Top 10 Movie Plots Smartphones Would Ruin

Although this slasher satire still holds up today, it’s clearly a product of the late ‘90s. Show of hands: how many people still rent movies from video stores or even know who Ricki Lake is? Most importantly, when was the last time you saw a landline phone? “Scream” opens with teenager Casey Becker answering her home phone. Little does she realize that her future killer is on the other line. In an era of caller ID, Casey likely would’ve ignored a number she didn’t recognize. Even if she did respond, Casey could’ve texted any number of people that there’s an intruder and to help ASAP. She also could’ve googled that Mrs. Voorhees was the killer in “Friday the 13th,” thus preventing her boyfriend’s death.

The plot of this thriller is set in motion when Tom Ripley is mistaken for a Princeton graduate by aristocrat Herbert Greenleaf. Herbert pays Tom $1,000 to travel to Italy and bring back his son Dickie. Upon meeting Dickie, Tom lies and says that they know each other from Princeton. Chances are if you ran into some who claims to be an old college acquaintance, the first thing you’d do is look them up on Facebook. If only they had this luxury in the 1950s, Dickie could’ve whipped out his smart phone and found that Tom never went to Princeton. Sure, Ripley could’ve edited his profile, but his presence on social media would also make it much harder for him to steal Dickie’s identity.

Some of you kids may be too young to remember, but before everyone and their grandmother had a smartphone, people took photos on actual cameras! They even had places where you could have the film developed. This was essential to the plot of “One Hour Photo,” which centers on a deranged photo developer who becomes obsessed with a family that regularly visits his superstore. He doesn’t just develop their photos, but also takes home copies for his personal collection. Since photo technicians are no longer a staple of drug stores, this film’s protagonist likely would be working a different department. Had it taken place today, Robin Williams’ character likely would’ve stalked the family on Facebook and Instagram instead, which admittedly sounds just as creepy.

This Christmas comedy was inspired by the real-life shopping frenzies ignited by Cabbage Patch Kids, Furby, and other hot ticket toys. Since Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character put his holiday shopping off until the last minute, he must scurry all over town on Christmas Eve to find an elusive Turbo Man action figure. When this film came out in 1996 Amazon was just an online bookstore. Now, however, Schwarzenegger could’ve clicked on the Amazon app and had a Turbo Man delivered to his house before Christmas. In the event that Amazon was out of stock, he still could’ve turned to eBay, Craigslist, or countless other websites. He may have to pay a little extra for overnight shipping, but it beats almost getting blown up by Sinbad.

“North by Northwest” is arguably the greatest movie ever made about mistaken identity, but this Alfred Hitchcock classic would’ve gone in an entirely different direction if smartphones existed in 1959. Cary Grant plays Roger Thornhill, an average ad executive who is misconstrued for a government agent named George Kaplan. With a mysterious organization hot on his trail, Thornhill is forced to go on the run in search of answers. Had the bad guys done a quick Google search, they would’ve quickly realized that Thornhill wasn’t the man they were looking for. They also could’ve pieced together that George Kaplan doesn’t even exist. He was merely a false persona cooked up by the government, making for one of cinema’s most famous MacGuffins.

Weirdly enough, this pioneering found-footage horror movie could’ve been shot on a smartphone had it made today. The film revolves around three students who venture into the woods in hopes of unraveling the legend of the Blair Witch. It isn’t long until they lose their way. With the map missing and a compass being of little help, it appears they’re destined to die in the woods. The question is what will kill them first: starvation or the witch herself?! Of course, nobody has to die with smartphones! Just call the authorities and have them send a rescue team. You could even give them your exact location with the Find my phone feature. Better yet, use a map app to find your way back to civilization!

This claustrophobic thriller confines Colin Farrell’s Stu to a phone booth for most of the runtime. Answering a public payphone, Stu is told by the unknown caller that he’ll be shot immediately if he doesn’t comply. In 1999, only four years before this movie came out, there were about 2 million phone booths in the United States. By 2018, that number had dropped to 100,000. While phone booths aren’t extinct per se, a wealthy New Yorker like Stu isn’t going to use one unless his smartphone runs out of batteries and there’s nowhere to charge it. Plus, in a society that’s going cashless, we doubt Stu would have a quarter to use the phone booth.

Playing hookie sure was a lot easier in the ‘80s. Dean of students Edward Rooney goes to hell and back to prove that Ferris Bueller is ditching school. With an iPhone at his disposal, however, Rooney wouldn’t even need to leave his office to catch Ferris. Through some investigating on social media, he could’ve figured out that Sloane Peterson’s grandmother didn’t die that day. Ferris’ little performance at the Von Steuben Day parade undoubtedly would’ve ended up on YouTube. If the campaign to Save Ferris went viral, everyone would’ve noticed that the kid on the parade float was also the supposed dying teen trending on Twitter. On top of that, the snooty waiter could’ve confirmed that Ferris wasn’t the Sausage King of Chicago.

Desperate for money, Marion Crane steals a client’s $40,000 and sets a course for California where her lover awaits. She decides to spend the night at the Bates Motel, which ends up being her final resting place. Marion could’ve saved herself a lot of trouble if she simply looked up the Bates Motel on Yelp. Given the motel’s eerie manager, his cranky “mother,” and the fact that multiple guests disappeared after checking in, we bet the ratings would be in the one-star range. Granted, a remote establishment like the Bates Motel probably wouldn’t have much of an online presence, but that’s all the more reason for Marion to seek shelter at a cozy Airbnb instead.

Before we get to our topic pick, here are a few honorable mentions:

“Memento” (2000)

“Dr. Strangelove” (1964)

“Free Fire” (2016)

“Dude, Where’s My Car?” (2000)

“You’ve Got Mail” (1998)

The night before leaving for Paris, the McCallisters power goes out, resulting in the clocks resetting. This causes the family to oversleep, leave in a rush, and forget young Kevin. Since the phone lines are down, they’re unable to call home. Too bad Santa couldn’t travel back in time to give everyone smartphones for Christmas! If the whole family set their smartphone alarms, they wouldn’t have slept in. If they still somehow forgot Kevin, he could’ve sent a group text to his family before their plane left Chicago. Even if everyone had their phones in Airplane mode, they at least could’ve contacted Kevin upon landing in Paris. It’d also be much easier for Kevin’s mom to book a flight home thanks to various travel apps.