Top 10 Running Out of Time Scenes in Movies
Driving tension in climactic scenes these characters were racing against time in their respective movies! WatchMojo presents top 10 scenes where a characters is running out of time! But what will take the top spot on our list? Batman's choice in the Dark Knight, attack of the pale man in Pan's Labyrinth, or the clock tower scene from back to the future? Watch to find out!
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#10: Neo Phone Home “The Matrix” (1999)
Top 10 Running Out Of Time Movies
The final act of this mind-bending flick is a non-stop adrenaline rush, as Neo rushes to escape from the virtual world before Sentinels destroy the Nebuchadnezzar in the real world. Just when it looks like Neo has found a phone, Agent Smith suddenly confronts him with a gun. Shot down, it appears that our hero has run out of time. Even as the ship is torn apart, Trinity refuses to give up on the love of her life; she brings him back with a kiss and Neo proves himself to be the One. “The Matrix Reloaded” follows suit with its own climax. This time, though, Neo must race to save Trinity before she literally bites the bullet.
#9: Time’s Up “Independence Day” (1996)
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From the trailer, we all knew that the White House would blow up eventually. Nevertheless, the film’s first act still does a great job at building up a sense of impending doom. As flying saucers invade the Earth, the audience eagerly waits to see when the aliens will strike. David Levinson soon figures out the precise second when the aliens will declare checkmate, resulting in a race to warn the president. Our heroes manage to beat the clock, but there’s not enough time to save everyone. What ensues is one of the most epic explosions in blockbuster history. The humans getting their revenge on the alien mothership is a close second though.
#8: Claiming the Holy Grail “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” (1989)
When Henry Jones is left fatally wounded, only the Holy Grail can heal him. Luckily, his treasure-hunting son has a knack for getting out of sticky situations. Indiana Jones needs to complete three tasks as his father’s life hangs in the balance. These inventive booby traps not only test Indy’s agility and brains, but his faith as well. Indy’s love for his father motivates him to push forward and he claims the Grail in the nick of time. Even after saving his dad, Indy doesn’t have time to catch his breath. As the temple collapses, he must make a difficult choice between riches and family. But in a touching conclusion, our hero chooses wisely.
#7: Two Missiles “Superman” (1978)
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Superman might be faster than a speeding bullet, but he can’t be in two places at once. Lex Luthor pushes the Man of Steel to his limits in this gripping sequence, launching two nuclear missiles in opposite directions. Superman prevents one rocket from wiping out the East Coast while the other strikes the West Coast. He’s still able to do some damage control, but tragically can’t reach a suffocating Lois Lane in time. Holding Lois’ dead body, Superman must accept the sad fact that even he can’t save everybody… unless he just spins the world back to reverse time. Too bad the other characters on this list don’t have that luxury.
#6: Racing Home “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” (1986)
Although Ferris Bueller is the most laidback kid in school, he still has his moments of desperation. As his day off comes to an end, the carefree high schooler must hurry home before his parents and sister. This sequence is wonderfully staged and the energizing music only adds to the excitement. Director John Hughes also injects a ton of comedy into the mix, particularly when Ferris stops to introduce himself to a couple of sunbathing babes. After several close calls, Ferris finally makes it to his backdoor. Unfortunately, the slimy Edward Rooney is waiting for him. Just as Ferris is at a loss for words, so is the audience. Good thing Jeannie has her bro’s back.
#5: Emergency Destruct System “Alien” (1979)
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Realizing that there’s nowhere to run and nowhere to hide, the Nostromo crew decides to blow up their ship along with the lethal alien inside. Things don’t exactly go according to plan, however. After Ripley commences the self-destruct sequence, the Xenomorph blocks her way to the escape shuttle. Despite her best efforts, Ripley can’t shut the sequence down. The good news is that the alien has seemingly disappeared, allowing her to board the shuttle with no time to spare. Intense, claustrophobic, and haunting, this scene creates a genuine sense of panic and will leave your heart pounding until the very last second. As the Nostromo explodes, Ripley can finally rest easy… or can she?
#4: That Was One in a Million “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope” (1977)
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While the garbage compactor scene gave us pins and needles, the climactic battle from “A New Hope” took the suspense to another level. With limited time on the clock, our heroes only have one shot at striking the Death Star’s main reactor. The tension continues to build as the Rebels’ X-wings drop like flies and Darth Vader gets in on the action. It all comes down to young Luke Skywalker, who decides to let the Force guide him. With a little help from Han Solo, he’s able to blow up the planet-sized weapon and go home. Visually stunning, exquisitely paced, and beautifully scored by John Williams, this iconic scene leaves us at the edge of our seats every time.
#3: Batman’s Choice “The Dark Knight” (2008)
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The Joker aspires to tear Gotham apart by presenting people with impossible choices that typically involve ticking time bombs. Although his social experiment aboard two ferryboats raised a fascinating ethical dilemma, this race against the clock was even more dramatically compelling. With Rachel and Harvey set to blow up in separate locations at the same time, the Dark Knight goes after the woman he loves. The Joker’s deceit ultimately leads Batman to Harvey, however. Meanwhile, the police are unable to get to Rachel in time. Where the other entries on this list mostly end on a triumphant note, this harrowing scene demonstrates that the flow of time is cruel, as is the Joker.
#2: Pale Man Attacks “Pan’s Labyrinth” (2006)
Given a simple task, Ofelia just needs to retrieve a dagger from the Pale Man’s lair. She can’t resist the forbidden fruit on the table, though, awakening the dreaded child eater. Seeing the Pale Man come to life and devour two fairies is already nerve-racking. What makes this sequence especially frightening, however, is that Ofelia only has seconds to escape before the door home closes. Although the hourglass runs out, Ofelia manages to draw a new gateway just as the monster closes in on her. Our young protagonist might get away in one piece, but it’s safe to say that the audience has been scarred for life – particularly any children who may have thought this was a family friendly fantasy. Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: Losing Body Parts “Looper” (2012) Defusing the Bomb “The Hurt Locker” (2008) Limo Chase “True Lies” (1994)
#1: The Clock Tower “Back to the Future” (1985)
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It’s only fitting that time would play a crucial role in the climax of “Back to the Future.” Stuck in 1955, Marty McFly can only return home if he lines up his mobile time machine with a bolt of lightning while driving 88 mph. The stakes are raised as Doc Brown’s cables come undone and the DeLorean stalls. On top of all that, the audience is genuinely invested in seeing Marty get back to 1985 in order to save the Doc’s life. But, as this IS a family friendly fantasy, everything perfectly falls into place at the very last second. Much like the train chase from “Back to the Future Part III,” this stimulating scene will have you cheering in your seat and then sighing with relief.
