It was a scream heard around the internet—followed instantly by laughter. During a 2015 appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Chris Evans executed a perfectly timed jump scare on Scarlett Johansson, turning a routine press interview into one of the most replayed celebrity moments of the decade.
The Prank That Stopped the Interview
The setup was flawless. Johansson was seated on the iconic white couch, chatting comfortably with Ellen DeGeneres while promoting Avengers: Age of Ultron, directed by Joss Whedon. As Johansson spoke warmly about her long friendship with Evans—dating back to their pre-Marvel collaboration on The Perfect Score—she confidently declared, “I know him very well.”
That’s when Evans, hidden just offstage, struck.
He crept up behind her chair and shouted her name directly into her ear. Johansson shrieked, jolted forward, and clutched her chest as the studio erupted. When she realized who it was, the shock instantly melted into laughter. “I’m going to kill you!” she yelled—clearly joking—while Evans doubled over and pulled her into a triumphant hug.
A Running Joke Among Avengers
The moment wasn’t a one-off. Evans has long carried a reputation as the Avengers cast’s resident prankster, especially fond of jump scares during press tours. He famously startled Elizabeth Olsen during Captain America: Civil War promotions—only for Olsen to later get her revenge on the same show.
Johansson, too, found her own way to even the score. Later in that same Ellen episode, she gleefully embarrassed Evans with shirtless throwback photos, proving that payback among Avengers is rarely delayed.
Why the Clip Never Dies
Nearly a decade later, the clip still resurfaces weekly across YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. Fan compilations regularly include the scare as shorthand for the Marvel cast’s off-screen chemistry—something many credit as the “secret sauce” behind the MCU’s peak era. The original video has racked up tens of millions of views across official and fan uploads, making it one of daytime television’s most enduring viral moments.
The timing helped. Avengers: Age of Ultron would go on to gross more than $1.4 billion worldwide, and the press tour captured the “Original Six” cast at the height of their collective cultural dominance.
More Than a Jump Scare
Beyond the laughs, the prank highlighted a genuine, sibling-like bond. Evans and Johansson worked together across nearly a decade of Marvel films, from early team-ups to Avengers: Endgame, developing the kind of trust that makes even aggressive pranks feel affectionate.
Both actors have since moved on from their superhero roles, but they still reference the scare fondly. Johansson has joked in later interviews that she’s “still plotting revenge,” while Evans has admitted it’s one of his proudest pranks.
In an era of tightly controlled celebrity appearances, the moment endures because it felt real—unscripted chaos between two longtime friends. One scream, one shrugging grin, and a reminder that even Earth’s Mightiest Heroes are fair game for a good scare.