Annoying Plot Holes In Your Favorite Movies and Shows That Change Everything

From lazy writers, editors, and producers to unexpected circumstances, plot holes and storyline paradoxes enrich and dull some of cinema’s most incredible films. Questions like “Why didn’t Americans fearing the annual purge simply head to Canada for Mexico for a two-day vacation?” or “How was Andy Dufresne able to reattach the poster of Raquel Welch… from behind the poster… to the wall so perfectly?” keep us up at night.

We wish we knew but producers have kept these secrets for themselves. Either way, take a moment to check if your favorite films have unnerving plot holes!

Independence Day (1996)

Starring Will Smith as Captain Steven Hiller, a Marine F/A-18 pilot, and Jeff Goldblum as David Levinson, an MIT-educated satellite engineer, 1996’s Independence Day was the highest-grossing film of the year, even beating out Tom Cruise’s Mission- Impossible. The issue in this film lies with the plot solution to the invading alien species on Earth. Even though the alien species the humans are fighting are more advanced in almost every way, Goldblum’s character is able to write a virus on his Mac that he manages to upload to the alien mothership, effectively disabling the entire extra-terrestrial fleet. Again… a virus written by David Levinson on a human-computer completely destroys the advanced alien mothership in a matter of scenes. Though this explanation is easy to be communicated to viewers, the plot resolution seems too uncomplicated.

Batman Begins (2005)

Starring Christian Bale as the titular Bruce Wayne/Batman alongside a talented supporting cast including Michael Caine, Liam Neeson, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, and Katie Holmes, director Christopher Nolan received critical praise for his modern interpretation of the classic caped-crusader story. We do have one bone to pick in the film, however. Ra’s Al Ghul plans to use the stolen microwave emitter from Wayne Enterprises to evaporate Gotham’s water supply. The steam produced during this action would, in turn, spread the Scarecrow’s hallucinogenic toxin throughout the city. But there’s one major problem with this logic. If this emitter can evaporate all water in its radius, that means all of Gotham’s citizens and criminals would also “evaporate” (somehow). Therefore, the use of emitter would just kill everyone, instead, making the whole purpose of the emitter, the Scarecrow and his toxin, and even Ra’s Al Ghul’s purpose moot at best.

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

The Shawshank Redemption saw actor Tim Robbins play former banker Andy Dufresne, a man falsely convicted for the murder of his wife and lover. He’s sentenced to life in prison in the Shawshank State Penitentiary. Our pet peeve comes up right at the end of the film. We’re absolutely bothered that he was able to reattach his Raquel Welch poster so perfectly from the inside of his hole during the final escape. Also, how is that poster still in near-excellent condition? It looks as though it was never moved, crinkled, or dirtied from dust and dirt.

Jurassic Park (1993)

When it came out in 1993, Jurassic Park basically became an overnight commercial success. From its incredible acting, phenomenal props and set designs, otherworldly Computer-Generated Dinosaurs, and promotion of scientific wonderment, the film has gone on to make over $1 billion dollars. Nonetheless, even incredibly successful films have their flaws. In one of the film’s most exciting scenes, in which the T-Rex escapes out of its padlock, the continuity of 3D-space seems distorted. See, when the T-Rex escapes, it crashes through the enclosures electric fence, carefree, on flat-land. Conversely, when the Ford Explorer holding Tim and Lex Murphy is pushed into the padlock, it appears to be hanging off the top of a cliff. No explanation is given in the film for this land discrepancy.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

Praised for its acting, visuals, and action sequences but slammed for its plot, pacing, and its poor connection to its prequel, The Last Jedi, Star Wars- The Rise of Skywalker was a mixture of both great and terrible. We’re thankful that Rey was able to discover her true identity within the universe and for Kylo Ren’s redemption arc, but we must complain about Emperor Palpatine’s unexpected and unnecessary return. Why? Even director J. J. Abrams can respect fans’ lack of love for the final installment of the Skywalker saga.

Family Matters - The Missing Judy

Believe it or not, the unforgettable Steve Urkel (played by Jaleel White) was meant to appear in just one-off episode of Family Matters. Instead, audiences instantly fell in love with the nasally-spoken nerd. Unfortunately, with White’s newfound time on the show, other characters were less needed and a production budget trimmed up. So, when Judy, played by Jaimee Foxworth, was sent to her room in the fourth season’s “Mama’s Wedding” episode, she was never seen again. Her time was over.

