Everyone loves music. It is a source of stimulation that follows us through the various stages of our lives and usually evolves as we grow older. Whatever musical genre we prefer is irrelevant — it could be any genre, but there is always at least one that fills up our daily playlists. Perhaps part of the magic of music is the thrill of sharing it with others, remembering loved ones through songs, and singing and dancing along with your best friends.Music connects us with people, and so does dancing. So, they often hold a special place in the fondest memories of many.
Music and dancing are two elements that are often featured in a great number of movie and TV productions. In fact, there is one genre devoted entirely to them:movie musical productions. These films are packed with iconic dance scenes and songs that turned into classics, with perfectly remembered lyrics and choreography still in use today. Among them, it is worth mentioning John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John grooving to “You’re The One That I Want” inGreaseorGene Kelly waving his umbrellaaround inSingin' in the Rain, among countless other legendary shots.
Although it is expected to find dance scenes in musical films, a different thing happens when they appear in nonmusical productions. Over the course of film history, several directors have managed to feature outstanding dance breakout scenes in their movies regardless of not being related to musicals, turning that production into a legend and imprinting the memory of that song and its performance in the audience’s memory forever. This article lists some of the best dance breakout scenes in nonmusical movies.
Update July 11, 2025: This list has been updated with even more great musical dance moments in non-musical movies.
14Hocus Pocus (1993)
Hocus Pocuswelcomes viewers to Salem, Massachusetts in one of the most beloved Disney classics from the last 30 years. 300 years after the wicked Sanderson sisters are hanged for sucking the life force out of Emily Binx and changing her brother Thackery into a cat, they return from the dead after Max Denison, who just moved to the area, brings them back by lighting the historic Black Flame Candle. After Max, his sister Dani, their friend Allison, and Thackery, who cannot pass on until the witches are destroyed, steal their spell book in an effort to prevent them from gaining eternal life, they spend all of Halloween trying to run from them and destroy them.
Related:11 Most Iconic Dance Scenes in Movie History
In one scene, Max and Dani’s parents are at a Halloween party in town. The group goes to tell them about the witches, but the witches appear and sing “I Put a Spell on You” to the crowd putting everyone in a trance that makes them dance all night long before the group destroys the witches.
13Animal House (1978)
Animal Houseis perhaps the great college film of all time. The movie involves a crazy, zoo-like fraternity (Delta House) at Faber College, causing trouble and having parties that bring the house down. That provokes the frustrated Dean Wormer to do whatever it takes to kick them off campus. That includes getting a rival frat (Omega House) involved to help get their charter revoked.
In one of the most iconic scenes in cinematic history, the song “Shout” (originally performed by the Isley Brothers) is performed during a toga party by a band in the film known as Otis Day and the Knights. Everyone in the Delta House goes crazy in their togas as they leap and roll all over the place at once.
12Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, who were husband and wife, made their directorial debut as a team in the black comedyLittle Miss Sunshine. In this 2006 movie, the audience was introduced toa dysfunctional family, the Hoovers. When Olive was chosen to participate in a child beauty pageant, the girl worked out a routine with the help of her grandfather as the family set out on a journey to California, where the pageant was being held.
After an unfortunate trip, they managed to get there, and as soon as they entered the establishment, they felt out of place. The other girls were totally different from Olive, although both she and her family were confident in her talents. However, by the time it was her turn to do her routine, Olive horrified the judges and pageant families with a slightly provocative dance to “Super Freak.” Her family, attempting to support her, jumped on board with her choreography, which led to one of the most iconic scenes in the film.
11Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
One of the most random and hilarious films of the last two decades isNapoleon Dynamite. Napoleon Dynamite lives in a small town in Idaho. He is extremely goofy and quirky, which makes him an outcast at home and school. Napoleon feeds his family’s llama, stuffs tater tots in his pocket during school draws pictures of ligers (lion and a tiger combined), and he even rides bikes off of “sweet jumps”. He joins forces with a new student named Pedro in an effort to win class president. During the school talent competition, Napoleon steps in for Pedro and performs a dance to the song “Heat” (by Jamiroquai) that brings the crowd to their feet.
