Whether it's a star's first-ever role in a television show before they made it big, or a director choosing to have a high-profile actor appear for a split second in a surprise scene, cameos have a lot of power over viewers. They can make a scene come together perfectly or completely bring it down. Find out which of your favorite celebrities have been asked to play themselves in some of these hit movies.
Ben Affleck, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
The hit 1992 film Buffy the Vampire Slayer starred Sarah Michelle Gellar and Alyson Hannigan just like the hit TV show. Do you remember this familiar face during the scene with the high school basketball game? That's none other than Ben Affleck playing your classic jock character. This cameo was right in the middle of his come-up into fame.
A Dynamic Duo
Ben Affleck should credit a lot of his '90s fame to his writing partner and best friend, Matt Damon. They wrote and starred in films like Good Will Hunting in 1997. That film is considered one of their best joint efforts, and Affleck went on to star in films such as Shakespeare In Love, Armageddon, and Pearl Harbor. He and brother Casey Affleck are both still esteemed actors, and Damon remains close as well.
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Little Rascals
While they were still on Full House, the Olsen twins started dipping their toes into Hollywood acting. They made a 10-second appearance in a sleepover scene in Little Rascals, where the girls collectively ick-ed over boys. After that, they kicked off an absolutely high-speed movie career, starring in most of our childhood favorites.
In and Out of the Spotlight
Since playing the adorable youngest Tanner sister in Full House, the Olsen twins went on to have huge careers. They starred in films like New York Minute, Passport to Paris, and launched various fashion lines. However, they tend to keep to themselves and are in the spotlight as little as possible these days.
Elijah Wood, Back to the Future II
When Marty is sent to the future in the sequel to the box office hit, Back to the Future, he finds himself in a dystopic version of the diner in his hometown. There, two little kids are playing video games, and who is that who calls out Marty McFly? It's a young Elijah Wood!
One Role to Rule Them All
Since then, Wood's claim to fame has been his role as Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings franchise. Much like other actors who are pigeonholed into such an iconic role, Wood has had a hard time breaking into other facets of the industry. But he shouldn't complain, those movies set him up for a life's worth of comfort.
Christian Bale, Pocahontas
Thomas, a worrisome young settler from John Smith's camp in the Disney classic Pocahontas was voiced by Christian Bale. He'd done very little voice acting before that, and it helped establish his role as a versatile actor. He went on to make hugely popular movies after that.
An American Psycho
Aside from his iconic role as Patrick Bateman in American Psycho, Bale has also played the caped crusader in Christopher Nolan's version of the Batman trilogy. He's also shown off his depth by taking roles in films like American Hustle, Out of the Furnace, and even another take on voice acting as the panther Bagheera in Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle.
Steve Carrell, Sleepover
Remember this teen classic? Alexa Vega starred as an incoming high school freshman who's taking part in a competitive scavenger hunt against Sarah Paxton to secure the coolest lunch spot for the fall. However, none other than Steve Carrell tries time after time to foil their plan.
World's Best Boss
Carrell's most lovable role is definitely as Michael Scott in The Office. He plays the world's best boss, but he's also taken roles in Anchorman, Beautiful Boy, and The 40-Year-Old Virgin. Despite playing several comedic characters, Carrell has shown his depth as an actor in several drama films.
Katherine Heigl, The Bride of Chucky
Before Heigl starred in all of your favorite rom coms, she was the last woman standing in the cult classic (ish), The Bride of Chucky. Though it's not a super memorable role, it did help her climb through the ranks of Hollywood and land her the parts we all know and love her for.
Dr. Izzie Stevens
Before she was playing Seth Rogen's fling in Knocked Up, she was Dr. Izzie Stevens in the Shonda Rhimes hit Grey's Anatomy with Ellen Pompeo. However, creative differences led to her departure, and she started taking roles in movies like Life As We Know It and 27 Dresses.
Rami Malek, Night at the Museum
Rami Malek played the Pharoah Ahkmenrah' across from Ben Stiller in Night at the Museum. It was one of his earlier roles before he broke into Hollywood. He was one of the movie's most loveable characters.
