25 Movies with Plot Holes so Big You Have to Ignore Them to Enjoy

Movies often rely on suspension of disbelief to entertain audiences and tell compelling stories. Viewers frequently overlook logical inconsistencies or narrative gaps when the action or drama takes center stage. Plot holes can range from minor continuity errors to fundamental flaws that unravel the entire premise of a film. Recognizing these errors does not necessarily ruin the experience but offers a new perspective on beloved classics. These twenty-five films feature glaring plot holes that fans have chosen to ignore for the sake of enjoyment.

‘Armageddon’ (1998)

NASA decides to train roughneck oil drillers to become astronauts rather than teaching astronauts how to drill. This premise serves as the backbone for the entire movie despite the obvious absurdity of the logic. Ben Affleck actually pointed this out to director Michael Bay during filming and was told to stay quiet. The film ignores the years of physical and mental conditioning required for space travel to prioritize the blue-collar hero narrative.

‘The Matrix’ (1999)

The machines use humans as an energy source even though the laws of thermodynamics make this impossible. Humans require more energy to stay alive than they can possibly produce as batteries. The original script involved using human brains as processors which would have made more sense. The filmmakers simplified the concept for general audiences but left a gaping scientific hole in the lore.

‘Signs’ (2002)

A species of aliens invades a planet covered mostly in water despite being violently allergic to the substance. They choose to run around naked in cornfields without any protective suits or advanced weaponry. Logic dictates that a civilization capable of interstellar travel would assess environmental hazards before landing. The terrifying atmosphere relies entirely on the audience ignoring this fundamental tactical failure.

‘Back to the Future’ (1985)

Marty McFly interacts extensively with his parents in 1955 yet they do not recognize him as their son later in life. George and Lorraine credit Marty with bringing them together but seemingly forget his face entirely. Most people would likely remember the person who played such a pivotal role in their high school romance. The film glosses over this realization to preserve the happy ending and comedic tone.

‘Toy Story’ (1995)

Buzz Lightyear genuinely believes he is a space ranger and not a child’s plaything. He freezes whenever humans enter the room just like all the other toys do. If he does not think he is a toy then his instinct to freeze makes very little sense within his character logic. This behavior is never explained and serves only to keep the plot moving alongside Woody.

‘Titanic’ (1997)

Rose floats safely on a large wooden door frame while Jack freezes to death in the icy water. Many fans and even scientific tests have proven the debris was buoyant enough to support both characters. Jack makes no real attempt to climb on and accepts his fate far too quickly. The emotional weight of the tragedy relies on a physics error that has been debated for decades.

‘The Karate Kid’ (1984)

Daniel LaRusso wins the All Valley Karate Tournament with a crane kick to his opponent’s face. The referee explicitly states earlier in the film that kicks to the face are illegal in this competition. Daniel should have been disqualified immediately for using a banned move to secure his victory. The movie frames this as a triumphant moment of skill rather than a violation of the rules.

‘Independence Day’ (1996)

David Levinson uploads a computer virus to the alien mothership using a standard Macintosh laptop. It is highly improbable that human computer code would be compatible with an advanced extraterrestrial operating system. The aliens likely use entirely different programming languages and hardware interfaces than 1990s Earth technology. This convenient solution resolves the conflict instantaneously without explaining the technological bridge.

‘Ant-Man’ (2015)

The film establishes that shrinking reduces space between atoms while maintaining the original mass of the object. Hank Pym carries a tank in his pocket that should weigh several tons based on this explanation. Ant-Man runs across a gun barrel and stands on people without crushing them despite retaining the weight of a grown man. The movie constantly contradicts its own scientific rules to allow for cool action sequences.

‘Citizen Kane’ (1941)

Charles Foster Kane dies alone in his room after whispering the word Rosebud. No one is present to hear his final words yet the mystery of what he said drives the entire plot. The nurse enters the room only after the glass snow globe shatters on the floor. The narrative structure hinges on a piece of information that technically nobody witnessed.

‘A Quiet Place’ (2018)

The Abbott family struggles to survive in silence to avoid blind monsters with hypersensitive hearing. They eventually discover that the sound of a nearby waterfall masks their voices and allows them to speak freely. They could have simply moved their shelter closer to the waterfall for permanent safety. Staying in the exposed farmhouse creates unnecessary danger that drives the tension of the film.

‘Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope’ (1977)

The Empire refuses to fire on an escape pod launching from a captured ship because no life forms are detected. This decision allows the droids carrying the Death Star plans to escape to Tatooine. A military organization focused on total control would simply destroy any unauthorized launch to be safe. This momentary lapse in judgment by the Imperial gunner allows the entire Rebel victory to happen.

