History BreakingTheFourthWall / LiveActionFilms

*** Meta version: Dark Helmet also turns and looks out of the screen when they accidentally fast forward to the present moment in the movie, so the scene they're watching shows them watching the scene they're watching, in which it can be seen that they are watching the scene they're watching. Then all the iterations of the VHS scene feature Dark Helmet turning to look at Dark Helmet watching Dark Helmet except, presumably, the one that you're watching now ("this is now . . . what we're seeing now is happening now").

* ''Film/{{Get on Up}}'' seems to play around with this trope a bit. As his career progresses, James Brown will sometimes turn and speak directly to the camera, only occasionally interacting directly with his environment in order to further his explanations and theories. He never directly addresses the audience, or makes any sort of acknowledgement that he is in a movie (although, this IS a biographical drama, so such an idea would be in poor taste anyway), so it could be argued that this is simply his inner monologue, and not an example of this trope at all. Ultimately, it's up to you whether this is Brown talking to himself, or indirectly addressing the future generations who will pursue his history.

* In ''Film/TheAdventuresOfBuratino'', Papa Carlo sings about his future son: "to help me in my old age (looking directly at the camera) and to bring joy to you".

* In many of Creator/BobHope's comedies including the ''Film/RoadTo'' movies with Creator/BingCrosby, Bob and others break the fourth wall.

* In ''Film/FridayThe13thPart6'', the cemetery caretaker is standing at the empty grave of Jason. Assuming someone had taken his body as a prank, he looks directly at the audience and says, "Some people have a might strange idea of entertainment."

* In ''Film/PokemonDetectivePikachu'', Pikachu sings the [[https://youtu.be/JuYeHPFR3f0 theme]] to the Pokémon anime in sadness.
* The 1959 horror film ''The Tingler'' featured a creature that attached itself to people and fed on their adrenaline; screaming changed the quality of the adrenaline and left it unable to feed. Late in the movie, it escapes into a theater, and either Vincent Price (in regular theaters) or William Castle (in drive-in theaters screening the film) warns the real-life audience that it's loose in ''their'' theater and the only way to stop it is to scream for their lives (and to make things even better, these theaters had "Percepto", a vibrating device, installed in some of the chairs which activated with the onscreen action and made it seem like the Tingler really ''was'' loose there). After a bit, the film resumes with the voice-over saying the Tingler has been neutralized, and the film's epilogue follows.
* ''[[Film/Conspiracy2001 Conspiracy]]'': When asked to vote endorsement of the Wannsee Conference's proceedings (i.e. ''agreeing to kill every Jew in Europe''), Colin Firth's character looks straight at the camera:
--> '''Stuckart''': ''[[SarcasmMode Oh yes, what can I say? My enthusiasm is boundless.]]''
* ''Film/TheDeadDontDie'': Early on, the film's theme song is playing on the radio, with Cliff commenting on it sounding familiar and Ronnie explaining that "it's the theme song". And during the climax, [[spoiler: Ronnie reveals that he's been so pessimistic throughout the movie because he read the script and knew it would have a DownerEnding]].
* In ''The Adventures of Buratino'', Papa Carlo sings about his future son: "to help me in my old age (looking directly at the camera) and to bring joy to you".

