10 Best One-Scene Horror Movie Performances of All Time

There’s nothing a horror movie does better than a featured cameo, and there are many actors who give their all to a single scene of a scary movie and are remembered for it forever. Within the horror genre, most characters are expendable. When actors only have one moment to sell their performances, it’s because they’re an early victim who demonstrates how the monster or magic works. However, these films sometimes flip the script and have the long-awaited villain only appear in the final moments of the story to increase the impact of their arrival.

Though one scene might not qualify, some actor’s performances in horror movies are often highlights of their careers, allowing them to step out of their comfort zones. Horror films are a place for actors and audiences alike to explore their anxieties, fears, and existential questions within a safe environment. Additionally, there’s less pressure on a performer who’s only in one scene of the movie, as they know the entire narrative doesn’t rely on them. They can have fun with the role and experiment, which is what makes them so memorable.

10

Bill Murray – Little Shop Of Horrors (1986)

As Arthur Denton

The Little Shop Of Horrors - Poster - Scary Plant

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The Little Shop Of Horrors

PG-13
MusicalComedyHorror

The Little Shop Of Horrors is a dark comedy musical film directed by Frank Oz. Released in 1986, the film stars Rick Moranis as Seymour Krelborn, a florist who discovers a mysterious plant that thrives on human blood. As Seymour grapples with the plant’s growing demands, his affection for his coworker Audrey and the sinister nature of the plant create a gripping narrative. Ellen Greene and Steve Martin also star.

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Release Date

December 19, 1986

Runtime

94 Minutes

Cast

Rick Moranis
, Ellen Greene
, Vincent Gardenia
, Levi Stubbs
, Steve Martin
, Tichina Arnold
, Michelle Weeks
, Tisha Campbell-Martin

Director

Frank Oz

Writers

Howard Ashman
, Roger Corman
, Charles B. Griffith

The 1986 adaptation of Little Shop of Horrors brings the stage musical back to the screen after its success, combining elements of the theatrical version and the original 1960 low-budget comedy. Often described as one of the best musical movie remakes and horror comedies of the 1980s, Little Shop of Horrors features an all-star cast including Rick Moranis, Steve Martin, and many other contemporary comedians in small bit parts. While Jim Belushi and Christopher Guest both make appearances, one of the most fun cameos is Bill Murray’s.

Imagery-from-Shaun-Of-The-Dead-and-Return-Of-The-Living-Dead

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His character, Arthur Denton, goes to the dentist, Orin (Martin), for a root canal and is featured in the scene just before Seymour (Moranis) attempts to kill Orin. Darkly comic and over-the-top, Murray fits into the campy and satirical tone of Little Shop of Horrors with ease. After the success of projects like Ghostbusters, Murray had a lot of star power, which he lent to the off-beat musical horror-comedy, helping cement it as a unique cult favorite.

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Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

Little Shop of Horrors (1986)

91%

79%

9

Christopher Walken – Sleepy Hollow (1999)

As the Headless Horseman

Sleepy Hollow 1999 Movie Poster

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10/10

Sleepy Hollow

TV-14
HorrorSupernaturalThriller

Sleepy Hollow is a supernatural horror thriller by director Tim Burton and Starring Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci. Based on the original tale by Washington Irving, Sleepy Hollow follows constable Ichabod Crane as he is sent to the titular northern New York town to investigate a series of beheadings. However, the scholarly Crane’s foe is a supernatural being that cannot be explained – The Headless Horseman.

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Release Date

November 19, 1999

Runtime

106 Minutes

Cast

Johnny Depp
, Christina Ricci
, Miranda Richardson
, Michael Gambon
, Casper Van Dien
, Jeffrey Jones

Director

Tim Burton

Writers

Andrew Kevin Walker
, Kevin Yagher

Studio(s)

Mandalay Pictures
, American Zoetrope
, Tim Burton Productions
, Scott Rudin Productions

Expand

Another addition to Tim Burton’s engaging gothic horror films, Sleepy Hollow, was praised for its visuals and cohesive aesthetic choices. A new take on The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving, the story follows Ichabod Crane, who comes to Sleepy Hollow to investigate the murders in town. It doesn’t take long for Crane to realize there’s something supernatural afoot, which is where Christopher Walken comes in as the horrible Headless Horseman.

