Top 30 Exact Scenes an Actor Became a Legend

#30: Sigourney Weaver

“Aliens” (1986)

In space, no one can hear you scream. But, in the dark, stars glow even brighter. Yes, we’re talking about Sigourney Weaver, the horror legend and Oscar nominee herself. At a time when performances in horror films weren’t always treated with the respect they deserved, Weaver elevated the whole genre as the badass of all badasses, Ellen Ripley. Her work throughout the whole series is exemplary. But, her real crowning moment comes in the climax of the sequel, when she defeats a xenomorph, saves Newt, and delivers one of cinema’s greatest lines. If Sigourney Weaver wasn’t on your radar before “Aliens,” she definitely was after.

#29: Alan Rickman

“Die Hard” (1988)

Now, who has the machine gun? No, we aren’t talking about the guy who says “Yippee-Ki-Yay.” Although, this was definitely a turning point for Bruce Willis’ career (xref). Still, the real scene stealer is none other than Alan Rickman. A veteran of the stage, “Die Hard” was his film debut, not that you’d notice. He commands the screen as early as his very first scene, introducing himself to the hostages with a kind of chilling menace you won’t find anywhere else. Rickman’s mesmerizing work as Hans Gruber turned him into a household name practically overnight, and all you need to do is watch that first scene to understand why.

#28: James Dean

“Rebel Without a Cause” (1955)

Hot off an Academy Award nomination, Hollywood golden boy James Dean used this star vehicle to cement his place in cinematic history. To say he succeeded would be understatement. There’s a reason “Rebel Without a Cause” has one of film’s most iconic quotes, after all, and the reason is James Dean. Effortlessly embodying the very core of teen angst, Dean commits to his character with a performance that leaves your jaw on the floor. The highlight, of course, comes alongside a certain iconic quote. It sounds overdramatic, but Dean’s physicality completely sells the weight of the line, and established him as a true generational trailblazer.

#27: Jack Nicholson

“One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest” (1975)

Back in 1975, suggesting Jack Nicholson for the role of Randle McMurphy may have earned you under the care of Nurse Ratched. He competed with bigger names, the character went against his usual type, and casting him would delay shooting by six months. But, the world series scene shows why it was oh, so worth it. To raise the inmates spirits, Nicholson acts out the baseball game for them. He oozes charisma with each line, to the point you simply can’t take your eyes off him. We’d go as far as saying this is the scene that won him the Oscar - alongside a legacy as an absolute all-timer.

#26: Sissy Spacek

“Carrie” (1976)

It’s something of a cliche to say the best actors can convey emotion with just their eyes. But, then you see someone like Sissy Spacek in “Carrie,” and you realize that’s no exaggeration. In the famous third act of this horror film, the telekinetic teen finally gets revenge. The result is chaos incarnate, masterfully brought to life by Spacek. The most impressive part? She barely utters a word the entire scene, instead letting her wide-eyed stare do all the talking. It’s haunting, powerful, and earned her a well-deserved Oscar nomination. While Spacek has seen plenty of success since, there’s no denying it’s her blood-stained Prom Night that put her on the map.

#25: Toni Collette

“Hereditary” (2018)

We know, we know. Toni Collette has been a star for years, turning in dozens of criminally underrated performances. And yet, her work in “Hereditary” is what finally made the rest of the world take notice. Collette is a force of nature as Annie, a grieving woman untangling deep layers of mourning and resentment. Every tiny detail of her performance is breathtaking. But, it’s the scene where Annie boils over at dinner that really showed Collettes range. It’s explosive and utterly commanding. While we’re still mad she didn’t get more awards love, Collette can rest easy knowing her work in “Hereditary” will be remembered for years to come.

#24: Heath Ledger

“The Dark Knight” (2008)

In one scene, a former heartthrob proved all the naysayers wrong, became one of cinema’s greatest villains, and earned more praise than most actors win in a lifetime. His name was Heath Ledger. Stepping out of his leading man roles, he created a version of the Joker that’s unnerving to this very day. It singlehandedly proved that Ledger was more than a pretty face - he was a true performer, and a gifted one at that. It’s even more astounding considering how many actors have played the Joker before and after. Still, it’s Ledger’s take that continues to reign supreme above them all.

