Fight Club Theory: Tyler Durden Isn't The Only Character Who Doesn't Exist

[@arosenheim]

Narrator: It's called a changeover. The movie goes on, and nobody in the audience has any idea.

[@alwaysblessed5243]

Alex Rosenheim 👏👏

[@Anw4rr10r]

Ladies and gentlemen, we have just lost cabin pressure. Please return your seat backs to their full upright and locked position.

[@StarsWithScars]

Good point sir!

[@ffejpsycho]

Cigarette burns.... 🤔

[@brentulstad3275]

Penis

[@karma1185]

She doesn't show up to lung cancer group smoking. It was testicular cancer.

[@StarsWithScars]

That chainsmoking girl show everywhere up smoking..

[@TeatroGrotesco]

We don't see it but when they are divying up the support groups she gives him lung cancer because her "smoking doesn't go over at all." (something close to that) Implying she does attend one and does smoke. I mean the fact she smokes at any cancer support group is her version Project Mayhem.

[@jeremyvculek3090]

He was to worried about working the term toxic masculinity into this crap than what is actually in the film.

[@musicsaves71590]

@@jeremyvculek3090 literally what the source material is about. Read a book you absolute walnut

[@jeremyvculek3090]

Lisa his lack of masculinity led to his split personality. He was emasculated and did what he was told by modern society that devalues being a man and it drove him crazy. Toxicity comes from listening to people like you cupcake.

[@grimmj0ker]

"Jack's " actual name is Tyler Durden...the airline tickets in the drawer when "Jack" is looking through Tyler's room have Tyler Durden printed on them issued in his name by the company he worked for. The first manifestation of his disassociative disorder is the loss of his own identity and his name. When "Jack" shoots himself he kills the identity that tried to take him over reclaiming his name. His name was Tyler Durden....

[@4strokesarejokes]

That’s EXACTLY what I said. Thank you!

[@adamcasaouii]

have you... even seen the movie?...

[@BluEx22329]

Sob

[@Evan-10000]

His name was Tyler Durden!

[@FirstnameLastname-cx6go]

Oh!

[@shannabug31]

Very interesting. But.. if you've read the book then she is definitively a separate person. But it really is a very chill theory! 😃😎

[@cloudcity4194]

In The Shining, Jack beats people with a mallet and the hotel burns down.

[@CorbCorbin]

The comics are pretty weird. It’s two sequels in comic medium.

[@StarsWithScars]

Are you sure?

[@shannabug31]

@@StarsWithScars 100% 😎 I've read that book about 4 times

[@orionswift101]

Nobody reads the books anymore. It’s sad

[@christianrowe6646]

Jack and Jill went up a hill and constructed a persona

[@bobbluh9651]

What is the plot of fight club for 500 please

[@bigwes617]

@@bobbluh9651 ?

[@jaylonbeatty2553]

Garry Host He’s playing Jeopardy

[@bigwes617]

@@jaylonbeatty2553 Ahhh, a sharper man than I. Thanks 👍

[@MrShanester117]

Christian Rowe Screw you. That’s not funny

[@mrillis9259]

Ed Norton is the imaginary character built to survive the office life.

[@alecbernal3824]

Ed Norton's character is the only one without a name, making him the only one who isn't a social construct. Your theory is cool but is too modern and essentialist.

[@best4businesswrestling]

He's just day dreaming in his cubicle..

[@tareklegrand7747]

@@alecbernal3824 he HAS a name. it was just hidden for the twist cause his name is Tyler Durden just like his imaginary friend.

[@maxbooth179]

@@alecbernal3824 Ed Nortons characters name is Tyler durden. it's funny how people ignore it when it's a central fact of the plot. it's spelled out by marla and then repeated by Brad Pitt and Ed Nortons characters for many minutes and still people miss it.

[@alecbernal3824]

@@maxbooth179 Marla calls him "Tyler Durden" because of her encounters with his alter ego. You're gonna need to do better than that. And please forego the unnecessary diatribes about "ignoring evidence" and blah blah blah your ego.

[@jimtest2532]

Interesting but seemed like a lot of reaching for things that aren't there. The cars stop for her, people react to her smoking, a dildo is different than a vibrator, the bus stops and waits for her to finish talking before shutting the door, and to top it off project mayhem members find her kidnap her and take her back to "Jack". This is all just movie stuff not counting all the things in the book seeing as many probably didn't know it was a book.

[@jeremyvculek3090]

He just wanted a reason to say this movie was about toxic masculinity.

