides to visit the city’s red-light district and hires a local escort Vivian Ward to accompany him to social events and business meetings.
Off-Script Magic: When Edward Lewis presents Vivian Ward with an expensive diamond necklace, she cautiously reaches out for it. Unexpectedly, Edward quickly snaps the jewelry box shut, causing Vivian to burst out laughing. The famous scene was an improvised playful moment between Richard Gere and Julia Roberts. The director felt Julia’s laugh was so genuine he kept it in the film.
Puppeteer Craig Schwartz is down on his luck until he discovers a hidden portal that leads him into the mind of actor John Malkovich.
Off-Script Magic: As John Malkovich wanders by the side of a road, a car approaches with a man hanging out the window. The man yells, “Hey Malkovich! Think fast!” The man whips a beer can off John’s head, causing John to yell out in pain. The hilarious beer can encounter was not in the script —the extra was just acting on a moment of drunken inspiration. While most people would assume a lawsuit would quickly follow, director Spike Jonze thought the scene was brilliant. Instead of firing the extra, the director gave him a raise.
Bored of her sheltered existence, European princess Ann escapes from her guardians and enjoys a night out in Rome. During her time out, she runs into American reporter Joe Bradley. It doesn’t take long before the two fall in love.
Off-Script Magic: When Joe puts his hand inside the Mouth of Truth, he pretends it was bitten off, scaring Ann half to death. Gregory Peck improvised the cute moment, inspired by a Red Skelton comedy bit. Audrey Hepburn wasn’t in on the gag – her priceless reaction is completely genuine.
Django Unchained (2012) | Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu, FandangoNOW, Redbox.
Set in the late 1850s, German dentist turned bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz buys the freedom of slave Django to help him identify several wanted men. During their bounty hunter quests, the two form a friendship and devise a plan to rescue Django’s wife from ruthless plantation owner Calvin Candy.
Off-Script Magic: After Calvin Candy discovers Schultz and Django were attempting to scam him, Calvin slams his hand against a table, cutting it open. The cut was an accident, but Leonardo DiCaprio decided to keep acting anyway. Despite the blood, he finished the scene to a standing ovation from the cast and crew. The moment was simply too good to cut out.
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