Criticism of dream sequences in film and television storytelling

The use of dream sequences in film and television is criticized as a lazy storytelling device that can undermine narrative commitment. The practice is often viewed as a way for creators to undo established stakes, similar to a writer ending a chapter by revealing events were not real.

Director Christopher Nolan is noted for avoiding traditional surrealist dream imagery, even in films like ‘Inception’ where the settings remain grounded. This aligns with the argument that audiences may devalue dream sequences when they serve as a narrative escape hatch rather than meaningful plot progression.