10 Foreshadowing Examples in Movies That Expose Hidden Clues

Foreshadowing is one of the most powerful storytelling tools in cinema. It plants subtle hints, visual cues, or bits of dialogue that prepare audiences for what’s to come — without giving too much away. When done well, foreshadowing adds layers of depth, builds suspense, and makes a film rewarding to rewatch.

Great foreshadowing keeps audiences engaged by creating suspense, building anticipation, and deepening the meaning of each scene. From a simple line of dialogue to a recurring visual motif, these clues often hide in plain sight until their significance becomes clear.

Below, we’ll explore 10 iconic foreshadowing examples in movies, breaking down how each film uses the technique to shape unforgettable stories.

1) The Sixth Sense (1999)

Foreshadowing Example: The recurring use of the color red (objects, clothing, lighting) signals the presence of ghosts or supernatural interference.

• Release Date: August 6, 1999
• Director: M. Night Shyamalan
• Stars: Bruce Willis, Haley Joel Osment, Toni Collette
• Box Office: ~$672.8 million worldwide
• Fun Fact: After its massive success, the film became a benchmark for twist endings and is often cited as defining Shyamalan’s career.
• Legacy/Impact: Cemented Shyamalan’s reputation for twist endings and is now taught in film classes as a prime example of visual foreshadowing.

M. Night Shyamalan loaded this ghost story with brilliant foreshadowing that most viewers miss on first watch. The clues are everywhere once you know what to look for.

The color red appears throughout the film as a warning system. Every time something supernatural is about to happen, red objects pop up in the frame. The red balloon, the red doorknob, the red tent, the red dress at the funeral – they’re all breadcrumbs leading to the truth.

Temperature drops signal ghostly encounters. Cole mentions it gets cold when the dead are near, and the camera often shows characters’ breath in these moments. This physical clue hints at the supernatural presence before anything scary happens.

Malcolm never directly interacts with anyone except Cole. Watch carefully and you’ll notice other characters ignore him completely. His wife doesn’t respond to his words, restaurant staff don’t acknowledge him, and he never actually opens doors.

The opening scene with Vincent Gray sets up everything. His accusation that Malcolm failed him as a patient becomes the key to understanding Malcolm’s true situation. Vincent’s pain mirrors Malcolm’s own unfinished business.

These details work together to hide the twist in plain sight while making the revelation feel inevitable.

2) Jaws (1975)

Foreshadowing Example: The brutal opening kill by the shark off-camera foreshadows the terror lurking below, and Brody’s fear of the water hints at his internal conflict.

• Release Date: June 20, 1975
• Director: Steven Spielberg
• Stars: Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss
• Box Office: ~$470 million worldwide
• Fun Fact: Spielberg initially wanted to show the shark more, but technical issues forced him to hide it—making the suspense stronger.
• Legacy/Impact: Defined the summer blockbuster formula and inspired countless thrillers to “show less, suggest more.”

Spielberg turned foreshadowing into an art form with this shark thriller. The opening beach attack doesn’t just grab attention—it plants seeds for everything that follows.

Chief Brody’s water phobia gets established early through subtle visual cues. He stays on the dock while others swim. He avoids getting too close to the shoreline during investigations.

The famous Indianapolis speech by Quint foreshadows his own death. He describes sharks as killing machines that never stop. Later, he becomes their victim in the exact brutal way he described.

Hooper’s comment about the scuba tanks being expensive gear seems like throwaway dialogue. But those same tanks become the weapon that destroys the shark in the climax.

The shark’s escalating attacks follow a clear pattern. First a swimmer, then a dog, then a child in broad daylight. Each attack gets bolder and closer to shore.

Even the mechanical failures hint at the final showdown. The boat’s radio dies. The engine sputters. Everything breaks down when they need it most, forcing a face-to-face confrontation with the beast.

The film’s iconic music score works as audio foreshadowing. Those two simple notes signal danger long before the shark appears on screen.

3) The Godfather (1972)

Foreshadowing Example: Oranges appear repeatedly before moments of violence or death, acting as a visual omen.

