Top 30 Movie Moments That Broke the Internet

#30: Music Across GenerationsSinners (2025)

As one of the most successful original movies in years, Sinners made waves in general. However, its this musical moment that has gotten the internet talking. Sammie Preacher Boy Moore plays his blues song at his cousins juke joint. As he plays and the crowd dances, the camera moves among them in one incredibly executed long take, and arguably the movies centerpiece. Older blues player Delta Slims words about the power of music prove prophetic, as not only are tribal musicians from Africa present, but also rappers, hip hop artists, and other genre artists yet to come. The moment encapsulates not only how incredible music can be in the moment, but also how styles build upon each other and move people, regardless of time period.

#29: First Time?The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018)

While this anthology film is one of the Coen Brothers less famous works, it still made its mark on internet culture. One vignette sees an unnamed cowboy character played by James Franco set to be hangedagain. The first time was interrupted. During the second time, he makes a great quip to the distraught man next to him. And so, a meme was born. After text sets up a situation, usually something along the lines of when upsetting, yet very specific situation happens, this will be followed by an image of Franco in the scene, usually with an added caption of someone more experienced.

#28: Calvin Candies Troll FaceDjango Unchained (2012)

Leonardo DiCaprio is a veritable meme machine - more on that later. In just this Quentin Tarantino film alone, his expressions and gestures led to several world-famous memes. One of them is in the dinner scene, where DiCaprios character Calvin Candie makes a joke. His smug expression upon hearing the reaction to his remark became an instant meme. Its generally used as an image macro, with Candies smugness being a troll-like response to someone elses stupid remark, or to be more self-deprecating. Whatever the situation, Candies expression is far sweeter than the man himself.

#27: Let It GoFrozen (2013)

Disney musicals have led to some of the most popular songs among both kids and kids who got older. However, most of Disneys biggest hits were before the internet really got going. Enter Frozen. The movies hit song, Let It Go became a massive viral sensation. Cover versions have been done by everyone from amateurs to major recording artists. But all that hype pales in comparison to the official YouTube video, which has been viewed billions of times at this point! The songs popularity is massive, and fans show no signs of letting it go.

#26: Rotating HallwayInception (2010)

This mind-bending sci-fi thriller is filled with scenes that became memes. But one of them stands tall on its own merits. Beneath several layers of dreams, Arthur faces off against several assailants in a hallway. However, in the level above this, Arthur is in a van thats flipping. Dont worry if you cant follow it, because the result is what matters. As Arthur fights the men, the entire hallway rotates because theyre in Aerthurs dream and hes spinning too. Even more amazingly, this incredible sequence was achieved without CGI. The scene still has the internets heads spinning years later.

#25: We Dont Talk About BrunoEncanto (2021)

The Madrigal familys musical number about the clans black sheep, Bruno, is a certified megahit. Not only is it absurdly catchy and well-choreographed, it also blends together various styles. Weve already talked about how big Disney songs can be, but even knowing that, nobody was prepared for this songs success - least of all the filmmakers, who didnt even nominate it for an Oscar. We Dont Talk About Bruno topped Billboard charts for a month in multiple countries. The songs success was just as incredible online, with fan recreations and tributes galore! Despite its title, nobody could shut up about Bruno!

#24: Make Your Own Kind of MusicThe Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022)

This extremely metafictional movie in which Nicolas Cage meets Javi, a superfan of his played by Pedro Pascal, is full of grade-A meme fodder. However, one of its most outlandish scenes naturally became the biggest. In their attempt to write a movie together, Cage and Javi take LSD, hoping for some inspiration. Cut to the duo driving on the road while Mama Casss Make Your Own Kind of Music plays. Cages unimpressed expression contrasts hilariously with Pascals joyful smile. That delightful disparity has led to plenty of viral memes on YouTube and TikTok alike. They certainly have us singing their praises, even if nobody else sings along.

#23: The Peters ReturnSpider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

The degree of hype around this movie was absolutely unreal. After it was revealed that previous Spider-Man villains were coming back, naturally we all hoped that actors who played Spider-Man himself would come back as well. The trailers confirming it didnt calm things down - they in fact, calmed up. And in the film proper, every interaction between the different Peters and each getting their own moment to shine or at redemption, only got the internet even more excited. This was a level of fan service we never thought to expect, but were thankful to have received.

