It’s often hard to tell where the performance ends and the real actor begins when viewing great movies, and the power of the material can occasionally mean that an actor breaks down for real. It may be that the performer was so emotionally invested in their role that they truly broke down and cried on camera, or these genuine reactions can also result from events that the actors were unaware of and unprepared for. These instances can lead to truly spellbinding performances, and it’s fascinating to hear the behind-the-scenes details that viewers may not have been previously privy to.
Some of cinema’s greatest moments were improvised scenes that were not part of the original script, as actors brought their personal experiences into the scene. While other times, directors and co-stars crossed professional boundaries to get certain reactions from another actor, the fact that the performers didn’t call cut and allowed their experiences to be used in the film was a testament to their professionalism and commitment to their work. There have been some movie scenes where the lines between fact and fiction started to blur, and actors gave themselves entirely to the scene.
10 Desperado (1995)
Salma Hayek was uncomfortable filming her love scene
Desperado 0
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Desperado is a 1995 action film directed by Robert Rodriguez, featuring Antonio Banderas as El Mariachi, a musician seeking vengeance for the murder of his lover. The film follows El Mariachi’s quest to confront a drug lord responsible for the tragic event. Salma Hayek co-stars as Carolina, providing both romantic and practical support. Desperado balances intense action sequences with its deeply personal storyline, expanding upon the mythos established in Rodriguez’s earlier film, El Mariachi.
Director Robert Rodriguez Release Date August 25, 1995 Cast Antonio Banderas , Salma Hayek , Joaquim De Almeida Runtime 1h 44m
Salma Hayek’s breakout role came with the release of Desperado, the second part of Robert Rodriguez’s Western-action series titled the Mexico Trilogy. With Antonio Banderas as El Mariachi, a man seeking vengeance against a sinister drug lord, Hayek played the beautiful bookstore owner Carolina, who tended to El Marchi’s wounds. However, Hayek later revealed that the filming of Desperado was a traumatic experience for her (via Hollywood Reporter) and that she had difficulties with her love scene.
Hayek stressed that Rodriguez and Banderas “
were amazing
” and that they “
never put pressure
” on her.
Hayek said when she first landed the role, there was no mention of a love scene between her character and Banderas, and it was only brought to her attention after production began. While Hayek agreed to film the scene on a closed set, she began to cry and told Rodriguez, “I’m afraid.” While Hayek stressed that Rodriguez and Banderas “were amazing” and that they “never put pressure” on her, as an inexperienced actress, she had difficulty filming such an intimate scene and couldn’t stop thinking about her family having to watch the finished movie.
9 The Shining (1980)
Shelley Duvall’s terrified reactions were the result of genuine exhaustion
The Shining 12
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Stanley Kubrick’s horror classic starring Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall tells the story of the Torrance family, who move to the isolated Overlook Hotel so that father Jack Torrance can act as its winter caretaker. Stuck at the hotel due to the winter storms, the malevolent supernatural forces inhabiting the building slowly begin to drive Jack insane, causing his wife and psychically gifted son to be caught up in a fight for their lives when Jack is pushed over the edge.
Director Stanley Kubrick Release Date June 13, 1980 Writers Diane Johnson , Stanley Kubrick Cast Danny Lloyd , Shelley Duvall , Jack Nicholson , Scatman Crothers Runtime 146 minutes Budget $19 Million Expand
The Shining has rightfully earned its reputation among the greatest horror movies ever made, but for actress Shelley Duvall, her experiences were far more terrifying than can be reasonably expected on set. While the most commonly retold story claimed that director Stanley Kubrick traumatized Duvall during the filming of The Shining, the truth about her experiences was a lot more nuanced than that, although she did have a difficult time. Kubrick and Duvall clashed during the filming of The Shining, and she spoke in interviews in the years before her death (via Far Out) that the role of Wendy Torrence was emotionally and physically exhausting.
Duvall said that she had to force her body into a constant state of panic to meet Kubrick’s expectations for her character and that the director’s refusal to use anything “until at least the 35th take” was debilitating. Wendy’s terrified reaction to her deranged husband Jack’s pursuit of her was genuine, as Kubrick’s filming style pushed Duvall to her absolute limits. While Kubrick’s need for perfectionism has been widely praised, the difficulties that Duvall faced onset brought up ethical questions around how far a filmmaker should be able to push actors out of their comfort zone.
