Greatest film plot twists
Sort by:
Showing 40 items
Decade:
Rating:
List Type:
The Sixth Sense (1999)
SPOILER ALERT!!!!
TWIST: Dr. Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis) never survived the gunshot from the beginning of the film which makes him one of the dead people seen by troubled and disturbed 8 year old boy Cole Sear (Haley Joel Osment).
TWIST: Dr. Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis) never survived the gunshot from the beginning of the film which makes him one of the dead people seen by troubled and disturbed 8 year old boy Cole Sear (Haley Joel Osment).
SJMJ91's rating:

Fight Club (1999)
SPOILER ALERT!!!!
TWIST: Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) was actually one side of the split personality-psyche of the 'Narrator's (Edward Norton) own imagination.
TWIST: Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) was actually one side of the split personality-psyche of the 'Narrator's (Edward Norton) own imagination.
SJMJ91's rating:

Psycho (1960)
SPOILER ALERT!!!!
TWIST: There are about three plot twists during Psycho.
1: Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) is unexpectedly murdered whilst in the shower.
2: Sheriff Chambers reveals that Mrs. Bates had been dead for 10 years considering that she is the supposed prime suspect for the recent murders of Marion and Private Investigator Arbogast. Also, rises even more suspense about who is in the coffin if Mrs. Bates was alive.
3: Mrs. Bates really is dead and Norman is revealed to be the killer, but under a different personality. During this, it is learned that Norman killed his mother and her lover when he was a teenager and to get rid of the guilt, he developed a split-personality and tries to be his mother as if she's alive, hence why there was a person in women's clothing.
TWIST: There are about three plot twists during Psycho.
1: Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) is unexpectedly murdered whilst in the shower.
2: Sheriff Chambers reveals that Mrs. Bates had been dead for 10 years considering that she is the supposed prime suspect for the recent murders of Marion and Private Investigator Arbogast. Also, rises even more suspense about who is in the coffin if Mrs. Bates was alive.
3: Mrs. Bates really is dead and Norman is revealed to be the killer, but under a different personality. During this, it is learned that Norman killed his mother and her lover when he was a teenager and to get rid of the guilt, he developed a split-personality and tries to be his mother as if she's alive, hence why there was a person in women's clothing.
SJMJ91's rating:

SPOILER ALERT!!!!
TWIST: The supposed son of George and Martha was coming home for his birthday the day after. However, it was revealed that their son is actually a fantasy. Why this was revealed was because Martha happened to only mention it to Honey so she told George and he ended up slowly revealing that he never existed.
TWIST: The supposed son of George and Martha was coming home for his birthday the day after. However, it was revealed that their son is actually a fantasy. Why this was revealed was because Martha happened to only mention it to Honey so she told George and he ended up slowly revealing that he never existed.
SJMJ91's rating:

Matchstick Men (2003)
SPOILER ALERT!!!!
TWIST: Angela (Alison Lohman) was never Roy Waller's (Nicolas Cage) long-lost daughter. She was a solution to con Roy and was hired by Roy's young partner Frank Mercer (Sam Rockwell).
TWIST: Angela (Alison Lohman) was never Roy Waller's (Nicolas Cage) long-lost daughter. She was a solution to con Roy and was hired by Roy's young partner Frank Mercer (Sam Rockwell).
SJMJ91's rating:

The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
SPOILER ALERT!!!!
TWIST: After defeating Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) in a duel, Darth Vader (David Prowse, James Earl Jones) reveals himself as Luke's father when Luke believed that Vader murdered him. Plus, just after Luke manages to escape from Vader, Princess Leia mysteriously senses Luke is in danger and his whereabouts. So, that leaves you with a few questions.
TWIST: After defeating Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) in a duel, Darth Vader (David Prowse, James Earl Jones) reveals himself as Luke's father when Luke believed that Vader murdered him. Plus, just after Luke manages to escape from Vader, Princess Leia mysteriously senses Luke is in danger and his whereabouts. So, that leaves you with a few questions.
SJMJ91's rating:

