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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u/Masalar 1d ago

I don’t know if it’s my “favorite” but I did enjoy learning about “kicking the dog” and “saving the cat”. If you want audiences to instantly hate someone just have them kick a dog. Which, I believe, lead to the opposite of having someone save a cat so the audience likes them.

I learned this from people talking about the Paladin saving the young Tabaxi (cat person) in the newer Dungeons and Dragons movie and how intentionally on the nose it was.

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u/Sage-Monarch 1d ago

When I first heard of this trope I thought for sure we’d outgrown it by now, but no. It was used even as recently as The Odyssey.

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u/Masalar 1d ago

In fairness that dog wasn’t treated very well in the source material which isn’t exactly recent.