The 20 Grossest Things Actors Did For Movies

As a movie lover, there are certain scenes that stick with you, and often it’s because the actors really committed – like, truly went to uncomfortable places. I’m talking about moments where they didn’t shy away from genuinely disgusting or painful things, even if it meant eating something awful or undergoing temporary body modifications. It really added to the realism, you know? I’ve been digging up twenty examples of these moments where performers pushed themselves through real discomfort or messiness to make a scene truly believable.

‘The Revenant’ (2015)

Leonardo DiCaprio insisted on eating a real, raw bison liver for a scene, refusing a fake prop. This choice reflected his character’s struggle for survival and provided a realistic, gritty effect that couldn’t be achieved with artificial materials. Despite crew members offering a gelatin substitute, he stuck with the genuine organ. He also filmed in extremely cold weather, which naturally created visible breath and frost, eliminating the need for special effects.

‘Oldboy’ (2003)

During the sushi bar scene, Choi Min Sik actually ate a live octopus, and he did so repeatedly for multiple takes. As a devout Buddhist, he respectfully apologized to the octopus before each attempt. The octopus you see moving on screen is real, and the actor’s reaction is genuine. While ensuring the animal’s safety, the production team filmed the scene quickly to minimize any potential distress.

‘Vampire’s Kiss’ (1988)

During filming, Nicolas Cage actually ate a live cockroach for a scene set in the kitchen. He even did it again for a second take, giving the editor more choices. The unsettling reaction and the sight of the cockroach’s legs moving weren’t special effects – it really happened! This unusual moment became one of the most talked-about behind-the-scenes stories about the movie.

‘Pink Flamingos’ (1972)

In the film’s final scene, the actor Divine genuinely ate dog feces. The director filmed this in one continuous shot, without any editing, to prove it was real. They couldn’t find a convincing fake prop, and the shocking moment became a defining characteristic of the film’s brutally realistic style.

‘The 40 Year Old Virgin’ (2005)

Let me tell you, watching Steve Carell actually get a chest wax for a scene was…intense. It wasn’t a stunt – they filmed the whole thing with multiple cameras to capture his real reaction, and the reactions of everyone else on set. The pain was completely genuine, and honestly, there was a bit of bleeding that wasn’t added by the makeup department. The filmmakers were smart about it, though, keeping retakes to a minimum to avoid causing him any extra discomfort. It’s a testament to their commitment to realism, but also a little harrowing to watch!

‘Trainspotting’ (1996)

Ewan McGregor famously filmed a scene where he dove into a toilet to retrieve a suppository. It wasn’t a real toilet, though! It was a set filled with a thick, unpleasant mixture of chocolate and other foods designed to look like sludge. He completely submerged himself to make the scene look realistic, and while the smell was managed, the texture felt convincingly disgusting.

‘Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom’ (1984)

During the tunnel scenes, Kate Capshaw bravely worked with hundreds of live insects. For the dinner scene, she actually put real bugs in her mouth and spat them out at the director’s signal. A team of insect handlers made sure all the species were kept safe and didn’t escape during filming. With so many insects crawling around, it was a challenge to keep everything under control and reset the scene between each take.

‘The Texas Chain Saw Massacre’ (1974)

During the dinner scene, Marilyn Burns genuinely cut her finger because the special effects equipment wasn’t working properly, and her blood actually appeared on camera. The set was deliberately made unpleasant – hot and filled with the smell of decaying food and animal remains – which caused many on set to feel sick and gave the scene its disturbing, realistic look.

‘Stand By Me’ (1986)

During the leech scene, real leeches were carefully applied to the actors by trained professionals and then removed immediately after filming. While some leeches were added with makeup for visual effect, the movement you see is from the live creatures. The water used in the scene was carefully managed to ensure everyone’s safety.

‘Cannibal Holocaust’ (1980)

The film featured actual animal killings, including the slaughter of a large turtle, which were filmed and shown on screen as part of the story. This choice sparked significant and ongoing controversy, as well as legal investigations. As a result, many countries either banned or severely restricted the film’s release for a long time.

