In terms of a feel-good cinematic moment that lives long in the audience’s memory, there are few scenes that can top amovie moment where reinforcements arrive at the last minute; a technique that has been used by some of thebest movies of all time.Providing a welcome reprieve out of left field just when all appears to be lost, these uplifting sequences conjure up a happy ending in circumstances where such a conclusion didn’t even seem like a possibility just mere seconds earlier.
From powerful heroes unexpectedly arriving on the scene of a blockbuster showdown to army reinforcements showing up to save the day just as the battle appears lost, this technique has been implemented to great effect by an array of genres, from thebest superhero moviesall the way to thefinest war movies of all time.While such unashamedly feel-good scenes inevitably attract allegations of cheesy filmmaking, the best movie moments that see back up arrive at the last minute effortlessly sidestep such pitfalls with a timeless and beloved scene that lives long in the viewers' memory.
Lone Survivor
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Lone Survivor is a dramatization of the United States Navy SEALs' Operation Red Wing, an unsuccessful military operation that aimed to track down the leader of the Taliban. The film follows the four-man SEAL team, and the danger and psychological strain they faced on their mission.
A visceral action war drama from Peter Berg,Lone Survivor’ssubject matter feels considerably more hard-hitting than the average genre outing given that the movie is based on the real life tragedy of Operation Red Wings. Despite an array ofheroic acts throughoutLone Survivor, three-quarters of an elite Navy SEAL team and a helicopter full of reinforcements are killed in harrowing fashion. As such, the moment where the cavalry finally arrives in the final act lands with that little extra bit of emotional resonance.
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With the Taliban mounting a brutal offensive to get their hands on Mark Wahlberg’s Marcus Luttrell,Apache helicopters arrive on the scene to annihilate his tormentors in unashamedly patriotic fashion.An explosive sequence heavy with emotion given the overarching tragedy of the wider movie, Luttrell even has time for a tearful farewell with his Afghan savior, Mohammad Gulab, and his son, before he is evacuated after one of cinema’s most memorable and feel-good"reinforcements arriving"moments.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix follows Harry’s return to Hogwarts for his fifth year, where he finds himself disbelieved about Lord Voldemort’s return. As a result, Harry takes initiative, forming a group of students to master defense against dark forces, facing opposition from the Ministry of Magic.
The fifth installment in the wildly successfulseries ofHarry Pottermovies,2007’sHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenixsees the titular character and his friends landed in a disastrous predicament after Harry is lured into a Death Eaters' trap by an array of visions orchestrated by Voldemort. Fortunately, the character that Harry thought was in danger is ironically the one to save him in one of the franchise’s most memorable sequences, with Sirius Black spearheading an epic rescue effort from the Order of the Phoenix.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenixmarked the third and final appearance in the series for Gary Oldman’s Sirius Black.
With Harry’s friends held at wand-point by an array of Voldemort’s most dangerous faces,the Order triumphantly Apparate into the Department of Mysteries to turn the tables on the Death Eatersin a notably feel-good moment. Tragically, the elation doesn’t last for long, with Sirius killed by Bellatrix Lestrange shortly afterward, but the Order’s timely materialization remains one of cinema’s most beloved examples of back up arriving to save the day.
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is a 2009 science fiction action film and the sequel to Transformers. Directed by Michael Bay, it follows Sam Witwicky, played by Shia LaBeouf, as he is drawn back into the conflict between Autobots and Decepticons due to mysterious symbols affecting his mind.
To say thatMichael Bay’sTransformersmovieshave never been Oscar material would be putting it mildly, but the wildly commercially successful sci-fi action franchise has never been short on epic moments. One of these takes the form of back up arriving in blockbuster fashion to save the world, as the Autobots' leader Optimus Prime returns from the dead to defeat Megatron and foil the Decepticons' plans to destroy the planet.
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallenmarked Megan Fox’s final franchise appearance.
Resurrected by the Matrix, Prime is bolstered by the mortally wounded Jetfire’s partsfor additional flight and firepower, resulting in a showdown of titanic proportions. The souped-up Autobot proceeds to put Megatron out of action and decimate the Fallen in a CGI battle for the ages, rounding off one of cinema’s most epic scenes where back up arrives with the immortally cheesy soundbite of"I rise…you fall."