Don't Stop Him Now
Rami Malek's biggest role is arguably that of Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody. He did the rock legend justice and even learned to sing those Queen songs. He's also been seen in The Twilight Saga, Mr. Robot, and The Master.
Natalia Dyer, The Hannah Montana Movie
Before her breakout role in Stranger Things, Natalia Dyer had a small feature in The Hannah Montana Movie. She played a paparazzi photographer's daughter and Hannah super fan. Little did she know she'd be on the small screen herself in no time.
Nancy and Steve Forever
Natalia plays Mike Wheeler's older sister and Steve Harrington's girlfriend. She became a favorite character even after she and Steve parted ways. Now, she's actually dating her other co-star Charlie Heaton, who plays Will Byers' older brother.
Brie Larson, 13 Going on 30
If you blink you miss this cameo, but Brie Larson actually played one of the '80s bullies in 13 Going On 30. The hit movie follows Jennifer Garner's character, Jenna, after she wishes to be a grown-up, and of course, her wish comes true.
Captain Marvel
Larson made waves when she took on the role of Captain Marvel, one of the first female superheroes in a role that would typically be played by a man. She broke down walls and showed viewers that Hollywood has room for women in roles outside of playing sex symbols. Captain Marvel did so well that she was written into the biggest Marvel movie yet, Infinity War.
Joe Manganiello
Remember the Toby Maguire Spider-Man movie? The high school bully, Flash, was played by none other than Joe Manganiello. You've seen him in everything from True Blood to Star Wars to Magic Mike.
A Stunning Couple
Today, Manganiello is married to none other than Sofia Vergara of Modern Family. They've been together since 2015, and their relationship has been a favorite among tabloids since its beginning. He says the key to making their marriage work is that he "knew he could trust her" from the start.
Ashley Benson, 13 Going on 30
Pretty Little Liars star Ashley Benson was also a part of Brie Larson's girl group in 13 Going on 30. Though she might not have had any lines, the high-profile film was quite the resumé booster. She went on to have a busy career through her late teens and twenties.
A Pretty Little Liar
Ashley Benson went on to star in the long-running murder mystery series, Pretty Little Liars, with Lucy Hale and Tyler Blackburn. Then, she ventured back into film with roles in 2012's Spring Breakers. She was also dating model Cara Delevingne for over a year.
Jack Gleeson, Batman Begins
King Joffrey himself got his start in Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins playing the role of "Little Boy." That face is pretty recognizable, and he made an impact playing a distressed child in Christian Bale's epic superhero film. However, he doesn't truly steal the show until his GoT debut.
That's "King" To You
Jack Gleeson shines as King Joffrey Baratheon in Game of Thrones. He has the type of demeanor that would be hard to envision in any other role, and he plays this icy figurehead perfectly. Unfortunately, he hasn't been in much else since the hit show ended.
Emma Roberts, Blow
Even before Unfabulous, Emma Roberts played Johnny Depp's daughter in the film Blow. She comes from a star-studded family, with her aunt being Julia Roberts and her father being Eric Roberts. Her genealogy treated her well, and she's starred in some pretty big projects.
Bet You Thought You'd Seen The Last of Her
When Emma Roberts joined the American Horror Story cast as Madison Montgomery, a depressed actress-turned-witch for Season 3's Coven storyline, fans went crazy. Since then, she's been a consistent castmember of the anthological series, and even dated co-star Evan Peters for a few years. Now she's dating actor Garrett Hedlund and the couple is expecting a baby.
Mila Kunis, Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves
Before she played Jackie on That '70s Show, Mila Kunis had a small part in the film Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves, a spin-off of the Rick Moranis hit Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. Since then, she's made a name for herself as a very versatile actress.
Black Swan and Beyond
After earning a level of fame from That '70s Show, Kunis went on to star in films like Black Swan and Bad Moms. After years apart, she and her That '70s Show co-star Ashton Kutcher got married. Fun fact: he was her first kiss.
Scarlett Johansson, Home Alone 3
When Home Alone got one too many sequels and a cast change, Scarlett Johansson took on the role of the older sister before she made it big. She was a gifted child star and went on to have a starstudded movie career.
Black Widow Material
Johansson has a foot in several facets of the film industry. She's starred in rom coms like The Nanny Diaries and Valentine's Day. She's played superhero Black Widow in several Marvel films. She's also married to SNL writer Colin Jost, so she's familiar with the world of comedy.
