50 Most Awkward Movie Moments

Bridget Jones' Diary (2001)

Look Away When: Trying to convince Bridget that the pants are not a turn-off, Daniel slimily says, "Hello, Mummy." Yuck.

Bananas (1971)

The Movie: This early Woody Allen sees the writer/director play Fielding Mellish, a reluctant revolutionary who just wants to marry Nancy (Louise Lasser).

The Awkward Moment: The Fielding Mellish honeymoon night - as shown live on TV by Wide World of Sports . "They approach each other cautiously - nothing unusual about that," exclaims presenter Howard Cosell.

Look Away When: Nancy tells Cosell, "He's not the worst I've had. He's not the best I've had, but he's not the worst."

When Harry Met Sally... (1989)

The Movie: Harry (Billy Crystal) and Sally (Meg Ryan) were meant for each other. They just won't admit it.

The Awkward Moment: The friends go on a double date - Sally with Jess (Bruno Kirby), Harry with Marie (Carrie Fisher). Neither has anything in common.

Look Away When: Harry and Marie exhaust a potential line of conversation within seconds, and go back to stony silence.

Rushmore (1998)

The Movie: Wes Anderson's breakthrough charts the life of precocious teenager Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman) and his undeclared love for teacher Miss Cross (Olivia Williams).

The Awkward Moment: Insane with misplaced jealousy, Max berates Miss Cross' old friend Dr Peter Flynn (Luke Wilson) when the latter is invited to dinner without Max's knowledge.

Look Away When: Max blurts out the truth when Miss Cross asks how she's hurt Max's feelings, and he tells her, "I'm in love with you."

American Beauty (1999)

The Movie: Sam Mendes' suburban satire revolves around the mid-life crisis and eventual murder of Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey) - but who killed him, and why?

The Awkward Moment: Lester's neighbour and closeted homosexual, Colonel Frank Fitts (Chris Cooper), gets the wrong idea and tries to kiss Lester.

Look Away When: The Colonel's face crumples into the sad realisation he's made a terrible mistake.

The Inbetweeners Movie (2011)

The Movie: Will, Simon, Neil and Jay hit Malia in the biggest Britcom success in years.

The Awkward Moment: Jay (James Buckley) introduces his mates to club etiquette - dance your way over to the girls you fancy.

Look Away When: Will (Simon Bird) joins in, looking like he's pretending to ride a horse.

Shame (2011)

The Movie: Steve McQueen's study of a self-loathing sex addict in New York is pretty much one long awkward moment, but if we had to choose…

The Awkward Moment: Brandon (Michael Fassbender) plays gooseberry as his boss David (James Badge Dale) hits on his sister Sissy (Carey Mulligan).

Look Away When: They all head back to Brandon's apartment, where Sissy and David audibly get down to business.

Goodfellas (1990)

The Movie: Scorsese's Mob masterpiece is a reminder that, while it's OK for Tommy DeVito (Joe Pesci) to bust his friends' balls, he can't take the same joke.

The Awkward Moment: Billy Batts (Frank Vincent) unwisely rattles Tommy by telling him to "go home and get your fuckin' shinebox."

Look Away When: Tommy returns - with murderous intent.

Parenthood (1989)

The Movie: Ron Howard's dramedy about a crazy suburban family is fit to bursting with a great cast - Steve Martin, Jason Robards, Dianne Wiest and Keanu Reeves amongst them.

The Awkward Moment: When there's a power cut during dinner, dad Gil (Martin) searches for the flashlight but finds his wife's dildo instead.

Look Away When: Daughter Taylor (Alisan Porter) remarks innocently, "It was kind of big." Grandma (Helen Shaw) replies, not so innocently, "it sure was."

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

The Movie: Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris' Oscar-winning debut sees the dysfunctional Hoover family travel cross-country to help daughter Olive (Abigail Breslin) pursue her beauty queen dream.

The Awkward Moment: Olive does her dance routine to Super Freak , and it's wildly inappropriate.

Look Away When: The family storms the stage and joins in with Olive.