Walken plays the Horseman in a flashback, explaining the brutal past of the resurrected demonic man. Made up to look as terrifying as possible, Walken is practically unrecognizable and fully commits himself to being the ruthless killer who haunts the townspeople’s nightmares. This backstory sequence is vitally important to the plot of Sleepy Hollow and helps establish the atmosphere of the film while providing necessary exposition. It would take an actor like Walken to bring such a specific but iconic character to life.

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Sleepy Hollow (1999)

70%

80%

8

Drew Barrymore – Scream (1996)

As Casey Becker

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9.6/10

Scream

R
CrimeHorrorMystery

Wes Craven flips the horror-slasher genre on its head with the 1996 release of Scream, the first in the long-running franchise. The residents of Woodsboro discover a series of murders are being committed by a dangerous ghost mask-wearing killer with an obsession for classic horror movies. To survive, a group of high school students, a reporter, and a town deputy will have to subvert horror expectations and stay one step ahead of the killer.

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Release Date

December 20, 1996

Runtime

111 minutes

Franchise(s)

Scream

Cast

Drew Barrymore
, Kevin Patrick Walls
, David Booth
, Carla Hatley
, Neve Campbell
, Skeet Ulrich

Director

Wes Craven

Writers

Kevin Williamson

Studio(s)

Woods Entertainment

Expand

The opening scene of Scream is one of the most iconic in movie history, and it wouldn’t have been half as effective in capturing the viewer’s attention without Drew Barrymore’s performance. Neve Campbell’s Sidney is the film’s iconic final girl, but Barrymore’s phone call with the killer sets the tone for the entire project. Instantly, the audience understands that Scream is well aware of the tropes and formulas of the horror genre and is going to be a meta-textual ride of satire and genuine thrills.

By playing Casey, Barrymore got to show a different side of herself and be taken more seriously as an actress, especially since her scene ends so violently.

Barrymore was the perfect choice for the character Casey, as she was already a well-known figure in cinema at that point, but most of her roles were during her time as a child actress. However, by playing Casey, Barrymore got to show a different side of herself and be taken more seriously as an actress, especially since her scene ends so violently. It won’t be long before the franchise will return with Scream 7, but none of the sequels would be possible without the precedent set by the original.

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Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

Scream (1996)

77%

80%

7

Jacob Tremblay – Doctor Sleep (2019)

As Bradley Trevor

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8.3/10

Doctor Sleep

R
HorrorThriller

Based on Stephen King’s book of the same name and the sequel to The Shining, Doctor Sleep follows an adult Danny Torrance (Ewan McGregor) as he confronts his past at the Overlook Hotel. When a young girl named Abra reaches out to Danny using the telepathic Shine, he learns that she is being hunted and reluctantly becomes her protector. With the Overlook Hotel holding the key to Danny’s own power, he’s forced to return in order to finally move on. 

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Release Date

October 30, 2019

Runtime

153 minutes

Cast

Carl Lumbly
, Ewan McGregor
, Bruce Greenwood
, Emily Alyn Lind
, Rebecca Ferguson
, Alex Essoe
, Kyliegh Curran
, Zahn McClarnon

Director

Mike Flanagan

Writers

Stephen King
, Akiva Goldsman
, Mike Flanagan

Studio(s)

Warner Bros. Pictures

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Ewan McGregor leads Doctor Sleep as Dan Torrance, the young boy from The Shining who’s grown up and is plagued by memories of what happened with his parents at the Overlook Hotel. With his psychic abilities, Dan starts to investigate the cult that feeds on people with psychic abilities like him, leading him to the powerful young girl, Abra (Kyliegh Curran). Even more powerful than him, Abra senses the cult and has visions of the other people they’ve prayed upon.

