Lucky Chances: Was It Just a Coincidence?
There are many ways luck and fortune can shape a character’s destiny. In some cases, the character was born into fortune. No matter how dark the story gets, luck was already on their side from the beginning.
In other tales, it’s a key moment that changed the character’s entire journey. A simple exchange or decision to step into a particular place at a specific moment. All it takes is one coincidence to set a character up for a stroke of good luck.
Let’s take the Netflix series The Princess Switch. The main character, Stacy, spilt something on her apron during a baking contest and had to step out to clean herself up. If this didn’t happen, she wouldn’t have bumped into her doppelganger Margaret. If she hadn’t met Margaret and switched places, she never would have met the love of her life.
Would Stacy still have met her husband-to-be, the prince, if she had never had that chance encounter? Fate could have written a different ending for these characters.
Working for That Fortune
Art imitates life and vice versa. Just like in real life, sometimes in movies, characters are blessed with a lucky moment and other times they put in the work to receive that fortune. After all, hard work and determination can lead to a lucky break.
One of our favourite examples of working for the fortune is in Legally Blonde. The main character, Elle Woods, is typecast as a ditzy, spoiled sorority girl. A stroke of good luck (or good looks) gets her into Harvard University.
Once she gets there, she realises how challenging the work is. But she’s determined to prove everyone wrong and puts her best foot forward, surprising herself with how passionate she becomes about law.
When a happy coincidence meets hard work, anything is possible!
Characters Who Thrive on Luck
Some characters thrive on lucky events. Let’s take Forrest Gump for example. How many times did this character experience a once-in-a-lifetime moment simply because he was at the right place at the right time? From meeting Elvis Presley to impressive business investments, his story is shaped by these moments.
Then there’s James Bond. This character has had more than enough lucky moments in his stories. Hello, winning $100 million playing poker in Casino Royale. There was also that time he survived a fall from a bridge. And we can’t forget about his miraculous escape from a crocodile-infested swamp.
Writers will often bend fate in a character’s favour to add a dose of excitement to the story. They put these characters in life-altering situations to drive suspense. The audience is on the edge of their seats, wondering how the character will overcome the obstacles in their story. But one (or many more) moments of sheer luck help them emerge victoriously.
In stories like these, the lucky moment doesn’t always have to be realistic or make complete sense. It’s all part of the character’s unique storyline.
When Bad Luck Drives the Plot
Lucky chances and twists of good fortune have brought many characters to success. But not every movie is all sunshine and smiles. There are plenty of memorable stories where misfortune was a key plot driver.
Actually, misfortune can often lead to a more interesting story. With bad luck weighing them down, how will the character push through the tension and conflict? From unexpected disasters to cruel twists of fate, bad luck keeps the audience intrigued.
This is because bad luck presents a struggle for the character. Their story revolves around how they adapt and overcome each obstacle put in their way.
Let’s take Final Destination, for example. This movie starts off when a class boards a plane for a school trip. One of the students drifts off for a nap but wakes up startled after an all-too-realistic dream about the plane crash. He panics and gets off the flight, with a teacher and a group of students who follow. When the plane takes off, it crashes at the very moment in his dream.
Was this good luck? Not at all! Death had a plan, and Alex interrupted it. Now, death is on a mission to finish what it started, killing off the survivors in order that they were meant to die. This twist of fate was actually more horrifying than what he saw in his premonition.
Is It Really Luck? Or Was It Meant to Be?
Have you ever wondered if something happened in your life because you got lucky or if it was just how things were meant to turn out? This is something a lot of writers put to the test when determining a character’s fate.
Would they end up in the same position if they didn’t make that one decision? Or is there a higher power ensuring that this was their outcome?
Let’s take the movie Rainman, for example. The main character, Charlie, realises that his brother has a special gift for counting cards. They’re able to use this skill at a Vegas casino, and luck turns in their favour. The brothers cash out their chips, withdraw real cash, and leave with their winnings. They were no doubt hoping that luck would turn in their favour. Spinning the reels at the favourite casino always comes with that spark of hope. To withdraw real cash at the best online casinos is a real and so desirable stroke of luck. Not everyone gets to see their balance turn into something tangible! But when it happens, it’s a moment worth celebrating. Reaching the payout stage brings a full circle of thrills. These are the moments when you fully understand what it means to have real luck.
Did these brothers have a lucky realisation? Or was this gift part of their specific path? This is one area of stories and films that causes some debate. A character’s journey could be because of incredible timing. Or it could be foreshadowing something a lot more symbolic because it was meant to happen for them. However, some writers choose these life-changing moments because they represent how unpredictable life really is. Many of our biggest life twists happen by chance.
Best Movies About Luck and Fortune
Luck and fortune play a major part in fan favourite films throughout the decades. Whether it’s a life-changing opportunity, a lot of money, or a cruel twist of fate, the break sets the tone for the character’s journey.
Good luck or bad, it’s all in the name of the game. Personally, we love films that show themes of luck and fortune. You never know where these twists will bring the characters. To learn more about the best movies about golden opportunities, these are some of our top recommendations:
1. It Could Happen to You 2. Forrest Gump 3.Slumdog Millionaire 4. Just My Luck 5. Run Lola Run 6. Waking Ned Devine 7. Bruce Almighty 8. Good Will Hunting 9. Erin Brockovich 10. The Cooler
Why Audiences Love Stories About Luck & Fortune
Stories about luck and fortune attract audiences around the world. No matter what walk of life a person finds themselves in, there is something about these films that keeps them intrigued. A major reason why is that it taps into the idea of destiny. Fate can step in at any moment and completely shift the course of a person’s life story.
Audiences also find it thrilling to watch a film that covers a character’s highs and lows. Put them in an unthinkable situation and see how they can overcome it. When a character is up against next-to-impossible odds, the story's unpredictability reels the viewer in. Luck and fortune can change our journey at any time.