I was watching the Sixth Sense again the other day, and I'm just always blown away by Donnie Wahlberg's performance and how well he sets the scene for that movie despite only being in it for like two minutes.
Another one that always struck me was the guy who played Elmo Blatch in the Shawshank Redemption. Just a great, creepy performance that really underlined the reveal that Andy was actually innocent.
It got me to thinking, what are some other brief appearances like this that you felt were really impactful? I'm not talking about *cameos*. Doesn't have to be a famous actor. I'm talking about scenes where an actor really nailed the performance in a very brief amount of screen time.
Thanks!
I would argue Matthew McConaughey in wolf of Wall Street is also a standard for this question
1
StoicSporkMar 29, 2026
+1
David Bowie in The Prestige.
1
GuiltyLawyerMar 29, 2026
+1
David Bowie in Zoolander
1
artpayneMar 29, 2026
+1
Donald Sutherland in *Backdraft.*
1
tim-sutherlandMar 29, 2026
+1
This was my immediate thought.
The parole scene is one of my favorite scenes of a film I've ever seen.
1
kamizeMar 29, 2026
+1
I’ll do you one better, Donald Sutherland in Beerfest
1
Impossible-Welder404Mar 29, 2026
+1
I don't know if it counts because it is a show, but Olivia Colman in The Bear
1
jupfoldMar 29, 2026
+1
Also, Olivia Colman in Heartstopper
1
goteamnickMar 29, 2026
+1
The old man at the gas station in No Country For Old Men is so good conveying a confused fear while instinctively maintaining decorum.
1
fergudarMar 29, 2026
+1
Gary Oldman as Drexel in True Romance. Actually pretty much everyone in the cast, Christopher Walken, James Gandolfini, Dennis Hopper, Brad Pitt all have memorable brief parts!
1
Mst3KgfMar 29, 2026
+1
Beatrice Straight in "Network." She basically has one big scene, but she was so good, she nabbed Best Supporting Actress at the Oscars for just that scene.
1
PorchFrogMar 29, 2026
+1
Beatrice Straight's role as a devastated wife confronting husband William Holden's infidelity in Network.
1
DeanofdaDeadMar 29, 2026
+1
Christopher Walken in Pulp Fiction
1
mrblonde624Mar 29, 2026
+1
Matthew McCeunaghey in Wolf of Wall Street
1
philamentMar 29, 2026
+1
DeNiro (uncredited) in “Brazil” (1985)
1
Shaggydog38Mar 29, 2026
+1
Judy Greer in The Long Walk. She nailed it!
1
americanfalcon00Mar 29, 2026
+1
clive owen, the bourne identity. "look what they make you give. [dies]"
1
ahorrribledrummerMar 29, 2026
+1
The old lady waitress in the diner in Hell or High Water. WHAT DON'T YA WANT
1
ns77Mar 29, 2026
+1
Really love every choice Michael Cera made in This Is The End
1
MattyBeatzMar 29, 2026
+1
The scene where JT Walsh addresses the presidential cabinet considering bombing a US town in the movie Outbreak. It’s 2 minutes and he nails it. What a great character actor he was.
1
Mst3KgfMar 29, 2026
+1
"Take a good look, people, because these photos should haunt us until the day we die!"
1
ontheweedMar 29, 2026
+1
John Candy in Home Alone
1
Natural_Party4256Mar 29, 2026
+1
Margaret Hamilton had 13 minutes of screen time in The Wizard of Oz. Talk about owning the screen in a minor role? There you go.
1
MasterTeacher123Mar 29, 2026
+1
McConaughey in wolf of Wall Street
1
MovieMike007Mar 29, 2026
+1
Alec Baldwin in *Glengarry Glen Ross*. Technically, one scene, and it’s not even in the original play. He walks in, verbally flays a room full of grown men, and exits. Sales motivation has never sounded more like a threat to your immortal soul.
1
SkegetchyMar 29, 2026
+1
Steven Seagal in executive decision
1
HappHazzard31Mar 29, 2026
+1
Robbie Coltrane in Flash Gordon
Bronson Pinchot in Beverly Hills Cop. The guy pretty much made his career off the back of that single two minute scene.
1
MikeSizemoreMar 29, 2026
+1
Sean Connery in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves
1
onelittleworldMar 29, 2026
+1
PS Hoffman in Hard Eight.
1
Chaotic424242Mar 29, 2026
+1
Christopher Walken in Pulp Fiction.
🎤⬇️
1
calguy1955Mar 29, 2026
+1
Wilford Brimley in Absence of Malice
1
KlotzsterMar 29, 2026
+1
Bill Murray in Zombieland
1
CortexCraft_Mar 29, 2026
+1
the diner scene in heat always sticks with me because it’s so short but deniro and pacino make it feel huge anyway
35 Comments