Great movies make for great memories! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most iconic, memorable, and/or important moments in live-action films since the year 2000.
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00 [Music]
00:10 Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most iconic,
00:15 memorable, and/or important moments in live-action films since the year 2000.
00:20 [Music]
00:28 Number 30. This is Sparta. 300. For anyone alive in 2006, you probably remember the hold that 300
00:36 had on pop culture. Gerard Butler's performance during this scene is one of the film's highlights.
00:42 -We must be diplomatic. -And of course, Spartans
00:45 have the reputation to consider. -Choose your next words carefully, Leonidas.
00:54 -They may be your last as king. After being confronted by a Persian messenger,
00:59 King Leonidas chooses to kick the man. This action plays out in super cool slow motion.
01:05 Even more, Butler's scream captures the raw emotion and physicality of the Spartan spirit.
01:11 -Lionidas. This is Sparta! It's so dramatic and over the top that it's hard not to love
01:20 on some level. In a movie full of crazy fights, this scene still feels like one of the standout
01:26 moments. Number 29. Are you not entertained? Gladiator. This historical epic centers around
01:33 Maximus Decimus Meridius, who is reduced from general to gladiator and finds himself fighting
01:38 his way up the ranks of the arena. In this thrilling scene, he defeats an opponent and
01:48 gives the crowd a piece of his mind. This prompts one of the best quotes from the movie. As the
01:53 fighter unleashes his incredible speech, he shows that he's just as strong as he is well-spoken.
01:59 Through the work of Russell Crowe, the hero comes alive in this compelling moment.
02:03 -Are you not entertained? Are you not entertained? Is this not why you are here?
02:11 You definitely don't want to mess with him after watching this scene. True to the narrative,
02:16 this stands out as one of the most entertaining points of Maximus' journey.
02:20 Number 28. Everything Bagel. Everything, everywhere, all at once. Despite all of its
02:26 twists and turns, at its very core, everything, everywhere, all at once is ultimately about
02:31 family. This poignant moment perfectly sums up the wonder and intimacy of the movie.
02:36 -Let her go.
02:40 -I can't do it, Dad. I won't treat my daughter like you do.
02:46 When the Everything Bagel threatens to destroy everything, the hero chooses to save her
02:51 daughter. The unexpected metaphor sets up an important piece of dialogue. By putting Evelyn
02:56 and Joy together, the script manages to make sense of its complex plot. In this wonderful sequence,
03:02 Stephanie Hsu and Michelle Yeoh sell this climax with their simple exchange,
03:07 where the latter's character finally tells her daughter how she feels.
03:11 -No matter what, I still want to be here with you. I will always, always want to be here with you.
03:25 It's a profound conversation that doesn't need any special effects to make an impact.
03:30 Number 27. No. Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Stuck in captivity, Caesar finally
03:37 decides that enough is enough. He stands defiant in the cell as guards come to move him. Tom Felton's
03:43 character then tries to attack the ape, which, needless to say, turns out to be a huge mistake.
03:48 -What the hell do you think you're doing, huh?
03:50 The animal fights back and sends out a powerful message to the fellow prisoners.
03:55 As the spark that lights the revolution, this moment shows just how much the hero has changed.
04:01 -Take your stinking paw off me, you damn dirty ape!
04:03 No!
04:08 He's no longer afraid to confront his human captors or voice his dissent. In a film filled
04:15 with memorable lines, this one is among the simplest and most resonant. Number 26.
