In the world of filmmaking, every detail is meticulously planned. Scripts are written, storyboards are drawn, and directors guide actors to deliver their lines perfectly. But sometimes, the most iconic and memorable moments in a film aren’t found in the script at all. They happen spontaneously, born from an actor’s brilliant instinct.
These improvised scenes often add a layer of authenticity and magic that no amount of planning could replicate. They are happy accidents that go on to become legendary.
Here are five famous movie scenes that were completely improvised.
1. “Here’s Johnny!” – The Shining (1980)
The scene is terrifying: Wendy Torrance (Shelley Duvall) is hiding in the bathroom, and her deranged husband, Jack (Jack Nicholson), begins hacking through the door with an axe. As he peers through the hole he’s created, he delivers the chilling line, “Heeeeere’s Johnny!”
- The Improvisation: This line was not in Stanley Kubrick’s script. It was an ad-lib by Jack Nicholson, who borrowed the famous catchphrase used to introduce TV host Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show. Kubrick, who had lived in England for years, had no idea what it meant but immediately recognized its power and kept it in the final cut.
2. The “Funny How?” Scene – Goodfellas (1990)
In one of the most tense scenes in cinematic history, the gangster Tommy DeVito (Joe Pesci) tells a story, and the young Henry Hill (Ray Liotta) compliments him, saying, “You’re a funny guy.” Tommy’s mood instantly shifts as he menacingly asks, “Funny how? Funny like I’m a clown? I amuse you?”
- The Improvisation: Director Martin Scorsese only gave the actors a rough outline for the scene. The entire dialogue was improvised by Joe Pesci and Ray Liotta. Pesci based it on a real-life experience he had as a young man when he told a mobster he was funny, receiving a similarly threatening response. The other actors in the scene had no idea it was coming, so their looks of genuine fear and confusion are completely real.
3. The Closing of the Ring Box – Pretty Woman (1990)
When Edward (Richard Gere) presents Vivian (Julia Roberts) with a stunning diamond necklace, he shows it to her in a fancy jewelry box. As she reaches out to touch it, he playfully snaps the box shut, startling her. Her reaction—a genuine, full-throated laugh—is one of the most beloved moments in the film.
- The Improvisation: The snapping of the box was a spontaneous prank by Richard Gere. Julia Roberts’ surprised laugh was so authentic and charming that director Garry Marshall decided it was far better than anything they could have scripted. It perfectly captured the chemistry between the two characters.
4. The “Tears in Rain” Monologue – Blade Runner (1982)
At the climax of the sci-fi classic, the replicant Roy Batty (Rutger Hauer) confronts his pursuer, Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford). Instead of killing him, the dying Roy delivers a poetic and haunting monologue about his incredible, fleeting life.
- The Improvisation: The original script’s monologue was much longer and more technical. On the day of filming, actor Rutger Hauer felt it wasn’t right. He heavily edited the speech and added the iconic final line himself: “All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain.” His improvised version was so beautiful and profound that it moved the film crew to tears and became the heart and soul of the entire movie.
5. The “I Know” Line – Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
It’s a moment of heartbreak. Han Solo (Harrison Ford) is about to be frozen in carbonite. As he is lowered into the chamber, Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) finally confesses her feelings, crying out, “I love you!”
- The Improvisation: The script had Han Solo’s reply as a simple “I love you, too.” But Harrison Ford felt that the line didn’t fit Han’s rogue character. He discussed it with director Irvin Kershner, and on the final take, he responded with the now-legendary line: “I know.” It was a perfect, in-character response that was cool, a little arrogant, and yet deeply emotional, defining Han Solo’s personality in just two words.