Top 20 Smartest Decisions in Movies

“Home Alone” (1990)

Kevin McCallister might be a kid, but he’s no slouch when it comes to intelligence. His ability to thwart two robbers in “Home Alone” ranks among the smartest things any child has ever done on film. Using some inventive ideas, the young hero gathers together all of his toys and household supplies to defend himself. Every entrance has been thoroughly rigged in order to slow down Harry and Marv. Injuring the criminals at every turn, these traps give McCallister enough time to escape the house. It’s amazing that the burglars survive the onslaught at all, but we’re pretty sure they’re walking away with a few concussions.

“Doctor Strange” (2016)

By the end of “Doctor Strange,” the powerful Dormammu thinks he has the hero in the palm of his hand. Strange uses some of his own trickery to put them in a time loop. Stuck together inside an infinite bubble, the evil entity seems to kill his adversary over and over. He realizes too late that he’s under the control of the time lord and can’t escape. The talented doctor takes this as an opportunity to open up new negotiations, but this time, his enemy has no choice but to accept them. It’s a clever bit of time manipulation that showcases the brains and abilities of an underestimated superhero.

“Speed” (1994)

With a bus rigged to blow, LAPD officer Jack Traven needs to keep the vehicle above 50 mph or it’ll explode. He realizes that the whole thing is being watched by the villain Howard Payne. In order to buy themselves some privacy, Traven and company figure out a way to have the security feed loop itself. This makes it all look like business as usual on the inside. In reality, the police are helping to offload the hostages. The multi-part plan goes off without a hitch until Payne’s keen eye finally discovers the ruse. Through this tightly-coordinated operation, the authorities are one step ahead of the antagonist.

“The Thing” (1982)

A mysterious organism descends upon an Antarctic research base, turning the staff against each other. Kurt Russell’s R.J. MacReady takes control and ties up several suspects that could be infected. Planning to test a sample of everyone’s blood, the character manages to figure out the culprit in a methodical way. MacReady uses his flamethrower after the creature starts to take over its host. Not every horror hero is this intelligent, making this one from “The Thing” especially noteworthy for his use of the scientific method. You could argue that it doesn’t solve all their problems, but this test does speed up the process of finding the deadly life form.

“Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” (2003)

Hoping to lift the curse of the Aztec gold, Captain Barbossa fights for his own mortality against an assorted cast of characters. Captain Jack Sparrow thwarts these plans by sneaking away a coin for himself. Showing off his skills as a thief, the character makes himself immortal and able to trade swords with the demonic Barbossa. Sparrow’s invincibility also distracts the evil pirate long enough for Will Turner to break the curse. This strategy saves the day and reminds everyone that Johnny Depp’s anti-hero is reliable after all.

“Knives Out” (2019)

Investigating the death of Harlan Thrombey, detective Benoit Blanc tries to rule out possible suspects such as nurse Marta Cabrera. The latter character reveals that she can’t tell a lie without vomiting. While this might seem like a gross detail, it actually comes in handy at the end. Chris Evans’ Ransom becomes the prime suspect and a phone call becomes the perfect opportunity for Cabrera to act. She pretends that key witness Fran has survived, leading Evans’ grandson to confess everything. He then gets covered in puke, revealing that Ana de Armas’ character is lying. The ploy proves itself to be ingenious and somewhat disgusting, prompting the real killer to expose his true self.

“Inception” (2010)

In Christopher Nolan’s trippy thriller, Dom Cobb and his associates must invade a man’s dreams in order to plant an idea. This involves multiple dream levels in order to do it properly. Cobb’s complex scheme involves taking Robert Fischer deeper into his subconscious until he’s face to face with a version of his own father. The touching scene is all a ruse that changes Fischer’s mind and makes the cerebral heist complete. Some people find “Inception” too difficult to understand, but those who stick with it will find this idea to be among the smartest of its kind.

“Aliens” (1986)

After surviving the first film, Ellen Ripley finds herself up against another xenomorph. The hero confronts the alien queen in the climax of “Aliens.” Rather than fighting it with traditional weapons, the protagonist hops in a cargo loader. This enables Ripley to match the creature’s physical strength and size. It also keeps her at arm's length from the monster, avoiding its mouth and other appendages. The resulting battle allows the heroic character to toss the pesky enemy into an airlock. Unfortunately, the characters in the next several sequels didn’t take this same strategy to heart.

“Mad Max: Fury Road” (2015)

Spending the first half of the movie escaping, Furiosa and Max reach a crossroads with a difficult decision to make. They’re far from home and in desperate need of help. Instead of trekking deeper into the barren desert, the group decides to return to the Citadel. Sometimes going back to the safest place in the wasteland can be the best option. Taking the caravan back, the heroes fight their way to the oasis that’s now unguarded. It’s a tough journey that takes its toll on the characters, but ultimately they can come back to a place that’s full of much-needed supplies.

“Get Out” (2017)

Following an elaborate scheme, Chris finds himself tied up in the basement of his girlfriend’s family home. His sick and twisted hosts put him in a chair while he awaits surgery. Without anyone knowing, the hero rips cotton out of the seat cushions and stuffs it into his ears. It’s both a subtle and low-tech way to gain the upper hand. This allows him to avoid the mind control that the creepy organization tries to use on him. Pretending to be brainwashed, the protagonist waits for Jeremy to return and hits him over the head when he isn’t looking. Jordan Peele’s great writing makes this smart choice feel even more impactful with its rich symbolism.

