A good fan theory can change everything about a movie. I love taking deep dives into fan speculation, finding unique angles to get more out of beloved films. Recently, I went down several rabbit holes trying to suss out whether Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day is secretly a sequel to his sci-fi classic Close Encounters of the Third Kind, prove the identity of Scream 7‘s killer with the “Blue Flannel” theory, and eyed a possible Resident Evil boss in the new trailer.
There are some bold theories about classic movies. Some get a bit too meticulous, which bogs them down for evidentiary reasons, but can prove worthwhile. Others are rather simple, hitting on small details that can change movies or characters in grandiose ways, even altering entire franchise lore. While fan theories can be humorous and add levity, many venture into grim realities. Theories can shift major franchise perceptions, as in the case of twists on the origins of Chris Pratt’s character in Jurassic World, and even fracture perceptions of comedies, as in the case of distinct interpretations of Cameron’s mental state in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. The world of fan theories is a great place to get lost, so I’ve gathered an eclectic mix from my time tumbling down the rabbit hole.
‘It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie’ (2002)
Kermit the Frog’s Existence Causes 9/11
It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie is a made-for-TV film that casts Kermit in an It’s a Wonderful Life-type story, where an angel shows him what the world would look like if he hadn’t been born. Before his wish, it is present-day 2002, and the Twin Towers are gone from the New York City skyline following the tragic events of September 11, 2001. After Kermit wishes he had never been born, the angel shows him an alternate timeline where the Twin Towers are clearly visible through the window in the background of Miss Piggy’s apartment.
These details have led many to speculate (via Reddit) that Kermit’s existence, in some way, led to the events of 9/11, as the visual evidence suggests the terrorist attack never occurred in the alternate reality. The truth is, it was an unintentional production error, as confirmed by the director. The background used for Miss Piggy’s apartment was old stock footage, with the Twin Towers’ shifting presence merely overlooked. Still, it’s one of the darker theories, especially for a Muppets movie.
‘The Matrix’ Franchise (1999-2021)
Neo Isn’t “The One”
A compelling theory suggests that Keanu Reeves’ Neo isn’t actually the prophesied savior in The Matrix; Agent Smith is. The finale of the first film sees Neo hopping into Smith, destroying him from the inside. This turns Smith into a rogue program in the sequels, with abilities on par with Neo’s. Smith even meets other criteria, as The One was said to have been born within The Matrix. He even refers to the Oracle as “Mom,” implying that she created and nurtured Smith on his path.
The theory (via Reddit) suggests that Smith is one of the prior iterations of The One. The Architect reveals to Neo when he reaches the source that there have been six prior saviors, all meant to initiate a reboot of the Matrix. In Revolutions, the finale sees Smith merging with Neo while the latter is physically connected to the source cables in the real world. This allows Smith to act as the impetus for the system reboot through Neo, fulfilling the definition of The One.
‘The Shining’ (1980)
Stanley Kubrick Confessed To Faking the Apollo 11 Moon Landing
This particular fan theory relies on a real-world conspiracy theory: that director Stanley Kubrick was hired to help fake the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969. Some fans then believe that Kubrick confessed to helping fake the moon landing by peppering details into his 1980 adaptation of Stephen King’s The Shining. The 2012 documentary Room 237 does a great job delving into the details that support the wild claim. Some visual clues viewers point to are Danny’s Apollo 11 sweater and the hexagonal carpet pattern, a shape associated with the Saturn V rocket’s launch pad.
One piece of evidence stems from Kubrick’s decision to change the room number in King’s novel from 217. Making it 237 is apparently the director’s nod to the distance between the Earth and the Moon. The theory has been dismissed, with the director’s daughter, Vivian Kubrick, even attempting to dispel the notion (via Variety), acknowledging, “There are many, very real conspiracies that have happened throughout our history,” before adding:
“But, claims that the moon landings were faked and filmed by my father? I just can’t understand it!!?”
‘The Rock’ (1996)
It’s Secretly a James Bond Sequel
Michael Bay’s 1996 film The Rock is an action-packed adrenaline ride from start to finish, featuring Sean Connery as an imprisoned spy. The plot sees him helping the heroes break into Alcatraz, where he was imprisoned in the past. However, numerous specifics have some viewers convinced the movie is secretly a sequel to Connery’s James Bond movies (via Reddit).
