Top 10 Underrated Movie Moments

“Birdman” (2014)
This film from Alejandro G. Iñárritu earned a deserving amount of praise, but it feels like no one ever talks about the underwear walk anymore, and we think they should. Riggan goes outside for a smoke when his housecoat gets stuck in the door. So he’s forced to enact everyone’s worst nightmare - walking through a crowded street in your tighty-whities. This is an uproarious sequence, made all the better by the fact that Michael Keaton did it for real in the heart of Times Square. Actual tourists became a part of the scene, and the street drummers were hired by the filmmakers to divert attention away from the moving camera. What actors won’t do for our entertainment…

“Miller's Crossing” (1990)
Forget about underrated scene, how about underrated movie? While the Coen brothers have made masterpiece after masterpiece, “Miller’s Crossing” has been sort of left behind, a forgotten ‘90s gem not often mentioned. Since the forest moment is more famous, we have to give the underrated spot to the failed assassination attempt on Leo. This scene is pure Coen brothers, expertly blending the dark and gritty with the surreal. The initial moments are quite tense, but the sequence soon escalates into full-on camp, with a comically protracted death, a random car explosion, and a seemingly endless Tommy gun. “An artist with a Thompson” indeed.

“Crazy, Stupid, Love.” (2011)
If Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone could remain screen partners forever, that would be great. The two actors have impeccable chemistry, and that is on full display in the endlessly charming bed sequence in “Crazy, Stupid, Love.” Most movies wow viewers with grand yet unrealistic romantic gestures. This one gets it right, and with nothing but a simple talk in bed. Jacob drops the playboy façade and finally opens up to someone by sharing intimate details of his personal life, and Hannah grows increasingly comfortable in his presence. The dialogue is utterly heartwarming, and it’s played to perfection by Gosling and Stone. This could be one of the most romantic scenes in a movie, yet hardly anyone ever talks about it.

“The Godfather Part II” (1974)
When it comes to “The Godfather Part II,” people usually talk about the famous kiss between Michael and Fredo, Fredo’s “I’m smart” speech, or his assassination. Come to think of it, this movie really belongs to Fredo. But if you want to see an absolute masterclass in acting, look no further than the argument between Kay and Michael. Kay unleashes a truth that hits Michael square in the heart, and we watch in complete fascination as Al Pacino turns into another person. We genuinely fear for Diane Keaton’s character, and it’s this scene that completes Michael’s transformation into a ruthless monster. How Pacino didn’t get the Oscar is beyond us.

“Juno” (2007)
This film gets a lot of well-deserved praise for its dialogue, but somewhat ironically, the most touching moment involves no dialogue whatsoever. Juno’s father Mac initially shows nothing but playful disdain for Paulie, presumably believing he’s an irresponsible and dweeby teenager. But by the end of the film, he accepts Paulie for who he is and shows his support with a fatherly touch on the shoulders. The scene is remarkably well-acted, with J. K. Simmons displaying an enormous amount of pride and acceptance with nothing but his eyes. It takes a special kind of filmmaking to make us cry without the use of words or music, and this overlooked scene has it in spades.

“Casino Royale” (2006)
After the “Die Another Day,” the “James Bond” franchise needed a serious reboot. And it got that with “Casino Royale,” which makes its intentions known from the very first scene. Bond visits a traitor named Dryden, recounts his first kill, then dispenses with Dryden, completing his second and becoming a 00. This scene, though often forgotten, eschews the camp of recent “Bond” installments, depicting a far grittier and more violent character. This grit is visualized in the grainy black and white photography, punchy editing, and brutal choreography as Bond utterly obliterates a man in ways too graphic to get into. The dialogue is also pleasing to the ear, being surprisingly poetic. Is this scene a fantastic return to form? “Yes, considerably.”

“The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” (2002)
When it comes to “The Two Towers,” most people remember the wildly exciting climax, which sees the good guys fighting orcs in the famous Battle of Helm’s Deep. It’s one of the best battle sequences ever put to film, so it kind of overshadows everything else that happens alongside it. And one of those things is the chill-inducing Last March of the Ents. The title alone sounds mythical and legendary, the final, heroic hurrah of an ancient race. It’s also filmed spectacularly, with groundbreaking visual effects and some of the most epic music you’ll ever hear on the big screen. It’s guaranteed to induce chills, every single time.

“Zodiac” (2007)
David Fincher knows how to direct a scary scene, that’s for sure. He knows how to cut to the heart of psychology, with many of his bad guys being everyday men hiding dangerous secrets. In “Zodiac,” an obsessed cartoonist named Robert Graysmith visits Bob Vaughn, whose handwriting matches the Zodiac Killer’s. Robert is invited down to Bob’s creepy basement, and the scene couldn’t be better directed. We don’t quite know why it isn’t a central topic of conversation every time “Zodiac” comes up. Fincher mines an unbelievable amount of tension from the encounter, utilizing lighting and sound design to send viewers into a frenzied panic. We’re waiting for the literal and metaphorical blow to strike, and fully understand why Robert flees in absolute terror.

“1917” (2019)
In the brilliant climax of “1917,” Will Schofield enters the ruined town of Écoust-Saint-Mein, and viewers enter a state of pure cinematic bliss. This scene borrows many elements from history, as the ruined Écoust-Saint-Mein was evacuated during World War I and its church tower was used as a sniper’s nest. It’s filmmaking at its absolute best, with stellar production design, rousing music, and world-class directing. And let’s not forget the star of the show, absolutely eye-popping and Oscar-winning cinematography from the legend himself, Roger Deakins. If you ask us, this underappreciated sequence deserves more love, and needs to go down in the annals of war cinema.

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

The Pool Moment, “Booksmart” (2019)
A Wonderful Scene with Beautiful Cinematography & Pitch Perfect Music

J Neuralizes K, “Men in Black” (1997)
A Movie About Hunting Aliens Features a Surprisingly Sweet & Wonderfully Written Farewell

Karras’s Nightmare, “The Exorcist” (1973)
Regan Gets All the Attention, but This Might Be the Scariest Scene in the Movie

Amélie & the Blind Man, “Amélie” (2001)
This Scene Beautifully Captures the Magnetic Energy of a Big City

The Dunkirk Scene, “Atonement” (2007)
Did Joe Wright Outdo Christopher Nolan in His Depiction of Dunkirk?

“Kill Bill: Volume 2” (2004)
Tarantino’s movies, while obviously spectacular, aren’t exactly known for being tearjerkers. The exception, perhaps, is the ending of “Kill Bill: Volume 2.” Maybe that’s why it tends to be overshadowed? The Bride finally does what she set out to do, but it isn’t the bloody samurai showdown we expected. Instead, it’s a morose, cathartic, and spiritual talk about truth and betrayal. And when she finally eliminates Bill, it’s a moment of bittersweet victory rather than pure triumph – a divorce more than a killing. Through his typically rich writing and a radiant performance from Uma Thurman, Tarantino crafts one of if not the most emotional scene of his career. Did we expect to cry at the end of “Kill Bill”? No. Did we? Maybe.

Are there any other scenes you feel deserve a mention? Let us know in the comments below!