When a song, film, or novel becomes a staple of beloved pop culture, we often celebrate its creators and bask in its brilliance. Yet behind many of these iconic works lies a surprisingly sour backstory—rancor, resentment, or outright hatred that still haunts the legacy.

Why These Beloved Pop Icons Still Captivate Us

10 Sherlock Holmes

If you can only name one 19th‑century literary figure, it’s probably Sherlock Holmes. The legendary detective dazzled readers with his razor‑sharp mind and daring escapades, even inspiring early forensic techniques. Yet the man behind the pipe, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, harbored a fierce dislike for his own creation.

Doyle’s resentment stemmed from the character’s runaway popularity. He felt Holmes was a cheap, hacky diversion that eclipsed his more serious, historical works. The relentless demand for new Holmes stories left Doyle exhausted and increasingly bitter toward his fictional sleuth.

In a dramatic move, Doyle tried to eliminate his star detective in the short story “The Final Problem,” sending Holmes and his arch‑nemesis Professor Moriarty over a waterfall. Doyle claimed it was self‑defence, saying, “If I had not killed him, he would certainly have killed me.” Though he later resurrected Holmes after public outcry, Doyle spent the rest of his career penning tales he could never truly enjoy.

9 Pinkerton

During the 1990s, Weezer’s debut album cemented the band’s reputation as quirky, upbeat outsiders. Their sophomore effort, however, was titled Pinkerton and marked a stark emotional turn. Front‑man Rivers Cuomo poured personal turmoil into the record, hoping listeners would connect with its raw honesty.

Fans, expecting the breezy pop‑rock of the first album, reacted with hostility. Cuomo likened the backlash to “getting really drunk at a party and spilling your guts in front of everyone, then waking up the next morning realizing what a fool you made of yourself.”

Over time, critics reevaluated Pinkerton, and it earned a place on Rolling Stone’s list of the 16th greatest albums of all time. Still, Cuomo remains ambivalent, once saying, “It’s just a sick album, sick in a diseased sort of way… I never want to play those songs again.”

8 Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory

The 1971 film adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has delighted children for decades, despite its plot revolving around the unsettling disappearances of several youngsters. The author who penned the original story, Roald Dahl, was far from pleased with the cinematic version.

Dahl objected to virtually every change: the casting of Gene Wilder, the softened title, the addition of musical numbers, and the overall effort to make the tale kid‑friendly. He felt the film downplayed the novel’s darker edge, turning a creepy chocolatier who casually brushed off horrific accidents into a whimsical figure.

His fury was so intense that he nearly campaigned against the movie in magazines and on television. Although he eventually softened, Dahl’s trust in the film industry was irreparably damaged.

7 Lolita

Vladimir Nabokov’s 1955 novel Lolita is hailed as a 20th‑century masterpiece, despite its controversial subject matter. The book’s survival was nearly jeopardized by Nabokov’s own volatile temperament.

One night in the 1950s, Nabokov impulsively decided to destroy the manuscript, fearing it might tarnish his reputation or attract unwanted scrutiny. He gathered the pages, headed to his backyard, and set them alight. Fortunately, his wife Vera intervened, rescuing the majority of the pages from the flames.With Vera’s help, Nabokov completed the novel, allowing the world to experience his conflicted view of the story.

6 Pinball Wizard

Have you ever done something you completely disapprove of to earn the approval of someone else? If so, I’m betting it left you feeling pretty terrible. Almost physically dirty, like you need a shower. Now imagine the entire world demanding you relive those feelings again and again for the rest of your life. Welcome to Pete Townshend’s world.

Townshend, songwriter and lead guitarist for The Who, found himself in a pretty grim situation when composing the rock opera Tommy. Things were going down the tubes, and the success of the project began to depend more and more on a good review from influential music journalist Nic Cohn. Cohn’s initial reaction to the album was lukewarm at best, but the quick‑thinking Townshend devised a plan to salvage the review. Knowing Cohn was a huge fan of pinball, Townshend hinted around at a pinball‑themed song he’d been considering. Cohn immediately called the project a masterpiece.

The only problem was that no such song existed. Townshend had to sloppily cobble together whatever awkward lyrics came to mind to produce “Pinball Wizard” for the critic. He later referred to the song as “awful, the most clumsy piece of writing I’ve ever done.” Townshend was sure the song would flop, but much to his surprise, it became one of the band’s biggest hits. Unfortunately, this meant that for the rest of his career, he would be constantly reminded of the terrible song he wrote when he traded in his integrity for money. I’m not sure they make soap strong enough to wash that off.

5 The NeverEnding Story

In 1984, the film The NeverEnding Story enchanted audiences of all ages with its dreamy fantasy vibe. Few realize it was based on a novel, because the author, Michael Ende, became incensed when the movie altered his work.

Ende described the adaptation as a “melodrama of kitsch, commerce, plush and plastic,” furious that the filmmakers prioritized profit over story. Having already sold the rights, he could only remove his name from the credits and distance himself from the project.

His anger only intensified when specific scenes were changed. He sued the studio, demanding those alterations be removed, but after a costly legal battle the courts sided with the filmmakers. The experience left Ende with a lasting bitterness toward the industry.

4 The Work Of Emily Dickinson

If you’ve ever read poetry, you’ve likely encountered Emily Dickinson. The reclusive American poet sold just eight poems while alive, and her work only flourished posthumously. Yet Dickinson herself harbored a destructive streak.

In letters to her sister Lavinia, she demanded that after her death every piece of her writing—letters included—be gathered and burned. The request was shocking for someone so soft‑spoken.

Lavinia only half‑honored her sister’s wishes. She torched the old letters but could not bring herself to destroy the roughly 1,700 poems she discovered. She devoted years to getting them published, ensuring Dickinson’s legacy endured.

3 Cherry Pie

Love it or hate it, hair‑metal band Warrant’s 1990 hit single “Cherry Pie” became their crowning achievement. The track polarized listeners—half sang along, half tried to avoid the relentless chorus.

After the record company deemed the album lacking “hit” potential, lead singer Jani Lane was tasked with creating a catchy, profit‑driven song. He deliberately crafted a juvenile, repetitive anthem, assuming it would never see the light of day. He was wrong.

The song exploded onto the album, dominating its identity and branding Lane forever as the “Cherry Pie Guy.” In a VH1 interview, he confessed, “I could shoot myself in the f—king head for writing that song.” Lane passed away in 2011, his back‑fired insult lingering beyond his life.

2 Mary Poppins

The beloved Disney classic Mary Poppins originated from a series of children’s books by P.L. Travers. After two decades of relentless pressure from Walt Disney and mounting financial strain, Travers finally agreed to the adaptation.

From the outset, Travers was outraged by every creative decision: the music, the script, the casting, even the animated penguins. She famously despised the film’s use of the color red. Most of all, she loathed the portrayal of Mary Poppins as overly sweet; in the books she was far more curt.Her fury grew so intense that Disney nearly excluded her from the premiere, fearing she might lose control. Travers spent the remainder of her life haunted by the film, despite earning a five‑percent share of its massive gross.

1 To Kill A Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird stands among the greatest novels ever written, tackling racism and injustice with unforgettable impact. Its path to fame was nearly derailed by a moment of fury.

The novel emerged after extensive edits demanded by Harper Lee’s editor, Tay Hohoff. The original draft, titled Go Set a Watchmen, retained only locations and character names. The relentless revisions frustrated Lee, leading her to a heated argument with Hohoff.

