Marie Claire Marie Claire
  • Celebrity
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Culture
  • Power
  • Nice Talk
  • Style At Large
  • More
    • Politics
    • Career & Money
    • Health & Fitness
    • Power Play
    • Travel
    • Promo Codes
    • Food & Cocktails
    • About Us
    • Subscribe
    • Sex & Love
  • Newsletter SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Marie Claire
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    Want to add more newsletters?

    Marie Claire Daily

    Delivered daily

    Marie Claire Daily

    Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Sent weekly on Saturday

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Exclusive access to expert shopping and styling advice from Nikki Ogunnaike, Marie Claire's editor-in-chief.

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Once a week

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Insider tips and recommendations for skin, hair, makeup, nails and more from Hannah Baxter, Marie Claire's beauty director.

    Livingetc

    Once a week

    Livingetc

    Your shortcut to the now and the next in contemporary home decoration, from designing a fashion-forward kitchen to decoding color schemes, and the latest interiors trends.

    Homes & Gardens

    Delivered Daily

    Homes & Gardens

    The ultimate interior design resource from the world's leading experts - discover inspiring decorating ideas, color scheming know-how, garden inspiration and shopping expertise.


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • The Stan Smith Revival
    • New Books
    • Postpartum Texts
    • Life In Plastic
    • Blurred Blush
    1. Culture
    2. Movies

    The Craziest Movie Fan Theories on the Internet

    Try not to panic, but 'Aladdin' is set in a post-apocalyptic future.

    By Mehera Bonner
    Published 30 April 2017 In News

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    Hair, Face, Hairstyle, Eyebrow, Facial expression, Nose, Chin, Head, Forehead, Lip,
    (Image credit: Getty/Paramount)
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    If you're in the mood to have your mind blown and/or have several of your favorite movies completely ruined for you, hello and welcome! Now, we all know the internet has a lot to offer in the way of fan fiction (most of which is horrifying), but there are some seriously impressive fan theories out there about your favorite films, some of which have been proven true. Like, did you know Dumbledore is the Grim Reaper? YOU DO NOW. First up....

    'Aladdin' Is Set in a Post-Apocalyptic Universe

    Exhibit A:

    We know the Genie has been locked in his lamp for 10,000 years due to him popping out and being all, "Ten thousand years will give you such a crick in the neck!"

    Latest Videos FromMarie Claire
    Watch full video here:

    Exhibit B:

    We also know he was out of his lamp during the third-century (read: the 200s), because he tells Aladdin that his fez and vest are "much too third-century." Doing the math, this would mean Aladdin is at the very least set in the 10000s—earliest. But other clues in the film point to the fact that it's actually set even farther into the future.

    Exhibit C:

    Genie also conjures modern-day appliances like cars and lamps, and does impressions of popular 1990s celebrities like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jack Nicholson—which means Genie was out of the bottle during this era. Add 10k years to that, and Aladdin suddenly takes place in the late 11000s.

    You may like
    • rachel mcadamas walks through a palm tree covered jungle holding a spear in a still from the 2026 survival thriller send help The 22 Thrillers You Need to See in 2026
    • A blonde woman (Elle Fanning) lies on a pink couch with black-and-white striped pillows, resting her head on a pillow in her mother's (Michelle Pfeiffer) lap. The pair sit in a living room with a kitchen behind them, through a circular doorframe, in Apple TV+'s 'Margo's Got Money Troubles.' I Watch Hundreds of TV Shows Each Year. Here Are the Best Series of 2026 So Far
    • sam worthington as david and britt lower as rachel looking nervous over their shoulders in a kitchen in i will find you Breaking Down the Shocking 'I Will Find You' Ending That You Never See Coming

    Exhibit D:

    Since we know Aladdin takes place in the future, we can only assume the world has been destroyed by some kind of apocalyptic disaster that's turned it into a wasteland. 😊

    Via: Disney Theories

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    Harry Potter Is the Reason the Dursleys Are Terrible People Exhibit A:

    As any die-hard Harry Potter fan knows, Horcruxes are fragments of Lord Voldemort's soul. We also know that exposure to Horcruxes can cause one to become very mean/bitter/moody/emo.

