You grab your giant tub of delicious crispy popcorn (salted, not sweet, of course) and with a wide smile on your face, you take a seat in one of the red velvet cinema chairs. It’s been ages since you’ve seen a movie at the cinema and you’re practically vibrating with happiness!
The previews are always awesome, but then the movie starts and… oh, sweet Jesus no! It’s–it’s terrible. Yuck. You should’ve seen it coming—there were plenty of signs after all. And now you feel like you’ve wasted your money and time. Oh well, at least you’ve still got your popcorn, right?
You’re not alone if you’ve started mentally collecting all the telltale signs that a film’s going to be a waste of your time. The folks over on r/AskReddit have shared their own red flags that a movie is bound to be awful and we invite you to scroll down and have a read. Got any other signs that they missed but you’d love to share? That’s what the comment section is for, dear Pandas! Meanwhile, let’s check out these horror movie signs and pick out the most accurate ones.
I had a lovely and in-depth chat about the line between good and bad movies with redditor Thats_What_Sh3_Sa1d who is an aspiring filmmaker and who created the viral thread in the first place. They told Bored Panda that everyone’s responses helped them get a sense of where quality does and doesn’t lie.
“I wanted to create this thread because I want to make movies myself, and I thought that if I could get some of Reddit’s opinions on what makes a bad movie, then I could get a better sense as to what makes a good one. I had wanted to get at least a little bit of attention so I can get some answers to what makes a bad movie, but I didn’t expect this much attention,” they shared. You’ll find our full interview with the original poster below, so be sure to read on.
#1
When they need to save the world, but it’s just America….
Image credits: Beukgevaar
#2
When you’ve basically seen the entire plot of the movie and all main scenes in the trailer.
Image credits: Aerionne
#3
It has anything to do with Steven Seagal.
Image credits: ApexInTheRough
#4
The preview shows a girl who’s Just Too Focused On Career to find love going back to her small hometown for whatever reason.
Image credits: pamplemouss
#5
If the whole synopsis is a terrible idea, like making a movie about emojis
Image credits: DJScrubatires
#6
When it’s a Disney remake. Solid.
Image credits: jcastd
#7
If there are multiple trailers for a comedy movie, but they use the same joke in all of them.
Image credits: square3481
#8
If the character points out something that is blatantly obvious. IN A WORLD, WHERE ONE MAN, HAS TO SAVE THE WORLD. Man: ‘I have to save the world.’
Image credits: OnMeFone
#9
Blatantly bad re-casting to the point where you wonder if it would have been better to just drop the character (Mummy 3)
Image credits: ApexInTheRough
#10
Critics did not receive an advance screening in order to write a review. It means the studio is hoping to at least recover an opening weekend of ticket sales before word gets out.
Image credits: cyrano111
#11
If Adam Sandler is in it.
Image credits: ElanEclat
#12
When I can tell how it’s going to end by just watching the trailer.
Image credits: uanod_m
#13
When the advertising is “[Famous movie] meets [Famous movie]”…
Image credits: Schezzi
#14
An exposition in which one character explains everything that’s going on to another character that should already know what is going on.
Image credits: xmrtypants
#15
It stars Amy Schumer.
Image credits: spaniel_rage
#16
A comedian who hasn’t been funny in ten years stars in it and plays multiple roles. (Looking at you Sandler, Murphy, and Myers)
Image credits: ApexInTheRough
#17
Starts with too much exposition: “Mary, just because you have a medical degree from Harvard, I’m still your older brother!”
Image credits: Morholt33
#18
When they hype the movies soundtrack more than the film it’s self
Ex. Suicide squad
Image credits: niick767
#19
If it’s from the studio that brought you, “insert decent movie here”. Dreamworks still milks Shrek.
Image credits: Wooden-Chocolate-730
#20
Shaky cam and quick cut editing. Jumping over a fence? 20 quick cuts. Take it or leave it.
Image credits: Speckfresser
#21
“Get ready to see ____ back in action in the big screen!” This line is used in many bad movie trailers of old properties which are made into movies
Image credits: A_FamousNobody
#22
ANY movie made that stars Melissa Mccarthy where it happens to also be directed by her husband. She is incredibly funny and extremely talented as is he when they’re acting. But when he’s in the director’s chair, It always spells out “doomed-to-fail.”
Image credits: cinemagamer
#23
It’s been in production for too long. There’s always a reason, for a recent example; ‘Chaos Walking’. It changed screenwriter, director and production company so many times over 10 years but was sold on it been “A Charlie Kauffman movie starring Daisy Ridley and Tom Holland”. Kauffman left in 2013, Ridley and Holland filmed it over years due to so many reshoots and failed screenings. Then Lionsgate said the negative reviews were shocking to them.. Really??
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Image credits: UndecidedLemon