Top 20 Greatest Movie Scenes They Got On the First Take

These movie scenes shocked directors for all the right reasons. For this list, we’ll be looking at true moments of movie magic – that amazingly, happened right on the first try. Our countdown includes "The Dark Knight", "Star Wars", "127 Hours", "Psycho", "Titanic", and more! Let us know your favorite first-take shots in the comments below.

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[WatchMojo]

Let us know your favorite first-take shots in the comments below.

[CelebrityGamerTV]

I’m glad “Blowing Up The Hospital” only took one take. Imagine if a different hospital had to be used.

[mclekfkeiwdisidido]

Even out of character Heath ledger was on character

[random_name_was_already_taken]

*Scenes got on the first take*
Kubrick: We don’t do that here

[apollorockr]

Fun fact: The part when the Joker was playing around the button when the explosion was delayed for a bit was improvised. The explosion was supposed to happen the moment he pressed it. Oddly, it took a bit longer and when Joker looked confused and started playing the button, that was not part of the script. That bit of improvisation really added a lot to the scene.

[mr.decencykeepinitreal]

"Blowing Up the Hospital", one of my 10 most favorite scenes from 'The Dark Knight.'
It's been over 13 years since Mr. Heath Ledger died and we all still miss him so much...

[whiskeydevil]

In high school I read how to kill a mockingbird. After my class finished reading the book, we watched the movie. Both the book and the movie were amazing.

[justapeacefulmanwhosbornin]

All these Hollywood movie scenes were impressive, these people did a great job, 100 percent.

[RandallChase]

Angela Landsburry’s life is a perfect one take. She is amazing!

[victorhernandez]

I’m glad the unbelievable car stunt from “The Man With the Golden Gun” made the list!

[adamwilson]

It’s a damn good thing that Rocky scene wasn’t cut. That’s when he says his goal is to just make it to the end of the fight still standing. Without that scene, Rocky just looks like a guy who couldn’t win a fight and couldn’t achieve his goal. But with the scene, Rocky achieves his goal and the movie becomes an inspirational story about an underdog.

[harryorenstein]

RIP Cloris Leachman. For her final scene in The Last Picture Show, she wanted to do another take because she thought she could do it better. Director Peter Bogdanovich reportedly refused, saying, "No., you've just won the Oscar." She did.

[JennFaeAge]

I'm glad the Shadowfax scene got a shout-out on the list, I remember them saying on the DVD extras that they just went "...yeah, let's use that shot because there's not a snowball's chance in hell we'll manage that a second time"

[justapeacefulmanwhosbornin]

Great movie scenes from...

'The Dark Knight.'
'Titanic.'
'Star Wars Episode 6: Return of the Jedi.'
'Psycho.'
'The Godfather.'
'Rocky.'
1994's 'Beauty and the Beast.'

[Voldemort]

The best scene on this list by far is when Joker blew up the hospital in “Batman: The Dark Knight”. It’s amazing how Heath Ledger nailed that scene without having to redo it again. It still terrifies me, but also makes me laugh because of when Joker thought the remote broke. Angela Lansbury’s song in “Beauty & The Beast” should’ve been #2 instead of at the bottom.

[LeonardoKlotz]

The best things are the ones we don't plan

[Mew_Master]

It seems like every time I watch a Watchmojo movie list, my watch list grows bigger.

[riiddisbuk]

Fun Fact: The bombs that blew up the hospital in The Dark Knight kind of malfunctioned. As Ledger kept pressing the remote that triggers the bombs, he eventually got them to work and just rolled with the situation.

Edit: At least that's what I've heard.

[BillKrayerthMan]

What I find great about Heath Ledger's reaction when he clicked the detonator and it didn't go off as planned, his reaction was totally real. Look it up.

[StriderStryker]

This thumbnail: *exists*

My brain: _Why so serious?_