    Proof: Ron turned into a *huge* jerk when he had to wear one of Lord Voldemort's Horcruxes around his neck.

    Exhibit B:

    We also know Harry himself IS one of Lord Voldemort's Horcruxes.

    Exhibit C:

    The Dursleys have been chilling with Harry since he was an infant. What if prolonged exposure to his inner Horcrux severely impacted their mental and emotional well-being? To quote the originator of this theory, "The fact that they survived such prolonged Horcrux exposure without delving into insanity or abandoning a helpless child only solidifies their place among the pantheon of noble and virtuous heroes in the Harry Potter universe."

    What to read next
    • halle bailey and rege jean page smiling on a balcony with produce in front of them in you me and tuscany We're Swooning Over the 15 Best Romance Movies of 2026 So Far
    • a collage of book covers from author elin hilderbrand The 15 Best Books by Elin Hilderbrand, A.K.A. the Queen of Beach Reads
    • author jess goldstein's headshot of her standing on a street leaning against a building opposite the cover of her novel retro To Write 'Retro,' Jessica Goldstein Retreated Into Books About the Past

    Via: Graphic Nerdity

    Jack Dawson Was a Time Traveler 

    Jack has zero money at the start of Titanic, and had to gamble just to get a ticket. Is this because he had recently time traveled from the future? Probably not, but let's go with YES, DEFINITELY.

    Exhibit B:

    Jack also mentions he was fishing at Lake Wissota while trying to convince Rose not to jump into the ocean. Lake Wissota is a man-made lake created in 1917. Five years after Titanic sank.

    Exhibit C:

    Jack tells Rose he'll take her on a roller-coaster ride at the Santa Monica Pier, which wasn't built until 1916. Four years after the Titanic sank.

    Via: An unknown Facebook hero named Matt

    Sandy Dies in 'Grease' 

    Grease ends with Sandy and Danny flying into the sky—but what if Sandy's actually going to heaven?

    Exhibit A:

    During "Summer Nights," Danny tells his buddies that he saved Sandy's life when "she nearly drowned." But what if she did drown? *mind explodes*

    Exhibit B:

    To quote this theorist, what if Sandy's entire story was a "vivid coma fantasy involving her summer fling with Danny, where they shared a magical year of high school together. The visions get increasingly outlandish as time passes, until finally, as Danny desperately tries to resuscitate her on the beach, she sees herself flying into heaven in her dying moments. The entire movie was a drowning woman's coma fantasy." ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

    Via: Imgur

    Dumbledore Is Death 

    During Deathy Hallows, Harry is told a fairytale about three brothers who meet death (AKA The Tale of the Three Brothers). This macabre fellow gives them the Invisibility Cloak, the Resurrection Stone, and the Elder Wand. In this tale, Lord Voldemort is said to represent the Elder Wand holder, Snape represents the Stone holder, and Harry Potter represents the Invisibility Cloak holder. But what about Death? Fun fact: He's Dumbledore.

    Exhibit A:

    Dumbledore gives Harry Potter the invisibility cloak, just like death did.

    Exhibit B:

    In real life, Dumbledore is indirectly responsible for both Snape and Voldemort's deaths. In the tale, the Elder Wand brother and the Resurrection Stone brother also die. *more mind explosions*

    Text, Font, Line, Document, Screenshot,

    (Image credit: Tumblr)

    Note: Even J.K. Rowling loves this theory.

    Dumbledore as death. It's a beautiful theory and it fits. https://t.co/QqTQm2QnI0August 21, 2015

    Via: Tumblr

    Dorothy Is the Wicked Witch of the East

    So, we know that Oz has doppelgängers of Dorothy's friends in real life. Even she remarks (when waking up from her dream and seeing her family) that "you were there, and you were there." But weirdly, there's no doppelgänger for Dorothy herself.

    Exhibit A:

    You'll also remember that when Dorothy's house kills the Wicked Witch of the East, we don't see her face—but we do know that she and Dorothy have the same shoe size. Ergo, Dorothy is doppelgänger of the Wicked Witch herself.

