Top 10 Movie Scenes That We'll Never Forget

John Keating is an unorthodox teacher whose unique methods inspire his students to pursue their passions. However, “seizing the day” doesn’t go well for all of them. Neil Perry’s father can’t understand his son’s love of acting and sends him to a military academy. This prompts Neil to take his own life. The remaining members of the titular club are intimidated into testifying against Keating, and he’s fired. However, when he comes to retrieve his things, the boys reaffirm their respect for him by standing on their desks and quoting Walt Whitman’s famous poem, “O Captain, My Captain.” It’s a stirring display of loyalty that has remained in the public consciousness for decades. Who else did this when Robin Williams passed?

Roy Batty, a murderous, “dying” android replicant, has pursued his human hunter Rick Deckard to a rooftop. With Deckard at his mercy and poised to fall, Batty unexpectedly chooses to save his life, offering a final act of compassion. Batty goes on to deliver a monologue lamenting that everything he is and all the incredible experiences he has had will be gone when he dies - like tears in rain. Batty may not be human, but his speech so perfectly encapsulates our primal emotions about death. This is one scene that we hope will never be lost to time!

The Marvel movies are packed with unforgettable moments, and this one sits very high on that list. Galactic tyrant Thanos has ruthlessly pursued the Infinity Stones, whose combined powers will give him the ability to wipe out half of all life in the universe. Surely, the Avengers will stop him…right? RIGHT?! Well, sadly, Thor fails to kill him quickly and Thanos snaps his fingers, before vanishing. Soon, many of our favorite heroes start vanishing too, dissolving into dust as Thanos’ snap takes effect. This scene hit pop culture like a meteor, sending a shockwave through all of us, the ripples of which are still felt to this day! The villain won, the heroes lost - and our hearts are still broken.

The opening scene of this incredibly popular musical is one of the most iconic in all of cinema. Julie Andrews sings her heart out among stunning vistas, with that sweeping first shot being particularly famous. Her character Maria bounds among trees, along brooks, and over hills as she sings about her passion for music and singing. It’s such a joyful scene that speaks to us no matter our age, and for good reason. Without a doubt, the magic of this scene will continue to resonate as long as we have a song in our hearts and breath in our lungs!

From a musical introduction, we turn to a dance finale. Johnny and Baby are torn apart by misunderstandings and class prejudices. But at a talent show where Baby has been sidelined, Johnny arrives and brings her out of the corner and into the spotlight. Johnny confesses that she’s made him a better person. Together, they debut their meticulously rehearsed dance in front of everyone, igniting a wave of dancing among onlookers and making them swoon at the romance of it all. Baby & Johnny’s routine is a “time of our lives” we won’t soon forget.

Another MCU film, “Spider-Man: Far From Home” wraps up with the titular superhero defeating Mysterio, saving the day, getting the girl - case closed. Well, not exactly. During the mid-credits scene, Peter and MJ do some web slinging to applause from passersby, when a broadcast puts a major damper on things. J. Jonah Jameson presents a doctored video that lays the blame on Spider-Man for all his misdeeds and reveals Peter’s secret identity! J.K. Simmons’ return as J. Jonah is epic, the twist is incredible, and the scene basically distills everyone’s worst nightmare about our biggest secrets being revealed to the world and amplifies it a millionfold!

While not the first time Heath Ledger’s Joker appears on screen, it’s his proper introduction and boy does he leave an impression! The Joker waltzes into a mob meeting, kills a goon with a pencil, and picks apart their plans with ease. Most of the gangsters may not take him seriously, but the incredible mix of menace and humor that the Joker exudes throughout has us on the edge of our seats each time we revisit this scene. This is how you introduce a villain properly! We have his card, but we don’t need a phone to call this scene to mind.

In the history of horror, there are few scenes as memorable as this one. Marion Crane stays the night at the Bates Motel, with stolen money and the uncanny innkeeper to occupy her mind. When Marion takes a shower, her bathing is interrupted by a shadowy, feminine figure who pulls back the curtain and repeatedly stabs her to death. Although positively bloodless by today’s standards, this is one of the most famous movie death scenes ever made. That is thanks to its great camerawork, a haunting performance by actress Janet Leigh (seriously, how does she manage not to blink?!), and musical strings that cut like a knife!

“The Wizard of Oz” is a technicolor masterpiece that has etched itself into pop culture like a yellow brick road through all our brains. But it’s the ending that makes it onto our list. Just when it seems Dorothy Gale will never get back to Kansas, Glinda the good witch tells her to click her heels together and repeat that there’s “no place like home.” Dorothy wakes up back home in Kansas, surrounded by familiar faces. It’s a magical ending to an iconic film, and while it may not be our top pick, there’s no scene like this one.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Dress Up, “The Silence of the Lambs” (1991)
Even Serial Killers Dance in the Mirror

Lasso the Moon, “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946)
One of the Most Famous Romantic Speeches EVER

Leaving Through the Gates, “Hocus Pocus” (1993)
Moving On Has Rarely Been So Beautiful

Raising the Chandelier, “The Phantom of the Opera” (2004)
The Organ Music & Transition to Color Are So CLEAN!

Erin Puts a Lawyer in Their Place, “Erin Brockovich” (2000)
No Law Degree, But All the Info

Nearly every scene in “The Lord of the Rings” films is iconic, but this one is something special. At the Siege of Gondor, Sauron’s army have breached the city and even Gandalf is in dire straits. But then, who should arrive but the riders of Rohan! Their king, Theoden, leads from the front and delivers a stirring speech that never fails to give us chills! The massive army of warriors on horseback then plows straight through the army of orcs! Cavalry charges are a common story element throughout history. Yet it has never, ever been done quite as epically as this scene! The music, the dialogue, the grand scale of it all! This scene should live forever - ‘til the world’s ending and beyond.

If there’s an unforgettable movie scene we’ve managed to forget, remind us in the comments!