15 Best On-Set Pranks Pulled by Legendary Actors
Filming a movie or TV show can be intense, with long hours and high stakes. But some legendary actors know how to keep things light with clever pranks that leave everyone laughing.
These moments of mischief show the playful side of Hollywood’s biggest stars. From sneaky tricks to elaborate gags, here are 15 of the best on-set pranks pulled by iconic actors, ranked from great to greatest.
15. Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp, known for his quirky humor, teamed up with the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’ crew to prank co-star Penélope Cruz. He slipped a foul-smelling liquid into her trailer, making it reek like a skunk’s lair.
Cruz, caught off guard, couldn’t escape the stench during a break. The prank was a nod to their playful rivalry, and Depp later admitted he loved her dramatic reaction. It was a classic pirate-worthy trick that kept the set buzzing with laughter.
14. Mel Gibson
Mel Gibson brought some horror to the set of the romantic sci-fi drama ‘Forever Young’. He donned a hockey mask and burst into Jamie Lee Curtis’s trailer wielding a fake knife, mimicking a slasher villain.
Curtis, a scream queen herself, let out a startled yell before laughing it off. Gibson’s love for edgy humor shone through, and the prank became a memorable moment on a set filled with emotional scenes.
13. Simon Pegg
While filming the action-packed ‘Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation’, Simon Pegg decided to mess with Tom Cruise during a car chase scene. He secretly turned on Cruise’s seat heater to maximum, leaving him sweating through takes.
Cruise, known for his intense focus, didn’t notice at first but eventually caught on, chuckling at Pegg’s sneaky move. The prank added a lighthearted break to the high-stakes filming of this blockbuster.
12. Taron Egerton
Taron Egerton pulled a creepy prank on Channing Tatum during ‘Kingsman: The Golden Circle’. He placed a life-sized mannequin with a blonde wig and high heels in Tatum’s trailer bed, making it look like an intruder.
Tatum’s startled reaction was priceless, thinking a stranger had snuck in. Egerton’s clever setup showed his knack for playful scares, keeping the set’s energy high during this action-comedy’s production.
11. Emilia Clarke
Emilia Clarke, star of ‘Me Before You’, got back at co-star Sam Claflin during a prank war. She hid fish in his socks and planted a fart machine in his character’s wheelchair, setting it off during a quiet scene.
Claflin’s flustered response had the crew in stitches. Clarke’s mischievous streak, honed on the intense ‘Game of Thrones’ set (2011-2019), made this romantic drama’s filming a bit more chaotic and fun.
10. Ben Affleck
Ben Affleck brought some superhero rivalry to ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’. He filled Henry Cavill’s trailer with Batman toys, posters, and even scribbled glasses on a Superman image.
Cavill, playing Superman, walked in and laughed at the over-the-top Batman shrine. Affleck’s prank was a playful jab at their on-screen rivalry, adding levity to the gritty DC film’s set.
9. Josh Hutcherson
Josh Hutcherson, a prankster on ‘The Hunger Games’, spooked Jennifer Lawrence by placing a grotesque dummy in her trailer’s bathroom. The dummy, meant to look like a tracker-jacker victim, held toilet paper for extra effect.
Lawrence’s scream echoed across the set, though she later jokingly claimed to have given Hutcherson a playful kick. This prank brought some humor to the dystopian film’s tense atmosphere.
8. Christian Bale and Bradley Cooper’s Graveyard Gag on ‘American Hustle’ (2013)
On the set of ‘American Hustle’, Christian Bale and Bradley Cooper teamed up to prank Jennifer Lawrence. They placed a fake tombstone with her name in a graveyard scene, knowing she was uneasy about filming there.
Lawrence’s shocked reaction turned into laughter when she realized it was a joke. The prank added a playful twist to the 1970s crime drama’s serious vibe, showcasing the cast’s chemistry.
7. Kit Harington
Kit Harington, known as Jon Snow, pulled an April Fools’ prank on his then-fiancée Rose Leslie on the ‘Game of Thrones’ set. He hid a prop of his own severed head in their fridge at home, tied to their work.
Leslie’s horrified scream was exactly what Harington hoped for, though she warned him against future scares. This prank reflected the dark humor shared among the fantasy epic’s close-knit cast.
6. Peter Dinklage and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau’s Dance Break on ‘Game of Thrones’ (2011-2019)
During a serious trial scene in ‘Game of Thrones’, Peter Dinklage and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau broke the tension with an impromptu dance. Their goofy moves caught extras and crew off guard, sparking laughter.
The moment was a much-needed release on the heavy fantasy series’ set. Dinklage and Coster-Waldau’s camaraderie shone through, proving even Westeros could use some levity.
5. Tom Hanks
Tom Hanks turned the ‘Larry Crowne’ set into a knitting party to prank Julia Roberts, who loved knitting during breaks. He got the entire crew—grips, electricians, everyone—to knit when she arrived.
Roberts was stunned to see everyone with needles and yarn, laughing at Hanks’ wholesome gag. This lighthearted prank matched the rom-com’s feel-good vibe, making it a set favorite.
4. Paul Newman
Paul Newman, a notorious prankster, staged a fake car crash on the set of the hockey comedy ‘Slap Shot’ to scare director George Roy Hill. He sat in a wrecked car, pretending to be injured.
Hill’s panic turned to relief when Newman revealed the joke, laughing it off. Newman’s bold prank added a wild energy to the already rowdy sports film’s production.
3. Brad Pitt
Brad Pitt transformed Jonah Hill’s golf cart into a tribute to the band Wham! on the set of ‘Moneyball’. He plastered it with signs like ‘I’m Jonah Hill and I Love Wham!’ and band photos.
Hill arrived to find his ride decked out, bursting into laughter. Pitt’s playful prank brought some 80s flair to the baseball drama, cementing their off-screen friendship.
2. Alan Rickman and Michael Gambon’s Fart Machine on ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’ (2004)
Alan Rickman and Michael Gambon, playing Snape and Dumbledore, pranked Daniel Radcliffe during a quiet scene in ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’. They hid a fart machine in his sleeping bag.
When it went off, the set erupted in laughter, with Radcliffe red-faced. The prank, timed perfectly during the Great Hall sleepover scene, showed even serious actors could be mischievous.
1. George Clooney
George Clooney, Hollywood’s prank king, outdid himself on ‘The Monuments Men’. Knowing Matt Damon was trying to lose weight, Clooney had the costume team secretly tighten Damon’s pants bit by bit.
Damon, confused by his seemingly shrinking clothes, only learned the truth later, laughing at Clooney’s sneaky genius. This prank, blending subtlety and humor, is a legendary moment in Clooney’s prank-filled career.
Which on-set prank made you laugh the hardest, or is there another epic gag I missed? Drop your thoughts in the comments!