* In the middle of Music/JustinBieber's documentary-concert film ''Never Say Never'', the singer and Jaden Smith break the fourth wall by telling the audience to pay attention to the film, and to stop making out in the back row of the cinema.
* Played seriously, and not exactly discreetly, in Oliver Stone's ''Film/{{JFK}}'' - Near the end, when Jim Garrison (Kevin Costner) is wrapping up his speech as to why he believes there is a conspiracy, and how the documents supporting that might one day be available to the public if the demand for the truth is loud enough, his gaze shifts to the viewer; "It's up to you."
* Walking with Monsters: Life Before Dinosaurs breaks the Fourth Wall rather often, having creatures walk up to and often interact with the 'camera'. And occasionally leave spit on the lens.
* In ''Film/TheTreasureOfTheSierraMadre'' the old prospector Howard (Walter Huston) is being wined and dined by indians for saving a child. He's swinging in a hammock, being fed meat and fruit and Tequila. Then a beautiful woman lights a cigarette for him and rubs his beard. He looks directly into the camera and shudders with amazement at his good fortune.
* ''Film/{{Hitchcock}}'' opens and closes with Hitch talking directly to the audience, in a ShoutOut to ''Series/AlfredHitchcockPresents''.
* In-universe aversion: near the end of ''{{Film/MASH}}'', Hawkeye is in Seoul to try to rescue Ho-Jon from the South Korean draft board. A news crew is taking interviews on the street of American servicemen, and the interviewer keeps saying "Don't look at the camera" (which would have broken the fourth wall for the viewers of the newsreel footage).
* In ''Film/LordOfWar'' the Book Ends feature Yuri talking directly to the audience.
* In ''Film/ManOfTheHouse'' a short, unexpected, brilliant one after the new air conditioning unit is installed.
* At the end of ''Film/XMenOriginsWolverine'' [[spoiler: Deadpool fishes his severed head out of the rubble, [[BreakingTheFourthWall looks straight at the audience, puts a finger to his lips and says "Shhh"]].]]
* Film/{{Get on Up}} seems to play around with this trope a bit. As his career progresses, James Brown will sometimes turn and speak directly to the camera, only occasionally interacting directly with his environment in order to further his explanations and theories. He never directly addresses the audience, or makes any sort of acknowledgement that he is in a movie (although, this IS a biographical drama, so such an idea would be in poor taste anyway), so it could be argued that this is simply his inner monologue, and not an example of this trope at all. Ultimately, it's up to you whether this is Brown talking to himself, or indirectly addressing the future generations who will pursue his history.
* ''Film/{{R100}}'': Starting at about the halfway mark, the film will occasionally cut to a focus group walking out of a movie theater to sit and discuss the film's plot so far. They obviously hate the film and point out many of the film's plot holes.
* In ''Film/TheHungerGamesMockingjayPart1'', the propaganda ad shot [[spoiler:right after the hospital bombing]] looks very similar to the trailers.
* Very briefly in TheStinger to ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanTheCurseOfTheBlackPearl''. After re-cursing itself, Jack the Monkey whips around, looks directly at the audience, and [[EatTheCamera Eats The Camera]].
* In ''Film/TheWolfOfWallStreet'' Jordan Belfort talks to the audience.
* ''Film/AlexanderNevsky'' (1938) is a Russian historical drama about the defeat of an invading German army in the Middle Ages. At the end, Alexander makes a speech about how people who forget the victory are Judases. He looks at the audience several times.
* ''Film/Gremlins2TheNewBatch'' has Hulk Hogan threatening the Gremlins for screwing with the film. The film you're watching, in the theater. Right now. Hulk then apologizes to the audience for breaking the movie. The home release of the film has the Gremlins messing with your VCR instead.
* In ''Film/TheBigShort,'' Jared Vennett (Ryan Gosling) breaks it frequently to address the audience, sometimes in the middle of a scene. Other characters do this as well, although not quite as much.
* In Friday the 13th Part 6, the cemetery caretaker is standing at the empty grave of Jason. Assuming someone had taken his body as a prank, he looks directly at the audience and says, "Some people have a might strange idea of entertainment."
* ''Film/{{Gozu}}'': The actress playing the gas station attendant's wife spoke hardly any Japanese and had to speak her lines phonetically. After suffering through her terrible delivery, one of the other actors breaks character to criticize her hopeless acting.
* In ''Film/ShirleyValentine'', adapted from a one-woman stage show, Shirley frequently addresses the audience directly, commenting on the action (and sometimes on the presentation -- at one point, while being seduced on a boat with nobody but the two of them for miles, she gets distracted wondering where the romantic music is coming from).
* ''Film/{{Trance}}'': Simon Newton directly addresses the audience at the beginning of the film, serving as our narrator.
* At the end of the [[Film/TheThreeStooges Three Stooges]] short "So Long Mr. Chumps", Moe and Larry are [[WorkingOnTheChainGang chipping stones]] on [[HardHead Curly's head]]. Larry starts to place another when Curly cries out, "Hey, wait a minute - that's a real one! I'm no fool!" [[note]]Larry even appears to start {{Corpsing}} during the FadeToBlack.[[/note]]
* ''Film/Deadpool2016'' doesn't so much break the fourth wall as take a bulldozer to the wall, burn it, and then explode the ashes.
-->'''Deadpool:''' ''[breaking the fourth wall in a flashback that he's already narrating to the audience]'' Fourth wall-break inside a fourth wall-break. That's like... ''sixteen walls''!
* In ''Film/DeadpoolNoGoodDeed'', when Creator/StanLee makes his standard cameo and says "Wow, nice suit!" during Deadpool's charge, Deadpool stops and shouts "Zip it, Stan Lee!" before continuing to run towards the scene of the crime he was trying to stop.
* ''Film/AGuideToRecognizingYourSaints'' has a sequence in the 1980s flashback where the supporting cast individually address the audience to announce their motivations. The entire film has a FramingDevice of the story being told at a book reading, giving it a weird justification.
* ''Film/SpyHard'': When Agent Steele goes to visit a female agent in a hotel room, he does an internal monologue the entire time, but she can somehow hear his voiceover.
* ''Film/TheBalladOfBusterScruggs'': Buster Scruggs speaks amiably to the audience throughout his chapter while ruthlessly gunning down various challengers.
* Near the end of ''Film/ReadyPlayerOne'', Halliday thanks Wade for playing his game, then pauses and nods to the audience, as if to thank them as well.
* In ''Film/BlackMirrorBandersnatch'', towards the end, when Stefan is asking the controller for a sign, it is possible to reveal to him that ''you'' are controlling his decisions, through the 21st Century streaming platform, Netflix. This results to an ending in which he and his psychiatrist talk about how if someone really is controlling Stefan in a movie, that it must be a really boring movie. [[spoiler: This leads to an over-the-top action fight between Stefan, his psychiatrist, and his father, which either ends with Stefan being dragged from the office, screaming about his friend from the future, or he tries to leap out a window, only to realize he can't, because the psychiatrist office is part of an actual movie set, and the window can't be opened. This latter ending results in Stefan's actor being entirely confused at the concept that everything up to this point was just a movie.]]
* A minor example occurs at the end of ''Film/TheBeastWithFiveFingers''. The Commissario makes a joke that must be directed at the audience because a) he is alone at the time, and b) the joke only works if you cannot see what is happening below the level of the camera.
* In ''Film/UpTheChastityBelt'', Lurkalot is constantly turning to the camera to make asides directly to the audience.

