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On The Table Read Magazine, “the best entertainment eBook magazine UK“, we’ve checked out research into the most confusing movies of the 2020s so far that film fans want explaining… and possible answers to the questions you have.
Have you ever watched a movie and walked away scratching your head, wondering what it all meant? The 2020s have brought us a wave of films that defy easy categorization, leaving audiences perplexed and intrigued. From mind-bending sci-fi to thought-provoking dramas, these movies have sparked countless debates and theories.
In this blog post, we are checking out research from movie buffs at RANT Casino who analysed monthly Google searches from around the globe to determine just how many people are taking to Google after the credits roll for an explanation of what on earth just happened. To do this, they investigated the number of people searching for ‘(movie name) explained’ and ‘ending explained’ to determine which movies of the past few years have left us the most confused.
So, grab your popcorn, settle in, and let’s unravel the mysteries of these mind-bending movies together. Warning, there are some major spoilers ahead!
The Most Confusing Movies Of The 2020s
Movie | Year | ‘Explained’ Monthly Searches (Global) |
Saltburn | 2023 | 61,300 |
No One Will Save You | 2023 | 32,000 |
Oppenheimer | 2023 | 22,900 |
The Menu | 2022 | 15,500 |
Barbie | 2023 | 6,800 |
The Whale | 2022 | 2,800 |
Babylon | 2022 | 900 |
The Fallout | 2022 | 450 |
Knives Out: Glass Onion | 2022 | 400 |
White Noise | 2022 | 110 |
Saltburn (2023) Explained – 61,300 Monthly Searches
Released in 2023, Saltburn quickly sparked heated debates among viewers. This darkly comedic drama, starring Barry Keoghan and Jacob Elordi, delves into the world of the wealthy and privileged, offering a scathing satire of their excesses.
The film’s intricate plot revolves around a complex friendship between the two main characters. While some viewers saw Saltburn as a well-crafted exploration of class and privilege, others perceived it as a biting critique of the wealthy elite.
The film’s shocking twist reveals the friendship to be a carefully orchestrated facade. Ollie, driven by his obsession with Felix, murders the entire Catton family to become the heir to the Saltburn estate. However, the fate of Felix remains ambiguous.
Fan theories suggest that Ollie poisoned Felix using a lethal dose of Farleigh’s cocaine. This theory aligns with Ollie’s calculated nature and his willingness to exploit others to achieve his goals. However, the film leaves some ambiguity, allowing viewers to draw their own conclusions.
Regardless of your interpretation, Saltburn is a thought-provoking and entertaining film that will leave you pondering its complex themes and characters long after the credits roll.
No One Will Save You (2023) Explained – 32k Monthly Searches
Brian Duffield’s No One Will Save You has captured the imagination of audiences and sparked countless online discussions. This thought-provoking horror-sci-fi film offers a twisty ending that has left many viewers scratching their heads.
In an interview, Duffield revealed his intention to keep the audience guessing, stating, “I wanted to play fair, but at the same time, I wanted Reddit to have fun.” The film’s finale presents a surprising twist, leaving viewers questioning the true nature of the alien invasion and the fate of the main character, Brynn.
The film concludes with Brynn alive and free from alien control, while everyone else in her hometown has fallen under their influence. Brynn is shown dancing and smiling, seemingly content and at peace. However, this ending raises numerous questions about the nature of the aliens’ intentions, the true extent of their control, and the possibility of a larger cosmic conspiracy.
Some believe that Brynn’s unique connection to the aliens allows her to resist their control and potentially defeat them. It’s possible that the aliens are using the invasion to observe and study human behavior, with Brynn being a key subject in their experiment. Some viewers believe that the entire film is a dream or hallucination experienced by Brynn, leaving the true nature of the events unclear.
No One Will Save You is a film that rewards repeat viewings, allowing audiences to uncover new clues and theories with each watch. Its ambiguous ending ensures that the debate about the film’s true meaning will continue for years to come.
Oppenheimer (2023) Explained – 22,900 Monthly Searches
Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer is a thought-provoking biographical drama that delves into the life and legacy of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the physicist who led the Manhattan Project and played a pivotal role in the development of the atomic bomb. The film explores the moral and ethical dilemmas faced by Oppenheimer and the scientific community during World War II.
The film’s ending is intentionally ambiguous, leaving viewers with several unanswered questions. The final shot, depicting a mushroom cloud rising over a city, suggests that Oppenheimer’s creation may have inadvertently set the stage for the destruction of the world through nuclear war.
Fan theories about the film’s ending vary widely. Some believe that the final shot is a literal representation of the future, implying that the atomic bomb will ultimately lead to the destruction of Earth. Others interpret the shot as a metaphor for the destructive potential of human ambition and the consequences of scientific advancements.
Some argue that the ending is a warning about the dangers of nuclear weapons, while others suggest that it is a commentary on the inevitability of human progress and its potential consequences. The film’s open-ended conclusion encourages audiences to contemplate the profound implications of Oppenheimer’s work and the enduring legacy of the atomic bomb.
Oppenheimer is a powerful and thought-provoking film that sparks important conversations about morality, ethics, and the consequences of scientific progress. Its ambiguous ending ensures that the debate about the film’s meaning will continue for years to come.
The Menu (2022) Explained – 15.5k Monthly Searches
Mark Mylod’s The Menu is a chilling horror-mystery that offers a scathing critique of the excesses of the wealthy and privileged. Starring Ralph Fiennes as a renowned chef, the film delves into the dark underbelly of the fine dining industry.
The film’s ending is intentionally ambiguous, leaving viewers with numerous questions and theories. While the protagonist, Margot, is spared from the chef’s deadly intentions, some fans have speculated that she may not have escaped unscathed.
One prominent theory suggests that Margot was poisoned by a cheeseburger. This theory is supported by several clues throughout the film, including Margot’s aversion to the cheeseburger and her subsequent discomfort and illness. While the film does not explicitly confirm this theory, it adds a layer of ambiguity and darkness to the ending.
The Menu is a thought-provoking and disturbing film that explores themes of class, power, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. Its ambiguous ending ensures that the debate about the film’s true meaning will continue for years to come.
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