8 Kramer Vs. Kramer (1979)
Meryl Streep’s reactions to Dustin Hoffman’s unplanned aggression were real
Kramer vs. Kramer 0
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Kramer vs. Kramer is a drama film directed by Robert Benton, starring Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep. Released in 1979, the film follows the story of a man who must adapt to single parenthood after his wife leaves him, only to face a legal battle when she returns for custody of their child. The movie explores themes of family, responsibility, and the impact of divorce.
Director Robert Benton Release Date December 19, 1979 Writers Avery Corman , Robert Benton , Meryl Streep Cast Dustin Hoffman , Meryl Streep , Jane Alexander , Justin Henry , Howard Duff , George Coe , JoBeth Williams , Bill Moor Runtime 105 Minutes Main Genre Drama Expand
The legal drama Kramer vs. Kramer was an intense look at a couple’s divorce and the difficult impact this has on their young son. With Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Street as the collapsing couple Ted and Joanna Kramer, the two actors powerful performances gained the film the Best Picture win at the Oscars and highlighted urgent social issues such as gender roles, fathers’ rights, work-life balance, and single parents. However, one controversial aspect of Kramer vs. Kramer came with Streep’s revelation years later that one of her scenes was real and her reaction was genuine.
Hoffman slapped Streep without warning in a moment that crossed the line from acting to abuse.
This came in the scene when Ted and Joanna were arguing, and Hoffman slapped Streep without warning in a moment that crossed the line from acting to abuse (via Collider.) Streep and Hoffman often clashed on set, and further incidents like Hoffman breaking the wine glass in the famous “I want my son” scene were also unplanned. While Streep’s ability to deliver such an exceptional performance under such difficult circumstances was commendable, Hoffman’s behavior pushed well past the point of acceptability.
7 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011)
Oliver Phelps genuinely shed tears when filming Fred Weasley’s death scene
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 4
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The conclusion to the film franchise based on the popular novel series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 centers on Harry and his allies as they prepare for the final battle against Lord Voldemort. The film follows Harry, Hermoine, and Ron as they continue to track down and destroy the Horcruxes to destroy Voldemort, all while the dark wizard approaches ever closer to Hogwarts with his army of followers.
Director David Yates Release Date July 15, 2011 Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures , Heyday Films Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Writers Steve Kloves , J.K. Rowling Cast Daniel Radcliffe , Rupert Grint , Emma Watson , Helena Bonham Carter , Robbie Coltrane , Warwick Davis , Ralph Fiennes , Michael Gambon , John Hurt , Jason Isaacs , Gary Oldman , Alan Rickman Runtime 130 Minutes prequel(s) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 , Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince , Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix , Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire , Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban , Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets , Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Budget $125 Million Expand
The final Harry Potter movie was a truly an emotional whirlwind as Harry sought to find and destroy Lord Voldemort’s Horcruxes and stop him once and for all. While this surely a highly intense filming experience for the lead stars Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson, it was a different performer who broke down for real while filming. This was due to the heartbreaking nature of Fred Weasley’s death in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, as real-life twins James and Oliver Phelps had to imagine the difficulties of one of them dying for real.
Oliver, who played Fred’s grieving twin, George, told Cosmopolitan UK that to get into the proper emotional state for the scene, he thought “about loved ones, I’ve lost over the years” and that when the make-up artist sprayed him with eucalyptus, he was “crying for real at that point.” While Oliver was forced to confront the very nature of death itself and work up the required emotions for the scene, for his brother James, it was a different story. “It was the easiest day of work for me, I just lay there,” James joked in the same interview.
6 Alien (1979)
The cast did not know about the chestburster scene in advance
Alien (1979) 3
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Alien, directed by Ridley Scott, is a science fiction horror film that follows the crew of the commercial spacecraft Nostromo. Upon investigating a distress signal on a distant moon, they discover a deadly extraterrestrial lifeform. The film stars Sigourney Weaver as Ripley and became a seminal work in both the sci-fi and horror genres, known for its atmospheric tension and groundbreaking visual effects.
Director Ridley Scott Release Date June 22, 1979 Writers Dan O’Bannon , Ronald Shusett Cast Sigourney Weaver , Tom Skerritt , John Hurt , Veronica Cartwright , Harry Dean Stanton , Ian Holm , Yaphet Kotto , Bolaji Badejo Character(s) Ripley , Dallas , Kane , Lambert , Brett , Ash , Parker , Alien Runtime 117 Minutes Main Genre Sci-Fi Expand
Even 45 years after audiences first witnessed it, the chestburster scene from Alien is still the stuff of nightmare fuel. As the legacy of Ridley Scott’s trailblazing sci-fi horror continues with the recent release of Alien: Romulus, it’s still the iconic scene where an extraterrestrial burst out of the chest of John Hurt’s Kane still has the power to shock and horrify viewers. Part of the power of this scene was not just the unexpected horror of this otherworldly creature, but the believaiblity of the cast’s reactions, which made sense because they were truly shocked for real as they did not know it was happening.
