20 Movie & TV Tropes That Make People Immediately Lose Interest

There are some common movie tropes that everyone has had enough of. From the bumbling nerdy girl who suddenly blooms into a beauty to the ex-cop that has to come out of retirement to save the day, some plot lines have grown predictably tiresome. So when one user brought it up, Redditors gathered to call out the movie and TV tropes that cause them to lose interest and we’ve shared a few of the more popular themes below. 

#1

Image source: Veldora12

Refuses to solve the problem because one person may die so instead they risk the lives of millions

#2

Image source: gin_a

They can’t figure out how to give their female characters depth without falling back on some kind of rape/sexual assault.

#3

Image source: Altruistic_Dust123

All the men are diverse in age and attractiveness, and the two to three total women are twenty-something bombshells.

#4

The fat “comedic relief” character.

Image source: MandaMoo

#5

Image source: Pyrochazm

“If I kill him I’m no better than him”

Motgerfucker you just smoked 19 of his henchmen and put 5 more in a wheelchair for life, end his a*s.

And of course the bad guy gets let go, but decides at the last second to try to kill the good guy, justifying a bullet between the eyes, usually by either the good guys sidekick, or the bad guys henchmen that he just got done betraying.

#6

Image source: BeatMeElmo

I can’t stand seeing specialists being cast as masters of multiple highly specialized skill sets or areas of study. I understand that it’s a popular action movie trope, but you also see this in the medical and academic fields.

#7

Image source: robotmonkeyshark

Faked reactions by judges on America’s Got Talent.

You have the magician who is clearly intentionally fumbling around and messing up the trick. Even a 3 year old can see it is an act, but the judges are sitting there faking disgust that they can’t believe this talentless hack made it to the live show.

Or you have a stage magician with some very basic illusions yet the judges act like this guy has actual magic powers and cant even conceive of how it might be a staged illusion.

They are supposed to be experts in performing arts, have some class and act like it.

#8

Image source: MrMToomey

“Will they won’t they”. I liked watching New Girl, but when they completely restarted the main characters’ relationship I was like, “Oh, so it’s going to be like that.”

Dear producers,

Please let your characters grow.

#9

Image source: Beginning-Match592

Something that can be fixed right away with just a conversation

#10

Image source: Aerhart941

“Wait! I can explain this very obvious and easy to explain scenario”

“Nope. You’re dead to me. Now stare speechless as I’m meander my way out of your life slowly.”

#11

Image source: Joham22

She was a busy business lady that only had time for business. He was some jackass womanizer with chlamydia. Will these two incompatible people go through a series of unlikely events, fall in love, have some minor misunderstanding, then get together in the last few minutes? Find out this fall

#12

Uptight woman, subversive insubordinate man, they hate each other… but there’s sexual tension.

F**k all of that, it just encourages creeps.

You’re not dangerous and different Rodney, you’re just a loud, incompetent d**k.

I don’t love/hate you I just hate you.

We will not end up together, and it you keep bothering me ~~my foot is going to end up kicking your a**e~~ I will contact HR

Image source: Sherpa2730

#13

Image source: SeaTie

The main character bakes muffins part-time 3 days a week but lives in a 2500 sq ft loft penthouse in the chic part of town.

#14

Image source: The_Spyre

The ex-cop/FBI agent that comes out of retirement because the entire government can’t catch a criminal.

#15

Image source: spill_oreilly

Being mildly impacted by lethal injuries. Likewise, when in subfreezing temperatures, not succumbing to hypothermia when soaking wet. Not always enough to shut it off, but it always stands out and strains the illusion.

#16

Image source: Jimbo19091

The main character is about to get killed. The antagonist is sitting there pointing a gun at them about to shoot them, but they first have to give a 30 second speech. This gives the love interest/forgotten side kick/child with developing fighting skills to come kill the enemy instead. Follow it up with a quote from them saying “you think I’d miss this party?”.

#17

Image source: mailordermonster

Cop with family problems. Yeah, we get it. The job’s soo important that they’ve sacrificed family time and regret it. And now they want to be the parent they failed to be in the past, but… this new case is so important.

#18

Controversial, but shows/movies that rely on awkwardness, like the Office or Elf. I get terrible second hand embarrassment and I just can’t.

Image source: SolutionsNotIdeology

#19

Pregnancy plotline!

I don’t care who it is, or even if I love the show. I stop watching. It’s sooo boring.

Image source: oneofyrfencegrls

#20

Image source: fieldsofjade

Fathers that are stupid/literally cannot parent for comedic value. The “useless dad” trope.