Since the beginning of cinema, the importance of pivotal movie moments that shock and inspire the audience has been a huge part of filmmaking. Today,there are many ways that filmmakers can go about crafting the perfect scenethat will satisfy audiences and be a just culmination of years of work. Somelong-awaited sequels ruined their movie franchises, proving that just because something is in development for a while doesn’t mean it’s going to pay off in the end. However, when the creative team takes the time to think about the story’s structure, it can provide an incredible payoff.
Plenty ofmovies are stuck in production for a long time, while others purposefully utilize time as an element of the script, allowing actors to grow and change throughout shooting.High-profile films within franchises are far from the only projects that warrant excitementand breathtaking sequences. When a movie is based on well-known and groundbreaking IP, this also indicates that there will be parts of the story that will surprise and delight viewers. Though these parts of the narrative can easily be attributed to fan service, that doesn’t mean that they aren’t important aspects of the story.
Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens
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Star Wars: The Force Awakens takes place 30 years after the fall of the Galactic Empire. It follows Han Solo and new allies, including Finn and Rey, as they confront the rising threat of Kylo Ren and his army of Stormtroopers while seeking the elusive Luke Skywalker.
The secondStar Warstrilogy includes someprequel movies that are seriously underrated, but the most recent string of installments includes many more long-awaited moments. This is because they take place after the events ofThe Return of the Jedi, allowing for the return of iconic characters like Mark Hamill as Luke.It’s clear from the beginning ofThe Force Awakensthat Luke’s absence is purposefulsince both Leia (Carrie Fisher) and Han (Harrison Ford) are involved immediately.
Since none of the stars of the first three films could have appeared in the prequels, there was enormous pressure for a climatic approach to their reintroduction inThe Force Awakens.
Since none of the stars of the first three films could have appeared in the prequels, there was enormous pressure for a climatic approach to their reintroduction inThe Force Awakens. Though the audience is well aware of Luke’s legacy, Rey (Daisy Ridley) is building him up in her head as a messianic figure throughout the story. By the time she’s accepted her destiny and decides to seek him out in the final moments of the narrative,it seems inevitable that these two will meet and save the galaxy.
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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 concludes the epic saga with Harry, Ron, and Hermione embarking on a perilous mission to defeat Voldemort. As their journey grows increasingly dire, Harry encounters three magical items that provide him powers to confront the dark wizard’s formidable strength.
TheHarry Pottermovies started being made before the final books of the series were released, meaning many of the Easter eggs and foreshadowing were still being plotted. However, as soonas Voldemort returned, his assault on Hogwarts and ultimate showdown with Harry were inevitable.After producing these movies for ten years, witnessing this battle and seeing the teachers raise Hogwarts' defenses is a moment that sends chills down the viewer’s spine. It’s especially poignant because all the heroes featured in the story come together to make their last stand.
In one ofMaggie Smith’s greatest moments as Professor McGonagall inHarry Potter, she casts a spell to bring the statues and suits of armor across the castle to life to defend the students and fighters. While the conflict itself was incredible to behold,there’s an extra bit of magic in seeing the culmination of Harry’s hard workand tireless fight against Voldemort. In the aftermath of this sequence, Harry realizes that it is always going to come down to a showdown between him and Voldemort.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)
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Avengers: Endgame
Avengers: Endgame, directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, concludes the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Infinity Saga. It follows the remaining Avengers as they attempt to reverse the destruction caused by Thanos, navigating complex dynamics and forging alliances to restore balance to the universe.
The entirety ofAvengers: Endgameis full of references to past movies and full-circle momentsthat satisfy fans while also furthering the character development. In the wake ofAvengers: Infinity War, it seemed that all hope was lost, butAvengers: Endgamesuccessfully hit all of the emotional beats to make the movie an unforgettable end of an era. Many of the specific moments within the final battle have to do with Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) since the 2008Iron Manmovie is what started it all.
After spending many years developing individual heroes and building out a complex multiverse,Avengers: Endgamemakes good on its promise to show how all the threads of the MCU connect.
His showdown with Thanos (Josh Brolin), the opening of the portals, and the many characters from far reaches of the franchise who come together to defeat Thanos is unbelievable. After spending many years developing individual heroes and building out a complex multiverse,Avengers: Endgamemakes good on its promise to show how all the threads of the MCU connect. Though sacrifices are made and lives are lost,the movie is a fitting tribute to the character’s time in the franchise.
