# Thanks for spoiling the movie for me! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 6, 2005, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-spoiling-the-movie-for-me/288612 "2005-02-06T04:26:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![AwSnappity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a3d4f5/32.png) [@AwSnappity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AwSnappity)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2005, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-spoiling-the-movie-for-me/288612/41 "2005-02-07T04:51:34Z")
> [@Aesiron](#): > > > [@chique](#): > > > > I once got hollered at for spoiling _American Beauty_ by telling someone that Kevin Spacey’s character died at the end.The person hollered at me for mentioning that one of the first lines in the opening monologue is Kevin Spacey’s character saying “So I’m dead”. > > Well, in all fairness, it’s easy to overlook or forget things like that if you get caught up in the story. I know the first time I read The Pit and the Pendulum, I got so wrapped up in it that the ending surprised me even though the beginning made it obvious. I can see the same happening for American Beauty very easily. That’s exactly how it was for me. Sure, he says that at the beginning, but there’s so much that happens in between the beginning and end that you forget about it. And, to be nitpick-y, this is what he actually says: This is my life. I’m 42 years old. In less than a year, I’ll be dead. Of course, I don’t know that yet…and in a way, I’m dead already. I thought I had _Lord of the Rings_ spoiled for me. I was waiting to see the third movie (I hadn’t read the books), and I overheard someone say “Isn’t it sad how Sam and Frodo die?” So I was waiting the entire movie for Sam and Frodo to die–and there were plenty of opportunities–but it never happened. In a way, I was almost sad. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2005, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-spoiling-the-movie-for-me/288612/42 "2005-02-07T05:11:50Z")
I’m currently reading the book [Middlesex](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0312422156/qid=1107753570/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-0250601-7760707?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) (which is the best written book I have read in years, incidentally). A few days ago, when I had just started (I’m literally on page 10 or so at the time) a waitress (who is also a college student) asked "Oh yeah, that’s the one about the hermaphrodite\* whose grandparents are really brother and sister I’ve been meaning to read that." Well, I didn’t know that little plot twist at the time, and while it’s revealed fairly early into the book (page 50-60 or so), it would have been nice to find out at the point the author wanted you to know it. A friend who didn’t realize I hadn’t seen _Fight Club_ casually spoiled it by saying "This is one of those Fight Club type things where you’ll find out later he just completely imagined the whole thing and the other person is a figment of his imagination Does anybody remember a thousand years ago when Roger Ebert literally looked like he was going to have a stroke as he cursed out Gene Shalit for giving away the twist of _The Crying Game_? (The cool thing about that movie is that I’ve recommended it to college kids I’ve worked with and enough time has passed that they have no idea what the secret is. \*That part is not a spoiler- it’s in the first paragraph. ---
**Author:** ![AwSnappity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a3d4f5/32.png) [@AwSnappity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AwSnappity)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2005, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-spoiling-the-movie-for-me/288612/43 "2005-02-07T05:18:09Z")
Ah, **Sampiro** just reminded me. (Mild spoilers for _Demian_ by Herman Hesse and _Fight Club_ follow) We were reading _Demian_ in my HS English class, and discussing whether Frau Eva and Demian were just figments of Emil Sinclair’s imagination. A bunch of students told our teacher that this was just like _Fight Club_. The teacher hadn’t seen it, and neither had I. So when I finally got around to watching it several years later, I knew exactly what to expect. That kind of angered me. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2005, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-spoiling-the-movie-for-me/288612/44 "2005-02-07T05:20:00Z")
I’m sure many people (including myself) _do_ know how it ends, but I just have to butt in to mention those geniuses at 20th Century Fox and their choice for cover art for the DVD edition of the original 1968 _Planet of the Apes_. Damn them! Damn them all to hell! ---
**Author:** ![Talon\_Karrde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Talon\_Karrde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Talon_Karrde)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2005, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-spoiling-the-movie-for-me/288612/45 "2005-02-07T05:24:51Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > Seriously, though… hasn’t the fucking “split personality” twist ending been done A LOT, and even a lot RECENTLY? For instance, it plays into the end of Fight Club, and that movie set at a motel with John Cusack, and the Johnny Depp movie out last year. Is anyone really entertained by yet anothe fucking split-personality twist ending? I’d thank the waitress for saving me from seeing a wretched movie and seen something else, like Sideways. I hope it wasn’t Secret Window you were talking about, otherwise you just spoiled it for me! I was gonna watch it this week too! :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2005, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-spoiling-the-movie-for-me/288612/46 "2005-02-07T05:31:50Z")
> [@AwSnappity](#): > > Ah, **Sampiro** just reminded me. (Mild spoilers for _Demian_ by Herman Hesse and _Fight Club_ follow) > > We were reading _Demian_ in my HS English class, and discussing whether Frau Eva and Demian were just figments of Emil Sinclair’s imagination. A bunch of students told our teacher that this was just like _Fight Club_. The teacher hadn’t seen it, and neither had I. So when I finally got around to watching it several years later, I knew exactly what to expect. That kind of angered me. How many years are people supposed to wait before they can talk about a movie? ---