#22: Henry Cavill Reloads His ArmsMission: Impossible Fallout (2018)

This spy thriller is among the most highly regarded in this storied franchise. One of its most unexpectedly impactful moments happens during a brawl in a bathroom. Henry Cavills character August Walker readies himself for a fight by thrusting his arms out to loosen them up. The motion reminded many of reloading a gun. The move was so extra that it became a meme pretty much immediately after it debuted in the trailer, usually indicating a willingness to fight. Cavills punch reload became so iconic that hes reprised it in another movie since.

#21: Dance OffRRR (2022)

A historical Indian buddy action movie seems an unlikely global success, but RRR proved appealing internationally. While there are many standout scenes, this dance number positively blew up. When friends Ram and Bheem are put down by an arrogant Englishman, they decide to show him up through dance. The dance and accompanying song, Naatu Naatu, not only got the rest of the party joining in, but the internet too! The original has drawn hundreds of millions of views on YouTube and TikTok, and received plenty of imitators. The toe-tappingly catchy number also proved successful with many award shows. Much like Bheem at the end of it, the scene left its competition in the dust.

#20: Rick Dalton Points at the TV

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)

You never really know what the internet will get a hold of. One scene in Quentin Tarantinos Once Upon a Time in Hollywood sees Rick and Cliff watching one of Ricks old TV shows. While lounging in his chair, Rick sits up, snaps, and points at the TV to signal his upcoming appearance. The internet thought that this was just the funniest thing, and a new meme was born. The meme began on Twitter before spreading to Reddit and the other reaches of the internet and is typically used to display recognition. Dozens upon dozens of examples have been made, each with a screenshot of Rick (or in the memes case, the writer) pointing at the TV in excitement.

#19: Godzilla Powers Up

Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019)

This film was met with quite a lot of hype before its release in May 2019. Luckily, the movie did not disappoint. In one particularly amazing sequence, Godzilla powers up and unleashes multiple atomic waves against Ghidorah, turning its multiple heads into drifting dust. He then explodes in a bright nuclear blast, decimating both Ghidorah and the surrounding buildings. Godzilla then emerges from the rubble and is recognized as the King of the Monsters by the other kaiju. Its arguably the most badass scene in a movie full of badass scenes, and it certainly got the internet talking. Both diehard kaiju fans and casual Godzilla viewers bowed to the filmmakers, recognizing the thrilling spectacle on display.

#18: Shirtless Kylo Ren

Star Wars: Episode VIII The Last Jedi (2017)

There was a lot of talk surrounding The Last Jedi. The Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic user scores drew particular attention, and the movie was enormously divisive. But there was one thing that everyone agreed on - Adam Driver is one good-looking dude. Kylo Ren appears shirtless in one sequence, and the internet collectively gasped in amazement. They began referring to Kylo as Ben Swolo, leading to various Twitter reactions and memes regarding the shirtless actor. This movie is filled with extravagant special effects, but the best bit of eye candy was a muscular male body.

#17: Keanu Reeves

Always Be My Maybe (2019)

The internet loves them some Keanu Reeves. And suffice to say, almost no one expected him to show up in a Netflix rom-com. In Always Be My Maybe, Reeves plays a pretentious version of himself, serving as the new boyfriend of Sasha Tran. The actor took a short break from shooting John Wick 3 to be in the movie, and he even offered Randall Park some ideas for the credits song, I Punched Keanu Reeves. He also improvised with the other actors, and it was he who decided to wear lensless glasses. Reeves helped elevate the already-great movie, and the internet was left in sheer delight. Its one of the best and most surprising cameos in recent cinema memory.

#16: Im the Captain Now

Captain Phillips (2013)

This thriller saw the inexperienced Barkhad Abdi starring as head pirate Abduwali Muse. Abdi had never acted before and was working as a limo driver, DJ, and phone salesman when he attended a casting call for the movie. He got the role, and what a debut it was. Abdi received an Academy Award nomination, and his improvised line Im the Captain now sparked endless memes on the internet. Variations of the meme spread throughout Reddit, Imgur, FunnyJunk, and Tumblr, most of which used a Look at me, Im the [x] now template. It takes a special kind of talent to upstage Tom Hanks, and Barkhad Abdi is that special kind of talent.

