30 delightfully random celebrity movie cameos that you may have missed

Gabbi ShawJan 20, 2024, 06:08 IST

Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift at the premiere of "Hannah Montana: The Movie."Eric Charbonneau/Le Studio/Wireimage/Getty Images

A well-timed celebrity cameo can make a movie go from good to great.
Sometimes a cameo signals a connection to a larger cinematic universe.

Everyone loves a good Easter egg in movies, and blink-and-you-might-miss-it celeb cameos are arguably some of the best.

Cameos range from random to inside jokes for longtime fans of the movie's writers or directors. It can even be a way for a famous person to poke fun at their own public persona.

Keep reading to see what familiar faces have shown up in unexpected places.

Bradley Cooper stole the show with just one scene in "Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves" in 2023.

It was a total shock.Paramount Pictures

You may not have seen Trevor Noah in 2018's "Black Panther," but you definitely heard him — he voiced the ship Martin Freeman's character piloted during the film's final sequence.

He voiced the program within the ship.Jeff Schear/Getty Images/Marvel Studios

You may not have seen Trevor Noah in 2018's "Black Panther," but you definitely heard him — he voiced the ship Martin Freeman's character piloted during the film's final sequence.

Before Taylor Swift was selling out arenas, she appeared in "Hannah Montana: The Movie," performing one of her songs at a hoedown in the small town of Crowley Corners in 2009.

T-Swift as herself.Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Before Taylor Swift was selling out arenas, she appeared in "Hannah Montana: The Movie," performing one of her songs at a hoedown in the small town of Crowley Corners in 2009.

In 2017, Prince William and Prince Harry both appeared as stormtroopers in "Star Wars: The Last Jedi," but their scene was cut because they are too tall.

These two are believed to be Prince Harry and Prince William.Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Hugh Jackman is only on screen for 20 seconds of 2011's "X-Men: First Class," but he provided one of the film's biggest laughs.

Jackman has played Wolverine in nine different movies.Twentieth Century Fox

Cate Blanchett is virtually unrecognizable underneath a surgical mask in the 2007 comedy "Hot Fuzz."

She's uncredited.Rogue Pictures

The Jonas Brothers appeared as cherubs in "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian" in 2009.

From left to right: Nick, Joe, and Kevin.Twentieth Century Fox

Cynthia Nixon had a blink-and-you-miss-it cameo in the 2008 film "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," when Jason Segel's character is drowning his sorrows — he pretends he's talking to Miranda on "Sex and the City," when the real Miranda walks behind him.

It's the real Miranda.Universal Pictures

Cynthia Nixon had a blink-and-you-miss-it cameo in the 2008 film "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," when Jason Segel's character is drowning his sorrows — he pretends he's talking to Miranda on "Sex and the City," when the real Miranda walks behind him.

Matt Damon in "Thor: Ragnarok" surprised movie-goers when he appeared as Loki in a play during the 2017 film.

Damon played Loki in the play-within-a-movie.Marvel Studios

Michael Jackson appeared in"Men in Black II" as an agent in 2002.

Jackson had originally been asked to play an alien in the first "Men in Black."Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE)

Football quarterback Brett Favre, at the height of his fame in 1998, appeared as himself in "There's Something About Mary." He played one of Mary's ex-boyfriends.

Brett Favre in "There's Something About Mary."Twentieth Century Fox

Daniel Radcliffe plays a dog walker in a movie-within-a-movie in 2015's "Trainwreck."

Daniel Radcliffe in "Trainwreck."Universal Pictures

In 2004, David Hasselhoff had the distinction of being the only human in "The Spongebob Movie."

David Hasselhoff in "The Spongebob Movie."Paramount Pictures

Matt Damon is almost unrecognizable performing at a high school graduation party in the 2004 comedy "EuroTrip."

Damon shaved his head for the role.Dreamworks Distribution

David Bowie plays himself as he teaches Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson's characters how to properly work the runway in 2001's "Zoolander."

The two models compete in a "walk-off."Paramount Pictures

Channing Tatum had a very NSFW role in absurdist comedy "This Is the End" in 2013.

He's called Channing Tat-YUM in the movie.Sony Pictures Releasing

Johnny Depp reprised his star-making role of Officer Tom Hanson in the 2012 movie remake of "21 Jump Street."

Depp wanted his character to have some closure.Columbia Pictures

In 1998, Janet Leigh popped in for a quick scene with her daughter Jamie Lee Curtis in "Halloween H20" — mother and daughter are both iconic "scream queens," respectively.

"H20" was released 20 years after the original "Halloween."Buena Vista Pictures

In 1998, Janet Leigh popped in for a quick scene with her daughter Jamie Lee Curtis in "Halloween H20" — mother and daughter are both iconic "scream queens," respectively.

Danny Pudi had a small but memorable cameo for "Community" fans in "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" in 2014.

Pudi starred on NBC's (and later Yahoo's) "Community."Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Neil Patrick Harris plays a fictionalized, absolutely terrible version of himself in 2004's "Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle" (and its later sequels).

"Harold & Kumar" was before Harris revitalized his career on "How I Met Your Mother."New Line Cinema

Mike Tyson stole the show when he confronted the men who stole his tiger in "The Hangover" back in 2009.

Mike Tyson in "The Hangover."Warner Bros.

