Top 10 Movie Ambushes

Next time Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas threaten your Corsair armada, keep in mind that they’ve probably got a trick up their sleeves. Just before our favorite Fellowship members ambush, the heroic trio enlists the aide of a ghost army to help win the battle of Pelennor Fields. Orc troops, impatiently expecting the arrival of pirate mercenaries, are amused to find the three hodgepodge, overconfident warriors. But there’s nothing better than the terrified faces of Mordor’s finest as the Army of the Dead appears out of thin air.

Don’t speak so soon, Capitaine. In the first scene of this Vietnam War film, which takes place in the mid-‘60s, French colonial soldiers find themselves bored in the Vietnamese countryside. But a bit of blood spattered on a lieutenant’s cheek is the first indication of a masterful ambush by North Vietnamese forces. If this ever happens to you, pick up your gun, not your bugle. What comes next? Huge explosions and gory injuries engulf us in the slaughter as the NVA attacks from all sides...especially the derriere.

It’s the near future and Earth has been invaded by aliens. This was the ambush that crushed all our hope of humanity’s survival. That is, until we learned that Tom Cruise was the beneficiary of sweet sci-fi time-looping powers. Cruise plays an American public affairs officer who finds himself in the middle of a terrifying surprise attack by Mimics, a mysterious, ultra-intelligent alien race. Not even wicked cool combat suits can stave off the carnage. And Cruise just makes the disaster all the more entertaining.

It’s getting pretty hairy out here! This spine-chilling, intense scene in Oliver Stone’s Vietnam War epic shows fresh recruit Private Taylor, played by Charlie Sheen, waking up on patrol to find a sleeping night watchman and an advancing NVA ambush. When terror takes hold, it completely paralyzes Sheen. A chaotic firefight suddenly erupts, introducing him to the gruesome reality of war. Ultimately, the skirmish is a failure for both sides, resulting only in death, maiming, and the loss of Sheen’s innocence.

Bring your katana to the theater, my fellow samurai; you never know who will be there. State-hired ninja assassins catch the rebellious samurai leader Katsumoto and his village off guard, quickly turning a traditional kyogen performance from sweet to bloodstained. After slaying a number of samurai with crossbows, the ninjas confront the samurai in a battle featuring some of the best fight choreography of the decade. The ninjas’ menacing appearance, Tom Cruise’s resourcefulness, and this little kid’s impressive bravery make this our favorite steel-clashing, face-slashing ambush.

It’s not the first setting you’d expect for a crime drama’s climax, but in proper Martin Scorsese fashion, everyone has to die somewhere. In this Oscar-winning thriller, two cops, one undercover and one a mole for the Boston mob, finally come face to face on the roof of an abandoned building. The scene features gripping performances by Matt Damon and Leonardo DiCaprio as the perpetrators – and victims – of a string of ambushes. Just the sound of gunshots ringing through the building lobby makes each of these unforeseen murders absolutely startling.

May the Force, and maybe some foresight, be with you. In our favorite Star Wars ambush, the imperials trap and outnumber the rebel Starfleet as it assaults the now-operational Death Star, forcing General Lando and the fighters to pull off some of the series’ wildest flying maneuvers if their mission is to succeed. This iconic scene, with its thrilling score, memorable dialogue, and nostalgia-inspiring special effects, earns it a well-deserved number four spot on our list.

What’s the worst thing that could happen on a car ride in 2027? In this film’s vision of a desperate, chaotic future, a burning car blocks Clive Owen, Julianne Moore and company’s path. Then, an armed mob comes out of the woodwork, attacking them with all the raw terror cinema can offer. Faceless bikers lodge a bullet into Moore’s throat, sending the protagonists into hysteria. The scene is filmed in just one shot, using a specially designed 360 degree camera mount, putting viewers in the car and in the action.

Loyalty will get you killed, especially if you have a backstabbing, conspiring brother-in-law. Sonny Corleone, heir to a gangster empire, is put in the grip of a rival family’s faceless henchmen when he stops at a tollbooth en route to murder his sister’s abusive husband. From the booth door shutting to that insulting kick in the head, Sonny’s death is simply tragic. The setting’s barrenness and the muted symphony of submachine gunfire and Sonny’s dying screams make it one of the most powerful moments in the “Godfather” franchise.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
- Beach Ambush
“Flags of Our Fathers” (2006)
- Velociraptors
“The Lost World: Jurassic Park” (1997)
- Powhatan Tribe vs. the British
“Pocahontas” (1995)

Ending their spree of legendary bank robberies, Bonnie and Clyde are set up by the father of one of their accomplices. The all-too-trusting Clyde pulls over to help, leaving them totally vulnerable. Every shot in this scene is emotionally charged, leading to the realization that something ominous is about to happen. Cops annihilate the couple, making them writhe in this famous “Ballet of Blood.” In a film full of excess, it’s the perfect way to die.

Do you agree with our list? What’s your favorite movie ambush scene? For more entertaining Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.