10 Movie & TV Scenes Where Actors Are Clearly Corpsing

Corspring, or an actor breaking character in a movie or TV scene, is a phenomenon mostly found on the cutting room floor or in the blooper reel. Sometimes, though, the actor manages to disguise the flub so well that it ends up staying in, whether with a perfectly placed hand gesture, a quick turn away from camera or even by consciously trying to make it part of the character’s reaction. In certain instances, these involuntary reactions made the scenes even funnier, and the director chose to keep them in.

Many actors over the years have been known to improvise, and make their co-stars laugh both intentionally and unintentionally. Steve Carell would constantly make the cast break on The Office, with John Krasinski, Rainn Wilson, and Mindy Kaling among the serial offenders. Matthew Perry’s goal on Friends was to make as many people as possible laugh, and there are many instances on Friends where it’s clear the actors were corpsing. Some of the most iconic scenes in cinema have also come about due to a mile that just could not be stifled.

10

The Fate of the Furious (2017)

Corpser: Jason Statham

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The Fate of the Furious

PG-13
Action

Release Date

April 14, 2017

Runtime

136 minutes

Director

F. Gary Gray

Writers

Chris Morgan

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The Fast & Furious franchise has been going on for over 20 years, so it’s no wonder the cast feels comfortable enough with each other to have fun and occasionally get caught corpsing. Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham had worked closely together for a while at this point, and were often cracking jokes during takes. In one of the signature bickering scenes between Hobbs and Shaw, Johnson delivered a line that pushed Statham just that bit too far. Johnson later confirmed on social media that this out-of-character reaction just reinforced their chemistry on-screen.

As Hobbs tries to intimidate Shaw, he explains just how tough he intends to be on him. A very elaborate line involving broken teeth and a toothbrush is the reason the normally stoic British actor could not hold in his laugh. His face beams with the most earnest smile as it’s clear he’s a completely broken character. Johnson then joins in, and what was meant to be a serious scene ends up being a great injection of humor in the action-packed movie.

9

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

Corpser: Christina Applegate

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Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

PG-13
Comedy

Release Date

December 18, 2013

Runtime

119 Minutes

Director

Adam McKay

Writers

Will Ferrell, Adam McKay

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It must be pretty difficult acting alongside Will Ferrell. He often improvises his lines, is naturally very funny, and is never afraid to push it too far. Some of the bloopers from both Anchorman movies are side-splittingly funny, seeing as so many comedy greats were all brought together. Not everything was cut, though, with some actors struggling to get to the end of their scene.

When Ron Burgundy and Christina Applegate’s Veronica Corningstone are doing their vocal warm-ups before going on air, Ron’s tactics and rituals are rather peculiar, to say the least. With a lot of very high-pitched noises and strange mouth movements delivered at a relentless pace, it’s no wonder his co-star could not keep it together. As a co-anchor, Corningstone had no time for Burgundy’s shenanigans, so as she struggled to contain her composure, it’s clear that it was Christina Applegate who was shining through at that moment.

8

Men In Black (1997)

Corpser: Tommy Lee Jones

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Men In Black

PG-13
ComedyActionAdventureSci-Fi

Release Date

July 2, 1997

Runtime

98 minutes

Director

Barry Sonnenfeld

Writers

Lowell Cunningham, Ed Solomon

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One of Hollywood’s longest-working stars, Tommy Lee Jones has starred in many films of varying degrees of seriousness. From action thrillers to gripping dramas, he showcased his versatility and composure. It’s always fun to see stars normally associated with more highbrow projects taking part in a comedy like Men in Black, and it was also a welcome surprise to see that even an actor of this caliber could break character.

The reason for him corpsing has got to be one of the most understandable of all. His co-star was a pug named Mushu. As some of the most adorable dogs on the planet (and other galaxies), pugs are also some of the most visually stirring. Their little squished up faces and bulging eyes can make anyone smile, so it’s nice to know that Tommy Lee Jones is one of those people. As he interrogates the alien informer, a clear smile can be seen across his face as he realizes the humor in the situation.

7

Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005)

Corpser: Ewan McGregor

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Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith

PG-13
ActionAdventure Sci-FiFantasy

Release Date

May 19, 2005

Runtime

140 Minutes

Director

George Lucas

Writers

George Lucas, John Ostrander, Jan Duursema

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There are many reasons for breaking character. It might be a hilarious scene partner, a sudden onset of the giggles, or a very funny line. Intentionally humorous lines are fair game, and the writers and directors must anticipate that it might be hard to get through a take. Then there are those lines that are funny when they’re not meant to be. In the case of the third Star Wars prequel, it’s the latter. Ewan McGregor did his absolute best to try and get through it.

As Obi-Wan Kenobi delivers some bad news to Natalie Portman’s Padmé about Anakin turning to the Dark Side, he must utter a word that just does not sit right with the Scottish actor: “younglings”, meaning children that are to be trained by the Jedi. As McGregor goes through his speech, he pauses right before he has to say it, takes a deep breath, and when it’s all over, quickly covers his mouth to disguise the widening smile on his face.

6

The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005)

Corpsers: Paul Rudd, Seth Rogen, Romany Malco, and Miki Mia

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The 40 Year Old Virgin

R
RomanceComedy

Release Date

August 19, 2005

Runtime

116 minutes

Director

Judd Apatow

Writers

Steve Carell, Judd Apatow

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Steve Carell was given free rein to improvise during the scene where he goes to get a wax before his big date. His close friends accompany him as a sign of support and to, no doubt, make fun of him, which sets the scene for some comedy gold. Carell has admitted that he requested the waxing be done for real and his reactions were a mix of actual pain and his comedic genius. As he shouted a long list of obscenities, so uncharacteristic of the usually gentler actor, his co-stars had no idea what they were in for.