#23: Charlize Theron

“Monster” (2003)

The jury has reached a verdict: Charlize Theron is a once-in-a-lifetime powerhouse in “Monster.” Yeah, that’s Charlize Theron. The conventional beauty is almost completely unrecognizable, allowing her to fully step into the life of convicted serial killer Aileen Wuornos. Theron’s work comes to a head in the courtroom finale, where Aileen lets her friend testify, exonerating them while dooming Aileen. She goes through so many emotions here, and Theron allows you to see and feel each and every one. It’s the kind of scene they’ll teach in acting school for generations. Not because of what’s said, but because of how much isn’t.

#22: Robert De Niro

“Taxi Driver” (1976)

Once upon a time, someone put an actor in front of a mirror, and let them work. No one could have expected they’d come up with one of film’s greatest scenes. But, then again, this is Robert De Niro we’re talking about. In a lesser actor’s hands, a guy strutting his stuff in a mirror could have been a throwaway moment. De Niro capitalized on it, though, improvising his way to a monologue that’s still quoted today. It’s so ingrained in pop-culture that, at this point, we can’t imagine what “Taxi Driver” or De Niro would look like without it. And yes, we’re talking to you.

#21: Arnold Schwarzenegger

“The Terminator” (1984)

Most of the time, calling a performance “robotic” would be a harrowing criticism. For Arnold Schwarzenegger, it was the highest kind of praise. After all, he’s a Terminator. Schwarzenegger certainly has the physicality for it. However, it was in an innocuous police station that he really took the part above and beyond. In fact, he did it with a single, famous line. The tone, the delivery, the utter absurdity of it all. It’s just magnificent. It’s so good, the line singlehandedly elevated him from a flat musclehead into a true, iconic actor in his own right. If you ask us, he can come back as many times as he wants!

#20: Melissa McCarthy

“Bridesmaids” (2011)

The moment we meet Megan, we know this is going to be someone who says some of the most out-of-pocket stuff you can possibly imagine. Her swagger and way of wielding words like a hammer is made believable because of Melissa McCarthy. She is the kind of actress who can make even the wildest of dialogue feel real and grounded whilst remaining unbelievably funny. While McCarthy had made her mark as a character actress before this, “Bridesmaids” made her a bankable star. Her work in the movie was so game-changing that it’s one of the few broad comedic performances to get an Oscar nomination.

#19: Humphrey Bogart

“The Maltese Falcon” (1941)

Gruff-voiced and cruel-looking doesn’t describe your typical movie star. Yet few actors exemplify classic Hollywood cool like Humphrey Bogart. In 1941’s “The Maltese Falcon,” he starred as author Dashiell Hammett’s private eye Sam Spade, and helped create some of the hallmarks of the hardboiled detective for the screen. His callous demeanor and skeptical gaze makes him hard to look away from. As he scans the femme fatale played by Mary Astor, we know he doesn’t believe her story, we just don't know which parts. Bogart immediately establishes himself as a guy you can trust despite his exterior, and one you want on your side when there’s trouble. It’s the kind of character that made him an icon.

#18: Christian Bale

“American Psycho” (2000)

There’s another time where this actor became a song and dance man. Actually, that time was the 90s when Christian Bale was an original Newsie in Disney’s cult classic musical. But it wouldn’t be until his villainous turn as the murderous Wall Street broker in this satire of masculine excess that he proved he was one of the greats. His haunting narration and physical dedication to Patrick Bateman’s morning routine is as sharp and witty as it is horrifying. But the journey Bale takes us on is thrilling. We get from what sounds like a simple skin care routine to the terrifying truth that this man is basically inhuman in just under three minutes of screentime.

#17: Gene Wilder

“Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” (1971)

The eccentric chocolatier’s first entrance was actually the actor’s own idea. Gene Wilder’s exactitude as a performer is perfectly captured in this moment, when Willy Wonka suddenly leaves his cane behind, falls over, and tumbles into a somersault. Wilder knew it would be spectacular, but it would also serve a deeper purpose. Wonka is a man who constantly throws you off the scent, and you can never know from then on if he’s lying. He was right. The first time we meet Wonka, we’re rightfully confused and we really never stop. There’s a reason why it’s the role most people think of when they think of him.

#16: Sidney Poitier

“No Way Out” (1950)

Throughout the 1950s and 60s, this star of “To Sir, with Love” and “In the Heat of the Night” broke barriers in representation for African Americans. An early and undersung example is his 1950 film debut, “No Way Out”. In it, Poitier plays Dr. Luther Brooks, the first Black doctor at a county hospital. There, he endures skepticism to downright racist abuse from everyone, patients, colleagues, and cops. These first scenes have a lot to establish. Dr. Brooks is acknowledged as an anomaly. Like the actor playing him, he is a trailblazer. That opens him up to both abuse and praise. This dignity under pressure became Poitier’s secret weapon in this and many of his more famous roles.

