Top 20 Things Everyone Gets Wrong About Famous Movies
#20: A Person Died Looking for the Money
Top 10 Things Everyone Gets Wrong About Famous Movies
“Fargo” (1996) The film “Fargo” is a darkly comedic caper involving a substantial amount of ransom money. In one scene, Steve Buscemi’s character stashes the cash on the side of a road in the snow. The money remains unfound by the film’s end. A few years after the film debuted, a Japanese woman named Takako Konishi was found dead in Minnesota after passing through Fargo. Some incorrect reporting at the time of her death led to the false claim, and later urban legend, that she died searching for the hidden money in the mistaken belief that it was real. This myth even gave rise to a film of its own, called “Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter.”
#19: A Death in the Chariot Race
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“Ben-Hur” (1959) The climactic chariot race is a major centerpiece for this legendary religious epic. In it, Judah Ben-Hur races against his childhood friend turned foe, Messala. Ben-Hur triumphs after Messala’s attempt to kill him backfires. For years, rumors persisted that the stuntman for Messala actually died during the filming of this sequence and that the death can be seen in the finished film. However, no one involved with the film has ever mentioned any accident during the making of this scene. These sorts of myths around race scenes are fairly common, but as one of the most famous in cinema history, the one from “Ben-Hur” has been particularly persistent.
#18: The Final Match’s Outcome
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“Rocky” (1976) Given that it’s one of the most famous sports movies ever made, you’d think everyone would know the story of “Rocky.” But arguably the most crucial part of the first film in this storied franchise has a major misconception about it, because Rocky actually loses. Plenty of people assume that Rocky Balboa wins his match against Apollo Creed. And while Rocky does give Apollo one incredible fight over 15 rounds, Creed is ultimately declared the victor by split decision. Perhaps this myth has remained because Rocky’s story is an underdog story. So many other underdog stories result in the plucky up-and-comers triumphing despite the odds. And while Rocky does succeed in proving himself, he doesn’t, technically, win.
#17: Gremlins After Midnight
“Gremlins” (1984) Everybody knows the rules with Gremlins right? Don’t put them in light, don’t get them wet, and don’t feed them after midnight! Well, not really. Despite “Gremlins” being the name of the film, these famous rules are for the Furby-like Mogwai. Feeding these adorable creatures after midnight is what turns them into Gremlins in the first place. However, for people who only know the movie through pop culture or who only saw it once, the name Mogwai just doesn’t have the same name recognition, which is probably how this misunderstanding came about.
#16: Edna’s Inspiration
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“The Incredibles” (2004) This animated superhero film is loaded with fun characters, but superhero fashion designer Edna Mode is a fan favorite. The diminutive diva walks all over everyone else and has some of the most quotable lines in the movie. Many viewers have long believed that Edna is based on Oscar-winning costume designer Edith Head, given their similar hairstyles and glasses. However, according to director Brad Bird himself, Edna Mode is not based on anyone in particular, she’s her own thing. Like Edna’s many creations, her design feels familiar, but she’s still wholly unique, darling!
#15: Jack Could’ve Fit
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“Titanic” (1997) Everyone’s probably had this argument. The end of “Titanic” sees Jack and Rose in the water with Jack floating on a door - well, actually, it’s an elaborate door frame, not a door. [xref] But the point is this - a lot of us have angrily believed that Jack could have survived if Rose had just moved over. However, as seen in the film, and in several recreations after its debut, two people on wreckage at the same time would have capsized it instead. Now if they had just traded off with each other…that’s a different story!
#14: Singin’ in the Milk
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“Singin' in the Rain” (1952) As one of the most acclaimed films of all time, “Singin’ in the Rain” has had plenty of rumors about it bandied about over the years. One of the most bizarre is about the legendary sequence with the eponymous song. While Gene Kelly is, well, singing in the rain, one myth goes that the “rain” on set was actually milk. The theory goes that milk was used to make it show up better on camera, given that Technicolor was relatively new. However, Kelly’s widow, Patricia Ward Kelly, has flatly denied this absurd idea. Plus, it’s not like “Singin’ in the Rain” was the only movie to have rain on film!
