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!
