15 Elevator Scenes in Classic Movies
Before the year 2000, filmmakers knew that elevators weren’t just for getting from floor to floor, they were prime locations for romance, suspense, action, and, occasionally, buckets of blood. Here are 15 of the most memorable pre-millennium movie moments that took place inside (or in very close proximity to) an elevator.
My Favorite Wife (1940)
Cary Grant thinks his wife is dead... until he sees her in an elevator. Hijinks ensue. Because nothing says "romantic comedy" like finding out your supposedly deceased spouse is very much alive.
The Apartment (1960)
Shirley MacLaine’s character is an elevator operator, so there are plenty of scenes in and around the lift. But none are as charming as Jack Lemmon’s holiday toast, given tentatively from just outside the elevator door. A little romance, a little comedy, and a whole lot of elevator-related charm.
Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967)
This musical features an elevator that runs on tapping. That’s right. No cables, no buttons, just Julie Andrews and Mary Tyler Moore tap-dancing their way to the top. Because, why not?
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
Most elevators just go up and down. Willy Wonka’s Wonkavator? It goes everywhere. Who needs a golden ticket when you’ve got a glass elevator that bursts through ceilings?
The Shining (1980)
A hotel stay from hell. Forget awkward small talk, this elevator doesn’t just carry people, it delivers a tsunami of blood. Probably not the five-star service you were hoping for.
The Blues Brothers (1980)
In the midst of a high-speed police chase, Jake and Elwood take a moment to enjoy some soothing elevator music. Just two guys in sunglasses, waiting for the doors to open so they can get back to wrecking cop cars.
Ghostbusters (1984)
The guys take their ghost-catching equipment for a test run in a hotel elevator, only to have it spark and hum ominously. Maybe they should’ve read the instruction manual first.
Die Hard (1988)
Nothing says "holiday spirit" like crawling through air ducts and surprise attacks in an elevator shaft. John McClane makes use of the Nakatomi Plaza lifts in ways that would make any safety inspector faint.
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Hannibal Lecter’s escape plan involves an elevator, a few guards, and some truly horrifying misdirection. If you ever thought elevators were a safe place, think again.
True Lies (1994)
Arnold Schwarzenegger, a horse, and an out-of-control elevator. Need we say more?
Speed (1994)
It’s never a good sign when your elevator ride begins with a terrorist planting explosives and ends with the elevator plunging several floors. Keanu Reeves and Jeff Daniels scramble to save the day in this heart-pounding opening sequence.
Four Rooms (1995)
Tim Roth plays the bellhop in this oddball anthology, and his entrance via the elevator is as quirky as the movie itself. If only all hotel stays were this memorable, minus the chaos and absurdity.
Titanic (1997)
When Jack and Rose share a tense elevator ride below deck, it’s a reminder that no matter how fancy the ship, nothing good happens in an elevator during a disaster.
You’ve Got Mail (1998)
Tom Hanks has an "aha" moment when he gets stuck in an elevator with his girlfriend and realizes, oh dear... she’s insufferable. It’s a revelation that changes everything, proving that sometimes, getting trapped in an elevator isn’t the worst thing in the world.
The Matrix (1999)
Neo and Trinity make their grand entrance into an office building by riding an elevator to the top, only to blow a hole in the ceiling and use the counterweight cable to zipline their way up. Just another day in the Matrix.
From romantic near-misses to explosive action sequences and straight-up horror, these classic films prove that elevators are more than just metal boxes on a pulley. They’re prime storytelling real estate. Whether they’re setting the stage for an epic escape, a heartfelt realization, or a complete bloodbath, one thing is certain: in the world of classic cinema, what happens in the elevator rarely stays in the elevator.
