When you’re in the heat of the moment, enjoying a movie and eating some popcorn, you realize very quickly how easily you can miss something. Perhaps it was the crazy culmination of events that lead to an action-packed scene and – WAIT – did you see that guy? What just happened there? No matter what it is that you may have missed, you’re probably reaching for the remote to hit rewind and pause. Some movies are jam-packed with subliminal messages that are too easy to miss if we don’t pay attention. Either you’ll be able to stop the movie in its tracks and catch up, or you’re rewinding to get back to the good part. People got curious as to what are some of the most frequently paused moments in Hollywood history, and here are the results.
In order to make the reading experience of this article more convenient, the article has been split up into multiple pages. At the end of each page, you will see a “next” button which will take you to the next page. Enjoy your reading!
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
Scanners (1981)
You might not have even heard of this movie, no reason to feel bad about it. Scanners, released in 198,1 actually cultivated a pretty large fan base. David Cronenberg launched his career with a movie that revolves around him possessing psychic powers. You can imagine that it would have a bit of a dark twist to it.
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
A gory scene in this 1981 cult classic features something that happens to someone’s head so fast that there’s no way you’d catch it the first time around. We don’t want to spoil it for you, so we can’t reveal any more details, you’ll just have to watch for yourself. Don’t forget to pause and rewind to get the full effect of the memorable scene.
Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
Fast Times at Ridgemont High is a nostalgic ’80s coming-of-age classic movie. It’s relatable to adolescents in every sense of the word. With adolescence comes superficiality, and that’s exactly why this movie was paused so many times. Do you think it has anything to do with the pretty lady taking a dip? We’d put our money on it.
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
So, that being said, one of the most paused scenes includes Phoebe Cates’s as Linda, going for a refreshing swim with her best friend, Stacy. Just as Linda is climbing the ladder to get out of the pool, everyone watching is hitting pause so they can get a closer look. We did say it was a coming-of-age film right?
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
Without spoiling the movie, the main theme of Star Wars: The Force Awakens pertained to figuring out where Luke Skywalker went. At the very end of the movie, viewers are able to see the new hero, Rey, who finds Skywalker in an interesting position. He’s mid-ocean on some mystery island, to be frank.
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
Rey passes Skywalker his lightsaber, ending the movie with an edge-of-your-seat-style cliffhanger. The most-paused moment of this scene is when we first see Skywalker. The rock you see pictured is rumored to be a gravestone of some kind. We’re just left wondering who this gravestone actually belongs to.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988)
Cartoon characters can be hot, too. Jessica Rabbit is animated proof and one of the most voluptuous cartoon characters of all time. In Who Framed Roger Rabbit? her sparkly red dress and matching bright red hair are enough to make anyone stare, or even grab the remote to hit pause!
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
Although this character is not real, she’s revealing just the right amount and leaving the rest to the imagination, just like a real woman might do. This might be the reason people are hitting the pause button on a certain scene where she reveals a little bit more than most cartoon characters typically do.
Three Men and a Baby (1987)
This next most-paused scene doesn’t have as familiar a title as some of the others, but the director was actually Spock, you know the guy from Star Trek? Yep, Three Men and a Baby was directed by no other than Leonard Nimoy and are definitely a movie collection classic from the eighties.
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
This Star Trek legend strangely added something to the movie that watchers would pause literally every single time they saw the movie. Nimoy actually had Ted Danson, in cardboard cutout form, just hanging out in the background of one of the movie scenes, for no apparent reason. Imagine playing pranks on your friends like this!
Before I Go to Sleep (2014)
Take it as you will, but so many of the most paused scenes included in this list are paused simply because fans will do anything to freeze-frame Hollywood actresses during their most vulnerable moments. Before I Go to Sleep, starring actress Nicole Kidman, is a perfect example of this.
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
This movie’s main character is walking around eluding to the fact that she’s got no clothes on in this most-paused scene. It was later confirmed that the actress did actually have some clothes on during the shot. However, you can’t control a fan’s imagination, right? Hence the pausing of the scene.
The Exorcist (1973)
The Exorcist happens to be one of those movies that are full to the brim with shocking, quickfire images all throughout the production. The nature of this movie is based on mystery and fear, and that alone means that there are an abundance of scenes that a viewer might want to pause, rewind, replay, and repeat – especially if they’re super interested in horror films.
