Scanners (1981)
While it’s not the most recognizable film on this list, Scanners has certainly developed a strong fan base since its 1981 release. The movie that kickstarted David Cronenberg’s career, Scanners revolves heavily around psychic powers and how devastating those powers can be. The following scene has been paused so much due to the gory nature of it. We won’t spoil it for you, but it involves someone’s head and it happens so fast that you simply have to rewind and pause to get the full effect of it.
Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
While it is not the greatest movie of all time, Fast Times at Ridgemont High is certainly a classic ’80s coming-of-age movie. While there are some good performances, it seems like the most memorable scene is a pretty superficial one. It involves Phoebe Cates’s character Linda, who is enjoying a swim with her friend Stacy. The most paused moment in that scene comes when Linda finally climbs up the steps and gets out of the pool.
Basic Instinct (1992)
It has to be, without a doubt, one of the most iconic and provocative shots in all of movie history. Sharon Stone certainly stole headlines for her performance in 1992’s Basic Instinct. However, this scene ultimately overshadowed the entire movie and for obvious reasons. Despite seemingly being fully dressed, Stone’s leg crossover gave viewers a lot more than they had anticipated going into the movie. It’s amazing how many people failed to finish the movie because they paused on this scene.
Cabin in the Woods (2012)
This is one movie that has one of the most paused scenes in movie history for very different reasons. Cabin in the Woods received rave reviews because of its meta approach to the horror genre. During a scene where scientists are working out what could happen to the main characters, a whiteboard can be seen detailing a list of creatures being controlled by the scientists. So many viewers have paused this scene to get a closer look at which monsters are actually on the list.
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
It is no secret that fans have picked out many dark references in 1939’s classic movie The Wizard of Oz. However, probably the strangest observance someone made was in the background while Dorothy and her friends were walking down the yellow brick road. Although the official story described the figure in the background as a bird, many viewers have developed a theory that it is actually a munchkin that hung himself. It certainly puts a dark spin on this scene!
Teen Wolf (1985)
It’s safe to say that 1985 was Michael J. Fox’s year. Not only was he the star of Back to the Future as Marty McFly, but he also starred in the less successful, but just as entertaining Teen Wolf. The movie ends pretty predictably, with Fox’s main character helping his team without his wolf persona. What many viewers noticed though was the celebration scene at the end of the movie. It appears that a random guy is standing in the background with his pants down!
The Little Mermaid (1989)
It has been a long time since the golden days of Disney when 2-D animation was simply the norm. The Little Mermaid was the quintessential Disney film of the ’80s. However, the film wasn’t without its fair share of references and shots that were inappropriate back then, nevermind today! For example, when Ariel is given human legs, the viewer sees way too much of her for a children’s movie! We can’t believe that an animated Disney movie was able to produce this sort of content!
Fight Club (1999)
Of course, David Fincher’s Fight Club is full of brutal and adult imagery. However, there are some shots that happen so quickly that it’s actually a mission to try and capture them by pausing the movie! Before we are even properly introduced to Brad Pitt’s character Tyler Durden, we actually get a quick shot of him early on in the movie. But it’s literally a frame of him. If you blink, you will miss the subliminal effect in this movie.
Psycho (1960)
The horror genre simply wouldn’t have looked the same without Alfred Hitchcock’s iconic masterpiece Psycho. Anthony Perkins brought a real believability to the creepy role of Norman Bates and if you’ve seen the movie, you know how everything goes in the end. During the closing scenes of the 1960 movie, Bates is arrested and taken to jail. The paused scene we are alluding to is when Bates looks straight at the camera, viewers can briefly see the image of a skull layered over his face.
The Lion King (1994)
In Disney’s The Lion King, there is a scene where Mufasa and Sarabi are sitting on the rock that their son Simba was previously presented from to the animal kingdom and they gaze into the stars. Many believe that upon pausing, the dust and the falling stars clearly spell out a specific three-letter word. We will not spell it out for you, but it basically implies what Mufasa and Sarabi originally did to bring Simba into the world…
Boogie Nights (1997)
There is no denying that Paul Thomas Anderson’s Boogie Nights is a unique movie due to the subject matter. At the center of the 1997 drama is Mark Wahlberg’s character Dirk Diggler, an aspiring adult movie star who is slowly becoming the guy that everyone’s talking about – and for a very big reason. Viewers couldn’t help but pause at a number of moments in the movie, but arguably the most paused scene came when Diggler bares all for the crew. It turns out that whatever was underneath was actually prosthetic.
Tron (1982)
While there has since been a sequel, 1982’s Tron will have a warm place in many people’s hearts due to its unquestionable arcade feel. In one scene of the movie, David Warner, who plays the character Ed Dillinger, can be seen with the gameplay of the classic video game Pac-Man. You don’t believe us? See the following screenshot of the iconic circular character chomping away at yellow dots on the right-hand side. This is true ’80s nostalgia at its finest.
Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)
One of the most hilarious moments in the Star Wars film franchise that people can’t help but rewind and playback over and over again is in the very first installment, A New Hope. In a scene midway through the movie, a group of stormtroopers can be seen walking through the door. However, one of them accidentally hits their head on the top of the door. It turns out that this was just an accident that made it into the final cut!
