You’ve previously read what we consider to be the 10 Most Imaginative Shots on Film, now find out what we consider to be the most iconic still images in film, those pop culture memories that will forever be ingrained in our soul.
Inspired by a recent trip to the National Portrait Gallery to view their exclusive collection of vintage film star photos from the extensive John Kobal collection (get down their pronto guys…it’s a fantastic exhibition that features stunning images of many Golden Era stars from Humphrey Bogart and Gary Cooper to Marilyn Monroe and Joan Crawford…but it ends on October 23rd!), I began to think how iconic still images can be.
With this in mind, read on to discover what we consider to be the ten most iconic of these images!
10. King Kong – KING KONG (1933)
A superb feat of special effects back in 1933, there’s something that remains incredibly impressive about King Kong atop the Empire State Building even to this day. Photographer Robert Coburn’s series of photographs depicting the beast on his New York rampage have become iconic not only to film fans, but to the wider public in general too. Kong merchandise is still readily available, with images on a range of items as well as enormous canvas displays and poster sized photo prints.
The model work of Marcel Delgado is seamlessly captured by Coburn and whilst to the modern eye Kong is obviously not a real creature, the photographs still display a reality that makes the images breathtakingly powerful. Whether viewers have seen the film, these images can instantly be equated to the production and perfectly demonstrate how iconic a still from a film can become.
Who can’t visit The Empire State Building now without checking that King Kong isn’t up there fighting for his life.
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215 Comments
No mention of Casablanca?
Seriously. That was the first image to pop into my head. And I haven’t seen that movie in years.
What are you blind ?
Pulp Fiction where John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson have their guns drawn? That’s not even an honorable mention? C’mon man!
What? Blade Runner is missing? Where he hangs at the ledge.
No iconic James Dean in GIANT or Rebel?
Sam Waterston, Haing S. Ngor in THE KILLING FIELDS?
Definitely Marlon Brando in A Streetcar Named Desire rated Top Ten.
Ursula Andress? Really! A mam compiled this. She does nor rate in the Top 250. Sean Connery with a martini or upraised pistol in his hand as James Bond is FAR more iconic!
The worst thing about all these stills is not that their not great, they are. But the author of the artical only attributed the first photo to the photographer and not the others. If this is his 10 best shouldn’t he have a least done his research and found out who shot them. Speaking as a still photographer, I found this lapse very disturbing in a journalist.
no james dean?
No Alex de Large?
how come there’s no image of marlon brando stting in the dark, out of the apocolyspe now
This list is too guy-centric. The flying scene from Titanic should be on the list.
Where is STAR WARS !?!? Everyone knows who Darth Vader is, even if they have never seen the movie!!!
Good call Scott! There are a few stills I can think of that are definitely worthy of inclusion…
What about the “bike in front of the moon” image from ET?
TOTALLY AGREE!!!! THis should be like the third image
Are they adding stuff after it’s mentioned in the comments? The scene is there now
what do u mean??? are u blind??
Not Mrs. Robinson’s leg? Not Clint Eastwood in tgtbatu? Not the ceremony at the end of star wars?
Fair enough.
Some of these iconic images should be classified as “most overrated”. How about a listing of “iconic images” which ought to be classified as “underrated”?
You completely misunderstand the meaning of the word ‘iconic’. It has nothing at all to do about the ‘quality’ of the shot, it’s purely about how famous the image is and the effect it has had upon popular culture.
Therefore, an image described as ‘iconic’ cannot be ‘overrated’ or ‘underrated’ as you mean the term to mean. If an image is ‘underrated’, then it can’t be ‘iconic’, can it?
Some interesting calls there guys but both the ET and The Graduate ones feature in my previous Top 10 Shots list. This is still images that have become iconic, rather than shots on screen.
This list is arbitrary, scenes from many other films, non-American ones, could also be included. I would include Casablanca, Spartacus, Ben Hur, Battle of the Bulge among others.
Nothing with Grace Kelly? Rear Window?
That’s right! I missed her too.
Im surprised that there’s no James Dean especially from Rebel Without a Cause or Hannibal Lecter in the face mask or even one or two from Reservoir Dogs, the main picture or the one where they’re pointing their guns at each other??
I expected to see the scarface ‘say hello to my little friend’ still. Also agree about et, not a film i liked but very iconic and much parodied. And as others have said there are some good non-American film still left out.
Nice selection, but I do miss Humphrey Bogart.
Me gusta la elección de los iconos de las mejores peliculas de la Historia,todas estas peliculas he tenido la oportunidad de verlas.
El resplandor.Sicosis,La ultima comezón del septimo año,El Padrino.King Kong,Cantando bajo la lluvia,El Mago de Oz,Taxi Driver.Cleopatra,Lo que el viento se llevo,Indiana el Arca Perdida.
Where’s Frankenstein, The Lone Ranger, Mickey Mouse, Flash Gordon, W.C.Fields, Jimmy Cagney, The Barrymore family and many more that would make a better list.