Glenn Close has a blink-and-you-miss-it part in the 1991 film "Hook" as an unrecognizable pirate.

It's hard to see Close under all that facial hair.TriStar Pictures

Bill Murray just wanted to play golf in peace in "Zombieland," a 2009 movie about the zombie apocalypse.

Bill Murray in "Zombieland."Columbia Pictures

Jimmy Fallon spoofed informational videos at amusement parks by filming a segment about an attraction at "Jurassic World" in 2015.

Jimmy Fallon in "Jurassic World."Universal Pictures

Johnny Depp has been vocal about his inspiration for Captain Jack Sparrow being Keith Richards — so of course, Richards got to play his father in "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" in 2007.

Captain Sparrow and Captain Teague.Buena Vista Pictures

Johnny Depp has been vocal about his inspiration for Captain Jack Sparrow being Keith Richards — so of course, Richards got to play his father in "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" in 2007.

Danny Glover appeared in 1994's "Maverick" alongside his "Lethal Weapon" costar Mel Gibson.

"Maverick" and "Lethal Weapon" were both directed by Richard Donner.Warner Bros.

Bruce Springsteen helps the main character in the 2000 rom-com "High Fidelity" come to terms with his relationship issues.

The Boss himself.Buena Vista Pictures

Will Ferrell plays a dirtbag who still lives with his mom in the 2005 comedy "Wedding Crashers."

Ferrell is the ultimate "crasher."New Line Cinema

Billy Idol played a hopeless romantic in "The Wedding Singer" in 1998.

The British punk rocker shows off his sensitive side.New Line Cinema

Jim Parsons is Walter the Muppet's human version in the 2011 film "The Muppets."

Parsons appears during a musical number.Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

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30 delightfully random celebrity movie cameos that you may have missed

Bradley Cooper stole the show with just one scene in "Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves" in 2023.

You may not have seen Trevor Noah in 2018's "Black Panther," but you definitely heard him — he voiced the ship Martin Freeman's character piloted during the film's final sequence.

Before Taylor Swift was selling out arenas, she appeared in "Hannah Montana: The Movie," performing one of her songs at a hoedown in the small town of Crowley Corners in 2009.

In 2017, Prince William and Prince Harry both appeared as stormtroopers in "Star Wars: The Last Jedi," but their scene was cut because they are too tall.

Hugh Jackman is only on screen for 20 seconds of 2011's "X-Men: First Class," but he provided one of the film's biggest laughs.

Cate Blanchett is virtually unrecognizable underneath a surgical mask in the 2007 comedy "Hot Fuzz."

The Jonas Brothers appeared as cherubs in "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian" in 2009.

Cynthia Nixon had a blink-and-you-miss-it cameo in the 2008 film "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," when Jason Segel's character is drowning his sorrows — he pretends he's talking to Miranda on "Sex and the City," when the real Miranda walks behind him.

Matt Damon in "Thor: Ragnarok" surprised movie-goers when he appeared as Loki in a play during the 2017 film.

Michael Jackson appeared in"Men in Black II" as an agent in 2002.

Football quarterback Brett Favre, at the height of his fame in 1998, appeared as himself in "There's Something About Mary." He played one of Mary's ex-boyfriends.

Daniel Radcliffe plays a dog walker in a movie-within-a-movie in 2015's "Trainwreck."

In 2004, David Hasselhoff had the distinction of being the only human in "The Spongebob Movie."

Matt Damon is almost unrecognizable performing at a high school graduation party in the 2004 comedy "EuroTrip."

David Bowie plays himself as he teaches Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson's characters how to properly work the runway in 2001's "Zoolander."

Channing Tatum had a very NSFW role in absurdist comedy "This Is the End" in 2013.

Johnny Depp reprised his star-making role of Officer Tom Hanson in the 2012 movie remake of "21 Jump Street."

In 1998, Janet Leigh popped in for a quick scene with her daughter Jamie Lee Curtis in "Halloween H20" — mother and daughter are both iconic "scream queens," respectively.

Danny Pudi had a small but memorable cameo for "Community" fans in "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" in 2014.

Neil Patrick Harris plays a fictionalized, absolutely terrible version of himself in 2004's "Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle" (and its later sequels).

Mike Tyson stole the show when he confronted the men who stole his tiger in "The Hangover" back in 2009.

Glenn Close has a blink-and-you-miss-it part in the 1991 film "Hook" as an unrecognizable pirate.

Bill Murray just wanted to play golf in peace in "Zombieland," a 2009 movie about the zombie apocalypse.

Jimmy Fallon spoofed informational videos at amusement parks by filming a segment about an attraction at "Jurassic World" in 2015.

Johnny Depp has been vocal about his inspiration for Captain Jack Sparrow being Keith Richards — so of course, Richards got to play his father in "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" in 2007.

Danny Glover appeared in 1994's "Maverick" alongside his "Lethal Weapon" costar Mel Gibson.

Bruce Springsteen helps the main character in the 2000 rom-com "High Fidelity" come to terms with his relationship issues.

Will Ferrell plays a dirtbag who still lives with his mom in the 2005 comedy "Wedding Crashers."

Billy Idol played a hopeless romantic in "The Wedding Singer" in 1998.

Jim Parsons is Walter the Muppet's human version in the 2011 film "The Muppets."