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Article created by: Mindaugas Balčiauskas

You grab your giant tub of delicious crispy popcorn (salted, not sweet, of course) and with a wide smile on your face, you take a seat in one of the red velvet cinema chairs. It’s been ages since you’ve seen a movie at the cinema and you’re practically vibrating with happiness!

The previews are always awesome, but then the movie starts and… oh, sweet Jesus no! It’s--it’s terrible. Yuck. You should’ve seen it coming—there were plenty of signs after all. And now you feel like you’ve wasted your money and time. Oh well, at least you’ve still got your popcorn, right?

You’re not alone if you’ve started mentally collecting all the telltale signs that a film’s going to be a waste of your time. The folks over on r/AskReddit have shared their own red flags that a movie is bound to be awful and we invite you to scroll down and have a read. Got any other signs that they missed but you’d love to share? That’s what the comment section is for, dear Pandas! Meanwhile, let’s check out these horror movie signs and pick out the most accurate ones.

I had a lovely and in-depth chat about the line between good and bad movies with redditor Thats_What_Sh3_Sa1d who is an aspiring filmmaker and who created the viral thread in the first place. They told Bored Panda that everyone's responses helped them get a sense of where quality does and doesn't lie.

"I wanted to create this thread because I want to make movies myself, and I thought that if I could get some of Reddit's opinions on what makes a bad movie, then I could get a better sense as to what makes a good one. I had wanted to get at least a little bit of attention so I can get some answers to what makes a bad movie, but I didn't expect this much attention," they shared. You'll find our full interview with the original poster below, so be sure to read on.

#1

Man in dark coat eating snacks in a dimly lit tunnel, illustrating signs a movie is going to be terrible. When you've basically seen the entire plot of the movie and all main scenes in the trailer.

Aerionne Report

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    #2

    Children and a person in a cat costume sitting on a green couch, illustrating signs that a movie is going to be terrible. If there are multiple trailers for a comedy movie, but they use the same joke in all of them.

    square3481 Report

    #3

    Actor Steven Seagal wearing glasses and a black jacket, holding a phone to his ear in a dimly lit room showing signs of a terrible movie. Critics did not receive an advance screening in order to write a review. It means the studio is hoping to at least recover an opening weekend of ticket sales before word gets out.

    cyrano111 Report

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    #4

    Harley Quinn with colorful hair and a bat, representing signs a movie is going to be terrible with dark urban background. When they hype the movies soundtrack more than the film it’s self Ex. Suicide squad

    niick767 Report

    Data1001
    Community Member
    5 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Too many 'needle drops' like that in a trailer means they're trying to use music which you already have an emotional connection with, because the movie itself doesn't deliver on that.

    #5

    Collage of actors smiling in front of water and houses, illustrating signs that a movie is going to be terrible. The preview shows a girl who’s Just Too Focused On Career to find love going back to her small hometown for whatever reason.

    pamplemouss Report

    CalamityOne
    Community Member
    5 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And you've seen every appearing actor/actress in at least seven other Hallmark movies

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    #6

    Animated emoji character looking worried overlooking a cityscape at night, illustrating signs a movie is going to be terrible. If the whole synopsis is a terrible idea, like making a movie about emojis

    DJScrubatires Report

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    #7

    Man in a rescue helmet and uniform looking surprised, illustrating signs a movie is going to be terrible. If the character points out something that is blatantly obvious. IN A WORLD, WHERE ONE MAN, HAS TO SAVE THE WORLD. Man: ‘I have to save the world.’

    OnMeFone Report

    #8

    Two actors in a film scene, showing expressions that hint at signs a movie is going to be terrible. Blatantly bad re-casting to the point where you wonder if it would have been better to just drop the character (Mummy 3)

    ApexInTheRough Report

    #9

    Actor running in an urban setting, illustrating signs a movie is going to be terrible with an action scene background. When I can tell how it's going to end by just watching the trailer.

    uanod_m Report

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    #10

    Man in a pinstripe suit leaning back in chair with movie awards in background, illustrating signs a movie will be terrible. When the advertising is "[Famous movie] meets [Famous movie]"...

    Schezzi Report

    #11

    Aquaman, Mera, and Orm facing off in a dark, underwater scene, illustrating signs a movie is going to be terrible. An exposition in which one character explains everything that's going on to another character that should already know what is going on.

    xmrtypants Report

    #12

    Audience at a comedy club showing mixed reactions, illustrating signs a movie is going to be terrible. A comedian who hasn't been funny in ten years stars in it and plays multiple roles. (Looking at you Sandler, Murphy, and Myers)

    ApexInTheRough Report

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    #13

    Two actors sitting apart on a couch with serious expressions, illustrating signs a movie is going to be terrible. Starts with too much exposition: "Mary, just because you have a medical degree from Harvard, I'm still your older brother!"

    Morholt33 Report

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    #14

    Man climbing over a chain-link fence under a clear blue sky, illustrating signs a movie is going to be terrible. Shaky cam and quick cut editing. Jumping over a fence? 20 quick cuts. Take it or leave it.

    Speckfresser Report

    #15

    Actor in a sci-fi movie costume holding futuristic guns with two baby dolls, illustrating signs a movie is going to be terrible. "Get ready to see ____ back in action in the big screen!" This line is used in many bad movie trailers of old properties which are made into movies

    A_FamousNobody Report

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    #16

    Young man in a dark cloak looking concerned in a forest, illustrating signs a movie is going to be terrible. It's been in production for too long. There's always a reason, for a recent example; 'Chaos Walking'. It changed screenwriter, director and production company so many times over 10 years but was sold on it been "A Charlie Kauffman movie starring Daisy Ridley and Tom Holland". Kauffman left in 2013, Ridley and Holland filmed it over years due to so many reshoots and failed screenings. Then Lionsgate said the negative reviews were shocking to them.. Really??

    UndecidedLemon Report

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    #17

    Two military helicopters flying low over a beach and city, illustrating signs a movie is going to be terrible. When they need to save the world, but it's just America....

    Beukgevaar Report

    #18

    Man holding gun in dimly lit scene, illustrating common signs a movie is going to be terrible. It has anything to do with Steven Seagal.

    ApexInTheRough Report

    #19

    Close-up of a young lion cub with a serious expression, illustrating signs that a movie is going to be terrible. When it’s a Disney remake. Solid.

    jcastd Report

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    #20

    Couple walking outside a movie theater, illustrating signs a movie is going to be terrible, with urban background at night. It stars Amy Schumer.

    spaniel_rage Report

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    #21

    Shrek holding Puss in Boots in a forest, illustrating signs that a movie is going to be terrible according to people. If it's from the studio that brought you, "insert decent movie here". Dreamworks still milks Shrek.

    Wooden-Chocolate-730 Report

    #22

    Two people sitting at a counter in a dimly lit room, illustrating signs a movie is going to be terrible. ANY movie made that stars Melissa Mccarthy where it happens to also be directed by her husband. She is incredibly funny and extremely talented as is he when they're acting. But when he's in the director's chair, It always spells out "doomed-to-fail."

    cinemagamer Report

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    #23

    Man in cowboy outfit sitting outdoors amid dry branches, illustrating signs a movie is going to be terrible. If Adam Sandler is in it.

    ElanEclat Report