[@kidomniman8635]

Jeremy, if you can't see toxic masculinity in fight club you have to be trying really hard not to see it. The core storyline is about a men's only terrorist cult that beats each other up to prove their worth. Not sure how quitting your job and moving into an abandoned house to follow the teachings of a man with severe mental health issues down a path of violence and crime can be seen as anything other than toxic but you do you I guess

[@jeremyvculek3090]

kidomniman toxic masculinity isn’t real it’s bullshit made up by kooks. It’s like the Easter bunny, Mother Nature, or Father Time it’s make believe for weak cowering people to make sense of a world they are ill prepared to live in.

[@blueskyla7978]

Everything has to be in a damn category these days. If it doesn’t fit snugly in an already existing one, someone just makes one up and calls it a thing that must be real because they can describe stereotypes all jumbled into a mess of bullshit. It’s just toxic to judge and label others. For a time where people seem to be more open minded than before there is a lot of the polar opposite going on as well. There sure are a lot of assholes who judge, make up labels, place blame, and control through making up or pointing out “social norms” to “correct” peoples behavior. And it’s the worst that bigotry is used to label and judge in such an obnoxious way.

[@ciaragoering]

Here comes Jeremy on yet another comment mad that people say he has toxic masculinity 😂

[@andizana]

For those that said maybe all of Project Mayhem is personalities, could be true. In DID systems there can be many alters, some fracments, only holding small roles in the mind of the individual with DID. The host in a system usually has very little influence or communication with their alters, or if they do, in the begining its usually only with the Protectors and persecutors. In this case Tyler is sort of both. He pushes "jack" to be less well, like "jack" And all the other characters or possible alters in the film, look up to Tyler and see him as the boss. They respect 'Jack' because though jack has less direct influence over them, they are aware he is the host and the one they all are protecting and living for. The bar owner and his flunkies can also be Alters. If you think in terms of an "Inner world" the space in the mind of someone with DID that contains everyone and can have many different facets. This being said, untreated or unmanaged DID can leave the alters at war with themselves especially if communication is lacking. The entirety of Fight Club could very well be all in Jack's Inner World. Aside from the very mundane things like the hospital and his job, everything else could be an aspect of his own mind. Marla,Bob, and Tyler are all protectors in their own way. They're all Alters that Jack would need in a functioning system. But if Jack is oblivous and in denial, which is common in DID, then his mental stay is completely overwhelmed leaving him to barely be aware of his own reality.

[@Rick_Cleland]

[@klog.4825]

I am jack’s complete and utter lack of argument. Good theory 👌

[@kristofb5013]

1. The cars do stop for her. 2. Members of operation mayhem kidnap her and bring her to Jack/Tyler at the end.

[@MsMistake]

Nah. The 2 guys at the end came specifically to bring her back to him. Other than that, it's a very solid theory.

[@jesseshaffer1315]

Whats a paper street? Could all of project mayhem be as fictional as tyler?

[@richiesflicks]

Can’t believe everything you hear. Those two guys look at each other like WTF is going on. It’s a maybe.

[@loodlebop]

@@jesseshaffer1315 no

[@polreamonn]

But they never actually talk to or mention her? Do they? Asking for a friend.

[@loodlebop]

@Boot Hat I thought so, made perfect sense to me.

[@Peakock-0]

I took the ending as Adam and Eve in Tyler's new world

[@jacobnichols4907]

On a long enough time line the survival rate of ever one drop's to zero. . This movie is a masterpiece.

[@DrLove911]

It's a masterpiece that none of you understand. I've never met no one who gets it. And if you ever figure it out never talk about it or they'll take your balls. It's very real . The actors that put it out there want you dead . Or it's just a cool movie and I'm over thinking it 😁

[@Dipmagedon]

@@DrLove911 ???

[@Stettafire]

@@DrLove911 You need help, lol

[@rogueninjagaming248]

@@DrLove911 why would Edward Norton and Brad Pitt want me dead? lol

[@DrLove911]

@@rogueninjagaming248 if I have to explain it you wouldn't understand

[@YO_ITS_DRAGON]

There must always be balance, and perhaps Marla's mysterious presence is Jack's mental defense against the unbalanced presence of Tyler Durden. Very interesting theory!

[@FirstnameLastname-cx6go]

Is that a DID thing or just your personal philosophy?

[@Stettafire]

@@FirstnameLastname-cx6go It's not a DID thing. With DID there is no balance. DID doesn't care about balance.

[@FirstnameLastname-cx6go]

@@Stettafire Yes, I'm coming to learn this.