In a fit of anger, Lee hurled the entire manuscript out of a window, letting it land in the snow. Hohoff, acting like a hostage negotiator, coaxed Lee back from letting the masterpiece die cold and alone. Lee eventually completed the book, securing its place in literary history.

Flying aircraft in World War I was a perilous occupation, and many airmen lost their lives even before seeing combat. In this roundup of the 10 beloved forgotten Allied aces, we celebrate those celebrated celebrities of the skies who captured the public’s imagination yet remain largely absent from modern histories.

Why These 10 Beloved Forgotten Heroes Still Matter

Beyond the well‑known names like the Red Baron, a host of daring pilots earned fame, medals, and adoration during the Great War. Their stories of bravery, tragedy, and occasional controversy deserve a fresh look, especially as we commemorate the centenary of a conflict that reshaped aviation forever.

10 Albert Ball

Manfred von Richthofen, better known as the Red Baron, once called Albert Ball “by far the best English flying man.” Born in Nottingham on 14 August 1896, Ball enlisted with the Notts and Derby Regiment at the outbreak of war and quickly rose to lieutenant. He first pursued private flying lessons before transferring to the Royal Flying Corps, earning his pilot’s wings in January 1916 and soon after taking on reconnaissance duties with several squadrons.

The young ace notched his inaugural kill—a German reconnaissance pilot—in May 1916, and within weeks he was racking up as many as three victories a day. By his 20th birthday in August 1916, Ball had already been promoted to acting captain and had claimed 17 enemy aircraft. The British press turned him into a household name, and crowds in Nottingham would mob him whenever he returned on leave.

In a heartfelt letter to his parents, Ball confessed that seeing an enemy plane go down was his saddest moment, yet he believed it was a matter of “his life or theirs.” On 26 September 1916 he was awarded both the Distinguished Service Order and a bar on the same day. By the following year he had amassed 44 confirmed victories and another 25 unconfirmed claims. In his final correspondence, dated 6 May 1917, Ball admitted he felt increasingly like a murderer and hoped the war would end soon, weary of endless killing.

The day after that poignant letter, Ball entered a fierce dogfight over Douai, France, where he faced the Red Baron’s brother, Lothar von Richthofen. Ball managed to puncture Lothar’s fuel tank, forcing a crash‑landing, but a German pilot then shot down Ball’s aircraft, claiming his life. Though von Richthofen was credited, the exact shooter remains uncertain. Ball’s reputation as a “lone wolf” endured; he famously tackled as many as six enemy aircraft solo, stalking them from below before delivering the fatal blow. Posthumously, he was honoured with the Victoria Cross, France’s Legion of Honour, and Russia’s Order of St. George (4th class).

9 Georges Guynemer

When Georges Guynemer first tried to enlist in 1914, French physicians dismissed him as too frail to serve. Leveraging his father’s influence, he secured a position as an aviation mechanic, and by March 1915 he entered pilot training, earning his wings just a month later. His first combat triumph arrived on 19 July 1915, when he and his gunner downed a German Aviatik, shortly thereafter joining the elite Storks squadron.

Guynemer’s wartime résumé reads like an action film: over 600 aerial engagements, seven shoot‑downs where he survived, and a flood of letters from adoring fans—mostly schoolgirls proposing marriage and youngsters begging for autographs. Flying his beloved SPAD VII, nicknamed “Old Charles,” he could dispatch up to four enemy aircraft in a single day. He later modified the aircraft, installing a single‑shot 37 mm cannon that fired through a hollowed‑out propeller shaft, christening the upgraded machine “Magic Machine,” with which he added two more victories.

The final chapter of Guynemer’s story unfolded on 11 September 1917, when he was seen attacking an Aviatik near Poelcapelle, northwest of Ypres. A week later, a London newspaper reported him missing in action, while a German publication claimed that Kurt Wissemann of Jasta 3 had shot him down. His body was never recovered, and for months the French public refused to accept his death. Nonetheless, his official tally stood at 54 confirmed kills, cementing his status as France’s Ace of Aces.

8 Eddie Rickenbacker

Edward Vernon Rickenbacker entered the world on 8 October 1890 in Columbus, Ohio, and by the time the United States joined the war in 1917, he was a celebrated race‑car driver earning roughly $40,000 annually. Despite being 27—beyond the age limit for pilot training—Rickenbacker’s reputation as a daring driver earned him a spot as a driver for Colonel William “Billy” Mitchell. He persistently begged Mitchell for a chance to fly, eventually falsifying his age to meet the 25‑year requirement.

After an intense 17‑day stint as a student pilot, Rickenbacker was commissioned a lieutenant and posted to the 94th Aero Squadron. The squadron’s members, many Ivy League graduates, initially looked down on him for lacking a college degree, but Rickenbacker’s grit quickly silenced the snobbery. He overcame a fear of flying and a distaste for aerobatics, crafting a unique combat style that emphasized closing in on foes before opening fire. His first triumph came on 29 April 1918, a shared victory with Captain James Norman Hall, followed by his inaugural solo kill eight days later.

Rickenbacker’s daring reached a crescendo when he engaged seven German aircraft, downing two before slipping away—a feat that earned him the French Croix de Guerre and the United States Medal of Honor. By war’s end, he was celebrated as America’s Ace of Aces with 26 victories. Though he never crashed during combat, he survived two post‑war crashes in 1941 and 1942; the latter left him and his companions adrift for over 20 days. He passed away at 83 in Zurich, Switzerland.

7 William Bishop

William Bishop was born on 8 February 1894 in Owen Sound, Ontario, and attended the Royal Military College, where he enlisted during his senior year as World War I erupted. His equestrian background earned him a posting with the Canadian Mounted Rifles in London in June 1915. A chance sighting of an aircraft in a nearby field that July sparked an obsession with flying, prompting his transfer to the British Royal Flying Corps in December 1915 and the acquisition of his pilot’s licence in 1917.

Bishop’s first dogfight victory came on 25 March 1917, when he shot down a German Albatross. Within the next two months, he added another 21 kills. His most celebrated feat occurred on 2 June 1917, when he single‑handedly assaulted a German aerodrome at Arras, an action that earned him the Victoria Cross. He also received the Distinguished Service Order and the Military Cross for earlier exploits.

In 1918 Bishop took command of No. 85 Squadron—nicknamed the “Flying Foxes”—and led them on the French front. By June 1918 he had accumulated over 70 victories, including an astonishing five German aircraft in just 12 minutes on 19 June, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. After the war he toured giving speeches about his aerial adventures, and during World II he promoted the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. Controversy later surrounded his Victoria Cross claim, with some historians questioning the veracity of the raid and noting missing wartime documents. Near the end of his life Bishop admitted that some of his stories were likely embellished, yet he remains recognized as one of the war’s premier aces. He died on 8 November 1956 in Florida.

6 Rene Fonck

Rene Fonck, born 27 March 1894 in France, entered the French army in 1914 and began flight training the following year. He earned his first aerial victory on 6 August 1916, downing an enemy aircraft over the Western Front. Though not a flamboyant flyer, Fonck proved to be an exceptionally efficient shooter, famed for his disciplined ammunition use and his reluctance to gamble recklessly.

One of his most memorable exploits unfolded on 9 May 1918, when he shot down six German aircraft over Montdidier—a feat he would repeat later. By war’s end Fonck had amassed 75 confirmed kills, just five shy of the Red Baron’s record, making him the most successful surviving Allied fighter pilot. He claimed even more victories—over 50—beyond official tallies, underscoring his extraordinary skill.