**Author:** ![VampyChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5daacb/32.png) [@VampyChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VampyChick)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2005, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-spoiling-the-movie-for-me/288612/47 "2005-02-07T05:43:46Z")
> [@Talon Karrde](#): > > I hope it wasn’t Secret Window you were talking about, otherwise you just spoiled it for me! I was gonna watch it this week too! > > :mad: Well then, you shouldn’t have clicked the spoiler box, should you? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![AwSnappity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a3d4f5/32.png) [@AwSnappity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AwSnappity)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2005, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-spoiling-the-movie-for-me/288612/48 "2005-02-07T06:55:17Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > How many years are people supposed to wait before they can talk about a movie? _Fight Club_ came out in 1999; I was in that English class in 2002. I’d say three years is still cutting it kind of close. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2005, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-spoiling-the-movie-for-me/288612/49 "2005-02-07T07:13:41Z")
I’d say one year is plenty. I’m not going to go around in fear of talking about movies that came out three years ago because some dickwad doesn’t want me to “spoil” something he may or may not see in some indefinitie future. Life is too short to worry about shit like that. Move it or lose it, people. If you haven’t seen the movie after six months or a year then live with the consequences of people spoiling it for you. Really, why is it a big deal anyway? Is anyone’s life really so damaged because somebody told them that the chick in _The Crying game_ has a cock or that Soylent Green is people? There are worse things that could happen to you. Three years after a movie comes out is a ridiculous amount of time to get pissy because somebody talks about the ending in a class. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2005, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-spoiling-the-movie-for-me/288612/50 "2005-02-07T07:43:55Z")
> [@CynicalGabe](#): > > Those three words ruined the whole thing for me, cause I figured out in the first 5 minutes what was going on. > > The Real Three Words: “It’s present day” Y’know…I’m always shocked that this is supposed to be a twist. First time I saw a preview I figured that was supposed to be obvious. To the point where whenever I got around to watching it, I was expecting that, or some variant, to be on screen in the opening shots. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lodoen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b3f665/32.png) [@Jeff\_Lodoen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lodoen)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2005, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-spoiling-the-movie-for-me/288612/51 "2005-02-07T09:20:36Z")
> [@AwSnappity](#): > > _Fight Club_ came out in 1999; I was in that English class in 2002. I’d say three years is still cutting it kind of close. Are you serious? ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2005, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-spoiling-the-movie-for-me/288612/52 "2005-02-07T12:42:29Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > …Soylent Green is people? You bastard! ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2005, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-spoiling-the-movie-for-me/288612/53 "2005-02-07T12:48:06Z")
It’s funny that you should mention _Sideways_ **cricetus** , because those were our two options, and we went with _Hide and Seek_ because I think it’s better to see a scary or suspenseful movie in the theater, where you can feed off of other people’s nervous energy. _Sideways_, on the other hand, I will want to enjoy without being distracted by corn and cup noises or talking. Apart from that, my wife hadn’t taken note of the spoiler from the waitress, so she was still interested in seeing _Hide and Seek_. ---
**Author:** ![AwSnappity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a3d4f5/32.png) [@AwSnappity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AwSnappity)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2005, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-spoiling-the-movie-for-me/288612/54 "2005-02-07T13:52:06Z")
Yup, cause it’s totally possible to see every single movie that comes out within the year that it came out. I didn’t go psycho on the people who spoiled the ending. I didn’t even say anything to them. But it was definitely a disappointment to have the ending spoiled. Plus, the people in my class were recommending the movie to someone who hadn’t seen it before (the teacher). It’s pretty stupid to give away the twist to someone who you **know** hasn’t seen the movie. **Sampiro** mentions that he still recommends _The Crying Game_ to people who don’t know what the twist is. So obviously there are people who haven’t seen it even though it came out 13 years ago. And does **Sampiro** say, “You’ll love it! There’s this big secret, and you’ll totally recognize and empathize with the gender-confusion issues…” and blah blah blah (I haven’t actually seen the movie). My guess is no. So life’s too short to be worried about getting movies spoiled, but on the other hand what good does it do you to spoil a movie? How hard is it to ask, “Have you seen \_\_\_\_\_?” before you start in any conversation regarding the twists and the ending? (Hint: it’s not hard at all! In fact, I do it all the time!) ---
