Buzz
We all love a good movie. After all, they take us on thrilling journeys, tug at our emotions, and some even suggest that films are secretly implanting hidden messages in our minds. At least that’s what some theorists argue. Since the heyday of Hollywood’s Golden Age, conspiracy buffs have been claiming that films are filled with sinister figures, mysterious deaths, and Illuminati brainwashing.
10. Randy Quaid and The Star Whackers
According to Randy Quaid, Hollywood’s Star Whackers are a dangerous group responsible for one of the industry’s darkest conspiracies. The Golden Globe winner and his wife, Evi, believe there’s a secret organization plotting to kill A-list celebrities. Quaid alleges that the Whackers were behind the deaths of stars like Michael Jackson, David Carradine, Heath Ledger, and Chris Penn. They framed Mel Gibson and Robert Blake (famous actor), and could also be targeting Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan. The Quaids claim that the reason for these killings is simple: Hollywood producers are tired of paying top dollar to their big stars, so they hired the Whackers to eliminate the famous faces, paving the way for cheaper, lesser-known talent.
The most glaring flaw in Quaid’s conspiracy theory is that Randy has never quite been what you would call a “star.” Additionally, Santa Barbara District Attorney Anthony Davis believes the entire narrative is just a strange attempt to dodge some serious legal charges. The Quaids have faced multiple arrests for crimes such as breaking and entering, squatting, burglary, and property damage. To avoid facing consequences (or the Star Whackers, depending on your perspective), the Quaids fled to Canada. However, as of January 2013, Randy found it difficult to apply for permanent resident status, likely because Canada didn’t want to deal with his eccentricities. Or perhaps they just didn’t want to get involved with the Star Whackers.
9. The Clark Gable Cover-Up
In the 1930s and 1940s, Clark Gable was the undisputed King of Hollywood. As one of MGM’s top stars, Gable won an Academy Award for his performance in *It Happened One Night* and achieved eternal fame with *Gone with the Wind*. Despite his box office success, Gable struggled with heavy drinking. After a wild night of drinking in 1942, he ended up with his car wrapped around a tree on Sunset Boulevard. Fortunately for Gable, MGM’s representatives arrived before the press could, whisking him off to the hospital where he sobered up.
In an attempt to cover up the incident, MGM told the media that Gable had been forced off the road by another vehicle. While most people didn’t buy the story, whispers began circulating about the true events of that night. One of the wildest theories suggested that a drunken Gable had accidentally run over an unfortunate woman. Fearing the consequences of Gable going to prison for manslaughter, MGM’s head, Louis B. Mayer, allegedly struck a deal with a lower-level studio executive. In exchange for taking the fall for the woman’s death, the executive would receive a lifetime job at MGM and a generous pay increase. The tale goes that the executive served a year behind bars, while Gable continued his acting career without interruption.
8. Errol Flynn Was A Nazi Spy
Errol Flynn was Hollywood’s quintessential action hero, known for his roles in classics like *The Adventures of Robin Hood* and for his notorious, extravagant lifestyle. Originally from Australia, Flynn became a naturalized American citizen just before World War II, but when he tried to enlist, he was rejected due to his poor health. Instead of joining the military, Flynn, who was anti-fascist, made war-themed films such as *Objective, Burma!* and *Desperate Journey*.
However, biographer Charles Higham raises doubts about Flynn’s true loyalties. He argues that Flynn was, in fact, a Nazi agent. Higham highlights Flynn’s close friendship with Nazi doctor Hermann Erben as evidence. He also uncovered a letter Flynn wrote to Erben in which the actor used the derogatory term “slimy Jews.” Higham further claimed that Flynn secretly met with Hitler, used his celebrity status to spy on German communists, and even filmed his 1941 movie *Dive Bomber* on a California naval base, supposedly to give the Japanese a glimpse of American military defenses.
This theory takes an intriguing turn when a professor from the University of Ulster discovered a letter from Flynn to the OSS in which Flynn offered to become a spy. He proposed leveraging his family connections in the Irish Republic to assist the Allies. However, President Franklin D. Roosevelt rejected the offer, likely because even FDR had heard the rumors about Flynn’s Nazi ties and didn’t want to take the risk.