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
Fearless viewers have been able to learn that pausing the movie at the precise right time and scene allows them to witness a creepy demon vision. A careful examination of the image will explain that this demon is the one that had previously possessed Regan, Pazuzu in the earlier times.
Pulp Fiction (1994)
Quentin Tarantino is the king of innuendos and hidden messages, making his hit Pulp Fiction another one of those movies with a ton of blink-and-you’ll-miss-it scenes. One of the most interesting chapters of this particular story takes place when Butch, played by Bruce Willis, is running scared of Marcellus Wallace.
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
The shower scene in this movie is quite honestly, in the scheme of things, insignificant. However, a great number of viewers paused this movie just to rewind it, because they were absolutely certain that they saw Bruce Willis living his best life as he was stepping out of the shower.
Toy Story 3 (2010)
We all remember the endearing tale, Toy Story (1995), where enemies-turned-friends toys Woody and Buzz accidentally find themselves going on an adventure together, further than any toy has gone. The adventure, unfortunately, leads to their demise – locked up and hidden away by Sid, the degenerate neighbor who dismembers toys for fun.
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
We know that long-time fans of this movie series definitely did a double-take when they noticed Sid on-screen in Toy Story 3, he’s shown here on the job as a garbage man. You know how the old saying goes – you’re only as good as your last job! Sorry Sid, but looks like that means you’re still garbage.
Beauty and The Beast (1991)
When you think about pause-worthy moments, are you thinking about the animated classics? Probably not. It’s interesting to watch these types of movies hold their own among a sea of newer, more technologically advanced films. Disney is the creator of yet another most-paused scene in their animated film Beauty and the Beast.
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
Gaston is the villain here, and he gets all of the villagers together to attack the castle. He rallies the crowd and grooms them to hate the Beast. Onlookers can see him stumble and fall to his death, but those who look even closer can take note of the cartoonist’s added detail – skulls in the pupils of his eyes. This has to be foreshadowing because his death occurs very shortly after this scene.
Jurassic Park (1993)
The astoundingly fantastic and talented Wayne Knight as Dennis Nedry gives his viewers an excuse to grab their remote and mash that pause button over and over again to capture each individual costume change, paying homage to The Goonies. Chunk, Mouth, and Mikey must be proud and humbled to see their characters memorialized in this fun way!
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
Once it hit the box office, The Goonies was a huge hit, absolutely everyone loved it. A large group of Reddit users took note of this allusion, and it helped springboard promotions. Steven Spielberg was the writer of The Goonies, and also directed Jurassic Park, so it’s rumored to be that maybe this Easter Egg was planned after all!
Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
Bohemian Rhapsody is a biographical drama exploring the life of Queen’s lead singer, Freddie Mercury. As it turns out, the film features pop star Adam Lambert, in what is, in our opinion, one of the best cameos in recent movie history. Adam is depicted as a random truck driver, and Freddie Mercury starts paying much closer attention to him. All the while he is openly questioning his sexuality.
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
Lambert is actually pretty much not recognizable here, which is why many people hit pause while watching the movie, trying to figure out who the actor is. This is all tribute to clever make-up tricks, his bushy hair all grown out, and some new facial hair – a mustache. This cameo is even more heartfelt because Adam Lambert has followed in Freddie Mercury’s footsteps for the last decade, he worked as the touring lead singer for Queen.
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
The all-too-familiar high school scene in Spider-Man: Homecoming was subtle but a very interesting part of Spider-Man history that absolutely deserves the push of the pause button. Zendaya plays the dynamic and interesting character, Michelle, pictured seated on the bleachers. Keen viewers would notice she’s reading a book named Of Human Bondage.
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
This book, Of Human Bondage, is a novel that was written by W. Somerset Maugham in 1915. This story closely follows a boy who has been orphaned and was staying with an aunt and uncle. Many Reddit users were able to pick out and share this cleverly retold reference. Nothing is an accident!
The Matrix (1999)
The Matrix is full of not only Easter eggs, but tricks of the trade that are causes for pauses. The popular film must include many pause-worthy moments. In this particular scene, you can see Morpheus as he’s saying “I can only show you to the door,” as you watch Neo reaching for the doorknob in order to open it.
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
The reflection of this angle was really difficult to navigate during production because you’d be able to see the camera no matter which way producers tried to get the shot. If you look closely enough, you can kind of see the coat that they used to cover all the equipment in the background. They even had a matching tie to go with what Morpheus was wearing at the time.
