You probably missed them when you first watched the film, but they’re so cool once you catch them: the top 10 best celebrity cameos in movies.
10. Peter Jackson – Hot Fuzz (2007)
At the beginning of Edgar Wright’s hit comedy Hot Fuzz, Simon Pegg’s character Nicholas Angel details his illustrious police career, and ‘the single most painful moment of his life’, being stabbed by a man dressed as Father Christmas.
However, what you probably didn’t realise is that, in that split-second shot of a Santa’s brutal stabbing, it’s actually legendary director of The Lord Of The Rings, Peter Jackson, in the costume. It may be ridiculously short, but it’s a random piece of movie trivia that you’ve now got to tell everyone. Watch it here.
9. Mark Hamill – Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back (2001)
In one of the most insanely bizarre celebrity cameos of all time, Mark Hamill, star of the original and sequel Star Wars trilogies, appears on the set of a movie in mid-shoot at the end of Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back.
Hamill arrives on set in a ludicrous costume with one massive fist, playing the evil villain ‘Cocknocker’. Then, he takes out a lightsaber and duels with Silent Bob as the producers try everything they can to get George Lucas to sue them. It’s seriously stupid, but so funny. Watch it here.
8. Alfred Hitchcock – To Catch A Thief (1955)
Alfred Hitchcock is famous for starring in all the movies he has directed, just in small cameos either just out of shot or hiding in plain sight.
And whilst there are so many classic Hitchcock appearances from North By Northwest to The Birds, it’s his bizarre popping up in 1955’s To Catch A Thief that’s the best. After Cary Grant, a jewel thief, dramatically escapes the police, and when sitting down on the bus, he looks out the window, while his sits directly next to Hitchcock himself. The master of suspense doesn’t even try to be subtle about this one, and it gets a big laugh because of that.
7. Cate Blanchett – Hot Fuzz (2007)
Hot Fuzz is obviously one of the greatest films of all time for brilliantly disguised celebrity cameos, but the best by a country mile is the incredibly hidden appearance of Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett.
When Nicholas Angel arrives at a crime scene where his girlfriend Janine works, he engages in a full conversation with her for a good minute or so. Nothing seems up, and after a quick argument, the two go their separate ways. However, beneath the mask, the glasses and the suit is actually Cate Blanchett, putting on a stunning accent. This is another one that you’ll be telling everyone about when you next watch the movie with your friends.
6. Michael Cera – This Is The End (2013)
In 2013’s This Is The End, comedy superstars James Franco, Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, Jonah Hill, Craig Robinson and Danny McBride all play fictional versions of themselves in a massively funny movie.
But in one of the most unexpected turns of all is nice guy Michael Cera, who appears on the scene as the complete opposite of what you’d expect. He swears his head off at everyone, smokes a ton of drugs, and sexually harasses Rihanna. It’s all in good fun, and it’s a brilliantly over-the-top cameo that you’ll wet yourself laughing at. Watch it here.
5. Tom Cruise, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kevin Spacey & Danny DeVito – Austin Powers In Goldmember (2002)
The third Austin Powers movie, Goldmember, may have been a bit of a let down, but the opening scene is still undoubtedly brilliant.
The film starts off with an action-packed Mission: Impossible-ish car chase, and after Powers has jumped over a helicopter and blown it up, he lands back to Earth, only it’s Tom Cruise! He says a quick ‘yeah baby’, before being introduced to his co-stars, Gwyneth Paltrow as ‘Dixie Normous’, Kevin Spacey as Dr. Evil and Danny DeVito as Mini Me.
All of the actors put in hilarious turns in this quick cameo, in what is arguably the best moment of the whole movie. Watch it here.
4. Emma Watson – This Is The End (2013)
A bit further on into the apocalyptic comedy, the gang have found themselves trapped inside James Franco’s mansion as the world falls to pieces outside.
However, when Emma Watson turns up out of the blue, the guys let her cool down in a spare room for a bit, whilst Danny McBride begins to fanboy out about meeting Hermione. Despite this, Jay Baruchel fears that the fact that there are six guys in a house with one girl alone might make her feel ‘intimidated’, and so they discuss how not to give off such a vibe.
Despite this, Watson misinterprets this, and emerges from the room armed with a huge axe. Although they try to make their case, she breaks Seth Rogen’s nose, robs them of all their supplies, and runs off to a ‘safer’ place. It’s a really weird scene, but it’s so funny. Watch it here.
3. Tom Cruise – Tropic Thunder (2008)
Yep, that’s Matthew McConaughey in the background, but this was before the McConnaissance, and it’s Tom Cruise that’s the star cameo of this scene from Tropic Thunder.
Beneath a ton of makeup and prosthetics, Cruise plays a hot-shot Hollywood producer who often uses a few ‘choice’ words. After insulting McConaughey, he receives a phone call from a group of Vietnamese insurgents who have kidnapped a movie star. Despite receiving threats from ‘Flaming Dragon’, he screams down the phone, telling them to ‘f*** their own face’ before he launches a ‘firestorm’ of ‘scorched earth’ upon them. You might not notice Cruise at first, but when you do, you’ll realise what a good, and hilarious, actor he is. Watch it here.
2. Matt Damon – EuroTrip (2004)
In the longest cameo on this list, Matt Damon appears in the 2004 cult comedy EuroTrip as an aggressive boyfriend who the girlfriend of the main character, Scotty, has been cheating with.
Seeing Damon with all those piercings is funny enough, but not before he launches into a painfully insulting rock song called ‘Scotty Doesn’t Know’, all about the times that he has had sex with his girlfriend and Scotty didn’t know, including on his birthday when he thought she was out shopping. It’s a hilarious scene, a hugely surprising appearance, and a really catchy song too! Watch it here.
1. Bill Murray – Zombieland (2009)
In the midst of a brutal zombie invasion in Zombieland, Emma Stone and Woody Harrelson take refuge in a Hollywood mansion, only to discover that it’s owned by Bill Murray. Assuming he’s already dead, though, they stay there until they see a zombie Murray walking towards them.
Stone immediately whacks him down with a golf club, only to find that he’s not actually a zombie, just wearing make-up to ‘blend in’. Woody Harrelson begins to fanboy out about Bill Murray, before the trio get up to all sorts, including re-enacting Ghostbusters. Things then get worse, but you’ll have to watch the movie to find out! Watch the cameo here.