• Release Date: March 24, 1972
• Director: Francis Ford Coppola
• Stars: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan
• Box Office: ~$246 million (initial run)
• Fun Fact: The orange motif was not planned as symbolism, but has become legendary in film analysis.
• Legacy/Impact: Influenced filmmakers to use recurring props and colors as subtle foreshadowing devices.

Francis Ford Coppola accidentally created one of cinema’s most famous foreshadowing tricks. Oranges appear throughout the film, and they always signal that death is coming.

The pattern is simple but effective. When oranges show up in a scene, someone’s about to get whacked. It happens consistently across all three Godfather films.

Don Vito buys oranges from a street vendor right before he gets shot. The fruit spills across the pavement as he falls. Later, when he’s playing with his grandson in the garden, he’s eating an orange when he has his fatal heart attack.

The technique works because oranges seem innocent. They’re just fruit sitting on a table or in someone’s hands. Viewers don’t immediately connect them to violence.

Coppola claims this wasn’t planned, but it became so iconic that other filmmakers started copying it. The orange foreshadowing in The Godfather shows how small visual details can build tension without the audience realizing it.

4) Get Out (2017)

Foreshadowing Example: Chris’s smoking habit is joked about early on, foreshadowing why Rose’s family is determined to make him quit.

• Release Date: February 24, 2017
• Director: Jordan Peele
• Stars: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Bradley Whitford
• Box Office: ~$255 million worldwide
• Fun Fact: Peele describes the Sunken Place as symbolic of systemic oppression, making the foreshadowing both plot-driven and thematic.
• Legacy/Impact: Reinvigorated socially conscious horror and proved that layered foreshadowing could drive both scares and deeper meaning.

Jordan Peele packed Get Out with clever hints that reward sharp-eyed viewers on repeat watches. The opening deer collision sets up the film’s hit-and-run theme while hinting at the violence to come.

Rose’s family keeps pushing Chris to quit smoking throughout the weekend. Their concern seems caring at first, but it’s actually practical – they need his body in perfect condition for their twisted procedure.

The party guests all wear black and white outfits. This color scheme mirrors the film’s racial themes and signals something sinister about these supposedly friendly people.

Rose eats her milk and cereal separately, keeping them apart on her spoon. This weird habit reflects how she separates her public persona from her true racist nature.

Jeremy’s comments about Chris’s physical build aren’t just awkward small talk. He’s literally sizing up Chris like livestock, evaluating his body for the family’s horrific plans.

The hypnotic teacup becomes a weapon of control, but Chris’s smoking habit – the very thing the family wants him to quit – provides the cotton he needs to block out the sound and break free.

5) Citizen Kane (1941)

Foreshadowing Example: The snow globe foreshadows the mystery of “Rosebud” and symbolizes Kane’s longing for childhood innocence.

• Release Date: May 1, 1941
• Director: Orson Welles
• Stars: Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten, Dorothy Comingore
• Box Office: ~$1.6 million (initial release)
• Fun Fact: The meaning of “Rosebud” remains one of cinema’s great debates, intentionally left ambiguous.
• Legacy/Impact: Revolutionized cinematic storytelling and remains one of the most studied films in history.

Welles packed this film with visual clues that point toward Kane’s downfall. The opening shot of Xanadu’s gates immediately signals decay and isolation.

The snow globe scene does double duty. It foreshadows the “Rosebud” mystery while hinting at Kane’s lost childhood innocence. That little cabin inside represents everything Kane threw away for power.

Kane’s political rally speeches get shot from low angles. This makes him look powerful but also hints at his coming crash. The higher he rises, the harder he’ll fall.

The breakfast montage between Kane and his first wife shows their relationship dying in fast-forward. Each shot moves them further apart at the table. It perfectly sets up their eventual divorce.

The deep focus shots constantly remind viewers that Kane’s world is layered with secrets. Multiple storylines play out in the same frame. This technique warns audiences that nothing is simple with Kane.