1013 Going On 30 (2004)
13 Going On 30has proven that a great song can redeem even the dullest party. In this acclaimed 2004 romantic comedy, Jenna, a 13-year-old teenager, woke up at 30 with no idea of what happened along the way. While adjusting to her new age, Jennifer Garner’s character was reunited with old friends and lovers, such as Matt (Mark Ruffalo), but she discovered that, as time went by, she failed to become the person she hoped to be: she turned out to be a selfish woman who was only concerned about succeeding, regardless of the consequences.
This clash with her inner child drew a lot of attention from those around her in her adult life, especially for her attitude, which had changed greatly over a short period of time. One of the most iconic scenes in the film was precisely when Jenna danced to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” a risky move that ended up saving a party that was on the brink of failure.
9The Mask (1994)
This 1994 movie was Cameron Diaz’s acting debut, scoring Jim Carrey a Golden Globe nomination and stardom as a comedy lead actor. In the film, Carrey starred as Stanley Ipkiss, a washed-up man whose life changed when he found a mask that granted him supernatural powers when worn. While wearing the mask, Stanley broke into the bank he worked at to steal money and gain access to a club where Tina, his love interest, used to dance. Once inside, armed with the courage that the mask gave him, Stanley impressed Tina by leading a dance performance to the song “Hey Pachuco!” by Royal Crown Revue.
Related:10 Films that Use Music to Transport You To a Different Time
Little did Stanley know that, while the two of them were dancing, Dorian Tyrell, the young woman’s mobster boyfriend, was out to get revenge for losing the bank’s money. Another iconic dance scene inThe Maskis where Carrey performed “Cuban Pete” while surrounded by the police.
8Beetlejuice (1988)
InBeetlejuice, the 1988 Tim Burton movie, the Deetz family bought a house that once belonged to the deceased Barbara and Adam, both of whom were still living there. Oddly enough, the only person who was able to see this ghostly couple was Lydia, a young photographer wannabe, who quickly formed a good friendship with them. Barbara and Adam made it their mission to keep the Deetzes away from their place, so as part of this task, in the midst of a big family dinner with friends, they haunted and frightened them. As such, Charles and Delia started singing and dancing with horror to the rhythm of “Day O,” also known as “The Banana Boat Song.” They were accompanied by their guests, who, terrified, followed them in the choreography.
7The Breakfast Club (1985)
InThe Breakfast Club, a brainiac, an athlete, a basket case, a princess, and a juvenile delinquent were punished by being sent to detention, and had to attend school for a whole Saturday. The five students, who seemed to have nothing in common with each other, were assigned to write a 1000-word essay. As detention dragged on, they discovered that they were not as incompatible as they thought to be. Halfway through their punishment and after smoking together, Brian, Andrew, Allison, Claire and John all danced to Karla DeVito’s “We Are Not Alone,” a song that described the main characters of the story perfectly.
6Tropic Thunder (2008)
Any time Tom Cruise has a dance number, it has to be talked about. That is exactly what happens at the end ofTropic Thunder. This particular comedic film portrays actors filming a Vietnam War movie in a jungle. However, when they are left in the jungle, they have to use their acting talents to help them overcome the real dangers of war.
The all-star cast includes Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr., Cruise, Matthew McConaughey, Bill Hader, Jack Black, Jay Baruchel, Danny McBride and others. At the end of the film, Cruise, who plays the role of obscene studio executive Les Grossman, dances to “Low” by Flo Rida and T-Pain. It may very well be the funniest moment of Cruise’s brilliant acting career.
5This is the End (2013)
In perhaps the greatest apocalyptic comedy film of all time,This is the Endtells the story of some of the greatest actors in Hollywood as everything crumbles around them. James Franco, Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Danny McBride, Craig Robinson, and Jay Baruchel are all together at Franco’s L.A. mansion when a supposed apocalypse occurs. The world around them is on fire, and the group tries to stay alive as long as possible.
In the end, some of the group is beamed up to Heaven. Once some of the group is reunited in Heaven, Robinson wishes for the Backstreet Boys to appear and play “Everybody”. The dance scene that follows is the perfect ending to the film.
