Movie extras are supposed to be little more than living set decorations, meant to flesh out the world of a scene and give it a bigger sense of scale. Yet not every extra simply fades into the crowd. Some go a little further and even manage to become the most memorable part of their entire scene.
With franchises such the Marvel Cinematic Universe filling their backgrounds with cameos and Easter eggs, sometimes it is just the regular day players who really complete the ensemble. From unintentionally hilarious gaffs to unflappable commitment, these movie extras managed to steal the spotlight in their brief time on camera.
Street "Sweeper" – Quantum of Solace
Daniel Craig's second outing as James Bond, Quantum of Solace, received a more lukewarm reception than its predecessor Casino Royale, but one throw-away shot has become almost as famous as anything else in the movie due to one single man in the background.
As Bond waits on a motorcycle along a pier, a group of men clean up the dock behind him. One worker in particular sweeps off the concrete, although his broom never once comes close to touching the ground. The sound of the sweeping would have made the audio a pain to edit, but watching a man sweep the air a foot above the ground has become one of the standout moments in the movie.
Striped-Shirt Woman – The Avengers
Marvel's The Avengers was a monolithic landmark in cinema, and was a culmination of the entire MCU up to that point. The climax takes place during an alien invasion of New York City, and needless to say the citizens of the city are less than excited.
Dozens of New Yorkers are seen hiding or running for their lives from the extra-terrestrial onslaught, but one woman goes above and beyond the rest as she flees for her life. While the other extras reasonably jog away, a woman in a striped shirt can be seen charging through the scene at a dead sprint. The woman has become somewhat of a fan hero in the movie, and given how many takes were likely done of the scene, perhaps the aliens should have been running from her.
Laughing Centurions – Monty Python's Life Of Brian
It can be hotly debated whether Holy Grail or Life of Brian is the best Monty Python film, as both are absolute comedy gems. Life of Brian contains one of the troupe's funniest and most famous scenes, as audiences first hear about the man known as Biggus Dickus.
Everyone in the scene tries to stifle their laughter at the name, but one extra in particular is set upon by Michael Palin. The man's face contorts into all shapes as he desperately tries to stifle his laughter, and Michael Palin only tries harder to break him. While it is debated whether or not the extras knew what was going to happen in the scene, this man earned himself a spot in comedy history.
Rookie Henchman – The Dark Knight Rises
Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy is very highly acclaimed for its action and attention to detail, unfortunately one henchman didn't quite get the memo during a fight scene in The Dark Knight Rises. As Batman fights off a number of Bane's goons, one of them falls down for no apparent reason.
It is a gaff that few likely caught on their first viewing, but is hard to unsee on re-watches. Seeing the man take a random dive caused some fans to go back and scrutinize every other fight scene in the trilogy, and has become a frequently mocked moment in an otherwise great movie. In this extra's defense, most people probably would not want to fight Batman.
Man With Dog – Mr. Nanny
Many people now would probably be hard pressed to remember much about the Hulk Hogan starring Mr. Nanny, especially as it could rival the score of several of Rotten Tomatoes lowest rated movies. One scene however has gone on to become somewhat of a cult classic.
As the Hulkster drives down the road on his motorcycle, he passes a man who randomly throws his dog into the water like a sack of potatoes. It never explained who the man is, or why he decided at that moment to give the dog an impromptu swimming lesson, but the scene is arguably the most famous part of the entire movie.
Shocked Fisherman – Caddyshack
Caddyshack is a movie full of outlandish and goofy hijinks, and one famous scene centers around Al Czervik, a must-see Rodney Dangerfield role, losing control of his yacht. The boat careens by several bizarre lake goers, including one now legendary man simply trying to fish.
Calmly casting his line, the man looks out to see the boat speeding right at him. After doing a side-splitting and eye-popping double take, he dives into the water at the last moment. Despite being on-screen for only a few seconds, the actor, Matthew Burch, has become a cult fan favorite for his brief but fantastic moment of glory.
The Unlucky Samurai – The Last Samurai
The Last Samurai has garnered fair criticism in recent years for white saviorism, but at its core it is still a great movie. The epic final battle scene still stands as an impressive recreation of the historical conflict. Unfortunately for one extra, he was dealt a crushing blow before the fighting even started.
As Tom Cruise's Captain Algren gets off his horse in front of a group of samurai on the front lines, the horse ad-libs its own little stunt, and gives one extra a sharp kick directly to the groin. As a true master of his craft, the man takes the kick like a champion, earning the admiration of many fans who spotted this painful moment.
Saluting Soldier – Independence Day
Bill Pullman's rousing speech towards the climax of Independence Day is one of the highlights of entire movie, and can make nearly anyone feel like they could take on a UFO. It was not just the speech that made the scene so inspiring though, as the president had help from a particularly patriotic pilot.
As the speech concludes, the camera cuts to one man, who gives one of the most powerful salutes ever put to film. He does not have a single line of dialogue, but the commitment and passion behind his grand gesture is the icing on the cake of an already awesome moment.
Margarita Man – Jurassic World
The first Jurassic World did a decent job of standing up with the original film, ranking alongside the best dinosaur movies. The film added new and frightening dinosaurs, as well as new and interesting characters, the surprise standout of which was the Margarita Man.
When pterodactyls attack the main plaza of the titular park, patrons scramble to escape the flying dinos. One extra however, decides to go back for his two margaritas before escaping, becoming a fan icon in the process. Even better, the man is none other than Margaritaville singer Jimmy Buffett in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo.
That Stormtrooper – Star Wars
One of the most famous movie bloopers of all time, practically every Star Wars fan can point out the now famous scene in which a clumsy Stormtrooper bumps his head on a door. The unintentional bit of slapstick has launched searches for who the actor behind the moment is, and even a few nods in the movies themselves.
While C-3PO and R2-D2 hide in a control room, a group of Stormtroopers burst in, one of whom does not quite make it under the door. The moment was so funny that George Lucas even added a sound effect for the special edition re-release, and had Jango Fett make the same mistake in Attack of the Clones. The force may not have been with him, but the fans sure were.