- 6/7/2025
Blink and you'll miss them! From rock legends to pop icons, these musical superstars made such brief movie appearances that even their biggest fans might have missed them. Join us as we spotlight those surprising silver screen moments where famous musicians traded their instruments for acting roles, however briefly.
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00:00Nibbling on sponge cake
00:04Watching the sunbate
00:06Welcome to WatchMojo
00:08And today, we're counting down our picks for the briefest, easiest to miss cameos by famous musicians in movies
00:15I know where you are! I know where Jerry is! I cover the waterfront! Remember that!
00:22Number 10, Tom Waits, The Outsiders
00:25Last secret night
00:29Put her down to the trail
00:32When Ponyboy and Johnny go looking for Dolly, Buck Merrill answers the door and Red Lighting takes over the shot
00:38Given the lighting, the fact that it's such a brief interaction, and Buck's minor role, you may not realize who the actor is
00:45And while it's someone famous, it's not the biggest A-list celebrity or household name, it's Tom Waits
00:50Where you boys want?
00:52For Dolly, we gotta see Dolly
00:55He's busy
00:56Just tell him it's Ponyboy and Johnny, man, he'll come
01:00The Outsiders film came out in 1983, after Waits had already risen to fame in the folk scene
01:06It was also around this time when he began to tap into various other music genres as well
01:11So yeah, if this scene had you saying, wait a sec, that's because it is indeed a famous musician you were looking at
01:18Come on!
01:24Number 9, Elvis Costello, Spice World
01:27Oh, it's so funny to be seeing you after so long, girl
01:32It'd definitely be memorable if Elvis Costello served you a drink at the bar
01:37That's what he does in this musical comedy Spice World
01:40However, in a film filled with big name cameos, Costello's could easily get lost in the shuffle
01:46But don't overlook it, Costello's aim is true with that gin and tonic
01:50Mind you, I'd rather be us than the girls
01:53Fame is...fame is such a fickle thing
01:58So what can I get you?
01:59Gin and tonic, please
02:01The iconic singer, songwriter, and record producer also has an easy-to-miss cameo in the sports comedy Talladega Nights, The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
02:09Delightful to meet you, Mr. Robert
02:11I thought you were dead
02:13But in that, at least his name is mentioned
02:15Which is why we're giving the nod to Costello's Spice World cameo as the one that's more subtle
02:21Just a minute
02:23You made that a double
02:25Eh, yes
02:27Number 8, Michael Jackson, Men in Black 2
02:34You know Agent J, you know Agent K
02:37But do you know Agent M?
02:39Well, that's who Michael Jackson's character in Men in Black wants to be
02:43Unfortunately, it doesn't seem as though the top secret alien monitoring organization is hiring at this time
02:49The King of Pop appears on screen, quite literally on a screen for a video call
02:54Only very briefly
02:56You might miss it if you get up to grab some popcorn
02:58How'd it go?
02:59Zed, the drill locks are gone and the treaty is signed
03:02Good work!
03:04Michael was a fan of the first Men in Black film and wanted in on the action
03:07Even if just for a few seconds
03:09Zed, what about that position you promised me in Men in Black?
03:12Still working on the Alien Affirmative Action Program
03:16I'll keep you posted
03:17Wait a minute, that's not what you promised me
03:19You're breaking up
03:20Zed?
03:21Hello?
03:22I'll call you back
03:23Number 7, Phil Collins, Hook
03:24The famous Genesis drummer and singer portraying a police inspector on screen may have seemed against the odds
03:35But it happened
03:37Phil Collins makes a cameo as Inspector Good in Hook
03:39The film came out two years after the release of Collins' fourth solo studio album
03:44And the same year that he won a Grammy for Another Day in Paradise
03:46So, Mr. and Mrs. Banning, we've wired the phones and two of my lads will be outside at all times
03:52Jimmy Buffet also makes a cameo in Hook as a pirate
03:55But Collins' cameo gets the spot here
03:57In a crowded room with the likes of legendary actor Robin Williams
04:01Even with his dialogue, you could easily fail to realize it's Collins
04:05Especially because you wouldn't expect it
04:06I've forgotten how to fly
04:09Well, one does
04:12Good on then, good on sir
04:15Number 6, Flee
04:17Back to the Future Part 2 and Back to the Future Part 3
04:20Give it away, give it away, give it away now
04:23Give it away, give it away, give it away now
04:25Frank Beard, Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill of ZZ Top
04:28Appear fittingly in Back to the Future Part 3 as a 19th century Old West band
04:32That's interestingly in their lane as far as any acting cameo could be
04:37But Flee's cameo in both Back to the Future Part 2 and Back to the Future Part 3
04:41Are way different and earn the spot here
04:44Hey, Big M, how's it hanging, McFly?
