These Most-Paused-Moments Will Change The Way You See Certain Films
The more times you watch a movie, the more likely you are to notice something that escaped your attention previously. That's why viewers sometimes have to hit the pause button to get a closer look at something eyecatching.
Whether it's an Easter egg in a Marvel or Disney film, or just a beloved moment like the finale of Grease, there's plenty of reasons to hit pause. See what you may have missed in films like The Matrix, Fight Club, and Tron.
The Wayne Enterprises Logo In Man Of Steel
If there's one thing that any superhero film fan will tell you, it's to always pay attention to the tiniest of details. You never know what small hint may foreshadow a sequel or elude to one of the many complex dynamics in the superhero universe.
One such detail appeared in Man of Steel, but you'd have to pause the film to catch it. During an outer space fight scene, we catch a glimpse of the Wayne Enterprises logo on a satellite. It foreshadows the building tension between Superman and Batman.
Sebastian's Cameo In Aladdin
It isn't unusual for Disney to plant subtle jokes in their films, and such was the case with the original Aladdin. One of the prominent scenes in the movie that really gets the plot going is when Aladdin asks Genie to turn him into a prince.
Genie proceeds to flip through a book of prince recipes, and his finger gets caught on the claw of a crab that he pulls out of the pages. The crab is none other than Sebastian from The Little Mermaid! You may have to pause to catch it, though.
The Mall Name Change In Back To The Future
Back to the Future is one of those nostalgic films, especially for people who grew up in the '80s. Those who have watched it many times still may have missed one clever detail, though.
If you pause at the two scenes when Marty crouches by the mall sign, you'll notice the name changes from Twin Pines Mall to Lone Pine Mall. That's because Marty crashed into one of the trees, causing the name to change in the future.
Dirty Dancing's "Lift" Finale
Dirty Dancing is a classic, and who could forget that timeless finale? The entire film is building up to the ending dance scene, which is suitably choreographed to the song "Time of My Life." If there's only one thing you remember about the movie, it's likely the lift at the end.
The lead characters struggled to get it down, and by the end, it lives up to all its climactic glory. Though the scene gets paused as viewers try to replicate it, we have to warn not to try this at home, folks.
The Spider-Man Kiss Scene
The Spider-Man franchise kicked off their live-action films so strong that some would argue the more recent versions just don't compare. One of the signature scenes in the iconic movie is the kiss scene between Spider-Man and Mary-Jane.
Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst had such charm and chemistry that kissing in the rain didn't even seem like a cliché when they did it. The scene marks a major turning point in the superhero movie, so of course, it had to be paused and rewatched.
The Old Enemy In Finding Dory
Finding Nemo was such a hit that fans patiently awaited the sequel, which came out over a decade later. This one was called Finding Dory, and it followed the same premise only with a different character being lost in the big ocean.
At one point, Dory is swimming in an aquarium, and there's a photo of a familiar face in the background. If viewers caught it, they'd have to pause the film to confirm that the image featured none other than Darla, a young villain from Finding Nemo.
Olivia Newton-John 's Transformation In Grease
Grease has withstood the test of time, and one of the most appealing parts of the film is Olivia Newton-John's dramatic transformation. The character is the stereotypical good girl for most of the film, but she completely adjusts her look for the finale.
Many have replicated the look for Halloween, dotting the off-the-shoulder black top and black, leather pants with voluminous curls and bright makeup. Viewers would have to pause the movie to fully take in every little detail of the transformation.
The Chalkboard In Thor: The Dark World
Anytime you see a chalkboard covered in writing, it's a good time to pause the film to see if it's all jibberish. In the case of Thor: The Dark World, it was not jibberish at all, but real scientific writing.
The scene was when Dr. Selvig fills a chalkboard while at a mental health facility. The character's notes are actual astronomical and mathematical theories. It also includes a little hint into Avengers: Infinity War by mentioning the place Nidavellir.
Brad Pitt In The Closet In Burn After Reading
Burn After Reading is one of those screwball films that features a cast so talented that you can't help but love their outlandish characters. A prime example of the film's charisma is when Brad Pitt surprises George Clooney while hiding in the closet.
The facial expressions on the character's faces are priceless. It's one of those scenes that you could pause and rewind again and again and it's just as hilarious every time. The movie has an ever-prevalent air of "what did I just watch?"
The Map In Iron Man 2
There's one scene in Iron Man 2 that's well worth pausing. It's the part where characters Tony Stark and Nick Fury meet, and in the background is a blue map. Those who looked close enough realized that the map is full of Marvel hints.
