Stuff You Should Know Selects: Can movies be cursed?
28 snips
May 9, 2026 They explore why people label films as cursed and how coincidence and risky filmmaking fuel those stories. Tales of on-set injuries, mysterious deaths, and production disasters crop up from The Wizard of Oz to The Omen. Radiation fallout and strange coincidences around The Conqueror and unmade films like Atuk get discussed. The segment finishes by unpacking why cursed-movie myths stick.
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Curse Stories Often Result From Selection Bias
- The hosts emphasize that 'cursed movie' narratives often cherry-pick coincidences and ignore common risk factors.
- Ed (the Grabster) repeatedly argues curses are silly and selection bias explains many stories.
Danger Is Built Into Filmmaking
- Movie sets are inherently dangerous, so multiple tragedies from different productions are expected rather than supernatural.
- Josh and Chuck cite early examples like Noah's Ark (1928) where three extras drowned during a single flood scene.
Poltergeist Cast Tragedies Fueled A Curse Myth
- Poltergeist's fame as a 'cursed' film stems from several cast deaths close to production, including Dominique Dunne and Heather O'Rourke.
- Will Sampson and Julian Beck also died later of medical issues, which fans still tied into the lore.
