#MovieMisinterpretations #MovieMeanings #HiddenMovieMessages
🎬 What’s a movie most people completely missed the point on?
Have you ever watched a movie and felt like you completely missed the point? You’re not alone. Many films have deeper meanings and messages that often go unnoticed by the general audience. In this article, we’ll explore some examples of movies that most people completely missed the point on, and uncover the hidden messages and themes that make these films truly remarkable.
### The Matrix (1999)
The Matrix is a classic sci-fi film that is often seen as just an action-packed blockbuster. However, the movie’s true meaning goes much deeper than that. Here’s what most people missed about The Matrix:
1. A metaphor for reality – The Matrix is a metaphor for the way in which we are often blinded by our own perceptions of reality. The film makes us question what is real and what is simply an illusion, much like the characters in the movie.
2. Commentary on technology – The film also serves as a commentary on technology and its impact on our lives. The idea of being “plugged in” to a virtual reality is a reflection of our own dependence on technology and the ways in which it can control us.
3. The hero’s journey – The Matrix follows the classic hero’s journey, with Neo’s transformation from an ordinary individual to a savior figure. This is a common theme in many films, but most people miss the deeper meaning behind Neo’s journey and the messages it conveys about personal growth and self-discovery.
### Fight Club (1999)
Fight Club is a film that has been widely misunderstood since its release. Most people see it as a violent and nihilistic film, but there is much more to it than meets the eye:
1. Critique of consumerism – At its core, Fight Club is a scathing critique of consumerism and the empty, materialistic lives that many people lead. The film challenges the notion of happiness through material possessions and explores the emptiness that can come from a life driven by consumerism.
2. Identity and masculinity – The film also delves into themes of identity and masculinity, questioning the traditional societal expectations placed on men and the ways in which they can lead to a sense of dissatisfaction and disillusionment.
3. Subversion of expectations – Fight Club is also a masterclass in subverting audience expectations. The film constantly keeps viewers on their toes, challenging them to question their assumptions about the characters and the story.
### Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a beautifully crafted film that often leaves viewers puzzled by its complex narrative. Here’s what most people missed about this movie:
1. Embracing the pain of love – The film explores the idea of embracing the pain of love and the complexities of human relationships. Instead of erasing memories of heartbreak, the characters come to understand that pain is an inherent part of the human experience.
2. Subjectivity of memories – Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind also raises questions about the nature of memories and the ways in which they shape our perceptions of reality. The film challenges the idea of erasing difficult memories and suggests that they are an integral part of who we are.
3. Non-linear narrative – The film’s non-linear narrative structure adds an extra layer of complexity, making it easy for viewers to miss the deeper themes and messages. The fragmented storytelling style mirrors the fragmented nature of memory and adds to the film’s overall impact.
In conclusion, these are just a few examples of movies that most people completely missed the point on. By delving deeper into the hidden meanings and messages of these films, we can gain a greater appreciation for the artistry and craftsmanship of the filmmakers. Next time you watch a movie, take a moment to consider the deeper themes and messages that may be hidden beneath the surface. You may just uncover a whole new world of meaning and understanding.
Whiplash.
It’s about the hatred and alienation that comes with obsession. No, dad, it’s not about how discipline and practice will make you good at music.
Scarface; no, Tony Montana is not a winner he’s a loser
Starship Troopers
Idiocracy.
Y’all were not supposed to want this universe.
Fight Club. It’s not about it being cool to beat the shit out of each other in concrete floored basements. It’s about how young men are easily manipulated by cults.
The same people who idolize Jordan Belfort in the Wolf Of Wall Street are the same shmucks who would lose their life savings to him. He fed on people who were equally greedy and ignorant… basically today’s “hustle” culture.
O Brother, Where Art Thou?
American Psycho
Starship Troopers. Pretty much everything it got criticized for was very much the point
Falling Down being a super relatable story about a man cracking under societal pressure, instead a sly critique about how abusers make themselves out to be victims while destroying everything around them.
They don’t seem to register the reveal of the restraining order at all.
Most mob movies but specifically Goodfellas. So many people say that goodfellas glorifies the mob and I just don’t see how anyone could interpret the movie like that. Yea we see them have a bunch of luxurious items, but I’d say the film does a pretty damn good job of showing you the mafia isn’t glorious. Everyone who dies in this movie dies a horrible death, a lot of them were killed by people that they’d consider their friends. You see the main character ruin his life, by the end of the movie he’s a paranoid coke addict who’s forced to live in witness protection. Idk how anyone can get the impression that being in the mob is something special from this movie
Scott pilgrim vs the world. Scott was an asshole and a creep nothing to be idolized
The Outlaw Josie Wales.
For years I thought of it as a revenge / shoot em up.
Then I realized it’s a commentary on how horrible and pointless war is.
Into the Wild was not supposed to inspire wanderlust or desires to leave one’s life to go live a simple life in the wild
Finding Nemo
Sales of pet Clown Fish increased a lot after the release of the film.
romeo and juliet
not sure if that counts, but that might be the most widely misunderstood story ever.
DANCES WITH WOLVES
There’s a couple big misconceptions because I think most people haven’t even seen it and are angry it beat GOODFELLAS for the Oscar.
A lot of people dismiss it as just another white savior movie that exploits Native Americans. It’s very far from that, it’s actually the opposite they save him and help him find his humanity. Costner was incredibly respectful to all tribes featured in the film, a very compassionate depiction that even in the early 90s was rare to see in a movie.
