8 Popular Fan Theories That Completely Ignore The Movie They're About

6. Ferris Beuller Has To Be Real Because He Exists Without Cameron

Whenever I write theory pieces I always try and avoid "Character X isn't real" speculation because they're typically ridiculous thinking that flagrantly disregards the make up of a movie, but this is one that persists with such regularity it needs taking down.

OK, so basically what people seem to think is that Ferris Beuller, the eponymous hero of Ferris Beuller's Day Off, is merely a figment of best bud Cameron's imagination - he's an idealised teenager he created to help him escape a mundane life. Now that's adding a layer to the movie, right?

Except it ignores that the movie isn't told from Cameron's perspective - it's from Ferris'. He's the one breaking the fourth wall, he's the one who Dean Rooney spends the day trying to track down. Heck, Cameron doesn't even appear for the first five minutes - the movie opens (and closes) with, you guessed it, Ferris.

Cameron does go through a personality shift in the movie, gaining confidence to stand up against the needless restrictions placed on him, but that doesn't need Ferris to be imaginary to work. In fact, making Beuller false almost undermines it; it makes Cameron always capable everything he does, from bunking off to trashing his Dad's car, which nullifies his journey.