#15: Julie Andrews

“Mary Poppins” (1964)

When the Tony nominee was passed up for the big screen adaptation of “My Fair Lady”, a role she originated on Broadway, it left her free to make her big screen debut for Walt Disney. Though it’s her first film, Julie Andrews’ stormed the screen like a seasoned pro in “Mary Poppins”. Her entrance into the lives of the Banks family is a whirlwind of magic, efficiency, and charm that climaxes in one of the movie’s most memorable numbers. By the time she launches into “Spoonful of Sugar”, you’re as charmed and puzzled as the family themselves.

#14: Julia Roberts

“Pretty Woman” (1990)

Although she raised her profile as the doomed southern belle Shelby in “Steel Magnolias” the year before, Julia Roberts’ entire star persona was born in 1990’s “Pretty Woman.” The first time we see her, she’s walking the streets of Hollywood in a blonde bob wig and a dream. Her street smarts combined with a desire to leave her life as a sex worker behind as soon as it’s economically possible immediately tells us who she is. From the jump, Julia Roberts had the right amount of sass and vulnerability to make us root for her every time.

#13: Angela Bassett

“What’s Love Got to Do with It” (1993)

We’re introduced to Tina Turner three times in this beloved but intense biopic. We first meet her as a child named Anna Mae Bullock in Tennessee, as a shy young woman joining her mother and sister in the big city, and finally as the brilliant entertainer Tina Turner. Angela Bassett won us over with Anna Mae’s shyness. But it’s the scene ten minutes in when she first takes the mic in a blues bar and shows us the first inklings of the woman who will become Tina. The physicality, the strength, and the radiance we all know Turner for is suddenly there for the first time. Bassett completely transforms before our eyes.

#12: Samuel L. Jackson

“Pulp Fiction” (1994)

Quentin Tarantino’s crime masterpiece revitalized John Travolta’s career, but it cemented his co-star Samuel L. Jackson as one of Hollywood’s best working actors. After making several films with director Spike Lee, Jackson took on what many consider his most iconic role in Quentin Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction”. His Oscar-nominated performance as a hitman who has a religious experience during a job sees him delivering one of the best monologues in film history. Trying to put the fear of God into a man who’s betrayed his boss, Jackson’s Jules Winnfield paraphrases the Bible before unleashing a rain of bullets like a plague on the guy. It’s a brutal and stunning introduction.

#11: Judy Garland

“The Wizard of Oz” (1939)

The first sequence of this all-time musical fantasy shows a young girl dreaming to escape from the drab, sepia-toned mundanity of her family’s Kansas farm. Judy Garland plays Dorothy Gale, the girl who’s magically transported to the Land of Oz. From the moment she began singing the movie’s unforgettable ballad, the movie became an all-time classic and she became a true star. MGM had spent the late 30s putting Garland in star vehicles, but it was “The Wizard of Oz” that shot her to new heights. When people think of her, they largely think of this role and this scene.

#10: Meryl Streep

“Kramer vs. Kramer” (1979)

The perennial award winner earned her first Oscar for this, one of her first film appearances. In “Kramer vs. Kramer”, she plays the deeply unhappy wife of Dustin Hoffman's character. Her very first scene is a masterclass in showing and not telling. Although she starts out her performance as Joanna Kramer with an icy, even dead-eyed glare, Streep quickly reveals the character's hidden depths. We watch in real time as her matter-of-fact explanations as to why she's leaving her husband turn into panic. Her desperation is haunting to watch. It's a perfect first scene that proves to be only the beginning for one of our greatest actors.

#9: Matthew McConaughey

“Dazed and Confused” (1993)

20-something burnout Wooderson was supposed to play a much smaller role in the narrative of Richard Linklater's coming-of-age movie. Newcomer Matthew McConaughey's performance saw the character bumped to a more prominent position throughout Dazed and Confused. Wooderson first appears as the driver who picks up high schoolers Pink and Mitch for a night drive. He then asks them for a certain herb. It's simultaneously hilarious and a little sad that he's trying to bum some illicit substances from teenagers. Wooderson made McConaughey a star, and this one scene tells us everything we need to know about Wooderson himself.

