How to Spot and Avoid the Most Common Movie Cliches

 

Photo by Denise Jans on Unsplash

Movies are a great form of entertainment, but sometimes they can also be predictable and boring. Many films rely on cliches, which are overused and unoriginal elements that have lost their impact and meaning. Cliches can be found in dialogue, characters, plot, and visuals, and they can make a movie feel lazy and uninspired. Here are some of the most common movie cliches and how to avoid them in your own writing or viewing.

• The ticking clock: This is when a movie creates artificial tension by having a countdown or a deadline that the characters have to meet or face dire consequences. Examples include a bomb that will explode, a hostage that will be killed, or a virus that will spread. While this can be effective in some cases, it can also be unrealistic and overdone. To avoid this cliche, try to create tension through other means, such as character conflict, moral dilemmas, or unexpected twists.
• The bad aim: This is when the villains or the henchmen have terrible accuracy when shooting at the heroes, who can dodge bullets or take out multiple enemies without getting hit. Examples include the stormtroopers in Star Wars, the agents in The Matrix, or the terrorists in Die Hard. While this can be exciting and cool, it can also be unbelievable and boring. To avoid this cliche, try to make the action scenes more realistic and challenging, such as having the heroes get injured, run out of ammo, or use their environment to their advantage.
• The infinite gun: This is when a gun never runs out of ammo, even after firing dozens of rounds. Examples include the pistols in John Wick, the machine guns in Rambo, or the shotguns in Terminator. While this can be convenient and badass, it can also be illogical and lazy. To avoid this cliche, try to keep track of the ammo and show the characters reloading or switching weapons, or use other types of weapons, such as knives, fists, or explosives.
• The behind me: This is when a character talks badly about someone, only to realize that the person is standing right behind them. Examples include the teacher in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, the boss in The Devil Wears Prada, or the crush in Mean Girls. While this can be funny and awkward, it can also be predictable and cheesy. To avoid this cliche, try to make the dialogue more subtle and clever, or have the character confront the person directly or indirectly.
• The pavement catharsis: This is when a character runs or dances on the street to express their emotions or have a moment of clarity. Examples include the ballet in Frances Ha, the sprint in The Worst Person in the World, or the musical in La La Land. While this can be whimsical and artistic, it can also be unrealistic and overused. To avoid this cliche, try to show the character’s inner journey through other means, such as voice-over, flashback, or symbolism.

These are just some of the many movie cliches that you can find in modern cinema. While some of them can be enjoyable and effective, others can be annoying and dull. The key is to be aware of them and use them sparingly or creatively, or better yet, avoid them altogether and come up with your own original ideas. That way, you can make your movie stand out and impress your audience.

Learn more:

1. theguardian.com2. studiobinder.com3. denofgeek.com4. shortlist.com

Source: I asked Microsoft's Copilot, which is powered by ChatGPT4, to "Write me an article with a catchy headline about modern movie cliches", the text and post title above is what it produced, to which I add the pictureWrite me an article with a catchy headline about modern movie cliches