Filed under: Top Tens

Top Ten Greatest Movie Punches

He's down for the count!

Dirty look = Punched

Video courtesy of Universal Pictures

The 1977 hockey comedy Slap Shot starring Paul Newman is a decent enough film at the start, but once Jeff, Steve and Jack Hanson take the ice it turns into something special. While the boys offer up their own brand of punishment throughout the film there is a singular punch that stands out among the rest. Before the game had even started Steve Hanson didn't need much more than a shifty evil-eye from #2 to set him off. The second time around #2's face met #17's fist and the rest is history.

After watching the short clip included here you can see the Hanson brothers' debut right here.

"You got knocked the fuck out!"

Video courtesy of New Line Cinema

I first saw Friday at a dollar theater back in 1995 and I remember it vividly as it was the rowdiest crowd I had ever seen a movie with and I remember this punch as the only moment in my movie watching history I allowed myself to truly lose it in public. A combination of a rambunctious crowd and a truly hilarious moment had me standing up and cheering along with about 30 or 40 other people in my section, not to mention everyone else in the audience.

When Deebo (Tommy 'Tiny' Lister) punches Red (DJ Pooh) and Smokey (Chris Tucker) runs over and stands directly over the camera and yells in that high squeal, "You got knocked the fuck out!" I was cheering with the rest of them.

"You can't park that animal over there…"

Video courtesy of Warner Bros.

I have no idea if Conan's camel punch was inspired by Mongo's (Alex Karras) decking of a horse in Mel Brooks' 1974 Blazing Saddles, but I am sure most anyone that saw the title of this top ten list immediately thought of this classic haymaker.

I guess you could debate on how fair it really is to have two animal sluggings in the top ten, but I had to include Conan's camel bashing and any guy that can stroll into town on the back of a white bull, slug a horse and survive an exploding candygram and in the end find a friend and utter such poetic words as "Mongo only pawn… in game of life," deserves a spot on this list.

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Post #1
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The only ones I can get off the top of my head right now are T3, when TX punches through the guy's chest and drives the car (I was like, holy shit), and Temple of Doom (which I rewatched a couple of days ago), when Indy in search of the antidote accidentally punches some woman in the face. Those arguably deserve to be in the Top 10, but are pretty memorable, especially the former.

Aside from that, I can't think of one that you haven't mentioned. Btw, in my opinion the punch from Matrix Revolutions totally deserves to be on that list.

- Nick
( June 1st, 2009 | 1:12 am )
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Post #2
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God I love 'Snatch'. I actually like the uppercut Mickey took as the best punch in a movie. Obviously it's one of our protagonists getting "knocked the FUGGOUT!" but it's just one of the coolest effects I've ever seen in a fight sequence. One of those moments where you just go "…wow." when you see it.

Great, now I have to watch that movie again.

- Trevor
( June 1st, 2009 | 1:42 am )
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Post #3
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How about "Diggstown" when Lou Gossett Jr. was fighting his 10th boxer of the day (for a bet), James Woods put his thumb down (watch the movie to understand) and the guy just stopped and as Gossett Jr. knocked him out. James Woods and Bruce Durn where good in that movie. Some good quotes to like "He's bigger than you are. He's tougher. He's faster. He's younger than you are. He hasn't fought 22 rounds today, but remember this… you are BLACK!. What the hell is that supposed to mean?. I don't know. I mean it's… I'm trying to inspire you. It's a Roots kinda thing. It's a motivation thing. Well, you're s**t at motivation."

- Steve
( June 1st, 2009 | 3:39 am )
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Post #4
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Conan the Barbarian was awful? I beg to differ.

The movie actually did very well at the theaters and for better or worse sparked the 80's sword and sandal B-movie movement. I'm not saying Conan was Citizen Kane or anything but it stuck to the source material and was a crowd pleaser.

- oldskool138
( June 1st, 2009 | 5:19 am )
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Post #5
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you forgot about bruce willis in last boy scout, and the one-hit-death scene

- Jan
( June 1st, 2009 | 5:24 am )
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Post #6
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I want to give props to Steve for Diggstown. Highly underrated movie.