Despite being France’s Ace of Aces, Fonck’s fame was eclipsed by Georges Guynemer’s legendary status. Unperturbed, Fonck boasted that his proudest moment was avenging Guynemer by defeating Captain Kurt Wissemann, the pilot credited with Guynemer’s death. After the war he worked as a racing and demonstration pilot, later serving as an inspector of fighter aviation for the French Air Force. He passed away in June 1953 at the age of 59.

5 James McCudden

James McCudden was born on 28 March 1895 into a British military family and followed his father’s footsteps by joining the Royal Engineers in 1910. After training as a mechanic, he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in 1913. He earned his pilot’s wings in 1916 and was dispatched to France as a sergeant, scoring his first kill in September of that year.

McCudden quickly earned a reputation as a skilled tactician and a protective mentor to younger pilots. In 1917 he received both the Military Medal (as a non‑commissioned officer) and the Military Cross after his commission. His heroics peaked in December 1917 when he single‑handedly shot down two of eight enemy aircraft his patrol engaged, followed by another two the next morning. These daring actions formed the core of the citation for his Victoria Cross, awarded in April 1918.

Tragically, on 9 July 1918 McCudden’s aircraft suffered an engine failure, leading to a fatal crash. By that point he had accumulated 57 confirmed victories and a host of decorations, including the Distinguished Service Order and a bar to his Military Cross, cementing his legacy as one of the war’s most decorated combatants.

4 Andrew Beauchamp‑Proctor

Andrew Beauchamp‑Proctor entered the world on 4 September 1894 in South Africa’s Cape Province. While studying engineering at the University of Cape Town, World War I broke out, prompting him to abandon his studies and enlist. He first served as a signaler with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Own Rifles in South‑West Africa before joining the Royal Flying Corps in March 1917.

Standing a modest 157 cm (5 ft 2 in), Proctor had to modify his seat to reach the controls of his aircraft. Assigned to 84 Squadron in July 1917, his early career was rocky—he crash‑landed three times before finally securing his first kill on 3 January 1918, downing a German two‑seat. By May 1918 he had amassed 21 victories, including a spectacular day on 19 May when he shot down five enemy aircraft.

Proctor soon shifted his focus to balloon busting, a perilous task that involved attacking heavily defended observation balloons. He achieved a record nine balloon kills in a single day on 9 August 1918, solidifying his reputation as the RFC’s premier balloon buster. By war’s end he had tallied 54 confirmed victories—38 aircraft and 16 balloons—making him South Africa’s highest‑scoring ace. His decorations included the Military Cross, Distinguished Service Order, Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Victoria Cross.

Tragically, on 21 June 1921, while preparing for an air show at RAF Hendon, Proctor’s aircraft crashed, killing him at just 26 years old. His body was returned to South Africa for a state funeral.

3 Robert A. Little

Robert Alexander Little was born on 19 July 1895 in Melbourne, Australia. After being turned away by the Point Cook Military Flying School, he eventually earned his flying certificate and joined the Royal Naval Air Service in England in 1915. By June 1916 he was posted to Dunkirk, and in October that year he became a member of the 8th Naval Squadron, flying the nimble Sopwith Pup.

Little’s first aerial victory arrived on 1 November 1916, and he added two more by year‑end. March 1917 saw him down nine enemy aircraft, earning a promotion to flight lieutenant the following month. The squadron later upgraded to Sopwith Triplanes and subsequently to Sopwith Camels. Nicknamed “Rikki” after the mongoose in Rudyard Kipling’s tales, Little amassed 37 victories by August 1917, garnering the Distinguished Service Cross with a bar, the French Croix de Guerre, and the Distinguished Service Order (with a bar added in September 1917). He became flight commander in January 1918.

Although a superb shooter, Little was a notoriously poor pilot, often crash‑landing his aircraft. In March 1918 he transferred to 203 Squadron, but his career was cut short on 21 May 1918 when he was mortally wounded in the groin while attempting to intercept a formation of German bombers. He died with an official tally of 47 victories, making him Australia’s top‑scoring ace of the war.

2 Raymond Collishaw

Raymond Collishaw was born in 1893 in Nanaimo, British Columbia, and entered the Royal Naval Air Service as a probationary flight sub‑lieutenant in January 1916. He secured his first victory in October of that year, downing future German ace Ludwig Hanstein.

One of Collishaw’s most harrowing experiences occurred late in 1916 when six German aircraft attacked him. Bullets ripped through his instrument panel and shattered his goggles, leaving him partially blind. Despite the chaos, he managed to evade the first attacker, which crashed into trees, and then shot down the second. Barely able to see and without instruments, he crash‑landed in a field, only to discover he was in enemy territory. Undeterred, he promptly took off again and later touched down in a French field near Verdun, an act that earned him the Croix de Guerre.

Promoted to flight commander with the 10th Naval Squadron in 1917, Collishaw led the famed “Black Flight,” a group of five Canadian pilots who painted their Sopwith Triplanes black and became notorious on the Ypres front. The squadron repeatedly challenged the Richthofen Circus, even engaging the Red Baron’s unit on occasion. After the Black Flight disbanded in July 1917, Collishaw’s tally stood at 37 victories. He later commanded the 13th Naval Squadron and the 203 Squadron of the Royal Air Force, finishing the war with 62 victories—only Billy Bishop and Edward Mannock eclipsed his total. Unlike many peers, Collishaw stayed in the RAF after the war, leading British forces against the Bolsheviks in Russia and commanding Allied air forces in North Africa during World II. Though twice nominated for the Victoria Cross, he never received it. He passed away in 1976 at age 82, and in 1999 Nanaimo’s airport terminal was named in his honour.

1 Edward ‘Mick’ Mannock

When World War I erupted in 1914, 27‑year‑old Edward “Mick” Mannock was employed by a telephone company in Turkey. After Turkey entered the war on Germany’s side, Mannock and his colleagues were imprisoned, and following a failed escape attempt he endured solitary confinement, which gradually eroded his health. The American consulate managed to secure his release in April 1915, and he returned to Britain with a deep‑seated hatred for the Germans.

Back home, Mannock joined the Royal Army Medical Corps as a sergeant, tasked with treating enemy prisoners—a duty that conflicted with his bitter experiences in Turkey. Eventually he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, being posted to 40 Squadron at Treizennes in April 1917. Initially regarded as a coward and a know‑it‑all by his peers, his reputation shifted dramatically as he began shooting down German aircraft.

Despite his animosity toward the enemy, Mannock occasionally displayed unexpected compassion. On one occasion he examined the wreckage of a German plane he had downed, feeling like a murderer. Such moments took a psychological toll; he was observed trembling and even weeping during leaves. Nonetheless, he pressed on, and within a year of his first kill he amassed 73 victories, becoming Britain’s most successful pilot. He earned the Military Cross (with a bar), the Distinguished Service Order (with two bars), and numerous other decorations.

On 26 July 1918 Mannock achieved his final victory but, in a fatal miscalculation, descended too low to observe the downed aircraft. German ground fire struck his plane, and he crashed. Earlier he had confided that his greatest fear was to burn to death in a fireball without a parachute, so he kept a revolver in his cockpit. Whether he used it in his final moments remains unknown. His death cemented his place as the most decorated and highest‑scoring British fighter pilot of the war.

