Impressive Foreshadowing Details Fans Spotted In Classic War Movies

T.J. Peters
June 10, 2022 6.7K votes 1.7K voters 211.1K views
Voting Rules

Vote up your favorite foreshadowing details.

While our favorite war movies are set in the past, many of them leave clues about what will happen in the future - that is, the future of their own stories. These impressive foreshadowing details make classics like Full Metal Jacket and Saving Private Ryan even more compelling, whether you're seeing them for the first time or on a rewatch. Settings and props provide glimpses into future battles. Subtle clues set up disastrous events to come. Casual dialogue winds up telling the future. All of these foreshadowing elements play out in tremendously satisfying ways in these great war movies.

Make sure to vote up the most interesting details along the way.

  • 1
    1,511 VOTES

    Pvt. Pyle Sets Aside Live Rounds At The Firing Range In 'Full Metal Jacket'

    Pvt. Pyle Sets Aside Live Rounds At The Firing Range In 'Full Metal Jacket'
    Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures

    From Redditor u/ZeroKoalaT:

    In Full Metal Jacket (1987), Private Pyle does not cock the weapon after reloading, suggesting some bullets were left in the magazine. That's how he snuck live rounds into the camp.

    1,511 votes
  • 2
    644 VOTES

    Bending Grenade Pins Leads To Keck's Demise In 'The Thin Red Line'

    Bending Grenade Pins Leads To Keck's Demise In 'The Thin Red Line'
    Photo: 20th Century Fox

    From a Redditor:

    In The Thin Red Line, Woody Harrelson's character bends the pins on his grenades to make them easier to pull. He later dies after accidentally pulling the pin on one of his grenades.

    644 votes
  • 3
    846 VOTES

    A Beach Boys Song Previews Bubba's Dying Words In 'Forrest Gump'

    A Beach Boys Song Previews Bubba's Dying Words In 'Forrest Gump'
    Photo: Paramount Pictures

    From Redditor u/ChevelierMalFet:

    In Forrest Gump, the Beach Boys' Sloop John B plays as Lt.Dan warns Forrest and Bubba, "Don't do anything stupid, like getting killed." The last line of the song is also Bubba's last line as he dies: "I wanna go home."

    846 votes
  • 4
    1,153 VOTES

    Those With Their Rifles On Their Right Shoulders End Up Dying In 'Full Metal Jacket'

    Those With Their Rifles On Their Right Shoulders End Up Dying In 'Full Metal Jacket'
    Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures

    From Redditor u/hemlock395:

    In the movie Full Metal Jacket (1987), the ones holding their rifles on their right shoulders end up dying.

    1,153 votes
  • 5
    864 VOTES

    Landa Checks The Daughter's Heart Rate In 'Inglourious Basterds'

    Landa Checks The Daughter's Heart Rate In 'Inglourious Basterds'
    Photo: The Weinstein Company

    From Redditor u/CosmoMercury:

    Inglourious Basterds: Hans Landa subtly checks the girl's pulse at the start.

    864 votes
  • 6
    626 VOTES

    Shoshanna Uses The Same Language Tactic As Landa In 'Inglourious Basterds'

    Shoshanna Uses The Same Language Tactic As Landa In 'Inglourious Basterds'
    Photo: The Weinstein Company

    From Redditor u/mrlonelywolf:

    At the beginning of Inglourious Basterds (2009), Shoshanna hides under the floorboards. She can't understand Hans Landa's English, so she's unaware of what is coming. As revenge, she films her cinema speech in English so the political elite, including Hitler, would also be unaware of what is coming.

    626 votes