Top 10 Movie & TV Dances That Went Viral

While “Spider-Man 3” didn't exactly entangle fans in its web, there's one scene we just can't forget—bad boy Peter Parker's dance. Why commit evil deeds when you can awkwardly strut your stuff, right? Director Sam Raimi, known for his bold choices, intended the scene to be humorous. He explained, “It was Peter Parker's version—this lame kid—of what it must be like to be his evil self.” Fans might've been unsure about this approach in context, but that didn't stop it from becoming an internet sensation. Even if you’ve never seen the film, you’ve likely seen the countless gifs, memes, or remixes it sparked. Love it or cringe at it, this dance lives on!

Who says animated movies can’t start dance crazes? Disney’s “Encanto” had us all enchanted, and Jamal Sims and Kai Martinez’s choreography to Lin-Manuel Miranda’s incredible soundtrack was a big part of the magic! Fans went wild for Dolores and Mirabel’s dance moves during the golden-eared Madrigal’s verse in “We Don’t Talk About Bruno.” Meanwhile, Luisa also gave us some TikTok-worthy choreography in “Surface Pressure.” That song slaps, so of course, it got everyone dancing! Its catchy beat and relatable lyrics hit hard, but the easy-to-follow moves made it even better. You have to wonder if the choreographers felt the pressure to create a dance that’s Tik-Tik-Tik-Tok-ready. Whether they did or not, that’s exactly what happened!

The summer of 2023 was huge for “Barbie” fans. The film delivered pop culture moment after moment. One unforgettable highlight was Margot Robbie’s Barbie and her crew dancing to Dua Lipa’s “Dance the Night.” It’s such a catchy bop that even the most uncoordinated among us probably felt the urge to join in. Choreographer Jennifer White shared that she aimed to capture a carefree, youthful vibe while focusing on more simple steps (even if that step ball change feels a bit like patting your head and rubbing your stomach simultaneously!). She wanted it to feel “liberating and good fun”—and well, she nailed it! Is it any wonder that fans everywhere were inspired to “Dance the Night Away”?

In 2023, Paul King and Simon Farnaby gifted us an origin story for one of our favorite chocolatiers! Once we recovered from the shock of discovering that Timothée Chalamet is a real triple threat, we couldn’t wait to try and replicate some of his moves! During the showstopping “You’ve Never Had Chocolate Like This,” he and Colin, played by British-Malaysian comedian Phil Wang, dance on tables. That same confectionary charm not only gives Colin the confidence to dance but also gives him a much-needed boost to shoot his shot with Barbara, the girl of his dreams. Fans turned this moment into a viral dance trend that’s as delightful as one of Wonka’s chocolates and utterly scrumdiddlyumptious!

There was no shortage of dance choices from “The Greatest Showman” that could’ve gone viral, but TikTok dancers clearly love a challenge, and they zeroed in on this one! Choreographer Ashley Wallen called it one of his favorites because of how it fits into the story and the emotion behind it. He mentioned that it pushed the dancers to go the “extra mile with their bodies,” revealing it was physically demanding and they only had a couple of days to film it. Can you imagine the core strength needed to pull off those moves without losing your balance? Yet here comes the internet, ready to unleash its boundless energy and put on “The Greatest Show”!

Variations of the game had been around for a while, but in 2017, Fortnite really took off. The dances, or “emotes,” became iconic in their own right, although some fans noticed striking similarities to other choreography. It’s one thing to borrow a move—after all, even “The Carlton” had its inspirations—but lifting an entire routine is another story. Donald Faison reportedly drew from his childhood when he and his friends created their own choreography, imagining themselves as Bell Biv DeVoe. So, you can imagine he wasn’t thrilled to see it used in the game without so much as a credit. Next time you bust out those moves, remember where it all began!

M3gan is an AI-powered doll who knows how to slay! She inspired millions of TikTok users to show off out their best moves (the non-lethal kind, of course!). Interestingly, M3gan’s now-iconic dances, choreographed by Jed Brophy and Amie Donald (who embodies the killer doll), weren’t originally scripted. Director Gerard Johnstone added them later, saying he “just kind of snuck” it in to see if it would get a reaction. He called it “one of those ideas you come up with when you just haven’t had enough sleep.” Apparently, the crew ate it up, but that was nothing compared to the public’s response. Maybe they didn’t plan for a viral dance, but they definitely got one!

If you were around in 2000, you probably lit up seeing this dance back in the spotlight. Although to you, it’s probably not “the Deadpool dance,” but rather the NSYNC choreo you spent hours perfecting in front of your bedroom mirror. Still, if TikTok had been a thing back then, it would’ve been everywhere. Anyway, while Nick Pauley does an impeccable job recreating the dance as Ryan Reynolds’ double in the movie’s opening, credit really goes to Darrin Henson, the original choreographer. He told Forbes that he crafted the routine during the Y2K hype and wanted to “connect the world through dance.” So he’s delighted that his moves are still bringing people together today.

Before the full movie even hit our screens, one clip had everyone captivated. When the kids finally break free of Miss Trunchbull’s iron fist control, they explode into the high-energy “Revolting Children.” Choreographer Ellen Kane shared that director Matthew Warchus wanted the dance to feel like “dams bursting,” and it sure does. One standout moment takes place in a hallway led by Hortensia, aka “Red Beret Girl,” played by Meesha Garbett. Among nearly 300 young dancers, there was something about her crisp moves and infectious energy that grabbed everyone’s attention. Her sharp steps made it impossible not to want to jump in and dance along. Bonus points if you did it in a red beret!

You’ve probably heard by now that Jenna Ortega herself came up with the iconic “Wednesday” dance. During a chat with Jimmy Fallon, she revealed that Tim Burton originally envisioned a flash mob—but Ortega thought that just wasn’t very Wednesday. Instead, he trusted his leading actress to create the dance herself, and boy, did she do her homework! Oh, and apparently, she came up with it in just two days. Ortega didn’t expect it to blow up the way it did, but soon enough, fans everywhere were recreating it. Weirdly though, the craze really took off when people realized the choreo synced perfectly with Lady Gaga’s sped-up “Bloody Mary .” Gaga joined in, too—and even got Wednesday’s approval!

Which movie or TV dance trend did you try? How did it go? Let us know in the comments!