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)
Many who watched Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace noticed a delightful little Easter Egg in the corner of one of the scenes in the Galactic Senate. A group of aliens that appear to be the same species as E.T. can be seen cheering. There is a chance that this was George Lucas’s way of paying homage to Steven Spielberg, returning the favor after he did the same thing, dressing up a child in a Yoda costume for Halloween in his movie E.T.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
The driving force of Star Wars: The Force Awakens was finding out where exactly Luke Skywalker was. Then, in the closing moments, our new hero Rey finally finds him, hiding out on a mysterious island in the middle of an ocean. She hands over his lightsaber to him and the movie ends on a literal cliffhanger. However, many have paused the moment we first see him, as it is believed he is standing next to some sort of gravestone.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988)
It is well documented that Jessica Rabbit is one of the most bodacious animated characters of all time. In Who Framed Roger Rabbit? the red-haired woman is dressed in red and often makes people around her stop and stare. There is a scene though where the animated character perhaps reveals a bit more than viewers might have anticipated. However, it is important to remind viewers that she is not real, which can be easy to forget…
Jurassic World (2015)
While purists might not quite appreciate the most recent Jurassic Park installments compared to the earlier ones, there are plenty of memorable scenes and shots to pause and rewind to. Take this scene in Jurassic World, for example, which sees none other than Jimmy Buffet running from a pterodactyl! What makes the scene even more bizarre is that he is still managing to carry two drinks in the middle of all the chaos. Apparently, the party can’t stop, no matter what!
Iron Man (2008)
Movies from the Marvel Cinematic Universe are known for being connected through a variety of references and Easter Eggs. Iron Man, the very first movie of the franchise, achieved this way back in 2008. During a key scene where Tony Stark is putting on his iconic suit, it is actually possible to spot a really important object that would end up appearing in many future movies. This is Captain America’s shield – well, half of it. We imagine it was in the middle of production at this stage of the story.
Man of Steel (2013)
Another superhero movie that introduced a different cinematic universe was 2013’s Man of Steel. While people have mixed feelings about Henry Cavill’s portrayal of Superman, there is an interesting reference to another superhero during a critical scene that is very easy to miss. When Superman is fighting in space, he leaps past a satellite, which happens to have a logo from Wayne Enterprises on it. Of course, this is alluding to Bruce Wayne aka Batman, who we see a few movies later.
The Rescuers (1977)
For some strange reason, Disney has a history of sneaking strange extras into many of its movies over the years. In the animated flick The Rescuers, the “mouse” decided to include some questionable shots of certain individuals getting changed in their room. We have no idea how they managed to get away with such a strange thing. It happens when the mice are gliding past a building in their empty sardine can. What a wild thing to have in a Disney movie!
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
There is no denying that the first installment of the Indiana Jones film franchise, Raiders of the Lost Ark, is full of unforgettable moments. One of the franchise’s most despicable villains has to be Dr. Rene Belloq. Raul Freeman plays the nefarious character in the first movie. A classic paused moment sees Belloq manage to deliver some brilliant lines, despite the fact that a fly ends up crawling into his mouth! Now that is real acting.
Signs (2002)
Anyone who has seen the classic M. Night Shyamalan movie Signs knows well enough that the aliens are eventually revealed. However, we do get a very brief glimpse of them pretty early on in the movie – so brief that the movie needs to be paused to get a close enough look at the extra-terrestrial. While it’s not the clearest quality, this is certainly intentional, creating a sense of foreshadowing building up to their actual reveal later on down the line.
Burn After Reading (2008)
Many of the Coen Brothers’ movies have very quick moments of violence and Burn After Reading doesn’t break that tradition, by any means. A strange scene happens where George Clooney’s character finds Brad Pitt’s character hiding in his closet. Without hesitation, he shoots him dead. However, the whole thing happens so quickly that the scene really needs to be paused in order to see any of the messy details. We weren’t even sure he was dead at first!
Finding Dory (2016)
13 years after Finding Nemo hit the big screen, its long-awaited sequel, Finding Dory, was finally released. What many fans were surprised to see was that one of the main villains from the original installment would end up making a surprise cameo, albeit in a quick background shot. The niece of the scientist, Darla, can be seen in a photo on the wall during the scene that Dory is quarantined. This is just one of Pixar’s many brilliant Easter Eggs.
Before I Go to Sleep (2014)
Like so many paused scenes on this list, fans were desperate to capture one of the most beautiful actresses in Hollywood when she was at her most vulnerable. In Before I Go To Sleep, her character can be seen in a scene walking around seemingly without clothes on. Although it was confirmed that the character was, in fact, wearing something during the scene, it certainly did not stop fans from pausing and rewinding to make sure…
The Exorcist (1973)
If there is one movie on this list that has a ton of quickfire, shocking images in it, then it has to be The Exorcist. With so many strange, frenetic and shocking moments in the movie, there are plenty of scenes that one can pause and rewind to – if you are into the horror genre, that is! Viewers soon learned though that if you paused the movie at the right time, you are able to see the demon who possesses Regan, Pazuzu.
Pulp Fiction (1994)
Another movie with a ton of blink-and-you’ll-miss-it shots is the Quentin Tarantino classic Pulp Fiction. Arguably the most intriguing chapter of the story happens in the middle when Bruce Willis’s character Butch is on the run from Marcellus Wallace. Although this shower scene is a pretty trivial moment in the movie, many paused and rewound because they were sure they saw Willis in all his glory as he stepped out of the shower. We can confirm that what they saw was in fact, true!
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy is packed with more easter eggs and in-jokes than you can shake a stick at. The restaurant Escupimos en su Alimento was clearly named so that Spanish movie-goers could get a kick out of it! The name translated literally means “we spit in your food,” a funny detail for people who speak the language, or a deserving reward for those who took the effort to pause and enter the phrase into Google Translate.
Frozen (2013)
Disney loves adding in little references that appeal to the adults watching with their children, and Frozen is no exception. In this scene with Anna and Hans, there’s a feeling of déjà vu during this discussion about sandwiches. Yes, you guessed it! The scene is a play by play repeat of a scene in Arrested Development. The line was also featured in an episode of The Simpsons, showing that those Disney writers love their easter eggs.