[@Deutungshoheit]

I think the 3 represent Freuds theory of Id, Ego and Superego and Marla/Tyler also represent the male and female principles of his persona Anima and Animus as defined by CG Jung. Marla is the Id and represent his emotions, his need to be loved and his frustration with life. She is Anima the female emotional irrational and receiving principle. Tyler is the Superego and represents his need for higher meaning and direction in life by almost religious ideology and radical behaviour. He is Animus the logical aggressive active male principle. The narrator is the ego including all the filters of the civilised world. He detached himself from both his emotions and his ideals because he never started the express or even realise his own needs. Society taught him to conform and he lived that way until he was actively pulled out of it by Tyler. Marla follows him and makes him restless because his unexpressed needs won’t go away and haunt him no matter how much he try’s to run away. Tyler is more of a projection of his hopes and another escape mechanism to not deal with his emotions. Tyler isn’t the answer to his problems only another coping mechanism. But in the end accepting Marla in his life is the true solution, not running away from his emotions and expressing his need instead of staying anonymous or portraying a godlike figure. Just being human accepting himself by expressing his needs and really opening up towards others.

[@Deutungshoheit]

That is also why Marla is his inner spirit animal. She is his true self that wants to be freed and integrated into his life. I would even go so far as to say Marla is the bigger part of his true personality (that’s why she wanted the whole brain) and both the narrator and Tyler are just constructs by society and coping mechanisms trying to protect or getting rid of Marla because she doesn’t fit into society.

[@akaidatenshi]

Love the theory. Even if in the book is different, her being another alter makes the story much more interesting

[@IzzyOnTheMove]

I always assumed Marla didn't exist either, and that "Jack" was thoroughly alone

[@Evol_lov3]

Marla plays a major role in Fight Club 2 (graphic novel). She’s definitely a real person.

[@reisu_3708]

Granted, Fight Club 2 is a meta-narrative that is a satire of itself and forced fanservice as a means to parody itself. They even ressurect Bob and have Chuck Palahniuk himself inside the comics writing the story lol

[@Max25670]

@@reisu_3708 yeah and it sucks

[@bordatwork]

2:14 "JOY" is clearly reacting Marla's cigarette smoke - ?

[@corey4059]

yep.... was gonna say that then seen your comment. So the whole theory is shit.

[@DropBearJroc]

@@corey4059 no it's not. As the whole thing is being told by Jack. Unreliable.

[@FrustratdCowboy]

Could be Jack is smoking but he is imagining Marla doing it.

[@jcb3883]

Next video: Why "Joy" is an imaginary character.

[@ainsleyharriottsspicymeat8909]

I respect this theory but it’s stretching

[@darkmyro]

Well in the movie when Tyler explains how they shared the same space he explains "sometimes you imagined yourself there, sometimes you filled in the blanks" or something like that so if he was Marla also a figment of his psyche, then it would make sense that his mind was just imagining her there intereacting with the world.

[@sabrina63]

Except for the fact that the goons bring Marla to Jack at the end of the film, entirely invalidating this pointless theory

[@darkmyro]

@@sabrina63 not saying I believe in it though you could say he just told her to bring them there and he did tell his followers to cut off a piece of him if he went against them

[@YokieWartooth]

I like the idea that Jack/Rupert/Cornelius actually does have testicular cancer. Marla only shows up because he doesn't see himself as a man anymore, and from there Tyler manifests as Jack's internal fight against that notion, and Tyler is over the top and oulandish to compensate for Jack's missing masculinity.

[@kylesmith7413]

This is what I thought they were going with. That also helps makes sense of his mental state allowing all of these acts to go on.

[@FirstnameLastname-cx6go]

I can't see the movie any other way.

[@Egryn]

Marla is not a constructed persona. If you read the book, at the end she brings members of the support group to “Jack” (Tyler Durden in real life) and beg him not to kill himself. She was a symbolic representation of something g to hold on too; even if it is broken. “Jack” is already so lost to “Tyler” that he kills himself anyway. Theory disproven by someone who read the book. Have a great day everyone

[@mreshadow]

I always thought it odd that she seemed to be ignored by most of the cast. Really odd. Now maybe this sheds some light on the issue.

[@amandariffe2599]

I think that’s more to indicate she’s unimportant to people. Therefore the suicide. The author wrote her as a real person.

[@mreshadow]

@@amandariffe2599 I did read that once. You're right

[@mikeb3717]

You state that when Marla walks into traffic the cars don't try to avoid her yet we see a car slam on the brakes to avoid hitting her. That being said she could be like Tyler and it's the narrator walking while imagining himself watching her.

[@FirstnameLastname-cx6go]

Right! Because she is him! He's in the street!

