In a piece of
fiction, a Plot Hole is a completely implausible occurrence or series of events that contradicts
logic or previously established events in the story. Includes things such as unlikely behaviour or actions of characters, illogical or impossible events, events happening for no apparent reason, or statements/events that contradict earlier events in the storyline.
A Plot Hole is NOT a
simple omission of information or unanswered question. These can only be considered a Plot Hole if
said omission has no plausible explanation AND is essential information to the overall story's outcome.
Plot Hole: Something that goes against logic or the previous events in the fiction.
Not a Plot Hole: A small unexplained event in the story.
ACTUAL Plot Hole: In Batman Begins a microwave emitter is used to vaporize the
water in Gotham to release a psychedelic drug that the
water has been laced with. However, the microwaves would in all actuality caused all of the
water molecules in every human body to boil and kill everyone very painfully. But this does not happen in the movie.
NOT a Plot Hole: In The Dark Knight Rises, not explaining how Bruce
Wayne manages to get back onto the Island of Gotham after it has been cut off from the rest of the world.