* The eponymous character in ''Kuffs'' talks to the audience throughout the movie, sometimes in the presence of other characters who fail to notice.
* In ''Film/TheNeverendingStory'', near the end, [[spoiler:the Childlike Empress tells Atreyu that as he was adventuring through Fantasia, the Earth-child Bastian was sharing his adventures by reading the story, then mentions that others are sharing Bastian's adventure, referencing the viewers]].
* Twice in the 2003 live-action adaptation of ''Film/PeterPan'', Smee addresses the audience, in both cases to remark on the story ("It's all a bit tragic, isn't it?" and "How exciting, two dead so far!") in progress.

* The Creator/MarxBrothers:
** In ''Film/HorseFeathers'', Groucho's putting the moves on Thelma Todd is interrupted by Chico's barging in. He launches into one of his piano numbers; Groucho steps up to the screen and tells us "You know, I've gotta stay here, but there's no reason you shouldn't go out to the lobby 'til this whole thing blows over!"
** Also, in ''The Big Store'', Groucho parades some beautiful women. One of them is wearing a red dress and he tells the audience that 'This dress is really bright red, but Technicolor is ''sooo'' expensive'.
** And in ''Go West'', after the brothers hijack a train and tie up the engineer, after putting a sock in his mouth, Groucho turns to the camera and says "You know this is the best gag in the picture?"
* In ''This Girl's Life'', the main character, Moon, breaks the fourth wall throughout the film, but this becomes a little confusing because her character is a webcam star who also talks to the camera from time to time. At times, it's not immediately obvious whether she's talking to the real audience or the webcam audience.
* In the Creator/IanMcKellen version of ''Film/RichardIII'', Richard ([=McKellen=]) often turns to the audience to comment on the action, following Shakespeare's script.
* In the old Music/DeanMartin[=/=]Music/FrankSinatra comedy Western ''Four For Texas'', Martin turns to the audience on several occasions and gives them wry/conspiratorial looks when something particularly odd happens.
* ''Film/{{Help}}'' - Ringo is trapped in a cellar; he hoists up a ladder but several rungs snap under his weight - he turns to the camera and deadpans "All of the rungs have been neatly sawed in the middle!" Earlier on, Eleanor Bron as Ahme thwarts one of her bad guy superior's traps and tells us "I am not what I seem."
* ''Film/HotTubTimeMachine'' has the scene where the characters realize that the hot tub has taken them back in time. When this dawns upon Nick, he says, "It must be some sort of... [[TitleDrop hot tub time machine]]," and then turns to stare at the audience.
* In many of Creator/BobHope's comedies including the ''Film/RoadTo'' movies with Creator/BingCrosby, Bob and others break the fourth wall.
* ''Film/HighFidelity''. Creator/JohnCusack's character talks directly to the audience as he talks about his life, relationships and love of music.
* ''Film/AustinPowersInternationalManOfMystery'': "Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Burt Bacharach," and in ''Film/AustinPowersTheSpyWhoShaggedMe'': "Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Burt Bacharach, and Mr. Elvis Costello."
* ''Film/AustinPowersTheSpyWhoShaggedMe''. Basil tells Austin that he should [[MST3KMantra stop worrying about]] Time Travel complexities and just enjoy himself, then turns to the audience and says “That goes for you all too!” and Austin says "Yes".
* ''Film/AustinPowersInGoldmember''. During a meeting with Mr. Robotto of Robotto industries, subtitles appear at the bottom of the screen, until it appears that Robotto has said “Please eat some shit.” to which Austin reacts to in shock, until Foxy moves a tray along the table which was the same colour as the subtitles, revealing it to read “Please eat some shitake mushrooms.” the joke is repeated a few more times, until Robotto says “Maybe I should just speak in English?” to which Austin comments “Now that would be a good idea wouldn't it, then I wouldn't be misread the subtitles and thinking you're saying dirty things.”