[@Mister_W.T.F]

It's a very exciting theory. As you point out the restaurant scene is problematic although it's possible the waiter who takes the order isn't "real" either. Not out of some great significance but just as a means for the dissociated main character to have the conversation with himself (marla) It could be taken even further where we really can't necessarily rely on every person in the movie actually being "real" We start asking what the criteria is for establishing a sense of "empirical evidence" for the existence of specific characters. Because of the counter intuitive nature of this theory it might be the less important characters that seem to actually exist in the "real world" who are more likely to be real - (Lou; the owner of the bar- The police detective. The men in the fight club, the woman on the plane the main character confides in about recall Vs Safety protocol.) I SUSPECT Fincher. at least was playing with the idea as at the end of the day Fight Club is solipsistic ultimately (and I'm speaking as a massive fan here) the film being about someone as self absorbed as the "fake" society it derides- (albeit in a way that at least airs the relevant discussion points.) Marla is unrealistically i*deal * like Tyler- beautiful, sexy and - like Brad Pitt - a classical cinematic figure harking back to am earlier age of -if Pitt is like Kirk Douglas or Charlton Heston, Bonham-Carter is likewise reminiscent of Hollywood female archetypes of the forties and fifties- somehow fitting into the films own conversation with itself as medium - being part of the fabric of the story telling - as WELL as being conscious of a tendency in the post modern west to only understand ourselves through cultural archetypes and narrative references. We COULD argue that the novel is a secondary source of reference here but I suggest not - while almost "verbatim close", Fincher is a dedicated film maker who knows how to deploy his source material to transcend itself while on the surface following it apparently religiously. I appreciate you taking one of my all time favourite. Movies to another level so eloquently

[@dustinb8781]

Great theory I hadn't heard of before. I love all the people whinging about the book and it's sequel. The movie is separate and is the only thing referenced, seeing as how this is a FILM theory and not a take on the full canon.

[@jefersonvilaede]

its def not a great theory

[@nope5023]

You could smoke in public places up into the late 90s/ early 2000s in some places

[@dustinb8781]

But in a cancer support group you would definitely cause problems

[@mtyler3047]

The one lil thing that would make this very cool theory solid would be with all the editing and splicing tricks they inserted: if at the final scene, with the two of them standing there watching the explosions, if the shot of them holding hands had one really quick shot spliced in of 'Jack' standing there alone. Loved the theory!

[@theone614777]

It would defeat the whole ending ordeal. Since jack is “dead” from the final conflict.

[@robertrozier2940]

This is actually a really great idea and I love the way it is presented here. Bravo! 👍🏻👍🏻

[@freener]

All characters are in the film are multiple personalities of Robert Paulson, a schizophrenic man with testicular cancer who starts creating alternate personalities to deal with his mental health and insecurities only to be overwhelmed by the drugs he is taking ending up with him killing himself. The film and the book are two very different works of art. The book portraying the the challenges of modern masculinity while the film goes deeper into mental health and the internal battle we all go through.

[@wabc2336]

Even better, all characters in the film are multiple personalities of the viewer. You never actually saw the film, you hallucinated it, you're an unreliable narrator, and the movie "Fight Club" does not exist.

[@aidandunne199]

I brought up this theory a while ago in another one of your videos. There is a great site called jack durdan where i first read about this years ago. Its also a theory that bob is another part of jack, the part in the movie after jack leaves marlas appartment bob comes back from nowhere and on the wall behind jack there is graffiti that says 'himself himself himself herself' as if that part forgotten part of jack is trying to come back

[@RDJ134]

03:10 i was expecting a one per list remark on my mother (she told me to say hi to Jules) but realised this is That Film Theory and not the usual What Culture :P OT: Great video, always found her a little off and changing trough the movie, this theory even goes deeper (my mom told me again to say hi to Jules) then i tought.

[@iTzMain]

Brilliantly done! After watching this is certainly gives me a different perspective on the movie! I'm also thinking that the house that they squat in was Jack's original house as a child. Because bob makes mention of the creator of fight club living in a house close to a mill or something along those lines. Just thought i throw that at there!

[@arosenheim]

I will DEFINITELY be rewatching this movie now!

[@arosenheim]

@@InEXP626 The kid could be fake, too.

[@wassup9378]

I loves this, great analysis dude. There’s something else to what you said at last about a three-way conflict being resolved into a two-way partnership: there’s a moment when Tyler says to Jack that as being a generation of men rasied by women, maybe what they need in their life is a woman. They “both” knew what, or who, was missing in their life, and if this theory is correct, it could be implied that what Jack needed was to deal with his anger and agressive manners and embracing a more affectionate and sensitive side of himself

[@wabc2336]

Dude Tyler says "we were raised by women, the last thing we need is another woman." Tyler represents masculinity and doesn't say they need women

[@homegrowntwinkie]

I would like to reiterate what Jules says at the end if you're having a hard time, get help. Mental health issues are shit to go through, but it doesn't mean you have to be alone while going through it. I suffered a long time from Depression, Psychosis, Anger issues and Addiction. I finally got help, and although I may have my issues with life, I'm not strung out, and I'm mostly happy with things, even if I'm not really doing much with my life. You are worth it. You are loved. You are special. And you can make an impact.