Signs (2002)

“Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix find out that water is toxic to the aliens…yet the aliens have been fine walking around with all the natural humidity in the air on a planet made up of MOSTLY water.” Pittboul7 of Reddit nailed this one on the head. Even with a plot failure similar to Batman Begins, Signs went on to earn over $400 million on a $72 million budget. The late Roger Ebert even gave the film four out of five stars.

The Da Vinci Code (2006)

When Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu reach the Depository Bank of Zurich and gain access to Sauniere’s safe deposit box, they find a cryptex. Langdon reveals that if the code to gain access to the papyrus letter inside is wrong, the vinegar in the device will destroy the message. Although the two eventually realize the code needed to open the cryptex, we have to argue that they could have placed the cryptex in a freezer, instead. Why? Well, if the vinegar is frozen, then the cryptex could be hammered, smashed open without a fear the liquid vinegar would erase the message forever.

Transformers (2007)

The occasional controversial actor Shia LaBeouf starred in the 2007, 2009, and 2011 Transformer’s films directed by the explosion expert and director, Michael Bay. In the first film, the Decepticons are looking for a pair of glasses formerly owned by Sam Witwicky’s grandfather. These glasses are special as they’re imprinted with a map of coordinates needed to reach the Allspark, a source of life for the Cybertronians. Interestingly, Sam has the very glasses required by the Decepticons listed on eBay. Why the Decepticons weren’t able to get the coordinates from the pictures or even ask for more additional photos, beats us.

X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

In 2014, Days of Future Past brought together the early and mid-2000s X-Men (Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Halle Berry) with the cast of the early 2010s X-Men films (James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence). Although the overall plot of this film is convoluted, we’re more annoyed with the incontinuity between two X-Men films. In 1973, it’s revealed that Hank McCoy (Beast) has developed the serum to assist in culling his beastly-blue self. However, In 2006’s The Last Stand, Beast is utterly surprised that such a suppression serum exists. Supposedly producer Lauren Schuler Donner of Days of Future Past wants us to “Just forget about ‘X3’ and the first ‘Wolverine’ – forget about that, too!“ Easier said than done.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

Released in 2004, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is the third film in the greater Harry Potter film franchise. As this film drastically changed the tone and direction of the series, many fans and critics consider this to be the best HP film produced. Nonetheless, the issue in this film revolves around Hermione’s use of her Time Turner necklace. Although Hermione and Harry use the turner to rescue Buckbeak and Sirius Black by the end of the film, we don’t understand why the pair didn’t go back further. Couldn’t they have just gone back and saved Harry’s parents from Voldemort? Could it have been possible that two could have stopped the dark lord from the very beginning? We need answers.

The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Bringing together Bale, Caine, and Oldman for the final time in Nolan’s Batman trilogy, 2012’s The Dark Knight Rises did not disappoint. Around the middle of the film, Commissioner Gordon sends down the Gotham police to the underground sewers of the city to flush out the main antagonist Bane (Tom Hardy). For some moronic reason, he sends in every available cop. Then, when Bane’s henchmen bury the cops down there for months, when they’re finally freed by Cat Woman, they’re all clean-shaven, healthy, and unaffected by the light they haven’t seen in weeks.

Man Of Steel (2013)

In the most recent reboot of the movie franchise Superman, actor Henry Cavill took on the undying Man of Steel character in the film of the same name. Our annoyance in this film lies in one small but one very important detail. In some scenes, Superman maintains a manly beard. In others, he’s rocking a clean-shaven face. Therefore, if the man of steel is basically invincible, how can a dull earthly razor shave such a strong and chiseled face?