* ''Film/TheAdventureOfSherlockHolmesSmarterBrother''. Albert Finney (playing an opera attendee) turns and says "Is this rotten or wonderfully brave?" to the camera.
* In ''Film/BedtimeStories'' the narrator breaks the fourth wall near the end of the movie, asking the main character if this is really how he's gonna have the story end.
* Frank in ''Film/Maniac1980'' addresses the viewer during one of his insane ramblings.
* In the ''Film/WaynesWorld'' movies, Wayne frequently addresses the audience to provide exposition or commentary on the action. At one point in the first film, he goes on a lengthy tirade about his problems, to the point where the camera tries to get away from him and has to be coaxed back. At another point, the server at the donut shop (Played by an extra-insane Creator/EdONeill) starts to address the audience with a [[NoodleIncident creepy tirade about murder]], only for Wayne to interrupt and remind him that only he and Garth are allowed to address the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4aOTSUY5do audience.]]
* In ''Film/SomeLikeItHot'', Joe manages to hatch a plan to escape from the gangsters. As he arranges everything by phone, Jerry turns to the camera and says "Isn't he a bit terrific?"
* In ''Film/AliceInWonderland1999'' the white rabbit turns to face the camera after being hit time after time with pieces of slate from his roof and raises his eyebrows at the audience.
* [[Creator/LaurelAndHardy Oliver Hardy]] wouldn't talk to the camera, but he often gave it pessimistic or exasperated [[AsideGlance looks]] when things were going wrong.
* At the end of ''Film/HighSchoolMusical 3: Senior Year'', the main characters run across a field at the end of their graduation ceremony, jump ''out'' of the "screen" and onto a theater stage complete with red drapes and then grin for five minutes straight as the camera zooms up on each one of their faces.
* In ''Film/KickAss'' the main character narrates the whole thing, discussing superhero tropes with the audience as they come up and at one point telling the audience off for assuming he'll survive because he's narrating, mentioning other films where [[PosthumousNarration that's not the case]].
* ''Film/{{Rubber}}'' opens up with a cop talks directly to the camera about how things happen in films for "no reason," and dedicates the film to that tradition. It turns out he was addressing a crowd of spectators, though his statements apply to the actual film as much as the in-universe film.
* ''Film/HouseOfWax1953'':
** There is a hawker playing with paddleballs ushering people in to see the titular building. As he interacts with the crowd, he eventually turns to directly interact with the camera and addresses people in the movie theater as well ("...Well there's someone with a bag of popcorn!").
** The original House of Wax was released in 3D, so not only is the crier speaking directly to the viewers, but his warnings that he might accidentally hit someone in the audience with one of the bouncing paddleballs becomes a very clever use of 3D.
* In a segment at the end of the spoof movie ''Film/ShriekIfYouKnowWhatIDidLastFridayTheThirteenth'', blurbs start appearing informing you about bits of random trivia, and parts of the production. The film crew is even acknowledged in the WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue.
* ''Film/SupermanTheMovie'':
** This film and all of its sequels always shows Superman looking and smiling at the audience as he flies away.
** In an earlier scene, Clark and Lois are in danger of being mugged, but disaster is averted when the gun seemingly misses her and the crook dashes off. Clark collapses, but it soon turns out he only fainted in shock from the gunshot. When Lois turns away, annoyed, Clark opens his hand to reveal he caught the bullet before it hit her and gives the audience his classic "Just between you and me" sort of smile.
* ''Film/DoTheRightThing'' features a sequence of racial slur ranting directed at the audience.
* ''Film/InspectorGadget'': Uses this in a very unsubtle way. The nostalgia critic gets suitably annoyed when reviewing the film. (See [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=IlbxUbR_us4#t=252s Here]])

