We have put together the most vibrant, hilarious, and touching karaoke scenes from cult movies and TV series just for you. And don’t tell us you didn’t sing along with the characters while watching!
Movies
- Shrek (2000)
Once upon a time, there lived a large green ogre. One day, the evil Lord Farquaad banished all the fairy-tale creatures of the kingdom to his swamp. The carefree life came to an end, but in the finale, we got one of the most fun karaoke scenes on the big screen, where Donkey totally rocks out.
- Lost in Translation (2003)
Charlotte and Bob fly to Tokyo for a few days. It is a foreign city with an incomprehensible language and culture, where two lonely souls find each other. The scene where the characters sing in a neon Japanese karaoke booth (Bob performs Roxy Music’s “More Than This”, and Charlotte sings The Pretenders’ “Brass in Pocket”) is the benchmark of melancholic romance.
- When Harry Met Sally (1989)
A romance classic. A sweet, smart, and true-to-life film. The karaoke scene here isn’t just about singing; it’s a moment of incredible awkwardness, humor, and chemistry between Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal.
- Duets (2000)
Six desperate losers set off on a long journey to end up at a prestigious karaoke competition and win the grand prize. A great movie about how singing to a backing track brings completely different people together.
- Rush Hour 2 (2001)
Detectives Lee (Jackie Chan) and Carter (Chris Tucker) are investigating a conspiracy in Hong Kong. But we all know the main highlight of the movie is the scene where Chris Tucker delivers an incredible (and very funny) performance of Michael Jackson’s “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” on a triad stage.
- My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997)
Cameron Diaz trying to sing in a karaoke bar is a masterclass in how to be charmingly imperfect. She misses the notes terribly, but it is exactly this vulnerability that completely wins over everyone in the room (and the viewers at the screen).
- The Cable Guy (1996)
An eccentric guy played by Jim Carrey wants to become his client’s best friend. The scene where he frantically sings Jefferson Airplane’s “Somebody to Love” at a house party is both scary and hilarious.
- (500) Days of Summer (2009)
A young man (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) falls in love with his coworker Summer (Zooey Deschanel). The film shows that the path to happiness is unpredictable. And the karaoke scene where they unwind after work perfectly captures their budding chemistry.
- Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)
Bridget starts a diary to get her life on track, quit smoking, and lose weight. She also loves to have a drink and sing karaoke. Her emotional (and slightly tipsy) performance of “All By Myself” is a classic in which many recognize themselves.
- Only God Forgives (2013)
A complex film by Nicolas Winding Refn balancing between a thriller and arthouse. The head of the Thai police, after bloody massacres, calmly takes the stage and melancholically sings Thai ballads in karaoke. A contrast that makes your blood run cold.
- 27 Dresses (2008)
After being a bridesmaid at 27 weddings, the protagonist lets loose at a bar. Her drunk and out-of-tune, but incredibly sincere rendition of Elton John’s “Bennie and the Jets” with James Marsden’s character is the best scene of the film.
- 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
Although this is not classic karaoke with a screen, Heath Ledger’s performance, escaping from the guards and singing “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” into the school PA microphone from the stadium bleachers, is a scene that went down in cinematic history forever.
TV Series
- Friends (1994-2004)
The cult sitcom gave us many musical moments. We especially remember Phoebe trying to sing, and, of course, Monica, whose performance in a karaoke bar was so energetic that the audience was more attracted to her see-through top than her vocals.
- The Big Bang Theory (2007-2019)
Karaoke is the last thing you expect from nerd geniuses. But the scene where Bernadette and Amy sing a duet, while Penny shows them how it’s done, proves that nothing human is alien to them.
- Family Guy (1999-…)
The legendary animated series about the Griffin family regularly parodies pop culture. And, of course, the characters there sing in karaoke in a very funny and ridiculous way.
- Desperate Housewives (2004-2012)
A quiet suburb hides many secrets, but sometimes housewives just need to let off steam. The musical episodes perfectly diluted the detective intrigues of the series.
