Entertainment & Culture

Author: anonymDate: 2024-11-29 10:49:40

32 Films Featuring Protagonists' Colossal Errors

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Everyone makes mistakes, yet it remains intensely irritating when a movie character blunders. Occasionally, the character we are supposed to support commits acts provoking more rage than any villain's misdeeds. Witness these instances where heroes inadvertently became the antagonists of their narratives.

Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent forfeiting his abilities in Superman II

Superman II (Clark Gives Up His Powers)

In the 1980 Superman sequel, Clark Kent (Christopher Reeve) believes attaining normalcy with Lois Lane (Margot Kidder) requires relinquishing his powers, a goal he achieves using a device in the fortress of solitude. He soon regrets this decision when General Zod (Terrence Stamp) and his cohorts seize the White House.

Anakin's discourse with Padme regarding sand in Attack of the Clones

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack Of The Clones (The Jedi Council Hires Anakin To Protect Padme)

In the second Star Wars film (chronologically), when Padmé Amidala's (Natalie Portman) life is endangered, the Jedi Council assigns Anakin Skywalker, a trainee, as her protector. This proves unwise given his clear emotional attachment, culminating in a forbidden romance and marriage. Positive outcome: the birth of Luke and Leia in the subsequent film.

August Diehl as Major Hellstrom identifying Michael Fassbender as Sgt. Hicox's deception in Inglourious Basterds

Inglourious Basterds (Lt. Hicox Flashes The American Three)

A pivotal scene in Quentin Tarantino's 2009 masterpiece, Inglourious Basterds, features the disguised Lt. Archie Hicox (Michael Fassbender) inadvertently revealing his British identity to Major Hellstrom (August Diehl) by signaling for three drinks with the incorrect hand gesture. Perhaps the British Army's failure to teach him the proper German hand signal was the real blunder.

Tony Stark examining his helmet's internal display in Age of Ultron

Avengers: Age Of Ultron (Tony Stark Creates Ultron)

Aiming to construct a global defense system, Tony "Iron Man" Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) collaborates with Bruce "Hulk" Banner (Mark Ruffalo) to develop a sophisticated program. Unbeknownst to him, this creation becomes the titular villain of 2015's Avengers: Age of Ultron (voiced by James Spader), serving as a cautionary tale against AI dependence.

Neve Campbell as Sydney Prescott on the phone in Scream

Scream (Sydney Runs Upstairs Away From Ghostface)

Shortly after criticizing the horror movie cliché of women fleeing upstairs from a killer, Sydney Prescott (Neve Campbell) ironically does precisely that after Ghostface's initial attack. While a favorite horror heroine, this lapse in judgment raises questions about her survival skills.

Charlize Theron as Meredith Vickers fleeing a moving spacecraft in Prometheus

Prometheus (Meredith Vickers Runs From A Rolling Spacecraft In A Straight Line)

Ridley Scott's 2012 Alien prequel, Prometheus, is a divisive film, but even its strongest advocates can't defend one character's egregious error. Meredith Vickers' (Charlize Theron) inexplicable failure to evade a rolling alien spacecraft remains an unsolved mystery.

Dave Bautista displaying battle eagerness in Guardians of the Galaxy

Guardians Of The Galaxy (Drax Summons Ronan)

In 2014's Guardians of the Galaxy, Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista), emboldened by alcohol, challenges Ronan the Accuser (Lee Pace), resulting in a humiliating defeat and Ronan's escape with the Power Stone.

Mike Myers and Walt Dohrn in Shrek Forever After

Shrek Forever After (Shrek Makes A Deal With Rumpelstiltskin)

Shrek's (Mike Myers) relationship with Fiona (Cameron Diaz) may have lowered his defenses, contributing to his disastrous decision in 2010's Shrek Forever After. Nostalgia for his swamp life clouds his judgment when dealing with Rumpelstiltskin (Walt Dohrn), who manipulates him into an alternate reality.

Bee Movie (Barry Sues Humanity)

Jerry Seinfeld's Bee Movie features the comedian as Barry B. Benson, a bee who challenges human exploitation of honey, leading to a disastrous ecological outcome.

Josh Brolin as Thanos incapacitated while Chris Pratt as Peter Quill glares at him in Avengers: Infinity War

Avengers: Infinity War (Star-Lord Punches Thanos)

By placing Thanos (Josh Brolin) under Mantis's (Pom Klementieef's) hypnotic control, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), Peter Parker (Tom Holland), and the remaining Guardians nearly remove the Infinity Gauntlet. However, Peter "Star-Lord" Quill (Chris Pratt)'s emotional reaction disrupts the trance, allowing Thanos to escape.

The Descent cast in a dark cavern

The Descent (Juno Chooses An Unmapped Cave To Explore)

Juno's (Natalie Mendoza) actions in the 2005 horror film The Descent are questionable, to say the least. Her friends discover her choice of an unexplored cave only after they are trapped with carnivorous nocturnal creatures.

Hancock (Hancock Fights Mary)

Hancock reveals that Will Smith's titular superhuman weakens when in prolonged contact with Mary Embrey (Charlize Theron), who shares his abilities. This doesn't prevent a devastating conflict near the film's climax.

Michael Williams in The Blair Witch Project

The Blair Witch Project (Mike Throws The Map In The River)

Horror characters often make questionable choices, but Mike's (Michael C. Williams) discarding of the map in The Blair Witch Project is unforgivable. While possibly correct about its uselessness, forfeiting any chance of escape is reckless.

