Top 10 Best Unscripted DC Movie Moments
#10: Bane’s Compliment
“The Dark Knight Rises” (2012) Bane may have a voice that everyone loves to lampoon, but he’s still an intimidating and effective villain. One of his biggest and most heinous actions in the movie is when he bombs Gotham’s football stadium. However, in the lead-up to the bombing, we’re treated to a haunting montage set to a young boy singing the American national anthem. Bane pauses before exiting the tunnel onto the field, commenting that the boy has a lovely, lovely voice. According to the film’s producers, actor Tom Hardy improvised this line. He may be playing a villain, but he knows a good singer when he hears one!
#9: Batman Reacts to Doomsday
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“Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” (2016) The Dark Knight himself has been known to improvise plans in combat, and his actors are quick on their feet too. During the climactic scenes of “Batman v Superman,” the villain Doomsday is unleashed on the world. The demonic-looking creature lands right in front of Batman, prompting him to mutter a decidedly not-PG-13 oath – “Oh shit.” Actor Ben Affleck revealed in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that he came up with the line himself. Batfleck felt that saying it at that moment was what anyone in a similar situation would say. We can’t say we disagree.
#8: A Dance with the Joker in the Pale Moonlight
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“Batman” (1989) The Joker is an unpredictable character, and the actors who play him are equally wild. In Tim Burton’s “Batman” film, the Joker attacks Bruce Wayne and Vicki Vale in her apartment. He offers the incognito Batman a clue to his identity by using a turn of phrase Bruce is all too familiar with about dancing with the devil in the pale moonlight. However, the Joker soon offers up a different sort of dance. After knocking out Batman’s alter ego, the Joker swans off, doing a sort of curtsy and blowing a raspberry as he departs. Jack Nicholson delivered the impromptu jig and rude noise completely of his own volition.
#7: The Fridge
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“Joker” (2019) While we’re on the subject of the Joker, the Clown Prince of Crime also had several moments of improv in his titular movie. One such moment occurs when Arthur Fleck, the would-be Joker, is alone in his apartment. Depressed at the downward spiral his life has taken, Fleck climbs inside his refrigerator as he listens to a message from two detectives on his answering machine. Star Joaquin Phoenix didn’t tell anyone he was going to climb inside the fridge; leaving the crew equally spellbound by his bizarre behavior as the audience.
#6: Boat Talk
“Wonder Woman” (2017) Steve Trevor and Diana of Themyscira are absolutely adorable together, and their conversation while sailing to Europe illustrates this perfectly. Diana has a hard time understanding Steve’s reluctance to sleep next to her, though she eventually convinces him. They then discuss, among other things, reproduction, marriage, and Diana’s origins. It’s awkward, funny, and very real. A big reason why it feels so authentic is that the whole scene was improvised by the actors! We have no idea how they both managed to keep a straight face through the whole thing.
#5: Redheads
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“Aquaman” (2018) In pursuit of a lost kingdom in the Sahara desert, Arthur Curry and Mera hire a plane to take them to their destination. While en route, the duo discusses Mera’s newfound experience with flying, as well as her worry over returning to Atlantis. When her device signals they’re close, she does what any sensible person would do, and jumps out of the plane. If it was her first time flying, how did she know she wouldn’t die from the fall? The pilot is probably wondering something similar when he notices she didn’t have a parachute. Aquaman quips, “Redheads, you gotta’ love ‘em!” and then joins her. This line was reportedly improvised by actor Jason Momoa. It’s the perfect cherry on top of a great scene.
#4: Call for Help
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“Shazam!” (2019) Actor Zachary Levi is hilarious, both as the adult version of Billy Batson, and in general, so it’s no surprise he improvised one of his lines in this comedy-filled superhero film. When the villainous Dr. Sivana engages Shazam in battle, the new superhero finds his first real challenge. Crashing through a mall’s changing room, Billy is panicked when his foe pursues him. As he goes through a toy aisle, he lobs a toy Batman statue at Sivana, asking Batman to “get him.” Levi requesting a team-up in the spur of the moment like this is almost better than having the real Batman show up. Almost.
#3: Bathroom Dance
“Joker” (2019) Yes, it’s another moment from “Joker.” But can you blame us? Joaquin Phoenix disappeared into the role, and he made some very distinct and memorable choices and improvisations. Arthur Fleck dances many times during the movie. While his famed staircase dance was scripted, several of the other times were not. While it was tempting to talk about the time he fires a gun in his apartment, our pick goes to the scene in the bathroom. Just after killing three men on the subway, Fleck has a minor breakdown in a bathroom and expresses his feelings through an interpretive dance. It’s a strange and haunting moment and it was all Phoenix’s idea.
#2: Joker Clap
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“The Dark Knight” (2008) Okay, it’s the last Joker moment, we promise! Heath Ledger’s take on the character is particularly erratic, and it made for lots of cinematic gold. For instance, shortly after the Joker’s capture, Gordon is promoted by the mayor to Commissioner. As everyone claps, they’re all surprised to see the Joker clapping along with them. Ledger didn’t tell anyone he was going to do it, which made the chaotic villain’s actions, and the reactions to them, feel even more authentic. Then again, anyone who isn’t happy for Gordon is a real monster.
#1: “I’m Batman!”
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“Batman” (1989) Yes, really! Not only did Michael Keaton bring a famous physicality to the role with that full-body turn (though the costume designers deserve plenty of credit), the actor also gave us one of the Dark Knight’s most famous lines as well. In the scene, Batman takes down two thugs, and threatens one of them, asking him to spread the word about him. When asked what he is, Batman was reportedly supposed to respond that he is “the (k)night” or “vengeance.” However, director Tim Burton and Keaton weren’t happy with the lines, so Keaton came up with a simple and iconic solution: “I’m Batman.”