[@walkerlucas]

Other people DO react to her. A car hits the breaks when she crosses the street, a woman waves the smoke away at the meeting, etc.

[@danielmorais8754]

No because when they were running away the cops were looking for her so she has to be real

[@jefersonvilaede]

there are more scenes too, supporting that she's real

[@williamblackfyre4866]

Makes the sex scene better both of Jack's alter egos (Tyler and Marla)extra weird.

[@xxka0tikkxx]

"Self improvement is masturbation" if you take that quote and see the scene he is doing situps.

[@ThornOfSociety]

I have wondered this in the past. Also from memory at one point in the film Tyler wears a similar feather/fur jacket to what Marla wears for a chunk of the film, perhaps Marla influencing that personality/alter aswell?

[@tbperry83]

I never thought about that until the end of the theory. Tyler was wearing a fur like Marla!

[@zachryder3150]

4:46 At one of the group meetings near the beginning of the film, a man is about to approach her before the Narrator gets to her first and the man walks away annoyed.

[@simonnaylor3536]

Bob’s not real. Marla’s not real. Nobody’s real. And it’s all set in Gotham before Bat Man showed up.

[@markadams8041]

The film has differences from the book. One line from the book that I remember is that pets get rescued if they get neutered. The author of the book sees the ending as making the film into a romcom. The line about everything is going to be okay at the end...

[@FirstnameLastname-cx6go]

Recycle your pets. I know it too well.

[@darkfire4206]

Great love this theory you're definitely a madlad with a great mind and a shiny bald head. Between this and the Batman/seven theory are some of your best

[@nerdstorm596]

Damian DeMort well. The books and film are different. One continues, one doesn’t. Also the sequel wasn’t made when the film was. So yes, for the film, it’s solid even though I don’t agree with it.

[@fbauzo024fb]

This is part of a larger theory that anyone with first and last names were personas in Jacks psyche. Bob and even the gas station clerk were all budding personas and the Marla was apart of it because Jack originally caught testicular cancer.

[@hyperr1092]

The novel really tries to treat Marla similarly to Tyler, I think personally as a way to make you question if Marla is real. I'm pretty sure she's alive though because at one point the narrator is saying that Marla and Tyler might be the same person because he'd never seen them in the same room together, which I originally thought meant that he couldn't see them together since they were both him. Later on though, the narrator contradicts himself by saying that whenever Tyler is in a room with Marla she ignores him, which tells me that Marla is real and she can't see Tyler because he isn't real. Let's also not forget that if it weren't for Marla showing up at the support group, the narrator's sleep wouldn't have worsened to the point of creating Tyler Durden in the first place.

[@DokkaChapman]

Last time I saw a reach this far it was in the last Fantastic Four movie.

[@gwebb8486]

'Not trusting me is the wisest thing you've done since arriving here' - jack

[@egunnip]

I think that she is a real person who he fabricated more memories with than actually occurred

[@Lawthefilmmaker]

Dude, as soon as I read the title and saw the thumbnail, i agreed 100%. I only watch the video to get your details. I can't wait to watch it again.

[@garrybartlett6853]

Did you ever actually watch Fight Club the film...? Pretty sure anyone that watched it would not think marla was imaginary... Marla is the rub of it all...

[@georgespottiswood4660]

WOW. MIND=BLOWN. THANK YOU, JULES, FOR ANOTHER SLEEPLESS NIGHT.

[@danielarmstrong2144]

So if marla is a figment of his imagination why did Tyler's men have to go get her when she leaves the city? Why does she clearly interact with other people who aren't involved with project mayhem (selling the clothes after she steals them) while jack is also around? The dream-like nature of their sex scene isn't to imply that they're the same person it's blurry and confusing to represent how jack remembers the night. He's not quite sure if it happened, was it a dream? Maybe, he doesn't know. And seeing as he's out way into the world we see things the way he sees them. The movie also cuts away to marla when she's on the phone with jack in multiple scenes. When jack calls Tyler we never cut away to him, because he's not real. Marla is however, so she's actually existing on the other end of the phone.

[@mihai9211]

Marla isnt real dude,neither the guys in fight club,even tyler durden(brad pitt) got in a fight and had interactions with other people and he wasnt real,if u look at the details ,jack,marla and tyler smoke the exactly the same ciggarete brand

[@vicb2751]

@@mihai9211 Adding to this, I honestly don't even think the explosions happened, Bob's description of Tyler Durden to "jack" seems to be quite rather fitting.

[@mihai9211]

@@vicb2751 yeah

[@ksl2137]

@@mihai9211 thank you!!!! None of these people exist

[@CJ_F0x]

Oooh I love this story. I remember watching Fight Club right after having first read about this theory. Such an epic mind blow! For me this is practically canon.

