The music industry is full of talented performers. However, only the best of the best can earn the label of a pop star. These unique stars make music for the masses and are known for their talent, likability, and star power. Every so often, these pop stars show up on the big screen, which can be a hugely exciting surprise for both moviegoers and music fans.

Here, we take a look back at some music-movie crossovers and rank the most surprising pop star cameos.

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9 Miley Cyrus, The Night Before (2015)

     Columbia Pictures

Miley Cyrus got her start on the small screen as Hannah Montana, but once the show ended, it seemed Miley was done with acting for good. That was until 2015’s bro-comedy The Night Before, where Miley made a surprise cameo as herself. As a comedy vet, Miley puts on a hilarious performance where she sings alongside Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s character at the big Christmas ball and even encourages him to propose to his girlfriend!

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

8 Selena Gomez, The Big Short (2015)

     Paramount Pictures

Like Miley, it seemed like once Selena Gomez signed off of the Disney Channel, she’d be done with acting for good. However, Selena made a fun cameo in 2015’s The Big Short. Here, Selena is seen playing blackjack where she casually explains the complexities of the movie’s central financial crisis. Selena certainly sounds like an expert in this silly, informative scene.

7 Justin Bieber, Zoolander 2 (2016)

Justin Bieber doesn’t usually make movie appearances. So when fans saw Justin Bieber’s cameo in Zoolander 2, they were obviously delighted. That was until they saw his character violently killed off for being too beautiful. Either way, the scene was as gory as it was goofy and certainly left an impression on Bieber fans and haters alike.

6 Lady Gaga, Muppets Most Wanted (2014)

     Walt Disney Pictures

When we think of the Muppets, we don’t usually think of award-winning singers; usually, we just think of Miss Piggy painfully trying to belt out a few notes. However, in 2014’s Muppets Most Wanted, Lady Gaga makes a cameo where she gets to show off her incredible singing chops. Here, she is seen alongside the muppet gang as they sing a song called “We’re Doing a Sequel.”

5 Rihanna, Bring It On: All or Nothing (2006)

     Beacon Pictures

In Bring It On: All or Nothing, fans went wild when they found out superstar Rihanna makes a surprise appearance as herself! In the movie, Rihanna is seen hosting a contest for high school cheer teams to compete for the chance to be showcased on a worldwide stage and win new technology for their school. The movie even includes some hit songs by RiRi, with the winning cheer squad being featured in a made-for-film Pon de Replay music video.

4 Taylor Swift, Hannah Montana: The Movie (2009)

Taylor Swift is undoubtedly one of the biggest pop musicians of all time. But in 2009, Taylor was still knee-deep in her country girl era. Fans were delighted to see Taylor make an appearance in Hannah Montana: The Movie, alongside fellow pop-idol Miley Cyrus. Though Taylor doesn’t have any lines, she performs an original song called Crazier which has become a staple tune of her country-pop days.

3 Ariana Grande, Don’t Look Up (2021)

     Netflix

Netflix’s Don’t Look Up certainly features a star-studded cast. However, one of the biggest stars in the cast is Ariana Grande, who plays a pop star named Riley Bina. Riley is exploited by the media; as a famous musician, Ariana’s character seems to be a parody of herself and acts as a commentary on the intense life of a famous star. Even amidst the doom and gloom of this Netflix flick, Ariana does get a chance to perform a new song, something that screaming fans in the movie as well as fans at home can enjoy.

2 Britney Spears, Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002)

     New Line Cinema

The fembot is (almost) equally iconic as the Princess of Pop, Britney Spears. That’s why it made perfect sense to have Britney cameo as a fembot blonde-bombshell in Austin Powers in Goldmember. In her surprise cameo, Spears is also seen leading an intense dance battle, one that includes some of her signature moves as well as her hit song Boys.

1 Michael Jackson, Men in Black II (2002)

It’s hard to fathom just how popular the King of Pop was (and still is). MJ was known for his stage presence and swag, two things that are certainly on display in one of his only movie cameos in Men in Black II. MJ plays a character named Agent M, who appears for a brief time, broadcasting a message from what looks like an alien planet. Fans were shocked and delighted to see MJ take the big screen donning the signature MIB suit. With this performance, MJ not only solidifies himself as a jack of all trades but also the top spot on our list.