When it comes to making movies, it is extremely important to have a well-thought-out plan so that you can execute a seamless production. With that said, filmmaking is a creative process that will certainly create some surprises along the way. Actors have to be able to take direction well, but at the same time, they should be able to bring their own unique ideas to the table. Some shows, like Larry David's Curb Your Enthusiasm, completely rely on improvisation. It is a risky technique, but in many cases, it creates entertaining content.
Throughout the years, there have been several iconic improvised moments in our favorite films. These moments are a result of the actors deeply embodying their characters and working with anything that comes their way. At the same time, we have seen certain improvised lines such as Roy Scheider's "Your gonna need a bigger boat" in Jaws, become one of the most memorable parts of the film. Actors have amazing talents when it comes to being in-the-moment and creating a character. Let's take a look at some of the most memorable improvised moments in film history.
9 Napoleon Dynamite - Napoleon’s Dance Number
Napoleon Dynamite was a hilarious independent comedy that proved the ability to make a great film on a small budget. One of the most iconic moments of the film is Napoleon's (Jon Heder) dance number towards the end of the movie. He puts himself out there and does a fearless dance in front of the entire school to help his best friend. According to Heder, he completely improvised the dance over the course of three takes with no choreographer.
8 Jaws - “You’re Gonna Need A Bigger Boat”
The late Roy Scheider's iconic line in Jaws has become one of the most famous lines in film history. The moment occurs when Scheider's character first comes face to face with the deadly shark. In reality, the line was a common phrase said around set in regard to the boat holding craft services and equipment. Luckily Scheider made the decision to incorporate it into the scene.
7 Taxi Driver - “You Talkin’ To Me?”
In Taxi Driver, Robert De Niro gave us another iconic line that has been repeated a lot in pop culture. The famous scene consists of De Niro's character preparing himself in the mirror while pulling out a gun. According to the filmmakers, De Niro came up with the line on the spot, proving his talents of creating a character. De Niro is a known method actor, and you can totally see it from beginning to end of Taxi Driver.
6 Good Will Hunting - “He Stole My Line”
There was actually a lot of improvisation in Good Will Hunting. Casey Affleck, for instance, improvised most of his lines throughout the film. The final line of the film consists of Robin William's character receiving a letter from Will (Matt Damon) informing him that he left town to pursue his love interest. Williams ad-libbed the line, "Son of a b-, he stole my line" in one of the takes, and that was the take used in the final cut of the film.
5 Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory - Willy Wonka’s Entrance
There is actually a lot of history behind Gene Wilder's entrance as Willy Wonka. In the film, Wonka approaches the crowd of people in a slow and sickly manner. He then does a somersault and triumphantly springs up to address the crowd. The whole point of this move, according to Wilder, was to show up front that Wonka was untrustworthy. Wilder only agreed to do Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, if this scene was included.
4 House Of Gucci - Lady Gaga’s “Father, Son, And House of Gucci”
One of the most memorable parts of the trailers for House of Gucci was Lady Gaga saying "Father, Son, and House Of Gucci". The line is a twist on the biblical saying, showcasing the epic empire of the Gucci brand. Gaga has stated that this line was completely improvised by her, and it has since become quite famous. Gaga used Method acting to create her performance, so some improvisation was to be expected.
3 Titanic - “I’m The King Of The World!”
If you ever find yourself aboard a ship, it would be quite tempting to spread your arms and yell this iconic line. According to James Cameron, who wrote and directed Titanic, he made up the line on the spot and asked Leonardo DiCaprio to try it out. It has since become an iconic moment and has created several parodies. At the same time, no one will ever forget the infamous moment when Cameron shouted the line at his Oscar acceptance speech.
2 Midnight Cowboy - "I'm Walking Here!"
Midnight Cowboy was made with a limited budget that prevented the filmmakers from closing down the city streets. Everyone knows that New York City can be unpredictable, so it was no surprise that some traffic changed a scene when the two main characters were walking down the street. Dustin Hoffman was almost hit by a car, and he decided to stay in character to deliver the classic line, "I'm walking here!".
1 The Shining - “Here’s Johnny!”
When it came to directing, Stanley Kubrick was open to improvisation on set. At the same time, Kubrick was known for filming a tremendous amount of takes due to him being a perfectionist. In one of the takes during The Shining’s climax, Jack Nicholson screamed the line, "Here's Johnny!", creating a terrifying and eerie moment. The line was a reference to The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson, and Stanley Kubrick was actually unaware of the show while filming The Shining. The line has since become one of the most iconic moments in horror history.