From warehouse dance moves to intense dramatic scenes, Kevin Bacon has given us countless memorable moments throughout his career. Join us as we celebrate the versatile actor's most iconic screen performances! In honor of his new limited series "The Bondsman," we're counting down the scenes that defined his legacy across film and television.
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00:00Watch all episodes of The Bondsman, now streaming on Prime Video.
00:07Mr. Halloran, I'm here about your new job orientation.
00:10She knows things, Hub, about how you died and went to hell.
00:16Welcome to WatchMojo, and in honor of Kevin Bacon's turn as a demon hunter in the new
00:21limited series The Bondsman, we're looking at the actor's best moments on the big and
00:25small screens.
00:27This video contains six degrees of spoilers.
00:30Stay the hell away from my daughter!
00:32You stay away from my daughter!
00:34I don't even know you!
00:35Come on!
00:36Don't do it!
00:37Daddy!
00:38Daddy!
00:39Daddy!
00:40Number 10.
00:41Remain Calm, National Lampoon's Animal House.
00:42Audiences got their first taste of Bacon in this classic college comedy.
00:45Thank you, sir, may I have another?
00:49Thank you, sir, may I have another?
00:52Bacon played Chip Diller of the snobby Omega House, which the rebellious Delta House triumphs
00:57over in the chaotic climax.
00:58As all hell breaks loose during the homecoming parade, Chip directs the panicking crowd to
01:02remain calm.
01:03Remain calm!
01:04All is well!
01:05It's an image that really resonates in today's world, where a new crisis seems to break out
01:20every five minutes.
01:22Chip's chipper attitude eventually depletes as he comes to terms with the fact that all
01:27is not well.
01:28He's overwhelmed by the mob, who trample over Chip, resulting in one of the film's funniest
01:33visual gags.
01:34We guess you could say that Chip got flatlined.
01:43You may cringe, but we're quite proud of that pun.
01:48Number 9.
01:49Kidnapped on Christmas, The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special.
01:54Nobody plays Kevin Bacon better than Kevin Bacon, as evidenced on Will & Grace.
02:08Being stalked by Jack is one thing, getting kidnapped by aliens is another.
02:13To give Star-Lord the best Christmas ever, Mantis and Drax seek out his idol, Kevin Bacon.
02:19Things escalate quickly as the two Guardians commit a home invasion, among other crimes,
02:24culminating in Kevin's kidnapping.
02:37To their horror, they realize Bacon isn't the hero Peter described, but rather an actor.
02:43They've nevertheless come too far, delivering Peter's Christmas present in a scene that
02:47might be moving if it weren't for the whole hostage thing.
02:58Bacon is a good sport throughout, reminding us that he's not only a gifted comedic performer,
03:03but also has some singing chops.
03:21Number 8.
03:23Taking Chance.
03:34Bacon won a Golden Globe and SAG Award for his understated turn in this HBO movie.
03:39Portraying the real-life Lieutenant Colonel Michael Strobel, Bacon gives a layered performance
03:44as a Marine who respects the uniform and loyally serves his country.
03:48Having seen Little Combat, though, Strobel experiences survivor's guilt as others are
03:52called overseas during the Iraq War while he sits behind a desk.
04:05This looms over Strobel as he escorts the body of Marine Chance Phelps to his final
04:09resting place.
04:11Although Phelps is with him for much of the film, Strobel doesn't see the body until the
04:15third act.
04:16Without any dialogue, Bacon's face says everything as Strobel tearfully looks over a young life
04:22cut short, questioning if he could have done more.
04:40Number 7.
04:41Adapt to this, X-Men First Class.
04:52It's funny to think that in one Marvel universe, Kevin Bacon is himself.
04:56In another, he's one of the most sinister villains the X-Men have ever encountered.
05:11While Bacon looks like he's having the time of his life as Sebastian Shaw, he also paints
05:15a believable portrait of supremacy.
05:18Shaw demonstrates his natural charisma and power of persuasion when he tries recruiting
05:22several young mutants to the Hellfire Club.
05:25Minutes ago, these mutants were all friends.
05:28The next, opposing sides are picked as Shaw convinces Angel to join him.
05:40Although Shaw would be a dangerous force even without mutant abilities, his superpowers
05:45definitely up the stakes.
05:46When the others stand against him, Shaw leaves them with a blunt message.
05:51Either adapt with him or die.
06:03Number 6.
06:04A Bad Dream, Mystic River.
06:12This Clint Eastwood film centers on three childhood friends.
06:16Although now grown up, their shared trauma endures like cement.
06:20Bacon's detective Sean Devine seems like the most well-adjusted of the three.
06:24That's because he keeps everything on the inside.
06:27One nightmare seemingly comes to an end when Sean tracks down two killers.
06:31Little does he realize that Sean Penn's Jimmy has already exacted revenge against the wrong
06:36person, their mutual friend Dave.
06:52As Jimmy more or less confirms what he already suspects, Sean realizes this bad dream isn't
06:57over.
