Turning what could be a brief story into a marathon of improbabilities isn’t uncommon in the world of movies. From cursed videotapes to alien-infested spaceships, here are 24 films that could have saved us time and frustration by wrapping up shortly after they began.
Rent
The movie Rent opens with protagonist Mark getting evicted, and If he had just moved back home with his mom, the drama could have been wrapped up. The ensuing story of struggling artists in New York would have been very different or perhaps nonexistent.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Ferris Bueller’s elaborate and iconic day off would have been cut short if his parents decided to stay home and care for their “sick” child. But instead of an adventurous romp with twists and turns, we’d get Ferris in bed, caught in his own web of deceit.
The Ring
It’s not hard to imagine being sensible enough to refuse to watch a cursed videotape that kills you in seven days. If the characters in The Ring had done this, the terror would have been avoided altogether, and a lot of people could’ve been saved.
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace
With such a convoluted, beloved string of films, it’s hard to imagine that the events of Star Wars could’ve been shortened. At the start of the franchise, if a Jedi other than Anakin was chosen as Padmé’s bodyguard or if they rescued Anakin’s mother earlier, the saga could have taken a very different path, potentially eliminating much of the conflict that followed.
Aladdin
Aladdin could have given us a limited story if Jafar had simply paid Aladdin what he promised. With the debt paid, Jafar would have gotten the lamp without all the betrayal and battles, turning the story into a quick transaction.
No Country for Old Men
Llewelyn Moss finds an intriguing satchel of money at a crime scene in No Country for Old Men. If he had left it untouched and carried on his day, the subsequent cat-and-mouse chase with Anton Chigurh would never have happened.
School of Rock
Dewey Finn’s ruse in School of Rock would have been up instantly if anyone asked him to provide identification. A quick background check would have saved everyone a lot of trouble.
The Visit
In The Visit, the entire plot hinges on a lack of common sense that sound parenting could’ve easily fixed. If the kids had confirmed their grandparents’ identity with their mother, the creepy encounter with impostors would have been avoided, leading to an uneventful visit.
Sleeping Beauty
The iconic Sleeping Beauty starts with a famous, yet entirely avoidable snub. If Maleficent had been invited to Aurora’s christening, she might not have cursed the princess. Diplomacy could have prevented the entire enchanted sleep drama.
The Emperor’s New Groove
In The Emperor’s New Groove, if Yzma had stuck to her original plan to turn Kuzco into a flea and smash him, her scheme would have succeeded quickly, ending Kuzco’s misadventures prematurely and leaving us without a story.
Home Alone
Before embarking on their ill-fated trip, the McCallister family in Home Alone could have avoided leaving Kevin behind by simply checking the house one last time. A wake-up call or alarm system could have ensured no one was forgotten.
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
Learning from their past mistake, the McCallister family should have double-checked their headcount and travel arrangements. A bit of extra caution could have kept Kevin from being lost in New York.
Jurassic Park
John Hammond’s cutting corners in Jurassic Park set the stage for chaos and dinosaur anarchy. In a more sensible scenario, proper security measures and realistic containment protocols could have prevented the dinosaur disasters, ending the movie early with a successful park opening.
Jurassic World
In Jurassic World, history is doomed to repeat itself. If the scientists had heeded past warnings and avoided meddling with dinosaur DNA, they would have avoided the catastrophic events that followed.
Sleeping Beauty Again
Revisiting Sleeping Beauty, Maleficent’s curse could have been averted if the kingdom had taken steps to prevent her from crashing the christening. Proper security or simply keeping her in the loop might have changed the story entirely.
Twilight
Bella’s story in Twilight could have been cut short if she recognized Edward for the dangerous, blood-thirsty stalker he is and distanced herself immediately. A clear-headed decision early on could have spared everyone the ensuing drama.
Alien
The unfortunate crew in Alien would have avoided their gruesome fate if they had followed Ripley’s quarantine protocol. Keeping the alien outside the ship would have ended the horror before it began.
50 Shades of Grey
If Ana had called out Christian’s abusive tendencies right away in 50 Shades of Grey, their toxic relationship wouldn’t have developed. A decisive break early on could have saved a lot of pain and confusion.
Spider-Man 3
In Spider-Man 3, Peter Parker’s life could have taken a different turn if he had simply removed the symbiote suit right away. Avoiding the dark influence would have kept him on a straight path.
The Matrix
Neo’s journey in The Matrix begins with a choice. If he had taken the blue pill, he would have returned to his normal life, sparing himself the subsequent existential and physical battles.
The Sixth Sense
In The Sixth Sense, if Malcolm had realized he was dead earlier, he could have moved on peacefully, providing closure to both him and Cole sooner.
Inception
Dom Cobb’s quest in Inception hinges on planting an idea in Fischer’s mind. If Fischer had simply ignored the dream influence or if Cobb had resolved his personal issues earlier, the convoluted dream heist wouldn’t have been necessary.
Raiders of the Lost Ark
If the Nazis had ignored Indiana Jones and let him take the Ark to the U.S. for safekeeping in Raiders of the Lost Ark, they would have avoided their own destruction. Indy’s efforts could have concluded with a simple, successful mission.
Gravity
In Gravity, Ryan Stone’s survival saga begins with space debris. If the mission had been aborted earlier upon detecting the debris, the harrowing experience in space could have been avoided.
