# What/Who are the best "Chewing the Scenery" Films/Actors? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 9, 2017, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-who-are-the-best-chewing-the-scenery-films-actors/779359 "2017-02-09T00:12:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-who-are-the-best-chewing-the-scenery-films-actors/779359/61 "2017-02-10T21:41:58Z")
> [@Banksiaman](#): > > Serial offender - Ben Kingsley in _Sexy Beast_. Definitely! I’d forgotten that one. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-who-are-the-best-chewing-the-scenery-films-actors/779359/62 "2017-02-10T22:44:29Z")
He’s no, say, careworn Jon Voight in _Coming Home_, or a volatile/introspective Jack Nicholson in _Five Easy Pieces_, but I thought Sid Haig in _Star Crash_ quite memorably ate up every scene like it was a deep-dish pizza dying to get slurped/vacuumed with Wellesian:p thoroughness. And, to assure the OP - SH _six trillion per cent_ enhanced the film with his formidable presence. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-who-are-the-best-chewing-the-scenery-films-actors/779359/63 "2017-02-10T22:47:51Z")
> [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](#): > > Christopher Walken in _Pulp Fiction_. Walken is also in a little B-movie called [The Prophecy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Prophecy), in which he plays the angel Gabriel, against Viggo Mortensen as Lucifer. Walken’s performance is really over-the-top, but great fun. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-who-are-the-best-chewing-the-scenery-films-actors/779359/64 "2017-02-10T23:48:53Z")
> [@Eddie The Horrible](#): > > He’s no, say, careworn Jon Voight in _Coming Home_, or a volatile/introspective Jack Nicholson in _Five Easy Pieces_, but I thought Sid Haig in _Star Crash_ quite memorably ate up every scene like it was a deep-dish pizza dying to get slurped/vacuumed with Wellesian:p thoroughness. Jon Voight’s an interesting case. Overacting-but-great: **Anaconda**. Overacting-but-terrible: **Ray Donovan**. ---
**Author:** ![D.E.S.K.Top668](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@D.E.S.K.Top668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D.E.S.K.Top668)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2017, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-who-are-the-best-chewing-the-scenery-films-actors/779359/65 "2017-02-11T00:29:52Z")
Not a great movie, but I’ll never forget Raul Julia in Street Fighter, playing M. Bison. After reading [this (Cracked Article Link, scroll down to #1)](http://www.cracked.com/blog/the-4-best-moments-in-worst-movies-ever-made/), I can’t even begin to describe his performance 1/100th as well a Luke Mckinney did, so here’s a (very few) quotes from the article. > [@](#): > > He was known for playing physically slight, foppishly demented lunatics, and was absolutely the worst physical casting choice for psychic crimelord, brick shithouse M. Bison. And he was the only person who knew that. > [@](#): > > He realized that his very presence meant the whole movie was a pantomime, and thought it was so staggeringly obvious he didn’t bother telling his fellow cast. > [@](#): > > The sets were so cheap because they had to be replaced after he had eaten them in their entirety with every take. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2017, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-who-are-the-best-chewing-the-scenery-films-actors/779359/66 "2017-02-11T01:23:06Z")
> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > The other one that come immediately to mind is Brian Blessed I think you’ll find his name is actually BRIAN **BLESSED**. All caps not optional. ---
**Author:** ![GinoC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f4b2a3/32.png) [@GinoC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GinoC)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2017, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-who-are-the-best-chewing-the-scenery-films-actors/779359/67 "2017-02-11T01:50:48Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Charlton Heston. My first thought also, but he’s still one of my favourites of all time. ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2017, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-who-are-the-best-chewing-the-scenery-films-actors/779359/68 "2017-02-11T02:05:27Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Anthony Hopkins in “Silence of the Lambs”. Most people are surprised to learn that he was only on screen for 16 minutes total, but he’s been a serious ham in other films, as well. Man he annoys me. He plays the same character in every movie(except for Remains of the Day). He looks out the window or across some vista - and delivers a parable monologue. Fuck your wisdom Anthony. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2017, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-who-are-the-best-chewing-the-scenery-films-actors/779359/69 "2017-02-11T02:12:27Z")
The OP won his own thread with Brian Blessed in Flash Gordon! “BRING ME THE REMOTE CONTROL!” Shit, now I gotta go watch that again tonight. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2017, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-who-are-the-best-chewing-the-scenery-films-actors/779359/70 "2017-02-11T03:55:15Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Walken is also in a little B-movie called [The Prophecy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Prophecy), in which he plays the angel Gabriel, against Viggo Mortensen as Lucifer. Walken’s performance is really over-the-top, but great fun. I remember thinking that Viggo acted like he made up his lines in that film…and was gratifyed to later find out that was sorta true. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_John_Marcej)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2017, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-who-are-the-best-chewing-the-scenery-films-actors/779359/71 "2017-02-11T04:08:42Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > Jon Voight’s an interesting case. Overacting-but-great: **Anaconda**. Overacting-but-terrible: **Ray Donovan**. You can’t bring up Jon Voight chewing the scenery without mentioning his role in **Runaway Train** ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2017, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-who-are-the-best-chewing-the-scenery-films-actors/779359/72 "2017-02-11T04:25:24Z")
No mention of Denzel Washington? Training Day- “KING KONG AIN"T GOT SHIT ON ME!!” Malcom X - “WE DIDN"T LAND ON PLYMOUTH ROCK! PLYMOUTH ROCK LANDED ON US!!” ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2017, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-who-are-the-best-chewing-the-scenery-films-actors/779359/73 "2017-02-11T04:44:58Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > Sir Antony Hopkins in pretty much every scene of his in Westworld. > > Also, James Spader as Ultron in “Age of” Between Spader, Hemsworth, Renner, Bettany, Olsen, Cheadle and Serkis I thought I was watching an all you can eat buffet made from scenery. Health Ledger as The Joker Gary Oldman in Leon / The Professional ---
**Author:** ![bmoak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@bmoak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bmoak)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2017, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-who-are-the-best-chewing-the-scenery-films-actors/779359/74 "2017-02-11T04:57:55Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Gary Oldman in Leon / The Professional “Matty. Bring me everyone.” “Everyone?” “EEEVERRYONNNE!!!” ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2017, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-who-are-the-best-chewing-the-scenery-films-actors/779359/75 "2017-02-11T07:25:08Z")
Peter Jurasik as Londo Mollari in Babylon 5. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2017, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-who-are-the-best-chewing-the-scenery-films-actors/779359/76 "2017-02-11T08:47:53Z")
No pussyfooting around with Robert Duvall’s character in _The Great Santini_. Damn that incredible Rene Soutendyk in _Spetters_ and especially _The Fourth Man_ didn’t even need to _try_ to chew up any scenery - all she had to do was just simply…be, in each and every frame. That wicked, sparkly-eyed smile would gobble up any scene. Maybe not the most histrionic performance, but Yul Brynner kinda had a way of sucking all the oxygen out of the room in the original _Westworld_. Terence Stamp in _The Limey_. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2017, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-who-are-the-best-chewing-the-scenery-films-actors/779359/77 "2017-02-11T10:16:48Z")
Jon Lovitz in _A League of Their Own_. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2017, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-who-are-the-best-chewing-the-scenery-films-actors/779359/78 "2017-02-11T11:17:38Z")
Anjelica Huston in _The Witches_. ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2017, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-who-are-the-best-chewing-the-scenery-films-actors/779359/79 "2017-02-11T11:54:27Z")
Derek Jacobi won a best guest actor Emmy for his [over-the-top](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43ilXxZz1RU) Hamlet performance on Frasier. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2017, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-who-are-the-best-chewing-the-scenery-films-actors/779359/80 "2017-02-11T12:07:40Z")
No mention of Charles Laughton? _Mutiny o\*\*n the Bounty_? Electrifying. How about Andy Griffith in _A Face in the Crowd_? Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon also come to mind. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-who-are-the-best-chewing-the-scenery-films-actors/779359.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-who-are-the-best-chewing-the-scenery-films-actors/779359.md?page=5)