Jacob Tremblay’s Bradley is a young victim of the cult whose death Abra witnesses through her Shining. It’s a small and tragic role, but it’s a nice addition to Tremblay’s filmography to be part of such an iconic franchise. The Shining is often cited among Stanley Kubrick’s best movies, which helped establish a built-in audience for Doctor Sleep in 2019. Though Doctor Sleep is more in tune with the clairvoyance of the story, it’s still a strong follow-up to the classic horror movie.

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Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

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Doctor Sleep (2019)

78%

89%

6

Tony Todd – Final Destination (2000)

As William Bludworth

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Final Destination

R
HorrorMystery

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Release Date

March 17, 2000

Runtime

98 minutes

Cast

Devon Sawa
, Ali Larter
, Kerr Smith
, Kristen Cloke
, Daniel Roebuck
, Roger Guenveur Smith

Director

James Wong

Writers

Jeffrey Reddick
, James Wong
, Glen Morgan

In 2000, the first Final Destination movie premiered, and the franchise has grappled with the inevitability of destiny and whether it’s possible to cheat death. Time and again, Final Destination proves that within the world of the story, fate will find a way to collect the souls who narrowly escaped their deaths. In the first film, Tony Todd explains this to the characters, laying out the rules of the movies that hold true for the rest of the installments.

His character, William Bludworth, is a mortician whom the characters encounter after the first death in the sequence.

His character, William Bludworth, is a mortician whom the characters encounter after the first death in the sequence. His ominous characterization fits with the tone of the story and is a stand-in for death itself, playing the critical role of delivering exposition while blending into the overarching storyline. His comments to Alex (Devon Sawa) set him on a path of trying to prevent the inevitable deaths, which continuously proves to be futile.

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Final Destination (2000)

36%

68%

5

Greg Wood – The Sixth Sense (1999)

As Mr. Collins

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8.6/10

The Sixth Sense

PG-13
ThrillerDramaHorrorMystery

Directed by M. Night Shyamalan, The Sixth Sense is a psychological thriller about a young boy who can see and communicate with ghosts. Bruce Willis as Dr. Malcolm Crowe, a child psychologist who tries to help Cole, played by Haley Joel Osment, while grappling with his own personal demons. The movie features a twist ending that has become iconic in pop culture.

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Release Date

August 6, 1999

Runtime

107 minutes

Cast

Bruce Willis
, Toni Collette
, Haley Joel Osment
, Olivia Williams
, Donnie Wahlberg

Director

M. Night Shyamalan

Writers

M. Night Shyamalan

Studio(s)

Disney

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M. Night Shyamalan’s classic ghost story, The Sixth Sense, is led by the young Haley Joel Osment as Cole and Bruce Willis in one of his best performances as Malcolm. As Cole confides in Malcolm that he can see the dead, Malcolm attempts to help him navigate the terror of his world and work with him to help spirits move on from Earth. Mr. Collins is the bereaved father of Kyra Collins (Mischa Barton), a young girl ghost who Cole speaks to, realizing she’s been poisoned by her stepmother.

By altering Mr. Collins to this crime and betrayal at Kyra’s funeral, Cole takes an important step in accepting his gift and moving on, learning that he can help people with this ability. Greg Wood’s performance as Mr. Collins is incredibly moving, which can be difficult given that he’s onscreen for such a short amount of time. However, Wood managed to communicate the depth of his loss as well as the impact that Cole has made on his life in this short time.

