Irritating Film Cliches

[MalletsMallet]

Successful stressed city girl goes back to her small town for Christmas, gets snowed in, meets small town guy, learns real meaning of life.

Aka every sky movie Christmas film ever.

 

[PennyLane321]

People getting the bill and leaving their food or drink half finished at lunch/dinner.

Sort of in the same vein but when there’s a table full of breakfast food that would feed the 5000 and everyone takes a single bite of toast and a sip of orange juice then rush out the door

 

[BingoFlamingo]

When a computer says “downloading files” with a big progress bar

 

[Remotecontrol]

People getting the bill and leaving their food or drink half finished at lunch/dinner.

 

[mcfeez]

- Any onscreen attempts at "hacking" or use of any IT jargon to sound "smart"; usually accompanied by very quick typing and intense music
- Court room scenes with surprise witnesses or evidence; that's not how the legal system works!
- Running up the stairs to escape the killer; bad move, unless you have a panic room up there
- People who get knocked unconscious and get back up again no problem not long afterwards

 

[The Devils Arse]

I hate it when characters arrange to see each other the next day, but give no place or time. Stresses my inner social anxiety.

 

[emmer_moans]

Actors holding take out coffee cups in mitten clad hands and scarf perfectly draped over a shoulder, takes sip, pretends it’s too hot to drink, starts talking to another character, but because the cup is empty, they gesticulate with their cup clad hands as if there is no hot water in the cup... can they not at least put hot water in the cup to make it believable?!

 

[HockyRorror]

In teen movies the geeky girl (she wears glasses = geek) confronts the main popular girl in the school cafeteria and delivers a “devastating” speech (“I don’t care if you like me. I like me. You’re just a bad person with a bad heart”) and the whole school goes “ooooooooooooh” and the popular girl instantly loses her status. Bonus points if the geeky girl then wins Prom Queen and slow dances with the King, who happened to be popular girls boyfriend but has now dumped after the geek pointed out her flaws.

 

[Practically Perfect]

or eats nothing!

Waking up in full glam and not a hair out of place

couple just had massive romp session and she has all her underwear still on

No-one has dog breath in the morning

Nice houses that are always spotless.

No-one ever spills the tea even when in the firing line. Oh I would be gushing every secret.

My biggest gripe and its more TV (soaps) than film is: Everyone goes to the cafe for a brew, everyone lives and works in the 'village' that is in the back arse of nowhere yet they are all ok for money.
Always eat out and they still have open pubs. Even when they are supposed to be poor every brew is not made at home but bought in the cafe then go to lunch in the pub. Oh sod off.

 

[Practically Perfect]

Just watched The Haunting of Bly Manor and was infuriated. Girl gets up in the night, in strange, spooky old Manor and doesn't turn on one light. As If.

 

[Rbarb-bkini]

"You're not like other girls"

"You wouldn't understand"
"Try me"

Siblings saying "Sis" and "Bro". As Francine says in American Dad, it's clunky and expositional.

Using a cigarette and a leather jacket to convey that a character is a cool, nonchalant bad boy type.

Female characters who are in a situation where they don't have access to feminine hygiene not having an issue, eg. perfectly shaved pits (Kate in Lost lol)

That one character who stays quiet about their zombie bite or other debilitating injury until it's TOO LATE.

And lastly, the trope I hate the most, people who don't double-tap!! Make sure the fucker is dead before you turn your back on them!

 

[petitspois]

People who are faced with something unbelievably emotional who stand against the wall then slide down to the floor to show just how affected they are.

 

[supernintendochalmers]

Popular jock decides he wants to join the drama club or have a career/do a course unrelated to sports, against his father's wishes. They have an argument which ends when the son says, "no dad, I'm not giving up my dream, I'm giving up yours!"

 

[supernintendochalmers]

Characters passionately kissing after an intense argument.

 

[supernintendochalmers]

When American characters go to England (typically London), the people they encounter are either really posh or have exaggerated Cockney accents.

 

[StephenTJackson]

Sort of in the same vein but when there’s a table full of breakfast food that would feed the 5000 and everyone takes a single bite of toast and a sip of orange juice then rush out the door

Ruined The Parent Trap remake when Chessy went to all that effort and that is literally all Annie had for breakfast.

 

[ReginaPhalangee]

People having time to sit around and chat in the mornings before school/work, popping in to say hi etc. My house in the morning it’s get your business done and get out the house or we’ll all be late

 

[La_frenchie]

People running away from a chasing car who keep running on the f@cking Road

 

[MissRabbit]

American family dinner scenes where it's like a carvery in the middle of the table. A roast and ten side dishes for a family of four. Kitchens somehow look immaculate too, with no pans and mess on the worktops.

Also someone throwing open the church doors shouting "stop the wedding!" the second the vicar asks if there is any reason why this couple shouldn't marry

 

[Mulholland Drive]

I'm sure we've seen it many times when watching films: the intended victim (usually a young and pretty female) enters a house late at night, never bothers to switch on the lights but carries on doing what she's doing.

She hears a noise.

"Who's that?" she says in the shadows.

Nothing. She shrugs and carries on

Another noise

"Is someone there? This isn't funny. I know who you are! I'm calling the police"

Scared, but still doesn't bother switching the lights on

Walks into a dark room very quietly (still no lights). Door slowly closes behind her with a creak at the end. She turns round to see the murderer in the shadows. Lots of screams job done.

That's just one example of an irritating cliche that bugs the hell out of me. Another one is where a bad guy is caught and has his hands tied behind his back. But never tight enough because there's always something close by where he can release his bonds.

Any more to add?