* At the end of ''Film/Mr BlandingsBuildsHisDreamHouse'', the three main characters invite the audience to come and visit them some time.

* The beginning of ''Film/DesigningWoman'' has the main characters spell out their roles in the film, and they narrate throughout the film when necessary.
* At the [[{{Bookends}} beginning and ending]] of ''Film/WhateverWorks'', Boris turns his friend's attentions to the audience watching them. Some people don't believe him, others wave.
* In ''Film/TheDevilAndMissJones'', the film begins with a title card that goes like so: “Dear Richest Men in the World: We made up this character in this story, out of our own heads. It’s nobody, really. The whole thing is make-believe. We’d feel awful if anybody was offended. Thank you, The Author, Director, and Producer. P.S. Nobody Sue.” And then this appears: “P.P.S. PLEASE”.
* ''Film/TheRockyHorrorPictureShow'':
** Dr. Frank N. Furter seems to be aware of the audience, throwing a drink at the camera during ''Sweet Transvestite'' and meeting the audience's gaze at other times. He even addresses them directly at least once, when he says, "It's not easy having a good time! Even smiling makes my face ache!" None of the other characters seem to share his knowledge.
** And the Criminologist, who appears to exist in a reality distinct both from the film itself and the viewers, and aware of both.
** During the dinner scene, Dr. Scott turns to the camera and speaks directly to the audience.
* An 'in-universe' example in ''Film/ThePurpleRoseOfCairo''. The lead character watches the eponymous movie so many times that the lead actor in the movie falls in love with her and breaks out through the cinema screen to join her. The rest of the characters in the movie have to wait around since the plot cannot continue without him.
* In another Creator/WoodyAllen movie, ''Film/AnnieHall'', a puffed up character: Man-In-Theatre-Line, spouts nonsense about Marshall [=McLuhan's=] theories of media. Allen's character Alvy argues with him, and then pulls the real Marshall [=McLuhan=] into the shot to back up his argument. Once that is done, Alvy faces the audience and says, "Boy, if life were only like this!" He does this on many other occasions too.
* At the end of ''Film/{{Secretary}}'', Creator/MaggieGyllenhaal's character looks directly at the camera and practically smirks as her new husband drives away. Considering her unorthodox behavior and decisions, it comes off as a direct challenge.
* In a rare horror version, Creator/JohnCarpenter's movie ''Film/InTheMouthOfMadness'' has the premise that breaking the fourth wall lets the {{Eldritch Abomination}}s hiding behind it in.
-->''Yes, but what about people who don't read books?''
-->''There'll be a movie.''
* Near the end of ''Film/AShotInTheDark'', Clouseau gathers the suspects in the case together as part of a plot to catch the killer. It turns out that [[spoiler:''all'' the suspects have been having affairs with each other and, with one exception, have committed at least one murder]], the admission of which leads to a massive row between all the suspects. Clouseau is unable to get a word in edgeways and ends up looking at the audience in exasperation.
* ''Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail''
** In the extended cut, Dingo turns to the camera partway through her scene and starts talking to the audience about how she didn't think the scene was funny, but now that she's had the chance to perform it has changed her mind. This results in various other characters from the film appearing and telling her to shut up and ''GET ON WITH IT!''
** At another point, a monster died because the person animating it had a heart attack.
** When King Arthur and his knights arrive at Camelot, Patsy says, "It's only a model."
* ''Film/MontyPythonsLifeOfBrian'': one of the crucifyees comments that the song ''AlwaysLookOnTheBrightSideOfLife'' is available in the foyer.
* ''Film/MontyPythonsTheMeaningOfLife'': A man comes out of a gorilla suit to announce to us, "Hello, good evening, and welcome to The Middle of the Film."
* ''Film/FunnyGames'' has NoFourthWall, but only Paul can break it. He seems to be the only character aware that he's in a film. He first gives the camera a smug smirk just before the wife discovers her dead dog. He later starts addressing the audience and guesses at their feelings about the film. At one critical point, he even [[spoiler:rewinds the film so that he can negate the death of his accomplice]].

