36 Of The Greatest Movie Scenes Ever Made

Did your favorite make the cut?

We asked the BuzzFeed Community to tell us the absolute best movie scenes in cinematic history. Here are the incredible results.

1. The Shawshank Redemption (1994) – Andy Escapes

Columbia Pictures

One of the best scenes ever was when Andy Dufresne crawled through shit and came out clean. Amazing movie.

—schulzemary214

Here's the scene:

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2. Call Me by Your Name (2017) – Professor Perlman's Speech

Sony Pictures Classics

The whole speech is just so beautiful, inspiring, and incredibly acted.

—haightashbury1967

Here's the scene:

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3. The Usual Suspects (1995) – The Greatest Trick the Devil Ever Pulled

Gramercy Pictures

The final scene is jaw-dropping. The viewer finds out they've been tricked at the same moment when the detective does. Brilliant.

—akimat

Here's the scene:

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4. Sophie's Choice (1982) – The Choice

Universal Pictures

It’s so powerful. And not only that, but it was filmed in one take. It was so believable and so painful to watch, but I think it's one of the best, if not THE best, scenes in cinematic history.

—mercedesd4b0cc1907

Here's the scene:

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5. The Color Purple – Celie's Reunion

Warner Bros.

There's a gorgeous shot where she sees her family's African clothing blowing in the wind in the distance and runs to them. I cry every time I watch it.

—erinw4e0535a9c

Here's the scene:

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6. Dead Poets Society (1989) – O Captain! My Captain!

Buena Vista Pictures

This scene always gets me.

—sarahe406

Here's the scene:

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7. Wonder Woman (2017) – No Man's Land

Warner Bros. Pictures

It was such a pivotal moment in the movie and represented Wonder Woman as the hero she was meant to be. It gives me chills every time I watched it.

—jamesl4e996ea92

Here's the scene:

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8. The Silence of the Lambs (1991) – Screaming Lambs

Orion Pictures

The conversation between Starling and Hannibal about her listening to the lambs screaming... there's so much tension and it's done so well. My husband and I recite that scene to each other all the time!

—cassiemariem

Here's the scene:

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9. Alien (1979) – Chestburster

20th Century Fox

It must be one of the most iconic scenes ever made. If you haven't been spoiled already, this scene will knock you on your ass the first time you see it.

—caitlinm18

Here's the scene:

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10. Se7en (1995) – The Box

New Line Cinema

"What's in the box?!” It's so suspenseful and iconic.

—partot

Here's the scene:

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11. Sunset Boulevard (1950) – I'm Ready for My Close-up

Paramount Pictures

The ending is perfection. Norma loses touch with reality and says her iconic line, “All right, Mr. DeMille, I’m ready for my close-up.”

—jilliangentz8123

Here's the scene:

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12. Hidden Figures (2016) – Bathroom Speech

20th Century Fox

Taraji P. Henson's performance was a tour-de-force. Her bathroom speech and the removal of the segregation sign were so powerful and well done.

—luken4b6dbefbe

Here's the scene:

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13. North by Northwest (1959) – Crop Duster

MGM

The crop duster scene is one of the most suspenseful and iconic scenes in history. Hitchcock purposefully hid the pilot's face to make things more tense, so the audience never knew who was trying to kill Cary Grant's character. It’s also incredibly clever: Hitchcock is the only person who could make a crop duster an evil murder weapon!

—katiei4898e8274

Here's the scene:

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14. There Will Be Blood (2007) – I Drink Your Milkshake!

Paramount Vantage

The way that you can see Daniel Day Lewis’ character become consumed by money and greed is so interesting, and the brutality that he shows is incredible, along with the line “I’m finished.” It just leaves the audience to reel and really think about what they just watched him do to Eli and who he has become through the course of the movie.

—jilliangentz8123

Here's the scene:

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15. Jurassic Park (1993) – Welcome to Jurassic Park

Universal Pictures

The expressions on everyone's faces when they see a live dinosaur for the first time is iconic. Then the camera cuts to the Brachiosaurus, magnificently walking up the hill. The unforgettable score and visuals left me breathless as a kid and still do now.

—cor15

Here's the scene:

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16. Atonement (2007) – Elegy for Dunkirk

Focus Features

The entire scene when Robbie arrived at the Dunkirk evacuation camp was filmed in one shot. It's the most beautiful long-shot scene I’ve ever seen, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it for days after watching.

—kareeces

Here's the scene:

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17. The Godfather (1972) – Baptism

Paramount Pictures

It's legendary! It perfectly shows how Michael Corleone transforms into the evil mafia boss he never thought he’d become. It’s also brilliantly filmed and edited, with shots cutting back and forth between the murders of rival mob leaders and the baptism of Michael’s nephew. Every time I watch it I get chills.

—katiei4898e8274

Here's the scene:

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18. The Devil Wears Prada (2006) – Stuff

Fox 2000 Pictures

Read of the century. That's all.

—nathanvh

Here's the scene:

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19. Some Like It Hot (1959) – Party for Two

United Artists

The whole scene is cinematic perfection. Everything that follows is such brilliant comedic chaos, with the whole band filing in, Sugar ducking out, and Daphne trying to keep her cover.

