Top 10 Movie Scenes Where the Actor's Real Emotion Came Through

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1” (2010)

This moment was almost a decade in the making. One of the best aspects of the “Harry Potter” franchise is the relationships between the Golden Trio and the actors who portray them. By the time the first part of the final installment was filmed, the cast had grown extremely close. This friendship came through the most during Harry and Hermione’s dance. Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson ended up making it up on the spot, and the laughter they shared during the lighthearted choreography was completely genuine. While the pair was nervous it would be difficult to shoot, they’ve since expressed that it was one of their favorite segments. Getting to see the genuine friendship they formed was truly magical.

“The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” (2002)

Sometimes the best emotion comes from the most unexpected moments. Viggo Mortensen was committed to the role of Aragorn in the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy – from the physical fights to his more human aspects. During an intense bit where he, Legolas, and Gimli find what they believe are the remains of their friends, Mortensen decided to add to the drama. He kicked a nearby helmet, and then let out a grieved yell. Well, the scream was real, but it wasn’t because of Merry and Pippin’s supposed deaths – it was because he broke his toes during his impromptu stunt. Although there were immediate consequences, the choice made the scene feel so much more real. It showed both his dedication to the role and the craft.

“Die Hard” (1988)

Doing your own tricks can be nerve-wracking at best and terrifying at worst. This is evident in Alan Rickman’s final seconds in “Die Hard.” At the climax, his character, Hans, is dangling from a window when he suddenly plummets to the ground. If you look closely, you’ll see a flicker of shock cross his face. While the fall was expected, he had been told that he would be pulled down on the count of three. However, the director decided he wanted a more authentic reaction – leading him to release Rickman earlier instead. While we can’t help but question the methods, the choice resulted in one of the most iconic deaths in the action genre.

“Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” (1967)

Considering how many emotionally impactful moments are in this film, it only makes sense that the performers would be affected. However, often the true feelings came from the sad realities behind the scenes, rather than the script. Toward the end, Hollywood legend Spencer Tracy gives a heartfelt speech about the importance of love. While it’s effective enough on its own, the revelation that Tracy had been incredibly sick at the time of filming adds a layer of unfortunate context. His co-star, Katharine Hepburn, knew he was close to the end, and so her tears during his monologue were genuine. He ended up passing shortly after the project was finished, and she was so affected by the loss that she couldn’t bring herself to watch it.

“Now You See Me” (2013)

We’re questioning everyone who thought this was a good idea. “Now You See Me” centers around magicians who disguise their theft with elaborate – and incredibly dangerous– stunts. The most notable of these was Isla Fisher being trapped in a tank of water. She was supposed to be able to slip free from her chains and re-emerge unscathed. No one anticipated the worst case scenario – her being stuck underwater. She did everything she could to alert people, from hitting the glass to motioning to the camera. However, the crew just assumed she was committing to the drama - until it was clear she wasn’t acting. She was rescued just in time, and her real-life horror ended up making the final cut.

“The Pursuit of Happyness” (2006)

Scrambling to find a job before financial devastation is a terrifying experience and having kids only adds to that stress. This makes “The Pursuit of Happyness” a cathartic experience for parents everywhere. Will Smith captured these complex feelings beautifully, from the anxiety of not having anywhere to sleep to the shame that comes with a failed job search. Smith became attached to the person he was portraying and was dead-set on telling his story. He became so entrenched in Chris’s life that when he was suddenly offered a permanent role at the film’s conclusion, the tears were completely real. The unexpected sentiment only added to how powerful it was and led to a career-defining performance from the actor.

“Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” (1971)

Is there anything quite like childhood wonder? Some movies are just magical, and “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” is one of them, appealing to the inner child within us all. The filmmakers wanted to capture this sense of innocence by not allowing most of the younger performers to see the Chocolate Room ahead of time. When they finally got to see the colorful landscape before them, the cameras were able to capture their actual happiness. This effect has been utilized several times — the “Narnia” series was able to evoke similar emotion when Lucy first discovered the fantastical winter wonderland. Capturing that pure whimsy reminded people of their own childhood and helped them connect with the characters.

“The Birds” (1963)

While trying to tap into someone’s fear is one thing, forcing it out of them is another. The scares in “The Birds” hinge on the fowls’ sudden movements, usually utilizing a mix of live animals and prop ones. However, one scene that was all too real was when Melanie enters the attic. Hedren had been told the birds would be fake and wasn’t anticipating the exact opposite. Hitchcock had decided to surprise her with very real birds that swarmed and attacked her. His reasoning was that he wanted an authentic response – no matter how risky it was to her safety. It was a contentious decision and is still called into question today when discussing the power dynamics between directors and actors.

“It” (2017)

There are ways to evoke fear from a cast without traumatizing them. The 2017 version of “It” handled this perfectly. While the leads knew the basic information about their foe, none of them had been shown what Bill Skarsgård looked like in his full get-up. The intention was to capture their first true-life impression of the horror icon. This happened in the sequence wherein the kids learn about Pennywise, and then he suddenly shows himself on their projector. Their uneasiness as the clown’s face is slowly shown to the genuine screams as it’s fully revealed was a masterclass in directing. Their initial confusion added to the dread of the moment, and led to a perfect payoff.

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

The Actress Was Connected to a Cable & Was Pulled Under without Warning

Only Tim Curry Knew That They Were Using the Biker’s Body as a Dinner Table

The Director Was Remotely Controlling the Toy, Surprising Will Ferrell Each Time

Kate Winslet Hadn’t Been Expecting It to Be So Frigid

“The 40-Year-Old Virgin” (2005)

Emotional scenes don’t necessarily have to be sad to make an impact. In “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” the protagonist, played by Steve Carell, is convinced by others that waxing his chest will help him find a girlfriend. While they could’ve used some movie-magic to make it appear that he had gone through with it, Carell wanted to do the take live. He felt it wouldn’t work if it was obviously fake. He also assumed that the process looked more painful than it actually was. That misconception led to one of the funniest moments in modern comedic history. His shocked and pained reaction made the segment feel so much more real – from his screams to him reassuring the woman waxing him.