21 Cringe-Worthy And Awkward Movie Scenes From Iconic Films You Almost Can’t Stand To Watch

When you get secondhand embarrassment in movie scenes, you can’t help but fast-forward.

Maryjane

• Published in Film & TV
• July 23, 2022

Some movies are bound to have appallingly awkward movie scenes. And, in an era when The Office and Eric Andre are more famous than ever, cringe-worthy films are more common than ever.

You know when you’re watching a film and a scene makes you so uncomfortable that you can’t stand to watch it any longer? Yes, you get such a secondhand embarrassment in such scenes, and most of the time you can’t help but fast-forward.

In light of the above, we thought now would be a good time to list some of the most cringe-inducing movie scenes that will make you grimace with discomfort. So get ready!

The “There’s Something About Mary” bathroom mishap; the “Bridesmaids” best-friend feud; and the “I Love You, Man” projectile vomiting scenes. We hadn’t ever imagined we’d feel sorry for any artist, but these movie scenes definitely make us feel that way.

These movie scenes are far too uncomfortable to watch. They literally forced me to close my eyes, and I’m sure everyone else felt the same way while watching them.

These secondhand embarrassments, on the other hand, are very bad, and they are quite common even in our favorite top-rated movies. So we decided to compile a list of 21 movie scenes that simply make people want to cringe or skip the scene.

1. When Maggie tries to kiss Mike in 17 Again

This is literally a daughter trying to kiss her father. It's more gross than funny. No thanks!

2. And also when he "reads" Scarlett the "letter from Mike"

I literally cannot watch this scene. The judge and everyone else in there are like, "what the fuck?" and I could not agree more, even knowing the context of it.

3. When Satine is seducing Christian in Moulin Rouge

I LOVE this movie, and I think this scene in funny, but god is it uncomfortable to watch, especially after Satine starts moaning and screaming. It gets to the point where I'm just begging Christian to break into song.

4. When Elisa makes a hand gesture to show how the creature's penis works in The Shape of Water

I know this is a tiny moment, but I HATE IT SO MUCH. Ugh, this movie.

5. When Jackson walks on stage during Ally's Grammy win and pees in his pants in A Star Is Born

This scene is really horrible and uncomfortable to watch, and it's far more sad than awkward, but still. I can barely sit through it.

6. The threesome scene in Zoolander

It's supposed to be funny, but to me it's just cringey.

7. When Dewey's identity gets exposed and he tries to tell the parents what he's been doing in School of Rock

He could've chosen better words.

8. When Mrs. Doubtfire was exposed as Daniel in Mrs. Doubtfire

I just picture being in this situation and my skin starts to crawl. Not that I would be in this situation. If you think about it, this movie is pretty messed up.

9. When Lara Jean lip-synched to "Moral of the Story" in To All the Boys I've Loved Before

I know it's not supposed to be cringey, but I literally can't watch it.

10. When Schmidt did a slam poem on the spot in 22 Jump Street

To be fair, it is VERY quotable. 

11. The entire dance-off scene in Bring It On: All or Nothing

Why did I think this was a great, normal scene as a kid??

12. When Buddy thought Miles was an elf in Elf

13. The whole turtle club scene from Master of Disguise

Really, the entire movie.

14. The dance scene in Spider-Man 3

To this day, I have not been able to rewatch this movie.

15. When Shelly went on a second date with Oliver in The House Bunny and tried to sound well-read

16. Basically, every time Fletcher told the truth in Liar Liar, but especially when he was in the elevator with the woman and couldn't stop talking about her boobs

17. The dance-off scene in White Chicks

You're probably sensing a theme with dance-offs here.

18. When David tries to tell Elizabeth's sister that he's seeing her ghost in Just Like Heaven

19. When Viola got a little too in her feelings as Sebastian in She's the Man

20. When Sally fakes an orgasm in a diner in When Harry Met Sally

If I were in that diner...I would simply leave.

21. The sex scene from Superbad

You can definitely love a movie, but eventually, you discover a particular scene in the movie that is so uncomfortable to watch. Sometimes you ask yourself if the filmmakers actually watched that particular scene or if they intentionally included it to dampen the excitement viewers get from the movie.

But whatever their reason was, we all manage to skip to the next scene. Which of these scenes made you cringe the most?

Maryjane