10 Classic Unexpected Visitor Scenes

Think Wedding Crashers. John (Owen Wilson) is visited unexpectedly by Kathleen (Jane Seymour), the U.S. Secretary to the Treasury's wife. She strips down and makes some unwanted advances. It's a hilarious and awkward moment. And while it is a chance to showcase humor, some of the best unexpected visitor scenes are grounded in serious situations. In The Matador, the glob-trotting hit man, Julian (Pierce Brosnan), arrives at the suburban home of Danny (Greg Kinnear) in the middle of the night. He attempts to convince Danny to help him facilitate a fatality (assassination) with him. This scene is one of the best in the film, proving that the more a character has to risk in the unexpected visitor scene, the better.

The unexpected visitor scene has it's own place in the third act twist. Remember when George (Rupert Everett) shows up last minute in My Best Friends Wedding, assuring Julianne (Julia Roberts) that "life goes on". No matter the placement, the unexpected visitor scene is an opportunity to show the true personality of a character. How does the character react in a stressful situation? An awkward one? Does the character take advantage of the opportunity, or shy away from it?

Below are 10 Classic Unexpected Visitor Scenes. They show an assortment of ways to utilize this screenwriting essential. As you will see, traditional unexpected visitor scenes create problems for the protagonist. The character must change, adapt, or choose to seize the opportunity. Some scenes are funny, some are serious. No matter their tone, they are all extremely memorable.

10. Guess Who's Coming for Dinner? (1967) – Joanna Returns Home

Stanley Kramer's 1967 film, Guess Who's Coming for Dinner? tells the story of an interracial couple in the 1960s. Joanna Drayton (Katharine Houghton) is a Caucasian American 23-year-old. On vacation in Hawaii, she meets Dr. John Prentince (Sydney Poitier), a young African American man. After being together just 10 days, the pair decides to marry. The film follows them as they return to Joanna's hometown. The unexpected visitor scene comes as they arrive to meet Joanna's parents. They come to the home unannounced. While John takes a phone call, Joanna goes to meet her mother. Her mother, Mrs. Drayton (Kathrine Hepburn), seems thrilled that she has met a man, but when John walks into the room everything changes. Mrs. Drayton freezes. She blurts out, “Doctor… doctor?’ The pair admits that some may take them as a “shocking couple”. Not only have the couple arrived unexpectedly, but John defies everything that she was expecting out of her daughter's boyfriend.

9. Cinderella (1950) – The Fairy Godmother Appears

The unexpected visitor plays a huge role in fantasy films. Many Disney characters get a little extra help from the powers beyond that suddenly appear, but the fantastical unexpected visitor doesn't stop there. ThinkHarry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Dobby pops into Harry's room and chaos ensues as he tries to stop Harry from returning to Hogwarts. Yes, when the film isn't based in reality the unexpected visitor has a little extra flair. In the 1950 Disney Classic, Cinderella, the title character gets a boost from her fairy godmother. Cinderella gets her impossible load of chores done, AND makes her own dress in time for the ball. However, her ugly stepsisters, outraged when they realize that Cinderella used their old clothes to complete her outfit, rip her dress to shreds. Cinderella escapes to the garden, where she collapses. Just when she has given up hope of a good life, her Fairy Godmother appears. She transforms Cinderella’s dress and hair. She even turns a pumpkin into a coach with a "bibbi-di-bobbi-di-boo!" She sends Cinderella off to the ball, thus changing her life forever.

8. Pride and Prejudice (2005) – Lady DeBourg Arrives

You've most likely read the book. And if you're like most, you've watched the movie. Maybe you have even endured the 5 hour long Colin Firth mini-series. Whatever the case, you are familiar with the story. Five sisters' lives are turned upside down when a wealthy young suitor and his best friend come into town. Pride and Prejudice centers around the relationship between Elizabeth Bennet (Kiera Knightly) and Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen). Their love story is one for the ages. They hate each other. They love each other. He's rude. She's poor. Eventually all misunderstandings are sorted out and the future is bright… until there is a knock at the door. It's the Lady DeBourg, Darcy's pretentious Aunt. After insulting the Bennet family, she demands to speak with Elizabeth alone. It is here that Lady DeBourg forbids Elizabeth from accepting a marriage proposal from Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth is shocked at the subject even being brought up, but refuses to conform to DeBourg's demands. Not only is her visit completely unexpected, but in a single scene the struggle of prejudices come out into the open. Elizabeth is so upset from the visit she can't sleep… which turns out to be a great thing. She goes on an early morning walk and finds Darcy. They kiss. She gets true love, and we get to see that pretty scene in the meadow. Ah.