The Purge (2013)

Announced by the film’s Emergency Broadcast Service, ”This is not a test. This is your emergency broadcast system announcing the commencement of the Annual Purge sanctioned by the U.S. Government. Weapons of class 4 and lower have been authorized for use during the Purge. All other weapons are restricted. Government officials of ranking 10 have been granted immunity from the Purge and shall not be harmed. Commencing at the siren, any and all crime, including murder, will be legal for 12 continuous hours. Police, fire, and emergency medical services will be unavailable until tomorrow morning until 7 a.m., when The Purge concludes. Blessed be our New Founding Fathers and America, a nation reborn. May God be with you all.” If all crime is legal for 12 hours, why don’t the Americans concerned about the night’s festivities just take a vacation out of the country? Or even better, why don’t they move…

A Quiet Place (2018)

We’re going to let monolithdeathcult of Reddit explain the major flaw in 2018’s, A Quiet Place. I can’t believe that these aliens would be able to hear you whisper, but can’t hear your bare feet pad across the ground. Your general breathing. Your stomach never making involuntary noises, your elbows, knees, fingers, etc. popping on their own. It just seemed completely illogical to me that they can hear you whisper, but they either can’t hear your stomach growl at all, or you’ve somehow managed to stop your body from making any noises, ever.”

The Simpsons (1995)

Since 1989, The Simpsons have been bringing wholesome family entertainment to the masses every Sunday. With reruns, it’s more like everyday. Regardless, the show’s producers made one large but innocent mistake in season six, episode “And Maggie Makes Three.” To cut to the chase, there’s a photo of Maggie hanging in the living room as Homer converses with a pregnant Marge, who’s still pregnant with Maggie. Somehow the Simpsons family has a baby picture of their unborn baby? Spooky!

28 Weeks Later (2007)

Five years after the release of 28 Days Later in 2002, lucky zombie fans were treated to its sequel, 28 Weeks Later. Emptydumpling of Reddit provided us with the proper lowdown on the movie’s weakest point. “Really? No one was guarding the wife who had just been rescued from the infected zone? They were wary of her enough to strap her down, but not enough to order a guard to watch her even though they did so for the two kids? Right.” If you’re unfamiliar, a forgotten wife is left in the British countryside. She is saved and held in a safety tent in a military-protected London. Her husband, that left her for dead, kisses her, gets the virus, and becomes a zombie. He then goes on to infect almost everyone in London’s safety zone… all because he was able to sneak into his wife’s medical tent.

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

Redditor meiyoumayo took a moment that now perplexes any LOTR film fan. “How do Uruk-Hai know what a ‘menu’ is?! Has Uruk-Hai civilization advanced enough to have a restaurant/food service industry? Are there restaurants in Isengard? Why would Saruman develop a restaurant/food service industry in Isengard when it seems like he was on a total war footing at all times, and likely wouldn’t want to waste logistics and resources on developing restaurants where his dark forces could dine?” Merry and Pippin somehow make it out of an Orc and the banished Eomer’s Rohirrim unscathed. And uneaten.

Detective Pikachu (2019)

“When I saw this in theaters, the whole movie was ruined for me when his dad turned out to be Ryan Reynolds. You’re telling me this kid didn’t AUTOMATICALLY recognize his dad’s voice the minute Pikachu started talking? Are you kidding me? I’m even willing to suspend my belief and say MAYBE he didn’t think about it immediately because of the shock of a talking Pikachu…but he doesn’t figure it out until the end of the movie.” – stagnateregret of Reddit

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)

Nearly 20 years ago, the gorgeous Angelina Jolie first portrayed the intelligent and danger-seeking English archaeologist Lara Croft in the action-adventure film, Lara Croft- Tomb Raider. In the film, Croft is expected to gather the two halves of the Triangle of Light, an ancient artifact capable of controlling time, before the Illuminati can use the device for evil. Ironically, even when Croft recovers the first half of the Triangle in Cambodia, she continues toward Siberia to gather the second half. Realistically, though, does she really need to subject herself to the continued dangers when she can just destroy the first half? She won the game halfway through the film.

Toy Story (1995)

Released in 1995, Toy Story became another instant film classic. This movie was notable for a number of reasons. Not only was it Pixar’s first film, but it also persuaded the great computer community to heavily invest in the graphics software and hardware needed to recreate what was established in Toy Story. Anyways, the issue in this film lands on Buzz Lightyear. For a space ranger that believes he is a real person, it’s odd that he freezes as soon as a human character arrives in the scene. If he were truly real, he would not freeze like every other toy in the story.

