Movies are rarely made without a bit of chaos behind the camera. This quiz looks at the accidents, strange onset habits, and intense improvisations that shaped some of the most famous productions in cinema history.
You will see questions about iconic ad-libbed lines, production mishaps, and the specific directors or actors who pushed their films into legend. Some questions relate to technical details, while others focus on the atmosphere on set.
When you finish, try troubled productions, classic soundtracks, or most quoted lines to see how much you know.
Which 1969 counter-culture film is famous for cast members consuming real LSD during the filming of the cemetery scene?
Easy Rider
Easy Rider
Blade Runner
Blade Runner
The Wolf of Wall Street
The Wolf of Wall Street
Apocalypse Now
Apocalypse Now
Which legendary, improvised line was spoken by Robert De Niro while looking in a mirror?
The Shining
The Shining
Taxi Driver
Taxi Driver
Good Will Hunting
Good Will Hunting
Jaws
Jaws
Which composer created the influential, synthesizer-heavy iconic soundtrack for the 1982 film Blade Runner?
Hans Zimmer
Hans Zimmer
Ennio Morricone
Ennio Morricone
Vangelis
Vangelis
John Williams
John Williams
Which production suffered a tragic helicopter accident in 1982 that resulted in the deaths of actor Vic Morrow and two child actors?
The Godfather Part II
The Godfather Part II
The Crow
The Crow
Platoon
Platoon
Twilight Zone: The Movie
Twilight Zone: The Movie
In which Quentin Tarantino film did Samuel L. Jackson deliver an improvised monologue based on the biblical passage Ezekiel 25:17?
True Romance
True Romance
Pulp Fiction
Pulp Fiction
Reservoir Dogs
Reservoir Dogs
Jackie Brown
Jackie Brown
Which 1980 musical comedy is notorious for having a massive budget allocation specifically for cocaine to keep the cast and crew awake during night shoots?
Almost Famous
Almost Famous
The Blues Brothers
The Blues Brothers
This is Spinal Tap
This is Spinal Tap
Wayne’s World
Wayne’s World
The production of which horror film became the subject of a ‘curse’ myth after several cast members died shortly after the movie was released?
The Omen
The Omen
Poltergeist
Poltergeist
Rosemary’s Baby
Rosemary’s Baby
The Exorcist
The Exorcist
Which iconic song, performed by Céline Dion, is featured on the soundtrack of the 1997 film Titanic?
My Heart Will Go On
My Heart Will Go On
Because You Loved Me
Because You Loved Me
It’s All Coming Back to Me Now
It’s All Coming Back to Me Now
The Power of Love
The Power of Love
Which Stanley Kubrick film features a significant amount of improvised dialogue by R. Lee Ermey, a real-life former drill instructor?
Full Metal Jacket
Full Metal Jacket
Platoon
Platoon
Apocalypse Now
Apocalypse Now
The Deer Hunter
The Deer Hunter
During the filming of which movie did Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight accidentally nearly get hit by a taxi, leading to an entirely improvised reaction that made the final cut?
The French Connection
The French Connection
Midnight Cowboy
Midnight Cowboy
Serpico
Serpico
Easy Rider
Easy Rider
The tragic death of actor Heath Ledger during the filming of which project forced producers to bring in three other actors to complete his performance?
The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight
Brokeback Mountain
Brokeback Mountain
Joker
Joker
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
Which director composed the minimalist, iconic theme song for his own 1978 horror film, Halloween?
James Horner
James Horner
Alan Silvestri
Alan Silvestri
Danny Elfman
Danny Elfman
John Carpenter
John Carpenter
Which biographical film about George Jung faced controversy because the actors were reportedly experimenting with real cocaine to ‘research’ their roles?
Scarface
Scarface
Traffic
Traffic
Casino
Casino
Blow
Blow
Which iconic improvised scene features Joe Pesci asking, ‘Funny how?’, while his character confronts the lead?
Goodfellas
Goodfellas
The Departed
The Departed
The Godfather
The Godfather
Casino
Casino
Which production featured the tragic on-set death of Brandon Lee due to a firearm mishap, causing the producers to complete the film using digital effects?
Speed
Speed
The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight
Top Gun: Maverick
Top Gun: Maverick
The Crow
The Crow
Johnny Depp spent weeks living with Hunter S. Thompson to prepare for his role in which drug-fueled 1998 cult classic?
The Big Lebowski
The Big Lebowski
The Harder They Come
The Harder They Come
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Trainspotting
Trainspotting
Which horror film’s soundtrack prominently features a haunting version of ‘Dies Irae’?
The Shining
The Shining
A Clockwork Orange
A Clockwork Orange
Barry Lyndon
Barry Lyndon
Eyes Wide Shut
Eyes Wide Shut
Which film depicts the drug-related struggles of a group of heroin users in Edinburgh and became famous for its gritty portrayal and techno-heavy soundtrack?
Trainspotting
Trainspotting
Human Traffic
Human Traffic
City of God
City of God
Requiem for a Dream
Requiem for a Dream
Which production was plagued by multiple bizarre accidents, including the lead actor being struck by lightning, leading many to label it a ‘cursed’ set?
The Patriot
The Patriot
Apocalypto
Apocalypto
Braveheart
Braveheart
The Passion of the Christ
The Passion of the Christ
Bernard Herrmann created which film’s iconic, jarring violin-heavy soundtrack that is synonymous with the shower scene?
North by Northwest
North by Northwest
The Birds
The Birds
Vertigo
Vertigo
Psycho
Psycho
Which Wong Kar-wai film, featuring a highly improvised narrative and style, is famous for its repeated use of the song ‘California Dreamin”?
In the Mood for Love
In the Mood for Love
Happy Together
Happy Together
Chungking Express
Chungking Express
2046
2046
During the production of which film did Edward Norton and Brad Pitt purportedly improvise the scene hitting golf balls into the dumpster?
Seven
Seven
The Matrix
The Matrix
American History X
American History X
Fight Club
Fight Club
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Think you know film history well? After this, check out our collections on method acting, horror genres, and cult classics.







