No matter how great a movie or TV show is, just a single scene may get imbued into popular culture so deeply that people keep recalling it decades later. We all have our favorite scenes – visuals that either make us freeze at the edge of our seats, cry tears of joy, scream in horror, or laugh out loud as we fully immerse ourselves in what is happening on the screen.
With that in mind, we take a nostalgic look back at the iconic scenes that withstood not only the test of time but also cultural and geographical barriers. You will recognize them even if you have not seen the movie or TV show itself, but beware of spoilers!
The Hangover (2009) - Casino Scene
Far from all movies containing iconic casino scenes are criminal, and The Hangover is proof of this. This popular comedy tells us about the adventures of four friends going to Vegas for a bachelor party. In the carnage of their celebrations, they lose the groom and need to find him before the wedding starts. Believing that Doug is held hostage by Asian gangsters, the friends are looking for $80 to rescue him. This is when Alan’s knowledge of counting cards in blackjack comes in handy and he wins the needed amount of cash by cheating the casino system.
A moment with complicated equations floating on the screen when Alan watches the cards has become a well-beloved meme and gained millions of views on various platforms. But in reality, no high-level math is needed to succeed in cards, and you can master these games even without leaving home just by practicing your skills on an online casino site.
Pulp Fiction (1994) - The Dance
Quentin Tarantino’s neo-noir crime drama is full of surprises, and the famous dance scene in Jack Rabbit Slim’s is definitely the best of them. Being a complete improvisation, it reveals the raw charisma of Uma Thurman and John Travolta and showcases the unfiltered essence of joy amidst chaos. Such a laid-back attitude to choreography, coupled with the vivid backdrop of Chuck Berry's song, provides a breath of fresh air in the tense atmosphere of the movie and resonates deeply with the audience.
Pulp Fiction - Dance Scene (HQ)
The Terminator (1984) - "I'll Be Back"
Arnie's most famous quote seems to seep into pop culture at the subconscious level since even those who have not watched a single movie from The Terminator franchise are completely familiar with it. Schwarzenegger first says the famous line in the original 1984 movie when the T-800 visits a police station searching for Sarah Connor but is denied entry. After uttering the iconic "I’ll be back" and leaving the building, the cyborg gets back to the station by crushing a van against the cops' front desk.
The Terminator - Police Station Shootout 4K
The Office: s5, e8 - Toby Comes Back
The scene gave birth to the most outstanding meme of Michael Scott screaming "No God, Please No" as a dramatic reaction to Toby’s return from Costa Rica. If you need a refresher or have never seen this glorious episode, it begins with everyone eating brownies in the conference room. Kelly grabs two pastry cubes and says that one is for Toby. Michael does not believe this is true, but Jim proves the opposite, so he goes back to Toby’s old working space, sees his arch rival there, and starts screaming his famous line.
Steve Carell made the most out of this scene since it was improvised genius. The script just said "Michael turns and screams loudly" without giving any specifics, so everything we hear from Michael at that moment is all Steve Carell.
The Office : No God ! Please Nooooo, Toby comes Back ! | STS
Friends: s10, e18 - Final Scene
52.5 million US viewers watched the final Friends episode when it was aired on NBC in 2004, and its closing scene has carved a special place in the hearts of fans. The ending of the show seems to be as happy as the sitcom final can get: Ross and Rachel end up together, Monica and Chandler become parents and even get one more child than they asked for, Phoebe is married to her soulmate, and even Joey gets his modest version of happily ever after with Monica leaving lasagnas in his freezer.
However, the final scene still lands an unshakable feeling of sadness since it reminds us that nothing ever stays the same. Friends is a show about how it feels to be young, about a time in your life when everything is possible.
Other Iconic Scenes You Would Like to Rewatch
The Godfather (1972) - "Offer He Can’t Refuse"
Rocky (1976) - Running Up the Stairs
Star Wars: Episode V (1980) - "I Am Your Father"
The Shining (1980) – "Here's Johnny"
Titanic (1997) - "I’m King of the World"
Friends: s4, e24 - Ross Says Rachel's Name at His Wedding
The Matrix (1999) - Bullet Time
Breaking Bad: s4, e6 - "I Am the One Who Knocks"
Game of Thrones: s6, e9 - Battle of the Bastards
The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) - Chant Scene with Matthew McConaughey