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Wicked
Wicked adapts the Broadway musical into a two-part film, following the unlikely friendship between Elphaba, born with green skin, and Glinda, a popular aristocrat, in the Land of Oz. As they navigate their contrasting paths, they evolve into Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
It hasn’t taken long for theWickedmovie box officeto demonstrate what a smash hit the screen adaptation of the beloved musical is.Starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande as Elphaba and Glinda,Wickedtells the other side of the well-known story ofThe Wizard of Oz. For fans of the stage musical and audience members new to the narrative, there are plenty of thrilling beats inWickedto enjoy. However, when Elphaba gets her broom, the entire movie stands still to catch its breath.
Defying Gravity Explained: The Elphaba Song’s Full Lyrics & What It Really Means In Wicked
The finale of the first Wicked movie sees Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba sing “Defying Gravity,” a memorable song with a powerful, resonating message.
The director, Jon M. Chu, made sure to center this moment within “Defying Gravity"to show that getting her broom is a pivotal development for Elphaba. She no longer wants to assimilate or be accepted by those who are too shallow and power-hungry to do what’s right. A large part of the scene’s effectiveness is Erivo’s brilliant performance as Elphaba, as well as the build-up from the rest of the movie and the musical. After spending years in development, this was a chance for the film to demonstrate why the musical needed adapting.
Boyhood
Directed by Richard Linklater, Boyhood depicts the childhood and adolescence of Mason Evans Jr., a young man from Texas whose coming-of-age during the mid-2000s is the main focus of the film. Linklater shot the film over the course of 12 years, chronicling Mason’s childhood in time with the growth of his actor, Ellar Coltrane. Besides Coltrane, Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke, and Lorelei Linklater also star.
Boyhoodis a great example of a film that quite literally took years to make, as Richard Linklater is well known for incorporating the passage of time into his movies. While theBefore Trilogyalso sets up some great payoff within its installments,Boyhoodis a particularly inspired way of tracking the development of Mason(Ellar Coltrane) from childhood to early adulthood. As he navigates his parents changing relationship and many moves, when he finally can leave home and be his own person, the audience feels as if they’ve lived a whole life with him.
Boyhoodwas filmed over the course of twelve years, with each of the actors growing and changing in real-time and influencing how Linklater tracked their character’s development.
Boyhoodwas filmed over the course of twelve years, with each of the actors growing and changing in real-time and influencing how Linklater tracked their character’s development. Alsofeaturing incredible performances from Patricia Arquette and Ethan Hawke as Mason’s parents,Boyhooddoesn’t shy away from the grief of growing older and puts Mason through a lot. However, witnessing him realize that his life is only beginning and that he’s going to learn so much more is elevated by the film’s breadth and scale.
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Prometheus
Prometheus, released in 2012, is a science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott. It follows a team of explorers as they uncover clues about humanity’s origins, embarking on a perilous interstellar expedition where they confront formidable challenges to secure the future of mankind.
ThroughoutPrometheus, it’s difficult to see how it’s a prequel to theAlienmovies for most of the story. However, by the film’s final moments,it becomes all too clear how the Xenomorphs achieved the form audiences are most familiar with.The Xenomorphs appear in less terrifying and concrete physical manifestations early on, but it’s after one of them hatches from an Engineer that the viewer can recognize them. Getting this concrete confirmation of their growth and knowing what comes next is an eerie but thrilling feeling.
Additionally, this was the firstAlienmovie that Ridley Scott had come back to direct since the first movie, and he followed it withAlien: Covenantin 2017. However, for Scott to finally reveal the original evolution of the Xenomorphs decades after the 1979Aliencame out is one of the more long-awaited reveals in movie history. Though it could be argued that the aliens didn’t need an origin story,it’s still thrilling to see them complete their development inPrometheus.
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The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
The final installment of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Return of the King concludes the epic saga of the Fellowship’s quest to destroy the One Ring and put an end to Sauron’s reign of terror. As Frodo and Sam continue on their way to Mordor and Mount Doom, accompanied by Gollom, the rest of the Fellowship work to defend Minas Tirith from Sauron’s forces. The film’s ensemble cast includes Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Ian McKellen, Vigo Mortensen, Orlando Bloom, John Rhys-Davies, Billy Boyd, and Dominic Monaghan.
It took a long time for J.R.R. Tolkien’s iconic high fantasy saga to successfully be made into a live-action trilogy,and Peter Jackson’s films remain the definitive version of the story.The Return of the Kingis afantasy movie that’s considered a masterpiece, and although the visuals and epic fight scenes contribute to this, the emotional payoff of the final scenes is just as important. After Frodo (Elijah Wood) sacrifices everything to destroy the ring and save the world, Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) rightfully sparks a wave of bowing and recognition for him and the other hobbits.