#15: The Last Ride

Furious 7 (2015)

The Fast and Furious movies have long been popular, but Furious 7 was a special kind of popular. Unfortunately, its popularity was largely due to the death of Paul Walker, who died in a car crash in November 2013. He was in the midst of filming Furious 7, and his face was later imposed over physical stand-ins - including Walkers brothers Caleb and Cody. The most famous scene of the movie is its ending, in which Dom says goodbye to a retiring Brian. The scene was also a goodbye to Walker himself. Playing over the sequence is Wiz Khalifas See You Again, which was written as a tribute to Walker. Its a beautiful scene, and the internet thought it a very touching eulogy to the late actor.

#14: Time in a Bottle

X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

Earning stellar reviews and multiple accolades, X-Men: Days of Future Past is widely regarded as one of, if not the best movie in the X-Men series. The movies technical filmmaking was lauded, with many critics and fans singling out the iconic Time in a Bottle sequence. The scene sees Quicksilver zipping around a kitchen, causing people to punch themselves in the face, stealing hats, and moving bullets. It was by far the most popular scene from the film, and the clip has accumulated millions of views on YouTube. The craft, humor, creativity, and imaginative visuals were all praised, and it instantly became one of the most famous scenes in superhero fiction. And thats saying a lot.

#13: Darth Vader

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

This tragic Star Wars prequel was released immediately after the lighthearted and traditional The Force Awakens. It certainly made for a jarring tonal shift. The end of Rogue One sees most of the protagonists dying, and in one particularly famous scene, Darth Vader slaughters a group of rebel troops. The scene works perfectly on its own, but its also a wonderful bit of fan service harkening back to the original trilogy and one of cinemas greatest villains. This sequence is pure Star Wars, and it may have generated the most discussion and excitement from the Disney era of movies. Yes, even more than shirtless Adam Driver.

#12: Messages from Home

Interstellar (2014)

This Christopher Nolan space epic is certainly filled with bombastic and imaginative sequences - including the famous docking scene. But it still finds time for humanity, and that is perfectly represented through the messages from home scene. Due to time dilation, Coopers brief foray on the ocean planet actually spans 23 years back on Earth, and Cooper watches two decades worth of video messages from home while displaying incredible emotion. The scene is heartbreaking, and it was rightfully regarded as one of the years best sequences. But it also turned into a meme, and Matthew McConaughey ReactionVideos was born. Perhaps the most popular is the one that sees Cooper reacting to the Force Awakens trailer.

#11: Jessica, Only Child, Illinois, Chicago

Parasite (2019)

Its not often that Best Picture winners set the internet alight, but Parasite proved the exception. And while the film was filled with tons of great sequences, it was a simple jingle that went viral. Ki-Jung is scamming the Park family with her brother Ki-woo, and to remember her fake backstory, she creates a little mnemonic jingle with Ki-woo. The two recite the jingle one last time before entering the Park household, and for some reason, the internet really took a liking to it. The scene was parodied and memed, actress Park So Dam taught viewers how to sing the tune, and the song was even available to download on the official Parasite website. Its amazing what a clever mnemonic device can do.

#10: The Argument

Marriage Story (2019)

Like Parasite, Marriage Story isnt the type of movie to go viral. But it did, thanks primarily to the proliferation of Netflix and the incredible cast. The memes also helped. In the movies most famous sequence, Nicole and Charlie enter into a vicious argument that eventually has Charlie wishing that Nicole would die. The scene garnered instant attention, with the internet at large praising the performances of Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver. Drivers red, screaming face became the de facto image of the movie, and the scene gave rise to a four-panel meme that ended with Driver punching the wall. And therein lies the power of good acting.

#9: The Stairway Dance

Joker (2019)

The stairway dance is unique and fun enough to elicit thousands of copycats, and it was filmed in a real location. Like the famous Rocky steps, this scene was just begging to be copied over and over and over and over again. The stairs are located in the Bronx, New York, and are located near the 167th Street station. They are now crowded with tourists, many of whom recreate the Jokers bizarre dance down the steps - some of them dressed in Joker attire themselves. Its legacy is yet to be seen, but like the Rocky steps, we wouldnt be surprised if fans are recreating this scene 40 years into the future.

#8: The Sunken Place

Get Out (2017)

This movie came out of nowhere, and despite its less than $5 million budget, it ended up grossing over $250 million at the worldwide box office. Its hard to pinpoint what exactly struck a chord with mainstream audiences, but many praised the movies commentary on the black experience in America. This is visualized to absolute perfection in The Sunken Place, which is where Missy Armitage sends Chris consciousness after hypnotizing him. The dehumanizing theme of The Sunken Place, the haunting music, and its unique visuals combined to make it the movies most famous sequence, and the image of Chriss hypnotized, crying face has become one of the most iconic movie images of the 21st century.