Zootopia (2016)
If you’ve ever seen the animated film Zootopia, you can probably agree that it’s one of those family films that really is cute, funny, and appeals to both adults and children. Rabbit Judy Hopps (even the names are cute and puny!) is the relatable underdog character who wants to be a police officer, and actually becomes one against all odds.
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
Musical soundtracks are a big part of the movie, as they have the ability to connect with people, which is why we aren’t surprised that this scene became one of the most paused scenes in Hollywood history. This scene zooms into a playlist full of funny animal puns including the Fur Fighters, Guns ‘n’ Rodents, and Hyena Gomez. For once, we can actually agree that this was well played on Disney’s part!
The Crying Game (1992)
This Neil Jordan 1992 thriller, The Crying Game, was set in Northern Ireland. The movie was super successful when it was first released to theaters, both commercially and critically acclaimed. One thing, or one person, who caught people’s attention in particular, was nightclub singer Dil, played by Jane Davidson. She is responsible for one scene that made it to this list.
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
IRA volunteer Fergus makes a promise to his friend to look after his girlfriend, Dil, when he can no longer do so (we don’t want to include too many spoilers in case you haven’t watched the film). Fergus then returns to London to seek her out. The truly shocking scene is when it is revealed that the beautiful Dil is transgender.
Jaws (1975)
The opening scenes of what has been widely known as the greatest movie of all time literally has scared people away from going into deep water, for years after the film was released. It’s no surprise that Steven Spielberg’s movie Jaws still gives people the creeps. After all, when the opening scene includes a death… you’re bound to feel some type of way.
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
Viewers were absolutely shocked and found themselves saying, “Wait, did that actually just happen in the first scene of this movie?!” Everyone with a pause button was stunned and for sure grabbed the remote to get a second look. It definitely makes sense that one of the greatest movies of all time would be on this list.
Deadpool 2 (2018)
America’s got a favorite loud-mouth anti-hero who assembles a team of misfit superhumans, referred to as the ‘X Force’ in Deadpool 2. The Vanisher, portrayed in the movie by Brad Pitt, is probably the most skilled member of the whole team, he’s just your everyday average invisible man, no big deal. Carry on, nothing to see here.
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
Or is there? A funny yet dramatic scene shows the Vanisher and his team actually jumping off of an airplane, parachutes in tow and all. Spoiler alert: most of them die in the air before they’ve even hit the ground. You can only see it for a nanosecond, but if you catch this scene you’ll find out that the Vanisher is actually none other than crowd-favorite, Brad Pitt!
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
The next pause-worthy Easter egg scene was actually found by a dedicated group of Redditers who users who scoured over the movie Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Somehow, they all decided to compare notes (we didn’t even know people took notes while watching movies – are we doing it wrong?) and what they found was nothing short of amazing. In one of the first scenes, Captain America is making a list of things to catch up on now he’s awake.
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
Among the opening scenes, you see that Captain America is making sort of a to-do list of things he needs to catch up on since he’s been awake. What these Reddit users found is that the list changed based on the country the film was shown in! User DavinderB actually got this list together via screenshots from the film, so everyone can view the differences between the United States, South Korea, the UK, and Russia.
Passengers (2016)
Googly-eyed Stanley Kubrick fans will get super excited about the Easter Eggs that were dropped in the film Passengers. The interesting part about it is that they’re actually referring to The Shining because Morten Tyldum, the director, is a huge Kubrick fan and thought the world should know how much he appreciates his work via his set design.
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
They say imitation is the highest form of flattery, and to start, the robot-tender actually looks a whole lot like the bartender from The Shining. He’s even got the bowtie and waistcoat look going on – his outfit is nearly exactly the same. You can also notice that the ship’s bar has the same carpet as well as the carpet in the hallway in the Overlook Hotel.
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
Just the mere mention of Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and we’re already cracking up. Anyone else? This movie is jam-packed with more Easter eggs than most we’ve seen. So, a funny one to notice is that the restaurant Escupimos en su Alimento is a name with a hidden meaning.
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
Anyone savvy in Google Translate? Go ahead and enter the name of this restaurant in. You will notice that it translates quickly to “we spit in your food,” and if you’re not instantly laughing, we don’t know what will make you giggle. For people who speak this language, we know you’re out there laughing right now, along with anyone who thought to pause their movie and look into this further!
