Ebert's Glossary of Movie Terms

Automatically Arriving Automobiles

Whenever cars in a chase go through a four-way junction, unrelated cars must appear from each direction and skid into the center. These cars may either stop unharmed or crash into each other in the center, upon which all the drivers will get out and shake fists at each other. No cars actually involved in the chase are ever involved in the crash.

 

Classic Car Rule

Whenever a beautiful classic car—usually the prized possession of an unsympathetic father—is introduced at the beginning of a film, that car will be wrecked by the end of it. (See RISKY BUSINESS, FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF, COUPE DE VILLE, etc.)

 

And More!…

 

http://academic.sun.ac.za/forlang/bergman/tech/glossary/ebert_glos.htm