Snatch is crazy good, and that scene is classic. I don't see anyone doing it better than that.

- laremy
( June 1st, 2009 | 8:58 am )
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Post #7
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The scene from Wanted where he hits Chris Pratt upside the head with the computer keyboard and the letters off the board spell F— You. Not exactly a punch, but still awesome.

- joker47
( June 1st, 2009 | 9:04 am )
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Post #8
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What about that punch in punch-drunk love that sandler gives the first brother it looks so real!

- Gene
( June 1st, 2009 | 9:28 pm )
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Post #9
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i was just wondering how many times have you guys seen snatch? it kinda gets boring after a couple of watches. the max i did was 3, now i have the dvd, but i never touch it, last time i seen it was 2 yrs ago.

- ddurden33
( June 2nd, 2009 | 12:51 am )
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Post #10
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anyone remember when billy zane punched through the sherrifs head in demon knight?

gold jerry!

- scott
( June 2nd, 2009 | 2:12 am )
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Post #11
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@ddurden33: Haven't watched it for two years? Well there's your first problem… dust it off durden and enjoy. :)

- Brad Brevet (Post Author)
( June 2nd, 2009 | 3:29 am )
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Post #12
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I dont know if it truly qualifies, but the fight seen from They Live. Also My Cousin Vinnie when JP comes off the ground to knock that guy out that had been hassling him.

- jontuesday
( June 2nd, 2009 | 12:16 pm )
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Post #13
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"That's for John Lennon, you yankee-fuckin-cunt"
Ray punches the Canadians, In Bruges!

- GregM
( June 2nd, 2009 | 6:58 pm )
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Post #14
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Hey Brad, this top ten list is fantastic. Back to the Future is one of my favorite movies of all tie, and no punch affected the outcome of a movie more than that punch by McFly. I like the Son in Law Reference too. You can post this to our site http://www.toptentopten.com/ and link back to your site. We are trying to create a directory for top ten lists where people can find your site. The coolest feature is you can let other people vote on the rankings of your list.

- Vince
( June 3rd, 2009 | 2:19 am )
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Post #15
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A little bit off topic, but in the Conan clip…did anyone else notice the dude in the background screwing the llama in the butthole? It's totally there. Conan even comments on it as he passes by.

- JohnMcH
( June 3rd, 2009 | 10:03 am )
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Post #16
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roger dorn on ricky vaughn in major league was good, that double punch russel crowe threw against joaquin in gladiator was pretty tight. I think the top 10's pretty good though.

- loxmang
( June 3rd, 2009 | 12:50 pm )
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Post #17
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I thought the slow motion punch Neo delivers to Smith through the rain droplets from Matrix Revolutions was worth a mention, the movie may have sucked, but that was a great punch.

- Nick
( June 3rd, 2009 | 10:11 pm )
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Post #18
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A few that come to mind:

–Lois Lane punching out a depowered Ursa at the end of Superman II
–Sgt. Hulka having a "discussion" with Bill Murray's John Winger in the bathroom in Stripes
–Bill Murray joyfully punching out Ned the insurance guy upon meeting him again for the (?)th time in Groundhog Day.
–Batman punching out the Joker's chattering teeth in Batman
–Jerry Mitchell knocking out Buddy Revell with his own brass knuckles in Three O'Clock High

And I have to back up the "Diggstown" love, as that ending is classic.

- Chewtoy
( June 6th, 2009 | 10:21 am )
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Post #19
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No mention of Bruce Lee anywhere?

- bjh
( August 26th, 2009 | 12:58 am )
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Post #20
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Gotta say that the Mickey breaking Gorgeous' jaw at the beginning of Snatch carries slightly less dramatic weight but is a far more devastating punch than the one that closes the movie. No one will ever read this, but I'm compelled.

- Slayerformayor
( September 9th, 2009 | 2:45 pm )
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Post #21
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John Wayne's last punch to Victor McLaughlin in their cross-country fight in THE QUIET MAN. It was in a bar, and it was a memorable shot the way Wayne's fist was drawn back towards the viewer before the punch was thrown. It gave it a great sense of anticipation and power.

- wmadavis
( October 29th, 2009 | 4:26 am )
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