8 Popular Movie Theories That Are Way Better Than The Actual Story

There are so many different movie theories floating around about all kinds of films, but some of these theories end up being way better than the actual story. A great movie theory has the potential to completely recontextualize an entire film or franchise, it allows viewers to see characters in a new light, and by taking a side-eyed glance at the clues being left in the story, a compelling alternative story starts to appear. As the theory is fleshed out even further by audiences, it becomes so compelling that viewers even prefer this theoretical explanation over what is considered canon.

There are many different types of movie theories, such as creepy fan theories that change the way audiences view movies. The best theories stand the test of time and are shared among audiences for years to come. There are also incredible theories that blend the worlds of two different films or stories to create a shared universe and fascinating comparison with one another. These theories often start online and take on a life of their own, as audiences continue to debate, be enthralled by, and otherwise enjoy theories that are way better than the actual story.

8 Darth Jar Jar Binks

The Star Wars franchise (1977 – Present)

One of the most outlandish and oddly convincing Star Wars theories proposes that the clumsy prequel character Jar Jar Binks is feigning his stupidity and has been masquerading as a Sith Lord, secretly pulling the strings behind the scenes the entire time. The theory states he has been carefully orchestrating events with Emperor Palpatine, pretending to be clumsy to meet his own needs, and that Jar Jar’s goofy slapstick movements are disguised Force skills. The Darth Jar Jar theory has been floating around for years and has had something of a resurgence following the Jar Jar Binks recent appearance in The Mandalorian season 3.

7 Mary Poppins Is The Same Species As Pennywise

Mary Poppins (1964)

A fan theory, originally posted to Reddit, combines the wondrous musical world of Mary Poppins with the horrific demonic nightmare seen in Stephen King’s IT. The theory suggests that both Mary Poppins and the shape-shifting entity Pennywise are the same species and can both prey upon what lurks in children’s minds. However, Mary Poppins relies on the joy in children’s hearts, while the evil Pennywise is focused on fear. This theory adds a sinister, otherworldly nature, to the family-friendly fantasy set out in Mary Poppins, but it’s so wild that it makes for an interesting thought experiment upon a rewatch of the 1960s children’s classic.

6 The Shining Is Stanley Kubrick’s Moon Landing Confession

The Shining (1980)

A long-running conspiracy theory states that filmmaker Stanley Kubrick helped NASA to fake the moon landing. However, this theory takes things a step further and suggests that Kubrick filled his horror classic The Shining with hints and clues about this falsified moon landing. These clues include Danny wearing an Apollo 11 sweater, room number 237 being a reference to the approximately 237,000 miles from Earth to the moon, and the maze layout resembling a rocket ship launch pad. While these do not definitively prove that Kubrick faked the moon landing, they are a testament to how layered and full of detail his movies were.

5 Ferris Is A Figment of Cameron’s Imagination

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)

Cameron Frye is, of course, the less impulsive best friend of popular high school truant Ferris Bueller in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, but this dark twist theory suggests that they might be the same person. This theory suggests that the day off that takes place throughout Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is happening inside Cameron’s head while he is sick at home in bed. Cameron conjures up the day to deal with his deep insecurity, creating an idealized adventure where everything is perfect, and an imaginary best friend helps Cameron overcome the relationship issues he has with his father. As an insight into Cameron’s psychology, this theory adds depth to this teen comedy.

4 Neville Is Really The Chosen One

Harry Potter (2001 – 2011)

A popular theory posits that it was the clumsy and disorganized Neville Longbottom, and not the boy who lived Harry Potter, who was The Chosen One of the Wizarding World. This theory holds great weight as the similarities between the two are striking. Both of their parents were threats to Voldemort and killed by him or his supporters, and both were born in the last days of July 1980. As such, both characters fulfill the prophecy that Lord Voldemort was trying to avoid. This theory proposes that Dumbledore was aware of Neville’s important role and that Harry was merely a scapegoat to distract Voldemort.

3 The Real World Is Another Level Of The Matrix

The Matrix Reloaded (2003)

While the Wachowskis cyberpunk mind-bender The Matrix explains that the world is a simulation that Keanu Reeves’ Neo must escape, this theory suggests there is another layer of simulated reality the characters in the movie do not know about. The Matrix inside a Matrix theory posits the Redpills were always in the Matrix and that their extraction did not occur. Evidence includes Agent Smith’s ability to possess people not inside the Matrix, Neo’s ability to use telekinesis in the so-called real world, and Neo still being able to see code after being blinded. This theory adds more layers of complexity to an already complicated story, but it is certainly fascinating.

2 Snowpiercer Is A Willy Wonka Sequel

Snowpiercer (2013)

This theory suggests that the dystopian satire Snowpiercer is a sequel to the whimsical story of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. While this may sound completely bonkers, when looking at it in more detail it starts to make a lot of sense. The theory states that Wilfred, the creator of the Snowpiercer train, is a grown-up version of Charlie Buckett, who built the train to save humanity from its dystopian future. Using the skills taught to him by Willy Wonka, he created a world of decadence and excess on the train, but only for the chosen few, much as Wonka did, but only for those with a golden ticket.

1 The Joker Is Actually Robin

Suicide Squad (2016)

A major fan theory about David Ayer’s Suicide Squad suggested that the Joker, played by Jared Leto, was an evil version of Batman’s old sidekick Robin. While the movie’s narrative implied that Joker killed Robin Jason Todd, there was some evidence to suggest they were the same person. Audiences noticed clues in Joker’s appearance that they said hinted at his backstory as a former ally of The Dark Knight. These include Joker’s bullet hole tattoos matching up with the marks on Robins’s costume. However, Ayer’s himself debunked this theory (via The Independent), although it is still an interesting one to imagine.

Sources: Reddit, The Independent