High School

What is it called when the audience believes the climax of the movie has occurred and the outcome has been determined, but the true climax happens later in the film?

Answer :

Final answer:

A seeming climax that is followed by the actual climax is known as a false climax or mid-climax twist, which misleads the audience momentarily before the plot moves towards the true climax and resolution.

Explanation:

What you're referring to in a film, when the audience is led to believe that the climax has occurred but it actually occurs later in the story, is often called a false climax or a mid-climax twist. It's a narrative device where the tension seems to resolve, only for another peak of tension to emerge as the true climax. The structure of a plot typically includes the rising action, leading to the climax, followed by the falling action and eventually the resolution or dénouement. These later stages, the falling action and dénouement, are meant to wind down the narrative, resolving subplots and leading to the end of the story.