Suicide Squad (2016)
Suicide Squad, released in 2016, is chock full of wild cards and crazy scenes, and anything including Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn is definitely no exception. Viewers just couldn’t help themselves when it comes to this female sidekick who’s punch-drunk, head over heels in love with her villain partner, the Joker.
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
Her performance was nothing short of amazing, including the scene that lands this movie on the list for most pause-worthy action. It’s quick, but Harley Quinn lifts up her top when she’s given her trunk of clothes back after being released from prison. People were scurrying for the remote to hit pause and catch a glimpse of the beautiful actress. We’re starting to sense a theme here.
Tarzan (1999)
Tarzan, a great animated classic film, was released into theaters right before the turn of the century. Between the endearing animal characters and Phil Collins’ soundtrack, it’s safe to say this movie had stolen the hearts of millions around the world. If you haven’t learned that Disney loves a good Easter egg by now, wake up and smell the Easter eggs.
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
See anything familiar in this scene? We do! This scene was paused so many times because of the crossover reference from another Disney animation – can you guess which one? If you noticed the cups and teapot, you’ll notice that they look just like Chip and his mom Mrs. Potts from Beauty and the Beast! Now the only thing left to wonder is how the heck did they get to the middle of the jungle.
Cabin in the Woods (2012)
Cabin in the Woods earned absolutely fantastic reviews when it was released in 2012, mostly because of its meticulously well-thought-out approach to all that is the horror genre. Aside from killing it in the box office, this movie is home to one of Hollywood’s most-paused scenes and for reasons much different than other movies.
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
There’s this interesting scene in the film where scientists are trying to figure out what potential obstacles the main characters might encounter along the way. In the background of this shot, you can pick out a dry-erase board, filled with a detailed list of creatures they’re controlling. People wanted to see which monsters were on the list, hence one of the most paused scenes.
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
The Wizard of Oz is a fascinating movie because it’s nostalgic and fun but also has a dark side to it. The musical fantasy has more to it than meets the eye. One of the more interesting dark observations made about this 1939 classic takes place when Dorothy and the gang are walking down the yellow brick road, en route to find the wizard.
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
If you pause the scene and look closely, you can see something almost hanging from one of the trees in the distance. Officials have stated that this figure is merely a bird, but a lot of fans have a developed theory that says otherwise. Rumor has it that it’s actually a munchkin who hung himself! If that’s not a dark twist to an otherwise nostalgic movie, we don’t know what is.
Teen Wolf (1985)
The year is 1985 and Michael J. Fox is having the best year of his life. Not only did he get the lead role in Back to the Future as the clever, adventurous Marty McFly, he also starred in the iconic movie with the cult following, Teen Wolf, where his face was much less recognizable.
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
In the predictable ending, Michael J. Fox’s character ends up bringing the team to victory after dropping the wolf act. However, that’s not what anyone really cared about when watching this movie. The truth is, there’s allegedly a man in the background with his pants down, and everyone knows a pants-down Easter egg is MUCH more interesting and pause-worthy than a basketball-playing wolf boy.
The Little Mermaid (1989)
Ahh, good old 2-D animation. It has such a nostalgic feeling, but 80’s and 90’s kids remember this being the norm. Don’t you miss those movies sometimes? They don’t make ’em like this anymore! In 1989, during the high point of Disney animated movies, The Little Mermaid was released. No one ever would have noticed all of these inappropriate Easter eggs without, well, the pause button!
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
So that brings us to the next most-paused movie scene in the history of film. Of course, there’s a girl, wearing her birthday suit, in water involved. You’d think an animated Disney movie would be the last place you’d get a peep show, but in this case, when Ariel gets her legs, you’re able to see more than her legs. Back when the film was released, it wasn’t considered a big deal, but today, some parents would be furious to see a scene like this in a children’s movie.
Fight Club (1999)
We’re breaking the first rule of Fight Club, as we’re about to talk about Fight Club. Anyone who is familiar with David Fincher’s blockbuster Fight Club knows going into it that they’re going to see a lot of blood. You can’t skip past that stuff. There are some shots, however, that pop in and out so fast that you have no choice but to hit pause just to catch them, or you’ll miss a big part of the movie.
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
Tyler Durden is pictured in the movie before the movie even introduces him to us. It literally takes place in one single frame, so quickly that if you were to blink, you’d miss it completely. Imagine being the person who figured this out while a group of friends is watching the film together for the first time. They must have thought they were going crazy at first!