Ben Whishaw as Q in front of a large computer screen in Skyfall

Skyfall (Q Connects Silva's Computer To MI6's Mainframe)

IT support should be contacted before handling suspicious office equipment, a lesson Q (Ben Whishaw) exemplifies in 2012's Skyfall. Connecting Silva's (Javier Bardem) laptop to MI6's system proved disastrous.

Army Of Darkness (Ash Speaks The Wrong Incantation)

Bruce Campbell's Ash Williams grows increasingly foolish in each Evil Dead film, culminating in a catastrophic error in 1992's Army of Darkness. His failure to properly learn a phrase for time travel leads to further chaos.

The Big Lebowski (Walter Destroys A Stranger’s Car)

Suspecting teenage Larry Sellers used stolen ransom money for a Corvette, Walter Sobchak (John Goodman) demolishes it, only to discover it belongs to an irate neighbor. This comedic moment from The Big Lebowski highlights Walter's impulsiveness.

Justin Long as Darry peering into the Creeper's pipe with a flashlight in Jeepers Creepers

Jeepers Creepers (Darry Tries To See Into The Creeper's Pipe)

In Jeepers Creepers, after witnessing the Creeper (Jonathan Breck) disposing of bodies, Darry (Justin Long) investigates, falling into the killer's lair. He should have heeded his sister's warning.

The Flash (Batman Sacrifices Himself To Destroy Zod's Ship)

Despite Michael Keaton's excellent return as Batman in 2023's The Flash, his attempt to crash the Batwing into Zod's ship proved ineffective and fatal.

Moana (Maui Steals The Heart Of Te Fiti)

The opening of Disney's 2016 Moana explains Maui's (Dwayne Johnson) theft and loss of Te Fiti's heart, which he justifies as beneficial for humanity. He later realizes the artifact's absence harmed the Hawaiian Islands.

Bradley Pierce as Peter, transformed into a monkey, in Jumanji

Jumanji (Peter Tries To Cheat The Game)

In the 1995 Jumanji adaptation, Peter (Bradley Pierce) attempts to end the game by rolling the dice, but is punished by being transformed into a monkey.

Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark addressing the press in Iron Man 3

Iron Man 3 (Tony Stark Gives The Mandarin His Address)

A major criticism of Iron Man 3 is Tony Stark's (Robert Downey Jr.) reckless challenge to The Mandarin, revealing his residence in a recorded message. This leads to an attack on his home.

Micah Sloat using a Ouija board in Paranormal Activity

Paranormal Activity (Micah Breaks Out A Ouija Board)

Micah (Micah Sloat) from the 2009 Paranormal Activity, is a terrible partner. Despite warnings, he uses a Ouija board, exacerbating their haunting.

Flora, Fauna, and Merriweather in Sleeping Beauty

Sleeping Beauty (Flora And Merryweather Fight Over Aurora's Dress Color)

In 1959's Sleeping Beauty, Aurora's fairy godmothers alter her dress color despite warnings, alerting Maleficent and endangering Aurora.

Lou Taylor Pucci as Eric reading from the Necronomicon in Evil Dead

Evil Dead (Eric Reads From The Necronomicon)

Fede Alvarez's Evil Dead remake features Eric (Lou Taylor Pucci) inexplicably reading from the Necronomicon, ignoring warnings, resulting in demonic chaos.

Deadpool (Wade Leaves His Ammo Bag Behind)

Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) repeatedly abandons a crucial arsenal, relying on "maximum effort" and immortality.

Spider-Man: Far From Home (Peter Gives Mysterio E.D.I.T.H.)

In 2019's Spider-Man: Far From Home, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) grants Quentin "Mysterio" Beck (Jake Gyllenhaal) control of E.D.I.T.H., enabling Beck's attack on London.

Katie Sarife as Daniela entering the Warrens' artifact room in Annabelle Comes Home

Annabelle Comes Home (Daniela Explores The Warrens' Artifact Room Alone)

Daniela (Katie Sarife) enters the Warrens' forbidden room in Annabelle Comes Home, unleashing a demon.

Henry Cavill as Superman and Ben Affleck as Batman in Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice

Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice (Clark Fails To Properly Explain His Situation To Bruce)

Clark Kent (Henry Cavill) delays revealing Lex Luthor's (Jesse Eisenberg) hostage situation, engaging in battle with Batman (Ben Affleck) before giving a cryptic explanation to save his mother.

Brie Larson as Captain Marvel in The Marvels

The Marvels (Carol Destroys The Supreme Intelligence)

Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) is reluctant to involve Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) and Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) in a conflict she caused.

Fantastic Four (Reed And Others Test Their Teleportation Device While Inebriated)

The 2015 Fantastic Four film features a reckless decision to test a teleportation device, resulting in superpowers.

Tom Hiddleston as Loki confronting Hela in Thor: Ragnarok

Thor: Ragnarok (Loki Summons The Bifrost To Escape Hela)

Loki's (Tom Hiddleston) escape attempt using the Bifrost in Thor: Ragnarok leads Hela (Cate Blanchett) to Asgard.

Mike Myers as Austin Powers in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery

Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery (Austin Keeps The Receipt For His Special Pump)

Austin Powers (Mike Myers) denies ownership of a Swedish pump, despite evidence to the contrary.