‘The Human Centipede’ (2009)

I was absolutely captivated by the dedication of the actors in this production. They really pushed themselves, physically and emotionally! I learned they had to wear these incredible, but demanding, prosthetics that meant a lot of crawling and incredibly close interaction – their faces were just inches apart for long periods. And the scenes suggesting bodily waste? They used chocolate-based substances, which sounds messy but added to the realism, getting all over their costumes and the set. It wasn’t just acting; it was a real physical and emotional challenge for them, and I truly admire their commitment.

‘Apocalypse Now’ (1979)

The buffalo slaughter scene near the film’s end was an actual ritual killing, filmed as it happened by the crew. While actors were used to create the visual impact of blood and movement, no computer effects were added. Separately, Martin Sheen genuinely cut his hand during filming when he accidentally hit a mirror in a hotel room scene – the blood seen on his arm is real.

‘Swiss Army Man’ (2016)

Paul Dano worked with a realistic, but messy, dummy for his role. It was a heavy prop covered in slippery fluids and frequently leaked simulated fluids and gases, requiring constant adjustments. Filming in outdoor locations like beaches and forests meant the dummy collected sand and dirt, which then soaked into his costumes and needed to be cleaned off often.

‘The Lighthouse’ (2019)

To convincingly portray intense scenes, Robert Pattinson went to extreme lengths, inducing vomiting and using cold water to create realistic spit and drool. He even ate dirt and mud for shots requiring a grimy mouth. The movie prioritized real-world effects, repeatedly soaking the actors with seawater and subjecting them to harsh weather, which left their faces visibly raw and textured on camera.

‘Alive’ (1993)

To film scenes of survival cannibalism, actors ate specially made meat that looked like human flesh. The food preparation team carefully selected cuts and seasonings to create a realistic appearance, especially under the cold, harsh lighting of the mountain setting. Actors even discussed how the meat felt and tasted to ensure their reactions seemed believable from every camera angle. The high altitude and freezing temperatures made the food look and feel particularly unappetizing, adding to the scene’s realism.

‘The Exorcist’ (1973)

During filming, actors were intentionally splattered with pea soup vomit as a special effect, often getting it in their mouths and eyes. The soup, made from canned varieties, had a strong odor when exposed to the set lights. Actress Linda Blair had custom dental and eye pieces that unfortunately held onto the messy residue even after filming. Because of the cleanup needed after each take, the production crew kept extra costumes on hand for quick changes.

‘The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers’ (2002)

To convincingly portray Gollum eating a raw fish, Andy Serkis actually bit into one! The filmmakers made sure it was a safe fish to eat and filmed the scene quickly to minimize any discomfort. He kept the fish in his mouth long enough to show visible chewing and a realistic reaction, and the crew had warm water and towels ready for him between takes.

‘The Green Inferno’ (2013)

To create realistic horror scenes, Eli Roth’s crew used physical effects – including real animal products to give props a convincing texture. Actors endured hours covered in fake blood that was designed to stick to their hair and skin. The humid jungle environment intensified the smell of these materials over time, and each scene often required a complete cleanup of the actors and set before filming could continue.

‘The Elephant Man’ (1980)

John Hurt endured grueling hours wearing heavy makeup that trapped sweat and glue. The prosthetics covered his mouth, making it hard to breathe and causing saliva to collect. Removing the makeup each day was painful, peeling skin and leaving behind sticky residue that required strong solvents to remove. The combination of moisture and odor made for very uncomfortable working conditions during long shoots.

‘Raging Bull’ (1980)

To get realistic shots of punches landing, Robert De Niro actually allowed himself to be hit a few times in carefully managed bursts, capturing the sweat and blood splatters in slow motion. He used tubes inserted into his nose to deliver blood, which he held in his mouth to make the impacts look authentic. He kept this blood in his mouth between takes to ensure consistency when repeating action scenes. The blood stained his teeth and gums, requiring frequent rinsing whenever the camera stopped rolling.

Tell us about the most shocking scene you’ve ever witnessed in a movie, and share in the comments which moment made you feel the most disturbed.

2025-11-02 21:16