[@BroadwayRonMexico]

The waiter in the diner directly acknowledges her presence there. Also, the bus driver waits for her before leaving And while I've never read the book, I know a lot of people have argued against this theory citing stuff from the book. Also, the author made a sequel comic to the movie where the narrator and Marla have a kid. Marla is definitely real when you dive into it, but some of this stuff is probably intentional to show how hard it is for the Narrator/"Jack"/Sebastian to tell what's real and what isnt (and to somewhat obfuscate the hints that Tyler isnt real)

[@ksl2137]

The film is only meant to be an adaption of the book, it’s not supposed to be exactly the same. Actually in the film, this is basically a big Dream most of these people don’t exist

[@d_lynn421]

I have wondered this for years! Thank you for fleshing it out. :)

[@JonathanBaltzly]

"Finishing each other's sentences..." Ad plays. Ironic.

[@joeldunsdon6718]

A little bit of a push perhaps. But the "la" sound which ends both Tyler and Marla's names is an abbreviation of "friend/mate etc" in scouse.

[@Thorheholdsme]

its a good enough theory for the film alone, however the graphic novel sequels have jack(Sebastian in the books now) and Marla are married and have a son. Having a kid is tough to do with a figment of your imagination no matter how visceral your spank bank seems. Also Marla has a whole plot of her own involving bringing Tyler back by sabotaging her hubbies meds (marriage does sound like fun) and has interactions with people when not in Jack/ Sebastian's presence that confirm her existence in Palanuik's book universe.

[@dc7236]

Ur hilarious 🤣🤣🤣 I won't let it go unnoticed

[@Darkeiser.7]

When it was revealed that Tyler was in his head I believed that Marla was as well. It made sense.

[@redswasted8624]

My Fight Club theory is that all the characters we see are in The Narrator’s head

Solipsism.. in this scene kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJizf61vg5tpo9U narrator is imagining different point of views... one of clues to start questioning who is he.

[@jefersonvilaede]

thats nonsense. the project mayhem people carry out tasks. youre saying those tasks were also imaginary. so the whole movie is imaginary and the writers are playing a prank. Nah. The truth is, this is a silly non theory and it serves as a thought experiment at best, but its not true

[@redswasted8624]

@@jefersonvilaede chill dude, it was just a theory 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@Yppopojoj]

I was afraid the monologue at the end was leading into an advertisement. So glad it was just a sincere guesture.

[@scottsleith]

The Narrator(ed Norton) name is Tyler Durden. Brad Pitt and Ed Norton are the same person(Tyler Durden). Marla Singer even tells us this after the reveal. it amazes me how many people don't work this out.

[@tedarcher9120]

Do you think it's his real name? Ib fight club 2 he's called Sebastian

[@tristan_840]

His name is actually Sebastian. Read the film continuation on comics, Fight Club 2 - 3.

[@r1g0r61]

also, tyler is able to GRAB and pull her down the stairs with him. if jack is going UP the stairs, there's no way that it could be him doing this.

[@r1g0r61]

@Boot Hat I'm only pointing out proof that SHE is also in his mind, because his IMAGINARY friend is able to PHYSICALLY interact with her to take her away from him. if she was physically real, Tyler wouldn't be able to make her move AWAY.

[@Hogarth420]

This theroy can be debunked because the graphic novel fight club 2 they have a young son and they are married

[@CorbCorbin]

ordained dudeist priest plays In the book she’s it’s not ambiguous either. Those comics are very weird. But, Fincher could have his own idea on his film. But, then at least two of project mayhem are imaginary too, because they are shown holding her. His DID doesn’t make him hallucinate subordinates as far as I know.

[@justinwilliams7324]

The child itself could be a split personality

[@zippoboyshaneshank8954]

In the comic the narrator is named Christian.

[@mreshadow]

The child is his alt trying to give himself a better childhood where dad was still around, not setting up franchises.

[@stockaudiobeat6524]

I just found out USA has Ketamine Infusion Therapy for Mental health. Putting that out there based on the movie. I'm pumped there's an answer.

[@jefferyautry3555]

Damn this just made me realize that I use dating apps the same way Jack or The Narrator used the meetings and fight club I manipulate to get affection and attention from people to validate my masculinity

[@BluEx22329]

You're Tyler durden

[@Stella.22g]

Bruh go work out

[@dc7236]

Damn .. me too

[@Bentautumn]

Cahm on this thing should be blowing up! Good work Jules keep up that awesome film passion and knack for spotting the little things! Really gives you something to think about

[@brianquincyscott1955]

Agreed...she never interacts with anyone during the movie except Jack's people...just like Tyler.

[@rikusoini4557]

You can clearly see her selling the clothes to a woman who isn't a part of "Jack's people". Also a woman in the support croup is waving away her ciggarette smoke. AND one of the cars stops when she steps in front of it.

