Top 10 Controversial Scenes Actors REGRET Doing
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Controversial Scenes That Actors REGRET doing. For this list, we’ll be looking at the most-talked-about scenes that the actors involved have looked back upon and wished they didn’t do it. Did we miss any out? Let us know below!
#10: Kurt Russell
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“The Hateful Eight” (2015)
Coming into 2015’s “The Hateful Eight,” Jennifer Jason Leigh couldn’t play the guitar. But when she was asked to play one for a scene, she learned on a vintage one from the 1800s that was lent to them from Pennsylvania’s Martin Guitar Museum. Leigh was probably scared and delighted by the honor. Then, after all that learning, she was ready to shoot the scene. And then… Kurt Russell grabbed the instrument and turned it into splinters… yikes. The legendary actor didn’t know it was the real Gibson at the time. He assumed it was a prop. Instead, Russell just destroyed a $40,000-worth piece of musical history. Unsurprisingly, the museum decided not to rent out its artifacts to studios anymore.
#9: Dakota Johnson & Jamie Dornan
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“Fifty Shades of Grey” (2015)
2015’s “Fifty Shades of Grey” launched a franchise, giving Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan their big breaks. As such, you might assume that they look back fondly on the experience. Some parts, maybe. Others… not so much. And, of course, we’re referring to the explicit scenes. Johnson spoke about how tedious filming those moments were, that she and Dornan spent hours simulating the adult act, being very bored. Other times, Johnson found the experience awkward. Dornan has also described shooting those scenes as “uncomfortable” and had to apologize to Johnson regularly. In 2022, Johnson spoke candidly about the chaos behind-the-scenes as source author E. L. James meddled in the production, changing the film she had first agreed to.
#8: Jessica Alba
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“Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer” (2007)
This scene is not controversial in the classic sense of what we see on screen. Instead, it’s to do with the terrible situation behind the scenes that nearly caused performer Jessica Alba to walk about from the industry. When shooting 2007’s “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer,” Alba’s Sue Storm was fatally stabbed and had intense moments with her family before passing away. According to the actor, the director, Tim Story, told Alba that her acting was too realistic and asked her to be “prettier” when she cries. Yikes, misogyny. Story then asked her to make her face flat, and they’ll add in tears with CGI. Yep, that’s what an actor wants, to not act but let a computer do it(!)
#7: Rupert Grint & Emma Watson
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2” (2011)
After starring in the first “Harry Potter” film in 2001, launching a franchise, and developing life-long friendships with each other, the time had finally come for Emma Watson’s Hermione and Rupert Grint’s Ron to kiss for 2011’s “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2.” And both performers hated it. On top of having a bucket of water chucked at them just before, the duo felt more like relatives after growing up together. So, you can imagine playing tonsil hockey would be pretty awkward with that perception. And it probably didn't help that the cast, crew, and Daniel Radcliffe, for some reason, were really eager to be on set to watch the smooch be recorded.
#6: Jenny Agutter
“Walkabout” (1971)
Known today for her work on the TV show “Call the Midwife,” back in 1971, Jenny Agutter was in the film “Walkabout,” that’s often considered a “must-watch” production by critics. Playing the lead in the Australian-based flick, several scenes involved Agutter going au naturel as the director Nicolas Roeg wanted to create a Garden of Eden imagery. The problem, especially today, was that Agutter had just turned 16 during filming. The actor has stated she doesn’t regret the scene, per se. Instead, Agutter views it as the innocent depiction of being clothesless. But she does regret social media jumping on the moments and turning them into a darker, seedier aspect than the original intention.
#5: Seth Rogen
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“The 40-Year-Old Virgin” (2005)
In recent years, there are probably a few movies Seth Rogen regrets -- mostly the ones involving the controversial James Franco. But a particular scene from one of his most famous roles has haunted him, that being from 2005’s “The 40-Year-Old Virgin.” The controversial moment is when Rogen’s Cal and Paul Rudd’s David are playing video games and bantering about how they know the other is gay. In an interview with GQ in 2019, Rogen mentioned that people who had seen the scene had spoken to him and stated it made them feel terrible as everyone laughed at it in the cinema. This resonated with the actor as it’s the last thing he wanted.
#4: George Reeves
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“Superman and the Mole Men” (1951)
After Superman burst onto the live-action landscape in 1948, George Reeves was handed the titular role in 1951’s “Superman and the Mole Men.” And even back then, apparently, kids tried to replicate what they saw on screen. In the film, Supes is shot at by a baddie, but, of course, it does no damage. According to legend, when Reeves was doing promotional work in character, a boy approached him with a loaded firearm to see if he was bulletproof. Thankfully, the actor managed to talk the kid out of the experiment by claiming the bullet would’ve bounced off him but hurt those around. Reeves then began a campaign for firearm safety to make sure this didn’t happen again.
#3: Elliot Page
“Juno” (2007)
Sometimes, moments in films age well and can be enjoyed decades later. Others age like already expired milk left outside in the hot sun. And this moment from 2007’s “Juno” is definitely the latter, especially in lead Elliot Page’s view. The scene involves Jason Bateman’s Mark Loring suggesting Madison as a name for the baby he’s getting from Juno, only for the teen to question it, as the name sounds “a little gay.” Page said in interviews that the comment didn’t register at the time. But looking back at it and other films he loved, many were littered with homophobia, transphobia, and biphobia. Page wanted to do better. When he’s since done script readings for “Juno,” Page has skipped over the uncomfortable line.
#2: Jim Carrey
Top 10 Scenes That Actors Regret Doing
“Kick-Ass 2” (2013)
Following in the footsteps of its predecessor, 2013’s “Kick-Ass 2” was an action-packed flick that pushed its violence to the forefront. And for some, it was too much, including one of its stars, Jim Carrey. Playing Sal Bertolinni, also known as the bat-wielding vigilante Colonel Stars and Stripes, he had some pretty intense scenes, especially his demise at Mother Russia’s hands. But upon its release, Carrey distanced himself from the production he filmed a month before the Sandy Hook Elementary School attack. The tragic event made the comedian and actor change his opinion on graphic movies. Nearing its general release, Carrey Tweeted his displeasure at the violence in the film and that he couldn’t support it in good conscience.
#1: Sharon Stone
“Basic Instinct” (1992)
One gesture in one film scene has overshadowed Sharon Stone’s career for decades. And all because of a massive lie. The moment we’re referring to is the infamous leg cross during the interrogation scene in 1992’s “Basic Instinct,” which immediately went down in folklore. After being forced to not wear anything underneath, Stone was told by director Paul Verhoeven that nothing graphic would be seen. However, she was horrified when she saw the scene for the first time in the cinema. On top of telling Verhoeven he should’ve shown her the incident privately to check it was okay, Stone slapped Verhoeven for his deception. In 2021, the actor continued her opposition by slating the anniversary director’s “XXX” cut of “Basic Instinct.”
