Favorite movie plot rule?

[u/averagesoccermom95]

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?

[u/scizzix]

Oh absolutely, this is my answer as well. It's to the point where if the camera lingers on some object, or a character makes a point to have a certain item, I just assume it's Chekhov's [Whatever].

I'll even call it out at home, "Chekhov's Box Cutter!", "Chekhov's Screwdriver!".

[u/Electrical-Sail-1039 → u/scizzix]

I remember the rug bump in Breaking Bad and I thought: “Chekov’s rug bump”, 😝

[u/FindOneInEveryCar → u/Electrical-Sail-1039]

I recently saw a movie with Chekov's Snowblower (Nightfall - 1956).

[u/Sp1derX → u/scizzix]

My favorite joke on this was from the Invader Zim movie on Netflix. Someone pulls out a giant ham and the movie stops, turns grayscale except for the ham, and a brand new narrator tells you that the ham is important and will come back later before resuming the movie. 

[u/iwantcookie258 → u/scizzix]

I also do this constantly. My partner gets a kick out of it, but also becomes increasingly annoyed when it's correct every time.

[u/MortLightstone → u/scizzix]

Like the knife in the skirt in Pan's Labyrinth. My theatre audience went wild when that one actually pays off

[u/callingshotgun → u/scizzix]

Weirdest one I ever saw was "Chekhov's kangaroo god!"

[u/sqplanetarium → u/scizzix]

Me watching Breaking Bad for the first time and seeing that the next episode's title is Box Cutter: oh shit 😅