25 mind-blowing movie fan theories to make you do a quadruple-take

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15. Inglourious Basterds (2008)

The fan theory: The rest of Tarantino's films follow on from this alternate version of history. Having WW2 ended in a movie theatre explains why all his characters are so pop-culture savvy.

Why it's mind-blowing:  We already know Tarantino likes to link all his movies together - this just expands that way of thinking a little further!

14. Inglourious Basterds #2 (2008)

The fan theory: Inglorious Basterds is actually a movie-verse film directed by Lee Donowitz (a distant relative of the Bear Jew), lionizing the involvement of his forebear.

Why it's mind-blowing: It would make sense given Donowitz's success as a war-movie auteur with Coming Home In A Bodybag.

13. Kill Bill Vol. 1 (2003)

The fan theory: Kill Bill is a movie within the Tarantino world, as is From Dusk Till Dawn - which would explain their hyper-violent aesthetic, even by Tarantino's standards.

Why it's mind-blowing: Tarantino himself has said that this is as true. Extrapolating things further, one could read Kill Bill as Fox Force Five: The Movie with Mia Wallace in the leading role.

12. Taxi Driver (1976)

The fan theory: Travis Bickle dies at the end of the film, and that weirdly optimistic final reel is actually taking place in the mind of a dying man.

Why it's mind-blowing: It goes a long way to explaining the unusually happy ending provided by such an unremittingly bleak film.

11. Kill Bill Vol. 2 (2004)

The fan theory: When the end credits roll, all the characters whom we know to be dead have their names crossed out. Darryl Hannah merely had her eye plucked out, so she gets a question mark. But Bill? Nothing at all. Ipso facto, the Bride doesn't actually kill him.

Why it's mind-blowing: It would suggest that Bill was playing dead. After all, it's made clear on several occasions that only Pai Mei has successfully mastered the five point palm exploding heart technique.

10. Signs (2002)

The fan theory: Those marauding creatures aren't aliens at all. They're demons! So now you know.

Why it's mind-blowing: It takes what was a slightly laughable ending, and makes it far more credible. The reason the water from a priest's house stops them dead in their tracks? It's holy water!

9. The Avengers (2012)

The fan theory: The entire outcome of the film follows Loki's plan to the letter, with securing a return to Asgard proving to be his goal all along.

Why it's mind-blowing: It could be an excellently subtle set-up for Thor 2. Why would Loki be so keen to return to his homeland in the first place? Could it possibly have anything to do with the Infinity Gauntlet we caught a glimpse of in the first film?

8. Forrest Gump (1994)

The fan theory: Jenny's son, who is presented to Forrest as his own offspring at the movie's conclusion, isn't really his son at all.

Why it's mind-blowing: It tallies with what we know about Jenny (she gets around a bit), and adds a more bittersweet sheen to the movie's conventionally happy ending.

7. My Neighbour Totoro (1988)

The Fan Theory: Cuddly woodland guardian Totoro is not the loveable critter you thought he was. He's actually the God of Death.

Why Its Mind-Blowing: Satsuki's search for her sister Mei is actually fruitless. The fact that both of them encounter Totoro means that, actually, both of them are dead. Makes you want to put that Totoro cuddly toy at the back of the cupboard, doesn't it?

6. Pulp Fiction (1994)

The fan theory: The briefcase contains Marsellus Wallace's soul.

Why it's mind-blowing: Legend has it that the Devil removes a person's soul through the back of their head, where Marsellus has a plaster. The combination to the briefcase is 666. The contents glow with ethereal beauty. How obvious do you want to make it?

George Wales
George Wales

George was once GamesRadar's resident movie news person, based out of London. He understands that all men must die, but he'd rather not think about it. But now he's working at Stylist Magazine.