The film’s structure itself foreshadows failure. Starting with Kane’s death and working backward tells viewers this story won’t end well. Every flashback becomes a countdown to disaster.

6) No Country for Old Men (2007)

Foreshadowing Example: Anton Chigurh’s coin toss motif foreshadows fate and chance deciding life-or-death outcomes.

• Release Date: November 21, 2007 (wide release)
• Director: Joel and Ethan Coen
• Stars: Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin
• Box Office: ~$171.6 million worldwide
• Fun Fact: Javier Bardem became the first Spanish actor to win an Oscar for his chilling performance.
• Legacy/Impact: Pushed mainstream cinema toward more ambiguous, morally complex storytelling.

The Coen Brothers plant seeds of doom from the very first frame. When Sheriff Bell opens the film with his monologue about criminals he can’t understand, he’s basically telling you this won’t end well for anyone.

Anton Chigurh’s coin toss scenes are masterful foreshadowing. Every flip of that quarter shows how fate and pure chance will control everyone’s destiny. The randomness of the coin mirrors how the story’s violence strikes without reason or justice.

Llewelyn’s decision to return with water for the dying man seals his fate. That single act of compassion sets the entire deadly chain in motion. The film telegraphs that no good deed goes unpunished in this brutal world.

The cattle gun appears early as Chigurh’s weapon of choice. This tool meant for slaughter foreshadows how he’ll treat humans like livestock throughout the film.

Even the title gives it away. Bell’s struggle with a changing world hints that traditional values and old-fashioned lawmen can’t survive what’s coming. The country has moved past men like him, leaving chaos in its wake.

7) Inception (2010)

Foreshadowing Example: Cobb’s spinning top (totem) keeps the question of reality vs. dream alive and foreshadows the ambiguous ending.

• Release Date: July 16, 2010
• Director: Christopher Nolan
• Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page
• Box Office: ~$829 million worldwide
• Fun Fact: Nolan shot multiple versions of the ending before choosing the most ambiguous one.
• Legacy/Impact: Inspired cultural debates about reality and influenced sci-fi thrillers to embrace layered symbolism.

Christopher Nolan plants his biggest clue right in plain sight. Cobb’s spinning top gets introduced early as his “totem” – a personal object that helps distinguish dreams from reality.

The movie shows us exactly how it works. In dreams, the top spins forever. In reality, it wobbles and falls.

But here’s the clever part. Nolan reveals that Cobb’s totem originally belonged to his dead wife Mal. This means it might not work properly for him anymore.

Every time Cobb spins the top throughout the film, we’re watching foreshadowing in action. The movie trains us to watch for that wobble as the ultimate test of what’s real.

The final shot cuts to black just as the top starts to wobble. We never see it fall. This ambiguous ending works because Nolan spent the entire movie teaching us the rules through careful foreshadowing.

The top appears in key moments before the finale. Each spin reminds us that reality and dreams blur together in Cobb’s world. When that last spin happens, we know exactly what it means – even if we never get a clear answer.

8) Psycho (1960)

Foreshadowing Example: Marion’s stay at the Bates Motel and Norman’s stuffed birds hint at death and his obsession with preservation.

• Release Date: June 16, 1960
• Director: Alfred Hitchcock
• Stars: Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles
• Box Office: ~$50 million (with reissues)
• Fun Fact: Hitchcock banned late admissions to keep the film’s surprises intact.
• Legacy/Impact: Redefined horror and suspense, showing how foreshadowing can be woven into set design and character quirks.

Hitchcock plants clues throughout Psycho that spell out Marion’s doom. Her decision to stop at the isolated Bates Motel during a storm feels ominous from the start.

Norman’s parlor scene delivers the film’s most chilling foreshadowing. The stuffed birds surrounding Marion aren’t just creepy decor. They’re dead creatures frozen in time, just like Marion will be.

Norman tells Marion she “eats like a bird” during their conversation. He’s essentially comparing her to his taxidermied collection. The camera angles make the birds look like they’re watching her, creating an unsettling atmosphere.