Keira Knightley, Star Wars: Episode I
Keira Knightley was cast as Padme's decoy in Star Wars: Episode 1. She was a near-perfect doppelganger for Natalie Portman. She went on to star in her own series of adventure films...
Pirates of the Caribbean
Keira took a lead role in the Johnny Depp Pirates of the Caribbean franchise and went on to transform the typical female lead in an adventure series. She went from a damsel in distress to playing her own hero.
Maya Rudolph 50 First Dates
Comedian Maya Rudolph booked smaller roles in films before making it big on SNL. She took a part in the Adam Sandler romantic comedy, 50 First Dates, and has since earned many of her own lead roles. She's probably even funnier than funny guy Adam Sandler.
Madame Vice President
Since it was announced that Senator Kamala Harris would run as Vice President for President-elect Joe Biden, SNL had Maya Rudolph on call. Look at that resemblance! Who better to play our next VP than this?
David Bowie, Zoolander
Ziggy Stardust himself had a cameo in Ben Stiller's Zoolander in 2001. He judged a walk-off between Sandler and Owen Willson's character, Hansel. Bowie barely had to do any of the heavy lifting.
Cate Blanchett, Hot Fuzz
In 2007, Blanchett took a role in Hot Fuzz, an action movie parody. She is nearly unrecognizable in her surgical suit, but she was cast because she was a fan of director Edgar Wright's earlier film, Shaun of the Dead. He wrote her in as a kindness.
Plain White T's, Greek
Early 2000s alt-rock band The Plain White T's were featured in several episodes of the first season of Greek. They were written in as the college campus's (probably only) band, and they played their own songs. Pretty meta for fans of "Hey There Delilah."
Coldplay, Shaun of the Dead
Did you know Chris Martin and Johnny Buckland have a brief stint in the cult classic comedy horror film, Shaun of the Dead? The band plays a fictional benefit show called ZombAid. Apparently, Martin also plays an actual zombie.
Matt Damon, Thor: Ragnarok
In a strange twist, Matt Damon appears in 2017's Thor: Ragnarok movie. Chris Hemsworth is trying to shake Loki out of his disguise as Odin, but for a split second, he turns into none other than Matt Damon. For what? For the bit.
And Luke Hemsworth, Thor: Ragnarok
In that same scene as Chris Hemsworth is trying to shake Tom Hiddleston's Loki out of Matt Damon, he himself turns into Luke Hemsworth for a moment. That's Chris Hemsworth (real Thor)'s older brother. What the heck is going on here?
Lady Gaga, The Sopranos
Well before Lady Gaga was Lady Gaga, she took a small role in the hit show, The Sopranos. She was 15 at the time, and her cameo didn't actually include any lines. No matter, though, because when she was cast in A Star Is Born, she'd earned that lead role.
Daniel Craig, Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Even though he has a helmet on, this really is esteemed actor Daniel Craig. He plays a Stormtrooper who protects Daisy Ridley's character, Rey. Who knew James Bond moonlighted as an intergalactic bodyguard?
Bill Murray, Zombieland
In the cult classic zombie spoof movie Zombieland, starring Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson, there's one unexpected cameo that viewers didn't see coming. In one scene, Bill Murray plays himself pretending to be a zombie so he can avoid being eaten. I mean, just look at that convincing makeup.
Dolly Parton, Miss Congeniality 2
Sandra Bullock's FBI agent character accidentally assaults the real Dolly Parton when she thinks she's actually chasing a criminal Dolly impersonator. It's a hilarious scene. One thing about Dolly is that, if you cast her in a movie, she will play herself.
Mike Myers, Bohemian Rhapsody
The Austin Powers actor took on the role of Ray Foster, EMI executive in Bohemian Rhapsody opposite Rami Malek. He even says the line "No one is going to be head-banging in the car to 'Bohemian Rhapsody'! which is a call-out to his Wayne's World character, who literally does exactly that.
John McCain, Parks and Recreation
Amy Poehler's character Leslie Knope has an affinity for politicians like Joe Biden (who has also appeared on the show), and another favorite has a run-in. Senator John McCain was an unexpected cameo, but the scene is hilarious. He's hiding in a coat closet, and Leslie Knope briskly brushes him off. I mean, he's no Joe.
