Top 10 Unexpected Dance Scenes in Non-Dance Movies

A spontaneous dance sequence might be par for the course at some art house dinner parties. But this unrehearsed table groove can be attributed more to ghostly intervention than an attempt at the avant garde. It may’ve been intended to send the family and their dinner guests running, but who doesn’t like getting possessed by ghosts and dancing to Jamaican folk songs? However, it doesn’t end all that well for these party guests, come to think of it…

Rick James’ “Superfreak” probably isn’t the pick du jour for many children’s beauty pageants, but that’s precisely why it works for this scene. Olive and her family finally make it to see her perform, even carting the body of a deceased relative along for the ride. Never ones to be deterred, and definitely not concerned with notions of propriety, the young beauty queen-in-the-making and her family bust out some serious moves. They’re all winners in our book.

There may officially be no better way to wrap up a movie than with a choreographed dance sequence. After winning the Indian version of “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?,” the film’s protagonist is reunited with his lady love. The dance scene may seem like a non sequitur, but as a culmination of the film, it seems like the perfect celebration. Not to mention, we get treated to some pretty awesome music – best end credits ever.

After arriving in Heaven, most folks would probably want to see their loved ones who made it through the rapture. But crafty Jay Baruchel bucks convention and decides to rejoice with a dance sequence, naturally. Audiences not only got to see a fun dance scene, but were also treated to a full on Backstreet Boys reunion that also features some of our favorite stars doing that dance you learned way back in the ‘90s but pretended was stupid.

Losing your virginity to the one you love can be a beautiful and emotional experience. It can be so beautiful and emotional that it’s punctuated by a hippie-fied dance party in the grassy hills. What’s even more entertaining is watching shirtless Paul Rudd and Seth Rogen hopping around to a cool psychedelic melody. Nothing screams friendship like spontaneous choreography.

Just when you thought the movie couldn’t get any quirkier, we’re treated to Joseph Gordon-Levitt cutting a rug across town. It’s a cute scene in a cute movie that shows that, apparently, falling in love with your personal manic pixie dream girl can send a person into a Hall & Oates-powered dance craze, complete with cartoon birdies. Not that we’re necessarily complaining. We loved seeing flash mobs before flash mobs were a thing.

What happens when you put a jock, a nerd, a princess, a burnout and a recluse together? Well, they dance. They dance like their detentions depend on it. It’s a dance medley in full-on ‘80s glory, that reminds us that air guitar is really all some folks are capable of. But at least we can tell they had fun. And if you can’t wear a foot bandana while dancing out your suburban rage, when can you?

It was the dance sequence that sent a thousand kids crashing into their parents’ furniture. It also propelled Tom Cruise to superstar status. He plays a teen that has the time of his life while his parents are away. His foray into the world of prostitution and pimps is precluded by a late night dance in his undies and a dress shirt. And Tom Cruise showed off his smooth moves once again as Les Grossman in “Tropic Thunder” – man, he’s really let himself go hasn’t he?

He felt the rhythm move through him and he just had to dance. The song even says so. In an otherwise muted movie, this dance sequence stands out as a random but completely amusing deviation from the subdued canvas of the rest of the film. Napoleon had been secretly practicing his moves for some time, waiting for the right moment to show them off. And show them off he does. This would almost make us wanna vote for Pedro.

Before our top pick shows us some smooth moves, here are a few honorable mentions:
- “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” (1986)
- “13 Going On 30” (2004)
- “Young Frankenstein” (1974)
- “The Mask” (1994)

And we’ve got one dishonorable mention, as well:
- “Spider-Man 3” (2007)

Since the days of “Reservoir Dogs,” Quentin Tarantino’s inclusion of a dance sequence in his otherwise gritty films has been like a palette cleanser for the audience. And it seems rather fitting that John Travolta, given his history with dancing in movies, shares the scene in question from “Pulp Fiction.” Even in spite of the lighthearted nature of the dance, there’s an intensity in the faces of the characters that reminds you someone’s probably gonna die in the movie soon. Or at least come close.

Do you agree with our list? What’s your favorite unexpected dance scene? For more entertaining Top 10s published every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.