One spot that's revealed in the map is the place in Greenland where Captain America's frozen body was uncovered. Another is Thor's hammer in New Mexico and the superhero spot Wakanda in Africa.
Belle's Appearance In The Hunchback Of Notre Dame
The same way that many superheroes exist in the same fictional universe so do Disney characters. That's why you'll often see a character from one Disney movie appear in another.
Such was the case in The Hunchback of Notre Dame. In a scene where Quasimodo is singing over the city, there's one townsperson that looks oddly familiar. If you pause the movie and look closely, you'll spot Belle from The Beauty and the Beast reading a book.
Flying Past The Moon In E.T.
It's hard to believe that this image comes from the '70s because it's so stunning and still holds up against today's standards. The moment comes from a scene in E.T. when the alien helps him and Elliott fly through the sky via telekinesis.
The cinematic marvel gives any viewer a reason to pause on the scene and take in the sheer beauty. Film buffs especially can appreciate the cinematic value of the freeze-frame, even years later.
The Symmetry Of 2001: A Space Odyssey
Though the film has 2001 in its title, it's actually a futuristic adventure film that came out in 1968. Stanley Kubrick revealed his incredible directing eye by using symmetry to captivate the audience.
One scene that did this and has thus since become an iconic moment is when protagonist Dave Bowman is walking through the spacecraft. Though it isn't particularly significant in terms of the film's plot, there's a beauty that makes it worth pausing to admire.
The Dummy That Replaces Dennis Hopper In Speed
Speed is a quintessential '90s film that's packed with romance and suspense. At one point in the film, the lead character Jack Traven (Keanu Reeves) faces off with police officer Howard Payne (Dennis Hopper).
Their battle takes place on top of a subway and ends with Howard losing his head to an overhead light. If you pause the movie at just the right moment, you can see the edit that replaces actor Dennis Hopper with a dummy just before the beheading ensues.
The Superimposed Skull At The End Of Psycho
Alfred Hitchcock was a thriller mastermind, and one of his most well-known pieces was Psycho. The film takes place at the suspense-filled Bates Motel and follows the criminal owner as he makes one of the tenants his victim.
Though the notorious shower scene may be the first thing that comes to mind, the moment worth pausing came at the very end. To give the audiences an added thrill, filmmakers superimposed a skull over the criminal's smiling face, but you only see it for a second.
The Head Collision In Star Wars: A New Hope
With how wildly successful the Star Wars franchise has been, you might think that these films are flawless. As it turns out, there's one blooper that fell under the radar until viewers started pausing to get a closer look.
The moment happens in Star Wars: A New Hope when the Stormtroopers are searching the ship. One of them accidentally hits their head on the door frame! The moment is so funny that George Lucas later added a sound effect to highlight it on the DVD version.
The Lion King's Message In The Stars
The Lion King came under some fire when rumors spread that there was an inappropriate message written in the stars. The scene in question is when Simba , Pumbaa, and Timon are sleeping on a cliff.
Overhead there's a message written in the stars. Since the assumption was controversial, animator Tom Sito stepped in to explain. The letters are supposed to read "SFX", which is the abbreviation for special effects. It was a shoutout to the team who made the starlit sky possible.
The Tease Scene In Wolf Of Wall Street
The Wolf of Wall Street was full of exciting scenes, but one that viewers couldn't help pause was when Margot Robbie teased Leonardo DiCaprio. The actors played spouses who were new parents to a baby girl.
Margot's character guilt trips Leonardo, who is playing Jordan Belfort, in a steamy scene that showed she was far from the stereotypical housewife. Though the scene wasn't as revealing as some moments of the film, it was the mystery that had some ogling.
The Topless Woman In The Background Of The Rescuers
The Rescuers is an adorable Disney film from the '70s about two mice who set out to help an orphan girl. That's why it came as such a shock when viewers of the G-rated movie noticed a topless woman in the background of one of the scenes.
The moment happens when lead characters Bernard and Bianca are riding through New York City. The image certainly wasn't a part of the cartoon, so how it got spliced into the film is a mystery. As a result, though, millions of videos had to be recalled.
Alice Eve in Star Trek Into Darkness
Star Trek Into Darkness hit theaters in 2013 and was a hit, bringing in $467.4 million at the box office. The film follows the crew of the Starship Enterprise as they return home.
The film had an all-star cast that included Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Zoe Saldana. But there's one actress Star Trek can't get enough of, and that's Jeri Ryan as Carol Marcus. Her character's costume is out of this world!
The "Ghost" In Three Men And A Baby
Three Men and a Baby may have been a charming and heartwarming movie, but there's one scene that was sure to leave a chill running down your spine if you played close enough attention.