According to Empire, the cast of Alien were just as surprised by Kane’s fate as audiences were, as Scott did not tell them because he wanted a “hardcore reaction.” Alien actor Yaphet Kotto admitted he wondered, “What the hell was going on?” when he noticed the rest of the crew wearing plastic sheets for the filming of the scene. While the clues were there, the Alien actors were none the wiser, and their shocked reactions to this iconic scene were genuine.
5 The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Allen Danziger’s terrified reaction to seeing Leatherface for the first time was genuine
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) 0
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Five friends traveling through rural Texas encounter a family of cannibals led by the terrifying Leatherface. As they fall victim one by one to the gruesome horrors, they must fight for survival against relentless and unimaginable terror in a macabre and chilling fight for their lives.
Director Tobe Hooper Release Date October 11, 1974 Writers Kim Henkel , Tobe Hooper Cast Marilyn Burns , Allen Danziger , Paul A. Partain , William Vail , Teri McMinn , Edwin Neal Runtime 83 minutes Main Genre Horror Expand
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre was one of the most influential horror movies of all time and, to this day, remains a benchmark by which all other slashers are compared. As a terrifying independent horror by Tobe Hooper, this first entry in the long-running franchise introduced the terrifying, chainsaw-wielding, skin-wearing serial killer known as Leatherface. While audiences were quaking in their boots when he first appeared on screen, this was nothing compared to Allen Danziger’s genuine reaction as he had to experience Leatherface up close and personal.
Danziger, who played Jerry in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, revealed in an interview with Grasy Kid Stuff Magazine that the first time he saw Leatherface was actually a moment he caught on film and that he let out a “bloodcurdling scream.” This moment was so frightening that filming had to be cut because Danziger started screaming before Leatherface had even entered the shot. Jerry was then killed with a sledgehammer, and Danziger joked that even though it’s been five decades since the movie was released, he’s “still getting headaches.”
4 Die Hard (1988)
Alan Rickman’s shocked reaction as Hans Gruber fell to his death was real
Die Hard 0
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During a holiday party, NYPD detective John McClane’s wife’s workplace is hijacked by German terrorists led by evil icon Hans Gruber. McClane (Bruce Willis), evades capture and fights to save hostages, including his wife, and foil Gruber’s elaborate heist initially without weapons, shoes, or a shirt.
Director John McTiernan Release Date July 15, 1988 Writers Roderick Thorp , Jeb Stuart , Steven E. de Souza Cast Bruce Willis , Bonnie Bedelia , Reginald VelJohnson , Paul Gleason , William Atherton , Hart Bochner Runtime 132 minutes Budget $28 million Main Genre Action Expand
Although Die Hard was the movie that turned Bruce Willis into a Hollywood star, it also delivered one of cinema’s best villains in the role of Hans Gruber. Alan Rickman played this East German criminal mastermind to perfection, and his popularity was so great that he was voted No. 4 on Empire’s list of the Greatest Movie Villains of All Time, only beaten by Darth Vader, The Joker, and Loki. However, the only thing that can outdo Rickman’s characters’ living actions is Hans Gruber’s death scene, which has aged incredibly well due to the genuine shock displayed by the actor.
The sight of Gruber falling to his death became one of Die Hard’s most iconic moments as he was dangling from the top of the tower and dramatically fell to his death in slow motion. While Rickman was nervous about the stunt, he agreed to do the fall himself, and Die Hard stunt coordinator Charlie Picerni told him he would be dropped on the count of three. However, to catch Rickman off guard, he was dropped at “one,” and the terrified look on Gruber’s face was, in fact, Rickman’s perplexed shock at the last-minute change.
3 I, Tonya (2017)
Margot Robbie improvised Tonya Harding’s powerful mirror scene
I, Tonya 2
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Based on the life of figure skater Tonya Harding, I, Tonya chronicles Harding’s personal life, rise to fame, and subsequent downfall after her involvement in the infamous attack on her rival Nancy Kerrigan in 1994. Framed in a mockumentary style that routinely breaks the fourth wall, I, Tonya is directed by Craig Gillespie and stars Margot Robbie and Harding, with Sebastian Stan and Allison Janney as Harding’s ex-husband and overbearing mother respectively.
