Each frame in this movie, every spoken word, and every edit is the creation of someone whose passion for cinema runs deep in their veins, and there is no denying that Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Boogie Nights” is a unique movie due to the focus of attention. The 1997 drama revolved around Mark Wahlberg’s character, Dirk Diggler, an aspiring adult movie star. He slowly but surely becomes the talk of the town.
Viewers couldn’t help but pause, not one but several moments throughout the movie. The most seemingly paused movie scene happened when Diggler bares all for the crew. As it turns out, whatever he was showing off was prosthetic.
Dirty Dancing (1987)
One moment in "Dirty Dancing" is so iconic - it has been recreated countless times all over the wordl. It occurs in the film's climax just as "Time of My Life" blasts in the speakers, and Jennifer Grey soars up into the arms of Patrick Swayze.
It's the kind of moment that makes a film great, and in many ways, it seems like this scene was created specifically for people to pause it. Anyone who ever tried to recreate this pose knows that they had to tirelessly study Swayze and Grey at this moment, staring at the paused screen until they perfected it.
Burn After Reading (2008)
While "Burn After Reading" did not originate from a motivation to launch a scathing critique of the political landscape, its primary focus was to gather beloved actors and create a humorous film. The movie had a cast of characters that is anything but typical. Some are so bizarre and awkward that we can’t help but cringe anytime they enter a frame.
One of the movie's most pause-worthy moments - if you didn't need to pause the film and take breaks while watching it - is Brad Pitt lingering in a closet. While some might find this recreational activity odd, the sudden plot twist involving his character caused many pauses.
Cruel Intentions (1999)
The 1999 film "Cruel Intentions" is easily a cult classic and delves into themes of revenge, deception, manipulation, and the significance of outward appearances. The characters are young, beautiful, and experiencing love for the first time. At the same time, they are also full of...you guessed it, cruel intentions.
Sarah Michelle Gellar, playing the role of Kathryn, dominated every scene she was in. This scene has been in fans' heads for over two decades. As Kathryn taught Cecile (Selma Blair) how to kiss, we were treated to one of the most entertaining and most-paused lessons of all time.
Wild Things (1998):
Within its duration, this film surpasses the element of surprise found in numerous Hollywood thrillers, presenting a multitude of unexpected twists, leaving viewers in constant anticipation of its unpredictable narrative direction. Now though it was critically slammed, "Wild Things" has a particularly steamy scene that will forever be synonymous with the film.
The film's main characters, portrayed by Denise Richards and Neve Campbell, kiss in the swimming pool. This scene is one that forced most folks to forget they didn't like the movie to begin with. Of course, that scene had people grabbing their remotes and hitting pause. Although the film was destined to be a flop, this scene is worth remembering.