Many iconic movie moments were improvised or the result of accidents. In Joker, Joaquin Phoenixâs unscripted punch to a clocking-in machine became a memorable scene.
The Usual Suspects featured Steven Baldwinâs genuine reaction to a cigarette flicked at his face. Will Smithâs disgust at the smell of dead brine shrimp in Independence Day was real and kept in the final cut. On End of Watch, a real LAPD helicopter inspired Jake Gyllenhaalâs unscripted Code 4 signal. In Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Chewbaccaâs actor confused Harrison Ford by returning his jacket, creating an unexpected comedic moment. Improvised lines and accidents in Kindergarten Cop, Mystery Men, and The Evil Dead added realism and humor. On the sets of The Lego Movie, Scrooged, and Gettysburg, unscripted mishaps and actor improvisations were embraced, as were accidents in Guardians of the Galaxy and The Lord of the Rings. Real-life Navy medic Danielle Albert treated Tom Hanks unscripted in Captain Phillips, while Robin Williamsâ shrimp scene slip in The Birdcage and Scarlet Johanssonâs hidden-camera interactions in Under the Skin showcased spontaneity. Finally, farting mishaps in Rain Man and This Is 40, along with Buster Keatonâs unplanned stunt in Three Ages, highlight the unplanned genius behind some of cinemaâs most memorable moments.