‘Jurassic Park’ (1993)

The T-Rex breaks through the paddock fence which is level with the tour vehicles on the road. Moments later the same dinosaur pushes a car over the exact same spot to reveal a massive cliff drop. The geography of the enclosure shifts instantaneously to create a thrilling set piece for the characters. Spielberg prioritized the dramatic tension of the car falling over spatial continuity.

‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’ (2004)

Hermione Granger receives a Time Turner to attend multiple classes at once during the school year. The wizarding world possesses the power to change the past but uses it solely for academic scheduling. Characters ignore the possibility of using this device to stop Voldemort or save countless lives. The powerful artifact is conveniently written out of future storylines to avoid complicating the plot.

‘Gremlins’ (1984)

The rules state that one must never feed a Mogwai after midnight. The film never defines when it stops being after midnight and becomes the next morning. Time zones also complicate the rule if the creature travels to a different part of the world. The ambiguity of the specific cutoff time serves the horror elements but fails logical scrutiny.

‘The Dark Knight Rises’ (2012)

Bane imprisons Bruce Wayne in a remote underground pit located on the other side of the world. Bruce escapes the prison and reappears in Gotham City within hours despite having no money or resources. The city is under martial law and completely cut off from the outside world. The film skips over the logistics of his intercontinental travel to rush toward the final confrontation.

‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial’ (1982)

The alien demonstrates the ability to levitate objects and fly early in the movie. E.T. falls into a pit later in the film and requires Elliot to rescue him. He could have easily flown out of the ditch or even to his spaceship in the opening scene. The plot restricts his powers when convenient to create dramatic obstacles for the children.

‘Cinderella’ (1950)

The Fairy Godmother’s magic spell ends precisely at midnight and transforms everything back to its original form. The glass slippers somehow remain perfectly intact while the dress and carriage disappear. The prince uses the slipper to find Cinderella even though it should have vanished along with the rest of her outfit. This magical inconsistency is the only reason the story can reach its famous conclusion.

‘Wonder Woman 1984’ (2020)

Steve Trevor returns to life by possessing the body of an innocent man who loses his autonomy. Diana sleeps with Steve while he is inhabiting the stranger’s body without addressing the moral implications. The movie treats this violation as a romantic reunion rather than a horrifying situation for the host. The plot glosses over the consent issues to bring back a popular character.

‘Frozen’ (2013)

The trolls raise Kristoff after he wanders away from the ice harvesters as a young child. His fellow harvesters apparently never noticed the boy went missing or attempted to search for him. The movie suggests he was an orphan but offers no explanation for why no adults cared about his disappearance. Disney focuses on the magical elements while ignoring the negligence of the human characters.

‘Gravity’ (2013)

Kowalski detaches himself from the tether to save Stone because he claims the cable cannot hold them both. In the vacuum of space a simple tug would have brought him back toward her once momentum stopped. Physics dictates that the weight on the tether would be negligible once they stabilized. His sacrifice creates emotional stakes but contradicts the basic behavior of objects in zero gravity.

‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ (2021)

Doctor Strange casts a spell that makes the world forget Peter Parker exists. This erasure apparently includes physical records and high school diplomas and photos. It is unclear how Peter rents an apartment or functions in society without a birth certificate or social security number. The magical solution creates a bureaucratic nightmare that the film avoids addressing.

‘Avengers: Endgame’ (2019)

The Avengers travel back in time to borrow Infinity Stones and promise to return them to their original moments. Captain America decides to stay in the past to live a life with Peggy Carter. This action should have created a branched timeline according to the Ancient One’s explanation of time travel. He somehow appears as an old man in the main timeline without using the quantum tunnel.

‘The Little Mermaid’ (1989)

Ariel trades her voice to Ursula in exchange for human legs and a chance to win Eric’s heart. She struggles to communicate with the prince despite notably signing a contract earlier in the film. Ariel could have simply written a letter to Eric explaining her situation and identity. The conflict relies on her sudden inability to use written language to solve her problem.

‘Saw’ (2004)

The villain Jigsaw lies on the floor pretending to be a corpse for the entire duration of the film. It seems impossible that he could remain perfectly still and silent for hours without breathing visibly. The characters in the room never notice the body twitching or the rise and fall of his chest. This twist ending requires a suspension of biological reality to work effectively.

Tell us which of these plot holes bothered you the most in the comments.