8 Dumb Movie Fan Theories That People Actually Believe

5. Total Recall Is A Dream Doug Quaid Is Having

The Theory: Total Recall finds an ordinary man, played by regular joe Arnold Schwarzenegger, deciding to buy exciting fake memories of a trip to Mars. During his implant he learns he really was a secret agent on Mars, and the adventure begins.

Total Recall teases the idea that none of it is real, and that Quaid is having a mental breakdown as he lives out his personal fantasy. The final fade to white could mean a happy ending, or that Quaid is being lobotomised back in the real world.

Why It's Dumb: This idea has some credibility, as director Paul Verhoeven designed the story to work on two levels. The viewer can see it as a real adventure or a delusion, although there is a huge logical problem if it is a dream: It makes no sense to cut back and forth between Quaid and the villains chasing him.

If the narrative is taking place within his head then it should be entirely from his point of view. Unless Quaid spends his spare time imagining conversations the villains might be having then these scenes just reinforce that the story is reality.