7. Snow White Is About Cocaine
The Walt Disney Company has been at the heart of many conspiracy theories, many of which revolve around the idea of *sexualizing children*. However, some claim that Walt Disney had another agenda in mind with *Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs*, and that he actually intended the animated classic to subtly portray the effects of cocaine. The primary piece of “evidence” for this theory lies in the names of the characters: Snow White is said to be a slang term for cocaine, and the dwarfs’ names allegedly correspond to different stages of addiction. First, the user feels happy, followed by sneezing. Next, they become sleepy, then possibly depressed or ful. Eventually, they act dopey and end up needing medical attention.
Unsurprisingly, there is no concrete proof to support these allegations. No one who worked with Walt Disney has ever suggested that he or his team used recreational drugs. Moreover, *Snow White* debuted in 1937, a time when alcohol was far more popular than cocaine. So perhaps *Dumbo* was part of a conspiracy to encourage children to grow up as alcoholics. (Though anyone who watched that infamous pink elephant scene might have sworn off drinking for good.)
6. Bruce and Brandon Lee Were Murdered
Bruce Lee, celebrated as the most legendary martial artist in cinematic history, tragically passed away from a cerebral edema at the age of 32. His death came just before his film *Enter the Dragon* achieved worldwide acclaim. In a heartbreaking twist, his son Brandon died 20 years later during the filming of *The Crow*. A prop gun malfunction led to Brandon being fatally shot by a fragment of a dummy round lodged in the barrel.
It’s no surprise that the deaths of the Lee family continue to generate controversy. Their untimely and mysterious passings, especially with their strong family connection and the fact that they died before the release of their most iconic films, have fostered conspiracy theories.
There are two prevailing theories regarding the deaths of the Lees. The first claims that the Chinese Mafia killed Bruce for sharing martial arts secrets with the world. Following Bruce’s death, his son Brandon, who continued his father’s legacy, was allegedly targeted and eliminated as well.
The second major theory involves the Triads, a notorious group of gangsters tied to the Chinese film industry. The theory suggests that the Triads had hoped Bruce Lee would star in their films, but when he turned them down, they took his life. Because gangsters are known to hold grudges, they are believed to have also killed Brandon in retaliation.
5. The Dark Knight Rises is quite somber and ominous.
The film The Dark Knight Rises will forever be associated with the tragic shooting in Aurora, Colorado. Yet, some conspiracy theorists suggest that Christopher Nolan's final Batman installment unintentionally predicted James Holmes’s violent act, as well as the Sandy Hook tragedy.
Just days after Adam Lanza's massacre, YouTube conspiracy theorist “Dahboo7” released a video claiming that The Dark Knight Rises subtly hinted at a government cover-up. Dahboo7 pointed out a skyscraper in the movie featuring a sign that reads “Aurora.” Later, Commissioner Gordon (Gary Oldman) views a map of Gotham with the words “Sandy Hook” at the bottom-left corner. What does this mean? According to Alex Jones's Infowars, the film was an early indicator of these horrific events, with the shootings themselves possibly being ritual sacrifices.
This theory is undeniably unsettling, but pausing Dahboo7’s video reveals more: the Aurora Tower is adorned with Chinese characters, despite the fact that no scenes in The Dark Knight Rises occur in China. However, another conspiracy site points out that the trailer for Skyfall also features a tower labeled 'Aurora,' which does take place in China. Is this video genuine, or is there a more sinister connection, possibly involving Daniel Craig?
4. The Patriot Is A Message for Right-Wing Politics
While most film-based conspiracy theories focus on hidden Illuminati symbols or satanic undertones, Uri Dowbenko, author of Hoodwinked: Watching Movies with Eyes Wide Open, offers a completely different perspective on The Patriot. Rather than suggesting the film contains a secret evil message, Dowbenko argues that Roland Emmerich’s 2000 war epic is actually a direct warning from Mel Gibson to Big Brother.
The Patriot tells the story of Benjamin Martin, played by Gibson, a man of peace who is compelled to fight in the American Revolution after British soldiers murder his son. With a musket and a hatchet in hand, Martin wages a guerrilla war against the redcoats. Dowbenko interprets this struggle as a metaphor for what might happen if the government attempts to disarm the American people. He even suggests that the British soldiers' killing of innocent Americans represents tragedies like the Waco siege. In essence, The Patriot serves as a warning, signaling that the American public will not stand idly by while the Illuminati seizes control. As Mel Gibson once said in another film, they can take your lives, but they’ll never take your freedom.
