With Collective Exasperation, People Share the Thing That Instantly Ruins Movies and Shows

Brad Dickson • Managing Editor

Dec 28, 2021 6:00 PM EST

We all know how this one goes. You're dug into a film or tv series feeling fully immersed and engaged in the story they're telling. Your disbelief is suspended, the rules of the universe are cohesive, and the plot is gripping.

Suddenly. BAM. It hits. What was that? Something that should have been left on the cutting room floor?

It could be the deterioration of a script once the showrunners have run out of both source material and f#$ks to give. It could be a shot that the director should have reframed. Whatever it was, it pulls you right out of the story.

The big one that gets me with fantasy and sci-fi is when writers and producers can't be bothered following established in-universe rules. Then in interviews following the backlash, they all fall back to the same excuses, "It's just fantasy! It's pretend anyways. What's the big deal? Get over it!" These writers and producers usually aren't fans of the genres they're writing for or adapting and, quite frankly, should stick to what they know.

For a similar thread check out Things Movies Do That People Absolutely Hate.