21 Of The Best Movie Scenes That Definitely Deserved To Win An Oscar If There Was A Category For It
Movies are truly a work of art, and there are a lot of things different people would appreciate about them—the cinematography, the accurate casting, music score, soundtrack, color grading, or simply, all of the above. But even though they are truly one of the most popular forms of art that have been well-loved by people since their emergence in the 19th century, not a lot of people realize and truly appreciate the careful craft involved in making them.
Some people only see movies because they read the book version of them. Some only watch them because they want to pass time.
But every once in a while, there will always be this one particular movie you would come across that would have you on a chokehold—because it's just that good. And it's not just the cinematography nor the colors that lured you in, it's the story, the writing itself, and how well they executed the scenes.
When a movie is truly well-made, it doesn't really need the name of an A-list actor plastered all over it; everything it puts out there is already exemplary. What makes people get truly hooked are the beautiful, nerve-wracking, and heartfelt scenes that are embedded within the storyline, and if there is an Academy Award for Best Movie Scenes—they would definitely bag that golden statue.
To give you a run down, here are some of the best movie scenes that people are still raving about, years after they got released!
1. Terms of Endearment (1983) - "Give My Daughter the Shot!"
"When Shirley MacLaine’s character was screaming at the nurses to get her dying daughter her pain medicine...it's so powerful. It makes me cry every time." —laura1970
2. Hereditary (2018) - the Dinner Table
"Toni Collette was robbed of an Oscar nomination for this, and there is no better demonstration of how great she was than this scene." —Lizizzz
3. The Color Purple (1985) - Sofia's Monologue
"This moment definitely deserves a spot on this list!" —CaptWednesday
4. My Girl (1991) - the Wake
"I will never be over Thomas J.'s death or the way that Anna Chlumsky sobs, 'He can't see without his glasses!' when she sees him in his casket. It's a great performance from a child actor, too." —SnackasaurusRex
5. Brokeback Mountain (2005) - the Reunion
"When Jack and Ennis are finally reunited, but Alma sees them together...it's so tense." —phoebed4aeb9f464
6. Requiem for a Dream (2000) - the Room Cleaning
"Anyone who's seen this movie already knows that Ellen Burstyn was absolutely robbed of an Oscar in 2001. The sequence when she cleans the apartment while hopped up on diet pills is for sure the scene I'd nominate in this imaginary category!" —iamwhudson
7. Apollo 13 (1995) - "Houston, We Have a Problem"
"It's truly brilliant. Until I read some books about that mission, I had no idea how unimaginably scary that situation was and how small their chances to make it back were. They defied all odds. When you watch it in the movie, we all know how it ends, but the actors keep it perfectly tense. You feel all of the emotion, the desperation, the fight...that scene really doesn’t get the credit it deserves." —kminfl
8. Tully (2018) - the Climax
"When Charlize Theron's character is admitted into the hospital, and her husband finds out she's been suffering with postpartum depression...I cry EVERY TIME, it's so real and heart-wrenching." —angelicar43859defa
9. The Lord of The Rings: The Return of The King (2003) - "You Bow to No One"
"When the newly crowned king of Gondor, Aragorn, and his love, Arwen, come upon the Hobbits, who begin to bow to him. He stops them and says, 'My friends, you bow to no one,' and proceeds to bow before them, and the entire kingdom follows suit in tribute and thanks them for their heroic sacrifice. Even typing this out is causing my eyes to mist!" —kalel577
10. Good Will Hunting (1997) - "It's Not Your Fault"
"When Robin Williams' character just keeps repeating 'It's not your fault' to Matt Damon's character. He breaks down and they hug, but it's SO well acted by both of them." —sarag4491e8e4a
11. The Wife (2018) - the Final Monologue
"I loved how Glenn Close's character just lays into her husband at the end. So much can be said about the movie as a whole, but her performance in that particular scene was phenomenal. —e48c6de564
12. My Cousin Vinny (1992) - the Expert Witness
"A list about award-worthy movie scenes would not be complete without the scene when Marisa Tomei's character takes the stand as an expert witness. Pure perfection!" —Kumo
13. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) - the Disappearing Memories
"When all of the memories are disappearing, but they say they’ll still meet. The whole movie is really incredible, but that scene...love it." —KhloeBare
14. The Untouchables (1987) - the Staircase
"I know this sequence was inspired by a scene from Battleship Potemkin, but there's no denying the execution of it here is absolutely beautiful." —SugarKane
15. No Country for Old Men (2007) - the First Coin Toss
"When Javier Bardem's character tells the old man at the gas station to 'call it' so he can flip the coin and decide the man's fate. It's so tense, and truly one of the best movie scenes of all time." —KirstyLM
16. 500 Days of Summer (2009) - Expectation vs. Reality
"This remains one of the best-executed scenes I’ve ever seen in a film." —jakandcoke
17. Black Swan (2010) - the Dance of the Black Swan
"The dance of the black swan when she metaphorically — and literally —transforms into the character onstage is incredible." —michaeld423c54b2e
18. Blade Runner (1982) - "Like Tears in Rain..."
"When Roy is getting ready to die, and he talks about all the moments he's seen that will be lost, 'like tears in rain.' The scene is not only beautifully shot (in the rain), but it's relatable to everyone. It always makes me cry." —loreli
19. The Shining (1980) - the Baseball Bat
"When Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall are going up the staircase and she's swinging the bat at him and he's gone full psychopath. His face, his gestures...everything is just the epitome of sociopathic evil. It's such a great performance, and Duvall is an incredible hysteric." —Stephjs81
20. The Avengers (2012) - the Kneel Refusal
"One incredibly underrated scene that always gets me the most — even after repeated viewings — is the old man refusing to kneel before Loki. It's so simple but speaks volumes." —maeryn1966
21. Aliens (1986) - the Reveal
"When Ripley finally sees what had been teased earlier in the movie, the Queen. It is at this point that you realize how similar the two are, both mothers just trying to protect their young, and both relentless." —katelynb497f182f3
Some movie scenes just take us in and give us a mind-blowing experience that we didn't necessarily expect when we first watched it. That's really the beauty of films—there is always something so beautiful that will keep us talking even for years!
What do you think is the best scene ever in the film industry? Comment down your thoughts, or share this article for all your family and friends to see!
