10 Movie Cliches Everybody Hates

2. The Beam In The Sky Finale

The Avengers Beam
Marvel Studios

If blockbuster screenwriters can't think of a suitably bombastic finale to their movie, they seem to generally fall back on a trusty third-act "beam in the sky", whereby the antagonist launches an ambiguously apocalyptic, CGI-soaked plan which the heroes must quickly foil.

Some especially egregious examples include the various energy beams featured in the likes of Transformers: Dark of the Moon, The Avengers, The Amazing Spider-Man, Man of Steel, Fantastic Four, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows and Suicide Squad.

Hollywood does appear to have eased off on the trope a little in the last year or two, but it's just a matter of time before another blockbuster hurls a digital beam into the heavens again and hopes we'll actually give a damn once more.

Advertisement
Contributor
Contributor

Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.