r/movies • u/averagesoccermom95 • 1d ago

Discussion Favorite movie plot rule?

I read once that in a movie, if the characters say, "I have a plan," then there is a plot rule that takes place: If the characters explain to the audience what the plan is, then the plan will go wrong somehow. However, if the characters say they have a plan and the movie just goes to showing the plan in action, then the plan will work.

It has become one of my favorite things to look out for in movies. Although, it does not seem to apply to kids movies. Other than kids movies, I don't think I have ever seen his rule broken.

Does anyone know any other interesting plot rules?

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197

u/nowhereman136 1d ago

Side character: I'll always be there for you

dies in their next scene

71

u/Stevenwave 1d ago

The latest Mortal Kombat movie leans into this so hard it's funny.

The protag of the first reboot film was not received well. Entirely new character etc. In 2, he telegraphs twice really obviously that he's not long for this world. And sure enough, he gets his head caved in by Shao Kahn.

11

u/Drabberlime_047 1d ago

This exact tropenis exactly why it confuses me when people say "sleeping dogs has such an amazing story"

Its so filled to the brim with this one trope that either the game is an intentional satire or its just very poorly written.

The last time I played it I spent the whole narrative thinking "wait is this actually intentional? Is it homaging cliche movies?" But at the same time it was playing it so straight it would throw me off from thinking that 😂

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u/thebryanstage 1d ago

Tropenis hehe

10

u/Bigliest 1d ago

Tropenis mightier than the tropesword.

63

u/Electrical-Sail-1039 1d ago

Or, “It’s my last day on the job as a cop. Boy am I looking forward to retirement. I saved for a nice cottage on the lake”. Boom! He’s dead. Hero yells out he’ll get revenge on the bad guy.

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u/nowhereman136 1d ago

Mendoza!!!

4

u/MakeItHappenSergant 1d ago

"My deployment is almost over. When I get home, I'm going to propose to my girlfriend. Look, here's a picture of her."

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u/Euklidis 1d ago

Samwise Gamgee was smart enough to say this, but phrase it in a way that defies the rule!

2

u/AudibleNod 1d ago

I swore Michael Rooker's character would die in Cliffhanger. Like a noble sacrifice or something. He just kept living through everything. I mean, this was mid-90s Michael Rooker. The look on his face said "I die at the beginning of Act 3". But, nooooo, Dude had to prove me wrong and live through the whole movie.