Im not only stunned that this didn’t make your list, im a little angrey that it isn’t an easy choice for number one! Speilbergs ET, the longest standing box office leader in history. Elliot and ET cycle across the moon. Come on.
What about Lauren Bacall’s famous shot when she says, “If you want me just whistle. You know how to whistle don’t you? Just put your lips together and blow.”
Definitely a great moment but unfortunately I don’t think it’s as famous as ET or Casablanca which should definitely be on this list ahead of Ursula and Taxi Driver (I love Taxi Driver but I don’t think that image is “Iconic”)
YEs TAxi Driver is more CULT, not ICONIC…. And there s a Need of the MOHAWK HAIR….
To everyone who keeps mentioning ET, whilst I appreciate your comments I’d just like to reiterate that this image features in my previous list of Top 10 Shots on Film (linked back to at the beginning of this article), hence the fact that it isn’t included here. For all the other comments and suggestions, thanks very much. As always, I could have easily done a Top 100 and I simply went off the first 10 that came into my head, to chronicle the images I consider most iconic. There are some great suggestions though that are definitely worthy of being on such a list!
Maybe 100 would be better
the silent movie era should have been represented. Maybe melies´ moon face? the lumiere brothers train? the metropolis robot?
Shirley Eaton covered in gold is surely the most iconic images in the Bond franchise.
I think it’s very hard to say which is more iconic. It’s like trying to pick your favorite Kubrick or Bergman film.
As far as iconic… A Trip to the Moon?
Yes of course!
The seventh seal anyone?????
Hello…? Statue of Liberty? On a beach? In the future? Talking apes? Charlton Heston in a loincloth? Stinking paws off me?
Ring any bells?
how about catch 22 , to kill a mockingbird ,dead men dont wear plaid , training day , fiddler on the roof i think 1000 would be a nice sample
Yes, (two posts higher) The original Planet of the Apes was the first one that came to my mind too.
Also, Cary Grant running from the plane in North By Northwest.
Top 10 Europe (from the top of my head): Meliés A Trip to the moon, Dreyer’s Jeanne D’Arc (close-up of the face of Falconetti), Truffaut’s 400 blows (end freeze), Godard’s Breathless (basically any shot with Belmondo), Bergman’s The Seventh Seal (chess on the beach), Gandhi (Kingsley in the iconic costume), Clockwork Orange (McDowell forced watching), Fellini’s La Dolce Vita (Ekberg in the fountain), De Sica’s Bicycle Thief (boy disappointed with father) and Leone’s The Good, the Bad & the Ugly (threeway duel).
Willem Dafoe. Not Defoe. Great actor, great shot.
Interesting list though I’m not sure some of those images are in the films themselves eg The Wizard of Oz. I think Harold Lloyd hanging from the clockface in Safety Last! might be a contender too.
ron
Its always hard to make a top 10 list, there is always so many choices. I would like to mention JAWS, filled with iconic images, and a poster that still makes ppl fear of the deep ocean.
The streetlamp scene from The Exorcist? Harold Lloyd Dangling from the clock from “Safety Last”? Doc and Marty exiting the Delorean?
“get down their pronto”?
Audrey Hepburn looking in the window of Tiffany’s in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”.
That’s exactly what I thought too. Pics of Audrey Hepburn in that movie hang on more walls than any of those other images put together, it’s THE most iconic movie image in history!
Anita Ekberg in the Trevi Fountain, La Dolce Vita?
We’re gonna need a bigger list.
Pulp Fiction: Jules and Vincent pointing their guns simultaneously to an off-screen tug. Should at least be in the Top 20.
Great list. I was expecting something ridiculous like Harry Potters wand, or the ring from LOTR.
What exactly was meant by “iconic”? If it was recognizable the world over, then maybe. ET in front of the moon and any old pic of Darth Vader should be here. Oz. Frankenstein or Dracula.
Binary Sunset in Star Wars.
Bikes in front of a moom ET
Travis putting a gun to his head Taxi Driver
Travolta and Jackson pointing guns Pulp Fiction
Reservoir Dogs line up/title scree Reservoir Dogs
Bi-plane chasing Cary Grant in NXNW?
How about the helicopters in attack mode skimming over the water in Apocalypse Now? Loved the music too.
Most Iconic Images in Film History with no Wild Bunch walk? Fail. :(
What about George C. Scott in front of the giant flag in Patton?
The silhouette in The Exorcist.
Perhaps not everyone fully read the article or knows just what iconic means. There are a lot of good suggestions from you guys but a lot of those scenes havent become iconic, meaning you don’t see them plastered on tshirt, coffee mugs, movie posters and being mimiced by Hollywood today. The ET shot could very well be the best inclusion of this list, as well as Stu’s other list, but many suggestions could have been put on a separate list. The images represented in this selection have been parodied by Hollywood numerous times and have been ingrained into our kinds via memorbilia collections and such. That is why they have been considered a bit more iconic that other suggestions. I would also add, though not live action, Mickey Mouse in Fantasia and the tornado he conjures up. Again, many great suggestions, but not as prominent in pop culture as ones listed here, making them a bit less iconic.