Get ready for a roller‑coaster ride through the most bizarre, 10 far out conjectures that fans have cooked up about the sitcoms we grew up loving. From post‑apocalyptic dinosaur societies to covert crime rings run by senior citizens, each theory stretches the imagination far beyond the original scripts. Buckle up, because we’re about to dive deep into the rabbit holes that keep fan forums buzzing.

10 Far Out Theories Unveiled

10 Welcome to Jurassic Park

Twenty‑six years ago, audiences worldwide were handed one of the bleakest sitcom finales ever filmed. The show “Dinosaurs” delivered a dark conclusion where the main characters inadvertently trigger an Ice Age, wiping out their own species. The final line, “Goodnight. Goodbye.”, still sends shivers down the spine, especially when you consider how greed and ignorance drove the catastrophe—an ominous echo of today’s environmental crises.

“Dinosaurs” aired from 1991 to 1994 and, while it didn’t spark a flood of theories at the time, a single, persistent rumor has survived the internet’s deep corners. The claim? The series is actually set in a post‑apocalyptic future where genetically engineered dinosaurs have risen to dominate a planet largely emptied of humans. The few surviving people are hunters, constantly on the run from the super‑intelligent reptiles.

The premise feels eerily familiar: a “Jurassic Park”‑style scenario turned on its head, gaining traction after the blockbuster movie’s 1993 release. Fans love to imagine that the sitcom’s absurd humor was a thin veneer masking a grim, dystopian reality.

9 The Truth About Aliens Revealed on Frasier

“Frasier” gifted us eleven seasons of witty banter centered on the Crane brothers, Frasier and Niles. Initially, the network hesitated to spotlight Frasier Crane to avoid unfair comparisons with its predecessor, “Cheers.” Paramount, however, balked at the original concept of a paralyzed media mogul and pushed for a spin‑off that would lean on the existing “Cheers” fan base. Over its run, the show peppered in homages to “Cheers” and featured numerous guest appearances from that iconic cast.

With a run that long, it’s no surprise that “Frasier” attracted its share of fan theories. One of the wildest involves astronaut John Glenn, who cameoed early in the series. In the episode, Glenn appears on Frasier’s radio show, shares his spaceflight stories, and veers into a tongue‑in‑cheek rant about a government cover‑up concealing alien existence.

Fans seized on this moment, arguing that Glenn wasn’t merely playing a role but was using the platform to drop hints about extraterrestrials. The theory suggests that the cameo was a covert signal, turning a light‑hearted sitcom into an unexpected conduit for interstellar truth.

8 Cheers Is a Rip‑Off

“Cheers” introduced us to the world of Frasier Crane, alongside a colorful cast of bar regulars. Premiering in 1982, the series ran for eleven seasons and almost didn’t survive its sophomore year, teetering on the brink of cancellation after its debut.

Over the decades, enthusiasts have spun countless theories about the bar’s hidden purposes—some suggest it was a front for Norm and Cliff to arrange clandestine encounters. The most persistent rumor, however, claims that “Cheers” is essentially a copycat of an obscure Boston sitcom called “Park St. Under,” which aired three years earlier for a local audience.

“Park St. Under” centered on an underground Boston tavern owned by a former Red Sox player, featuring a dark‑haired employee, a civil servant, a token “old‑timer,” and a local psychiatrist. Proponents of the rip‑off theory argue the similarities are too striking to be coincidence, pointing to overlapping character archetypes and setting details as clear evidence of plagiarism.

7 The Melmacians May Have Sparked a War

When “ALF” crashed onto television screens in September 1986, it introduced us to Gordon Shumway—an alien from the planet Melmac with a voracious appetite for cats, sustained by eight stomachs. The sitcom aired 99 episodes before concluding on a cliff‑hanger, later resolved in a 1996 TV movie. A brief animated spin‑off ran from 1987 to 1989, adding another layer to the franchise.

Fans have drawn a surprising connection between ALF’s Melmacians and the heroic ThunderCats of the planet Thundera. The theory posits that Melmacian ships ventured beyond Earth, targeting Thundera for its abundant feline population. Their predatory interest in the ThunderCats allegedly ignited a full‑blown interplanetary conflict, ultimately giving rise to the villainous Mumm‑Ra.

According to this speculation, the Melmacians’ insatiable hunger for cats turned a whimsical sitcom premise into the catalyst for a galaxy‑spanning war, reshaping the lore of both series in a way most viewers never imagined.

6 Steve Harrington’s Son

“Parks and Recreation,” which aired from 2009 to 2015 and enjoyed a reunion special on April 30, 2020, is a political satire that has inspired a flood of fan theories. Some suggest Leslie Knope is secretly ultra‑wealthy, while others claim Jerry Gergich leads a cult. One long‑standing rumor even links Andy Dwyer to Andy from “Toy Story,” citing shared first names, love of guitars, and a child‑like demeanor.

The most outlandish speculation, however, asserts that Jean‑Ralphio Saperstein is the son of Steve Harrington from “Stranger Things.” Both characters hail from Indiana, and supporters point to a striking physical resemblance. The theory goes further, proposing that Pawnee, the fictional town of “Parks and Rec,” is an inverted version of the “Upside Down,” with Jean‑Ralphio serving as its resident Demogorgon.

Top 10 Ways Hollywood Ruined Your Favorite TV Shows

5 Balki Was a Sleeper Agent

“Perfect Strangers,” featuring the mismatched duo Larry Appleton and his distant cousin Balki Bartokomous, enjoyed an eight‑season run and spawned the successful spin‑off “Family Matters” (1989‑1998). The series is remembered for the iconic “Dance of Joy,” performed by Mark Linn‑Baker and Bronson Pinchot during the live studio audience’s closing moments.

Despite its light‑hearted tone, a darker fan theory emerged suggesting Balki was actually a sleeper agent for a terrorist organization. Proponents cite Balki’s arrival from the fictional island of Mypos, his job at the Chicago Chronicle, his friendship with a police officer, and his marriage to a flight attendant as potential cover stories for espionage activities.

According to the speculation, Mypos could have been an Al‑Qaeda affiliate, with Balki gathering intelligence from the newspaper, his cop friend, and his airline‑connected spouse—all in preparation for a “perfect terrorist attack.”

4 The Tanners Are in Limbo

“Full House” instantly evokes images of Jesse Katsopolis’s dazzling smile and the adorable Michelle Tanner, played by twins Mary‑Kate and Ashley Olsen. The series wasn’t without real‑life drama: John Stamos faced a DUI conviction, Jodie Sweetin disclosed a meth addiction in 2006, and on‑set rumors claimed Stamos once wanted the Olsen twins fired.

Fans have concocted a series of unsettling theories. Some argue that “Uncle Joey” is actually the biological father of Danny Tanner’s three daughters. Others contend that Michelle never existed, pointing to her absence in the “Fuller House” reboot and suggesting she was a figment of Danny’s imagination, created to cope with his wife’s death.

The creepiest speculation posits that only Pam Tanner survived the fatal car crash, leaving the entire family trapped in limbo. A demonic presence, embodied by Michelle, allegedly prevents them from moving on. Evidence includes Michelle coaxing Jesse to stay because she’s “sick” and Danny’s love interests repeatedly disappearing, keeping him from finding closure.

3 Susan Faked Her Own Death

“Seinfeld” polarizes viewers, but it also inspired a slew of fan theories, including one that maps the main characters onto the Peanuts gang—George as Charlie Brown, Elaine as Lucy, Jerry as Linus, and Kramer as either Pig‑Pen or Snoopy. Various rumors swirl about Kramer’s backstory, ranging from him being a grieving widower living off inheritance to a covert drug dealer.