04:21 Gloria's Speech. Barbie. Amid its eye-popping set pieces and hilarious sequences, Barbie managed to
04:27 send a clear message with this moment. The important monologue comes courtesy of America
04:32 Ferreira's character Gloria. -You are so beautiful and so smart, and it kills me that you don't think
04:39 you're good enough. Like, we have to always be extraordinary, but somehow we're always doing it
04:49 wrong. In one of the best parts of the film, Gloria dissects the pitfalls of being a woman,
04:55 offering a heartfelt and inspirational look at the complexities of the modern world. It's a stirring
05:00 speech that struck a chord with many, and definitely played a huge role in getting Ferreira
05:05 an Oscar nomination. -I'm just so tired of watching myself and every single other woman tie herself
05:15 into knots so that people will like us. Altogether, this monologue, embedded within the film's wacky
05:21 plot, essentially serves as its mission statement. Number 25. No Man's Land. Wonder Woman. Coming
05:29 face-to-face with the Western Front, Diana Prince decides to enter No Man's Land herself. -This is
05:34 not something you can cross. It's not possible. -So what? So we do nothing? -No, we do. We are
05:39 doing something. We are. We just... we can't save everyone in this war. This is not what we came
05:45 here to do. This brave act comes with some stunning visuals. Wonder Woman deflects bullets
05:52 and uses her shield, becoming a one-woman army. She inspires her allies to follow her into battle
05:58 and push back their enemies. The heroic moment showcases the main character's supernatural
06:03 abilities, along with her willingness to go the extra mile. Recreating World War I, the film puts
06:09 audiences right in the heat of the battle. The visceral and imaginative sequence also gives fans
06:14 a chance to see the heroine doing what she does best. -You did this. -We did.
06:21 Number 24. Running Down the Burj Khalifa. Mission Impossible. Ghost Protocol. It wasn't his first
06:29 stunt, but you could argue this moment took Tom Cruise's action career to the next level.
06:34 It basically revolutionized the Mission Impossible franchise into stunt spectaculars.
06:39 In the movie, Ethan Hunt has to scale the towering Burj Khalifa in Dubai. The entire scene is filled
06:46 with exciting work from Cruise. This includes the shot of him running down the side of the tower,
06:51 showing off with his fearless attitude. It's amazing that anybody would try something so
06:56 dangerous and still look so cool doing it. -That was not easy, but I did it.
07:05 -What'd I miss? In one of his most spectacular feats ever, the actor proves that there's nothing
07:11 he won't do to entertain us. Number 23. Obi-Wan vs. Anakin. Star Wars Episode III. Revenge of the
07:19 Sith. At the end of the prequel trilogy, Anakin Skywalker fights Obi-Wan Kenobi on Mustafar.
07:25 The lava planet sets the stage for a climactic battle between good and evil. -Only a Sith deals
07:31 in absolutes. I will do what I must. -You will try. It all builds up to their final confrontation,
07:42 filled with grief, hate, and love, all in one. Despite Kenobi's efforts to convince his former
07:48 student to return to the light, Skywalker remains resolute. As Skywalker's disfigured body burns,
07:55 the Jedi Master gives one final moving speech to the new Sith Lord. -It was said that you would
08:01 destroy the Sith, not join them. Bring balance to the Force, not leave it in darkness. -Both
08:10 characters find themselves at a low point in this equal parts exciting and heartbreaking sequence.
08:15 The series hasn't always received universal praise, but this stands as one of its defining moments.
08:22 Number 22. Shooting the Floorboards in Glorious Bastards. At the beginning of this war epic,
08:28 Colonel Hans Landa interrogates a French farmer.
08:30 His evil charm led to the revelation that there's a Jewish family hiding underneath the
08:48 floorboards. He then speaks in English to trick the victims, sending in his soldiers to create an
08:54 impromptu firing squad. Director Quentin Tarantino has audiences on the edge of their seat until the
09:00 big moment. The mix of sound, music, and cinematography give this haunting scene an
09:10 unforgettable conclusion. This shocking turn of events not only sets up Shoshanna's revenge plot,
09:16 it also shapes the ensuing narrative. Number 21. Not Quite My Tempo - Whiplash.
09:22 Few actors this century have proven more versatile than J.K. Simmons. In one movie,
09:27 you might find him playing a caring father figure. In the next, he's a domineering tyrant.
09:32 In Whiplash, we see Simmons naturally transition from understated to over the top in the blink of
09:37 an eye. Simmons plays jazz instructor Terrence Fletcher, who tries to get new drummer Andrew
09:43 to match his tempo. Fletcher seems patient and understanding until he chucks a chair at Andrew,
09:51 which he narrowly dodges. Fletcher pulls no punches, or slaps for that matter,
09:56 as he makes a college student cry. Fletcher's teaching methods are among the most brutal
10:01 displays we've ever seen on film. Like Andrew though, we can't look away from the cruel Fletcher.
10:06 Number 20. Is That Everyone? - Avengers Endgame.