3. The Shining is About the Apollo 11 Moon Landings
Some folks say that Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining is about a lot more than just a guy with bad parenting skills. Some claim it’s really about the Holocaust, while others say that Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) is really a Minotaur. However, the craziest theory comes from the mind of Jay Weidner. According to Mr. Weidner, The Shining is really about how Stanley Kubrick faked the Apollo moon landings. It’s a conspiracy theory about a conspiracy theory!
The story goes that the American government asked Kubrick to fake the Apollo 11 moon landings in order to intimidate the Soviet Union. After filming Neil Armstrong moonwalk across a Hollywood set, Kubrick realized he’d become an expendable accessory and was now in danger. So to protect himself and his family, he filled The Shining with clues about the conspiracy. For example, Jack Torrance agrees to watch over the Overlook Hotel during the winter just like Kubrick agreed to help America during the Cold War.
Also, The Shining is based on a Stephen King novel. In King’s book, the infamous haunted room is number 217. However, in the film, it’s room 237. Why did Kubrick change the number? Because the distance from the Earth to the moon is 237,000 miles! Actually, the distance is really 238,857, but we’re rounding down here for some reason.
Weidner also claims that the creepy guy in a bear suit (it’s actually a dog) represents Soviet Russia, and he notes that Danny Torrance is wearing an Apollo 11 sweater. Finally, the phrase “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” is really a code. The word “all” is really “A11” which is short for Apollo 11. There’s so much evidence here it points to just one thing: that Jay Weidner has seen The Shining way too many times.
2. Cannibal Holocaust Was A Snuff Film
Conspiracy theories, often confined to the depths of internet forums, YouTube videos, and late-night TV, sometimes spill over into the real world, causing genuine consequences. A prime example is the prosecution of Ruggero Deodato for his involvement in creating *Cannibal Holocaust*. This film is notorious for its graphic depictions of violence, including torture, gang rape, and castration. Most controversially, it features the actual killing of animals such as a monkey, pig, and turtle. This makes it a far cry from family-friendly fare.
Following its release, the Italian government seized *Cannibal Holocaust* and arrested Deodato on obscenity charges. But the issue went deeper than just creating a violent film. The movie includes a scene where a woman is impaled on a stake, and the special effects were so convincing that Deodato was accused of actually murdering his actors. To prove his innocence, he brought one of the supposedly 'dead' actors to court and explained the impalement scene, where the actress had sat on a bicycle seat attached to a pole, holding a piece of wood in her mouth. Satisfied, the court cleared him, but the film itself was banned in nearly 40 countries. Despite this, *Cannibal Holocaust* went on to influence directors like Quentin Tarantino and played a key role in popularizing the found-footage horror genre.
1. Labyrinth Explores Themes of Mind Control
Between 1953 and 1975, the U.S. government ran the infamous MK-ULTRA project, which experimented with mind control. If such things were done once, could they be happening again? Enter Monarch Programming. Named after the transformation of a butterfly, Monarch Programming allegedly creates brainwashed individuals, or 'sleepers,' using extreme methods of torture. Secret agencies supposedly use these techniques to manipulate and control individuals like Sirhan Sirhan. But the mind control isn’t all physical—conspiracy theorists argue that movies, like *Labyrinth*, play a key role in influencing these victims' minds.
*Labyrinth* tells the story of Sarah (played by Jennifer Connelly), a young girl who journeys through a perilous maze to rescue her baby brother from the clutches of Jareth the Goblin King (played by David Bowie). According to conspiracy theorists, Sarah’s kidnapped brother represents her 'core persona,' controlled by her handler. Her trek through the labyrinth symbolizes her 'programming.' Along her way, Sarah encounters traumatic challenges designed to break her will, including the Fire Gang, a group of monstrous creatures who aim to tear her apart. This represents a slave’s 'dissociation from reality.' Later, she must wade through the bog of 'Eternal Stench,' a swamp that allegedly symbolizes the cruel practice of dunking slaves in filth. After eating an enchanted peach (a clear symbol of drug use), Sarah imagines herself at a masquerade ball, only escaping by shattering a mirror—a representation of her fractured psyche.
(Spoiler Alert) When Sarah returns home with her brother, she feels sorrowful for leaving her friends in the labyrinth. Realizing she needs them, they magically appear in her room. Sarah and her Muppet companions then dance through the night, signifying that she has accepted Jareth’s programming. She is now a Monarch slave, destined to carry out an assassination.
And you thought *The Dark Crystal* was dark.
