The 20 Grossest Things Actors Did For Movies

Some movie moments are unforgettable because the actors went all in on things that were truly stomach turning. From eating real animals to enduring painful body modifications, these choices helped scenes feel shockingly authentic. Here are twenty examples where performers pushed through extreme discomfort or real mess to sell a moment on screen.

‘The Revenant’ (2015)

Leonardo DiCaprio ate a raw bison liver on camera rather than a prop substitute. The choice matched his character’s fight to survive harsh conditions and added a harsh texture and look that props could not mimic. Crew members reportedly offered a faux version made from gelatin but he stuck with the real organ. He also worked in freezing conditions that kept breath and frost visible without digital tricks.

‘Oldboy’ (2003)

Choi Min sik ate a live octopus during the sushi bar scene and did it multiple times for retakes. He was a Buddhist and performed a brief apology ritual before each take. The writhing tentacles seen on screen are the real animal and the actor’s reaction is unfiltered. Production arranged for food safety and filmed the sequence quickly to avoid needless suffering.

‘Vampire’s Kiss’ (1988)

Nicolas Cage ate a live cockroach for the apartment kitchen scene. He repeated the act for another take to give the editor options. The shock value of the bite and the way the roach legs move in his mouth are not effects. The choice became one of the defining trivia points about the film’s production.

‘Pink Flamingos’ (1972)

Divine ate actual dog feces in the final scene. The act was captured in a single shot with no cuts so the audience could see it was real. There was no safe prop alternative available at the time that would read the same way on camera. The moment sealed the film’s reputation for transgressive realism.

‘The 40 Year Old Virgin’ (2005)

Steve Carell underwent a real chest waxing while cameras rolled. Multiple cameras captured different angles so the screams and reactions from him and the cast are genuine. The wax pulled out hair and caused pinpoint bleeding that makeup did not add. Production used minimal repeats to avoid unnecessary injury.

‘Trainspotting’ (1996)

Ewan McGregor dove headfirst into the infamous toilet to chase a suppository. The tank he disappears into was a specially built set filled with a thick mix of chocolate and other food products that created the sludge effect. He submerged completely to sell the illusion of a pipe crawl. The smell was controlled but the texture was convincingly foul.

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

Kate Capshaw handled hundreds of live insects during the tunnel scenes. For the dinner sequence she placed real bugs in her mouth and then spit them out on cue. Entomology wranglers kept species safe and contained while cameras ran. The sheer volume of crawling insects made containment and resets difficult between takes.

‘The Texas Chain Saw Massacre’ (1974)

Marilyn Burns had her finger cut for real in the dinner scene after prop rigs kept failing. The moment produced actual blood that ended up on camera. Cast and crew also worked in a hot room with rotting food and animal parts that caused nausea and headaches. The oppressive conditions gave the sequence its sweaty, sickly atmosphere.

‘Stand By Me’ (1986)

The leech scene used real leeches placed on the actors’ skin. The creatures were applied by trained handlers and removed carefully after the shots. Makeup added extra fake leeches to fill out the look, but the wriggling movement is genuine. The water was controlled on set to limit health risks.

‘Cannibal Holocaust’ (1980)

Actors participated in scenes that used real animal killings, including the butchering of a large turtle. The production filmed the acts directly and integrated them into the narrative. The decision led to lasting controversy and legal scrutiny. Several countries restricted or banned the film for extended periods.

‘The Human Centipede’ (2009)

Actors performed while attached to silicone prosthetics that forced prolonged crawling and close contact. The setup required them to keep their faces inches from other performers’ bodies for extended stretches. Scenes that imply waste used chocolate based mixtures that smeared into costumes and props. The physical strain and humiliation were part of the on set challenge.

‘Apocalypse Now’ (1979)

The water buffalo slaughter shown near the end was a real ritual killing filmed by the crew. Actors were present for the practical effect of blood and movement with no visual effects added. Earlier in production Martin Sheen cut his hand for real when he struck a mirror in a hotel room scene. The blood on his arm in that moment is his own.

‘Swiss Army Man’ (2016)

Paul Dano spent long periods handling a heavy silicone corpse dummy coated with slick fluids. The prop leaked simulated gases and liquids for gags that required multiple resets. Scenes on the beach and in the forest left sand and debris stuck in the slime. The mess soaked through wardrobe and required frequent cleanups.

‘The Lighthouse’ (2019)

Robert Pattinson forced himself to retch and worked with buckets of cold water to create sputtering vomit and drool. He also ate clumps of dirt and mud for shots that needed grime in the mouth. The film relied on practical weather and seawater that soaked the actors repeatedly. The harsh elements kept faces raw and crusted on camera.

‘Alive’ (1993)

Cast members filmed scenes of survival cannibalism by eating specially prepared meat designed to mimic human flesh. The kitchen team used cuts and seasonings that looked convincing under cold mountain lighting. Actors discussed texture and bite to keep reactions consistent across angles. The scenes were shot at altitude where low temperatures made the food firm and unappealing.

‘The Exorcist’ (1973)

Pea soup vomit rigs blasted actors at close range and the mixture often landed in mouths and eyes. The blend used canned soup that produced a strong smell under hot lights. Linda Blair wore intrusive dental and eye appliances that trapped residue after takes. Cleanup took time and the set kept spare costumes ready for fast changes.

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

Andy Serkis bit into a real raw fish for Gollum’s streamside meal. The production sourced a safe fish and shot quickly to limit exposure. He held it in his mouth long enough for visible chewing and gagging. The crew kept warm water and towels on hand between attempts.

‘The Green Inferno’ (2013)

Eli Roth’s team staged gore scenes with practical effects that included real animal product props for texture. Actors worked with sticky blood mixes that clung to hair and skin for hours. The jungle humidity made the smell stronger as days wore on. Many setups required full body cleanups before resetting wardrobe.

‘The Elephant Man’ (1980)

John Hurt spent many hours trapped under heavy prosthetics that collected sweat and adhesive residue. The appliances covered his mouth and restricted breathing which caused drool to pool inside. Removal at the end of the day peeled skin and left glue patches that needed solvent. The buildup of moisture and odor made long shooting days uncomfortable.

‘Raging Bull’ (1980)

Robert De Niro took real punches in controlled flurries to capture sweat and blood spray in slow motion. Nose tubes delivered blood that he let pool in his mouth for specific hits. He kept the liquid between takes to match continuity on action repeats. The mixture stained teeth and gums and needed constant rinsing after camera cuts.

Share the wildest example you have seen in a film and tell us in the comments what moment made your stomach churn the most.