Actor Ted Danson and his character's mother are happily posed with the baby, and watching them from a distance is what appears to be a ghost in the background. Rumor has it the mysterious figure was actually a cardboard cutout of Ted that someone forgot to take off the set.
The Book Being Read In Spider-Man: Homecoming
There have been many Spider-Man variations over the years, and in 2017 came Spider-Man: Homecoming. The film takes place in a high school, which makes it especially surprising when you spot what one of the students is reading in one scene.
Actress Zendaya plays Michelle, and if you look closely at the character in the gym scene, you'll realize she's reading a book titled Of Human Bondage. It was written by W. Somerset Maugham in 1915.
The Monster List In The Cabin In The Woods
The Cabin in the Woods combined horror and comedy to shed light on how gullible we become in the face of "scary" films. To get the full comedic effect, there's one scene you have to pause.
In the film, two scientists attempt to unravel what could happen next. They have a serious discussion while standing in front of a whiteboard that lists things like "dismemberment goblins." The items are pretty hilarious and even include average things like "snowman" and "twins."
The Moment The Alien Finally Showed Up In Signs
M. Night Shyamalan proved to be a solid suspense-builder with his film The Sixths Sense. So by the time Signs came out, audiences were braced for a surprise. That moment came when the aliens finally showed up.
Their first appearance was in a newscast that showed an alien caught on a camcorder filming a birthday party. Audiences had to pause to take in this human-like, green thing that was the filmmakers' interpretation of extraterrestrial life.
The Captain America Shield In Iron Man
Before the second Iron Man movie showed the map filled with superhero references, there was one little prop in the first film that made audiences pause. When Tony Stark is getting into his suit, there's a shield in the background.
If you look closely, you can clearly make out the white star with a blue background and red stripes. The prop was a Captain America reference, and it had all the superhero fans rewinding and pausing to get a longer look.
Tyler's Mysterious Appearances In Fight Club
Fans of Fight Club will tell you that you catch something new every time you watch it. One of the things you'll catch after a few views and several pauses is that the character Tyler Durden appears numerous times before meeting the narrator.
One of these moments is when he's riding a walkway at the airport. Another occurs when Tyler is one of the waiters on a commercial. He also appears when the narrator is making photocopies and when he goes to the doctor.
The Exploded Head In Scanners
Scanners was the film that launched David Cronenberg's career, and it features some pretty outrageous scenes. One of them flies right before your eyes, leaving audiences scrambling for the pause button.
In the scene, Michael Ironside uses his psychic powers to explode a man's head. The gory moment happens too fast to really absorb what you just saw, so you have to rewind and pause on the moment to fully process this weird and disturbing moment.
Pac-Man's Appearance In Tron
Tron was such a classic that they even made a remake in 2015. But it's the 1982 version that has a hidden gem in it that you'd have to pause the movie to catch. When David Warner is looking at a screen, there's a little character to the right you might recognize.
If you look closely, you can see Pac-Man eating yellow dots. The creators of the show borrowed little details from arcade games to appeal to their audience.
E.T.'s Appearance In Star Wars: The Phantom Menace
While watching Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, you may have noticed a familiar character that hit the big screen years prior. Three E.T.-like species appear in the Galactic Senate, but you'd probably have to pause the brief cameo to verify what you just saw.
Rumor has it that George Lucas and Steven Spielberg had an agreement to include one another's famous characters in their movies. That's why you see a child dress up as Yoda in the trick-or-treating scene in E.T.
The Fly In Indiana Jones: Raiders Of The Lost Ark
Unless you were completely entranced by the storyline, you probably noticed the fly bouncing around Dr. René Belloq in one scene of Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark. The pesky bug appears to go into actor Paul Freeman's mouth!
Though Paul has been applauded for taking one for the team, so to speak, this rumor was put to rest now that we know the editing team worked their magic. They cut the frame where the bug flies away, making for a hilarious mixup you'd have to pause to believe.
Mrs. Potts And Chip In Tarzan
The striking similarity in looks and style between Jane from Tarzan and Belle from Beauty and the Beast has led some to believe the two are related. Another piece of potential evidence is the tea set that appears in a scene in Tarzan!
If you pause at the right time, you can clearly see Mrs. Potts, Chip, and the rest of the set in Tarzan. The theory is that Jane inherited the set from her ancestor, Belle.
The Buzz Lightyear Toy In Finding Nemo
We already mentioned a familiar face that appears in Finding Dory, but there's also an Easter egg that appears in the first film, Finding Nemo. In a scene that takes place in the dentists' office, the camera briefly pans the toys in the waiting area.