**Author:** ![Elret](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Elret](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elret)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2005, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-spoiling-the-movie-for-me/288612/55 "2005-02-07T14:50:26Z")
I think it’s really just so easy to inadvertantly do, though. For example, Hide & Seek was spoiled for me by reading this thread, even though I didn’t click on any spoiler boxes. One person said the OP’s spoiler box said the waitress said something about Robert DeNiro, and another person later said something about the waitress not being _certain_ he was the bad guy, and poof, it seemed instantly obvious to me that the original spoiler box said something along the lines of “Robert DeNiro is the bad guy” It’s too bad, and I didn’t really wanna know, but I totally see how people don’t realize how what they’re saying might be taken. I don’t think many people do it on purpose. ---
**Author:** ![Lynne\_kilii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lynne\_kilii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynne_kilii)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2005, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-spoiling-the-movie-for-me/288612/56 "2005-02-07T16:13:18Z")
Does someone want to spoil the Village for me? I don’t even know what the plot was supposed to be, but I don’t really care to go see it either… ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2005, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-spoiling-the-movie-for-me/288612/57 "2005-02-07T16:31:16Z")
> [@Elret](#): > > I think it’s really just so easy to inadvertantly do, though. For example, Hide & Seek was spoiled for me by reading this thread, even though I didn’t click on any spoiler boxes. One person said the OP’s spoiler box said the waitress said something about Robert DeNiro, and another person later said something about the waitress not being _certain_ he was the bad guy, and poof, it seemed instantly obvious to me that the original spoiler box said something along the lines of “Robert DeNiro is the bad guy” > It’s too bad, and I didn’t really wanna know, but I totally see how people don’t realize how what they’re saying might be taken. I don’t think many people do it on purpose. I am sorry that happened. Could a moderator please change the thread title to: “Thanks for spoiling Hide and Seek for me! [unboxed spoilers]” or some such? ---
**Author:** ![Elret](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Elret](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elret)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2005, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-spoiling-the-movie-for-me/288612/58 "2005-02-07T17:31:37Z")
> [@Hentor the Barbarian](#): > > I am sorry that happened. Aw, no worries, it’s no big deal. I just meant to say I feel your pain, but I feel for the waitress too, in a way. It does suck to have a surprise spoiled, but at the same time I can see how tricky it can be to discuss a movie without accidentally giving something away. Could even be that you don’t say anything that would give it away, and the person you’re talking to heard something from someone else who also didn’t give anything away, but if they are super extra clever like we all are here, then they can Sherlock Holmes their way to the answer. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ethanwinfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/96bed5/32.png) [@ethanwinfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ethanwinfield)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-spoiling-the-movie-for-me/288612/59 "2005-02-08T00:13:22Z")
Why do people feel the need to spoil things? Here on the west coast, we don’t get to see “live” shows. Last April I was checking in on one of my message boards and a troll had posted 50 threads all with the title “Bill wins!” (I’m not going to bother putting that in a spoiler box. If you cared at all, you would already know who Bill is and that he won. If you didn’t care, you shouldn’t care that I “spoiled” it for you.) The entire first page was one solid “Bill wins!” I must admit, I am guilty of the accidental spoil. I saw _Forrest Gump_ the day it came out. As we were leaving I said, That was so sad when she died at the end. My date looked at me and pointed to all the people standing against the wall waiting for the next showing. He explained to me that I just spoiled it for all of them. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Sleel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/73ab20/32.png) [@Sleel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleel)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-spoiling-the-movie-for-me/288612/60 "2005-02-08T06:40:11Z")
I’m not sure why people think that knowing the ending of something “spoils” it for them. Everyone for the last 400 years has known how **Romeo and Juliet** ends, but you can still enjoy watching the play. Aside from a murder mystery, where you’re presumably able to figure out who did it from the evidence at hand, a twist ending is often arbitrary if it’s to be kept truly secret. I hate arbitrary surprises with no real reason for them; it’s a sign of a true hack. More than half the enjoyment in watching a movie or reading a book is the experience. That’s why we like watching re-makes, or why one person’s version of a story is more valued than another’s. If a movie is ruined by knowing what happens in the end, it’s a shitty movie. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-spoiling-the-movie-for-me/288612.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-spoiling-the-movie-for-me/288612.md?page=4)