Connery’s character, John Mason, is described as a former British intelligence officer whose existence the movie says is not acknowledged, suggesting he is a disavowed agent. The theory connects Mason’s Alcatraz imprisonment from 1962 to 1963 with the gap between Connery’s Bond films, Dr. No (1962) and From Russia with Love (1963). It further leans into a separate theory that James Bond is just a codename, and that John Mason is his real name, linking the two characters. However, producer Jerry Bruckheimer has denied this theory.
‘Frozen’ (2013)
Disney Made ‘Frozen’ To Throw off Search Algorithms
An interesting conspiracy theory that has persisted through the years is that Walt Disney had his body cryogenically frozen following his death in 1966 in hopes of being revived at some point in the future. This is a wild assertion that leans into Disney’s wealth and obsession with the future, as seen in his ambitions, such as the Tomorrowland theme park. There was clearly only one way to dispel the rumors and keep people from Googling whether Disney actually froze his body: Disney’s Frozen.
This fan theory suggests that Disney’s animated hit film Frozen was made purely to throw off search algorithms. Now, when people Google whether Walt Disney cryogenically froze himself, they will get thousands of search results solely about the movie. Elsa wasn’t singing “Let It Go.” The movie was secretly telling viewers to let go of their search for Disney’s cold corpse. Disney’s daughter, Diane, also isn’t a fan of the theory, saying (via PBS):
“There is absolutely no truth that my father, Walt Disney, wished to be frozen. I doubt that my father had ever heard of cryonics.”
‘Titanic’ (1997)
Jack Is a Time Traveler
It seems some people have pieced together unique clues that hint Jack Dawson is a time traveler in James Cameron’s Titanic. The theory (via Reddit) points to anachronistic elements regarding Jack. The movie is set in 1912, but he mentions ice fishing on Lake Wissota, an artificial lake created in 1917. He also promises to take Rose to the Santa Monica Pier, but the pier wasn’t built until 1916. Jack even carries a very specific style of rucksack that wouldn’t be commonly used until the 1930s.
Why would Jack need to travel back in time to the Titanic? It’s his job to ensure the ship sinks. He stops Rose from committing suicide, as if she had jumped, the ship would have stopped to search for her. Therefore, by stopping Rose, Jack ensures the Titanic meets its disastrous fate with the notorious iceberg.
‘Star Wars’ Franchise
Jar Jar Binks Is a Sith Lord
How could the infamously incompetent Jar Jar Binks be a Sith Lord? The evidence is more compelling than you may assume (via Reddit). During Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, Jar Jar does pull off incredible feats. He performs a 20-foot flip into Otoh Gunga, which many liken to Force Jumping, and his improbable combat luck has been compared to drunken boxing, allowing strength to shine through perceived weakness.
Jar Jar is often seen mouthing words and moving his hands around in the background, which may be his secret Jedi Mind Trick. However, the most interesting connection is his political influence. Jar Jar’s time as Senator saw him grant Chancellor Palpatine emergency wartime powers, which directly led to the creation of the Empire. The Darth Jar Jar theory gained such notoriety that the character variant was eventually included in special releases, such as the LEGO Star Wars games.
‘The Lord of the Rings’ Trilogy (2001-2003)
Frodo Doesn’t Know Legolas’ Name
Admittedly, the theory that Frodo doesn’t know Legolas’ name is hilarious (via Reddit). After everything the two endured throughout The Lord of the Rings trilogy, it seems almost inconceivable. Still, the visual evidence gives the fan theory weight. It stems from the scene where the Fellowship is reunited in Rivendell, coming in to meet Frodo as he wakes up. Frodo is excited to see everyone, shouting their names, until it gets to Legolas, leaving him oddly speechless, only for him to then continue naming the other characters.
The one scene everyone uses to show when Legolas actually spoke to Frodo is even ironic, as he was pledging his bow to the Fellowship, so it technically wasn’t even directly to the Hobbit. While the theory thrives on the way the films are edited together, it becomes harder to ignore on rewatches, ensuring your next Lord of the Rings viewing won’t be the same as you attempt to disprove the evidence.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