Every Lord Of The Rings & Hobbit Movie, Ranked By Action
While every LOTR movie has thrilling moments of action, a few installments rise to the top as the most action-packed and explosive films.
Though Aragorn’s coronation is slightly different in the books, it was smart for Jackson to center this moment and see the hobbits get the recognitionthey deserve. Frodo is a very different person from the young hobbit who started his journey to Rivendell only to become the ring bearer. Due to the intensity of their journeys and the violence these hobbits saw, it fits with the central theme of the story for the characters, who are considered more traditionally powerful and heroic, to acknowledge their debt to Frodo and the hobbits.
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
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Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End is the third film in the blockbuster series directed by Gore Verbinski. Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) is trapped in Davy Jones' Locker, prompting Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley), and Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) to rescue him. As they battle the East India Trading Company, led by Cutler Beckett (Tom Hollander), they must unite the pirate lords to fight against an impending extinction of piracy.
ThoughPirates of the Caribbean: At World’s Endisn’t the most critically acclaimed edition of the franchise, it was an explosive conclusion to the original trilogy and had great moments of payoff.Will (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth (Keira Knightley) have been the star-crossed loversthat audiences have been rooting for sinceThe Curse of the Black Pearl, but circumstance and mythical monsters keep getting in the way. While the couple’s happily ever after isn’t perfect, seeing them finally get to say their wedding vows while fighting for their lives was a fitting moment for them.
When taking the history of the original ride into consideration, this emotional payoff inPirates of the Caribbean: At World’s Endtook decades.This is also a definitive end to the romantic arc of Will and Elizabeth,as the characters aren’t the focus of the movies that were released in the following years. However, witnessing them both become brave and fearsome pirates and letting this influence their ultimate declaration of love is fitting for their characters and the story.
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Spider-Man: No Way Home
For the first time in the cinematic history of Spider-Man, our friendly neighborhood hero is unmasked and no longer able to separate his normal life from the trials and tribulations of being a superhero. In Spider-Man: No Way Home, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) asks for help from Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) when his identity becomes a problem for the ones he loves. Unfortunately, when the spell goes wrong, Spider-Man will now have to face off with villains such as Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina) and Electro (Jamie Foxx) as Peter finally comes to terms that he can’t run from being Spider-Man. Supported by his close friends and help from an unexpected place (or multiverse), Spider-Man will go toe-to-toe with some of the most legendary foes in his storied history.
After theAvengersfranchise reached its conclusion for the MCU, the next generation of heroes took center stage, and Tom Holland’s Spider-Man has been a large part of this.Spider-Man: No Way Homefeatures one of the best uses of the multiverse in Marvel history, as the rights to Spider-Man’s character have changed hands a few times. Sony produced both Sam Raimi’s 2002Spider-Mantrilogy andThe Amazing Spider-Manmovies. This meant thatthere were three Spider-Men in the mix forNo Way Hometo include.
Though they all have their own spin on Peter Parker, each of the actors has great chemistry with the others and has an equal claim on Spider-Man.
Though Marvel kept this under wraps,fans and critics were hoping that Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire would joinwith Holland to create a trifecta of power. When this came to pass inSpider-Man: No Way Home, it was a great step forward for the most recent MCU phase and proved that moments of fan service can be effective for the plot as well. Though they all have their own spin on Peter Parker, each of the actors has great chemistry with the others and has an equal claim on Spider-Man.
Avatar: The Way of Water
Avatar: The Way of Water, set more than a decade after the original film, follows the Sully family as they face threats to their survival. With Jake and Neytiri at the helm, they strive to protect their children while combating external perils and confronting personal losses.
The long-awaited sequel to the 2009 movieAvatarwas finally released in 2022, andit didn’t disappoint in terms of visuals and incredible VFX.Though it took over ten years and an enormous budget, the highly anticipated and frequently teased underwater sequences are just as immersive and realistic as James Cameron and the production team promised. Every element is perfectly crafted, like the wildlife, the light streaming through the water and the actors' commitment to training themselves in swimming and diving techniques.
While the remaining installments of theAvatarfranchise might take even longer to come out, ifAvatar: The Way of Wateris any indication, they’re going to be worth the wait. After Cameron tackled both air and water in the first two movies, it’s exciting to imagine what he has in store for the remaining elements. As technology continues evolving,it’s likely that Cameron and theAvatarfilms will be at the forefront of pushing the boundariesof what visual effects can do.
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