The Hangover (2009)

Starring the equally talented and hilarious Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, and Justin Bartha, 2009’s The Hangover was a box office sleeper. Following a night of black and hazy memories, Phil, Stu, and Alan wake up to find Doug, the groom, to be missing from their bachelor party group. Unable to contact him, the trio travel all over Vegas to find their missing groom. Although the film’s theatrics left us in tears, all it would have taken for the group to find Doug was to ask Caesar’s Palace for their security footage.

Ant-Man (2015)

In 2015’s Ant-Man, Paul Rudd’s character, Scott Lang, is told by Dr. Hank Pym (played by Michael Douglas) that the Pym Particles inside his suit allows the distance between his molecules to shrink or widen to decrease and increase his size, respectively. However, he’s also told that his overall mass does not change during miniaturization. Therefore, how is it possible that a few ants are able to lift, support, and carry the 200-pound man? The math behind such a fascinating technology doesn’t seem to be adding up.

What We Do In The Shadows (2014)

Written and director by comedians Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi, What We Do In The Shadow captures the life of several vampires living together in New Zealand, mocumentary-style. In the film that inspired the 2019 television series of the same name, one scene depicts Waititi’s character standing in front of a mirror. It’s mostly common knowledge that a vampire won’t appear in a mirror, but his clothes should definitely appear. In the scene, his clothes are missing. But why?

Cinderella (2015)

Helena Bonham Carter plays the Fairy Godmother in 2015’s live-action remake of the classic Cinderella story. When she magically transforms the mice to horses, lizards to servants, her dress into a beautiful gown, and a pumpkin into her luxurious coach, she tells Cinderella that these things will return to their normal state when the clock strikes midnight. But how is it that her clearly enchanted glass heels continue staying glass after the clock strikes 12?

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

In Captain America- The First Avenger, Steve Rogers – AKA, Captain America – is given his iconic shield from its genius designer and creator, Howard Stark. Stark mentions that the shield is made from “Vibranium. It’s stronger than steel and a third of the weight. It’s completely vibration absorbent.” So, it’s almost like the perfect shield, right? Well, fast-forward to its sequel, Captain America- The Winter Soldier, the shield is capable of withstanding hits from Iron Man’s wrist pulsars and Thor’s Hammer, but a mere punch causes the Captain to trip backward.

Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)

Four years after the defenseless hit on the Bride, played by the elegant Uma Thurman, we find our main character waking up from a multi-year coma. In no time, she takes no time killing her almost-rapist and the man that sold her body during her unconscious time in the hospital. She then wheels herself out of the hospital as her leg muscles have atrophied having not been used for years. We fully accept the atrophy of her legs, but where does the Bride find her arm strength? Her arms went just as long without use as her legs did.

World War Z (2013)

Based on the novel of the same name by author Max Brooks, actor Brad Pitt stars as Gerry Lane, a reactivated UN investigator attempting to find clues to help end the worldwide zombie pandemic. When Lane temporarily ends up in Jerusalem, we find the city is protected by giant walls further patrolled by dozens of army helicopters flying overhead. Yet somehow, a mountain of zombies climbing over each other is allowed to grow so tall, they’re able to reach the top of the protecting wall and begin infecting the survivors within the city. Great job, safety helicopters.

Glee’s Two Dads

Between 2009 and 2015, through six seasons and 121 episodes, Fox’s Glee was a celebrated musical comedy-drama television series. Its diverse cast and excellent storylines brought insight into modern-day social issues like race, sexuality, and family relationships. Interestingly, in season one, a photo depicts Rachel (Lea Michele) and her two dads. However, in season three, the dads were recast. Rachel’s two dads were then played by actors Jeff Goldblum and Brian Stokes.

The A-Team Van

From 1983 until 1987, NBC ran an American action-adventure television series known as The A-Team. Composed of Mr. T, George Peppard, Dirk Benedict, and Dwight Schultz, the A-Team was a fictional US Army Special Forces unit that was wrongly convicted of war crimes. All were falsely imprisoned but later escaped. They then began working as mercenaries. They also took the time to avoid capture by authorities. The only issue we have with their plan was the use of their ostentatious GMC Vandura van. Who couldn’t recognize this iconic beast roaming the streets of LA?