Any top list is bound to leave off somebody’s favorite scenes. Ones that I would have included are:
Casablanca’s Here’s Looking At You: http://tinyurl.com/42x7zpr
City Light’s Ending: http://tinyurl.com/3kv7dzn
North by Northwest Chase: http://tinyurl.com/43zl8s4
Phantom of the Opera Unmasking: http://tinyurl.com/3k9rlu5
Raider’s Boulder: http://tinyurl.com/3tvglpm
I was going to suggest either the monolith or the bone-wielding ape from 2001: A Space Odyssey, but perhaps those moments are too dynamic for stills.
I was thinking of the bone changing into the spaceship too, which is dynamic indeed.
I think everybody would recognize the “eye of HAL”, though.
how about … any movie that isn’t american?
There are many “iconic’images for us foreign film lovers
also, can’t something more recent, like in the last 10 years
Really stick in our minds/ there’s still some provocative &
powerful visuals that ain’t another mindless action moneymaker
out there
I love the photos, and they’re all very iconic, Taxi Driver is actually my favorite film, and I’ve noticed something about that particular shot, it’s not from the “You talkin’ to me?” scene.
It’s actually from the scene where Travis talks about “All the kings horses and all the kings men could not put it back together again.” The “You talkin’ to me?” scene occurs later, when he’s wearing his Marine jacket and uses the device he made on his right hand to eject the .25 pistol.
However, isn’t it funny that the image of Travis with the giant .44 still brings up in the subconscious the famous “You talkin’ to me?” scene, despite the fact that it’s not even in the same sequence of scenes?
Honestly, they could have made this list 100 images, because there are so many more to choose from, Luke and Leia over the precipice in A New Hope, Blondie at the showdown in Good, Bad, and the Ugly, Ratso and Joe Buck in Midnight Cowboy, hell Benjamin in the shot between Mrs. Robinson’s legs, how the hell could you have not made this list longer? Hahaha
Sound of Music – On the hill? I instantly thought of that one for some reason. But really good list.
I think its safe to say that coming up with 10 is very hard indeed. I agree with the 10 chosen, however even a top 50 or top 100 would still have iconic images missing. . . . Great posting though.
I know there is no way we can fit everything in…James Dean in the car with his feet up in front of the Giant ranch house
The Line-up in The Usual Suspects, Andy lifting his hands to the rain in The Shawshank Redemption, Vader with his hand outstretched to Luke on Bespin from The Empire Strikes Back (had a huge poster of that on my wall for years as a kid!) also second the calls for Planet of the Apes, The Exorcist & The Seventh Seal.
you guys should make a new list with like top 25 or something cuz top 10 seems really difficult…also thinking the “ill be back” scene in the terminator should be in here
Taxi Driver, ok, but DeNiro with the Mohican haircut I think is more memorable and even more iconic for me is Jodie Foster leaning on that doorway with the big hat.
YEs Planet of the Apes for sure AND…… From here to Eternity’s KISS at the beach…. Rebel Without a Cause too… James Dean is far more Iconic than Ursula Andress and I don’t know, only Ursula Andress …lol. Don t know…. Psycho is more schocking than rear window…. definetely…. AW MY GOD this is so god….. let s see… let s put tom cruise putting glasses on in TOP GUN ahahahahahahahahaahahah John Travolta inSaturday Night Fever, Rocky Balboa Running the Stairs
I may be biased, but the final image from Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid seems pretty iconic to moi. See for yourself: http://www.hometownprophetbook.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/imgbutch-cassidy-and-the-sundance-kid1.jpg
Also, you wrote: “…as well as eluding to his power.” in #3. Pretty sure that oughta be *alluding*. Nice post otherwise.
Something from the Matrix would have been appropriate.
whoa! no Tim Robbins rejoicing in the rain from The Shawshank Redemption?????
No Chaplin?? big mistake guys, big one.
I thought of The Little Tramp immediately.
These kinds of lists always leave things out for one or the other. Here’s a few movies or images I can think of as seriously iconic that are missing in this list:
- Gilda (Rita Hayworth) dancing and taking off the black glove is missing.
- Jaws
- Sound of Music
- Lord of the Rings
- The Matrix
- E.T.
- Indiana Jones
- Star Wars
- Fantasia
- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
- Toy Story
Thanks for all the comments guys – love hearing what your choices would be. Together I recon we could easily come up with a Top 500! Keep them coming…
Surely there must be a spot reserved for Slim Pickins’ waving his hat while riding atop the falling H-bomb in “Dr. Strangelove”.
Just saw a redrawing of the iconic Jurassic Park scene of the T-Rex at the end roaring and surrounded by debris of the museum. It’s not my favorite but it’s most certainly epic. I was surprised not to see that on the list or in the suggestions.
how can no one say the first shot of darth vader walking into the transport ship with rebellion bodies lining the floors pure icon.