Psycho (1960)
There’s no doubt about it, Alfred Hitchcock’s genius work of art, Psycho, is a masterpiece highly acclaimed in the horror genre. Norman Bates, played by Anthony Perkins, was hands down one of the most creepy characters horror films has ever seen. Perkins’ performance lends the character a level of believability and reality unmatched by any other horror actor.
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
This movie, created in 1960, features the main character Bates, who is arrested and sentenced to jail time towards the end. If you’re wondering which scene from this movie made the most-paused list, it’s this one, pictured above. Look closely, and you can see a skull faintly overlaid upon his face.
The Lion King (1994)
Yet another Disney classic makes its way to the most-paused scene list. Who would’ve thought there’d be so much controversy in children’s movies? If you remember the symbolic rock scene in The Lion King then you might remember what we’re talking about. Simba’s parents revisit the rock where Rafiki presented him for the Animal Kingdom.
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
The two gaze up at the sky and if you’re quick enough to pause it, you’ll find a subliminal surprise. The falling stars and dust are spelling out a three-letter word that rhymes with T-Rex. We’re not gonna spell it out for you, but it explains how Simba was brought into existence to begin with…
Boogie Nights (1997)
It’s easy to understand why Paul Thomas Anderson’s Boogie Nights is such an interesting film. This 1997 drama is jam-packed with subject matter that really sets it apart from other films released during this time. Dirk Diggler, played by Mark Wahlberg, is the center of attention, and for good reason.
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
Dirk is an aspiring movie star, and this most-paused scene is a classic example of how women can be just as excited about seeing some eye candy. This movie actually had a lot of pause stops, but the one that halted the honey the most was when Dirk gets down to his skivvies for the crew. Fun fact: whatever he had going on down there turned out to be prosthetic!
Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)
Whether you’re a Star Wars fan or not, you know the Stormtroopers are absolutely hilarious to watch. They’re just bumbling, inaccurate shooters that you can’t help but laugh at. According to this, anyone who watches it is pausing to check out a scene that takes place in the first installment of the popular franchize, A New Hope.
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
Halfway through the movie, you see some Stormtroopers walking through a doorway, but if you look close enough, you’ll spot one of them hitting their head accidentally on the top of the door frame as they’re walking through it. Interestingly enough, this was an accident, but producers thought it fit the Stormtrooper’s character well, so they kept the scene in the movie!
Back to The Future (1985)
Anyone who’s into 80’s movies, like really super-interested in them, ends up becoming super sleuths because they’re the types of people to watch movies over and over. They’re the ones pausing and rewinding and in this case, for this movie, will definitely have noticed the clever sign change in Back to The Future. Marty McFly and Doc Brown get together at the Twin Pines Mall, after which they travel back in time to 1955.
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
The movie later on shows that Marty McFly is definitely being chased down, and in his haste, he mistakenly runs over one of the two pines. He doesn’t know it yet, but now the future is completely changed. He doesn’t return until the end of the film, but you can notice that the mall’s name has permanently been changed to reflect his actions. To be honest, we hadn’t noticed this when watching the film, we were so caught up with Marty’s chase.
Frozen (2013)
If we’ve learned anything from this thread alone, it’s that Disney loves to add adult references that go right over kids’ heads into their animated films. Perhaps they want the parents watching with their kids to enjoy the movies as well. Frozen falls right in line with that. In the hit film, Anna and Hans share a scene where they recognize that they have so much in common, and they lightly dance around the subject of sandwiches.
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
If you’re an Arrested Development fan, you may have noticed that this scene is an absolute copy, word for word, of the hilarious sitcom. Not only that, this same exact line was used in an episode of The Simpsons, where they showcase Disney writers’ love of including Easter Eggs in their works. Any meta fans in the crowd?
Tron (1982)
In 1982, video games were just starting to be invented and accessible to almost everyone due to the popularity of arcades. For that reason, many people think of the movie Tron with a certain fondness. If you saw your favorite video game in the background, would you try to pause it and catch a glimpse?
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
Apparently, that’s a pretty normal response, because this made the most-paused scene list. It makes sense because we do actually make mental connections with actors or actresses we like, and if they’re playing a game we also like to play, we feel more related to them, in a way.
Basic Instinct (1992)
Sharon Stone is, without a shadow of a doubt, absolutely iconic in her 1992 performance in the neo-noir thriller Basic Instinct. Her performance stole headlines while her looks stole hearts, and apparently turned some heads! It’s no surprise that this scene became an iconic look in the ’90s.
