Top 10 Good Cameos in Bad Movies

“Grown Ups 2” (2013)

Nobody would have expected Shaq to play a police officer in an Adam Sandler movie. Through his natural charisma, the former NBA star makes it all worthwhile with his upbeat performance. He pretends to confront the main friend group before turning everything into a dance party. Towering over everyone, Shaq shows that he’s equally gifted in front of a camera as he is on the court. The basketball player somehow manages to be funnier than all of the other comedy legends in the scene. For a movie that largely underutilized its comedic talent, Shaq’s presence in this entertaining sequence seems like a breath of fresh air.

“Dumb and Dumber To” (2014)

While he might not have been in the original, Bill Murray was a welcome addition to “Dumb and Dumber To.” In the sequel, Murray plays Ice Pick, the unexpected roommate of Harry who has turned their apartment into a drug lab. Hidden behind a mask throughout, Murray provides a cameo that focuses solely on his comedic timing and less on his star power. Fans of “Breaking Bad” will likely enjoy this hilarious reference. It might be challenging to recognize the comedy icon initially, but repeated viewings elevate this scene as the highlight of this largely forgotten sequel. You can’t help but commend the actor for showing up in a thankless role and still being completely hilarious.

“Ted 2” (2015)

The titular bear in this fantasy comedy sequel needs a sperm donor to have a child, so naturally he looks for the best possible candidate. Enter legendary footballer Tom Brady. Ted and his friend John try to sneak into Brady’s house to acquire the sample. It’s a ridiculous scene, made all the more absurd by the presence of the real quarterback. Things turn south in hilarious ways as he wakes up and foils their plan. Brady doesn’t appear in a lot of movies, which makes this cameo even more special. It showcased the NFL player’s willingness to poke fun at himself and injected this comedy with the spark it desperately needed.

“Snow Dogs” (2002)

“Snow Dogs” isn’t exactly the pinnacle of Cuba Gooding Jr.’s career, but it does feature this enjoyable gag. After getting lost in the snow, Ted Brooks hallucinates that he’s relaxing in a tropical paradise. In the whimsical scene, the character lounges on the beach and envisions himself engaging in a conversation with Michael Bolton. The scene is unapologetically silly, featuring a funny exchange between the two in which Bolton asks for a cookie. The singer gives Brooks advice and exudes an abundance of charm, managing to make at least one scene in this movie genuinely hilarious. It’s the kind of bizarre cameo that would shine even brighter in a more noteworthy project.

“The Love Guru” (2008)

Many people would argue that “The Love Guru” ranks among the worst comedies of its decade. Despite being critically panned, it still features a fun cameo from this TV icon. It turns out that Mike Myers’ character Guru Pitka uses Mariska Hargitay’s name as a greeting, making for a welcome surprise when he encounters the real person. Willing to make fun of herself, the “SVU” star makes this more hilarious by fully committing to the joke. The scene also cleverly nods to the actress’ work on “Law and Order,” with the signature sound effect. While the appearance is brief, it still injects a welcome dose of absurdity and provides a chance for Hargitay to play a less serious role.

“Little Nicky” (2000)

You don’t have to be a metalhead to love Ozzy Osbourne’s appearance in “Little Nicky.” Through a series of unexpected turns, the self-proclaimed Prince of Darkness appears out of a mysterious orb. His arrival comes just in time for him to bite the head off of a bat, an apparent reference to his infamous 1982 bat incident. Whether his appearance makes sense or not is up for debate, but what’s certain is that the heavy metal godfather brings a delightful energy to this otherwise lackluster comedy. And there’s no question that his cameo is a seamless fit in a film centered around Satan. Despite some questionable CGI, the sequence plays out like a twisted fantasy, which Osbourne magnifies in every way.

“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” (2017)

As Jack Sparrow gets hauled off to jail, he unexpectedly runs into a relative of his – Uncle Jack, played by Beatles legend Paul McCartney. The character, who’s also a fellow prisoner, allows McCartney to unveil his comedic chops, in addition to showcasing his musical prowess through some singing. He also gets to wear authentic garb that adds an extra layer of authenticity to the scene. Surprisingly, McCartney doesn’t hold back. The musician lands every joke, brightening up this entry in the “Pirates” franchise with his unique charm. His ability to execute dark humor and brilliantly play off Depp’s character comes as a welcome surprise to this adventure.

“Planet of the Apes” (2001)

The villain Thade consults his father Zaius in the 2001 version of “Planet of the Apes.” Behind the impressive makeup, the elder character is actually portrayed by Charlton Heston. His presence gives this troubled adaptation some added gravitas. It’s also a bit ironic to see him on the other side this time, considering that Heston played the lead human in the original 1968 film. Heston tries to give a Shakespearan spin to his lines and ends up elevating the material with his iconic voice. It might not be a ton of screen time, but the emotional sequence reminds viewers that he’s still a legend.

“A Million Ways to Die in the West” (2014)

Christopher Lloyd reprises his iconic role as Doc Brown from “Back to the Future” in this very random scene from “A Million Ways to Die in the West.” Seth MacFarlane’s character stumbles into a woodshed where he finds the scientist busy at work on a DeLorean. Fans of the original sci-fi franchise must have loved to see Lloyd again, especially with the iconic car by his side. The legendary actor conjures up all of Brown’s energy to give viewers another glimpse at the beloved character. While the overall movie might be a mixed bag, this scene at least gives audiences a nice boost of nostalgia, complete with a famous catchphrase to excite your inner child.

“Gigli” (2003)

Counted among the greatest actors of his generation, Al Pacino has also been in some bad movies. This includes everything from falling in love with Adam Sandler in “Jack and Jill” (xref) to the infamous “Gigli”. In the latter project, Pacino plays a hot-tempered mobster and tries to make this box-office bomb entertaining. Despite the film’s overall lack of cohesion, this standout sequence gives the actor a chance to raise his voice and shoot someone. It’s a scene that’s fun and campy in the best way possible. While the movie’s various genres may not come together by the end, Pacino’s cameo at least offers a moment of thrill for fans of mob movies.