These days, it’s not enough to take a film at face value.
Viewers are always analyzing each scene for a deeper meaning or subtext, trying to uncover
any hidden messages the filmmakers may have been planting.
Sometimes it’s just for fun, a product of having watched a movie several times over.
Then there are the cases where fans might be on to something, letting others see the
final product in a new light.
We’ll let you be the judge for our next list: 10 amazing movie theories that totally
change everything.
The Hobbit trilogy
After the highs of the Lord of the Rings films, the Hobbit trilogy was a bit of a disappointment.
The plot of one book was stretched over the course of three long films, which were all
over-reliant on CGI.
There could be a good reason for that.
One theory suggests that what we’re seeing on the screen is Bilbo’s “reimagining”
of his adventures as he writes his book, spicing everything up so they’re more extravagant.
It wouldn’t be out of the ordinary for Bilbo to get a little fantastical as he tells his
story.
It sounds nice, but it’s probably Peter Jackson’s fault for going into the project
without a final plan.
The Dark Knight
Heath Ledger’s Joker is given no backstory in this comic book sequel, so fans had to
devise one on their own.
A popular belief is that the Joker is a veteran of the Iraq War and suffers from PTSD.
This would explain his intricate knowledge of weapons and ability to conceive one master
plan after another to terrorize Gotham.
He also mentions that people don’t think twice about a “truck load of soldiers”
blowing up, almost in a disdainful manner.
If the Joker served in the military, that line receives a whole new context and is arguably
sympathetic.
We’ll never know the truth behind Nolan’s Joker, but this is as good a guess as any.
The Prestige
Christopher Nolan’s tale of magicians is full of twists and turns as it is.
What about one more?
The main trick in the film is the Transported Man, which Borden achieves with a twin, while
Angier uses a machine that clones – and drowns - himself on a nightly basis – or
so it would seem.
One theory proposes that Angier always used a double and didn’t introduce the drowning
aspect until the final night, when he knew Borden would investigate behind the stage,
framing his rival for murder.
Earlier scenes in the film seem to work against this, but it would be a crazy revelation if
it turned out to be true.
Inception
By now, most people are familiar with the theory that Cobb’s wedding ring is his real
totem, but there’s another hypothesis about this master thief.
While is accomplices refuse to tell anyone about their totems out of fear for the consequences,
Cobb openly discusses how his spinning top works with others, suggesting that he intentionally
is leaving himself open for a dream attack.
Cobb is slowly but surely losing his grip on reality and could be becoming suicidal,
inviting a life forever in the dream world.
It puts a dark spin on the material, but at least he always gets his happy ending with
his family.
Inside Out
The death of Bing Bong was one of the most heartbreaking moments in Pixar history, as
the lovable imaginary friend sacrificed himself so Joy could get back to HQ.
But maybe things didn’t end that tragically.
A theory claims that Bing Bong ended up at Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, the
famous Cartoon Network series.
It sounds like wishful thinking, but it adds up.
Foster’s home is where imaginary friends go when their kids outgrow them, and Bing
Bong’s unique design makes it easy for him to fit in with the collection of eye-catching
creatures that live there.
We certainly prefer this to something so incredibly sad.
Toy Story 2
In this Pixar sequel, Jessie breaks our hearts when she sings about the great times she had
with her original owner, Emily.
Could that be Andy’s mom?
One theory seems to think so, pointing out a strong connection between the cowboy hat
Andy wears in the first film and the one Emily has in the second.
Though viewers never get a great look at Emily, her appearance could resemble a younger version
of Andy’s mom, and we never learned her last name.
Pixar’s no stranger to fan theories, and this one takes the cake as the most emotional.
Jessie ended up back with Emily, even though she never knew it.
Titanic
James Cameron is one of the most famous sci-fi directors of all time, and he may have slipped
some of the genre into his Oscar winning period piece.
There are some who believe Jack Dawson is a time traveler who came on the ship to save
Rose from suicide.
During his time with Rose, Jack mentions a man made lake that wasn’t created until
five years after the Titanic sank and promises to take Rose on a roller coaster that wouldn’t
exist until 1916.
His hairstyle and backpack are also unfit for the era, having been popularized in the
1930s.
Historical inaccuracies happen all the time in Hollywood, but Cameron never could have
bet on this happening.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
One interpretation of the classic teen comedy is that it’s a John Hughes version of Fight
Club.
Some fans think the whole film takes place in Cameron’s head as he stays home from
school sick.
Cameron is a loner who doesn’t get along with his father, so he creates an ultra-popular
friend to hang out with, and Ferris’ girlfriend Sloane is based on a girl Cameron has a crush
on.
The film does dive into the fantastical with all of the “SAVE FERRIS” movements, which
could be read as wish fulfillment on the part of Cameron.
It’s also worth noting that Ferris leaves Cameron once he decides to stand up against
his father, indicating he’s no longer needed.
Iron Man 2
At long last, Spider-Man can play in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Peter Parker made his debut in Captain America: Civil War, but did audiences meet him much
earlier?
One theory floating around suggests Peter is the small kid wearing an Iron Man mask
at the Stark Expo in Queens, ready to take on a robot.
Peter is revealed to be a fan of Stark’s, so it makes sense he would want to attend
the event.
And since Parker is a high-schooler in the MCU, the age lines up as well.
Obviously, Marvel couldn’t use Peter’s name since they didn’t have the rights,
but it’s nice to think in retrospect this is what happened.
Star Wars
It’s well documented that many Star Wars fans hate Jar-Jar Binks.
But what if the Gungan was a sinister being?
Some feel that Jar-Jar is actually a Sith Lord co-conspiring with Palpatine to rule
the galaxy.
Binks uses his outward appearance as a buffoon as a ruse to mislead others, similar to Yoda
in The Empire Strikes Back.
The theory also suggests that Jar-Jar used a mind trick on the Senate when he proposed
Palpatine receive emergency powers, leading to the formation of the Empire.
There’s no denying it’s a fun concept, but Disney isn’t going to touch Jar-Jar
with a 10 foot pole, so we’ll have no idea if it’s true.
Conclusion
So what do you think of our list?
Do these theories change the way you view popular films?
Which ones are your favorites?
Sound off in the comments below and be sure to subscribe to our channel for more fun videos!