Something from Star Wars has to be in there. There are so many to choose from, but the one that comes to mind is the one after Luke’s hand is “repaired” and they are all looking out of the ship window.
Another iconic picture that I think should be included is the shot of Al Pacino in Scarface. “Say hello to my lil friends.” That picture is definitely iconic.
Hit Girl Wielding a Naginata in “Kick Ass”
Superman flying with Lois Lane in “Superman”
Princess Lea awarding Medal to Luke Skywalker, and Han Solo (Who are joined by Chewbaca, and The Droids) in “Star Wars”
I have four suggestions:
1) Rita Hayworth, “Gilda, Are You Decent?”- GILDA (1946) and THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION (1994)
2) Gloria Swanson descending the stairs, and into insanity- SUNSET BLVD. (1950)
3) Edward Norton and Helena Bonham Carter hold hands as the bomb’s go off- FIGHT CLUB (1999)
4) Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet in bed on a Montauk beack- ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND (2004)
And if you ever do a television version on this topic, might I suggest:
Matthew Fox and Maggie Grace standing under the wreckage of Flight 815- LOST (PILOT, PART 1- Sept. 22nd, 2004)
*bombs
I agree…where is Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s? That has to be one of the most iconic images in cinema hands down!
Here are a few I thought of:
Toy Story 3 – the toys accept their fate
Mommy Dearest – no wire hangers
Die Hard – McLean jumps off the roof
Children of Men – pregnancy revealed in the barn
Gladiator – “Are you not entertained?”
High Plains Drifter – Welcome to HELL
The Shawshank Redemption – when Raquel revealed her secret
The Matrix – “Whoa”
WALL-E – WALL-E sees the stars through the clouds
2001 – monolith or bone
Alien – chest burster
Unforgiven/Gran Torino – Clint looking down the barrel
The Sixth Sense – “I see dead people”
Where is The Shawshank Redemption?
one of the greatest images.
I could think a few – the last shot of 400 Blows and The Searchers, ‘I Am Your Father’ or the AT&T at Hoth (Empire Strikes Back), Uma & John dancing (Pulp Fiction) the girl’s close-up (Blair Witch) ‘Say Hello to my little friend’ (Scarface) & ‘Do I feel lucky?’ (Dirty Harry)
Why hasn’t anyone mentioned Citizen Kane? Orson Wells standing on the podium in front of the monolithic photo of himself? The movie is considered possibly the greatest Hollywood film of all time!
Jeez, surprised no one has mentioned this huge accomplishment.
Toland’s cinematography turns out many images serious filmlovers will never forget
And what about the Joker leaning out of the police car in “The dark knight”?
that is one of the best screen shots in cinema history. The first one I thought of when i saw the list.
How about William Wallace in facial warpaint?
Or Viggo getting crowned in LOTR The Return of the King?
Or the toga party at Delta House?
No machete-toting Jason? Or razor-gloved Freddy?
I’m just glad there’s no mention of Glitter ;)
I actually think The WIzard of Oz should be #1. I don’t buy that everyone would immediately recognize the Psycho image. EVERYONE knows the Oz characters
Before I looked at the top 10 choices, of course I had to go through and make a mental list of what I thought should/would make the cut. I have to say that the very first one that popped into my mind was Janet Leigh from “Psycho”. However, the 2nd one that popped into my mind was Judy Garland. And I was thinking, in terms of images, either Judy/Dorothy singing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” or the scene where she clicks her heels, “There’s No Place Like Home”. I was glad to see that “Wizard” made top ten, though I really do think there is no question that “The Wizard of Oz” is the most famous of all time. I mean, what could possible be its competition? (On a more personal note: I think that it should be required viewing for all 4 year-olds!!! That was how old I was when I first saw it.) HOWEVER, if Judy was not going to occupy the top spot, then I am totally okay with Janet Leigh’s famous scream. I had placed her as number 2 and I have no problem whatsoever with the choice. And for the record, my 3rd choice was Marilyn Monroe in the white skirt!!! Good going, guys!!!
John Wayne’s final scene in “The Searchers”
Darth Vader’s Helmet. Nuff said.
Linda Blaire demon faced in The Exorcist.
Luke and Vader crossing sabers in Star Wars saga.
Chief running away at the end of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.
Motorcycles from Easy Rider.
Charlie Chaplin with the little boy in The Tramp.
Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
Malcom getting his eyes opened in Clockwork Orange.
The monolith from 2001: A Space Odyssey
And people stop with the LOTRs stuff. No real iconic images there.
Pro-classics eh?
I nominate the Chestbuster from Alien
First Blood when Rambo break in the ammunition store with a big m60 machine gun was a great poster. Also Raquel in 10,000 b.c famous pose was one of the sexist images in history.