* In the 1914 film ''Film/TheKnockout'', Fatty Arbuckle is going to change clothes but stops, looks at the audience, then motions to the cameraman to raise the focus of the camera while he changes.
* Creator/CharlieChaplin's very first appearance as the Tramp, in the 1914 short ''Film/KidAutoRacesAtVenice'', features this as the RunningGag. Most of the short is supposedly news footage of the race, but the Tramp wants to appear on film and keeps wandering into the shot. The director continually yells at him to move out of the way (as suggested by the Tramp's reactions and gestures off-camera) and comes out from behind the camera to shove him aside. The point of view occasionally shifts to a third party perspective so that the viewer can see the camera and the director standing beside it.
* Creator/MauriceChevalier frequently addresses songs to the audience in his early musical films:
** "Nobody's Using It Now" in ''The Love Parade'' (1929).
** "Toujours l'Amour in the Army" in ''Film/TheSmilingLieutenant'' (1931).
** In ''Film/OneHourWithYou'' (1932), both Chevalier and his co-star Jeanette [=MacDonald=] frequently talk and sing to the audience.
* Creator/BurnsAndAllen end a dance-and-patter number in ''Film/LambChops'' (1929) with Creator/GeorgeBurns quipping: "That's funny, we're supposed to be off the screen now."
* Korean film ''Film/{{The Housemaid|1960}}'', a dark story about obsession and murder centering around a married man who has an affair with his maid, has a bizarre ending in which the husband addresses the audience directly, saying that men shouldn't chase younger women, wagging his finger, and laughing.