—mirthprovoking

Here's the scene:

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20. Wall-E (2008) – Define Dancing

Pixar

The animation, music, and picture made this one of the most beautiful movie scenes I have ever seen in my life. It perfectly captures the romance and appreciation of life that the movie was going for.

—voldemortisbae56

Here's the scene:

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21. Jaws (1975) – The U.S.S. Indianapolis

Universal Pictures

There's no action on the screen involving the shark, but the tension of the scene is palpable thanks to the lighting and the actor's delivery. Robert Shaw makes you believe he was actually there. It is a spare, crucial scene and is probably one of the greatest monologues in film history.

—seann49fe47708

Here's the scene:

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22. Casablanca (1942) – La Marseillaise

Warner Bros. Pictures

In this scene the French sing "La Marseillaise" and drown out the Nazis' singing. What makes it so powerful is that it was filmed in the early 1940s and many of the people in that scene were actual French refugees who had fled Nazi occupation. It was forbidden to sing "La Marseillaise" in Vichy, France. To stand and sing it then was genuinely powerful. A lot of those tears were real.

—altheab

Here's the scene:

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23. The Departed (2006) – Elevator

Warner Bros.

So unexpected. The whole thing is filled with 50 different twists. I don't think I breathed for a full minute when I first watched it.

—angelah4342b43bc

Here's the scene:

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24. Schindler's List (1993) – The Girl in Red

Universal Pictures

No words are needed – only tears.

—debbiee4a5c6af86

Here's the scene:

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25. Glory (1989) – Trip Gets Flogged

TriStar Pictures

The scene when Denzel Washington's character gets flogged is incredibly well-acted and heart-wrenching to watch. The single tear that streams down his face says everything you need to know about it.

—equestrianjt

Here's the scene:

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26. Singin' in the Rain (1952) – Singing in the Rain

MGM

Something about the combination of precise choreography, singing, and the pure joy of watching him splash about the puddles while he sings in a downpour the way we did as children makes it one of the most playful, innocent, and happy moments in cinematic history.

—Jessica Dee, Facebook

Here's the scene:

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27. Pulp Fiction (1994) – Opening Scene

Miramax Films

It doesn't get much better than this impromptu robbery.

—joes114

Here's the scene:

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28. No Country for Old Men (2007) – Coin Toss

Miramax Films

The writing in the movie – but especially this scene – is so sharp and specific, and Javier Bardem's quiet, haunting performance will send chills down your spine.

—Elena Baldisseri, Facebook

Here's the scene:

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29. Psycho (1960) – The Shower

Universal Pictures

This took 78 shots and seven days to film because it had to be perfect. Pair that with one of the most iconic scores in movie history, and you've got an amazing scene.

—mamiebearbear

Here's the scene:

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30. The Social Network (2010) – Eduardo Rage

Columbia Pictures

You've got Aaron Sorkin's words, David Fincher's direction, a haunting score, and a heartbreakingly beautiful performance from Andrew Garfield. His character hits his breaking point after the ultimate betrayal, and just when you think he's hit rock bottom, he throws a fake punch at Sean Parker and subtly gives us a sly smirk, letting the viewer know he'll be okay. Perfection.

—spenceralthouse

Here's the scene:

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31. Do the Right Thing (1989) – Racist Stereotypes

Universal Pictures

It's cinematically perfect and shows how high racial tension in the area is outside of black vs. white. It's aged so beautifully, is still relevant today, and I love Samuel L. Jackson's interjection as he wheels right up to the camera and shouts, "Hold up! Time out! Y'all take a chill! You need to cool that shit out, and that's the double truth," before the scene cuts out.

—Izzy Manzo, Facebook

Here's the scene:

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32. Goodfellas (1990) – The Copacabana

Warner Bros.

Without a doubt, this is one of the best scenes in movie history. They get so much into one scene – when Henry takes Karen on their first date and they make their way from the back of the restaurant to the best seats in the house – and the best part is that it's all done in ONE TAKE.

—onemisswright4

Here's the scene:

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33. The Wizard of Oz (1939) – Arriving in Oz

MGM

The transition from sepia tones to technicolor is phenomenal (especially considering this movie was made in the 1930s), not to mention Judy Garland’s expression of awe and wonder. It’s iconic beyond words.

—darrahf

Here's the scene:

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34. The Breakfast Club (1985) – Group Therapy

Universal Pictures

It's beautiful to witness this confession scene because everyone bared their souls and were able to see that they really weren't that different from each other. It also made it okay to talk about serious issues, like Brian's contemplation with suicide, and they took something dark and were able to bring humor to it.

—jordans43125d2f3

Here's the scene:

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35. Inglourious Basterds (2009) – The Jew Hunter

Universal Pictures

The first scene of this movie, when Hans Landa visits the French farmer, is incredible. You can feel the suspense radiating from every single detail, from the way Hans talks, to the cigarettes being lit. So brilliant.

—c4dc3e6193

Here's the scene:

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36. And The Help (2010) – Minny's Chocolate Pie

Walt Disney Studios

Hands down, the best scene in cinematic history is when Minnie gives Miss Hilly her ~special~ pie as an apology.

—beccaf16

Here's the scene:

youtube.com

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