Top 10 Actors Who Were Actually WASTED During Their Famous Scenes

#10: Jennifer Lawrence

Passengers (2016)

Its perhaps not the first thing the audience thinks about when they watch a movie love scene. Do the actors in question feel uncomfortable if their partner in the scene happens to be married? Well, Jennifer Lawrence certainly did during the filming of the science fiction film Passengers. The actor reportedly was so nervous about shooting her love scene with Chris Pratt, who was then-married to Anna Faris, that she needed a little bit of liquid courage. Lawrence went through with the scene, but not before taking some drinks and even calling her mom for moral support.

#9: Brad Pitt & Edward Norton

Fight Club (1999)

Theres a lot for fans to uncover upon subsequent rewatches of David Finchers adaptation of the Chuck Palahniuk novel, Fight Club. For example, those little clues concerning how the relationship between the narrator of Fight Club and his compatriot, Tyler Durden, might not exactly be what we think it is, on the surface. Meanwhile, the actual, on-set relationship between Edward Norton and Brad Pitt can be seen when the pair are golfing. The pair reportedly got along pretty well during production, which led to some drinking which eventually led to them shooting golf balls at catering trucks. Fincher, to his credit, filmed Pitt and Norton, and the rest is history.

#8: Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Stockard Channing, & Dianne Wiest

Practical Magic (1998)

Its a cinematic cliche thats well-worn at this point. That of a group of women gathering together to sing and dance all sans the company of their significant others. Girl time, for lack of a better phrase. Practical Magic had a good example of this trope, while its 1998 release date ensured that the bloom wasnt yet off the rose when it came to these sorts of estrogen-fueled shenanigans. Emphasis on shenanigans, because its since been revealed within outlets such as People Magazine that at least Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock were legitimately wasted during the midnight margaritas scene. As for co-stars Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest? Well, with all of that alcohol flying around, were willing to bet that they were also having fun.

#7: John CandySplash (1984)

We would admittedly NOT like to remember too much about all of the downtime we had during the global pandemic a few years ago. That said, creative types in Hollywood DID manage to brainstorm some decent ideas to keep everybody busy. Josh Gads Covid-era look back at classic movies brought together casts of films like Splash from 1984. Director Ron Howard revealed to Gad how John Candy had a chance meet-up with Jack Nicholson on the way to the set one day. One drink led to another, and the typically reliable Candy shot the racquetball sequence in Splash severely under the influence.

#6: Jack Nicholson

Easy Rider (1969)

Speaking of Jack Nicholson, this Hollywood legend is one of the OGs when it comes to performing a classic scene while were gonna go with enjoying a certain state of mind. Nicholsons character of George Hanson possesses a fondness for alcohol, of which the real stuff was imbibed. Hanson also got stoned on-screen, which meant that Nicholson did the same. The actor told Time Magazine in 2012 that he smoked about 155 joints during the production of Easy Rider. And you know what? It certainly shows in the final product: it looks like a legitimately wild time.

#5: Billy Bob Thornton

Bad Santa (2003)

We all love a little bit of bad behavior sometimes. Bad Santa is a movie for those kinds of people, starring Billy Bob Thornton as a scandalous mall Santa Claus with a knack for foul language and even fouler behavior. Thorntons performance of a highly inebriated Saint Nick was bolstered by some real-life boozing that included both wine and beer before the final take was over. Bad Santa, as a result, feels like a legitimately scumming movie, anchored by Thorntons sleazeball character thats just shy of hopeless with a touch of skid row charm left intact.

#4: Nicolas Cage

Leaving Las Vegas (1995)

Nicolas Cage won the Academy Award for Best Actor thanks to this portrayal of a screenwriter on the brink of self-destruction. Cages character of Ben Sanderson has come to Las Vegas with one very specific intention: to drink a fatal amount of alcohol. The actors method approach to this role essentially meant that Cage was going to be drinking real alcohol during many of the scenes here in Leaving Las Vegas. This included one where Cage freaks out in a casino and is ejected by security. Hence why the end results feel so legitimately crazed and chaotic.

#3: Margot Robbie

The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

Theres always a lot of moving parts behind any movie scene, from complicated set-ups to elaborate lighting. This stress can often go double for sex scenes, too, requiring intimacy coordinators to ensure that everything is going as smoothly as possible for the actors. Or, you could do what Margot Robbie did in The Wolf of Wall Street: get liquored up prior to shooting that big love scene with Leonardo DiCaprio. Some shots of tequila were reportedly all it took for Robbie to feel comfortable enough to shoot what we eventually saw on screen: brave and bold bit of nudity from a young actor fresh to American cinemas.

#2: Carrie Fisher & Harrison Ford

Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

We all have that one friend who can convince us to head out on a work night. Famous people just have famous-er friends than us, and go to parties with even cooler people who keep them out all night before a movie shoot. Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford were reportedly hanging out with Monty Python member Eric Idle and The Rolling Stones prior to shooting their scenes in Cloud City for The Empire Strikes Back. Fast forward to Han and Leias arrival at Lando Calrissians facility, and you have two actors who are essentially still feeling the effects of one long, crazy evening.

#1: Martin Sheen

Apocalypse Now (1979)

The Filipino shooting locations of Apocalypse Now werent exactly the most hospitable for the cast and crew back in 1979. Martin Sheens struggles with substance use disorder were also a big part of the actors life during this time, as evidenced by this striking sequence that was shot on Sheens birthday. The actor is heavily intoxicated while filming a scene where his character Captain Benjamin L. Willard angrily smashes a mirror and hurts his hand. This was no special effect, but simply the product of Sheen being legitimately drunk while shooting the scene.

How different do you think these takes couldve been had the actors been sober on set that day? Let us know your alternate history theories in the comments!