#13: Do You Feel Lucky, Punk?
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“Dirty Harry” (1971) Clint Eastwood has made a career of playing grizzled badasses. One of his most famous roles is as the titular not-so-clean cop, “Dirty” Harry Callahan. When Harry confronts various criminals within the film, he utters the immortal signature line: “Do you feel lucky, punk?” Or… at least, that’s how just about everyone misquotes his line. His actual line is far more involved and comes at the tail end of a speech. While parts of this misquote are in the two questions he asks the criminals, the exact wording most people use is merely a paraphrasing of the actual quote. So you’ve got to ask yourself one question: do you misquote it? Well, do you punk?!
#12: George Lucas Directed All Three
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“Star Wars” Original Trilogy (1977-83) Even if you’re not a hardcore “Star Wars” fan, when you ask most people, they’ll tell you that George Lucas wrote and directed the original “Star Wars” trilogy. Except…he didn’t. Well, not all of them. It’s true that Lucas scripted and directed the original 1977 classic that originally bore the franchise’s name, but he was not as fully in control with “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi.” Lucas helped script the latter, but the screenplay for “Empire” was written by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan, and it was directed by Irvin Kershner. Meanwhile, Kasdan helped script “Jedi” with Lucas and it was directed by Richard Marquand. The “Star Wars” universe was Lucas’ overall vision, but he didn't do everything.
#11: Background Ghost
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“Three Men and a Baby” (1987) This ‘80s comedy features three guys roped into taking care of an infant girl dropped on their doorstep. The birth father is one of them, Jack. In a scene where Jack discusses his new daughter with his mother, an urban legend claims that the figure of a ghost can be seen behind some curtains in the background. However, the figure is merely a standee, a cardboard cutout, of Jack, who is an actor. The standee was largely cut from the final film, though you can still see it in a few shots. Even co-star Tom Selleck has debunked the rumor - and we don’t want to refute a man with a mustache that impressive.
#10: Brandon Lee’s Death
“The Crow” (1994) Brandon Lee was the star of “The Crow,” playing the protagonist Eric Draven, and died during filming. During a scene that called for a gun to be fired, a dummy bullet was left in the firearm and was not properly removed, as the gun specialist had gone home. When the gun went off, Lee was shot for real, and died later in the hospital. However, despite popular belief, the take in which he was fatally wounded was not used in the final cut of the film and was in fact destroyed after being used in evidence in the investigation into the accidental death.
#9: Jason Voorhees Is the Killer
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“Friday the 13th” (1980) Jason Voorhees is the famed killer of the “Friday the 13th” franchise, but he wasn’t always. In the first installment, it’s actually Jason’s mother Pamela that kills teenagers, taking her revenge not only on the two camp counselors whose negligence led to her son’s apparent death, but also on counselors decades later too. It wasn’t until the second film that Jason himself became the primary antagonist, and he didn’t even acquire his iconic hockey mask until the third film. It just goes to show you that while a property can become associated with one thing, it’s not always representative of the whole.
#8: Sequel
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“Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” (1984) It’s a common misconception that the second film in the original “Indiana Jones” trilogy is a sequel. After all, that’s generally how trilogies work, with one following the next. However, like the pulp adventure serials that inspired them, “Indiana Jones” doesn’t follow a strict overarching narrative. “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” is actually a prequel, taking place the year prior to “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” Apparently, writer George Lucas didn’t want Nazis to be the villains and made the film take place prior to “Raiders” to avoid the hero running into them twice in a row, though the third Reich would return in the third film.