The Jonas Brothers, Night at the Museum 2
Well, nobody saw this coming. Nick, Joe, and Kevin Jonas make an unexpected appearance in Night at the Museum 2 as a trio of cherubic singing angel statuettes. The boys serenade Ben Stiller and Amy Adams with their own tune, "Love Bug."
Elon Musk, Iron Man 2
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk runs into Tony Stark at an event and they of course talk shop. Stark compliments Musk's "Merlin engines," to which he replies "I’ve got an idea for an electric jet!" That invention will surely surface any day...
Brad Pitt, Deadpool 2
Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool 2 featured a couple of shocking cameos. In one fleeting scene, Brad Pitt plays a hero called the Vanisher, whose power is obviously invisibility. That is until he's electrocuted and his face reveals none other than Hollywood legend Brad Pitt.
Matt Damon, Deadpool 2
Yep, this really is Matt Damon. Ryan Reynolds pulled out all the stops for Deadpool's sequel. Damon's character is named Dickie Greenleaf, which is a callout to his character from The Talented Mr. Ripley.
Jimmy Buffett, Jurassic World
You'd better believe that's Jimmy Buffett rescuing a couple of margaritas from a dinosaur invasion in Jurassic World. Because Buffett is friends with the Jurassic World producer Frank Marshall, they teamed up for this hilarious appearance. Looks like even the movie version of Jimmy Buffett has his priorities in order.
Kesha, Jane the Virgin
Gina Rodriguez's hit show Jane the Virgin featured several cameos, but this one from Kesha was pretty memorable. She plays Jane's rockstar neighbor who won't keep her band practices to a reasonable volume, so baby Mateo won't sleep through the night. Jane decides to take matters into her own hands by stealing the band's amps, and if she learns anything, it's not to cross Kesha.
Channing Tatum, This is the End
This entire movie is based on cameos. This is the End shows the end of the world as seen from the perspective of a bunch of real-life Hollywood friends like Seth Rogen and Dave Franco. However, in the very end, there's an appearance from Channing Tatum, who, like everyone else, plays himself. Only his role is that he's Danny McBride's post-apocalyptic sex slave.
Rita Ora, Fifty Shades of Grey
Singer Rita Ora not only contributed to the Fifty Shades of Grey soundtrack, but she also had a minor role. She plays Christian Grey's sister and Anastasia Steele's friend Mia. There's even some drama surrounding her character when she's kidnapped by Ana's former boss-turned-enemy. Lot to unpack there.
Karlie Kloss, Gossip Girl
The fashion industry made multiple appearances on Gossip Girl, featuring everyone from Vera Wang to Lady Gaga. In one episode, Serena runs into supermodel Karlie Kloss who is attending a party at the Van Der Woodsen home. Sounds like a casual Saturday night, right? Xoxo.
Johnny Depp, 21 Jump Street
After appearing in the original series, 21 Jump Street, which helped kickstart his career, Johnny Depp took a cameo in the film versions. Starring Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill, two cops who have to go undercover at a high school to bust a drug deal, Depp steps in as an unexpected undercover cop to help.
Donald Trump, Home Alone 2
President Donald Trump had a brief scene in the classic Christmas movie, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. He's seen checking in to the Plaza Hotel, right after Macaulay Culkin asks him for directions. Viewers don't love the scene today as much as they did back then.
Michael Jackson, Men in Black 2
Michael Jackson loved the first Men in Black movie so much that he asked the director to write him into a scene in the sequel. He fittingly plays a character named Agent M, and his scene is pretty unforgettable.
Carrie Fisher, The Big Bang Theory
Nerds unite for these cameos in The Big Bang Theory. Star Wars's own Carrie Fisher is the victim of a prank pulled by Sheldon, who rings her doorbell and runs away. She then comes out with a baseball bat.
Keith Richards, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
None other than The Rolling Stones' Keith Richards was cast to play Captain Jack Sparrow's father in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. The resemblance is rather striking when he and Depp are both in costume. The character of Jack was actually inspired by Keith's early days in the band.