Top 10 Movie Bribing Scenes

You can’t say the Butabi brothers lack determination. In their ongoing quest to get into the famed Roxbury nightclub, Doug and Steve Butabi get it in their heads that bribing the club’s bouncer is a valid option. It’s certainly not the worst idea...except that what they offer the bouncer amounts to a few dollars and some spare change. What sells the comical desperation of the scene, though, is Michael Clarke Duncan’s unchanging stern expression – he never reacts positively or negatively, instead allowing the brothers to wear themselves out.

In times of struggle, class and wealth don’t guarantee your survival. Conniving nobleman Cal Hockley learned this for himself, after he places a sizeable amount of money into the pocket of Titanic crewman William Murdoch to ensure his rescue from the sinking ship. By Hockley’s logic, Murdoch is precisely the sort of man to be swayed by the offer of money and the flaunting of power. Unfortunately, Murdoch is not amused, but he’s got other things on his mind so his definitive response remains ambiguous. But don’t worry: Cal gets his eventually.

Sometimes the best offers are the slowly unveiled ones. Case in point: during the first chapter of “Pulp Fiction,” we’re introduced to Butch, an aging boxer. Butch listens to Marsellus Wallace, a local crime boss, in a quietly tense scene. As Wallace brings up various topics – Butch’s lack of success, the question of retirement, the effect of age on one’s career – it becomes abundantly clear what we’re witnessing is one man trying to persuade another. By the time money is shown, there’s no doubt what kind of deal is taking place.

Everyone has their price, but some demands are odder than others. Such is the case in “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,” when Nazi supporter Walter Donovan speaks with the Sultan of Hatay. Needing to get the Nazis through the country, Donovan offers the finest in German treasures as a bribe, but the sultan has only one thing on his mind: the Germans’ Rolls Royce. Donovan, being quite the smooth operator, willingly parts with the car… which makes the sultan all too eager to hold up his end of the bargain.

Physical harm apparently means little to the average person. At least, that’s how we see the exchange that follows Seth, a teen seeking alcohol for a party, getting hit by a car. When the driver indicates his desire to make amends, Seth is quite willing to make his demands known; he requests that the driver hand over all the money he has. Only trouble is the driver doesn’t have much in the way of cash. What he does have is an invite to a party where booze and girls await.

Ah, doughnuts, the finest of food-based bribery material. In the 1983 comedy “Strange Brew,” our oddball heroes Bob and Doug McKenzie seek out a local beer brewery in the hopes of obtaining free beer. The McKenzie brothers hit a snag, however, when their way is blocked by a dutiful receptionist. So naturally they figure the solution is to offer the nice office worker not one but two delicious doughnuts – and the receptionist actually goes for their offer. It’s such an odd scene, but that’s its charm.

We sense that these cops might not be the sharpest tools in the shed. Coming from a particularly daunting explosion, Detectives Gamble and Hoitz confront corrupt billionaire David Ershon, only to be distracted by the promise of sports and theatre tickets that are most definitely not abribe. The entire scene from “The Other Guys” is played for laughs, embracing how long it takes for the detectives to clue in on their situation. While not a conventional bribe scene, it’s a lot more amusing than most.

Not all monetary persuasion goes well, and sometimes violence ensues. The inciting incident in 1996’s “Fargo” puts hired criminals Showalter and Grimsrud, played by Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare respectively, into the tough situation of dealing with a state trooper. The criminal duo gets pulled over, doing their best to talk – and eventually buy – their way out of a messy situation. Unfortunately for the trooper, it’s just not enough to abate natural suspicion. Such a shame.

Some of the best bribes in film stand out because of their presentation. Late in this comedy film, gym owner Peter LaFleur is confronted by his rival, White Goodman. Goodman, understanding Peter’s doubts, attempts to convince him to sell off his beloved gym for his own good. And then, to show how serious he is, Goodman brings out $100,000 in a briefcase. What makes this go from detestable to hilarious, though, is how small the one hundred grand appears on-screen. We’re amused, Goodman, but not impressed.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
- The Hobo’s Request
“Big Daddy” (1999)
- Marlboro Man
“Thank You for Smoking” (2005)
- Car Accident
“Changing Lanes” (2002)
- An Escalating Offer
“Bachelor Party” (1984)

Here’s a bribing scene that tells a lot about its characters. “The Wolf of Wall Street” stars Leonardo DiCaprio as the real-life businessman Jordan Belfort, known for his less-than-legal business practices. Belfort attempts to curb legal action by inviting the FBI agents investigating him aboard his yacht, the Naomi. Their conversation about business slowly turns towards bribery, and we get inside the characters’ heads – Belfort thinks himself a master villain and that results in carelessness; the lead agent Denham is cunning but inherently good, and neither will budge from their vantage points.

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