Top 10 Superhero Movie Plot Holes

Superhero films ask us to accept unbelievable things like people flying or magical weapons. However, viewers often spot flaws in the story when exciting action scenes are more important than a well-constructed plot. These plot holes can stick with audiences and make them wonder about the rules of the superhero world even after the movie ends. Here’s a look at some of the biggest and most puzzling plot holes that fans have noticed.

‘Ant-Man’ (2015) – Mass Retention

Hank Pym clarifies that Pym Particles work by reducing the space between atoms, but not by changing an object’s mass. This means a shrunken Scott Lang should weigh the same as when he’s normal size – and we see this demonstrated when he walks on toy train tracks or rides insects without damaging them. However, the movie often ignores this rule when it needs to create exciting scenes or advance the story. For example, Scott carrying a tank on a keychain directly contradicts the science explained earlier.

‘The Dark Knight Rises’ (2012) – Bruce Wayne’s Return

In the film, Bane throws Bruce Wayne into a harsh, faraway pit – somewhere in the Middle East or Asia – and leaves him to fend for himself. Bruce miraculously escapes and returns to Gotham City within just a few hours, but the movie doesn’t explain how he managed such a feat. He arrives looking clean and presentable, despite being completely broke and having no way to travel or even get past the city’s tight security. The logistics of his journey are never addressed.

‘Avengers: Endgame’ (2019) – Old Captain America

The Ancient One and Hulk explain that going back in time doesn’t change the present, but instead creates a new, separate timeline. When Steve Rogers travels to the past to be with Peggy Carter, this should create one of these alternate realities. Surprisingly, he then appears as an elderly man in the original timeline without seemingly using the time-travel technology to return. The writers and directors have offered different, and sometimes contradictory, explanations about whether Steve actually lived out his life in that alternate timeline or if he quickly returned to the main timeline at the very end.

‘Wonder Woman 1984’ (2020) – The Magic Jet

Diana and Steve Trevor take a fighter jet from a museum and fly it to Cairo. Surprisingly, even though the jet hadn’t been used in decades, it had enough fuel and working parts to complete the long journey. They flew thousands of miles without being detected by radar or needing to stop for fuel. Wonder Woman used her powers to make the plane invisible, but it’s unclear how they avoided being heard or creating a disturbance in the air.

‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’ (2014) – Kitty Pryde’s Powers

Throughout the previous films, Kitty Pryde’s mutant power has always been phasing through solid objects. However, in this new installment, she unexpectedly gains the ability to send someone’s consciousness back in time, with no explanation of how she developed this power. This new ability seems to exist only to allow the time travel plot to happen, and the film doesn’t bother to explain where it came from or how she learned to do it.

‘Superman’ (1978) – Turning Back Time

Superman’s ability to fly around the Earth incredibly fast and reverse its rotation to travel back in time doesn’t align with how physics actually works. Reversing the planet’s spin would cause widespread devastation, not time travel. When Lois Lane dies, Superman uses this power to undo the events leading to her death. However, this ability eliminates any real tension in the story, because he can always rewind time and prevent bad things from happening.

‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ (2021) – Electro’s Knowledge

Doctor Strange uses a spell to summon villains from other universes who were aware of Peter Parker’s secret identity as Spider-Man. Surprisingly, Electro appears, even though he never actually figured out who was behind the mask in his own world. In fact, he died without ever knowing Peter Parker’s face or name. This is a problem because Doctor Strange’s spell was supposed to only bring those who knew Spider-Man’s identity, and Electro clearly didn’t.

‘Black Panther’ (2018) – Killmonger’s Plan

Killmonger’s plan to reach Wakanda and confront T’Challa depends on a lot of luck. It relies on unlikely occurrences, like Klaue being captured but not killed, and on a border tribe unexpectedly accepting him without checking his identity. Everything also needs to happen at just the right time, coordinating international travel and political issues in a way he couldn’t realistically foresee.

‘Man of Steel’ (2013) – Jonathan Kent’s Death

Jonathan Kent tragically dies trying to protect Clark’s secret – he sacrifices himself in a tornado to prevent a few witnesses from discovering Clark’s powers. Clark could have easily saved his father using his super speed without anyone realizing he had abilities. The scene implies that Jonathan’s death was necessary to keep Clark’s powers hidden, but this feels strange considering how much Clark was already capable of, even as a young man.

‘Captain Marvel’ (2019) – The Fury Pager

Nick Fury held off on calling Captain Marvel for help until Thanos had already wiped out half of all life. Despite facing previous, universe-threatening events like the Chitauri and Ultron attacks, he didn’t reach out to her then. The movie portrays her as his last resort, which raises questions about why he didn’t use her help during those earlier crises, and why she hadn’t been involved for so long.

Please tell us which superhero movie plot hole bothers you the most in the comments.

2025-11-25 09:21