In American films, there are scenes like the main character / villain lights a cigarette and throws a match on spilled gasoline, a fiery path, and then a beautiful explosion.

When I light the samovar, as a rule, my matches go out before flying 10 centimeters.

Are American matches really that good?

25 comments

  1. It depends on the brand, but it’s definitely possible, if in many cases decidedly implausible.

  3. Our matches are legally required to be able to start explosions like you see in the movies

  4. There’s plenty of stressful scenes where people unsuccessfully light matches. So it depends. If your life is in danger and you need to light something in order to save your life, your match or lighter might almost fail (according to Hollywood).

  6. The old, good strike anywhere ones were like that. The new “safer, cleaner” ones suck.

  8. You are taking movies *way* too seriously.

    Imagine how many other things you see in movies. Those probably aren’t true either.

  9. Those are props. [They have paper bags that don’t make noise](https://youtube.com/shorts/Xj-Jj91aGrg?feature=share) because it’s a pain to deal with it on set or when editing.

    Movies don’t generally have the goal of accidentally reflecting realtiy. They are made to tell a story. Even the glass the light goes through is a deliberate choice, just as making a too-perfect match fly though the air.

    Your uncle putting on a voice as if he were speaking as someone else is doing the same thing.

  10. Michael Bay brand matches can be thrown like baseballs and ignite anything combustible in a 2-meter radius.

  11. I know how to throw a match so it could go some distance before snuffing out, but it requires flicking it as you light it. Striking it, lighting up a smoke, then tossing it, no. They’d go about a foot, then go out.

  12. It’s done for cinematic effect. It’s an exaggeration, much like seeing explosions in Bollywood movies. It’s just a movie trope.

  13. Really depends on the brand. Most matchbook matches are pieces of crap, but when I picked up a box of matches from a liquor store, those things were amazing and really high quality.

  14. it doesn’t look as cool when the villain has to strike the match 3 times, runs out of matches, has to find another matchbox, it still doesn’t work, and on the 5th try finally gets it to light.

  15. No, the magic match that causes a massive explosion is Hollywood fantasy. Plus, petrol and diesel doesn’t explode like it has been packed with C4, it is more of a burning WHOOOSH. Dangerous, for sure, but unless it is one of those huge underground tanks it isn’t exactly like the movies

  16. I legitimately can’t figure out if this is just another “are movies real life?” question from a foreigner that doesn’t understand how tropes works, or if it’s satire of those questions.

  17. There’s an actual conspiracy theory about Arizona matches and a small community college in Colorado. It doesn’t go all the way to the top, more like just below the middle, but regardless, something big is happening

  19. I recommend watching Mythbusters to show you how utterly ridiculous these movie tropes are.

  20. You need to thoroughly coat your Samovar with gasoline prior to lighting, that should do the trick.

  21. It works best if the phosphorous match head is still igniting as the match travels through the air. Once it is done burning and just the match stick on fire, it will go out like blowing out a candle.

    Source: tested during boy scout camp trips. We would hold the matchstick with the head on the striker and flick the matches to light and send them flying through the air.

  23. Our movies are already too long. We edit it out all the time villains spent finding a match that stays lit.

  24. In the late 70s, the matches were good. About 40 gallons gas and a storm sewer in new construction. It was possibly awesome from what I heard 😉

  25. When we throw matches, everything around us also moves in slow motion. That’s how good they are.

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