07:07While Penn and co-star Tim Robbins won Oscars, Bacon deserved more credit for his nuanced
07:12work as a voice of reason stuck in the middle of two old friends who experienced unspeakable
07:17heartache.
07:23Number 5.
07:31Different Kind of Nice Guy, The River Wild.
07:38We've seen Bacon play heroes, we've seen him as villains.
07:41This makes him the ideal candidate to play Wade, who's hiding something more devious
07:46behind his inviting grim.
07:48Bacon earned a Golden Globe nomination for his two-faced performance as a rafter slash
07:52robber who befriends a family on the river.
08:05Catching on, the family tries ditching Wade and his partner in crime Terry, only to get
08:09caught first.
08:10Although Wade is packing a gun, he takes more pleasure in beating young Rourke's father
08:15Tom while Terry restrains matriarch Gail.
08:26Showing just how evil he is, Wade nearly shoots the family dog and proves that he isn't above
08:31harming a child.
08:33Even after revealing his true colors, Wade still describes himself as a nice guy, just
08:38a different kind.
08:48Number 4.
08:49Chasing Maxine, Maxine.
09:00P.I.
09:01John Labatt is like a sleazier version of Jake Gittis from Chinatown.
09:07The titular Maxine even gives Labatt a nose injury similar to Jack Nicholson's.
09:18Labatt thinks he has the upper hand upon confronting Maxine on the Universal Studios lot.
09:23The chase takes them from an old western town to the Hill Valley set from Back to the Future
09:27to the Psycho House, with Maxine repeatedly slipping through Labatt's slimy fingers.
09:33Before an out-of-breath Labatt can go Norman Bates on her, security escorts him off the
09:37lot.
09:38Despite his creepy appearance and cocky attitude, Labatt is a bumbling fool outmatched by Maxine.
09:44As fun as Bacon is to watch, it's highly satisfying seeing Labatt's crushing comeuppance later.
09:54That's twice Bacon has been flattened.
10:09Number 3.
10:10The Woodsman.
10:25In possibly his most unsettling and heartbreaking performance, Bacon plays Walter, a convicted
10:30predator trying to turn his life around after serving time.
10:34Many are convinced somebody like him can't be rehabilitated or redeemed, which Walter
10:38also begins to believe.
10:40When Walter sits on a bench with a girl he's been following, we're uneasy to say the least.
10:45Even Walter is caught off guard when Robin reveals her father has been abusing her.
10:53It's oddly therapeutic as Robin confides in Walter, who finally comprehends the pain he's
10:58inflicted.
10:59When Robin gives Walter an embrace goodbye, we're not sure whether to be disturbed, touched,
11:04or devastated for both of these individuals.
11:06What we know for sure is that this is some of Bacon's most powerful work.
11:25Number 2.
11:26Can you fly, sucker?
11:27Tremors.
11:28Originally branded with an R rating, the Tremors team got it down to PG-13 by trimming some
11:40of the foul language.
11:41That might sound like a downgrade, but in this case, it arguably gave the movie more
11:45personality.
11:46The climax is a key example, as our heroes try to finish off one of the underground menaces
11:51that's been pursuing them.
12:01Struggling to blow the giant worm up, Bacon's Val improvises a solution.
12:05Luring it to a cliff, Val jumps out of the way just in time as the beast falls to a gruesome
12:11fate.
12:12Val sends the worm overboard with a one-liner that originally would've included a profanity.
12:16As much as we appreciate a carefully placed F-bomb, we actually think Sucker is funnier
12:20than, well, you know.
12:28Before we unveil our top pick, here are some honorable mentions.
12:32Transformation.
12:33Hollow Man.
12:34One of the most creative ways a character has turned invisible.
12:50Revenge.
12:51Sleepers.
12:52A corrupt guard gets his punishment.
13:12Receiving the call.
13:13Apollo 13.
13:15He'd react the same way about going to the moon.
13:44Opening statement.
13:45A few good men.
13:47You can't handle the Bacon.
14:06Jack's Death.
14:07Friday the 13th.
14:08Breaking the first rule of scary movies.
14:25Cutting Loose.
14:26Footloose.
14:33Whenever we think about dancing our troubles off, Kevin Bacon in a tank top immediately
14:37comes to mind.
14:39Bacon was catapulted to superstardom as Ren McCormack, a character who embodies why dance
14:44is a form of expression.
14:52Rocking out to Never by Moving Pictures, Ren unleashes all of his pent-up angst in a warehouse.
14:58He treats the setting as his own personal dance studio and playground, twisting, jumping,
15:03and swinging wherever the music takes him.
15:05Bacon didn't pull off the scene alone, having multiple stunt doubles and gymnasts for the
15:09more complicated moves.
15:24Bacon is the centerpiece, however.
15:26It's the exact moment that made Bacon a household name.
15:30Capturing Ren at both his most rebellious and graceful, the scene defined Bacon's career
15:35and a generation.
15:44What's your favorite Kevin Bacon moment?
15:45Are you looking forward to The Bondsman?
15:47Let us know in the comments.
15:55Watch all episodes of The Bondsman, now streaming on Prime Video.
16:00We'll see you next time.