10:20 Remember when the original six Avengers assembled during the Battle of New York?
10:24 The climax of Endgame took that iconic shot and multiplied it by infinity. As Cap prepares to go
10:30 down swinging against Thanos, a series of portals open around the destroyed Avengers headquarters.
10:36 Along with the Wakandan and Asgardian armies, Doctor Strange, Spider-Man, and several other
10:42 recently resurrected heroes emerge to supply backup. Whether you were introduced to these
10:47 characters through the MCU, or were reading comics long before this cinematic universe existed,
10:52 this team-up was beyond anything we ever imagined possible in film. Alan Silvestri's score adds to
10:58 the gravitas, giving us all goosebumps. Few moments are more satisfying than when Cap finally says
11:04 "Avengers, assemble," leading this massive cast into battle. Number 19. Coming Back For Everything.
11:21 The Social Network. You don't get to 500 million friends without making a few enemies. That's one
11:26 of the best taglines ever written, and we see exactly what it means in the social network,
11:31 which opens with a savage breakup between Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg and his girlfriend.
11:36 "What do you mean?" "I'm not dating anymore, I'm sorry." "Is this a joke?" "No, it's not."
11:41 Yet another bridge is burned during the film's boiling point when Eduardo Saverin confronts his
11:46 former business partner. Learning that his Facebook ownership share has been diluted,
11:50 Saverin drops Zuckerberg as a friend in the most poetic way possible, smashing his laptop.
11:56 "Yes." "How about now, you still wired in?" "Call security." Although he's escorted out of the
12:02 office, Saverin assures Zuckerberg that he'll be back for more than just his 30%.
12:06 Andrew Garfield's powerhouse performance mixed with Aaron Sorkin's Oscar-winning dialogue
12:12 amounts to an almost Shakespearean clash of tech titans. Number 18. You Wanna Get Nuts?
12:18 American Psycho. "You like Huey Lewis and the News?" "They're okay." Hip To Be Square is one
12:24 of those songs that's so catchy that we don't always listen to the lyrics. Something similar
12:29 can be said about Patrick Bateman, who lures people in with his charm and charisma. If people
12:34 really listened to what he was saying, though, they could tell that he's a complete psychopath.
12:38 By the time Paul Allen realizes this, Bateman has already broken out his axe and raincoat.
12:44 Allen's cries for help are blocked out by the upbeat "Huey Lewis and the News" song,
12:48 which is both horrifying and darkly hilarious. If we had to choose one image that epitomizes
12:53 Bateman, it would be of him smoking a cigar with one half of his handsome face covered in blood.
12:58 Number 17. Annie's Head. Hereditary. Hereditary undoubtedly has the most chilling ending of the
13:05 century thus far, and it's inclined to maintain that title for the next 80 years. Director Ari
13:11 Astor builds tension as Peter wanders through his dark house, but all bets are off once a
13:15 possessed Annie emerges and chases him to the attic. Annie repeatedly bangs her head on the
13:25 ceiling, and if you think that's disturbing, wait until she breaks out the piano wire.
13:30 The onlookers push Peter over the edge and out the window. Taken over by a bright light,
13:35 he follows the beheaded Annie into a treehouse, where Peymond's followers await. It's a finale
13:41 that reduces the audience to jelly, uncertain what they just watched or if they'll ever be the same.
13:46 Number 16. The Race is On. Mad Max Fury Road.
13:51 Mad Max Fury Road is essentially one high-octane set piece that only briefly stops for gas.
13:57 Of course, it would be cheating if we put the nearly feature-length car chase on the list,
14:01 so we're singling out the beginning as Immortan Joe and his army charges into the desert wasteland
14:06 in pursuit of the Five Wives. In just a couple of minutes, director George Miller delivers more
14:11 memorable shots than most movies give us their whole runtime. With Max chained to Nux's vehicle
14:17 and a minion rocking out on his flamethrowing guitar, it's like every heavy metal album cover
14:23 brought to life. The insanity is only cranked up as the drivers boldly venture into a hellish
14:28 sandstorm without looking back. Such apocalyptic imagery has never been lovelier.
14:33 "I am the man who grabs the sun!"
14:36 "Riding to Valhalla!"
