8 Times Movies Totally Fooled Us Into Believing Nonsense

Movies have a way of shaping how we see the world — but not everything on screen matches reality. Over time, certain myths have become so common in films that we start to believe them ourselves. So, we’ve decided to call out some of the most stubborn movie clichés that keep getting recycled and continue to annoy audiences everywhere.

1. You can wear light clothing in the desert.

In The Mummy, Evelyn gets ready to cross the desert on a camel and chooses clothes made from light, see-through fabrics. But such outfits are completely useless in desert conditions. It’s weird that her companions say nothing about it. In reality, Evelyn should have chosen clothes made from breathable, natural fabrics, as they absorb moisture and dry quickly, like a wide-brimmed hat, a scarf, and sunglasses.

2. You can keep someone from falling by holding onto their hand.

In blockbusters, characters often keep a person from falling by grabbing their hand at the last moment. There are even scenes where a person is in the middle of the fall but are still caught by their hand. In real life, this might result in serious injuries or even lethal outcomes for both people involved.

3. Walking through a jungle is like walking in the park.

Actors usually look so beautiful in movies while walking through jungles. But in reality, seasoned hikers find this experience rather brutal.

The humidity is so bad that it drenches you to the bone, and there’s no escaping it. Being under a jungle canopy is like being in a pressure cooker. The heat and humidity beat you down harder than any other environment. There are also swarms of biting bugs, from never-ending mosquitoes and giant spiders to ticks jumping on you from everywhere, along with colonies of aggressive fire ants.

4. Water that comes from sprinkler systems is crystal clear.

Scenes with fire alarms going off and filling rooms with falling water coming from a sprinkler system are quite common in thrillers. But according to Internet users, this water should be dirty and smell bad. But movie characters don’t even cringe, as if they’re just caught in some nice summer rain — and their clothes remain clean too.

5. Secret agents lead luxurious lifestyles.

Popular flicks, like the ones featuring the character of James Bond or the Mission Impossible film series, often show secret agents as very wealthy people who can buy anything they want, drive expensive cars, and don’t even try to blend with the crowd. But in reality, everything is completely opposite, as secret agents have to look like everyone else and be almost invisible.

6. Back scabbards are normal.

In The Witcher series and many other Medieval movies, heroes often wear back scabbards. In reality, it’s very impractical because by trying to resheath something very sharp, you can easily stab yourself in the shoulder.

7. Female spies look like top models.

In movies, female spies always look like supermodels, sporting gorgeous dresses and impeccable hairdos. Perhaps this portrayal of female secret agents was inspired by Mata Hari, and it’s stuck with moviemakers ever since.

8. Women often wore tight, uncomfortable corsets that made it difficult for them to breathe.

We often imagine that women of the past spent their lives tightly bound in corsets. Countless films set in the 18th and 19th centuries show scenes of lacing and tightening, and many historical paintings portray women wearing these restrictive garments.

In truth, wearing a corset wasn’t an absolute requirement. Women from all social classes could choose to leave it off — whether at home or even in public — if they found it uncomfortable or simply preferred not to wear it.

Don’t miss our other article uncovering the myths that movies have made us believe about Ancient Egypt.