[@HeatherHolt]

might be my favorite movie but i just realized what jack meant when he said he wondered how clean the gun is about a week ago.

[@FirstnameLastname-cx6go]

His luggage was vibrating.

[@sketchyaf8487]

big steaming pile of NOPE. Marla steals a small amount of clothes from the laundret to sell across the street, which cars screech to a halt as she does. Project mayhem members kidnapp Marla and take her to the paper street house and saw them buring there fingertips, she complains about the smell. a woman waves her hand at Marla smoke in a meeting. Read the book or the graphic novel sequel, Marla be real, yo.

[@HeatherHolt]

ok i agree with you that she is real, but... just for the hell of it... everything you mention are only things that Jack sees. and we know that Jack sees Tyler do things, people react to Tyler but only Jack is seeing people reacting to Tyler, and we know Tyler isn't real. So Jack is only seeing people react to Marla. When (in the movie) do we ever see Marla alone without Jack as the viewpoint? Not a time I can recall. Its BS, but its interesting to ponder on, if you've seen the movie so many times you've run out of things to ponder on.

[@garrybartlett6853]

That would be valid if he didnt imagine things.. sometimes your you... sometimes you imagine your self watching me... etc.. Marla is real...

[@sketchyaf8487]

@@HeatherHolt the first group where the narrator can cry at, the whole group turn and react to Marla walking in. the scene just before the narrator grabs her for a crying partner she is about to be approached by someone else. if you wanna use the whole "do we see them alone" then no, you could say the whole movie is in narrator's head if you wanna play that card. here's one that's bugged me. how could he be in charge of a soap company and not notice the tax he is paying or not paying, so the tax man would have found him like he always find me

[@1qwasz12]

You could watch Fight Club every day ? You need a white jacket in a cushioned room.

[@otto-alejandro5994]

Great theory, love the content!

[@Batman_83]

Tyler is the real name of the narrator, when he's flashing through the realization that Tyler is not real, he realizes that he in fact is Tyler. I always assumed Marla was also fake and I kinda think a lot of the project mayhem stuff was also all in Tyler's head. Though that one would be far harder to prove.

[@JustinHuman1269]

One anagram of Marla Singer is "Liars Engram". Coincide? Probably, but it kind of adds to this theory, since an Engram is a hypothetical permanent change in the brain accounting for the existence of memory, or a memory trace. She's some sort of a false memory, perhaps?

[@Soulvale88]

It really doesn’t matter in the slightest if this was a honest to goodness hidden secret in fight club. What matters is that it is cohesive and adds something to the original work. This theory is just as real as Tyler.

[@jewelx2xsparkle]

I like the theory that the Tyler jack meets on the plane is real and the Tyler we meet later is fake. Jack thought that tyler on the plane was so cool and genuine that that's who he made up in his mind later on that night.

[@FirstnameLastname-cx6go]

Hes seen in the "Welcome" tv commercial before that. It was an interject. Could be...

[@RealBadGaming52]

Sorry for commenting on an old comment but that’s a great theory , the “real Tyler” drives off in the red Sports Car

[@lucydean4028]

This is actually a plausible theory of the movie. With what was actually shown, as a standalone, it's actually reasonable to assume there to be a sub-sub plot....double twist if you will... in a subtle kind of background way. It does contain these, several actually. But even though I'm pretty sure this is not one of them...it does add an interesting dynamic to the story. Will watch the movie again with this in mind.

[@newell0214]

Well done well freaking done fellas. This is fantastic. I love that this makes this movie totally different for me now.

[@michaelkaye4689]

A couple of clues you didn't mention: Tyler and marla dont appear in the hallway mirror during the suicide attempt scene, and marla called the paper street house after she tried to OD, but he wasnt living with Tyler when they exchanged phone numbers at the beginning of the movie.

[@jeanmichellelaurent]

Although that’s because the house was already rented in his name

[@coboltblue75]

the question i have always had is fight club a club where guys beat themselves up? after all the whole thing was inspired by jack and tylers fight (spoiler alert but if you have not seen it by now what are you watching this video for) as we all know tyler is a figment of jacks mind.

[@ThorKCade]

andrew lawrence Fourth rule of Fight club: Only two guys to a fight.

[@coboltblue75]

@@ThorKCade the narrator is unreliable after all he thinks his first fight is between himself and Tyler so in other words between himself and himself. how does one punch themselves in the ear with any power

[@ThorKCade]

@@coboltblue75 While it's true the Narrator is unreliable, Narrator's fight with Tyler was not in the Club with any rules....It was only in the boss's office where there was a witness to a one man fight. Every fight in the club showed two participants. One of Tyler's jobs (as spokesman for Narrator's masculinity) was making sure that noone knew about the split personality... That's why Marla was such a "problem"--she revealed Tyler's true identity, first to the group's...so Tyler made Fight Club no girls allowed...but eventually to the Narrator.