One particularly dark theory focuses on George Costanza’s fiancée, Susan. According to fans, Susan staged her own death with the assistance of her parents to escape a life with George. Her on‑screen demise occurs after she licks the toxic adhesive on cheap wedding invitation envelopes—a detail some interpret as a deliberate, fatal act.

The theory suggests Susan’s death was a calculated escape plan, turning a tragic sitcom moment into a covert, self‑inflicted exit from an unwanted marriage.

2 Unofficial Prequel

“Married… with Children” earned a reputation as the crudest primetime comedy, thanks to shocking moments like a drunken Santa parachuting into the Bundy backyard and dying, an episode centered on PMS, and a scene where Al and Peggy are caught getting intimate in a motel. Despite its trashy veneer, the show amassed a devoted fan base.

Ed O’Neill, who portrayed Al Bundy, later starred as Jay Pritchett in the wildly popular “Modern Family.” This casting crossover sparked a fan theory that “Married… with Children” serves as an unofficial prequel to “Modern Family.” The speculation imagines Al Bundy re‑branding himself as Jay Pritchett after divorcing Peggy and marrying Gloria Delgado‑Pritchett.

According to the theory, the Bundy children share personality traits with the Pritchett kids, hinting at a hidden familial continuity that bridges the two sitcom universes.

1 Organized Crime Syndicate… of Old Ladies

“The Golden Girls” premiered in September 1985, earning critical acclaim throughout its seven‑season run. The series garnered multiple Emmy Awards—one for each of its four leading ladies—and concluded after Bea Arthur’s departure, drawing over 27 million viewers for its finale in May 1992.

Michael Harriot of The Root unearthed a hilariously dark fan theory, asserting that the quartet of older women—Blanche, Dorothy, Rose, and Sophia—were secretly running an organized crime syndicate. Harriot ties the show’s debut to the onset of the crack cocaine epidemic in 1985, using this timeline to frame the alleged criminal enterprise.

The alleged “evidence” includes Rose serving as the syndicate’s head, allegedly murdering her husband for insurance money; Blanche’s father allegedly being a pimp, hinted at by his flamboyant attire and mannerisms; Blanche’s art‑dealer job providing a perfect cover for drug trafficking; Dorothy handling day‑to‑day operations; and Sophia keeping law enforcement at bay by allegedly burning down the nursing home where she resided.

10 Must‑See Recent TV Shows With A Dark Side

When you think of classic children’s films, you probably picture bright colors and happy endings. But beneath the surface lurk 10 dark theories that give these beloved stories a surprisingly sinister edge.

10 Dark Theories Unveiled

10 Mufasa Was The Bad Guy

“Can you feel the love tonight?” – a line that instantly summons the sweeping vistas of The Lion King and Elton John’s soaring chorus. While the film dazzles with unforgettable songs and a heart‑wrenching tragedy (Mufasa’s untimely demise rivals the loss of Bambi’s mother), it also fuels a swarm of fan speculation.

Among the more outlandish ideas are connections to Planet of the Apes, the notion that Nala might be Scar’s daughter, and rumors that Zazu secretly conspired with Scar to exile Simba. Yet the most persistent claim flips the whole story on its head: Mufasa, not Scar, was the true villain.

According to this theory, Mufasa imposed a draconian ban on any rival male lions, ensuring his unchallenged rule. His sheer physical dominance kept Scar in check, but once Mufasa was slain, Scar allegedly stepped into the role of an unlikely hero, rescuing the hyenas and becoming the ‘best ruler’ for the Pride Lands.

9 Minions Are Based On Adopted Jewish Children

The pint‑sized, gibberish‑speaking Minions—those capsule‑shaped henchmen who somehow manage to speak every language from Spanish to Korean—draw visual inspiration from Jawas and Oompa‑Loompas, while their iconic yellow‑and‑purple palette reflects opposite points on the color wheel.

A chilling rumor links these adorable creatures to Nazi experiments, suggesting they were modeled after Jewish children “adopted” by scientists for poison‑gas trials. The theory even circulated a vintage photo of people in 1908 wearing submarine escape suits, mistakenly interpreted as Minion‑like masks.

Investigation revealed the image bore no connection to Holocaust atrocities; it simply depicted early‑20th‑century divers. The eerie association, however, persists as a stark reminder of how quickly fiction can be twisted into dark speculation.

8 Toothless Got Revenge On Hiccup

Toothless, the sleek Night Fury from How to Train Your Dragon, steals the show with his adorable snout and lightning‑fast aerial acrobatics. He’s Hiccup’s loyal companion, fiercely protective and equipped with a unique “radar” ability that bounces plasma blasts to map his surroundings.

In the inaugural film, a mishap leaves Toothless with a damaged wing after Hiccup inadvertently launches him skyward. Later, Hiccup loses a foot during the climactic battle. Some fans quickly inferred that Toothless, seeking retribution for his own injury, bit off Hiccup’s foot.

A softer rendition of the theory suggests the dragon’s desperate attempt to save his friend caused the bite—an act of frantic heroism rather than vengeance—binding them together in a darker, more dependent partnership.

7 Moana Is Dead For Most Of The Film

Moana shines as a modern heroine who rejects the princess trope, proudly declaring herself the chief’s daughter. The film dazzles with lush animation, Polynesian music, and a daring oceanic adventure that sees her team up with the demigod Maui.

The unsettling twist posits that Moana actually perishes during the violent storm that washes her ashore on Maui’s island. Proponents argue that a metaphysical barrier separates Moana’s world from Maui’s, implying she must be either magical—or, more grimly, deceased—to interact with the fantastical beings.

Her conversations with the spirit of her late grandmother and other spectral entities after the storm are cited as “proof” that she’s navigating the afterlife, casting a shadow over the film’s uplifting narrative.

6 Sulley Is Turned Into A Toilet Seat Cover

Monsters, Inc. exploded onto screens in 2001, becoming the year’s third‑biggest box office hit. The plot follows monsters who sneak into children’s rooms at night to harvest screams for power. When a human girl, Boo, slips into Monstropolis, the towering, blue‑furred Sulley races to return her safely.

According to a fringe theory, the film’s antagonist Randall whispers that humans love to slay monsters and turn their skins into toilet‑seat covers. Although Sulley laughs it off, the short Partysaurus Rex—featuring a dinosaur from Toy Story—includes a bathroom gag where a toilet seat cover eerily resembles Sulley’s fur.

While the dialogue between Randall and Sulley never actually occurs in the feature, the coincidence fuels speculation that the short is a hidden nod to a darker fate for our favorite scarer.

5 Personality Traits Absorbed Into Cars

Pixar’s Cars roared onto theaters in 2006, showcasing Lightning McQueen, a sleek Corvette‑inspired racer, alongside a cast of anthropomorphic vehicles. The film raked in over $460 million and earned two Academy Award nominations.

Fans have concoced a disturbing hypothesis: the sentient cars eliminated humanity and, in doing so, ingested the personalities of their former owners. This explains why the vehicles sport doors despite a world devoid of people, and why they possess tongues, eyes, and even brains—organ‑like features that would otherwise be nonsensical.

The theory further claims the doors serve a practical purpose: keeping these internal organs from spilling out, preserving the eerie semblance of life within metal shells.

