Top 10 Recent Movie Moments That Are Already Legendary
#10: Keanu Reeves
“Always Be My Maybe” (2019)
The internet loves them some Keanu Reeves. And suffice to say, almost no one expected him to show up in a Netflix rom-com. In “Always Be My Maybe,” Reeves plays a pretentious version of himself, serving as the new boyfriend of Sasha Tran. The actor took a short break from shooting “John Wick 3” to be in the movie, and he even offered Randall Park some ideas for the credits song, “I Punched Keanu Reeves.” He also improvised with the other actors, and it was he who decided to wear lensless glasses. Reeves helped elevate the already-great movie, and the internet was left in sheer delight. It’s one of the best and most surprising cameos in recent cinema memory.
#9: Music Across Generations
“Sinners” (2025)
As one of the most successful original movies in years, “Sinners” made waves in general. However, it’s this musical moment that has gotten the internet talking. Sammie “Preacher Boy” Moore plays his blues song at his cousins’ juke joint. As he plays and the crowd dances, the camera moves among them in one incredibly executed long take, and arguably the movie’s centerpiece. Older blues player Delta Slim’s words about the power of music prove prophetic, as not only are tribal musicians from Africa present, but also rappers, hip hop artists, and other genre artists yet to come. The moment encapsulates not only how incredible music can be in the moment, but also how styles build upon each other and move people, regardless of time period.
#8: Dance Off “RRR” (2022)
A historical Indian buddy action movie seems an unlikely global success, but “RRR” proved appealing internationally. While there are many standout scenes, this dance number positively blew up. When friends Ram and Bheem are put down by an arrogant Englishman, they decide to show him up through dance. The dance and accompanying song, “Naatu Naatu,” not only got the rest of the party joining in, but the internet too! The original has drawn hundreds of millions of views on YouTube and TikTok, and received plenty of imitators. The toe-tappingly catchy number also proved successful with many award shows. Much like Bheem at the end of it, the scene left its competition in the dust.
#7: “Make Your Own Kind of Music”
“The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent” (2022)
This extremely metafictional movie in which Nicolas Cage meets Javi, a superfan of his played by Pedro Pascal, is full of grade-A meme fodder. However, one of its most outlandish scenes naturally became the biggest. In their attempt to write a movie together, Cage and Javi take LSD, hoping for some inspiration. Cut to the duo driving on the road while Mama Cass’s “Make Your Own Kind of Music” plays. Cage’s unimpressed expression contrasts hilariously with Pascal’s joyful smile. That delightful disparity has led to plenty of viral memes on YouTube and TikTok alike. They certainly have us singing their praises, “even if nobody else sings along.”
#6: “We Don’t Talk About Bruno”
“Encanto” (2021)
The Madrigal family’s musical number about the clan’s black sheep, Bruno, is a certified megahit. Not only is it absurdly catchy and well-choreographed, it also blends together various styles. We’ve already talked about how big Disney songs can be, but even knowing that, nobody was prepared for this song’s success - least of all the filmmakers, who didn’t even nominate it for an Oscar. “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” topped Billboard charts for a month in multiple countries. The song’s success was just as incredible online, with fan recreations and tributes galore! Despite its title, nobody could shut up about Bruno!
#5: The Argument
“Marriage Story” (2019)
Like “Parasite,” “Marriage Story” isn’t the type of movie to go viral. But it did, thanks primarily to the proliferation of Netflix and the incredible cast. The memes also helped. In the movie’s most famous sequence, Nicole and Charlie enter into a vicious argument that eventually has Charlie wishing that Nicole would die. The scene garnered instant attention, with the internet at large praising the performances of Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver. Driver’s red, screaming face became the de facto image of the movie, and the scene gave rise to a four-panel meme that ended with Driver punching the wall. And therein lies the power of good acting.
#4: The Stairway Dance
“Joker” (2019)
The stairway dance is unique and fun enough to elicit thousands of copycats, and it was filmed in a real location. Like the famous “Rocky” steps, this scene was just begging to be copied over and over and over and over again. The stairs are located in the Bronx, New York, and are located near the 167th Street station. They are now crowded with tourists, many of whom recreate the Joker’s bizarre dance down the steps - some of them dressed in Joker attire themselves. Its legacy is yet to be seen, but like the “Rocky” steps, we wouldn’t be surprised if fans are recreating this scene 40 years into the future.
#3: The Peters Return
“Spider-Man: No Way Home” (2021)
The degree of hype around this movie was absolutely unreal. After it was revealed that previous Spider-Man villains were coming back, naturally we all hoped that actors who played Spider-Man himself would come back as well. The trailers confirming it didn’t calm things down - they in fact, “calmed up.” And in the film proper, every interaction between the different Peters and each getting their own moment to shine or at redemption, only got the internet even more excited. This was a level of fan service we never thought to expect, but we’re thankful to have received.
#2: Rick Dalton Points at the TV
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” (2019)
You never really know what the internet will get a hold of. One scene in Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” sees Rick and Cliff watching one of Rick’s old TV shows. While lounging in his chair, Rick sits up, snaps, and points at the TV to signal his upcoming appearance. The internet thought that this was just the funniest thing, and a new meme was born. The meme began on Twitter before spreading to Reddit and the other reaches of the internet and is typically used to display recognition. Dozens upon dozens of examples have been made, each with a screenshot of Rick (or in the meme’s case, the writer) pointing at the TV in excitement.
#1: Iron Man Snap
“Avengers: Endgame” (2019)
This movie was more than ten years in the making, and the results certainly did not disappoint - both in movie terms and the resulting cultural impact. At the very end of the film, Tony Stark taunts Thanos and snaps his fingers, resulting in the deaths of both Thanos and Tony himself. To say that this moment broke the internet would be a massive understatement. It’s all anyone talked about in the weeks to follow, the snap itself became a major cultural moment, and people even synched the scene to New Year's countdowns. For many, the MCU will be a defining point in their moviegoing lives. And this served as the perfect culmination.
Did we miss any of your favourite recent movie moments? Let us know in the comments!
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