On a technical level, it’s all an incredible accomplishment from a first time director and the fact that it won Best Picture and Director was crazy. It was the first Western in almost 60 years to win Best Picture.
Shutter Island : Most people seem to miss the significant exchange between Teddy and Chuck at the end. >!Basically Teddy is not relapsing. He’s choosing to die (be lobotomised) instead of continuing to live as an evil man who killed his family!<
Full Metal Jacket. It was trying to make a point about the dehumanising effects of war. Instead, people just thought that Hartman was funny and quoted him endlessly, not appreciating that he himself was a traumatised WW2 veteran training young men to go and suffer the same fate as him, or worse, in the name of patriotism and seemingly oblivious to the irony of the situation.
The original miniseries “Shogun”. Blackthorne provides Toranaga with information about their shared enemies (the Portuguese) and some western solutions to the issue but he’s not the stereotypical “white savior” that critics present him as and while he is granted status of “samurai” (which just means “servant”) he never “out swords” any of the Japanese, he simply uses their culture against them.
Not a movie, but Breaking Bad. Walter White is not some badass who breaks free from his controlling wife to live his best life. He is an abusive piece of human garbage who ruined the lives of everyone around him and he did it with a smile on his face.
Apocalypse Now.
This is not so much a movie about Vietnam as it is a retelling of the book ‘Heart of Darkness’ that happens to take place in Vietnam during the war.
More a book than a movie, but The Great Gatsby. The number of people out there who continue to think it’s a love story is stunning. Every time I see a “Daisy was a bitch for leading Jay on, I hate her!” type comment I die a little inside. The relationship between Jay and Daisy is a metaphor for a far bigger human condition that puppy love.
Fitzgerald was a brilliant writer, and to think he wrote a simple romance novel is frankly insulting to the man.
Joker
You are not supposed to see him as an idol
Barbie. I can understand some grumbles but the overwhelming message is treating each other with respect and not existing within your predefined label.
Men were definitely the butt of the joke a few times, but man-hating is not even close to what I took from it.
It’s playing on stereotypes and how silly they are.
The Great Gatsby
I don’t know if it’s the “point” or not, but I read a fan theory that all the characters in Napoleon Dynamite are dealing with their own version of isolation/loneliness.
It completely changed how I viewed the film.
The Godfather movies
It’s not just about Michael’s rise to the power but his eventual downfall and failure to truely replace his father.
Inception’s ending.
Arguing about whether the totem fell over is completely missing the point, he doesn’t care anymore.
when it was released in 2001: josie and the pussycats. over the years people have been “getting it” and it’s become a cult classic. but it still goes over so many peoples heads.
500 Days of Summer. Zoey Deschanel’s character didn’t treat Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s unfairly. She’s just living her life and he expected her to change his with her manic pixie dream girl magic. She couldn’t/didn’t want to and left him because he couldn’t understand that that wasn’t her responsibility and she wasn’t ACTUALLY a manic pixie dream girl after all. The movie sets us up to think she is but then sucker punches us when she turns out to be a real person and JGL’s character has to learn about love the hard way. But then does he? At the end he meets a girl named “Autumn” and it’s implied that maybe he’s starting the whole cycle over again. They tell us right at the beginning that it isn’t a love story, it’s a “story about love” and they mean it.
The Great Gatsby
A lot of people wanted to hold these larger then life Gatsby-style parties because they thought they looked cool.
They didn’t see the point that all that all that glitz, glamour and excess wealth left Jay Gatsby with an empty legacy
Told a buddy I was excited to see District 9 when it was around, and he ended up going to see it the weekend before me and my spouse could make it in. When I saw him again Monday, he was like “DO NOT GO SEE IT! It’s SO bad! We ended up leaving the theater early! It was THAT bad!” which really confused me since it had pretty amazing praise. I went and saw it the next weekend anyway, with obviously lower expectations, and left feeling blown away by it. Confusingly I asked him on the next Monday why he didn’t seem to like, as I enjoyed it immensely, and he straight-faced, without missing a beat said “I mean, who cares? They’re just alien cockroaches! They’re not human!”
Never could look at him quite the same after that.
Famously Clockwork Orange.
I believe Kubrick pulled the film after everyone went out and bought boiler suits and bowler hats to emulate the Droogs rather than be horrified by their actions.
The Last Samurai. Waaaay too many people were looking at Tom Cruise as the Last Samurai (singular) when the movie was referring to the characters we met along the way.
This will never stop annoying me. Ever.
The original Mulan.
I have several friends who reject it because they think that it’s saying that you have to be a man to succeed, but there’s literally a whole musical number dedicated to the irony of that.
A lot of folks can’t see past the face presentation of things, smh.
Jesus Christ Superstar is from the perspective of Judas. It’s not at all flattering to Jesus Christ.
Midsommar is not a “girl boss” movie like many people assume that it is.
Network.
In particular, the speech of “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore”
The movie is absolutely not saying it’s a good thing. The movie is showing the end of objective televised news and the beginning of corporate-run, anger-based, divisive televised news.
A book, misinterpreted so badly that all film adaptions are wrong.
Lolita.
It’s a horror, not a romance.
It’s a brilliantly written unreliable narrator that relys on the reader having a sense of moral compass and going “wait a minute”…
Though the fact that powerful men in Hollywood read it as a romance is…telling.