#8: John Travolta

“Saturday Night Fever” (1977)

The transition from TV to films is not always easy to make. John Travolta made it look easy when he first appeared as Saturday Night Fever’s disco-dancing lothario, Tony Manero. When we first meet Tony, he is strutting across the city in his platform shoes to the infectious beat of the Bee Gees. With his leather jacket, dark red shirt, flared collar, and unrefined manners, he pretty much exemplifies late 70s masculinity. He may be a dancer, but it doesn't make him any less blunt, masculine, or even callous in his pursuit of women, nice shoes, and a New York slice.

#7: Viola Davis

“Doubt” (2008)

Movie audiences might have first encountered Viola Davis in this 2008 drama, but the Juilliard-trained actress was already a Broadway veteran and Tony Award winner by then. After Doubt, they would never forget her. She shares an explosive ten-minute section of the story with Meryl Streep, of all people, and almost runs away with the whole movie. As a mother who learns a devastating secret about the parish priest, Davis’ performance is confusing, disturbing, and deeply moving. We see her not only match pace with Streep, but leave a gigantic impact on a movie that is already really, really complicated.

#6: Barbra Streisand

“Funny Girl” (1968)

Reprising the Broadway role that made her famous, the velvet-voiced star is first seen stalking the backstage of Manhattan's New Amsterdam Theatre in a striking leopard print coat. The first time we see Barbra Streisand's face on screen, it's as Fanny Brice, looking into a mirror and saying the words that have now become immortal. But she's being sarcastic. This is the paradox of the movie made instantly clear. Throughout the movie, Fanny believes that her face is not traditionally beautiful enough to make her a star. She has to be funny. But anyone with eyes and half a brain can see she's both.

#5: Anthony Hopkins

“The Silence of the Lambs” (1991)

Hannibal Lecter was far from the respected and acclaimed actor's first film role, but Anthony Hopkins became synonymous with screen villainy with The Silence of the Lambs. When we first meet the cannibalistic psychiatrist, he is staring right at us, and FBI trainee Clarice Starling, as we come upon his cell in a psychiatric hospital. He seems to know we're coming. It's one of the most unsettling first scenes of any character in film history. Hopkins imbues Lecter with the comportment of a gentleman, even as we can feel him sizing up Jodie Foster's character and working his way into her mind.

#4: Harrison Ford

“Raiders of the Lost Ark” (1981)

Playing Han Solo may have made his career, but embodying Indiana Jones made him a star. Harrison Ford recreated the archetype of the classic swashbuckler in Raiders of the Lost Ark. Dr. Jones fuses action hero stunts, nonchalant humor, and surprising nerdiness, and all of these are on display in that first incredible scene in a booby-trapped Peruvian temple. The entire opening sequence volleys between dark intrigue and broad humor. Ford demonstrates his secret weapon as a lead. It's his humor. He's not afraid to look a little ridiculous, even as the character appears to have almost a sixth sense for danger.

#3: Audrey Hepburn

“Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (1961)

As the flighty socialite unmoored from commitment, Audrey Hepburn turned away from her more introverted and virtuous roles and completely reinvented her star persona. When Holly Golightly first gets out of that cab in front of Tiffany & Co., wearing the most famous little black evening dress of all time, we realize two things. The first is that this must be the same dress she was wearing last night. The second is that she is somehow alone in one of the most exciting cities in the world. It's not only simple, chic, and romantic, but it also ends up reflecting Holly's deeper, existential dilemma. Hepburn and that dress have since become icons of cinematic elegance.

#2: Marlon Brando

“A Streetcar Named Desire” (1951)

The Godfather alone proves no one can make an entrance like Brando, but his first appearance in the Hollywood adaptation of Tennessee Williams' play is unlike anything anyone had ever seen from a film actor. As the brutish but alluring Stanley Kowalski, Brando arrives on the scene with an alarming magnetism. Even as she's repulsed by his vulgarity and working class background, Blanche DuBois can't help but linger on her brother-in-law's physique. Brando is frequently cited as a groundbreaking actor in terms of realism on screen, and A Streetcar Named Desire is a big reason why.

#1: Sean Connery

“Dr. No” (1962)

The scene is a smoky London club. We first catch glimpses of Sean Connery in bits and pieces. From behind, then his hands as he opens his cigarette case, then his face in full. He introduces himself to a woman across the baccarat table. It's the scene that launched a franchise, a career, and an unforgettable catchphrase in one fell swoop. When Sean Connery first appeared as the cool, detached, and incredibly suave secret agent in 1962s Dr. No, he was a working actor with a few minor roles under his belt. Suddenly, James Bond was a worldwide phenomenon, and the actor became synonymous with his character's brutal methods and irresistible charm.

Did your favorite actor make the list? Who did we miss? Let us know in the comments.