Director Craig Gillespie Release Date December 8, 2017 Writers Steven Rogers Cast Julianne Nicholson , Allison Janney , Margot Robbie , Bobby Cannavale , Bojana Novakovic , Sebastian Stan , Caitlin Carver Runtime 120minutes Budget $11 million Expand
This biopic about the controversial American figure skater Tonya Harding and her connection to the 1994 assault on her rival was an astounding showcase of Margot Robbie’s incredible talent. Robbie’s portrayal in I, Tonya earned her an Academy Award nomination as she embodied the tragic complexities of the real-life sports star. While this film was packed with intense and humorous scenes, there was one scene in particular that secured Robbie’s Oscar nomination.
This was the moment just before Tonya was about to go on the ice and secure her Olympic dream as she applied makeup while looking in the mirror and attempted to fake a smile. As genuine tears poured down Tonya’s face, this scene was packed with heartbreaking emotion that Robbie wasn’t in the script and wasn’t planned. Robbie told Variety that the powerful scene was improvised and the crying was a result of an overwhelming day on set.
2 Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
Bob Hoskins suffered from hallucinations of cartoons after filming ended
Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) 2
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Who Framed Roger Rabbit combines live-action and animation to create a world where humans and cartoon characters coexist. Set in 1940s Hollywood, the film follows a private investigator who is contracted to work on the case of a cartoon framed for murder, despite his dislike of cartoons. Bob Hoskins, Charles Fleischer, Christopher Lloyd, and Kathleen Turner all star.
Director Robert Zemeckis Release Date June 22, 1988 Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Writers Peter S. Seaman , Jeffrey Price Cast Amy Irving , Christopher Lloyd , Charles Fleischer , Bob Hoskins , Kathleen Turner Runtime 104 minutes Budget $70 million Expand
While there’s plenty of Who Framed Roger Rabbit trivia, one piece of information that showcased how intense the shoot was relates to its lead actor, Bob Hoskins. As Eddie Valiant, a private investigator with a grudge against cartoons, Hoskins played his role in this part live-action, part animated classic to perfection. However, Hoskins also broke down for real and went a little looney throughout the shoot. Although viewers got to see him interacting with cartoons on the big screen, he spent months filming scenes where he pretended they were there.
Hoskins later said, “Roger Rabbit drove me mad” (via Express) and admitted that he spent months suffering hallucinations of cartoon characters as he had to train himself to truly believe the animated characters were there while the cameras rolled. Once filming had wrapped, Hoskins found it hard to turn this off after eight months of playing pretend. The problem became so bad that Hoskins said his daughter told him to “slow down” and that he was “going barmy.”
1 The Revenant (2015)
Leonardo DiCaprio braved incredible hash conditions for his role as Hugh Glass
The Revenant 6
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Inspired by the true events in the life of Hugh Glass, The Revenant is an action-drama movie that sees Leonardo DiCaprio in the starring role. Betrayed and left for dead by one of the members of his hunting group, Glass finds himself contending with some of the harshest elements imaginable while tending to his deadly wounds, as his will to carry on and need for revenge push him to carry on in this gripping tale of survival.
Director Alejandro González Iñárritu Release Date December 25, 2015 Studio(s) 20th Century Distributor(s) 20th Century Writers Alejandro González Iñárritu , Mark L. Smith Cast Will Poulter , Leonardo DiCaprio , Paul Anderson , Tom Hardy , Domhnall Gleeson Runtime 156minutes Budget $135 million Expand
Until he finally took home the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in The Revenant, Leonardo DiCaprio was Hollywood’s most notable Oscar-less star. This changed as a result of his performance as Hugh Glass in Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s thrilling story of survival in the blistering cold of an 1820s Rocky Mountain fur trading expedition. After being mauled by a bear, Glass struggled to survive as he relentlessly trudged back to society. While DiCaprio earned Hollywood’s most coveted award for his portrayal, he did so only after putting himself through a production shoot that nearly broke him.
Despite being a vegan and an animal rights activist, DiCaprio slept in animal carcasses and ate raw vision for his role as Glass (via Vanity Fair.) Iñárritu himself described the shooting of The Revenant as “a living hell” as the entire cast and crew were forced to endure freezing temperatures, and they traversed the globe searching for the appropriate snowing conditions needed to film. DiCaprio’s willingness to embrace a method acting style worked out, and although it pushed him to his absolute limit, he gained widespread acclaim and accolades for his role.
Sources: Hollywood Reporter, Far Out, Collider, Cosmopolitan UK, Empire, Grasy Kid Stuff Magazine, Empire, Variety, Vanity Fair