Movie fans love to spend time breaking down movies and trailers to theorize about upcoming stories. While some theories are just outlandish, there have been times when the obvious and ludicrous have proven to be true.
One such instance is in the film Gladiator. Fans had theorized that Maximus, the hero of the film, may be the father of Lucius, a young boy of royal lineage. Although the ambiguity of this connection added a layer of mystery and intensity to the concept, Gladiator II ultimately confirmed Maximus as Lucius’ father. This development, which had been widely expected, felt a bit like a soap opera instead of an Oscar-winning historical epic.
Another bizarre theory is from the Star Wars sequel trilogy. Some fans speculated that Rey and Kylo Ren may have had a romantic connection. Although there is no evidence to support this theory, Jordan Peele has confirmed a similar connection between two of his films, Get Out and Being John Malkovich.
Get Out’s director, Jordan Peele, had not intended to insert a connection between the two films, but he has since adopted the theory enthusiastically. This unexpected development highlights the blurred lines between intended and unintended meanings in film.
Lastly, there was the film Shutter Island, where audiences had predicted the twist that Teddy was actually a patient all along. Although this theory may seem obvious, the film’s establishing unreliable narrator and ambiguous events still managed to keep audiences engaged and guessing until the end.
Despite the sometimes ludicrous nature of film theories, it’s interesting to see how filmmakers can take seemingly obvious concepts and develop them into something entirely new and thought-provoking.