Let’s face it—few things spark pure joy like a surprise celebrity cameo. Whether it’s a blink-and-you-miss-it gag or a scene-stealing meta moment, these pop-ins have a magical way of hijacking our attention. They can break the fourth wall, deliver a perfect punchline, or simply make us grin like we’re in on a secret. From blockbuster films to guest-filled music videos, these cameos are the ultimate fan indulgence. Here, our countdown of 10 unforgettable ones—starting at number ten and moving up to the cameo king of kings.
10. Chris Evans in Free Guy
You’re witnessing a frantic boss fight in an alternate reality and—wait, hold on—is there Captain America? Yes. A cameo by Chris Evans for a blink-and-smirk moment when RyanReynolds’s Guy whips out Cap’s shield. It’s quick, it’s surprising, and it’s the sort of joke that has you reaching instantly to rewind.
9. Stan Lee in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Stan Lee’s cameo binge is the stuff of legend, but this one is particularly near and dear to the heart. In death, his appearances as a kind, wise comic book shop owner dispensing advice to Miles Morales read as a goodbye hug to the fanbase. Brief, poignant, and warmly affecting.
8. Brad Pitt in Deadpool 2
Brad Pitt as… The Vanisher? For the entire length of one thrilling second? Deadpool 2’s most ridiculous joke may also be its wittiest cameo. It’s the very definition of “wait, what just happened?”
7. Daniel Craig in Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Stormtrooper-attired James Bond? Yes, it’s true. Daniel Craig made a non-credited cameo as the bumbling trooper who gets Jedi-mind-tricked by Rey. Blink and you’ll miss it—but when you see, you can’t help but unhear his voice.
6. Leonard Nimoy in The Bangles’ “Going Down to Liverpool” & Bruno Mars’ “The Lazy Song”
The man who was Spock also had a gift for deadpan comedy. In the ’80s, Nimoy played a stone-faced chauffeur in The Bangles’ music video. Decades later, he popped up again in Bruno Mars’ “The Lazy Song,” wandering around as a hilariously grumpy neighbor.
5. Madonna’s “Bitch, I’m Madonna” Cameo Party
When Madonna invites friends, it’s not a party—it’s a spectacle. The music video for “Bitch, I’m Madonna” crams in Beyoncé, Kanye West, Miley Cyrus, Chris Rock, Alexander Wang, and more. It’s chaotic, indulgent, and a total s-who of pop culture.
4. Bill Murray in Zombieland
Underdressed and sporting a flight helmet as a zombie to merely prank people? That is Bill Murray. His cameo in Zombieland is absurd, defusing, and topped off with one of the greatest, most pathetic bloopers in movie comedy.
3. Michael Jackson in Men in Black II
Only Michael Jackson could have shown up, singing “Agent M,” and somehow feel as though born to exist in the Men in Black franchise. It’s short, peculiar, and unforgettable.
2. Beastie Boys’ “Make Some Noise” Celebrity Chaos
This music video is basically an excuse for every famous friend the Beastie Boys ever had to show up and cause trouble. Seth Rogen, Elijah Wood, Will Ferrell, Jack Black, Orlando Bloom, Steve Buscemi, and about a dozen more pop in for the rowdiest cameo fest you’ll ever see.
1. Alfred Hitchcock’s Cameo Tradition
Well before Marvel brought cameos into its own as an art form, Hitchcock perfected it. He slipped himself into nearly every film of his—occasionally taking a dog for a walk, occasionally sitting on a bus—turning “spot the director” into a game for his audience. Sheer cinema magic.
From superheroes to sci-fi legends to music video madness, these cameos are evidence of one thing: the shortest appearances leave the biggest smiles. They’re short, clever, and the surprise is that sometimes the greatest surprises are the ones you’re least expecting.