4 Rug Made From Mama Bear

Shrek’s universe teems with bizarre fan theories—from rumors that Lord Farquaad’s subjects rejoice at his death, to speculation that Shrek was ostracized for refusing to feast on human flesh. One especially macabre idea centers on the trio of bears introduced early in the film.

After the bears are shown locked in cages, Papa Bear consoles Baby Bear around a fire, yet Mama Bear mysteriously vanishes. A close‑up of Lord Farquaad’s castle later reveals a floor rug whose texture matches Mama Bear’s fur, suggesting a grim fate.

The theory is partially undermined when Mama Bear reappears during the finale’s celebratory song. Some skeptics argue the singing bear is simply a stand‑in, while others maintain the earlier rug scene hints at a darker backstory.

3 Death Before Afterlife

The Nightmare Before Christmas, released in 1993, broke new ground as the first animated feature nominated for an Oscar in Best Visual Effects. Disney released it through Touchstone Pictures, fearing its spooky aesthetic might be too intense for younger viewers.

A chilling interpretation claims that Sally, the stitched‑together rag‑doll, was a living witch who suffered dismemberment. Her sewn‑together limbs in the afterlife serve as evidence. Likewise, the skeletal figure of Lock is said to have frozen to death—explaining his pallid skin and blue lips—while Zero’s glowing nose allegedly stems from an electrocution.

Fans also note that each resident of Halloween Town embodies a fundamental human fear: Dr. Finkelstein personifies the dread of aging, Jack Skellington represents the fear of death, and Oogie Boogie embodies the terror of darkness.

2 What Happened To Sven’s Mom?

Frozen sparked countless theories, ranging from the idea that Anna embodies summer while Elsa mirrors winter, to claims that Kristoff is secretly Santa Claus. One especially grim notion delves into the backstory of Sven’s mother.

The theory suggests ice harvesters murdered Sven’s mother, then handed the orphaned reindeer to a young Kristoff. To keep Sven alive, the harvesters supposedly gave Kristoff a pelt crafted from the mother’s fur, which Sven now clings to, explaining his unwavering loyalty.

Supporters argue the scent of the fur triggers Sven’s deep‑rooted attachment to Kristoff, turning a simple animal‑human bond into a haunting reminder of loss.

1 Kingdom Called Corona

Tangled has inspired a web of speculative connections, linking it to Frozen, The Little Mermaid, and even real‑world events. One far‑reaching theory surfaced in 2020, claiming the film predicted the coronavirus pandemic.

The argument hinges on Rapunzel’s isolation—her tower acting as a quarantine—and the name of her kingdom, “Corona.” Proponents claim this is a prophetic nod to the global health crisis that erupted a decade later.

While the theory is largely coincidental, its persistence demonstrates how audiences love to weave contemporary anxieties into the fabric of beloved stories.

When you think of the Nobel Prize, the ASPCA, Planned Parenthood, or even Batman, you probably picture triumph, compassion, or heroic vigilantes. Yet each of these institutions hides a surprisingly grim backstory. Below we peel back the curtain on the ten most infamous origins that still echo through their modern missions. Brace yourself for a roller‑coaster of scandal, eugenics, and outright cruelty – all wrapped in a fun, conversational tone that still respects the facts.

Exploring 10 Dark Origins

10 Planned Parenthood

Planned Parenthood stands today as a champion of reproductive health, offering contraception, cervical screenings, and education to millions. Yet its founder, Margaret Sanger, was a fervent eugenicist who believed certain groups of people should be sterilized or segregated. In a 1932 paper titled My Way to Peace, she divided humanity into those with “desirable” national characteristics and those she deemed undesirable. Her crusade targeted paupers, epileptics, the unemployed, and the illiterate, estimating that five million Americans needed to be segregated. Sanger’s birth‑control initiatives were openly tied to improving the “quality of the race,” a chilling reminder that even well‑intentioned work can arise from deeply flawed ideologies.

9 American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

The ASPCA is synonymous with animal welfare, but its early century‑long stewardship of New York’s municipal shelter tells a darker tale. From 1894 onward, the organization ran a massive shelter that, at its peak, culled 40‑50 thousand stray animals each year – a staggering death toll that could have emptied the city of dogs. In 1976, two board members sued the ASPCA for cruelty, exposing the paradox of a “prevention of cruelty” agency conducting large‑scale euthanasia. It wasn’t until 1994, when the American Companion Canine (ACC) took over, that annual deaths dropped to a still‑high 8,000, highlighting a prolonged legacy of suffering beneath the organization’s benevolent façade.

8 Department of Energy

Before powering America’s lights, the Department of Energy (DOE) was the bureaucratic home of the nation’s most destructive weapon. Its sole purpose in the 1940s was to develop a “city‑vaporizing” bomb, a mission that birthed the Manhattan Project. This secret endeavor marshaled a workforce rivaling the auto industry and produced the atomic bomb that ended World War II. After the war, the project morphed into the Department of Energy, now overseeing nuclear power, the Human Genome Project, and renewable research. Yet its origin as a weapon‑building machine reminds us that even today’s scientific marvels may spring from the desire to annihilate.

7 Invisible Children

The name “Invisible Children” evokes images of heroic activists exposing the atrocities of Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army. Yet the organization itself has tangled with grim realities. While Kony’s militia is notorious for child‑soldier recruitment, the broader conflict in the Congo and Uganda involves governments and rebel groups committing comparable war crimes. Critics argue that Invisible Children’s fundraising sometimes glosses over these complexities, suggesting a paradox where a charity fighting hidden horrors may inadvertently shield other, equally dark, practices.

6 Missionaries of Charity

Mother Teresa is often hailed as the epitome of selfless devotion, tending to lepers, the destitute, and the dying. Yet her order, the Missionaries of Charity, accepted donations from notoriously brutal figures such as Haiti’s dictator “Papa Doc” Duvalier and American fraudster Charles Keating, who funneled over a million dollars of misappropriated savings. A 1991 financial audit revealed that merely seven percent of contributions reached the intended beneficiaries, with the remainder funneled into expanding the order’s infrastructure. Moreover, investigative reports highlighted substandard medical care in Calcutta, where volunteers lacking proper training caused preventable deaths, casting a shadow over the organization’s revered reputation.

5 Pew Charitable Trusts

The Pew Charitable Trusts now champion environmental stewardship and public‑policy research, yet its inception was steeped in free‑market zeal. Established by the heirs of oil magnate Joseph N. Pew, the organization initially campaigned for unrestricted drilling rights and opposed New Deal regulations, describing them as a scheme to turn citizens into “ballot‑casting serfs.” Over time, Pew underwent a dramatic shift, eventually embracing clean‑energy initiatives and environmental advocacy. This transformation from aggressive industry lobbyist to eco‑champion underscores how philanthropic entities can evolve dramatically from their origins.

4 Mensa International

Mensa, the global high‑IQ society, was officially formed after a chance meeting on a train, but its intellectual roots trace back to British eugenicist Cyril Burt in 1946. Burt, a member of the British Eugenics Society, advocated for preserving “the virility of the Anglo‑Saxon race.” While Mensa today distances itself from those views, the organization’s early history includes an honorary presidency for Burt and a 1995 newsletter that suggested eliminating the homeless “like abandoned kittens.” Though these episodes belong to a distant past, they remind members that even elite clubs can emerge from unsettling ideologies.

