Frogs

Frogs are a critical motif in Magnolia. As Phil Parma so succinctly asks, "Why are frogs falling from the sky?"

The movie contains multiple references to Exodus Chapter 8 Verse 2. The King James Bible translation of that verse: "And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs." Beyond this foreshadowing, numerous characters note that it's raining "cats and dogs."

The frogs are obviously a deus ex machina and significantly affect the events of Magnolia: Linda Partridge's ambulance overturns because of them, Donnie Smith falls from a ladder because of them, and Jimmy Gator is unsuccessful in his suicide attempt because of them.