7. Hud (1963) – Hud is Caught in with a Woman

Inspired by a portion of Larry McMurty's novel,Horsemen Pass By, Hud is a classic Western starring Paul Newman as the title character. The film follows Hud, a young Texan rancher who lives with his father Homer (Mevlyn Douglas), and his nephew Lon (Brandon DeWilde). Hud is amoral and harsh, a direct opposite of his father. In one of the first scenes of the film, Lon searches for Hud to bring him home. Lon finds Hud's Cadillac outside of a woman's house, and honks the horn to get Hud's attention. Hud is irritated by Lon's presence, and even more so when Lon tells him that Homer needs him back at the ranch. As Hud is putting on his boots, the husband of Hud's "lady friend" returns home. Hud and Lon try to scramble away. When the man asks which one of them is coming out of his house at 6am, Hud points to Lon. Blaming his nephew, he jumps into the car and drives away. This unexpected visitor scene shows Hud's true character in a matter of seconds. He is slick and manipulative, and he is easily able to diffuse the situation quickly. At the same time, he sacrifices the well being of his nephew by putting him in harms way to avoid being caught himself.

6. Psycho (1960) – Arbogast Investigates the Bates Motel

There is just nothing creepier than the Bates Motel, except maybe Norman Bates himself. When Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) goes missing, her sister hires a private investigator named Milton Arbogast (Martin Basalm) to get some answers. The trail leads to the Bates Motel. Arbogast meets Bates out on the porch. Bates is surprised, as people hardly ever stop at his establishment anymore. At first Bates tries to sell him a room, believing him to be a customer. He then becomes excited, thinking Arbogast may want to buy the hotel. Eventually, the investigator tells Bates he is looking for a missing girl. Suddenly, Bates switches gears. He lies about Marion, and becomes tongue-tied. He stutters through his questions. Arbogast is suspicious, and for Norman, this is the beginning of the end. Things start to unravel as Norman goes on the defensive. Arbogast's unexpected visit pushes Norman to become even more unhinged, and ultimately it leads to Arbogast's own demise.

5. Sideways (2004) – Miles Steals the Jack’s Wallet Back

It very well may be the best 5 minutes of the film. It's definitely the funniest. In Sideways Miles Raymond (Paul Giamatti) and Jack Cole (Thomas Haden Church) take a week-long trip to wine country. Although he is about to be married, Jack attempts to make the most of his last days of bachelorhood. Enter: The First Unexpected Visitor Scene. Jack comes to Miles in the middle of the night completely naked and informs him that he was with a waitress when her husband walked in on them together. He ran out of the house in such a hurry, he forgot his wallet… which happens to contain his specially engraved wedding bands. The duo drives back to her house, and Jack convinces Miles to break in and get the wallet. Result: The Second Unexpected Visitor Scene. Miles sneaks into the house and crawls and his hands and knees into the room where the waitress and her husband are going at it. Slowly and carefully, he grabs the wallet from the dresser. Then he books it. The best thing about this scene is Miles' "everyman" appearance and he tries to be stealthy. The waitress' husband chases him out of the house and down the street (butt naked, no less), but to no avail. The friends escape, flying down the road in their car.

4. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) – Cousin Eddie Comes to Visit

"Oh Eddie… if I woke up tomorrow with my head sewn to the carpet, I wouldn't be more surprised than I am now"- those are the words spoken by Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) as Cousin Eddie (Randy Quaid) arrives on the scene. In the classic, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Clark Griswold tries to achieve the perfect family Christmas. However, things are thrown for a loop when Eddie shows up unannounced with Catherine, Rocky, Ruby Sue, and of course Snot, their beastly dog. He goes down the line, introducing them all: Ruby Sue "falls down a well, her eyes go cross. She gets kicked by a mule. They go back. I don't know". Cousin Eddie proves to be one of the funniest unwanted visitor of all time. He taints Clark's perfect Christmas over and over. He doesn't have money for presents, he empties his RV waste into the neighborhood sewer, and his dog destroys the house. Everything culminates as Eddy kidnaps Clark's boss, proving Clark's words that Eddy's "heart is bigger than his brain.” Yes, Cousin Eddy makes Christmas Vacation a true holiday classic… and he does all this while wearing a Dickie. Amazing.

3. Sunset Boulevard (1950) – Joe Gillis Arrives at Norma Desmond's Mansion

Not only does Sunset Boulevard show its timelessness with its popularity today, but also with its applicability to screenwriting. The beginning ofSunset Boulevard holds a wonderful unexpected visitor scene. Trying to evade creditors, Joe Gillis (William Holden) pulls into Norma Desmond's (Gloria Swanson) dilapidated mansion. Norma mistakes Joe for the undertaker she has hired to take away her dead pet monkey. Joe goes along with it long enough to enter the house. The scene is iconic. We meet Norma for the first time, in her leopard print and sunglasses. Joe takes in the old mansion, a place with the haunting air of lost grandeur. It's the perfect lead-way into the development of a relationship between the two characters. It shows the personality and character of them both. Joe trying to escape from his problems and Norma is trying to cling on to the past.

2. Friday the 13th (1980) – Mrs. Vorhees Arrives

In the film that tops all other teen-horror flicks, counselors from Camp Crystal Lake are being killed left and right. After everyone else is murdered, Alice (Adrienne King) seeks refuge in the main cabin. Silence. Suddenly, Brenda's corpse is hurled through the window. Just then, Alice hears a car engine. She runs out of the cabin believing it to be the camp's owner. However, out of the car comes a middle-aged woman. She introduces herself as Mrs. Vorhees (Betsy Palmer). Yes, it's time to cue the horror music. An unsuspecting Alice hysterically tells her about the murders. At first Mrs. Vorhees seems normal, expressing horror at Brenda's dead body. But soon things start to go awry… and you guessed it. Mrs. Vorhees pulls a huge knife out. She's the murderer! This unexpected visitor scene is fantastic. Not only does Alice (and the audience) not expect Mrs. Vorhees' arrival, but they certainly don't expect her to be the crazed murderer. It's a twist so good it could spur…I don't know… let's say… eleven more films.

1. Fatal Attraction (1987) – Alex Forrest Visits Beth

Wise words from my mother: "Don't have an affair. Next thing you know, you'll be dealing with a crazy bitch like Alex Forrest. I'm serious". Yes, Fatal Attraction turned out to be a sort of fable growing up in our household. I remember watchingWar of the Roses for a similar reason, but have since forgotten the moral of that story. However, I will never forget the lesson learned fromFatal Attraction. The staying power of it lies in the character of Alex Forrest (Glen Close). She's full of rage, erratic, and completely nuts. When she has a short, weekend fling with a married man, Dan Gallagher (Michael Douglas), she becomes obsessed with him. Trying to keep him in her life, she lies about being pregnant with his child. He believes he has cut off their relationship by not returning her calls. However, Alex is more persistent than that. One day, Dan's wife Beth prepares their apartment (which is for sale) for the arrival of a potential buyer. The married couple are excited. Dan walks into the sitting room to find the potential buyer is… Alex Forrest. The woman he cheated with is chatting with his wife. It's extremely tense. It's the ultimate example of using subtext and audience knowledge to heighten the conflict. And not only does it seal Alex as a crazed stalker, but it shows Dan's character. He should come clean to his wife: we’re hoping he will, fearing he won’t… and of course, he doesn't. This scene leads to the most memorable quote from the film. As Dan confronts Alex, she screams, "I will not be ignored!" I think Dan would agree with me in saying, mission accomplished, Ms. Forrest.