7 Popular Film Theories That Will Either Make You Cringe Or Laugh Out Loud

Hit movies and shows create entire universes around them, the worlds that draw viewers in, boggle their minds, and fire their imaginations. We love it when there's a second or third layer to the main plot, don't we?

That's how fan theories are born and spread, becoming headcanon for many people. Some of these viral movie speculations, however, are hard to agree with. Here are seven examples.

1. Forrest Gump Jr. isn't really Forrest Gump's son

Movie: Forrest Gump

This is one of the most popular but also cruel and hope-destroying fan theories about Robert Zemeckis' iconic film. When Jenny tells Forrest that he is the daddy of her son, it feels like the story comes full circle. And who would argue that Forrest deserves a happy family life?

2. Ginny gave Harry the love potion

Movie: The Harry Potter series

Not only is this completely out of character for Ginny, but it doesn't fit the rules of the wizarding world. Harry doesn't behave like Ron did when he accidentally consumed Romilda Vane's potion. Also, it makes sense for him to fall in love with the brave and beautiful Ginny and marry into his first real family.

3. Marty McFly is Biff's son

Movie: The Back to the Future franchise

There are many discussions about the Back to the Future lore, but this theory is probably the most ridiculous. Marty literally starts to disappear when his actual parents don't get together.

4. Batman's adventures are the delusions of Bruce Wayne

Movie: The Dark Knight Trilogy

There is a popular but ridiculous fan theory that Batman and his adventures are actually the delusions of Bruce Wayne from his cell in Arkham, where he's been since his parents were killed. It usually refers to Christopher Nolan's trilogy and is probably related to his Inception.

In fact, not only Nolan's movies get the Inception treatment from time to time. Other popular theories in the same vein are: all Harry Potter movies are delusions of an abused child, Rugrats are all dead and Angelica dreamed them up, Ash from Pokémon died in the first episode and the rest are dreams.

5. Tarzan is Anna and Elsa's younger brother

Movie: The Disney Media Franchise

Fans love to connect all Disney movies. And some of these theories are not so bad. But the theory that Tarzan is Anna and Elsa's long-lost brother makes no sense geographically or chronologically. There's no way a boat that left Scandinavia crashed in the Mediterranean, but the people ended up in the African jungle.

Besides, the theory was completely debunked by the scene in Frozen II that showed what really happened to Anna and Elsa's parents.

6. Kevin grew up to be Jigsaw

Movie: The Home Alone franchise & the Saw film series

The sadistic way Kevin from Home Alone dealt with the thieves led viewers to speculate that he grew up to be Jigsaw, a deadly games master from the horror movie series. While this makes some sense, it is also too dark to believe. Besides, the nature of the traps is very different in the two franchises.

7. Toby is the Scranton Strangler

Series: The Office

There is much speculation about the identity of the Scranton Strangler from The Office. One of the leading theories is that it was Toby, due to his loneliness, quiet exterior and general obsession with the criminal case. But that's more ludicrous than plausible. Can you really imagine the soft, timid Toby killing anyone? Creed is a much better suspect anyway.