15 Infamous Movie Plot Holes (That Actually Aren't)

8. How Does John Connor Even Exist? - The Terminator

Terminator 2 Edward Furlong
TriStar Pictures

The "Plot Hole": How is John Connor even able to exist, considering that he sends his own father back in time to ensure his mother Sarah's survival? If Kyle hadn't been sent back to protect Sarah, then how would John even be conceived and born in the first place, and be able to send Kyle back?

Why It Actually Isn't: This is surely cinema's greatest paradox and an intentional one at that, fully encapsulating the movie's central theme of determinism with a provocative "chicken and egg" closed loop.

The internal logic of this particular brand of time travel is completely sound, and while you can argue that it attempts to stoke discussion in favour of a more literal interpretation, the mind-melting nature of John Connor's existence is most certainly not a plot hole in any way.

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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.