Great list. Would like to see a shot from “Lawrence of Arabia” included. Specifically the shot where Lawrence first tries on the white Arab clothing and poses with the Jambia knife held high, or this shot – http://www.altfg.com/Stars/l/lawrence-of-arabia-otoole-sharif-1.jpg – the “No Prisoners!” moment before the Arab attack on the retreating Turkish army.
Max von Sydow looking up at the house in the Exorcist. James Dean in his red jacket. The amazing first shot of Orson Welles in The Third Man. Chaplin eating his shoe. Dueling banjos or Squeal-pig-scene from Deliverance. Lugosi’s Dracula and Schreck’s Nosferatu. The large M on Peter Lorre’s coat. And of course robot-Maria from Metropolis.
Will Smith “Welcome to Earth,”punching out that alien. I just love that scene. :-)
What about Apocalypse Now when Capt. Willard’s head slowly pops out of the water? Very surreal and iconic.
Where the hell is Rafiki raising Simba in The Lion King?
I think you have the wrong image from “Raiders of the Lost Ark”. A shot of Indy running from the boulder would not only have been better, but would make any top 10 list of iconic images from film (it is the definitive “action-adventure” defining shot in film history, IMO).
While I think “Platoon” was a fine film, and the image you picked is representative of the film, I wouldn’t even call it the most iconic image from a war film (just for openers, I would have picked George C. Scott standing in front of the flag from “Patton”). As for Ms. Monroe, her time as an icon in film is starting to come to an end as her dearest fans pass away … even now, there are people in Chicago trying to remove a statue of her in that very same pose.
I may be projecting a bit from my childhood, but the scene immediately following the crawl in “Star Wars” with that larger than life spaceship filling the screen is almost a demarcation point in film history.
Props for including Harold Lloyd from “Safety Last” … unforgettable scene, and few know where it came from.
Superman flying over the Earth, big smile, sun shining behind him. Gives me goosebumps to this day.
One that should be a lot more famous than it is would be the 3 remaining samurai standing in front of the graves at the end of Seven Samurai
This is not of the same quality as the movies listed, but the shot of the huge spaceship blasting the White House in Independence Day out to be up there.
Great article, but I miss some ‘Star Wars’ here
How could I forgeot earlier, Nosferatu’s shadow grabbing the girl by the throat – THE iconic horror image, way before Frankenstein, Dracula, Mummy, Wolfman etc.
Surely Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday needs a mention?????
Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Barry opening the door to his house with the alien lights shining in. Those bright beautiful colors sillouetting that little boy always gives me goosebumps..
It’s allude, not elude.
Gotta agree that Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast At Tiffany’s ought to be in there. Also, SOMETHING from Star Wars…. I would say the original poster from the “first” movie, Star Wars: A New Hope. To this day, you can’t look up merchandise from StarWars without seeing that movie poster image.
the look on myrna loys face when she heres the doorbell ring the best years of our lives 1946
WOW, impressive collection. i agree that all e above-posted images are iconic, but i felt SCARFACE – The World Is Yours definitely deserved mention. Who can forget Tony Montana? The film and the character have stamped an indelible imagery in the history of cinema.
Thanks, n keep ‘em comin! Good Job.
Where’s the Shark?
Animated moments are notably overlooked. Can’t imagine a list of cinema’s “most iconic” images without at least including the spaghetti shot from “Lady and the Tramp” and Mickey and the dancing broomstick from “Fantasia.” Also, while not as renowned as the others, the first shot of General Ripper in “Dr. Strangelove” is incomparable.
Almost forgot – Lancaster and Kerr kissing on the beach in From Here to Eternity. Bond on the laserbeam-table in Goldfinger.
Lancaster & Kerr – the exact same thing I was thinking!!! That shot is the epitome of iconic!
Great post. I’d submit the boombox scene in Say Anything and the “king of the world” scene in Titanic.
I second those two suggestions!
John Wayne, eye patch, horseback, reins in his mouth, six gun in one hand, rifle in the other… True Grit.
How about Mr. Stay Puft from ghostbusters? I’ve seen him everywhere. Bobbleheads, t-shirt, there’s even collectors edition marshmellows for him. Or while we’re on the subject, the shot where you see all 4 ghostbusters lined up on the building (before they face Zuul). Also, the groundhog from Caddyshack dancing. There’s probably way too many iconic images to list, but I figured I’d add to it.
Some great reccomendations here but I think the best shot to include as iconic from the Star Wars movies is the one from Empire that has Luke and Darth Vader facing each other with lightsabers in the freezing chamber.
From the Wizard of Oz I would say the shot of the Emerald City from across the poppy field(This may not be as iconic but I think its one of the best shots in the film).
For an iconic image of Humphrey Bogart pick any from The Maltese Falcon.
The scene where we first see Hannibal Lecter standing straight and proper as he greets Clarice.
Bugs and Elmer in What’s Opera Doc?
Original Ocean’s 11 with the guys in the first meeting or the scene where they all walk away.