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Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

The Sixth Sense (1999)

86%

90%

4

Oliver Smith – Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988)

As Mr. Browning

Hellbound_ Hellraiser II - Poster

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Hellbound: Hellraiser II

R
HorrorThrillerFantasy

Hellbound: Hellraiser II, directed by Tony Randel, continues the dark and twisted saga introduced in Clive Barker’s Hellraiser. Kirsty Cotton seeks to rescue her father from the nightmarish dimension ruled by the Cenobites. As she delves deeper into this labyrinth of monstrous horrors, she faces the sadistic Dr. Channard, who harbors his own demonic ambitions. This sequel offers a deeper exploration of the franchise’s macabre universe.

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Release Date

December 23, 1988

Cast

Ashley Laurence
, Clare Higgins
, Kenneth Cranham
, Imogen Boorman
, William Hope
, Sean Chapman
, Doug Bradley
, Barbie Wilde
, Simon Bamford
, Nicholas Vince
, Oliver Smith
, Angus MacInnes
, Ron Travis
, Oliver Parker
, Catherine Chevalier
, Deborah Joel

Director

Tony Randel

Writers

Peter Atkins
, Clive Barker

Expand

Fans of body horror will enjoy Oliver Smith’s single scene in Hellbound: Hellraiser II, the sequel to the original Hellraiser, which came out the year before. Quickly becoming a cult hit in horror circles, the first film was praised for its controversial and boundary-pushing subject matter. While the sequel didn’t reach the same levels of notoriety, it successfully established the story as having franchise potential. Smith’s character, Mr. Browning, is pulled into the world of the Cenobites because of a doctor who’s obsessed with them.

Though it’s tough to watch, Smith isn’t afraid to fully embrace the role and make the audience squirm.

Convinced by the doctor, Channard (Kenneth Cranham), to cut his own skin off, Browning is in a brief but telling scene that proves how far Channard is willing to go to summon the Cenobites. The Hellraiser franchise is all about body horror and grotesque imagery, so Browning is far from the only character who is impacted by the desire and obsession of people seeking the Cenobites. Though it’s tough to watch, Smith isn’t afraid to fully embrace the role and make the audience squirm.

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Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988)

52%

59%

3

Bjork – The Northman (2022)

As The Seeress

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7.5/10

The Northman

R
DramaActionAdventure

Robert Eggers’ The Northman adapts the ancient legend of Amleth, the basis for Shakespeare’s play Hamlet. When a young Viking prince (Alexander Skarsgård) witnesses his uncle (Claes Bang) murdering his father (Ethan Hawke), he flees and swears revenge. Returning after years of honing his skills as a warrior, Amleth hunts his uncle in a bloody and brutal tale of revenge and retribution, hoping to rescue his mother (Nicole Kidman). 

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Release Date

April 22, 2022

Runtime

136 minutes

Cast

Claes Bang
, Ian Gerard Whyte
, Nicole Kidman
, Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson
, Kate Dickie
, Olwen Fouéré
, Katie Pattinson
, Ethan Hawke
, Gustav Lindh
, Willem Dafoe
, Doa Barney
, Ralph Ineson
, Ian Whyte
, Bjork
, Alexander Skarsgard
, Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson
, Anya Taylor-Joy
, Murray McArthur

Director

Robert Eggers

Writers

Robert Eggers

Studio(s)

Universal Pictures

Expand

Robert Egger’s dark historical action-horror movie, The Northman​​​​​​, is anchored by the performance by Alexander Skarsgård as Amleth, the titular Northman. Following his epic quest for vengeance and the fulfillment of his destiny, the movie sees Amleth travel far and wide to eventually return to his homeland to murder his uncle, who usurped the throne from Amleth’s father, killing him in cold blood. When he reaches adulthood, Amleth meets an ancient Seeress, played by Bjork, reminding him of his destiny.

Though it might seem strange to cast an iconic musician in the witches’ role, Bjork has always been known for her boundary-pushing projects and theatrical performances, making her the perfect choice for the eerie Seeress. Drawing upon Norse mythology, The Northman touches upon seers and witches who can predict the characters’ destinies, which is how Bjork’s role is characterized. It’s a terrifying moment when Amleth is confronted by the Seeress, but she is the catalyst for him getting back on the road to his eternal fate.

