Movie plot holes are a common occurrence. Even the most entertaining and acclaimed films can have gaps that f logic here and there. Sometimes these plot holes leap out at you immediately and can derail your enjoyment of the movie. Other times, they can be subtle, only discovered by eagle-eyed viewers years later.
It is often the most popular films that get picked apart over and over until a plot hole is inevitably discovered. But sometimes these plot holes can be flawed themselves. Though everyone has accepted these famous missteps in hit films, some of the most famous movie plot holes actually make perfect sense.
When Can You Actually Feed The Mogwai? - Gremlins (1984)
With the holiday season approaching, many fans will be revisiting the unorthodox Christmas classic Gremlins. One of the main aspects of this movie is the strict rules that go with owning a gremlin. One of those rules insists they not be fed after midnight. But since the whole day happens after midnight, some suggest the rule implies you can never feed them.
This is really just nitpicking the language that has turned into an accepted plot hole. It’s very easy to assume the rule implied after midnight and before sunrise.
Buzz Freezes Around Humans - Toy Story (1995)
Pixar's first feature film was Toy Story which told the story of what toys do when they are left alone. It also introduced Buzz Lightyear, a spaceman toy who doesn't realize he's a toy. But if that is true, fans wondered why Buzz who freeze whenever humans were around.
Buzz sees himself as a space ranger on a strange planet. It's not crazy to think he would follow the lead of the other toys especially with these gigantic creatures walking around.
Luke Used His Real Name While In Hiding - Star Wars: Revenge Of The Sith (2005)
The end of Revenge of the Sith shows the moment Obi-Wan Kenobi hid Luke and Leia from their father Darth Vader. However, fans have argued he did a poor job hiding Luke since he allowed him to keep his father’s last name and hid him on his father’s home planet.
It's true that this is a bit sloppy, but it’s not as stupid as people think. For one thing, Vader is not the sentimental type so he's unlikely to head to his home planet. Also, he has no idea Luke even existed so it's not like he’d be looking for a Skywalker.
Indiana Jones Didn't Matter - Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Raiders of the Lost Ark is one of the most entertaining adventure movies of all time and it made Indiana Jones an iconic movie hero. However, it was suggested by some viewers that Jones’ heroics were all for nothing. Given that the Nazi villains get their hands on the ark of the covenant and it ends up killing them all, Jones could have stayed home and gotten the same result.
But it was never Jones’ intention to stop the Nazis from using the ark. In fact, he was very skeptical that it had any power at all. His whole mission was to ensure it ended up in a museum.
How Did Andy Put The Poster Back – The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
In the prison drama The Shawshank Redemption, Andy spends years behind bars for a crime he didn't commit. However, for much of his time, he has been gradually planning his escape. After he mysteriously disappears from his cell, the warden finds a hole dug in the wall hidden behind a poster. But viewers have long wondered how Andy was able to pin the poster back after escaping through the hole.
The answer is given in the flashback explaining Andy’s escape. He is seen digging the hole with the top half of the poster pinned and the bottom half unpinned so he can get behind it.
The Eagles Could Have Taken Them - The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King (2003)
After the hobbit heroes Frodo and Sam destroy the One Ring, they are rescued for Mordor by giant eagles. Fans immediately began wondering why we spent three movies watching these characters walk to Mordor when the eagles could have flown them there easily.
As Boromir says, "One does not simply walk into Mordor." This was a stealth mission since Sauron's forces were everywhere. It would have been pretty easy to spot some giant eagles flying in and would have made it easy to stop the fellowship right away.
Thanos' Plan Doesn't Make Sense - Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
The MCU introduced one of its best villains with Thanos. Armed with the all-powerful Infinity Gauntlet, Thanos' plan was to save the universe by wiping out half of all life. Some people chose to dispute the science of this plan as wiping out so much life would cause more problems. Others wondered why he wouldn’t use the stones to make more resources.
These people seem to forget we are not supposed to agree with this plan. Thanos is a madman, it’s not important that his plan is logical, it’s important that we believe he thinks it’s logical.
No One Heard His Last Words - Citizen Kane (1941)
Even a classic movie like Citizen Kane is not immune to plot hole speculation. And this plot hole comes in the famous opening moments of the movie when Charles Foster Kane utters his final word, "Rosebud". The rest of the movie centers on the mystery of what his last word meant, though some pointed out there was apparently no one around to hear that word spoken.
It's true that the opening scene is shot in a way that suggests Kane was alone at the time of his death, but later in the movie, it is stated his butler was there with him.
They Both Could Fit On The Door - Titanic (1997)
Box office records and many Oscars couldn't shield Titanic from one of the most notorious movie plot holes of all time. After the titular boat sinks, star-crossed lovers Jack and Rose find themselves in the freezing water. Jack ends up freezing to death while Rose survives on floating door fans insist could have fit both of them.
It was never about if they would both fit, it was about if the door could support their combined weight. Fans seem to ignore the fact that Jack tries to get on but stops when the door starts to sink.