04:48Hey, Needles
04:50Needles?
04:52The Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist appears as future Marty's co-worker Douglas J. Needles
04:56In the second film
04:58In the third film, he challenges Marty to a race while they're stopped at a traffic light
05:02The Big M
05:04The Big M
05:05How's it hanging, McFly?
05:07Flea also appears in The Big Lebowski as one of the nihilists
05:11But that's a bit larger of a role
05:13Number 5, Iggy Pop, The Color of Money
05:16Here comes Johnny again
05:20In this sports drama, Iggy Pop appears as a pool player for only around 10 seconds
05:26And he doesn't even say anything
05:27He's one of the many men Tom Cruise's pool hustling character comes across on his travels
05:32It's a true look away and you'll miss an appearance from the godfather of punk
05:36Who is wearing a shirt in this scene, unlike many of his concerts
05:39Iggy Pop made a brief appearance you may have missed in Tank Girl as well, playing the role of Ratface
05:41But it's the color of money where it's even harder to recognize him
06:04Number 4, The Clash, The King of Comedy
06:06Darling, you got to let me know
06:09Should I stay or should I go?
06:13Blink and you'll miss this street scene
06:16The Clash is represented in numbers in The King of Comedy
06:19With Mick Jones, Joe Strummer, Paul Simonin, plus band associates like singer Ellen Foley
06:25Filmmaker Don Letts and manager Cosmo Vinyl all making cameos
06:29The film came out in 1982, shortly after the release of the band's hit single Should I Stay or Should I Go?
06:34The Clash was near the peak of their powers at the time
06:37So it's no wonder Martin Scorsese took an interest, knowing they were in the area during filming
06:43Their roles are so minor, it's clear he just wanted to squeeze them in somehow, someway
06:48Just because they were The Clash
06:50And honestly, that's totally understandable
06:51What are you looking at?
06:52What are you looking at?
06:53Peter!
06:54You scum, you're street crap
06:56Number 3, George Harrison, Monty Python's Life O'Brien
06:59As a big fan of Monty Python, the former Beatles lead guitarist George Harrison wanted in on the action with Monty Python's Life O'Brien
07:15Not only did he help fund the film, but he got some shine in front of the camera
07:18You'll have to wait, I'm afraid
07:21Harrison's cameo is super brief, though
07:23With his not-so-typical outfit and the lack of focus on him in this crowded, hectic scene, you might very well miss him
07:29Lord, the lepers are queuing!
07:31A brother-in-law is the ex-mail of God!
07:34Now, Brian, can I introduce the gentleman who's letting us have the mouth?
07:38Given what he contributed to make the film happen, giving him even the shortest on-screen moment was the least the film crew could do
07:44Number 2, Jimmy Buffet, Jurassic World
07:52How fitting is that Jimmy Buffet would be holding two margaritas in this blink-and-you'll-miss-it scene?
07:58His hit single, Margaritaville, came out in 1977
08:01His hospitality company, Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville, was founded in 1985
08:06In Jurassic World, during a moment of dino chaos, the renowned singer-songwriter scurries away discreetly
08:12Can't forget those margaritas
08:15Gotta keep them safe, even in dire circumstances
08:19With so many people around in the scene, you'll be hard-pressed to notice Buffet, who's visible for just a couple of seconds
08:26But he's there, wearing sunglasses, a hat, and an orange shirt
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08:52Number 1, Paul McCartney, Pirates of the Caribbean
08:55Dead Men Tell No Tales
08:58Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
09:05The Beatles legend appears in a prison scene as Jack Sparrow's uncle, also named Jack
09:09And what a surprise, he's sangy
09:21Still, with that pirate outfit and just seconds of screen time, this cameo could've easily gone over your head
09:26The Rolling Stones are also represented in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series
09:31With Keith Richards making a brief appearance as Jack Sparrow's father, Captain Teague, in the Pirates of the Caribbean at World's End
09:37But that one involved more camera shots and was more memorable than McCartney's cameo in Pirates of the Caribbean, Dead Men Tell No Tales
09:43Jacky boy, how's it going?
09:46Can't complain really, you?
09:48I've been waiting all morning in here for a beating, but the service is terrible
09:52Shame
09:54Which musician would you like to see on the big screen more?
09:57Let us know in the comments down below
09:59And don't forget to like and subscribe for more WatchMojo videos
10:02Hey Needles, nice, that a wheel
10:05Let's see what she can do
10:07Next screen live
10:08No thanks
10:13I'll see you out here
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