Join The Community
5. The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
The movie: Who wants to find out what happens to Gotham when Batman's gone for months and a masked madman takes control of the city? The final chapter in Nolan's Batman trilogy might not top the Dark Knight in terms of Oscar-winning performances, but it's got some, ahem, batshit moments.
The plot hole: In an attempt to flush out Bane, Commissioner Jim Gordon sends the entire Gotham police force underground. Why all of them? Why not send half of them and keep the rest on reserve in case that whole lot get gassed or turned into an army of brainwashed killers. Or something. Because of Gordon's thoughtless decision, Bane takes over the entire city. Maddest part? When Batman saves the cops MONTHS later, they all appear fresh faced.
Is there a reasonable explanation? It's a tough one to figure out. The only logical answer is that Gordon, completely worn down after years of having to deal with all the bullshit in Gotham, loses his edge and thinks sacrificing his whole force is the only solution.
4. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
The movie: Banker Andy Dufresne is wrongly convicted of the double homicide of his wife and her lover, and winds up behind bars, where he makes friends with the inmates, and enemies with the warden. The answer obviously involves tunnelling out!
The plot hole: Andy escapes and his empty cell isn't discovered until the next morning by the Warden, who yanks away the Raquel Welch poster on the wall to discover a hole. I'm not sure what stretches belief the most: the fact that Andy's first instinct after decades of captivity was to neatly re-attach the poster to the wall... or that he was able to achieve this from inside the tunnel.
Is there a reasonable explanation? Practice makes perfect. Working out how to stick the poster back down probably whiled away the years while he was digging.
3. Gremlins (1985)
The movie: Who doesn't want to have a pet that multiplies when it gets wet? It's bananas! That's the predicament Billy Peltzer finds himself in when his dad hands him Gizmo, a Mogwai for Christmas, who soon spawns a whole race of pint-sized monsters that terrorise the small town of Kingston Falls.
The plot hole: One of the rules of owning a Mogwai is that you can't feed them after midnight. It's always after midnight somewhere. Besides, when does it become safe to start feeding again? 11.59pm is still *technically* after midnight. And what happens when the clocks go forward? Somebody, please, shed some light on this. But not sunlight. That'll kill 'em.
Is there a reasonable explanation? The Mogwai somehow adapt to the routines of humans wherever they are. Either that, or they've evolved to go loco when those late-night TV phone-in quizzes start broadcasting.
2. Jurassic Park (1993)
The movie: Spielberg imagines a theme park where the best ride isn't a rollercoaster that gives you a nosebleed - it's a safari where animals that have been extinct for 65 million years casually trot about and occasionally munch on guests.
The plot hole: Even though it's 24 years old this moment in modern cinema still looks magnificent: the T-Rex attack scene. The Jeeps are stranded, Rex is hungry, and the fences are no longer electrified. You can see the T-Rex amble up to the fence, snap the wires and stomp onto the road. What's most astonishing about the T-rex in this moment is that she also possesses the ability to levitate: moments later when one of the Jeeps falls over the fence, plummets and lands in a tree we see that there's at least a 100ft drop on the other side.
Is there a reasonable explanation? In the book it's explained that there's a 30ft moat between each animal paddock and the fences, to discourage the dinosaurs from coming close to the guests. Also, in the original script, the T-Rex paddock is referred to in two parts: the terraced section where the creature emerges from, and a precipice section that Dr. Grant's Jeep falls over. None of which is explained in the movie.
1. Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
The movie: George Lucas' third entry in the prequel trilogy wraps up Anakin Skywalker's final step towards a life of permanent helmet-wearing, as the former Jedi and one-time-good-guy sides with the Empire.
The plot hole: The bigger problem caused by Lucas' retcon is that Obi-Wan's daft scheme to protect Anakin's son makes zero sense. Now that Anakin is full on evil he's going to want to put every measure in place to Vader from finding his spawn. Sure, Ben, let's take Luke back to dad's home planet, leave him with family and keep the surname Skywalker. That'll work. It doesn't even do Obi-Wan any favours, since he's forced into exile on a shithole desert planet he clearly loathes.
Is there a reasonable explanation? It's a Jedi mind trick. This is not the obvious hiding place you're looking for, etc.