    Via: Reddit

    'Tarzan' and 'Frozen' Exist in the Same World

    We know Anna and Elsa's parents disappear while at sea in Frozen, but what if they didn't die? What if they were shipwrecked on an island and popped out Baby Tarzan?

    Proof:

    This theory actually comes care of Frozen director Chris Buck, who told MTV News. "In my little head, Anna and Elsa's brother is Tarzan," he said. "But on the other side of that island are surfing penguins, to tie in a non-Disney movie, Surf's Up. That's my fun little world."

    Via: MTV News

    Follow Marie Claire on Facebook for the latest celeb news, beauty tips, fascinating reads, livestream video, and more.

    Mehera Bonner
    Social Links Navigation
    Entertainment Editor

    Mehera Bonner is a celebrity and entertainment news writer who enjoys Bravo and Antiques Roadshow with equal enthusiasm. She was previously entertainment editor at Marie Claire and has covered pop culture for over a decade.

    Read more
    A blonde woman (Elle Fanning) lies on a pink couch with black-and-white striped pillows, resting her head on a pillow in her mother's (Michelle Pfeiffer) lap. The pair sit in a living room with a kitchen behind them, through a circular doorframe, in Apple TV+'s 'Margo's Got Money Troubles.'
    TV shows I Watch Hundreds of TV Shows Each Year. Here Are the Best Series of 2026 So Far There's a lot to watch, from buzzy book adaptations to the final season of 'Hacks.'
    By Quinci LeGardye
    lili reinhart as olive and tom bateman as adam kissing in a hall in the movie the love hypothesis
    Movies Everything We Know About 'The Love Hypothesis' Movie—Including Why #BookTok Fans Are Obsessed With the Cast Prepare to fall in love with this Ali Hazelwood romance if you haven't already.
    By Quinci LeGardye
     
     
    a collage of the mistborn book series covers from the first era
    Movies Apple TV Is Adapting a Hit Fantasy Series. Your Guide to the 'Mistborn' Movie The beloved 'Cosmere' books are about to be the next big on-screen franchise.
    By Andrea Park
    stassi schroeder gets her hair and makeup done in a robe in a still from house of stassi
    TV shows Why Is Reality TV Suddenly Breaking the Fourth Wall?
    By Jessica Toomer
     
     
    Latest in Movies
    Lili Reinhart pays tribute to Kate Hudson's yellow dress in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days while promoting The Love Hypothesis, she is a woman with blonde hair
    Celebrity Style Lili Reinhart Recreates Rom-Com History in Kate Hudson's Gown
    Four women (actresses Isla Fisher, Leslie Mann, Michelle Buteau, and Anna Faris) laugh together while holding cocktails, in the movie 'Spa Weekend.'
    Movies We'd Love to Have a 'Spa Weekend' With Leslie Mann, Isla Fisher, Michelle Buteau, and Anna Faris
     
     
    Anna Sawai poses for Marie Claire's latest cover issue
    Movies Anna Sawai Is Texting With Yoko Ono and John Lennon's Son Sean for Her Upcoming Role
    Two women covered in blood (Gillian Anderson as Billy and Hannah Einbinder as Kris) stand closely together in a convenience store aisle, with their intertwined hands on a cart. A still from Jane Schoenbrun's 'Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma' (2026).
    Movies Everyone Has Thoughts About Gen Z and Sex. 'Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma' Gets It Right
     
     
    Latest in News
    Princess Kate holding an umbrella walking next to Prince George
    Royals Princess Kate's Eton College Jewelry Echoes Princess Diana
    Nikki Ogunnaike's outfit formulas she'll rely on this Fashion Month
    Fall fashion 4 Editor-In-Chief Approved Outfit Formulas to Carry You Through Fashion Month
     
     
    The Celine x Reebok sneaker collaboration for fall 2026
    Fall fashion Celine and Reebok Just Made the Ultimate French-Girl Sneaker
    A group of women wear yellow jerseys while posing in a baseball dugout, in the TV series 'Slo Pitch.'
    TV shows Looking for a Sapphic Sports-Romance? Here's How to Watch 'Slo Pitch' This Fall
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Marie Claire
    RSS
    • About us
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Advertise Online
    • Newsletter
    • Terms and conditions
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • Careers
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.