4 years ago
6
ARTICLE AD BOX
Mel Brooks is a wall-breaking genius.
A while back, we asked the BuzzFeed Community about their favorite fourth wall breaks in TV and film — here are some of their favorite movie examples!*
*With a few of mine added in.
1. At the end of Psycho, when Norman looks at the camera during the line "she wouldn't even harm a fly":
Paramount Pictures
2. In Young Frankenstein, when the little girl the monster was playing with asked what else they should throw in the water, and the monster looked into the camera (as the audience knew she was going to be thrown in next, based on the original Frankenstein):
20th Century Fox
"The whole movie's full of goofy moments, but that's my favorite fourth-wall break."
3. In Robin Hood: Men in Tights, when the camera shattered a window while panning into a room:
20th Century Fox
4. And when Robin pulled out the script after he lost the archery match:
20th Century Fox
5. In Spaceballs, when Dark Helmet accidentally killed a cameraman during his lightsaber battle with Lone Star:
MGM/UA Communications Co.
6. And when it seemed the heroes had been captured, but actually it was just their stunt doubles:
MGM/UA Communications Co.
7. And also when Dark Helmet watched a copy of Spaceballs:
MGM/UA Communications Co.
8. In Trading Places, when Eddie Murphy looked right into the camera while pretending to be interested in the dumbed-down stock market lesson:
Paramount Pictures
"The best fourth wall break ever is in Trading Places. The two old white dudes are explaining the stock market to Eddie Murphy like he’s a total moron and he gives this fraction-of-a-second deadpan look to the camera that says, 'Can you believe this condescending shit?'"
—PHM8
9. In Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, when Austin referenced the fact that the movie was filmed in LA and looked at the camera:
New Line Cinema
10. And when Basil and Austin spoke directly to viewers after addressing the fact that time travel movies often don't make much sense:
New Line Cinema
11. In Free Guy, when they played the Avengers theme and used Cap's shield as an item and then it showed Chris Evans watching and getting angry:
20th Century Studios
12. In Funny Games, whenever Paul looked at the camera:
Warner Independent Pictures
"The whole movie is unsettling, but when they break the fourth wall, it’s absolutely gut-wrenching. The whole movie takes basic horror movie tropes and turns them on their head."
13. In The Emperor's New Groove, whenever Kuzko stops the film:
Disney
14. In Ferris Bueller's Day Off, when Ferris ended the film by telling the audience to go home:
Paramount Pictures
"Well, it’s gotta be one of the originals: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. At the end! 'Go home, the show’s over.' It’s just perfect!"
15. And in The Muppet Movie, when they ended it the same way:
Associated Film Distribution
16. In Call Me By Your Name, when Elio was staring in the fire at the end and glanced at the camera for a second:
Sony Pictures Classics
17. In A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, when Mr. Rogers told Lloyd to think about the people who have loved him into being, then the entire restaurant is silent for a minute while Fred looks in the camera:
Sony Pictures Releasing
18. In Alfie, whenever Alfie looked into the camera to express his reactions:
Paramount Pictures / United International Pictures
19. In Enola Holmes, whenever Enola would talk to the viewer:
Netflix
"Unpopular opinion: Enola Holmes. It was just so perfect how she just casually plans stuff out and tells the viewer what she is thinking."
20. And finally, all of Deadpool, but especially when Deadpool broke the fourth wall during a fourth wall break...
20th Century Fox
21. ...And the genius opening credits, which bent the fourth wall by showing Ryan Reynolds' People cover and a trading card of Ryan as Green Lantern:
20th Century Fox
Did we miss any? Let us know in the comments below!
Submissions have been edited for length/clarity.
English (US) ·