Avatar
Avatar is a 2009 science fiction film directed by James Cameron. Set in the 22nd century, it follows a paraplegic Marine sent to the moon Pandora on a mission. He becomes conflicted between his orders and defending the indigenous Na’vi civilization.
The first in a planned series of five movies, 2009’sAvataris one of the most commercially successful films of all time. While James Cameron’s sci-fi epic has received some criticism over allegations of plagiarism and a purported white savior narrative, the Sam Worthington-led movie remains a staple of the genre that received generally positive reviews to go with the film’s commercial accolades.
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Avatar: The Way of Water(2022)
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Cameron’s movie also features a notably rousing sequence where reinforcements arrive, although they aren’t of the traditional variety. With the end appearing to be nigh for the vastly outnumbered and outgunned Na’vi offensive,Pandora’s wildlife comes to the rescue in one of the movie’s most visually arresting and rousing scenes.The human villains are obliterated in spectacular fashion by an array ofAvatar’smost formidable movie animals, signaling the start of an unlikely turnaround for our heroes.
Avengers: Infinity War
Avengers: Infinity War brings together the Avengers and their allies to face a new threat from the cosmos, Thanos, who seeks to collect the Infinity Stones. The film, part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, unites numerous superhero characters in a battle to prevent Thanos' ambition of altering reality itself.
The Russo Brothers needed a spectacular wild card to change the course ofAvengers: Infinity War’sclimactic battle sequence, and the return of Chris Hemsworth’s Thor represented the perfect option for a crowd-pleasing triumph. The God of Thunder had last been seen getting half-fried in his attempts to forgethe hammer Stormbreaker,so this marked a spectacular confirmation that the Asgardian was alive and kicking.
…Thor blasts his way onto the battlefield in spectacular manner befitting of his name, accompanied by an apocalyptic bolt of lightning and flanked by Groot and Rocket.
Despite a valiant attempt, the Avengers and the Wakandan forces are on the verge of being overwhelmed by Thanos' army before Thor blasts his way onto the battlefield in a spectacular manner befitting of his name,accompanied by an apocalyptic bolt of lightning and flanked by Groot and Rocket.Roaring"Bring me Thanos!“in a guttural fury, Thor’s triumphant touch-down in Wakanda to turn the battle’s tide is one of cinema’s most epic character introductions and never fails to elicit goosebumps.
Saving Private Ryan
Saving Private Ryan: Directed by Steven Spielberg, this World War II drama follows Captain John Miller, portrayed by Tom Hanks, as he leads a group of U.S. soldiers on a mission to rescue Private James Ryan, the sole surviving brother of four, from behind enemy lines in German-occupied France.
One of themost historically accurate WWII moviesever made, 1998’sSaving Private Ryanconcludes with a classic"reinforcements arriving"scene in the context of a war movie; an overwhelming sense of relief sharply juxtaposed against a sense of poignant melancholy in light of the massive human cost. The climactic act of Steven Spielberg’s seminal outing sees a vastly outnumbered American force attempt to hold the strategically important town of Ramelle against an enormous German offensive.
Most of the defenders are killed in the brutal and spectacular battle that ensues, compounding the incredible sense of relief when the cavalry charge in at the very last second to save the day. Reinforcements arrive to crush the German attack at the literal last second, with Tom Hanks' Captain Miller on the verge of being obliterated by a tank beforea Mustang swoops out of the sky to blow the war machine sky-high.However, considering Miller and most of the movie’s main characters ultimately don’t make it, this is one of cinema’s most notably poignant examples.
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones
Years after the events of The Phantom Menace, the Skywalker Saga continues with Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones. When Senator Padme Amidala’s life is threatened, Jedi Knights Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker are tasked with her protection. While Obi-Wan uncovers a clone army made in secret, Anakin falls in love with Padme, marking the beginning of his inevitable fall to the dark side of the Force.
While theStar Warsprequelsmay have never come close to eclipsing the dizzying heights of the original trilogy, 2002’sStar Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clonesfeatures one of the franchise’s most stirring sequences. This scene comes when the walls appear to have closed in irrevocably for our heroes, with Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Padmé faced with near certain death when they find themselves surrounded by droidekas in the Geonosian arena.