Lying on the floor in front of the toy chest is none other than Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story! The character is one of the most famous in its franchise, so it's no surprise animators dropped him into another Disney film.
The Superhero Assembly In The Avengers
Fans love to see superheroes collaborate, so The Avengers franchise has been a major success since the first film arrived in 2012. Though audiences have since gotten used to seeing their favorite superheroes together, the first film left a pause-worthy impression.
Assembly shots like this one were framed just right so that each character could be seen in the frame. It filled the movie with plenty of screenshots you could turn into a poster, or just pause to fangirl over.
Darth Vader's Skeleton In Star Wars: The Return Of The Jedi
Darth Vader is one of the most popular villains out there. Part of what makes him stand out is his breathy voice and mysterious appearance, which is hidden behind a dark suit and mask.
The most revealed version of Darth Vader that audiences get to experience is in the film Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. His skeleton face is exposed for a brief moment, causing audiences to pause to catch a clearer glimpse. Bear in mind, it was 1983 so special effects like these were still fawned over.
Brad Pitt's Cameo In Deadpool 2
Deadpool's misfit superheroes are unlike any other, especially considering that they don't even make it to the second film. One of the unlucky characters in The Vanisher, who is invisible up until his comical end.
The start of Deadpool 2 shows The Vanisher parachuting out of an airplane and landing in telephone wires. As he's electrocuted, his real character is revealed to be actor Brad Pitt! The hilarious reveal was especially impressive since the A-lister is rumored to be resistant to cameo offers.
The Shining Reference In The Passengers
Did you get a sense of déjà vu while watching the bar scene in The Passengers? If so, that's probably because you've seen the movie The Shining. Reportedly, director Morten Tyldum is a big fan of the classic thriller's director, Stanley Kubrick.
Thus, his set and costume ideas for the scene were essentially his way of geeking out over The Shining. Everything from the light-up counter to the bartender's red suit is nearly the same in both bar scenes.
The Telling Sign In Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy
There are a ton of hilarious moments in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. However, there's one joke that you'd probably have to pause to catch. If you're a Spanish-speaker, you may have noticed something about the restaurant sign that briefly appears in the film.
The restaurant's name is "Escupimos en su Alimento." Translation: "We spit in your food." Anyone who can understand the sign would know to stay away, but those who can't are bound to be punished for their ignorance.
Sid's Reemergence In Toy Story 3
The first Toy Story film had a child villain by the name of Sid who has a thing for messing with toys. At one point, Woody and Buzz Lightyear find themselves locked up by Sid, but they manage to escape.
Those who paid close attention to all of the Toy Story films may have reached for the pause button when they spotted the garbage man in Toy Story 3. The guy is wearing Sid's skeleton shirt from the first film, suggesting that the boy grew up to be a garbage man.
The Arrested Development Reference In Frozen
Arrested Development is a classic sitcom that many adults have followed for years. Viewers of the series may have caught something in the movie Frozen that sounded a little too familiar.
When characters Hans and Anna are singing about their love, they note that they "finish each other's... sandwiches!" Arrested Development twins Michael and Lindsay said the same line years earlier! Come to think of it, Hans does look an awful lot like actor Jason Bateman.
This Shocking Moment In Grease 2
You can Google this clip yourself, but fair warning, you're going to see a lot more than you bargained for of the runner in the back.
Fans noticed that his...family jewels...came loose while he was doing the hurdles in the background. You can see him visibly struggling to keep his composure but nobody seemed to notice, and the moment stayed in the movie.
That Scene From Basic Instinct
You can't argue that Catherine Tramell wasn't totally in control just about every moment she was on the screen, and that includes when police officers were interrogating her over her the killing of her lover.
You almost feel bad for the detectives in this scene. There's no way they would've gotten anything out of this femme fatale.
Dennis' Gooney-Inspired Wardrobe In Jurassic Park
Eight years before Steven Spielberg directed Jurassic Park, he wrote the story for The Goonies. His involvement in both films may explain why the costume designer replicated so many outfits from the beloved kid's film when it came to Dennis Nedry's character.
There are three pause-worthy moments where Dennis is dressed exactly the same way as the characters Mikey, Mouth, and Chunk. His floral shirt, gray jacket, and layered yellow raincoat look are too spot-on just to be a coincidence.
The Hidden Camera In The Matrix
The Matrix was full of shots that are worth pausing, if for no other reason than being in awe of the talented film crew. There's one moment, though, where their cinematography trick is easy to see.
When characters Morpheus and Neo are reflected in the door handle, you can see the outline of the camera lens if you look close. The team placed a coat and tie over the camera that matches just so with that of Morpheus, but once you know the secret you can't unsee it.