14:42 Number 15. Trinity Test. Oppenheimer.
14:46 The entire movie builds to this moment. In the New Mexico desert,
14:50 the research team assembles to watch the first atomic bomb test.
14:54 "In three years, 4,000 people, two billion dollars.
15:00 If it doesn't go off, we're both finished."
15:03 Will it go off without a hitch or not? We know the answer going in, but we're still captivated
15:09 by the results. Christopher Nolan takes his time inching us towards the climax for maximum effect.
15:14 When it finally explodes, the resulting shot takes your breath away. It's a monumental event
15:20 that's perfectly captured. The massive cloud doesn't disappoint, with the soundtrack cutting
15:25 out to let audiences take in the impressive image. It's even more powerful to experience
15:34 the explosion given its historical context. Number 14. You're a Wizard, Harry.
15:40 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. For anyone who grew up with J.K. Rowling's
15:45 best-selling books, chances are you've fantasized about receiving an acceptance letter from Hogwarts,
15:50 whether it was delivered via owl or the Keeper of Keys himself. The wizarding world may be
15:56 fictional, unfortunately, but this scene made our dreams come true. A decade after bringing
16:00 him to the Dursleys, Hagrid returns to young Harry Potter with a letter, a cake, and a major
16:06 bombshell. We still get giddy when Hagrid says those four words that changed Harry's life,
16:11 or our lives, forever. "You're a wizard, Harry."
16:15 Opening Harry's eyes to a whole new world of wonder, this scene has defined childhood for
16:20 many, and it will continue to do so for generations to come. It's the very definition of movie magic.
16:26 Number 13. What's in the Basement? Parasite.
16:30 Parasite is one of those films that constantly leaves the audience asking, "Where is this going?"
16:35 As the lower-class Kim family cons their way into the wealthy Park family's lives,
16:40 it would seem that all the pieces have fallen into place. Just when you think you have this
16:44 movie figured out, though, the Kims are paid a visit while basking in the Park's house.
16:49 Who should they find at the door but Moon-gwang, the old housekeeper who the Kims got fired?
16:54 Moon-gwang claims she left something behind, but it turns out to be someone,
16:58 her husband, who's been living in the underground bunker nobody else knew about.
17:02 A power struggle soon emerges between these two struggling families as an already insane
17:13 situation spirals out of control.
17:15 Number 12. The Final Words. Lost in Translation.
17:29 Lost in Translation is all about communication as two unlikely people find love and understanding
17:35 in a foreign country. Going through difficult periods in their respective
17:43 lives, Bob and Charlotte discover that they speak the same language, both in a literal and deeper
17:48 sense. So it's only fitting that the final words between these two are kept between them and nobody
17:53 else, the audience included. While there's been much discussion about what Bob whispered into
18:03 Charlotte's ear, this ending is better left ambiguous. All we need to know is that Bob
18:08 and Charlotte have matured through their all-too-short-lived relationship. The vacation
18:12 may be over, but both will return to their lives feeling a little less lost. Parting is such sweet
18:17 sorrow. Number 11. The Snap. Avengers Infinity War. The climax of Endgame wouldn't have packed
18:30 such a powerful punch if it hadn't been for the snap at the end of its predecessor. Not since Han
18:35 Solo was frozen in carbonite has a cliffhanger to a major blockbuster left us more shocked.
18:40 Where Han Solo was one character, however, Thanos wipes out half of the universe's
18:45 population in one fell swoop. This extends to Black Panther, Groot, and no, not Spidey.
18:59 In the back of our heads, we knew that these fallen heroes would likely return somehow,
19:03 but that didn't make watching them disintegrate any less devastating. Honestly, can you think
19:07 of an ending that inspired more gasps or dropped jaws? Even with Endgame's happy resolution,
19:14 this scene still shreds us to pieces. Number 10. Call It. No Country for Old Men.
19:19 The scariest characters can strike fear with even the simplest of gestures. A coin toss doesn't
19:25 sound especially intense, but when the coin belongs to Anton Chigurh, it's the most frightening thing
19:31 possible. After a gas station clerk asks Chigurh one too many questions, his fate boils down to
19:37 heads or tails. Alfred Hitchcock firmly believed that when a bomb suddenly goes off in a movie,
19:46 it's a surprise. When the audience knows that the bomb is there, though, it's true suspense.