Prince in the cloudy silhouette in the beginning of Purple Rain.
Bruce Lee in the yellow jump suit from Game of Death.
The beginning of Rattle and Hum with the band in front of the red background.
Rocky
A few others apart from the ones so far discussed…
The Kid pointing the gun at the screen – City of God
The Joker looking up at the cop in prison cell – The Dark Knight
Roses falling on Mena Suvari – American Beauty
Al Pacino shouting ‘Attaca’ – Dog Day Afternoon
Buster Keaton in front of the engine – The General
After reading the original article, I had SO many more images popping into my head, and then after reading the comments, I see most of them were mentioned by others. All except one: George and Mary Bailey, surrounded by their children, with huge smiles during the closing shot of “It’s A Wonderful Life”. Truly iconic. “Attaboy, Clarence.” Fade to Black.
Fantastic images and I agree with most of them. Yeah, sure there are a couple I would have omitted and put others in instead but I enjoyed the article and the pictures. Good job! Curious thing that most people only have negative stuff to say. Oh well, freedom of speech and all that.
I surely would have thought A Clockwork Orange, the scene where they are walking down the ally right before they beat the hooligan.
Audrey Hepburn looking in the Tiffany window (every bit as iconic as MM in “The Seven Year Itch”)and Anita Ekberg with the white fur stole and the white kitten.
Lotta great suggestions but I’d say definitely missing Citizen Kane and Slim Pickins riding the bomb
Where is Rebel without a cause?
Already mentioned.
The seated robot Maria in Metropolis.
What about the opening scene of The Sound of Music?
The ending shot of The Searchers. John Wayne walking from society and back into the wilderness of Monument Valley. Doing his trademark walk, holding his arm as a tribute to Harry Carey, one of America’s great early actors. The shot (Wayne surrounded by the darkness from inside of the house) is often emulated, but never topped. That shot alone has inspired countless numbers of directors (Scorsese, Coppola, etc.) and cinematographers.
Another great is the star child from 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Statue of Liberty & Charlton Heston – PLANET OF THE APES is beyond any doubt THE Iconic Image in film history (for me). Because 1; it shows where this planet is going, with or without apes taking over. 2; it shows an actual icon in a completely compelling new way, 3; it’s the only frame of a movie that I would like to see framed on the wall of my living-room…
Alien? Pulp Fiction? Star wars?
Terminator? Something from Pulp Fiction… Exorcist girl… Andy being free in The Shawshank Redemption
there are a few more –
Gladiator – Maximus passing through fields when he Dies
Once Upon a Time in Mexico – Enrique Shooting his pistol
Titanic – the arms spread wide in the Ship
Gladiator – Are you not entertained
Hurt Locker – The man in the bomb disposal suit walking into the smoke
Make a new list of iconic images except do movies no earlier than 1950
Nice list, I agree with some not with others. Some that I think were left out follow:
* Vivian Leigh at Tara during the with god as my witness scene (first one I thought of)
* the first shot of jack sparrow in the first pirates movie as he’s riding the boat into port royal.
* jack and rose flying scene on the bow of titanic (especially as it fades into the view of the wreckage, is just iconic and beautiful at the same time)
* cate blanchett being seen as the Elizabeth I of the more well known photos of her during her later years at the end of Elizabeth.
* the first shot of the scar on baby Harry’s forehead in sorcerers stone.
* the “for Frodo” scene in return of the king as they all run at the army that came out of the black gate.
* Alan Rickman as the sheriff of Nottingham in robin hood prince of thieves when he pulls the mask off at the beginning of the movie (he and Morgan Freeman were the only two positives of that movie)
* bring out your dead from Monty python and the holy grail
* Indy, his father, sallah, and marcus riding off into the sunset at the end of the last crusade.
* maleficent as the dragon fighting prince Philip in sleeping beauty
* the white rabbit or the Cheshire cats smile in Alice in wonderland.
Nice list, I agree with some not with others. Some that I think were left out follow:
* Vivian Leigh at Tara during the with god as my witness scene (first one I thought of)
* the first shot of jack sparrow in the first pirates movie as he’s riding the boat into port royal.
* jack and rose flying scene on the bow of titanic (especially as it fades into the view of the wreckage, is just iconic and beautiful at the same time)
* cate blanchett being seen as the Elizabeth I of the more well known photos of her during her later years at the end of Elizabeth.
* the first shot of the scar on baby Harry’s forehead in sorcerers stone.
* the “for Frodo” scene in return of the king as they all run at the army that came out of the black gate.
* Alan Rickman as the sheriff of Nottingham in robin hood prince of thieves when he pulls the mask off at the beginning of the movie (he and Morgan Freeman were the only two positives of that movie)
* bring out your dead from Monty python and the holy grail
* Indy, his father, sallah, and marcus riding off into the sunset at the end of the last crusade.
* maleficent as the dragon fighting prince Philip in sleeping beauty
* white rabbit or the Cheshire cats smile in Alice in wonderland.