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
It has been said that many people have actually failed to finish the movie as a result of their pause on this suggestive pose. The way her dress fell over her legs became the reason many viewers were absolutely swooning and drooling while watching Sharon Stone in this 90s film. Thanks to the controversial film, Sharon Stone gained international prominence.
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)
This next one is like, every millennial’s dream Easter Egg, and that’s why it made the list for most-paused scenes in Hollywood history. If you watched Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, check out this scene inside the Galactic Senate. Do you see a group of aliens?
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
These aliens look like they could be the same species as E.T.! You can see them cheering in their little pod. This has us wondering if Steven Spielberg and George Lucas were good friends and collaborated on their movies. Spielberg had actually dressed a kid in a Yoda costume for Halloween in the movie E.T. which leads us to believe this was definitely a returned Easter Egg.
Jurassic World (2015)
Purists may not appreciate the most recent Jurassic Park installments quite enough as compared to the earlier ones, despite the fact that there are literally so many memorable scenes to pause and rewind to. Ever seen a pterodactyl attack a Jimmy Buffet? Yeah, us either, that is until we paused this movie!
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
The best part about this scene is that in Jimmy Buffet style, he manages to continue double fisting amidst the chaos of a literal dinosaur chasing him down. When you’re Jimmy Buffet, you don’t back down and you definitely don’t commit any party fouls. Bottom’s up, dinosaur attack or not!
Iron Man (2008)
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is literally chock full of Easter Eggs. It’s kind of their thing to give these little gifts to their fans. They make reference to all of their movies within their movies, kind of like inception of Easter Eggs. Iron Man was made in 2008 and was the first movie of the entire franchise.
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
There’s a very important scene in the movie that shows Tony Stark getting dressed in the iconic Iron Man suit. If you look closely, you can make out a very important object that will actually be showing up in most future movies. The item you’re seeing is actually Captain America’s shield, or rather, half of it. At this stage of the story, we’d guess it was probably halfway through production.
Man of Steel (2013)
Superhero movies are always cooler when they’re part of a cinematic universe. It must be why many creators work within the parameters of the universes creates. 2013’s Man of Steel is no exception to this commonality. Henry Cavill’s portrayal of Superman got mixed reviews, but a unique reference is made to another superhero in this critical scene that’s almost always overlooked.
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
Fighting in space, Superman actually leaps further than a satellite, which just so happens to be marked with a Wayne Enterprises logo. It isn’t confirmed for certain, but it’s pretty obviously alluding to the fact that Bruce Wayne is actually Batman after all, and it turns out that we’ll see this a few movies later.
The Rescuers (1977)
Okay, the more we dig into this and learn about the most paused scenes in movies, the more we realize that Disney weirdly has historically been sneaking inappropriate extra scenes into a lot of its movies over time. For example, take The Rescuers. The main character mouse includes some pretty questionable shots of other characters getting changed in their room.
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
Honestly, it’s kind of shocking to know that they’ve even gotten away with such a thing. We definitely think it’s strange. To clarify, when the cute, little mice are gliding in a sardine can past a building is when it actually happens. You’ll have to check it out for yourself to see what we mean.
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
It’s honestly no secret that the Indiana Jones franchise is absolutely riddled with memorable moments. The first installment, Raiders of the Lost Ark, isn’t an exception to that rule. The franchise’s worst and most evil villain most definitely has to be Dr. Rene Belloq, hands down, and we’re sure everyone would agree.
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
This degenerate of a human character is played by Raul Freeman during the first movie. This movie makes the most-paused scenes list as Belloq actually manages to deliver a real flow of some brilliant lines, and ends with a fly crawling into his mouth. We don’t know whether it was planned or impromptu but either way, it’s some really great acting.
Signs (2002)
Spoiler alert! If you’ve seen the classic movie Signs by acclaimed filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan, you know aliens are revealed at the end. We do get a quick view of them, very briefly at the beginning of the movie. Understandably, this quick glimpse is what gets this scene on the most-paused list!
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
The fact that it’s not the greatest quality makes it all the more mysterious. It was actually intentionally done by producers, they worked hard to create a sense of fear and uncertainty in the viewer. You create what you think it looks like in your imagination, and then you finally get to see what it looks like at the end.
