Ah, the magic of the silver screen — where gravity-defying leaps, spontaneous synchronized dance routines, and romantic encounters in the pouring rain are all part of everyday life. But have you ever found yourself chuckling at the absurdity of these unrealistic movie scenes and thought, "Come on, it only happens in movies"? If so, you're gonna love this list, fellow cinephile.
With all the movie-themed content we've written on Bored Panda, we've learned a thing or two about movie clichés, and let's be honest, we love to hate them. They're the not-so-secret ingredients that keep us coming back for more, despite their often exaggerated, cringeworthy, and laughable nature. In a recent Reddit thread, movie buffs shared their favorite "only works in movies" moments, and boy, did they deliver! We've sifted through their submissions and handpicked the most hilariously unrealistic Hollywood exaggerations to share with you.
From weapons to the often overused villain monologue, the industry has a penchant for film inaccuracies that make us roll our eyes. But hey, let's not be too harsh; after all, these creative liberties are what make the world of film such an escapist pleasure. So, in the spirit of poking fun at these movie tropes, we've compiled a list of things that would never work in real life. Let's dive into this movie vs. reality showdown and chuckle our way through some of the most delightfully unrealistic moments in cinematic history!
#1
DarkStar860 said:
"Turning on the TV and hearing the relevant news story at that very moment."
"Turning on the TV and hearing the relevant news story at that very moment."
Daddict replied:
"Only one time did a friend call me and say "Turn on the tv" and the information he was talking about was on. Hell, I even asked "What channel?" He said "All of them".
"Only one time did a friend call me and say "Turn on the tv" and the information he was talking about was on. Hell, I even asked "What channel?" He said "All of them".
That day, of course, was September 11th, 2001."
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166points
#2
Ali8ly said:
"I will leave my high-paying job in a big city, to work at a bakery in my hometown."
"I will leave my high-paying job in a big city, to work at a bakery in my hometown."
Redditor replied:
"Is your fiance Bradley, the powerful investment banker who verbally abuses you, totally against the idea? That's okay. Tommy the ranch hand who lives in a 10x10 trailer behind your mom and dad's house who is super hot will change your life. He only lives in the 10x10 trailer for fun, though. He's the heir to the fortune of the family who owns most of the region but is super humble and cool about it."
"Is your fiance Bradley, the powerful investment banker who verbally abuses you, totally against the idea? That's okay. Tommy the ranch hand who lives in a 10x10 trailer behind your mom and dad's house who is super hot will change your life. He only lives in the 10x10 trailer for fun, though. He's the heir to the fortune of the family who owns most of the region but is super humble and cool about it."
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149points
#3
"Being an unattractive geek who suddenly transforms into a stunning beauty just by taking their glasses off and letting their hair down."
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141points
#4
"Sleeping with all your make-up on including false eye-lashes, and waking up looking great without destroying your pillow and your skin."
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139points
#5
midunda said:
"Shooting a gas tank so it explodes.
"Shooting a gas tank so it explodes.
Or removing a bullet from yourself and then you're fine."
Ok-Traffic-7714 replied:
"And after the bullet is extracted, it HAS to be dropped into a metal cup so it makes that clank sound."
"And after the bullet is extracted, it HAS to be dropped into a metal cup so it makes that clank sound."
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137points
#6
"'It’s a date! I’ll pick you up at 7!'
Great, but where are you going? You don’t even know her name, and didn’t ask for her phone number or address."
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135points
#7
"If you're a good guy, no bullet will do anything more than slow you down. If you're a bad guy, any gunshot wound is instant death."
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133points
#8
"Single mom living in 9 million dollar house in San Francisco, on the secretary or teacher salary."
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126points
#9
BigBearSD said:
"Stalking a woman until she finally sees how great of a guy you are, and then you two ending up with a happily ever after."
"Stalking a woman until she finally sees how great of a guy you are, and then you two ending up with a happily ever after."
CarmenxXxWaldo replied:
"In movies 'she's with the wrong guy I'm going to harass her until she falls in love with me'.
"In movies 'she's with the wrong guy I'm going to harass her until she falls in love with me'.