What about Tim Robbins standing in the rain when he escapes Shawshank??
Citizen Kane: the snow globe; City Lights: last scene; La Dolce Vita: the fountain; 2001 A Space Odissey: the Ape Man and the first weapon; Titanic: the king of the world; Sunset Boulevard: The swimming poll…
Good movies…but The Fountain?? No!
I see dead people from Sixth Sense, Austin Powers, The Lion King simba being showed 2 all, Matrix, Anthony Hopkins – Silence of the lambs, Gollum – Lord of the rings.
what abbout Ripley in the load-lifter in Aliens, or speaking of alien, what about when the facehugger bursts from caines chest…believe it or not there are some very iconic images from more modern movies
I would have had Leia in the gold bikini instead of Ursula Andress
Why is there no Charlie Chaplin stills on the list
The War Room (Dr Strangelove)
Neo ducks bullets (The Matrix)
Chaplin – Modern Times
Darth Vader (Star Wars)
Gandalf and Balrog (LOTR)
A Clockwork Orange: The still in the boler hat outfit and eye makeup. ;)
Where is Pulp Fiction??? No Poster in this World was sold so often!!
What, no Whipped Cream Bikini from Varsity Blues?!!! It is an outrage.
I am telling you guys, they seriously make films outside america. Go watch some of the good ones and you’d have to rethink about half of your list.
agreed
please please please correct the name of defoe in dafoe.
it looks pretty unprofessional……. kinda childish.
I can agree with most suggestions on this list, but Platoon, Taxi Driver and The Godfather don’t make it in my mind. My initial thought was Christopher Reeve flying across the sky as Superman. Then, the Pulp Fiction scene everyone keeps mentioning. And, finally, Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis as women walking by the train in Some Like It Hot. Just a few more to add to the Top 100…
Guter Grass – “The Tin Drum”
http://likeithateit.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/tin-drum000795.jpg
wow, finally a more obscure but impressive addition/ great book too
Good suggestion. I forgot about that one.
Ursula Andress’ One Million Years B.C. was not good enough for the compilers? Me thinks the list can never be complete without the favorite pinup poster that often adorn the boys room in college in those days.
That would be Raquel Welch.
Btw, how about Marlene Dietrich as Lola Lola in the Blue Angel? Let’s see – Bruce Lee with nunchucks. Busby Berkeley’s choreography. Clint in a poncho. Cagney’s exit in White Heat.
The better list here would be iconic movie posters. For many people, these individual images mean nothing. For anyone under 40, there’s no connection to anything, much less a movie. And they couldn’t identify the people in the images if their lives depended on it.
What about ALPACINO IN GodFATHER PART 2
Darth Vader holding out his hand to Luke when he says “Join Me” from “The Empire Strikes Back” should be in there.
what about the open arm scene of leonardo and kate in TITANIC. assholes
Titanic made a lot of money, yes. But, it wasn’t a great movie. What would have Titanic truly great was keeping it factual. The movie didn’t really focus on the Titanic tragedy, but rather a cockamamie fictional love story set against the backdrop of true disaster. The Titanic disaster has all the elements of a true classic without the “Jack and Rose” hooey.
Voyage Dans La Lune. The rocket in the moon’s eye. Arguably the oldest and most iconic image.
What about the Ludovico technique scene from A Clockwork Orange?
Crap list! Not a single mention of anything from Star Wars, not even in the other notables section. You are brain dead.
169 comments? Win, dude.
Terminator 1 1984 ” I’ll be back ” scene at the window of the police station !
Peter O’Toole in Lawrence of Arabia, “No prisoners!” One of those brink of insanity moments in cinema.
i thought that leo decaprio and kate winselt pose on fore of ship on ‘titanic’ would be no 1 ……… its amazing
Before I looked at the top 10 choices, of course I had to go through and make a mental list of what I thought should/would make the cut. I have to say that the very first one that popped into my mind was Janet Leigh from “Psycho”. However, the 2nd one that popped into my mind was Judy Garland. And I was thinking, in terms of images, either Judy/Dorothy singing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” or the scene where she clicks her heels, “There’s No Place Like Home”. I was glad to see that “Wizard” made top ten, though I really do think there is no question that “The Wizard of Oz” is the most famous of all time. I mean, what could possible be its competition? (On a more personal note: I think that it should be required viewing for all 4 year-olds!!! That was how old I was when I first saw it.) HOWEVER, if Judy was not going to occupy the top spot, then I am totally okay with Janet Leigh’s famous scream. I had placed her as number 2 and I have no problem whatsoever with the choice. And for the record, my 3rd choice was Marilyn Monroe in the white skirt!!! Good going, guys!!!
heyy whre is Dirty Harry’s, “do u fell lucky” ??
dis sud hav been included.
heyy whre is Dirty Harry’s, “do u ferl lucky” ??
dis sud hav been included.
heyy whre is Dirty Harry’s, “do u feel lucky” ??