“Raiders of the Lost Ark” (1981)

Falling into the hands of the Nazis, the Ark of the Covenant seems to be just outside of Indiana Jones’ reach once again. However, the villains are nice enough to keep him around for the grand opening. Before it all happens, the archaeologist reminds Marion to shut her eyes. She takes this advice to heart while the baddies start to drop like flies. There are also a few nightmare-inducing moments, with the likes of Toht and Belloq getting the worst of it. It appears that Jones’ advice isn’t superstition after all given the gruesome aftermath. Considering the artifact’s true power, it’s probably best that it ends up locked away in storage.

“Die Hard” (1988)

John McClane might just be having the worst Christmas Eve ever in this action movie classic. This doesn’t distract him from coming up with a few smart ideas, the latter of which includes one that saves his and his wife’s life. Hans Gruber looks like he has it all figured out and McClane unarmed, but there’s a hidden sidearm taped to his enemy’s back. The detective’s quick draw skills come in handy as he gives Gruber one last surprise. Lucky for this hero, he has enough brains to match his physical skills. This all leads to a final confrontation that spells the end for the villain’s plans.

“Avengers: Endgame” (2019)

By the end of “Avengers: Infinity War,” the remaining heroes are left hopeless after Thanos snaps their friends away. The sequel finds the survivors in need of a plan. They eventually settle on a complex operation involving time travel, hoping to harness all of the infinity stones for themselves. This all leads them to a climactic battle with the imposing villain. With a little help from almost everyone, the Avengers are able to exact their revenge on their nemesis. Tony Stark puts all the stones back together and snaps the purple guy out of existence. It might’ve taken an intergalactic army and a few sacrifices, but it was well worth it.

“World War Z” (2013)

In the last section of this zombie film, UN investigator Gerry Lane survives a plane crash and makes his way to an important research facility. He eventually convinces the other survivors to help him fight his way to a room containing pathogens. Injecting yourself with one might make the zombies avoid you, or maybe it’ll all be for nothing. Lane finally injects himself and tests out the theory on a nearby walker. Thankfully for him, the undead don’t go after anyone who’s considered unfit for consumption. The hero then walks freely down the hallway as a horde runs right by him. Avoiding the usual genre clichés, this movie finds a new and successful way to avoid getting bitten.

“Clash of the Titans” (1981; 2010)

Whether you’re talking about the original film or the remake, “Clash of the Titans” features Perseus’ journey to defeat the Kraken. This involves having to defeat Medusa in order to harness her head’s special power. Once the hero obtains the deadly face, he confronts the monster in a thrilling climax. His plan works perfectly as he uses the head to turn the creature to stone. Rather than having to use a sword or even a massive army, the protagonist takes down Hades’ not-so-secret weapon in an impressive takedown. This mythical adventure wouldn’t be complete without this stroke of godlike genius.

“Iron Man” (2008)

After getting ambushed and captured by the Ten Rings group, Tony Stark doesn’t know if he’ll survive in Afghanistan. He’s then given access to vital materials in order to make a missile for the enemy. Choosing to build a suit of armor instead, Stark creates his own escape plan. The giant suit might be rudimentary, but it’s definitely effective against armed guards. It also serves as a prototype for the iconic red suit. Most importantly, Stark uses the technology to get out of there with his life. The entire sequence reveals the character’s physical and mental prowess under pressure.

“The Shining” (1980)

Imagine being trapped at a remote hotel with Jack Nicholson chasing you around a maze. If your name is Danny Torrance, you need to think fast in order to avoid your ax-wielding father. Luckily, the son is wise beyond his years and decides to backtrack through his own footprints. This creates the effect that his trail has stopped. While Jack keeps wandering aimlessly, his smarter child hides and makes his way back to safety. It’s the kind of choice that even adults wouldn’t be able to come with in the nick of time. If you ever find yourself in the same situation, remember to put on some warm clothes and do the same as the younger Torrance does.

“Terminator 2: Judgment Day” (1991)

In this action-packed sequel, John Connor gets help from the T-800 in surviving an attack from the T-1000. The young hero later tries to call and check up on his foster parents. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s cyborg then has a clever idea, mimicking Connor’s voice and asking for the dog with the wrong name. Always one step ahead, the allied machine uses this as a test to see if the mother is real. This baits the evil machine into revealing itself as the liquid-metal villain. It’s a straightforward and successful idea that goes underappreciated in a film of shootouts and chases.

“The Shawshank Redemption” (1994)

After going to jail for many years, Andy Dufresne has more than enough time to come up with an amazing plan. He works his way into becoming the prison’s accountant and develops a complex money laundering scheme for the warden. Little do the authorities know his true motivations, to take all the cash for himself after he escapes. He also chips away at his cell until he can properly tunnel his way to freedom. The dramatic exit happens without anyone the wiser, with even Dufresne’s closest friends failing to realize it. It’s such an effective operation that it sets up one of the more satisfying endings in cinematic history.

“The Godfather” (1972)

Michael Corleone might be more of an anti-hero, but he’s definitely smart about this climactic act in “The Godfather.” He assumes control of the family and decides to take out all of his rivals in one fell swoop. During his son’s baptism, Corleone orders his associates to go around town and assassinate the other leaders. All of it happens simultaneously as the new don enjoys a quiet ceremony with his loved ones. It might be among the more ruthless decisions in any movie, but the choice to take out everybody comes as a strategic, morbid, and ingenious one.