Burn After Reading (2008)
Coen Brothers’ movies are known for having super short-lived but graphic moments of violence. Burn After Reading continues to uphold the tradition in every sense of the phrase. Things take a turn down an interesting path when Brad Pitt’s character is found in the closet by none other than George Clooney’s character.
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
He just, without a shred of hesitation, shoots and kills him. It literally happens so quickly that you can’t go without rewinding and pausing. If for nothing else, you can try to figure out how it happened… but it’s honestly difficult even then. It happens so fast we didn’t even realize Brad Pitt’s character had actually found its end.
Finding Dory (2016)
Another animated film finds its way to the list, but this time a 3D animated film. Finding Dory was released after much anticipation, almost 13 years following Finding Nemo hitting the big screen. A huge number of fans were shocked to learn that one of the villains from the original movie would make a cameo! In the background of this shot, you can see Darla clear as day.
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
You can see the dentist’s niece briefly in a photo taped to the wall where Dory is locked. This is certainly not the first time Pixar has gifted its viewers with a little Easter Egg action such as this one, and we’re glad they stay consistent and keep everyone interested in the little things. Only real fans would notice this small allusion.
She’s the Man (2006)
We said there was a theme, right? Well, if you’ve seen this romantic-comedy, you might be able to guess our next most-paused scene. What most people don’t know about the movie starring Amanda Bynes and Channing Tatum, it that She’s the Man, a 2006 comedy, is in fact a modern day version of William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night play. It’s true. Just like the play, main character Viola actually decides to dress up as Sebastian, her twin brother, because she needs to pass as a male.
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
Amanda Bynes’ character does the exact same thing in She’s the Man, although her motive is a little less picturesque. She does it to be able to play on a soccer team at school. So when Viola gets caught, she has to confirm she’s female somehow. Her way of doing this is by lifting up her shirt, and for that reason, this movie makes the list of most-paused scenes in La La Land.
The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
Another scene paused thanks to Margot Robbie’s captivating beauty. Martin Scorsese wasn’t shy about taking some epically huge risks during the making of The Wolf of Wall Street. Margot Robbie makes the list again for her steamy scene with Jordan Belfort, played by Leonardo DiCaprio. There’s no denying that this sultry scene is definitely a pause-worthy one.
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
Right at the end of the scene, Leonardo DiCaprio’s character absolutely kills the moment by telling Naomi (the character portrayed by Margot Robbie) that he’s got security detail– and the guards can see everything that she’s up to. We’re willing to bet she didn’t care, this is a girl who knows how to get what she wants (both on and off the screen).
Wild Things (1998)
Phoebe Cates delivered an absolutely pause-worthy pool scene performance back in 1982, and we were happy enough with that. No one saw it coming that 16 years later, an even more steamy pool scene would come to the surface during the movie Wild Things. Aside from the hot girls in the pool, this 90’s film actually didn’t do too hot in the box office.
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
That’s neither here nor there, because the steamy scene of Neve Campbell and Denise Richards in the pool was worth the watch for many fans. Even casual viewers of the movie can’t deny that this scene was definitely one of the most pause-worthy moments in Hollywood history.
Titanic (1997)
Is anyone familiar with the movie about a tiny little boat? Well, the name alone will tell you we’re just poking fun, but it’s no secret that the entire world has seen this movie (probably more than once) and absolutely fell in love with Titanic as soon as it hit theaters in 1997. Everyone remembers the iconic scene where Leonardo DiCaprio’s character, Jack, is drawing Rose.
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
Rose Dawson, famously portrayed by Kate Winslet, is lying without clothes on a chaise lounge, asking her third-class lover to draw her like one of his French girls in this pause worthy scene. The scene is done with class, Rose literally looks like a work of art, lying there with the hope diamond. The drawing is later recovered and plays a much bigger part in the plot of the movie. You can see why this iconic scene makes this list, right?
Total Recall (1990)
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s movies are usually pretty action-packed and entertaining. However, Total Recall isn’t the typical Arnie flick. The movie is absolutely riddled with otherworldly imagery and it’s actually quite strange. Pictured is a woman who has 3 of female body part that usually comes in a pair.
[adace-ad id=”6906″]
This movie was odd, and viewers are said to be skimming through it more than actually watching it intently. However, anyone would do a double-take after seeing a woman with three lady parts, which makes this bizarre moment absolutely pause-worthy. Whether you like it or not, there’s no doubt about it, this movie is definitely an interesting one!