#7: Tim Burton Directed It
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“The Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993) Given that it’s often titled as “Tim Burton’s ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas,’” the general public can be forgiven for assuming that Burton was in the director’s chair. Given Burton’s track record of whimsical, yet creepy movies, it seems right up his alley. While Burton did create the story and characters, and co-produced, the screenplay and direction were handled by others. Burton’s name was likely attached for marketing reasons, since he did provide the seed of the film’s idea and was already a big name by that point - both in the industry and with cinemagoers. The actual director however, was Henry Selick, who went on to direct “James and the Giant Peach” and “Coraline”.
#6: Shelved Because of Shame
“The Day the Clown Cried” (1972) In the early 1970s, comedian, actor and director Jerry Lewis directed and starred in a movie about a clown imprisoned by the Nazis during WWII. Lewis was reportedly embarrassed with the end result, which is often cited as the reason for the film’s lack of release. However, in reality, “The Day the Clown Cried” was tied up in legal issues once it was completed, with the rights being retained by the screenwriter, Joan O’Brien, which delayed and ultimately halted its release. That being said, Lewis’ embarrassment may have played a part in its continued lack of exposure. In 2015, a copy was finally given to the Library of Congress, but even they cannot screen it until 2024.
#5: Sunglasses
“Risky Business” (1983) The most famous scene from “Risky Business” has protagonist Joel Goodsen, played by Tom Cruise, celebrating his parents-free independence at home. He dances around to Bob Seger’s “Old Time Rock and Roll” in nothing but his underwear, a white shirt, and sunglasses. Or at least, that’s the way every parody of the moment shows. In the original scene, Cruise wears a light pink shirt and has no sunglasses. While he wears the sunglasses prominently in the poster and in other scenes in the film, it’s likely that his look outside of this scene is so iconic that everyone misremembers Cruise wearing them in this one. Or it’s a Mandela Effect…but that’s another list.
#4: Bigger Boat
“Jaws” (1975) This blockbuster is important and iconic in pretty much every way. However, when it comes to quotes from the film, arguably the most famous one is also one of the most frequently misquoted. In the famous scene, Martin Brody is throwing chum behind Quint’s boat, and spots the massive shark they’re hunting. Retreating into the cabin, he tells Quint: “You’re gonna need a bigger boat.” However, most times the scene is referenced in other media, people say “we’re gonna need a bigger boat” or whatever else they need something bigger of. Sure, it has pretty much the same meaning and effect, but it ain’t a direct quote.
#3: Hello, Clarice
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“The Silence of the Lambs” (1991) Since we’re on a misquote streak, here’s another imaginary line everyone thinks is real. Over the years, whether in scripted pop culture references or just regular movie fans having conversations, “The Silence of the Lambs” is misquoted. Hannibal Lecter is remembered as saying “Hello Clarice” in his menacing greeting to FBI agent-in-training Clarice Starling. However, although it’s become iconic, it isn’t accurate. Hannibal’s greetings to her in the film are limited to a “good morning,” and a “good evening, Clarice.” Sure, he says the exact phrase to her in the sequel, but that was a decade later.
#2: “Luke, I Am Your Father”
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“Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back” (1980) Back to the original trilogy. You’d think it’d be hard for people to get something so famous so wrong, but if you search your feelings, you’ll know it to be true. Despite being one of the most oft-quoted lines in film history, the phrase “Luke, I am your father” is never actually said by Darth Vader. The line is “No, I am your father.” The misremembered line has, through misquoting and paraphrasing in pop culture, become so prevalent that people mistakenly believe it’s actually present in “The Empire Strikes Back.” But, like “Play it again Sam” from “Casablanca,” it isn’t.
#1: “S-E-X” in the Sky
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“The Lion King” (1994) Can you feel the love tonight? Midway through this Disney classic, Simba the lion flops down on a cliff side and knocks up a cloud of dust. When played back very slowly, the dust appears to form the vague outline of the letters “S-E-X.” Religious organizations have used this as an example of Disney’s apparent lack of morality and the supposed message has been the subject of playground rumor for decades. However, the generally accepted explanation is that the letters are actually “S-F-X,” a common abbreviation for special effects, and were inserted by someone from that particular department who worked on “The Lion King.
