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American Beauty (1999)
19. Grease (1978)
The Dream Sequence: Frenchie imagines guardian angel Frankie Avalon giving her some hard-hitting life advice in the form of Beauty School Dropout.
What It Probably Means: Frenchie has concerns about her future and is insecure about her abilities to do well in school. She also REALLY likes shiny things.
Mulholland Dr. (2001)
The Dream Sequence: Naomi Watts dreams up an entire alter-ego in Betty Elms, an aspiring young actress charming her way to success in Hollywood. OR IS SHE? Etc.
What It Probably Means: We bet David Lynch doesn’t even know. Seriously, we know he says he knows, but where’s the proof?
Rushmore (1998)
The Dream Sequence: Max Fischer dreams of being in class and solving a near impossible maths problem to win the congratulations and admiration of his teacher and fellow pupils.
What It Probably Means: It hints at Fischer’s inflated ego that he would so smugly win his classmates over in this way. It’s not so much an impossible dream, as something that Max really thinks could happen under the right circumstances.
Dumbo (1941)
The Dream Sequence: In one of the most nightmarish sequences on this list, a drunken Dumbo dreams of surreal pink elephants, who rapidly multiply and form a march band who stroll through Dumbo’s bizarre imagination. (*shudder*)
What It Probably Means: Dumbo should stay off the booze. These are clearly the inner workings from the mind of a borderline sociopath.
Blade Runner (1982)
The Dream Sequence: Replicant chaser Deckard dreams of a magical unicorn galloping through a mysterious forest.
What It Probably Means: He wants to be a free spirit. He is also probably a replicant himself. Or not. But is he? Maybe.
Nightmare On Elm Street (1984)
The Dream Sequence: A teenage Johnny Depp gets violently dragged into his own bed by Freddy Kruger's knife-hands. A moment later, the bed erupts with a gush geyser of his blood.
What It Probably Means: There's that old suggestion that people who die in their sleep dream about their own death as it happens. Let's just say that things aren't looking too good for the Depp youngster.
Pee-Wee's Big Adventure (1985)
The Dream Sequence: Pee-Wee has a nightmare about his lost bike, which sees evil clowns pick it up and perform blowtorch surgery on it before dipping it into a hellish cauldron surrounded by mischievous devils.
What It Probably Means: Pee-Wee has fears for the worst about his beloved bicycle, and the worst involves clowns. The worst ALWAYS involves clowns.
Carrie (1976)
The Dream Sequence: Prom survivor Sue visits the burnt remains of Carrie’s home to place flowers on her makeshift grave, only for Carrie’s bloodied hand to shoot out of the ground and grab Sue’s arm.
What It Probably Means : It’s a manifestation of the guilt that Sue feels for her part in bullying Carrie, which led to the Prom massacre. She feels like she should be punished for her role in events and Carrie returning from the dead to enact revenge would certainly count as ‘punishment’.
The Wizard Of Oz (1939)
The Dream Sequence: Dorothy finds herself in a magical land where she befriends a talking scarecrow, tin man and lion on her way to fight witches and flying monkeys while trying to track down an all-powerful wizard.
What It Probably Means: Dorothy has been eating far too much cheese before bedtime.
