Movie clichés that just wont die

While we understand that some of Hollywood's setups are overused for a reason, there are clichés that we just can't abide. MSN Entertainment takes a look at 10 of the silliest clichés in film.


#10 Cars are never locked, and the keys are always inside

In the movies, if you lock your car, you’re a sissy. Even if it’s a million dollar Bugatti Veyron, and even if you look like you have sense, any decent citizen of movieland knows that for John McClane to get away, you need to leave your car doors open! If you're feeling really patriotic, leave a spare set of keys in the glove box.

As seen in: Die Hard, Lethal Weapon, The Fast and the Furious

#9 Dying people always live long enough to say something moving or significant

It doesn’t matter if that person has been shot or stabbed more times than 50 Cent, realism be damned! The director is contractually obligated to fit in this actor's monologue!

As seen in: Kill Bill 1 & 2, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Blade Runner, Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan, Apocalypse Now

#8 If you shoot at a car, it will explode

It doesn’t matter if your bullet hits the tyres, a gunshot car always explodes. And you thought the Kancil was of low quality.

#7 In a gunfight, the lone ranger will always win

You can have ten people shooting at you all at once, but somehow, strangely, not a single bullet will hit you and you would still kill them all. You can blame it on poor aim.

As seen in: Hitman, The Transporter, Casino Royale, Crank

#6 The Eiffel Tower is perfectly visible from any window in Paris

Even if the camera follows the hero’s car speeding fast away from the city centre, past Gare du Nord and heading even further North, when he arrives at his run-down apartment facing some back lane, he opens his giant picture window and what do we see? La Tour Eiffel. Connerie!

As seen in: GI Joe, Ratatouille

#5 When the hero is confronted by a group of thugs, they agree to only attack him one at a time

You can call it baddie chivalry.

As seen in: Ip-Man, most Jackie Chan movies

#4 Sports cars always have an extra gear that you can only use in a race

A six-speed supped-up Toyota Supra will magically turn into a seven-speed – eight, if you're really lucky – when you are being tailgated in a race. Believe it!

As seen in: Fast and Furious, Death Race

#3 Dams in Hollywood movies only have one purpose: To break

When the camera pans to a dam in any Hollywood movie, good luck civilization!

As seen in: Evan Almighty, X-Men 2

#2 No one under the age of 19 attends high school

In Hollywood, it is totally fine for a hairy 35-year-old guy with a beer belly to roam the hallways of a high school.

As seen in: 10 Things I Hate About You, Jennifer’s Body, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

#1 When running away from a killer, the victim always runs past their front door (in plain sight of freedom) up to their bedroom, to hide in their closet/under their bed

This cliché wins hands down. We think movie killers should just save time and wait for their victims in the bedroom.

As seen in: Scream, When A Stranger Calls