The Power of Silence in Great Movies

Some of the best movies have a wide range of differences between each other. Take the following two films for example. According to the list “Best Movies of All Time” published from Rotten Tomatoes (take or leave their credibility) The Godfather is first on their list, while Toy Story 2 is in the tenth spot.

The Godfather is an American epic gangster film released in 1972, while Toy Story 2 is a children’s Disney movie about toys that embark on an epic rescue mission.

Both of these films are unique to each other in style, meaning, art, dialogue, maturity rating, characters, audience, etc. Yet, you’ll find these two movies within a small range of each other on many movie rating websites.

Many movies have important and notable dialogue. In the Godfather, you’ve probably heard a reference to the phrase "I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse." - Don Vito Corleone

In Casablanca, which is number 2 on that same list, you’ll find a lot of references to the phrase :Here’s looking at you, kid.”

Since the creation of movies with sound in the late 1920s, scenes with dialogue have been notable and important features in cinema, and have often given reason for what makes a movie someone’s favorite.

However, there’s more to movies than the important and sometimes witty dialogue. How often do we view a scene that has no words, or sometimes entire movies, and yet the scenes are filled with so much meaning and emotion.

Why are these scenes so important?

Scenes with no dialogue in movies are important because they tap into something deeper than words; they show instead of tell. These scenes can deliver emotional, visual, or thematic weight in a way that dialogue often can’t.

They express pure emotion.

Without dialogue, we're focused on facial expressions, body language, and music. This makes the emotion more universal and raw. Which means anyone, regardless of language, can understand it.

Carl and Ellie’s montage in Up says more about love, loss, and time than a thousand lines of dialogue ever could. It’s a scene that is significantly memorable for that, and I’m willing to bet that the first scene you thought of when I mentioned that movie was that very exact one.

They trust the audience.

Silent scenes treat the viewer as intelligent and emotionally aware, rather than stupid and like we need to be given every single detail like we’re babies. They invite you to observe, feel, and interpret rather than be told what to think.

They highlight different sound and silence.

With no talking, the focus shifts to sound design. You notice things like footsteps, breath, rustling leaves, music. Silence itself becomes a dramatic tool, building tension, awe, or calm.

A Quiet Place uses silence as a survival mechanism, turning every soft sound into a threat. This brings us to the edge of the seat, wondering what sound is too loud and what sounds are important to the scene. Every breath the characters make us feel like it could be their last one.

They transcend language barriers.

Silent moments communicate with everyone, no subtitles needed. That makes these scenes powerful across cultures and ages. WALL-E has very little dialogue, and almost no important dialogue from the main character. It captures loneliness and curiosity within our little friend without a single spoken word for much of the film.

They often feel more real.

In intense moments, with feelings of grief, awe, and fear, people often don’t speak. Silence is a natural response to shock or emotion. When films capture that, they feel more truthful. They remind us of our personal experiences and help us remember the importance of sitting with and processing our emotions.

Which brings me into the next point.

They give you space to feel.

Without dialogue filling every second, you have a chance to sit in the moment, reflect, and feel. It’s a pause that makes the scene, and often the film, more memorable.

In the movie Little Miss Sunshine, one of the characters finds out something that ruins his life dream. We sit in silence for a bit in the van as we experience the character’s grief with him.

In a world overflowing with dialogue and noise, silence in film becomes a powerful statement. It invites the audience to lean in, to feel rather than be told, and to connect on a deeper, more universal level. Whether it’s building tension, expressing emotion, or revealing truth, silence often says what words cannot and in doing so, it becomes one of cinema’s most profound storytelling tools.

So next time you are annoyed with an emotional scene dragging on too long or a scene where two characters seem to be just looking at each other, try to analyze what the storyteller is trying to tell us and what emotions we should be tuning in to. This can help us to not only become better film viewers, but also better people. Practicing these skills can have real-life implications and can help us understand intricate moments of silence in our real life.

What are your favorite silent scenes from a movie?

Credits:https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/best-movies-of-all-time/