#7: Terence Fletchers Lesson

Whiplash (2014)

Serving as director Damien Chazelles breakthrough, Whiplash received universal praise when it was released in 2014, with much attention going towards the performance of J. K. Simmons. Simmons plays a jazz instructor named Terence Fletcher, who is prone to mistreating his pupils. Near the beginning of the film, the band is playing Hank Levys Whiplash when Fletcher grows irate at Andrew Neimans off-tempo drumming. After countless starts and restarts, Fletcher throws a chair at Neimans head, slaps him across the face, calls him offensive names, and screams directly in his ear. With this, everyone knew they werent watching just another music movie. They also knew that Simmons would be an Oscar winner - and they were right.

#6: Shallow

A Star Is Born (2018)

This is actually the fourth time that A Star Is Born has been made, following the original in 1937 and remakes in 1954 and 1976. This time, Bradley Cooper was at the helm, and he did an exceptional job directing, writing, performing, and singing. Shallow is performed three times in the movie, with the most famous being Ally and Jacksons performance of the song at Jacksons concert. While the Star Is Born name is obviously popular, it was Shallow that pushed this version over the edge. The song peaked at #1 in more than 20 countries and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, and the music video has since accumulated over one billion views on YouTube.

#5: Martha

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

Sometimes the internet breaks for the wrong reasons. Case in point - the infamous Martha sequence from Batman v Superman. The titular fight doesnt even last that long, and it ends in a spectacularly silly fashion when Batman hears the name of Supermans mother. Learning that his own mother shares a name with Martha Kent, Batman decides to stop the fighting, acknowledging Supermans humanity. The scene was met with wide derision by the internet and quickly became infamous, leading to in-jokes, memes, and shaking heads. Many people found it a contrived and anticlimactic way for the short battle to end, and it was one of many reasons for the movies lackluster critical reception.

#4: What a Lovely Day!

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

This entire movie broke the internet, as no one could believe just how good it was. CGI certainly has its place, but theres just something about real cars smashing into each other that really gets the blood pumpin. While the movie is basically credits-to-credits action, the most famous sequence sees the characters driving into a raging sandstorm. The visuals and music are superb - especially when the car and bodies are flying through the sand tornado. But its Nuxs reaction to the flying debris that became a phenomenon, and What a lovely day! quickly became one of the most popular movie quotes of the decade.

#3: Peter Parker Disintegrates

Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Theres just something about a good tragic ending that sets the internet ablaze. The end of Infinity War sees Thanos snapping his fingers and activating the Gauntlet, wiping out half of all life in the universe. This includes the young Peter Parker, who sadly turns to dust in Tonys arms. The scene was enormously popular - not only for the shock of Thanos victory and the incredible destruction that results, but also for the intense emotion that the deaths generate. And, this being the internet, the sequence was also memed to death, with image macros depicting subjects disintegrating into particles - usually accompanied by the caption I dont feel so good. We needed the laughs to cover up the tears.

#2: Jordan Belfort Discovers a New Phase

The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

Leonardo DiCaprio is one of the finest actors of all time, and watching him act is watching a master at the top of his craft. And, sometimes, that craft involves squirming around on the ground, drooling, groaning like an injured animal, and opening a Lamborghini door with your foot. In the movie, Jordan swallows an amount of methaqualone that results in his partial paralysis. The following ten minutes are pure comedy gold, and it proves DiCaprios qualities as a physical comedic performer. When the internet was clamoring for DiCaprio to win an Oscar, they were undoubtedly thinking of scenes like this.

#1: Iron Man Snap

Avengers: Endgame (2019)

This movie was more than ten years in the making, and the results certainly did not disappoint - both in movie terms and the resulting cultural impact. At the very end of the film, Tony Stark taunts Thanos and snaps his fingers, resulting in the deaths of both Thanos and Tony himself. To say that this moment broke the internet would be a massive understatement. Its all anyone talked about in the weeks to follow, the snap itself became a major cultural moment, and people even synched the scene to New Year's countdowns. For many, the MCU will be a defining point in their moviegoing lives. And this served as the perfect culmination.

Is there a trending movie scene we forgot? Lock and load your favorites in the comments!