In an era of rapid cuts and hyper-edited chaos, a single-take sequence is the ultimate cinematic flex. It demands precision, planning, and a cast and crew willing to risk it all for that one perfect shot. Whether it’s a kitchen meltdown in The Bear, a prison brawl in Daredevil, or a chaotic gang raid in True Detective, these scenes immerse you in the action, making every moment feel breathlessly real. With Adolescence now pushing the boundaries of single-take storytelling in feature films, let’s take a look at the most unforgettable moments where directors ditched the cut button and went all in. 

The Best One-Take Movie and TV Scenes From The Bear, Daredevil, Game Of Thrones And More 

The Bear – “Review” (Season 1, Episode 7) 
Where to watch: JioHotstar 

FX’s The Bear is a pressure cooker of a show, and episode 7 turns up the heat to unbearable levels. The entire 18-minute sequence unfolds in one continuous shot, as Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) and his kitchen staff spiral into an anxiety-fuelled disaster. The camera weaves through the chaos, capturing every misstep, meltdown, and moment of desperation in real time. It’s sweaty, stressful, and one of the most immersive uses of the one-take technique in television. 

Succession – “Connor’s Wedding” (Season 4, Episode 3) 
Where to watch: JioHotstar 

Succession was already a masterpiece of tension, but Logan Roy’s shocking off-screen death was captured in a way that made it feel almost unbearably real. The extended, uncut sequence follows the Roy siblings as they receive the news in real-time, with the camera weaving between their reactions in a way that feels invasive, intimate, and deeply unsettling. The lack of a traditional cut forces the audience to sit with the characters in their grief, making it one of the most powerful moments in the series. 

True Detective – “Who Goes There” (Season 1, Episode 4) 
Where to watch: JioHotstar 

Before single-take shots became trendy, True Detective dropped a six-minute stunner. Matthew McConaughey’s Rust Cohle, deep undercover, finds himself in a neighbourhood gone rogue. What starts as a routine mission spirals into a gunfight, a kidnapping, and an impossible escape—all captured in a single, unbroken take. The tension? Unmatched. The camerawork? Flawless. This scene cemented True Detective as one of television’s most cinematic shows. 

Daredevil – “Blindsided” (Season 3, Episode 4) 
Where to watch: JioHotstar 

The Daredevil hallway fight from Series 1 was already iconic, but the prison riot in Series 3 is next level. Matt Murdock, bruised and exhausted, fights his way out of a maximum-security facility while dodging inmates, corrupt guards, and betrayal at every corner. The sequence lasts an astonishing 11 minutes, and unlike most action scenes, there are zero hidden cuts. Just raw, unrelenting combat. 

Game of Thrones – “The Watchers on the Wall” (Season 4, Episode 9) 
Where to watch: JioHotstar 

Game of Thrones was famous for its massive battles, but few moments felt as immersive as the single-take tracking shot at Castle Black. As the Night’s Watch fights off Wildlings attacking from all angles, the camera glides across the battlefield, capturing the brutality in real time.  

How I Met Your Mother – “Ten Sessions” (Season 3, Episode 13) 
Where to watch: JioHotstar 

Not all one-take scenes are high-octane chaos. How I Met Your Mother pulled off an adorable single-take sequence that’s pure rom-com gold. Ted Mosby orchestrates an entire date in two minutes, weaving through a restaurant, a cinema, and a coffee shop, all without a single cut.  

1917 (2019) 
Where to watch: TBA 

The king of all one-take illusions. Sam Mendes’ war epic 1917 feels like it’s shot in one continuous take, following two soldiers racing against time through the trenches of the First World War. Though cleverly stitched together with hidden cuts, the effect is seamless, making the entire film feel like an unrelenting, edge-of-your-seat journey. 

Birdman (2014) 
Where to watch: Prime Video (rent) 

Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Birdman takes the one-take concept and stretches it across an entire film. While it isn’t truly one continuous shot (there are hidden cuts), the illusion of an unbroken narrative makes it a mesmerising experience. Michael Keaton’s descent into madness plays out in real-time, with the camera never giving the audience a moment to breathe. 

Boiling Point (2021) 
Where to watch: TBA 

If you thought The Bear was intense, imagine an entire film shot in a single take, following a high-pressure dinner service in real time. Starring Stephen Graham (also in Adolescence) as a chef on the edge of collapse, Boiling Point doesn’t just use the one-take format—it thrives in it, making every moment feel painfully authentic. 

Oldboy (2003) – The Hallway Fight 
Where to watch: JioHotstar 

Arguably one of the most famous one-take scenes in film history, Oldboy’s hallway fight is a brutal, unflinching masterpiece. As the camera tracks sideways, we watch Oh Dae-su (Choi Min-sik) take on a mob of enemies in a narrow corridor, armed only with a claw hammer. The lack of cuts makes every punch, every stumble, and every moment of exhaustion feel painfully real. It’s raw, relentless, and unforgettable. 

Children of Men (2006) – The Car Ambush & Warzone Sequence 
Where to watch: Prime Video (rent) 

Alfonso Cuarón’s Children of Men is packed with jaw-dropping one-take moments, but two stand out: the ambush inside a moving car and the harrowing urban warfare sequence. The former traps the audience inside a vehicle as an attack unfolds in real-time, while the latter follows Clive Owen’s character through a chaotic warzone, dodging bullets and explosions in a heart-pounding single shot. Both sequences showcase Cuarón’s genius for immersive, documentary-style filmmaking. 

The Shining (1980) – The Tricycle Scene 
Where to watch: Prime Video (rent) 

Before steadicams became a standard filmmaking tool, Stanley Kubrick used one to create one of the eeriest tracking shots in cinema history. As young Danny Torrance pedals his tricycle through the Overlook Hotel’s endless hallways, the camera smoothly glides behind him, creating an unnerving sense of dread with every turn. It’s a perfect example of how a long take can build tension without a single word of dialogue.