Top 10 Movie Cameos That Actually Made the Scene Better

“Maverick” (1994)

By the early 1990s, Mel Gibson and Danny Glover had starred in three “Lethal Weapon” films, all directed by Richard Donner. In 1994, Donner reunited with Gibson for the Western comedy “Maverick,” in which Gibson played the titular gambler and con artist. In one scene, Maverick confronts a bank owner, only for a gang of misfits to storm in and rob the place. To his surprise, Maverick seems to recognize one of the robbers, who turns out to be Danny Glover. The film playfully references their “Lethal Weapon” partnership, as the two exchange a brief look of recognition while the franchise’s music plays on. To top it off, Glover’s character then delivers his signature “Lethal Weapon” line before riding off on his getaway horse.

“Thor: Ragnarok” (2017)

Taika Waititi’s “Thor: Ragnarok” didn’t just revitalize the “Thor” franchise, it gave the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe a much-needed comedic jolt. One of the earliest, and funniest, scenes in the film features Loki, disguised as his adoptive father, Odin, staging a rather creative retelling of his own death in the previous installment. The Asgardian actor who portrays Loki in this exaggerated reenactment is none other than Matt Damon, a cameo that left audiences both surprised and delighted. Damon hams it up in the play, delivering a performance so hilariously bad, you’d almost forget he’s an award-winning actor. His appearance takes an already funny scene and cranks it up to sheer absurdity.

“Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End” (2007)

Johnny Depp has often credited Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards as the inspiration for Jack Sparrow’s swagger and voice in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” films. For the third installment, Depp somehow worked magic by getting Richards to play his father, Captain Teague. Richards saunters into the room in the scene, commanding everyone’s respect before he even utters a word. He doesn’t stick around for long, but in under five minutes, Richards strums a guitar, silences the room with a single note and drops what is arguably the most memorable line of the entire film. In a movie that otherwise struggled to stay afloat, seeing both the muse and the inspired share the screen was a rare bright spot.

“Young Frankenstein” (1974)

This two-time Oscar-winning actor built his reputation on serious roles in films like “The French Connection” and “The Conversation.” However, eager to explore a different side of acting, he took an uncredited part in Mel Brooks’ classic horror spoof “Young Frankenstein.” Hackman plays a blind, reclusive monk who prays for a companion and is visited by the monster. Their encounter quickly turns disastrous as the monk accidentally pours hot soup on the creature and lights his finger on fire. Despite the slapstick nature of the scene, Hackman delivers his lines with a deadpan precision that makes everything much funnier. He even improvised his final line, which was so unexpectedly hilarious that the shot had to fade to black immediately to hide the crew’s laughter.

“The Hangover” (2009)

Few scenes in “The Hangover” can compete with the sheer brilliance of Mike Tyson’s cameo. The legendary boxer plays a key role in helping the three friends retrace their steps and track down their missing buddy. But that doesn’t mean the fun was lacking. Tyson portrays a fictionalized version of himself and does what he does best, knocking out Zach Galifianakis’ character, Alan, in the first minute. It’s an unexpected showing from the former heavyweight champ, but Tyson delivers, turning his brief appearance into one of the film’s highlights. The cameo didn’t just make the scene better, it also changed Tyson’s life, as he later revealed that the experience motivated him to turn things around and embrace a healthier lifestyle.

“Tropic Thunder” (2008)

The 2008 satire “Tropic Thunder” had no shortage of ridiculous characters and plotlines, but one of its biggest surprises was the bizarre cameo by Tom Cruise. Cruise was initially supposed to play another role, but he pitched an entirely new character, which he developed with director Ben Stiller. As the foul-mouthed, hot-tempered producer Les Grossman, Cruise is near unrecognizable, not just in appearance, but also in his mannerisms. In one of the film’s few scenes set outside the jungle, Cruise completely steals the show, yelling expletives, chugging Diet Coke and busting out dance moves to “Low.” Take this scene away, and the movie feels incomplete. Take Cruise out of it, and it most likely wouldn’t have worked at all.

“Glengarry Glen Ross” (1992)

Alec Baldwin only appears in one scene in David Mamet’s 1992 film adaptation of his stage play about a group of desperate real-estate salesmen. Yet, that scene has become arguably the most memorable and quotable of the entire film. Baldwin’s character, Blake, is a hotshot salesman brought in to galvanize the team, but instead, he doles out a brutal seven-minute takedown, threatening their jobs if they don’t follow the “ABCs” of Sales. The role was created specifically for Baldwin, and with his razor-sharp delivery, it’s clear to see why. Of course, Mamet deserves credit for coming up with the iconic lines, but without Baldwin’s commanding performance, they wouldn’t have hit nearly as hard.

“Wedding Crashers” (2005)

After his best friend falls in love and gives up wedding crashing, John Beckwith seeks advice from the legendary crasher, Chazz Reinhold. The role of Chazz wasn’t in the original script, but after Owen Wilson and director David Dobkin wrote him in, they knew only one man could do him justice: Will Ferrell. And they were absolutely right. From the moment Ferrell descends the staircase wearing a kimono with nunchucks around his neck, it was a never-ending flurry of hilarity. Every line that comes out of his mouth is delivered with such impeccable timing that he doesn’t just steal the scene, but crashes the entire movie. And by keeping the cameo under wraps, the filmmakers ensured audiences were in for an unforgettable experience.

“Pulp Fiction” (1994)

“Pulp Fiction” is widely regarded not only as Quentin Tarantino’s best film, but as one of cinema’s greatest offerings. One scene that burns itself into memory features Christopher Walken as Captain Koons, a war veteran who is entrusted to deliver a gold watch to the son of his fallen comrade. As Koons recounts the watch’s long, almost mythical journey through generations, he reveals how he smuggled it inside his body for two years. The nearly four-minute monologue starts off sincere, before taking an unbelievably absurd turn. Yet, through it all, Walken plays it straight, his deadpan delivery making the ridiculous seem almost profound. Granted, this was always going to be Captain Koons’ scene, but in lesser hands, it could’ve easily fallen apart.

“Zombieland” (2009)


This cameo was originally written for Patrick Swayze, but as he was undergoing cancer treatment at the time, Bill Murray stepped in. In the scene, the crew ventures to Murray’s Hollywood home, where they encounter him posing as a zombie to blend in. While we had been fully invested in the main characters up until that point, Murray effortlessly steals the spotlight, firing off one hilarious line after another with references to his entire career. It all culminates in one of the funniest deaths in movie history, one that only Murray could have executed this well. Considering how beloved this appearance was, the filmmakers had no choice but to bring Murray back for another scene-stealing cameo in the 2019 sequel “Zombieland: Double Tap.”


What’s the most unforgettable movie cameo you’ve seen? Share them in the comments below.