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Pau Rudd was the biggest culprit as he didn’t even try to pretend he was holding it together. He laughed openly and a lot, and it was brilliant to watch. Romany Malco probably did the most to try to remain in character, but he was definitely cracking up. Seth Rogen’s reactions were so natural they somehow managed to work for the character. Miki Mia could barely hold it together as the waxer, but her earnest reactions really made the scene what it was.

5

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)

Corpser: Peter Bull

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Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb

PG
Comedy

Release Date

January 29, 1964

Runtime

95 minutes

Director

Stanley Kubrick

Writers

Terry Southern, Stanley Kubrick, Peter George

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This early example of corpsing is even more surprising, seeing as the director of the movie was Stanley Kubrick. The highly respected director was known to be a perfectionist and his attention to detail was infamous. This was his only full-throated comedy, a subversive comedy about the Cold War which featured a lot of funny but highly uncomfortable scenes. Kubrik’s vision was brought to life brilliantly by Peter Sellers, one of the greatest comedy actors in history.

In a scene where the actor fully commits to a bit that involves his hand being possessed, he improvises a slew of hilarious scenarios. It’s so strange and absurd, but most importantly, very funny. Co-star Peter Bull certainly seemed to think so, as he is seen briefly laughing in the background, which was definitely not in line with his character. It’s curious whether Kubrick missed it on the day or if it simply made him smile as well.

4

Friends (1994-2004)

Corpser: Jennifer Aniston

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Friends

ComedyDramaSitcom

Release Date

1994 – 2003

Network

NBC

Showrunner

Marta Kauffman

Directors

David Crane, Marta Kauffman

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By the time season 7 of Friends arrived, the six stars were extremely close and worked together like a well-oiled machine. They would still make each other laugh, of course, and when they did, it was great. In the episode “The One with Joey’s New Brain”, David Schwimmer’s Ross tries to learn to play the bagpipes for the wedding of Courtney Cox’s Monica and Matthew Perry’s Chandler. The joke, of course, being that he’s absolutely terrible.

As the credits roll, the friends allow him to audition for them and play a song. The sound that comes out is a cacophony of high-pitched noises and a completely indistinguishable melody. As he asks the gang to sing along, Lisa Kudrow’s Phoebe joins in, mimicking the unintelligible racket. That’s when Jennifer Aniston loses it. It’s not even Rachel Green’s reaction. It’s so clearly Aniston laughing, and it’s one of the best character breaks in TV history.

3

Good Will Hunting (1997)

Corpser: Matt Damon

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Good Will Hunting

R
RomanceDrama

Release Date

December 5, 1997

Runtime

126 minutes

Director

Gus Van Sant

Writers

Matt Damon, Ben Affleck

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This heartfelt drama was full of emotional scenes and realistic grit, but Robin Williams was a special kind of actor who would always want to spread joy. His portrayal of a psychologist trying to help the troubled Will (played by Matt Damon), earned him his Oscar. It was a wonderful performance that showed his warmth, compassion, and ability to weave humor seamlessly into serious moments.

In one of their therapy sessions, Sean tells an anecdote about his late wife’s flatulence. This wasn’t scripted, but ever the pros, Williams and Damon stayed in character, and Gus Van Sant kept rolling. As Williams went on, his co-star laughed more and more, eventually letting out a snorting sound. It was so natural, it ended up being a beautiful bonding moment for the characters. It was rightfully left in. It’s clear to see the late great Robin Williams working his magic on Matt Damon and eliciting the most genuine and warm laugh.

2

Pretty Woman (1990)

Corpser: Julia Roberts

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Pretty Woman

R
RomanceComedy

Release Date

March 23, 1990

Runtime

119 minutes

Director

Garry Marshall

Writers

J.F. Lawton

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This charming movie was Julia Roberts’ big break into superstardom, and she gained a lot of praise and accolades for her performance as Vivian Ward. She commanded the screen and was both funny and endearing. It also helped that she had phenomenal chemistry with Richard Gere. The 35 years since her role in Pretty Woman have shown she’s a consummate professional with many awards to her name, including an Oscar, making it very rare for Julia Roberts to lose it on camera.

In fact, one of the most famous corpsing scenes in cinematic history was orchestrated to get a raw reaction from the actor. As Gere is showing her a box that holds a beautiful ruby necklace, Vivian moves closer to admire it when Gere slams the box shut, nearly snapping her fingers in the process. As Roberts reacts to this and realizes it was a prank, she lets out the most charming and infectious laugh. It was a delightful bit that made the scene so much better and helped cement her as a star.

1

The Office (2005-2013)

Corpser: John Kasinski

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The Office Poster Michael Scott

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The Office

TV-14
Comedy

Release Date

2005 – 2012

Network

NBC

Showrunner

Greg Daniels

Directors

Greg Daniels, Paul Lieberstein, Paul Feig, Randall Einhorn, Ken Kwapis

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A serious corpsing offender, John Krasinski admitted on the “Office Ladies” podcast that he was one of the worst corpsers in the cast. The blooper reels certainly confirm this confession, and he lets out a very knowing laugh when it’s clear that Jim Haplert is no longer in control. While they didn’t always make it into the show, there were moments that did. Jim Halpert would often look directly into the camera many times as Michael said something outrageous, but even that wasn’t able to save him in some instances.

There was the time he signed Meredith’s cast with his real name “John Krasinski” or the time he accidentally slashed Dwight’s (Rainn Wilson) yoga ball. The most obvious times he laughed on camera were in Season 2’s “The Convict” where he watches Prison Mike do his thing, Season 3’s “Women’s Appreciation” where Michael pretends to be a flasher, and season 5’s “Prince Family Paper” where he’s visibly laughing during Stanley’s speech about Hilary Swank.