Real life 'she's with the wrong guy I'm going to harass her until she gets a protection order and I violate it twice and get locked up and lose my job.'"
GoneFullCircle replied:
"Or the brokenhearted one manages to win them back with an extravagantly romantic yet creepy gesture like sending them an entire garden’s worth of flowers or holding a boombox over their head for hours in the middle of the night blasting a song they once listened to while screwing."
"Or the brokenhearted one manages to win them back with an extravagantly romantic yet creepy gesture like sending them an entire garden’s worth of flowers or holding a boombox over their head for hours in the middle of the night blasting a song they once listened to while screwing."
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119points
#10
"Jumping through shattering glass windows and surviving without lacerations all over."
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119points
#11
Ruminations0 said:
"Running for a very long time and then being able to talk normally."
"Running for a very long time and then being able to talk normally."
gozba replied:
"Tom Cruise can do that. But he learned to regulate his breath by doing certain things with his mouth in the closet he’s living in."
"Tom Cruise can do that. But he learned to regulate his breath by doing certain things with his mouth in the closet he’s living in."
StealthyBasterd also replied:
"I thought it was the middle tooth that regulated the air intake."
"I thought it was the middle tooth that regulated the air intake."
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118points
#12
"Keeping someone from falling by holding onto one of their hands. Bonus points if they let go of a ledge and someone grabs their arm before they fall more than a few inches."
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113points
#13
Fulla_Flava said:
"Bonus if they’ve been in water when they spit a little out and they’re fine with never a mention of secondary drowning."
"Bonus if they’ve been in water when they spit a little out and they’re fine with never a mention of secondary drowning."
Fflewddur_Fflam_ replied:
"I don't think he knows about second drowning, Pippin."
"I don't think he knows about second drowning, Pippin."
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108points
#14
yParticle said:
"Conveniently knocking someone unconscious so they're not bothering you for several minutes while you do secret stuff. Without killing them or serious brain damage.
"Conveniently knocking someone unconscious so they're not bothering you for several minutes while you do secret stuff. Without killing them or serious brain damage.
Actually lampshaded in Archer."
shegedep replied:
"The joke that hooked me on the show was when he’s excited to fight on top of a moving train, but the instant he gets up there the wind nearly knocks him off and sends his gun flying away."
"The joke that hooked me on the show was when he’s excited to fight on top of a moving train, but the instant he gets up there the wind nearly knocks him off and sends his gun flying away."
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103points
#15
TheAres1999 said:
"Infection doesn't exist in movie land, so if you survive the battle, you're always fine!"
"Infection doesn't exist in movie land, so if you survive the battle, you're always fine!"
VocalMortal1234 replied:
"If you want to be sure, just pour a bottle of cheap whiskey over the wound afterwords to make sure it doesn't get infected."
"If you want to be sure, just pour a bottle of cheap whiskey over the wound afterwords to make sure it doesn't get infected."
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102points
#16
"Having an expert in a certain field (like history, archeology or science) who knows literally EVERYTHING about the subject instead of having just one particular specialisation."
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102points
#17
2020-RedditUser said:
"Crawling through air vents as regular air vents are too small to fit a human body let alone hold the weight of one."
"Crawling through air vents as regular air vents are too small to fit a human body let alone hold the weight of one."
Fulla_Flava replied:
"Not to mention real-life vents are dusty grimy spaces with lots of sharp screws or rivet protrusions where the sections are joined. Also the grille rarely pops off so it can be opened from the inside."
"Not to mention real-life vents are dusty grimy spaces with lots of sharp screws or rivet protrusions where the sections are joined. Also the grille rarely pops off so it can be opened from the inside."
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99points
#20
SMG329 said:
"The way they talk while driving. I talk, but I never take my eyes off the road for as long as they do in movies."
"The way they talk while driving. I talk, but I never take my eyes off the road for as long as they do in movies."
DarkStar860 replied:
"Also, if you're in a convertible, you can hear them talking clear as day, with no wind muffling them."
"Also, if you're in a convertible, you can hear them talking clear as day, with no wind muffling them."
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92points