dis sud hav been included.
how old is the article’s author? 25? did he EVER take a cinema course? this is the worst of these kinds of lists i’ve seen; missing are:
the bleeding woman or the baby carriage from Potemkin
closeup of Kane’s lips from Citizen Kane
chaplin as the Tramp
Mickey Mouse wearing the wizard’s robes from Fantasia
julie andrews singing in the Alps for Sound of Music
faye dunaway combing her hair in Bonny and Clyde
Hopper’s visible flag helmet in Easy Rider
Leia programming R2D2 from Star Wars
worse yet, he got some of the wrong images for some of his picks:
deniro doing the ‘you talkin’ to me’ routine from taxi driver with his jacket ON – the author is using the POSTER still.
(debatable) the SILHOUETTE of anthony perkins drawing back the shower curtain from Psycho.
btw: Cleopatra? now i know cummins is screwing around…
Some interesting choices – I agree with the person who said that you can tell a man compiled the original Top 10 List. Let’s have a woman’s Top 10. I ca
Just about guarantee she wouldn’t agree with Ursula in the bikini, or the Goldfinger woman in bikini shot. And keep in mind, everyone has their personal movie favorites, but an iconic scene means when the still scene is shown, the majority of the population will be able to readily place it – even if they haven’t actually even seen the movie.
I’d put Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta in Pulp Fiction…
Kubrick’s stare from a clockwork orange?
No Gilda’s famous singing shot, no Manhattan bench shot what about Bergman’s playing chess with death shot ?
Leave out Dr. No, Platoon and The Godfather, and add in 3 of these 4:
- John Travolta in the white suit in “Saturday Night Fever”
- Little girl in the red coat from “Schindler’s List”
- The final scene with everyone in front of George and Mary Bailey’s Christmas tree in “It’s a Wonderful Life”
- R2D2 projecting the hologram of Princess Leia from “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope”
For the most part I think it’s a well-balanced representation; however, in fairness to revisionist western filmmakers, the one-sheet frame of the walk that precedes the infamous “Battle of Bloody Porch,” in The Wild Bunch, would at least high on the secondary list, if not the top ten.
What MUST be included:
1) James Dean… remember, he is the original Rebel
2) Tim Robbins in the rain… Shawshank literally explained the meaning of Freedom
3) Tom Hanks sitting @ the bench… life is like a box of chocolates…
4) Titanic… hands spread wide – seriously mesmerizing shot!
5) Stallone… can anyone forget that Rambo look?
The first image I thought of was the freeze-frame from the end of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, probably because I used to have a poster of it on my wall when I was at uni. I definitely agree that ET and Elliott flying across the moon, Audrey Hepburn in front of Tiffany’s window, The Usual Suspects’ lineup, the ‘Attaboy Clarence’ family shot from It’s a Wonderful Life, the doorway shot from The Searchers, and the plane/Cary Grant shot from North by Northwest are all strong contenders. I’d also consider Woody and Diane on the bench in front of the Queensboro Bridge in Manhattan, Bruce Lee in Enter the Dragon, Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey in Dirty Dancing, Mena Suvari covered in petals in American Beauty, and, especially, the ‘walk’ in Reservoir Dogs to be iconic. Clearly my list would be about 50 shots long!
Great suggestions. I’d add Al Jolson in blackface (The Jazz Singer). Or Valentino’s sheik. Or Garbo’s blank stare in Queen Christina.
This kind of list should be split into decades, followed by a vote, which would probably result in (Dear God, no) Titanic, or (Good choice) Psycho as Nr 1.
where is Al Pacino???…the character Tony Montana has millions of fans…
what about “a clockwork orange”??
no mention about casablanca and ofcourse the joker from dark night.
FIGHT CLUB. brad pit shirtless surrounded by minions!
One Million Years B.C.,Raquel Welch one million time better than Ursula Andress.
NO Al Pacino??????????????
I really have to think about it, but i try to make a top ten on my own…
sorry, i think it would be better if we say f.e. of the 79th, 80th, 90th haha AAAAADDDRRRIIIANNNNEEEE!
Say Hello to my little friend?!?
How can you leave out that? the image of Al Pacino holding the gun is a lot more iconic than Dr.No
The one ring falling onto Frodo’s finger in Lord Of the Rings?
Terminator at the police desk “I’ll be back” scene.
Snow White holding the apple.
Stallone at the top of the stairs in Rocky.
This list should have been a top 25/50/100(?), haha.
How about Tom Cruise descending on wires in Mission Impossible?
Great list. Surprised not to see Rocky at the top of the steps getting even an honourable mention though!
Reservoir Dogs and A Clockwork Orange are plastered all over tshirts and posters, sometimes owned by people who haven’t even seen the films!
How there is no Chaplin in this list?
Woah, what about the Opening bit where Bond shoots the gun barrel in Dr. No?
Raquel Welch, 1 Million Years BC … Dr. No, not so much