Top 10 Unexpected Singing Moments in Non-Musical Movies

Love can make you do crazy things. For Heath Ledger, that means serenading Julia Stiles in front of everyone from the football stands. While he gets some assistance from the school band, his rendition of Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You” is charming enough to make any girl swoon. He ends up getting arrested for his efforts, but who doesn’t love a bad boy with a soft side?

Isn’t it great when you burst spontaneously into song and everyone around you not only knows the words, but decides to join in as well? Rupert Everett’s musical, albeit fictional, account of how he and Julia Roberts got together is easily the highlight of this rom-com. Other members of the table soon join in before the entire restaurant begins clapping along. Amazingly, this doesn’t blow the cover of the fake relationship, although Roberts looks like she would give anything to be somewhere else.

How do you pass the time on a road trip? For Derek and his family, you perform an a cappella rendition of “Sweet Child O’ Mine”. Remarkably, they sound pretty impressive together, with everyone hitting their notes except for Alice, Derek’s wife. Although for $1200 a week for voice lessons, we’d hope they’d sound good. If you are going to try this with your family, we recommend that the driver focus on the road rather than how high he can sing.

We are looking at the best unexpected singing moments, not performances, which is why Evan makes our list for his version of “These Eyes” by The Guess Who. While far from Grammy worthy, we challenge you to come up with a better performance when being forced into singing by a bunch of drugged-up adults. It works, however, as the guys totally believe that Evan is “Jimmy’s brother, the one with the beautiful voice”, and even start singing along.

We didn’t say they were all gonna be fun sing-a-longs. This scene proved just how disturbed Alex DeLarge and his gang were, as they mercilessly torture a couple during a home invasion. Alex sings and dances to “Singin’ in the Rain” as he tapes the woman’s mouth closed, brutally kicks her husband, and trashes the entire room. He then proceeds to rape her as her restrained husband watches on helplessly. This scene could not be more different from Gene Kelly’s version in the musical film.

Despite all their tough talk and overt masculinity, the guys from the Channel 4 News Team become incredibly jealous of Ron when he declares that he is in love with Veronica Corningstone. When they ask him what being in love is like, Ron responds the only way he knows how – by breaking into song. The guys soon join in and create a beautiful harmony of “Afternoon Delight”. Their voices blend remarkably well, proving that this news team is capable of anything.

How far would you go to pick up a girl at a bar? This scene not only proves how far Maverick is willing to go to get lucky, but how Goose is easily the best wingman in history. As the two begin to serenade Charlie with “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’”, the rest of the bar quickly joins in. The ploy works, as Charlie is impressed his creativity. Of course, the joke is on Maverick when he later discovers that she is actually a Top Gun instructor.

What is the best way to cool tensions? A group sing-a-long to Elton John, of course. At least, this method seems to work for the band Stillwater. Everyone associated with the band is a bit on edge following a rough few days of arguments, failed shows, and drug episodes. While sitting in silence on the tour bus, Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer” plays in the background, and one by one each member begins to sing along before the entire bus shouts out the chorus.

In show biz, the show must go on. Things look a little bleak, however, when Marvin Berry injures his hand and is unable to play the guitar. Luckily, Marty McFly steps in. Upon seeing his mother and father happily together, he gives a phenomenal performance of “Johnny B. Goode”, which the crowd loves, until he begins to mimic other famous guitar heroes, leading to an out-of-control solo that leaves the band and the crowd speechless.

Before we unveil our number one pick, here are a few honorable mentions:

Mockingbird
“Dumb and Dumber” (1994)

Baby, It’s Cold Outside
“Elf” (2003)

Somebody to Love
“The Cable Guy” (1996)

Puttin’ On the Ritz
“Young Frankenstein” (1974)

You Always Hurt the One You Love
“Blue Valentine” (2010)

What do you get when you mix Wayne, Garth, and Queen? Pure gold. This movie and particular scene were so popular that they actually propelled “Bohemian Rhapsody” to #2 on the Billboard singles charts almost 2 decades after it was originally released. The boys hit all the high notes before rocking out with intense head banging and air drums. And, to top it off, unlike Derek in “Step Brothers”, they manage to keep the car on the road!

Do you agree with our list? What is your favorite unexpected singing moment in film? For more musical Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.