The owl positioned behind Norman appears to loom over him. This hints at the predatory nature he’s hiding beneath his shy exterior.

Mirrors appear repeatedly throughout the film. They reflect Marion’s fractured mental state and hint at Norman’s split personality. Every reflection suggests hidden truths and dual identities.

Norman’s comment about his mother being “as harmless as one of those stuffed birds” is darkly ironic. It foreshadows the twist that she’s been dead all along, preserved like his bird collection.

These visual and verbal clues build tension while preparing audiences for the shocking revelations ahead.

9) Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

Foreshadowing Example: Professor Trelawney’s whimsical predictions foreshadow serious events, especially her prophecy of death.

• Release Date: June 4, 2004
• Director: Alfonso Cuarón
• Stars: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Gary Oldman
• Box Office: ~$796 million worldwide
• Fun Fact: The film marked a tonal shift in the series, leaning darker and more mature.
• Legacy/Impact: Set the tone for the darker trajectory of the Harry Potter saga and influenced fantasy films to take prophecies seriously as narrative foreshadowing.

Alfonso Cuarón’s take on the third Potter film drops hints like breadcrumbs throughout its runtime. The most brilliant example comes from Professor Trelawney’s seemingly ridiculous divination lessons.

When Trelawney dramatically predicts Harry will face “the grim” – a death omen in the form of a black dog – everyone rolls their eyes. Even Hermione can’t hide her skepticism at the professor’s theatrical warnings.

But here’s the twist: Trelawney’s prediction isn’t wrong, just misunderstood. The black dog she sees in Harry’s tea leaves is actually Sirius Black in his Animagus form.

Throughout the movie, this massive black dog appears at crucial moments. It seems threatening at first, supporting Trelawney’s death omen theory.

The foreshadowing pays off when we discover Sirius isn’t Harry’s enemy but his godfather. The “grim” becomes Harry’s protector, not his doom.

Cuarón plants this seed early through Trelawney’s seemingly silly prediction. What looks like comic relief actually sets up the film’s emotional core – Harry finding family he never knew existed.

The movie proves that even the most theatrical fortune-telling can hide genuine insight.

10) Titanic (1997)

Foreshadowing Example: Jack’s toast “to making it count” foreshadows his sacrifice and the fleeting nature of his and Rose’s love.

• Release Date: December 19, 1997
• Director: James Cameron
• Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane
• Box Office: ~$2.2 billion worldwide
• Fun Fact: It held the record as the highest-grossing film for over a decade until Cameron’s Avatar.
• Legacy/Impact: Proved that epic blockbusters could balance intimate foreshadowing with grand spectacle, inspiring future romantic dramas and disaster epics.

James Cameron plants clues throughout Titanic that go beyond the obvious ship disaster. The most powerful example comes during Jack’s impromptu toast at dinner.

When Jack raises his glass and declares they should “make it count,” he’s unknowingly predicting his own fate. The phrase captures both his life philosophy and foreshadows the brief time he and Rose will have together.

This moment works brilliantly because it feels natural in the scene. Jack is just being himself, living in the moment. But Cameron uses this character trait to hint at the tragedy coming.

The toast also reflects Jack’s entire approach to life. He knows time is precious, even if he doesn’t realize just how precious his remaining hours will be.

Later, when Jack is dying in the freezing water, his words take on deeper meaning. He tells Rose to promise she’ll survive and live a full life. The “make it count” philosophy becomes his final gift to her.

Cameron doesn’t hit viewers over the head with this foreshadowing. It’s woven into Jack’s character so naturally that many people miss it on first viewing. The best foreshadowing feels inevitable in hindsight.

FAQs About These Foreshadowing Examples in Movies

The Final Cut on Foreshadowing in Movies

From the subtle use of color in The Sixth Sense to the ominous coin toss in No Country for Old Men, foreshadowing elevates storytelling by rewarding close attention. These foreshadowing examples in movies prove that the best clues often hide in plain sight, waiting to be discovered on repeat viewings.