3 Nobel Prize

The Nobel Prize is the pinnacle of global recognition, honoring breakthroughs in peace, literature, and science. Its founder, Alfred Nobel, earned the moniker “Merchant of Death” for inventing dynamite, a weapon that caused untold devastation. In 1888, a French newspaper mistakenly published his obituary, labeling him the “Merchant of Death.” Shocked, Nobel read the premature tribute and, fearing a tarnished legacy, bequeathed his fortune to establish the prizes as a means of redeeming his name. Thus, the world’s most prestigious awards were born out of a desire to rewrite a grim personal narrative.

2 Thomas Barnardo

Thomas Barnardo is celebrated for founding homes for Britain’s orphans in the late 19th century. Yet his methods were far from saintly. To rescue “neglected” children, Barnardo frequently kidnapped healthy youngsters from “happy” families, shipping them to Canada or Australia without parental consent. He faced eighty‑eight court cases for these illegal abductions, though each charge was eventually dropped. Adding to the controversy, Barnardo falsely adopted the title “Dr.” to lend credibility to his operations. While his institutions eventually provided genuine aid, the founder’s willingness to violate basic parental rights casts a long, uneasy shadow.

1 Lord Baden‑Powell

Lord Baden‑Powell, the creator of the worldwide Scouting movement, is remembered for encouraging youth to explore the outdoors and develop character. Yet his private diaries reveal a disturbing admiration for Adolf Hitler. In 1939 he praised Mein Kampf as a “wonderful book,” and throughout the 1930s he distributed Swastika‑adorned badges to scouts, even meeting the German ambassador in 1937 to discuss closer ties between the Scouts and Hitler Youth. MI5 files show he complained about socialist press criticism when scouts marched in fascist demonstrations. This unsettling fascination with Nazi ideology starkly contrasts with the wholesome image of the organization he founded.

From eugenic crusades to covert admiration for totalitarian regimes, the histories of these ten beloved entities prove that even the most celebrated institutions can arise from darkness. Understanding these origins doesn’t diminish the good they do today, but it reminds us to stay vigilant, question narratives, and recognize that history is rarely black‑and‑white.

At this point, writing a script for a film or an episode of television should be down to an exact science. Even people with a passing interest in scripts know about phrases such as inciting incidents, peaks and valleys, and denouncements, and even without popular webpages like IMDb goofs or the endless ranks of video essayists on YouTube, we can sniff out a hole in a plot.

So knowing audiences have that level of savvy, how can filmmakers that have to devote months, if not years to these projects think that they can get away with having holes in stories that seem like they would take a conscious effort to ignore? On top of that, how do they sometimes not only get away with it but make movies and episodes that audiences cherish for generations? Perhaps we can gain some insight into that by looking at the stories below. All 10 examples are, we should mention, movies and episodes that we love enough to have watched multiple times. Still, you can’t really love something until you accept its flaws.

(By the way, if you’re expecting Citizen Kane and its infamous supposed plot hole to be on here, check this page for why it isn’t. Also, SPOILERS ahead!)

10. Avengers: Infinity War

In the fourth movie in world history to gross over two billion dollars at the box office, the villain Thanos wants to become so powerful that he can, at a stroke, kill half the universe’s population to provide more resources for the other half. Aside from how nonsensical that is (think how many systems of producing and distributing the needed resources would be practically wiped out, how traumatized many of the survivors would be, etc.) considering he can do whatever he wants with time, space, reality, and so on, it also means that he can provide infinite resources to everyone. So why would he kill half the population to deal with alleged shortages?

However, some might try to dismiss that by claiming it’s part of his insanity. In terms of sheer plot mechanics, there’s a less high-falutin example near the end of the movie. The hero Doctor Strange possesses a green stone which allows him to, among other things, reset time for at least a short period. This was demonstrated quite memorably in the climax of Doctor Strange. Yet after a confrontation with Thanos late in the movie, he allows himself and his associates to be defeated without employing this power at all, despite the loss being an extremely near-run matter. There’s a common trope among superhero stories of the heroes “forgetting” their powers, but rarely does it go that far.   

9. Get Out

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJd2sPSVKVg

While the meticulous plotting of Get Out‘s screenplay required twenty drafts and resulted in Jordan Peele receiving the Academy Award for Best Screenplay, he left an unfortunate hole in the story that’s as much unnecessary as it’s a cheat.   

The basic plot of the film is that Chris goes with his girlfriend Rose to visit her parents’ home. While there, he encounters a person from his neighborhood who is now in a relationship with a much older woman. Since he and other black people that Chris has encountered have been acting weirdly, he is deeply suspicious, even before he receives confirmation from his friend Rod that, indeed, the person he just met has been listed as a missing person, just as numerous other black people in that neighborhood have been. Shortly after, Chris discovers a box in the closet of the bedroom he and Rose have been sleeping in. It is full of photos of Rose with a large number of black boyfriends and girlfriends, including the person Chris knew was missing, revealing that something profoundly wrong is happening.

The issue is this: Why does Rose have that very incriminating box of evidence where Chris could find it? In the following scenes, it’s revealed that Rose is a willing participant in the disappearances and feels no remorse. Indeed, we see her casually looking through photos of up and coming athletes shortly after, indicating that she’s already moving on from the harm she’s going to inflict on Chris, so it’s not as if she’d subconsciously be sabotaging the crime. They’re also printed photos even though the movie is set in contemporary times when surely she would be inclined through social conditioning to take digital photographs. Even the best screenplays can’t seem to escape these missteps.  

8. Black Mirror: National Anthem

Often hailed as The Twilight Zone for the internet age, Charlie Brooker’s science fiction anthology struck a chord with audiences from its pilot episode, which premiered in December 2011. In the episode, Princess Susannah is kidnapped by an unknown person who will only release her alive on the condition that the prime minister do something by that late afternoon that the prime minister very much does not want to do, with the full understanding of the public. One of his subordinates makes arrangements to cheat the arrangement in the event Princess Susannah is not rescued in time. Word of the attempted cheat gets out, so the kidnapper releases a video of him removing one of the Susannah’s fingers, and he sends a finger to the press. Learning about this cheat and the harm inflicted on the Princess turns the public against the prime minister, forcing him to go through with the deal. In the end, it’s revealed that the princess is released unharmed and that the kidnapper was an old performance artist who cut off one of his own fingers.

The issue with that is that the performance artist is revealed to be an aged man with a generally working class body while Princess Susannah looks like she’s a model in lower middle age, at the oldest. There’s no way their fingers could plausibly be mistaken for each other, even in the heat of the moment. Even if the extent of the news that leaked was that a finger was sent to a media outlet after the video of the supposed finger removal (which is staged so that the injury itself does not happen in the camera’s line of sight), word would just as quickly get out that it wasn’t her finger, which would massively undercut the public pressure for the prime minister to meet the kidnapper’s demands.    

7. Cinderella

While it is a tale as old as time, most viewers today are probably familiar with it through either the 1951 animated Disney adaptation or the 2014 live action Disney adaptation. Or maybe the 2014 deconstruction in Into the Woods by… uh, Disney again. Our readers very likely don’t need the plot synopsized, but in brief: There’s a hardworking stepdaughter/maid who sneaks to a royal dance after her fairy godmother gives her a dress, carriage, and slippers made of her old clothes, a pumpkin, and magic respectively. She dances with the prince, they fall in love but she has to leave at midnight, leaving her slipper behind. He hunts her down by having every woman in the kingdom try on the slipper until it fits her.