Title

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

The Northman (2022)

90%

64%

2

Peter Stormare – Constantine (2005)

As Lucifer

Constantine - Poster - Keanu Reeves

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9/10

Constantine

R
FantasyHorrorAction

Constantine, directed by Francis Lawrence and released in 2005, stars Keanu Reeves as John Constantine, a supernatural detective. Based on the DC Comics Hellblazer series, the film follows Constantine as he battles against dark forces from the underworld with the help of a determined police officer, played by Rachel Weisz. The film meshes elements of horror and action as Constantine navigates a demonic landscape.

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Release Date

February 18, 2005

Runtime

121 Minutes

Cast

Keanu Reeves
, Rachel Weisz
, Shia LaBeouf
, Djimon Hounsou
, Max Baker
, Pruitt Taylor Vince

Director

Francis Lawrence

Writers

Jamie Delano
, Garth Ennis
, Kevin Brodbin
, Frank A. Cappello

In one of Keanu Reeves’ exciting forays into the fantasy genre, Constantine, the actor plays John Constantine, a character based on the DC comic series Hellblazer. In the narrative, Constantine has the power to see angels and demons, making him the perfect tortured exorcist. Constantine is particularly haunted by the fact that his soul is condemned to hell and the fact that Lucifer will one day come to collect him. The threat of Lucifer’s arrival hangs over the entire film until Peter Stormare makes his grand entrance at the end of the movie.

10 Movies That Perfectly Blend Fantasy and Horror

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Clad in a pure white suit and dripping with fury and power, Stormare’s Lucifer cuts a striking figure in the scene, as Constantine has called him there, in a desperate attempt to save the world from the work of a corrupt angel and demon. Since Constantine 2 is confirmed, it’s likely that audiences will see the return of Stormare as Lucifer since he made it clear that he’s far from done with Constantine. The chemistry between Reeves and Stormare as eternal enemies also helps elevate the scene as a climactic conclusion.

Title

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

Constantine (2005)

46%

72%

1

Caitlin Stasey – Smile (2022)

As Laura Weaver

Smile Final Movie Poster

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8/10

Smile

R
Horror

A psychological horror film written and directed by newcomer Parker Finn, Smile is the story of a woman who, after witnessing a traumatic incident involving a patient, terrifying incidents keep occurring in her life. Sosie Bacon stars as Dr. Rose Cotter, the woman afflicted by these new realistic nightmares. The horrifying occurrences happen so frequently that Rose realizes she’ll have to confront past trauma to escape this new reality and survive the supernatural forces trying to kill her. 

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Release Date

September 30, 2022

Runtime

115 minutes

Cast

Sosie Bacon
, Jessie T. Usher
, Kyle Gallner
, Robin Weigert
, Caitlin Stasey
, Kal Penn
, Rob Morgan

Director

Parker Finn

Writers

Parker Finn

Studio(s)

Paramount Pictures

Expand

When Smile was released in 2022, it was the most exciting psychological horror film in recent years and garnered plenty of praise from critics and audiences alike. Caitlin Stasey returns from director Parker Finn’s original short film, Laura Hasn’t Slept, and kicks off the events of the film with her interaction with Rose (Sosie Bacon), the movie’s protagonist. As the story progresses, it soon becomes clear that because Rose witnessed Laura’s death, she has been cursed with the same terrifying affliction as Laura.

Stasey’s appearance is a fun Easter egg from the short, though she is gone for the remainder of the film. However, it’s impossible to forget her. It’s Rose’s interaction with Laura that plagues her for the rest of the story. When rewatching Smile, it’s incredible to see how much foreshadowing is laid out by Stasey’s performance and how her character essentially explains how the curse works. It’s a clever scene and pivotal for the rest of the narrative to work, but Stasey executes it perfectly.

Title

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

Smile (2022)

79%

78%