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!
#21
"Finding a parking spot in a big city immediately, without having to circle the block for twenty minutes."
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92points
#23
"Pulling a sword out of it's scabbard and it makes a metal sliding on metal sound. If this were true, swords would get dull really quick."
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91points
#24
Studio_Life said:
"Shooting a lock to open it is my favorite. Sure shooting a lock will break it, but you just broke it in the locked position. Now it’s even harder to open."
"Shooting a lock to open it is my favorite. Sure shooting a lock will break it, but you just broke it in the locked position. Now it’s even harder to open."
whitemike40 replied:
"Also any type of electronic, just shoot the control panel and it resets everything."
"Also any type of electronic, just shoot the control panel and it resets everything."
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90points
#25
Philcoman said:
"Killing an enemy instantly with a single stab wound."
"Killing an enemy instantly with a single stab wound."
Tyeveras replied:
"Christopher Lee knew how to do that from working in the Special Operations Executive during WW2. He told Peter Jackson he knew what noise to make when Saruman got stabbed in LOTR as a result of his experience."
"Christopher Lee knew how to do that from working in the Special Operations Executive during WW2. He told Peter Jackson he knew what noise to make when Saruman got stabbed in LOTR as a result of his experience."
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90points
#26
dzastrus said:
"Closing a dead person's eyes by gently brushing your hand over them. That doesn't work. They'll just go back to being open again. Stop touching them, they're dead."
"Closing a dead person's eyes by gently brushing your hand over them. That doesn't work. They'll just go back to being open again. Stop touching them, they're dead."
CrazyCatLadyBoy replied:
"This is why they used to put coins on dead peoples eye lids. It holds them shut until things kind of dry up and they stick there."
"This is why they used to put coins on dead peoples eye lids. It holds them shut until things kind of dry up and they stick there."
MyNameIsRay also replied:
"These days, morticians use metal contacts with spikes on the outside, that poke into the eyelids and prevent them from separating."
"These days, morticians use metal contacts with spikes on the outside, that poke into the eyelids and prevent them from separating."
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87points
#27
aperson7780 said:
"Doing whatever you want in a courtroom as long as you are 'going somewhere with it.'"
"Doing whatever you want in a courtroom as long as you are 'going somewhere with it.'"
shegedep replied:
"Any random person being able to walk up and present new evidence."
"Any random person being able to walk up and present new evidence."
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86points
#28
KyOatey said:
"A hushed conversation immediately after shooting a gun indoors without ear protection."
"A hushed conversation immediately after shooting a gun indoors without ear protection."
could_use_a_snack replied:
"Terminator 2 (I think) 12ga shotgun in an elevator. I would think that would cause permanent hearing loss."
"Terminator 2 (I think) 12ga shotgun in an elevator. I would think that would cause permanent hearing loss."
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85points
#29
AshamedCookie7382 said:
"Stealth helicopters that make absolutely no sound until they reveal themselves."
"Stealth helicopters that make absolutely no sound until they reveal themselves."
ThaneOfCawdorrr replied:
"By suddenly appearing OVER THE HORIZON thwip-thwip-thwip
"By suddenly appearing OVER THE HORIZON thwip-thwip-thwip
You have to admit it's an effective shot."
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84points
#30
xrc20 said:
"Walking up to a bar, just ordering “a beer” and not having to specify which one you want."
"Walking up to a bar, just ordering “a beer” and not having to specify which one you want."
fizzy_milkshake130 replied:
"I work in a pub. you wouldn’t believe the number of customers who come up to the bar and ask for “a beer” and when I ask which one, they look at me as if I should know what beer they want."
"I work in a pub. you wouldn’t believe the number of customers who come up to the bar and ask for “a beer” and when I ask which one, they look at me as if I should know what beer they want."
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80points
#31
SeedsOfEssence said:
"Silencer being silent."
"Silencer being silent."
Redditor replied:
"I read a novel that actually got into that. The main character said that "Indoors a 9mm gun firing will still sound like throwing a phone book onto the floor, but at least the sonic boom is removed."
"I read a novel that actually got into that. The main character said that "Indoors a 9mm gun firing will still sound like throwing a phone book onto the floor, but at least the sonic boom is removed."
Peptuck also replied:
"Dresden Files? I think White Night specifically had that exact description when a mob assassin attacked the main character."
"Dresden Files? I think White Night specifically had that exact description when a mob assassin attacked the main character."
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79points
#32
"Airport finales... running through security and customs to stop the love of your life from flying away forever... you can get shot down!!"
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79points
#34
"Hanging up the phone before a definitive end to the conversation has been established."
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76points
#35
"Having perfect aim until it comes to the person you actually need to shoot."
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76points
#36
Double-Elevator619 said:
"Someone pushing a fruit cart across a street just as you’re speeding by. I’ve never seen a moving fruit cart otherwise. Or seen a fruit cart, actually."
"Someone pushing a fruit cart across a street just as you’re speeding by. I’ve never seen a moving fruit cart otherwise. Or seen a fruit cart, actually."
yParticle replied:
"Or carrying a bare pane of glass across the street. It's usually well packaged and delivered as close to the site as possible."
"Or carrying a bare pane of glass across the street. It's usually well packaged and delivered as close to the site as possible."
TheUnblinkingEye1001 also replied:
"Yeah, why aren't these people parking on the same side of the street of the building the glass is being delivered? If movies have taught me anything it is that there is always a wide open parking spot right in front of your destination."
"Yeah, why aren't these people parking on the same side of the street of the building the glass is being delivered? If movies have taught me anything it is that there is always a wide open parking spot right in front of your destination."
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73points
#38
shegedep said:
"Falling from a huge height and being totally ok cuz you caught yourself on a ledge with just your fingertips."
"Falling from a huge height and being totally ok cuz you caught yourself on a ledge with just your fingertips."
Incorporeal999 replied:
"Oh, yeah, I forgot about falling 50 feet and then grabbing a pipe or something. Good luck with that. Sometimes they land on their abdomen and don't crack a rib. Akin to jumping off a cliff but are saved because you crash through multiple limbs of a tree. Maybe it would improve your odds? One branch puncturing any part of you would suck."
"Oh, yeah, I forgot about falling 50 feet and then grabbing a pipe or something. Good luck with that. Sometimes they land on their abdomen and don't crack a rib. Akin to jumping off a cliff but are saved because you crash through multiple limbs of a tree. Maybe it would improve your odds? One branch puncturing any part of you would suck."
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68points
#39
Graceland1979 said:
"Having enough spare time from work and/or school to go on long a** adventures."
"Having enough spare time from work and/or school to go on long a** adventures."
Ooze3d replied:
"Or the guy working at a coffee shop or a diner with 40 people sitting and waiting for their stuff saying “hey Tom, cover for me, ok?”."
"Or the guy working at a coffee shop or a diner with 40 people sitting and waiting for their stuff saying “hey Tom, cover for me, ok?”."
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68points
#40
CatherineConstance said:
"Relationships ending or imploding, often times for good, because one party gets caught doing something and says 'Let me explain!' and the other party is like 'No thank you, goodbye forever.'"
"Relationships ending or imploding, often times for good, because one party gets caught doing something and says 'Let me explain!' and the other party is like 'No thank you, goodbye forever.'"
Aurorafaery replied:
"'Let me explain' followed by them making NO attempt to explain before that person storms off or “I need to tell you something” and then not mentioning that important thing again after you were interrupted for 5 seconds… rage-inducing."
"'Let me explain' followed by them making NO attempt to explain before that person storms off or “I need to tell you something” and then not mentioning that important thing again after you were interrupted for 5 seconds… rage-inducing."
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68points