* In ''Film/IntoTheWild'' there's a scene where the protagonist stares at the camera and gesticulates.
* During the titular song of ''Theatre/GuysAndDolls'', while discussing guys donning things for their dolls, Nicely Nicely points at the camera and remarks at the men who are watching the movie for their signficant others.
* In ''Film/{{Airplane}}'' after Elaine tells Ted she can't see him anymore, he turns to the camera and says, "What a pisser."
* ''Film/TopSecret''
** Hillary tells Nick about how she grew up on a tropical island a la ''Literature/TheBlueLagoon,'' with accompanying parody flashbacks. She ends by saying, "I know. It all sounds like some bad movie." at which point both characters [[AsideGlance stop and slowly turn to face the audience]].
** After Nick performs in the MaltShop, Albert Potato turns to the camera and says "This is not Mel Tormé!"
* A brief example with Creator/KurtRussell in the ''Film/DeathProof'' portion of ''Film/{{Grindhouse}}''. [[http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m263/sdwrenn/russel-dp.jpg Anybody who's seen it knows that this doesn't bode well]].
* In ''Film/KissKissBangBang'', Creator/RobertDowneyJr's character (and later on, Val Kilmer) speak directly to the audience about the storytelling conventions the film is using.
* In the ''Film/GeorgeOfTheJungle'' movie, the Narrator says that the characters react with awe at a mountain, at which they all go "Awwwww". He repeats himself, spelling out the word and they say "Ooooh". Later, the bad guys get into an argument with the narrator after he refuses to help them.
** The sequel:
--->'''Narrator:''' ...wait a minute! You're not George!
--->'''George:''' Me new George! Studio too cheap to get Brendan Fraser.
* In ''Film/TheWizardOfOz'', when Dorothy is locked in the Witch's castle, she sees Auntie Em's image in the crystal ball, looking for her. Auntie Em's image is then replaced by the Wicked Witch's image, who mocks Dorothy and then turns to cackle directly at the audience, possibly to secretly taunt/scare the audience as well.
* Billy Ray Valentine in ''Film/TradingPlaces'' turns to look directly at the camera after being told that you might find bacon in a "bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich". This is a recurring element in John Landis' films - it's also seen in ''Film/ComingToAmerica'' and ''Film/SpiesLikeUs''.
* The 1941 classic ''Film/{{Hellzapoppin}}'' absolutely ''obliterates'' the fourth wall: the characters comment on other plots, they talk to the audience, they talk to the projectionist (and in fact, when the shot goes out of frame, they ''confront'' the projectionist, who it turned out was getting a little action in his booth), they deconstruct myths, they talk to still photographs (which come alive), they pause the phrase, mock the movie they're watching and the movie they're in (including muting the soundtrack and making jokes over it ''[[Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000 MST3K]]''-style), criticize the writing, talk about their roles, use double-exposures deliberately, control the direction, and have a running joke with overlaid wording that "Stinky Miller" needs to go to the lobby because his mother is looking for him, and the characters stop in the middle of a musical number to yell at Stinky, who eventually (in silhouette), gets up and leaves. ''Whew.''
* Perhaps the earliest film example is ''Film/TheGreatTrainRobbery'' (1903), which ends with a shot of a gunslinger shooting at the camera, causing many in the audience to duck for cover, as they actually thought they were going to get shot.
* Another early example is the 1963 film ''Film/TomJones'', starring Albert Finney. In one scene, he finds that all his money had been stolen while he slept, and he shouts at the chambermaid, demanding to know if it was her who robbed him. Unsatisfied with her answers, he turns to the camera and shouts "DID YOU SEE HER?! DID YOU?!"
* Henry's direct-to-camera address in the courtroom scene near the end of ''Film/{{Goodfellas}}'' - justified by, though still striking in spite of, his being the voice-over narrator throughout the film.

* In ''Film/{{Ladyhawke}}'', Creator/MatthewBroderick does the same thing again, talking to the audience. Some of those lines are his conversations with God, but most are just blatant addressing the audience.

* ''Anything Else'''s protagonist repeatedly explains to the camera his predicaments and thoughts.

