I was thinking about this the other day. You're watching a movie, then suddenly an actor you know (usually from TV) comes on in either a small supporting role or a bit part that draws you in. My examples would be:
Zero Dark Thirty: God this movie was boring until the last 20 minutes, but shortly before that when they are in the Pentagon, in walks Leon Panetta with his aide, and I perk up immediately because it's John Barrowman. He does nothing and has one line, but it woke me up from 2 hours of boredom.
Patriot's Day: Melissa Benoist as the wife of one of the terrorists. She has a really memorable scene with an interrogator , and it's a shock to the system to see Supergirl as a wife sympathetic to her husband's terrorist beliefs.
So, what are all of yours?