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Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith(2005)
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Fortunately,Attack of the Clonespossesses one of the best"reinforcements arriving"scenes in cinema courtesy of a fist-pumping double whammy. In the first instance, Mace Windu arrives on the scene to reveal that the arena is actually full of Jedi, but when he and his initial reinforcements are overpowered and outnumbered,Yoda ups the ante by swooping in with a horde of clone trooper gunships to save the day.Shamelessly exemplifying the cheesy nature ofAttack of the Clones, the scene is such a first-rate crowd-pleaser that it never fails to entertain.
Avengers: Endgame
Avengers: Endgame, directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, concludes the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Infinity Saga. It follows the remaining Avengers as they attempt to reverse the destruction caused by Thanos, navigating complex dynamics and forging alliances to restore balance to the universe.
Avengers: Endgamecontentiously represented the pinnacle for the MCU, with a valid argument to be made that the franchise has steadily slid downhill in terms of quality and innovation ever since. With that being said, the conclusion to the franchise’s Thanos story line was the MCU at its blockbuster best. The 2019 movie houses one of cinema’s most electrifying scenes where reinforcements arrive, an immortal sequence that the franchise has been building to sinceIron Manfirst debuted in 2008.
With Chris Evans' Steve Rogers facing down Thanos and his gargantuan army alone, the restored casualties from the Blip arrive at the battlefield to increasingly rapturous applause.
With Chris Evans' Steve Rogers facing down Thanos and his gargantuan army alone,the restored casualties from the Blip arrive at the battlefield to increasingly rapturous applause.The Russo Brothers unashamedly flex the titanic might of their laundry list of A-Listers in endlessly crowd-pleasing style, a masterful scene capped off by a thunderous score from Alan Silvestri and Rogers' now immortal soundbite of:“Avengers…assemble.”
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is a Fantasy film by director Peter Jackson and is based on The Two Towers book by author J. R. R. Tolkien. A sequel to The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, this installment continues Frodo’s journey to take the One Ring to Mount Doom to destroy it.
Arguably cinema’s foremost authority when it comes to superb scenes where reinforcements arrive, Peter Jackson turns in one of his finest offerings in this regard against the backdrop of 2002’sThe Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. The climactic act of the trilogy’s second installment sees Rohan’s people under siege from Saruman’s hordes of Uruk-hai at the ancient fortress of Helm’s Deep,with Ian McKellen’s Gandalf arriving on the scene to save the day at the last possible second.
Silhouetted against the dawn,The Two Towers’endingsees the White Wizard arrive with Eomer and his force of Rohirrim just as Helm’s Deep’s defenders are on the verge of being overwhelmed. What follows is a truly glorious segment of cinema; a slow motion rendition of the cavalry charging down the hill against the backdrop of the divine tones of Howard Shore’s score, just in time to rout the Uruk-hai as they are blinded by the morning’s sunlight. A flawless sequence in every regard from start to finish.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
The final installment of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Return of the King concludes the epic saga of the Fellowship’s quest to destroy the One Ring and put an end to Sauron’s reign of terror. As Frodo and Sam continue on their way to Mordor and Mount Doom, accompanied by Gollom, the rest of the Fellowship work to defend Minas Tirith from Sauron’s forces. The film’s ensemble cast includes Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Ian McKellen, Vigo Mortensen, Orlando Bloom, John Rhys-Davies, Billy Boyd, and Dominic Monaghan.
The conclusive chapter in Peter Jackson’sThe Lord of the Ringstrilogy, 2003’sThe Lord of the Rings: The Return of the Kingplays host tocinema’s best movie moment where reinforcements arrive.The Army of the Dead’s triumphant introduction and the flight of the giant eagles both constitute worthy contenders, but popular culture’s most unforgettable and beloved example is undoubtedly the Ride of the Rohirrim; the triumphant arrival of Theoden and his armies to bolster Gondor’s defenses against the armies of Mordor.
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Bernard Hill’s charge proceeds to give one of the most rousing speeches in cinematic history, and if that somehow fails to give audiences goosebumps, 6000 Rohirrim roaring"Death!“at the top of their lungs certainly won’t. As Howard Shore’s masterful score begins to swell, audiences are virtually ready to leap out of their seats and join the charge. An inimitably uplifting and timeless scene that precedes one of cinema’s most epic battles, the Ride of the Rohirrim is one of the most unforgettable sequences in what is arguably the greatest movie trilogy of all time.