19:51 Chigurh is a ticking time bomb, and the clerk has no idea just how close he comes to detonating him,
19:56 but we do. Thankfully, the clerk chooses wisely
20:07 and Chigurh exits peacefully, leaving us to catch our breath.
20:10 Number 9. Hello Stranger. Moonlight.
20:13 Now an adult drug dealer, Chiron feels trapped in a life that he never wanted.
20:24 Chiron has spent years hiding his true self from the rest of the world. During his youth, however,
20:29 he opened himself up to Kevin, a friend and much more. When Chiron reunites with Kevin at a diner,
20:35 neither is sure what to expect. Chiron is especially confused as to why Kevin called
20:47 him out of the blue. As it turns out, he was inspired after hearing the song "Hello Stranger."
20:52 Allowing the music to do all the talking, Kevin lets Chiron know what's in his heart.
20:57 The song also speaks to Chiron on a nostalgic and romantic level,
21:01 showing him that he doesn't need to go through life alone anymore.
21:04 Number 8. Lemon Quaaludes. The Wolf of Wall Street.
21:07 Even with Jonah Hill in a supporting role, we didn't expect to laugh as hard as we did
21:12 throughout The Wolf of Wall Street. The funniest sequence comes when the Lemon Quaaludes kick in,
21:17 hindering Jordan Belfort's speech, body and consciousness.
21:20 Merely going down the stairs and opening the car door becomes an arduous journey for Belfort
21:30 during the cerebral palsy phase, as he puts it. His troubles aren't over when he gets home,
21:35 as Jordan needs to pry an intoxicated Donnie off the phone. The distraught Donnie nearly
21:39 chokes on deli meat in the process, but Jordan snaps into action thanks to his own brand of
21:44 spinach. A Lamborghini might have been destroyed, but it was worth it for this priceless bit of
21:49 comedic gold. Number 7. The Pale Man. Pan's Labyrinth.
21:53 The designs for most modern movie monsters tread on familiar territory.
21:58 There isn't another monster in cinema that looks quite like the Pale Man, however.
22:02 What with his sagging skin, slender body and unique eye placement, even when completely frozen,
22:08 he can overwhelm anyone with dread. Akin to the Garden of Eden, naïve Ophelia goes against the
22:14 faun's warning and eats two grapes, waking the creature up. Sticking a pair of eyes in his palms,
22:30 the Pale Man consumes two fairies, and if that wasn't enough nightmare fuel for one lifetime,
22:35 he proceeds to pursue Ophelia, who barely escapes with her last inch of magic chalk.
22:41 Everything about this scene, from the atmosphere to pacing and to production values,
22:45 puts the dark in dark fantasy. Number 6. The Crazy '88. Kill Bill Vol. 1.
22:51 Quentin Tarantino is frequently praised for his inventive use of dialogue, but his movies are
23:06 driven just as much by visual storytelling. From a directorial standpoint, The Bride's
23:11 showdown with the Crazy '88 just might be Tarantino's masterpiece. The choreography,
23:16 the camera angles, the stunt work, the sound design, the unbelievable amount of bloodshed,
23:22 it all builds to a tour de force of action. Tarantino pays homage to a variety of different
23:27 styles and genres, ranging from martial arts to grindhouse. At the same time, the sequence is pure
23:33 Tarantino, and no other director, living or dead, could conceivably bring it to the silver screen.
23:39 In typical Tarantino fashion, the music selections are also oddly perfect for this bombastic setup.
23:45 Number 5. The Sunken Place. Get Out.
23:47 From the moment Chris arrives at his girlfriend's parents' house, something is clearly amiss.
24:01 Matters go from unsettling to soul-crushing as Chris sits down to a hypnotherapy session
24:06 with Missy. The family matriarch literally gets inside his head as she stirs her tea,
24:11 which only grows more nerve-wracking as the scene plays out.
24:13 Thinking of his late mother, Chris becomes paralyzed with fear, unable to wipe the tears
24:28 flooding from his wide eyes. Missy submerges Chris into a dark limbo, where nobody can hear
24:33 his cries for help. Not only is this a harrowing image, but it ingeniously encompasses the film's
24:39 themes of marginalization and the system that's been keeping people of color down. Jordan Peele
24:44 gets all of this across through unforgettable visuals alone. Number 4. The Hallway Fight.
