21 Cringe-Worthy and Awkward Movie Scenes from Iconic Films You Almost Can’t Stand to Watch
When you experience secondhand embarrassment in movie scenes, you can’t help but fast-forward.
Some movies are bound to have appallingly awkward scenes. In an era when The Office and Eric Andre are more popular than ever, cringe-worthy films are more common than ever.
You know when you’re watching a film and a scene makes you so uncomfortable that you can’t bear to watch it any longer? Yes, you experience secondhand embarrassment in such scenes, and most of the time, you can’t help but fast-forward.
In light of this, we thought now would be a good time to list some of the most cringe-inducing movie scenes that will make you grimace with discomfort. So get ready!
The “There’s Something About Mary” bathroom mishap, the “Bridesmaids” best-friend feud, and the “I Love You, Man” projectile vomiting scenes. We never imagined we’d feel sorry for any artist, but these movie scenes definitely evoke that feeling.
These movie scenes are far too uncomfortable to watch. They literally forced me to close my eyes, and I’m sure everyone else felt the same way while watching them.
These secondhand embarrassments, on the other hand, are quite bad, and they are surprisingly common even in our favorite top-rated movies. So we decided to compile a list of 21 movie scenes that simply make people want to cringe or skip the scene.
1. When Maggie Tries to Kiss Mike in 17 Again
This is literally a daughter trying to kiss her father. It's more gross than funny. No thanks!
Warner Bros. Pictures2. And Also When He 'Reads' Scarlett the 'Letter from Mike'
I literally cannot watch this scene. The judge and everyone else in there are like, 'What the heck?' and I could not agree more, even knowing the context of it.
Warner Bros. Pictures3. When Satine Is Seducing Christian in Moulin Rouge
I LOVE this movie, and I think this scene is funny, but, God, is it uncomfortable to watch, especially after Satine starts moaning and screaming. It gets to the point where I'm just begging Christian to break into song.
20th Century Fox
4. When Elisa Makes a Hand Gesture to Show How the Creature's Penis Works in The Shape of Water
I know this is a tiny moment, but I HATE IT SO MUCH. Ugh, this movie.
Fox Searchlight Pictures
5. When Jackson Walks on Stage During Ally's Grammy Win and Pees in His Pants in A Star Is Born
This scene is really horrible and uncomfortable to watch, and it's far sadder than awkward, but still, I can barely sit through it.
Warner Bros. Pictures
6. The Threesome Scene in Zoolander
It's supposed to be funny, but to me, it's just cringey.
Paramount Pictures
7. When Dewey's Identity Gets Exposed and He Tries to Tell the Parents What He's Been Doing in School of Rock
He could've chosen better words.
Paramount Pictures
8. When Mrs. Doubtfire Was Exposed as Daniel in Mrs. Doubtfire
I just picture being in this situation, and my skin starts to crawl. Not that I would be in this situation. If you think about it, this movie is pretty messed up.
20th Century Fox
9. When Lara Jean Lip-Synched to 'Moral of the Story' in To All the Boys I've Loved Before
I know it's not supposed to be cringey, but I literally can't watch it.
Netflix
10. When Schmidt Did a Slam Poem on the Spot in 22 Jump Street
To be fair, it is VERY quotable.
Sony Pictures Releasing, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
11. The Entire Dance-Off Scene in Bring It On: All or Nothing
Why did I think this was a great, normal scene as a kid??
Universal Studios Home Entertainment
12. When Buddy Thought Miles Was an Elf in Elf
New Line Cinema
13. The Whole Turtle Club Scene from Master of Disguise
Really, the entire movie.
Sony Pictures Releasing
14. The Dance Scene in Spider-Man 3
To this day, I have not been able to rewatch this movie.
Sony Pictures Releasing
15. When Shelly Went on a Second Date with Oliver in The House Bunny and Tried to Sound Well-Read
Sony Pictures Releasing
16. Basically, Every Time Fletcher Told the Truth in Liar Liar, but Especially When He Was in the Elevator with the Woman and Couldn't Stop Talking About Her Breasts
Universal Pictures
17. The Dance-Off Scene in White Chicks
You're probably sensing a theme with dance-offs here.
Sony Pictures Releasing
18. When David Tries to Tell Elizabeth's Sister That He's Seeing Her Ghost in Just Like Heaven
DreamWorks Pictures
19. When Viola Got a Little Too in Her Feelings as Sebastian in She's the Man
Paramount Pictures
20. When Sally Fakes an Orgasm in a Diner in When Harry Met Sally
If I were in that diner... I would simply leave.
Columbia Pictures
21. The Sex Scene from Superbad
Sony Pictures Releasing
You can definitely love a movie, but eventually, you discover a particular scene that is so uncomfortable to watch. Sometimes you ask yourself if the filmmakers actually watched that scene or if they intentionally included it to dampen the excitement viewers feel from the movie.
But whatever their reason was, we all manage to skip to the next scene. Which of these scenes made you cringe the most?
