I love a good behind-the-scenes fact — even more so when it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. To that end, I've decided to gather some of the most heartwarming, emotionally impactful, and just plain cute movie facts that I really enjoy.
Here are 63 heartwarming movie facts that make the films that much better!
1.Rihanna was originally not interested in returning to music quite yet to contribute to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. However, she was so moved by the trailer for the film that she decided to cut short her hiatus and not only cowrote "Lift Me Up" to reflect her own experience with motherhood, but also collaborated on “Born Again" for the film.
2.After being asked to score Schindler's List and seeing a cut of the film, John Williams actuallyhad to take a walk to compose himself. He claimed that he wasn't talented enough for the momentous, important job ahead of him and that there had to be someone better — director Steven Spielberg replied, "I know, but they're all dead."
3.Robin Williams's brother has acameo in Mrs. Doubtfire as the pool bartender. IRL, he founded a winery.
4.The iconic Marvel line "He's a friend from work" from Thor: Ragnarok was actually suggested by a Make-a-Wish kid who was visiting the set.
5.And another iconic Marvel line (that's much more heartbreaking) — "I love you 3,000" — was put in the film because it's something Robert Downey Jr.'s real-life son used to say to him.
6.One more cute Marvel fact: The actors love to play Boggle together on set. Paul Rudd and Don Cheadle are great, but Mark Ruffalo is terrible, according to Chris Evans.
7.Christopher Lee was a MASSIVELord of the Rings fan and had actually even met J.R.R. Tolkien at a bar in the 1950s. He reread the books every year, and he could recite passages from memory.
8.Also, he'd originally wanted to play Gandalf — though Ian McKellen was already in talks for the role. Once Lee ended up on set (playing Saruman) alongside McKellen, he told McKellen that he'd wanted his role but he was "perfectly happy to be in an ‘Ian McKellen film.’” McKellen said back, "But not as thrilled as I am — to be in a ‘Christopher Lee movie!’” The two became good friends, and McKellen wrote a tribute to Lee when he died.
9.In contrast with Lee, Viggo Mortensen only took on the Lord of the Rings role of Aragorn because his son was a fan of the book series and convinced him.