[@WeTalkAboutSpaceships]

Great work, I like the theory. And always appreciate your kind closing words.

[@WeTalkAboutSpaceships]

Damian DeMort you seem to have missed the point of the channel or any other “theory” channel. These are simply interesting new ways of looking at the works of fiction, I’m well aware, having read the book and the sequel graphic novels how this doesn’t work. But I can appreciate a different analysis of the work. Safe travels

[@FirstnameLastname-cx6go]

@@InEXP626 0% supporting evidence. Okay, guy on the youtube.

[@benjin3993]

Something that took me a few watches was we was project mayhem going to watch the bombs explode in a building with bombs in the basement. I think i was a final test for Jack by Tyler to gain full controll.

[@StevePaulMyers]

Great theory, but if you have read the book, it falls apart.

[@MPAAsuckscock]

But the movie is not the book. The book is not the movie. You fall apart.

[@michaelwilson4907]

I like this theory on a narrative level, but I am curious as to why there is a scene where Marla is confronted by club members on the bus. Especially because the narrator doesn't see it happening. I also the irony that this fact was reported on in one of the Whatculture videos.

[@emyywolf]

I don’t think so, because she’s the one that lets him know about his alter. Usually those with DID don’t have an alter that tells them what’s up.

[@stephensshauntelle]

Marla also has the same "burn kiss" on her hand as Jack and Tyler in the book AND she is able to sit in a cancer group for a male only cancer without any issue

[@caincotterill5493]

Great vid, and a nice touch at the end too👍🏻 New sub here.

[@psyclepath1964]

Now I'm going to have to go to my storage unit, dig through 3 boxes of books, AND grab the DVD. I didn't have anything better to do anyway.

[@raw930]

But other people are seen interacting with Marla while Jack is around and they even refer to her as a lady! Jack grabs waiters arm,Clean food, Then might I suggest against the lady having the clam chowder! She was real!

[@ChiefWindyCheeks]

then who do the goon squad kidnap at the end?

[@hectornonayurbusiness2631]

Marla states that she was burned with lye by Tyler in the film.

[@AWorldofKayos]

This is a theory I’ve never seen befor and is a great one well done

[@MiSoScraben]

I've held that theory, previously, also. It was nipped by an associate whom stated Shanna Berry's comment towards me. At that point I shrugged it off and said that maybe they took creative liberty with that part of the film as they did with other notions. Still, it's great that I get a video that showcases a notion that I've previously held. Thanks. Even if we're wrong, at least I'm not the only crazy one. LOL.

[@jooliagoolia9959]

A fan theory I love but it seem others don't is.... The Narrator (Tyler) is Cameron in Ferris Bueller's Day Off all grown up in Fight Club. In Ferris Bueller's, he is the only one home sick and he envisions what a day off for Ferris would be compared to his mundane day home. In Fight Club ALL of meyhem and Marla are allll in his mind. 😍 😎 👍

[@nonvalidOT]

You had me right up until "Toxic Masculinity".

[@DarthWinterMadness]

Well we're talking about delusional characters, and it seems only delusional people are able to see "toxic masculinity". It makes it relevant to the video! Peace from France! 🍻 PS: I'm so sorry I've dropped a variant of this comment in several threads, but it is still the truth...

[@BittermanAndy]

Uh, it's literally what the film is about.

[@darinnettles1714]

Love the theory. Weather its meant to be that way in the film or not itll be fun to go back and watch this classic again with the spin of her being another part of Jacks mind. Love when a favorite classic movie gets a new fresh theory that makes it all that much more interesting to go back and revisit it. Might have to do that tonight. Thanks for the great vid and theory.

[@taste_is_sweet]

'Marla' actually also sounds a bit like 'Tyler', which may or may not be significant.

[@dwhawthorne5615]

I was surprised this video didn’t mention Jack most likely having testicular cancer, and this causing an upheaval in Jack’s self perception of his own manhood, hence the creation of Marla. The likelihood of the cancer making him infertile veers his life off course from what society expects, hence the physical and metaphorical blowing up of what he perceived as his “life” as Tyler is manifested.

[@tovopro]

At 3:50, the two alternates interact with each other physically. Theory proved!

[@IncrediGeorge]

Err, Tyler and Jack interact physically and even fight so what's your point?

[@gerroddawson3186]

An insightful theory, considering how dissociative personality disorders and MPD are theorized by professionals, while we don't truly understand these afflictions, we know that the personalities are codependent on one another, good theory, right or wrong, its still a kickass movie l!