*The following list may contain major or minor spoilers.
“Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” was easily one of the best films to come out of 2022, and that is largely due to the absolutely stellar cast on display. From Daniel Craig once again crushing it as Benoit Blanc to Janelle Monae and Edward Norton stealing the scene with their respective characters, needless to say, it continued the trend of “Knives Out” movies having some of Hollywood’s best. However, while it’s debatable which film cast was superior, there’s no denying that “Glass Onion” Marvel movies are known for their spectacular cameos and trying to narrow down the absolute best is no easy task. While Stan Lee is the undisputed king of the cameo when it comes to Marvel, I think the crown truly goes to this brief but memorable appearance by Hugh Jackman in the 2011 prequel film. Set in the heat of the Cold War, Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and Erik Lehnsherr (Michael Fassbender) seek out mutants for their new team of heroes. During their search, they enter a scuzzy bar hoping to recruit a pre-Wolverine Logan. They are instead greeted by a quick, but hilarious “Go f*ck yourself.”blew the original out of the water when it came to the cameos. Whether it was the subtle voice cameo of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ethan Hawke greeting the guest at the pier, or Hugh Grant confirming all our gay Blanc dreams, the cameos were both shocking and hilarious. Despite these contenders, easily the best and most surprising cameo of all was actually multiple cameos. Benoit Blanc’s introduction to the film finds him playing “Among Us” with the late Stephen Sondheim, Angela Lansbury, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Natasha Lyonne. My jaw was on the floor through the entirety of this scene, and got me thinking, what other movie cameos have gotten this kind of reaction out of me?
David Bowie – “Zoolander” (2001)
Of all the stars who left us too soon none hurts more than the late David Bowie. While mainly known for his music, Ziggy Stardust found his way onto the silver screen numerous times and stole the show in each instance. Of course, his most iconic film role is that of the Goblin King in “Labyrinth,” but his brief appearance in the comedy “Zoolander” is also legendary. When Derek Zoolander (Ben Stiller) and Hansel (Owen Wilson) decide to have a catwalk showdown, they require a judge. That judge is the Starman himself who brings the same eccentric energy and gravitas that made him such an icon in the first place.
Hugh Jackman – “X-Men: First Class” (2011)
Marvel movies are known for their spectacular cameos and trying to narrow down the absolute best is no easy task. While Stan Lee is the undisputed king of the cameo when it comes to Marvel, I think the crown truly goes to this brief but memorable appearance by Hugh Jackman in the 2011 prequel film. Set in the heat of the Cold War, Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and Erik Lehnsherr (Michael Fassbender) seek out mutants for their new team of heroes. During their search, they enter a scuzzy bar hoping to recruit a pre-Wolverine Logan. They are instead greeted by a quick, but hilarious “Go f*ck yourself.”
Bob Barker- “Happy Gilmore” (1996)
Another studio known for their cameos and surprise appearances is Happy Madison. Ever since Adam Sandler’s first big hit with “Billy Madison,” the actor has been giving his fellow SNL alumnus memorable moments to shine in all of his movies. However, the best cameo to come from a Sandler movie instead had him going toe to toe with a beloved game show host. In “Happy Gilmore,” our titular character finds himself playing in a celebrity tournament and is teamed up with “The Price is Right” host, Bob Barker. When Barker gets fed up with Happy’s weak performance the two decide to throw hands, but as it turns out, Barker is a much more formidable foe than Happy or the audience were expecting. This cameo is so iconic that the two would revisit the rivalry years later for “A Night of Too Many Stars”.
Dick Van Dyke – “Mary Poppins Returns” (2018)
Part of the reason the original “Mary Poppins” is so beloved is thanks to the magical performance by Dick Van Dyke as Bert, the cockney chimney sweep with a questionable British accent. It’s hard to imagine a “Mary Poppins” sequel without his wonderful spirit and thankfully the director of “Mary Poppins Returns” agreed as they gave him one heck of a cameo. In the final act of the film, the Banks Children, with the help of Mary Poppins (Emily Blunt) and Jack (Lin-Manuel Miranda), attempt to save their home from the villainous banker, Mr. Wilkins (Colin Firth). Just when they think their luck has run out, who should enter but Dick Van Dyke as Mr. Dawes Jr., who not only saves their home but also shows off some dance moves of his own. This cameo is great as it just goes to show how even in his old age Dick Van Dyke is one of the greatest personalities around.
Dead Meat – “Scream” aka ‘Scream 5″ (2022)
This cameo might not mean much to some, but to me, this is easily one of my favorite cameos of the past couple of years. Dead Meat is a Youtube channel run by husband-and-wife-duo James A. Janisse and Chelsea Rebecca. This channel is dedicated to counting down the best kills from horror films and franchises. The channel has branched off from the traditional “Kill Counts,” most notably with the “Dead Meat Podcast” hosted by Chelsea. The two have become quite prominent figures in the modern horror landscape and all their hard work paid off when they made a surprise appearance in the latest “Scream” film. On a computer being watched by Richie (Jack Quaid), we see James and Chelsea chatting about the in-universe “Stab 8” and leaving horror fans, like myself, with the biggest smiles in the world.
By Adam Beam
Bob Barker – “Happy Gilmore” (1996)Another studio known for their cameos and surprise appearances is Happy Madison. Ever since Adam Sandler’s first big hit with “Billy Madison,” the actor has been giving his fellow SNL alumnus memorable moments to shine in all of his movies. However, the best cameo to come from a Sandler movie instead had him going toe to toe with a beloved game show host. In “Happy Gilmore,” our titular character finds himself playing in a celebrity tournament and is teamed up with “The Price is Right” host, Bob Barker. When Barker gets fed up with Happy’s weak performance the two decide to throw hands, but as it turns out, Barker is a much more formidable foe than Happy or the audience were expecting. This cameo is so iconic that the two would revisit the rivalry years later for “A Night of Too Many Stars”Part of the reason the original “Mary Poppins” is so beloved is thanks to the magical performance by Dick Van Dyke as Bert, the cockney chimney sweep with a questionable British accent. It’s hard to imagine a “Mary Poppins” sequel without his wonderful spirit and thankfully the director of “Mary Poppins Returns” agreed as they gave him one heck of a cameo. In the final act of the film, the Banks Children, with the help of Mary Poppins (Emily Blunt) and Jack (Lin-Manuel Miranda), attempt to save their home from the villainous banker, Mr. Wilkins (Colin Firth). Just when they think their luck has run out, who should enter but Dick Van Dyke as Mr. Dawes Jr., who not only saves their home but also shows off some dance moves of his own. This cameo is great as it just goes to show how even in his old age Dick Van Dyke is one of the greatest personalities around