But this story, whether it be the original French version, the German version by the Brothers Grimm, and every film adaptation, has a major problem related to the character of the prince. It doesn’t even make sense by fairy tale logic that the prince loves someone without even knowing what she looks like. Even the star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet knew each other’s faces! While fairy tales naturally get deconstructed a lot despite being wish fulfillment fantasies for children, everyone always seems to get too hung up on how impractical glass slippers would be as an article of clothing to observe this problem with the plot.   

6. Raiders of the Lost Ark

This 1981 film was both a tribute to 1930s movie serials (even though creators George Lucas and Steven Spielberg admitted they didn’t actually like those when they screened a few for each other during pre-production) and one of the films that codified Hollywood’s blockbuster era. Indiana Jones was instantly iconic as a tomb raiding academic who goes on an adventure to retrieve the Ark of the Covenant  in a race against his old rival Belloq and his Nazi collaborators.

It probably helped that in Lawrence Kasdan’s acclaimed screenplay, Indiana Jones is more relatable because he so often fails on the way to the climax, including said climax beginning with him in captivity.

This is where the trouble with the story emerges. As Indiana and his fellow captive Marion Ravenwood look on, the Nazis open the Ark. Ominous light emenates from the Ark, and out of the blue, Indiana Jones tells Marion to shut her eyes. As they do, angels that seem more like demons emerge and kill all of their captors. Never mind the moral issues that they indiscriminately kill everyone solely on the basis of looking at them. How does Indiana know that shutting their eyes is the way for him and Marion to save themselves? The only thing he’s said about it before this scene was when, back at the university, he sees an image of the Ark and blithely guesses that the light emerging from it is the “power of God.” It’s a very puzzling oversight.

Except it actually isn’t. Kasdan included a scene in the original screenplay where the means of surviving was explained to Dr. Jones, but it was cut during editing. Which just goes to show that even a perfect script can be undone during the production process.

5. Black Mirror: USS Callister

After six years and a move from BBC to Netflix, the premiere for Black Mirror’s fourth season once again left audiences in awe and slightly disturbed. In brief, the episode is about the creator of a virtual reality online video game named Robert Daly. Instead of merely playing his game (which is modeled in large part on a fictional equivalent of the original Star Trek series) as a light adventure as originally intended, Daly makes artificially intelligent copies of coworkers and tortures them into treating him as essentially a god. Part of Black Mirror’s conceit was well-established by that time that AI simulations of people have the equivalents of physical sensations and emotions, thus making the AI in this show as sympathetic as any human beings would be and their existences just as Hellish.

Still, a problem with the story is revealed almost immediately. To properly map out the memories and emotions of his coworkers to make the simulations as accurate as possible, Daly sneaks samples of their DNA home from work from such things as discarded styrofoam cups. The issue of that is that while Daly would indeed have good DNA samples to make clones, in real life he wouldn’t be able to make replicas required by the narrative because our DNA does not contain our memories. It’s a testament to the execution of the episode that this did not seem to take many viewers out of the experience.

4. A Quiet Place

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gh-trhU24sI

A Quiet Place, the directorial debut from John Krasinski, is a commercial and critical darling. However, its suspenseful pace and limited dialogue left audiences with plenty of time to nitpick the details of its story about monsters that rely on sound to hunt down a family. The biggest issue is really a nail that is sticking up from the middle of a step to the basement that Evelyn Abbott steps on. Now, the nail is sticking up right from the middle of the step, and the staircase is in good condition, so this is not a matter of rushed or improvised repair after the apocalypse. It also is not joining two pieces of wood together. So why in the world is it there? Perhaps the deaf daughter Regan Abbott put it there because she’s subconsciously becoming suicidal (that’s extrapolating from how she blames herself for the death of her young brother and wants to stop experimenting with hearing aids). That still leaves a nagging question: How did it get pounded in without an immediate monster attack?

The producers Brad Fuller and Andrew Form were questioned about the nail and the best they came up with was saying that the family couldn’t risk the noise of removing a nail. Which… Fine. But why, or even how, did they get it there in the first place?!

3. Hereditary

While there are many that are contemptuous of this horror hit (hence the fact the influential audience test score called Cinemascore gave it a D+), those that view it favorably tend to be passionate about it. It is deliberate in its pacing and unpredictability, and its art design is as subtly creepy as it is beautiful. Near the beginning, a family learns that a recently departed grandmother’s grave has been desecrated and things… well, they get even more grisly and disturbing from there, including the death of of the main character’s young daughter, Charlie, which culminates in a truly horrifying ending.

While it could be fairly said that writer-director Ari Aster attempted a much more grounded form of occult horror, he still left some substantial holes in the story. Staci Wilson of At Home in Hollywood pointed out that the cemetery calls the family to inform them of the desecration. However, later in the movie Charlie’s remains are also seen, and the movie devotes time to seeing her burial. So how is the family not being told about this desecration? How are the police not being informed of it? With a clear connection between the two desecrated graves, why are the police not investigating the family? Aster has to really fill the runtime with unsettling imagery to keep the viewer’s mind off matters like that.

2. The Dark Knight Rises

While it might not have achieved the heights of critical hype and commercial success of 2008’s The Dark Knight, this 2012 film still made quite an impression with its story of how Bane practically paralyzes the billionaire vigilante Bruce Wayne and conquers the city of Gotham. It makes Bruce’s eventual recovery and triumph all the more compelling, especially with how costly it was in the end. And for this entry, we’re going to go ahead and ignore the well-established plot hole of how Bruce somehow got halfway around the world and snuck into Gotham despite being, at this point, a former billionaire with no resources.

However, one of the greatest problems with the story was that Bruce Wayne recovering from his injury and going through the spiritual journey that allows him to go confront Bane again on more favorable terms takes five months. Can you imagine any administration allowing a city to fall into the hands of criminals to such an extent that people physically cannot enter the city? We can just see some commenters saying something like “sure, look at Chicago, New Orleans, etc,” but you know what we mean. Even in a series where urban crime is to an extent decided by costumed heroes and villains having fistfights, that’s just silly. Silly in a way that the movies directed by Christopher Nolan have tried their hardest not to be. 

1. The Sixth Sense

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2y8SlYqBOX8

One of the biggest hits of 1999 and the possessor of perhaps the most famous twist in modern cinema history, this film had members of entertainment media predicting that M. Night Shyamalan would be the next Steven Spielberg. We’ll see if his recent hit Split will put him back on course to achieving that honor, but we can always appreciate his story of a child who could see the many ghosts that walk among us. One or two oft-parodied scenes dominate most people’s memories of this film, but there’s a particularly touching scene where Cole Sear conquers his fear of ghosts by helping bring closure to the ghost of Kyra Collins.

Problem with it is that Kyra’s sequence brings with it all sorts of problems. For one thing, it’s said of the ghosts that “they see what they want to see,” so why is she the only one who’s aware she’s dead? There’s also the fact that the way she imparts the truth to Cole for him to pass on to her father is by pushing a VHS tape out from under her bed when he goes to her house during the funeral. But if Collins is aware she’s dead, and has apparently already watched the tape (otherwise she wouldn’t know that it has the information that would identify her murderer on it), then she must be able to move the tape around considerably. So what’s to stop her from just showing it to her father herself without seeking out Cole Sear? Like the rest of these, it’s hardly a movie ruining problem, but it’s enough to make you wonder how such inconsistency was never picked up by critics or harped on during the years-long Shyamalan backlash.

Dustin & Adam Koski also wrote the urban fantasy novel Not Meant to Know. It probably has plot holes in it, but you’ll have to read it to find them!