24:49 Inception. Inception stimulates the mind in more ways than one. The ending still has us lying awake
24:56 at night, wondering if the top ever fell over. When the film isn't asking us philosophical questions,
25:02 its technical wizardry is leaving us in total disbelief. This is a film where you're constantly
25:07 asking, "How did they do that?" In the case of The Spinning Hallway Fight, the answer surprisingly
25:13 isn't CGI. Turning to practical effects, the filmmakers constructed a rotating set to make
25:18 the zero-gravity showdown a reality. This masterclass of special effects, choreography,
25:23 and cinematography accumulates to an image that will forever stick in your head. It just goes to
25:29 show that if you can dream it, you can do it, at least on the silver screen.
25:32 "Mustn't be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling."
25:34 Number 3. The Battle of Helm's Deep. The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers.
25:48 "I will not let you die, my son. I will not let you die."
25:54 The Lord of the Rings sets a new gold standard for epic set pieces, and the Battle of Helm's
25:59 Deep may be the most ambitious action sequence Peter Jackson ever pulled off. This is a textbook
26:05 example of how to shoot a giant battle at night. Instead of shrouding the action in darkness,
26:10 Helm's Deep is draped in atmospheric blue. The audience never has trouble making out the imagery,
26:16 and this is definitely a battle where you want to see everything. The remarkable stunt work and
26:20 sheer scale of the battle aside, it's our emotional investment that makes the sequence gripping.
26:25 Gandalf manages to top his standoff against the Balrog from the first film as he rides in with
26:30 reinforcements, ushering in a bright new day for our heroes. Number 2. I Drink Your Milkshake.
26:36 There Will Be Blood. "Drain it. Drain it, Eli, you boy."
26:46 After stripping Eli of his dignity and faith, Daniel Plainview reveals that he's also drained
26:51 the land up for sale of its oil. Breaking down, Eli pleads with Daniel to have mercy.
26:56 And how does the oil man respond? He makes fun of him like a schoolyard bully,
27:01 boasting about how he slurped up Eli's milkshake. "I drink your milkshake. I drink it up."
27:12 Daniel isn't content with seeing Eli squirm. He paints his bowling alley red with Eli's head.
27:17 This movie isn't called There Will Be Blood just because of its greed and capitalism themes.
27:22 Daniel Day-Lewis's Oscar-winning performance, coupled with Paul Thomas Anderson's commanding
27:26 dialogue, results in a finale that's haunting, darkly humorous, and completely bonkers.
27:32 It's capped up with some of the most appropriate last lines in any motion picture.
27:36 "Mr. Daniel? I'm finished."
27:47 Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the bell to get notified about
27:52 our latest videos. You have the option to be notified for occasional videos or all of them.
27:58 If you're on your phone, make sure you go into your settings and switch on notifications.
28:03 Number 1. The Interrogation - The Dark Knight
28:06 "You wanted me. Here I am."
28:08 Whatever the medium, Batman and the Joker's dynamic is the stuff of legend.
28:13 This hero and villain are so well-defined that you just need to put them in a room together and
28:17 see what happens, which is exactly what Christopher Nolan does here. With Harvey Dent missing,
28:22 Batman interrogates the Joker, although it could be seen as the other way around.
28:27 While they may be polar opposites on the surface, the Joker views Batman as his kindred spirit.
28:32 Two forces cut from the same cloth that can't exist without the other.
28:36 The Joker's goal is to bring Batman down to his level.
28:39 "I have one rule."
28:41 "Oh, then that's the rule you'll have to break to know the truth."
28:44 "Which is?"
28:45 "The only sensible way to live in this world is without rules,
28:48 and tonight you're gonna break your one rule."
28:51 While Batman doesn't break his one rule by taking Joker's life,
28:54 his spirit is broken as this Dark Knight turns to Don.
28:58 Did we forget another defining cinematic moment from this century?
29:02 Let us know in the comments.
29:03 Did you enjoy this video? Check out these other clips from WatchMojo
29:13 and be sure to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos.
29:18 [Music]