* ''Film/JayAndSilentBobStrikeBack'':
** One of Ben Affleck's characters says to the eponymous duo, "A Jay and Silent Bob movie? Who'd pay to see that?" At which point all three of them turn and glare at the audience.
** Another scene with Creator/MattDamon and Creator/BenAffleck, reprising their roles in ''Film/GoodWillHunting'' for a sequel, are arguing about their motivations for accepting certain roles, with Affleck finishing with "...you gotta do the payback picture because your friend says you owe him." With a pause to look at the camera... just for good measure.
* The GainaxEnding of ''Film/TheHolyMountain'' has this trope playing a heavy role in it.
* Most movies starring Franchise/TheMuppets involve some degree of fourth wall breaking.
** In ''Film/TheMuppetMovie'', Kermit tells Fozzie not to explain the story so far to the other characters, for fear of boring the audience (Fozzie then gives the other characters a copy of the script to read). In ''Film/TheGreatMuppetCaper'', one scene suddenly stops as Kermit scolds Miss Piggy for over-acting.
** ''Film/MuppetTreasureIsland'':
*** Long John Silver (Creator/TimCurry) cuts off other cast members from singing. "Upstage lads, this is my ONLY number!"
*** "He died? [[NeverSayDie But this is supposed to be a kid's movie!]]"
*** It also features Rizzo directing a tour group around "the set where they filmed ''Muppet Treasure Island.''"
** ''Film/TheMuppetChristmasCarol'':
*** Gonzo (as Dickens) and Rizzo narrates the movie. During the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come sequence, they decide that the scene is too scary for them, with Gonzo telling the audience, "You're on your own. See you at the finale!"
*** When Scrooge lights the lamp to search his house, it turns out to be an electric light.
*** During the special memorial program for Jim Henson, one of the Muppets asks about including "those other people" in the memorial. "What other people?" is asked, and the first replies, "Them, down there", while gesturing toward the unseen puppeteers below the lower edge of the screen. After a few moments, he then adds, "On second thought, don't look. It's too weird" to general agreement.
* In ''Film/SmokeyAndTheBandit'' there is a scene early on where Bandit (Burt Reynolds) is being pursued by a city cop. He escapes by pulling his Firebird into a used car lot, then pulls away, slowly, as he checks to make sure the police car is gone. Just for a moment, he stops the car, then turns and looks directly at the camera. He flashes this most WONDERFUL "Ain't I Something?" grin, and then turns away and proceeds with the movie.

* In ''Film/HarryPotterAndTheGobletOfFire'' Hermione, when Fred and George try to put their names into the Goblet, she addresses the audience. Though it could be argued that it is the usual "I know this so well that I'm not going to turn around to talk to you" thing that mothers do all the time and girls start at an early age. The camera is aimed at the perfect angle to make ''both'' interpretations work, so this might have been planned.
* At the start of ''Film/MaryPoppins'', Burt greets the audience and leads them to the Banks home.
* At the end of ''Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House'', the three main characters invite the audience to come and visit them some time.

* In the 1914 film "The Knockout", Fatty Arbuckle is going to change clothes but stops, looks at the audience, then motions to the cameraman to raise the focus of the camera while he changes.

* Creator/CharlieChaplin's very first appearance as the Tramp, in the 1914 short "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-j2K3A1S5ak Kid Auto Races at Venice]]," features this as the RunningGag. Most of the short is supposedly news footage of the race, but the Tramp wants to appear on film and keeps wandering into the shot. The director continually yells at him to move out of the way (as suggested by the Tramp's reactions and gestures off-camera) and comes out from behind the camera to shove him aside. The point of view occasionally shifts to a third party perspective so that the viewer can see the camera and the director standing beside it.

* In the ''Film/WaynesWorld'' movies, Wayne frequently addresses the audience to provide exposition or commentary on the action. At one point in the first film, he goes on a lengthy tirade about his problems, to the point where the camera tries to get away from him and has to be coaxed back. At another point, the server at the donut shop (Played by an extra-insane Ed O'Neill) starts to address the audience with a [[NoddleIncident creepy tirade about murder]], only for Wayne to interrupt and remind him that only he and Garth are allowed to address the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4aOTSUY5do audience.]]

* Creator/BurnsAndAllen end a dance-and-patter number in ''Film/Lampchops'' (1929) with Creator/GeorgeBurns quipping: "That's funny, we're supposed to be off the screen now."

* During the titular song of ''Theatre/GuysAndDolls'', while discussing guys doning things for their dolls, Nicely Nicely points at the camera and remarks at the men who are watching the movie for their signficant others.

* At the end of ''Film/{{Amelie}}'', two characters are shown riding down the street on a motorcycle, teasing one another playfully and generally being so deeply in love that they are completely oblivious to the world around them. Then, for a second, they both turn and make faces at the camera.

* Frank in ''Film/{{Maniac}}'' addresses the viewer during one of his insane ramblings.

* In ''Film/PokemonDetectivePikachu'', Pikachu sadly sings the [[https://youtu.be/JuYeHPFR3f0 theme]] to the Pokémon anime.

* In ''Film/{{Ladyhawke}}'', Creator/MatthewBroderick does the same thing again, talking to the audience.