Rebecca (1940)
SPOILER ALERT!!!!
TWIST: Mr. Maxim De Winter (Laurence Olivier) hated his first wife Rebecca and he himself murdered her.
TWIST: Mr. Maxim De Winter (Laurence Olivier) hated his first wife Rebecca and he himself murdered her.
SJMJ91's rating:

Saw (2004)
SPOILER ALERT!!!!
TWIST: The Jigsaw Killer was actually the supposed dead corpse in the center of the room where photographer Adam Faulkner (Leigh Whannell) and surgeon Lawrence Corden (Cary Elwes) were held captives.
TWIST: The Jigsaw Killer was actually the supposed dead corpse in the center of the room where photographer Adam Faulkner (Leigh Whannell) and surgeon Lawrence Corden (Cary Elwes) were held captives.
SJMJ91's rating:

Planet of the Apes (1968)
SPOILER ALERT!!!!
TWIST: The planet where the apes are on is revealed as Earth. The ship at the beginning traveled in time, not space.
TWIST: The planet where the apes are on is revealed as Earth. The ship at the beginning traveled in time, not space.
SJMJ91's rating:

SPOILER ALERT!!!!
TWIST: The killer is revealed to be both Sidney's boyfriend Billy and his best friend Stu. They also reveal that they killed Sidney's mother one year before and had framed Cotton Weary for her murder.
TWIST: The killer is revealed to be both Sidney's boyfriend Billy and his best friend Stu. They also reveal that they killed Sidney's mother one year before and had framed Cotton Weary for her murder.
SJMJ91's rating:

Secret Window (2004)
SPOILER ALERT!!!!
TWIST: The stalker John Shooter (John Turturro) never existed. He was in Mort's (Johnny Depp) imagination and was his way to avenge his wife (Maria Bello) for leaving him for someone else (Timothy Hutton). It was revealed that "Shooter" really meant "shoot her" (meaning shoot Mort's wife).
TWIST: The stalker John Shooter (John Turturro) never existed. He was in Mort's (Johnny Depp) imagination and was his way to avenge his wife (Maria Bello) for leaving him for someone else (Timothy Hutton). It was revealed that "Shooter" really meant "shoot her" (meaning shoot Mort's wife).
SJMJ91's rating:

Chinatown (1974)
SPOILER ALERT!!!!
TWIST: After Evelyn reveals that Katherine, the one who was having an affair with her husband, is her sister, she reveals that she is her daughter and her sister. As a teenager, she was incestuously raped by her father Noah Cross. During the film's climax, Evelyn was accidentally shot by a police officer and Katherine left with Noah.
TWIST: After Evelyn reveals that Katherine, the one who was having an affair with her husband, is her sister, she reveals that she is her daughter and her sister. As a teenager, she was incestuously raped by her father Noah Cross. During the film's climax, Evelyn was accidentally shot by a police officer and Katherine left with Noah.
SJMJ91's rating:

Casino Royale (2006)
SPOILER ALERT!!!!
TWIST: Vesper Lynd (Eva Green) betrays James Bond (Daniel Craig) by giving the poker winnings to the organization behind Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen).
TWIST: Vesper Lynd (Eva Green) betrays James Bond (Daniel Craig) by giving the poker winnings to the organization behind Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen).
SJMJ91's rating:

The Third Man (1949)
SPOILER ALERT!!!!
TWIST: Harry Lime never died in the car crash and appeared out of nowhere.
TWIST: Harry Lime never died in the car crash and appeared out of nowhere.
SJMJ91's rating:

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)
SPOILER ALERT!!!!
TWIST: It is revealed that the entire film is not a flashback, but a fantasy made up by mentally-ill narrator Francis. Also, he as well as Jane and Cesare are all inmates in the mental asylum and the supposed Dr. Caligari turns out to be Francis's psychiatric doctor.
TWIST: It is revealed that the entire film is not a flashback, but a fantasy made up by mentally-ill narrator Francis. Also, he as well as Jane and Cesare are all inmates in the mental asylum and the supposed Dr. Caligari turns out to be Francis's psychiatric doctor.
SJMJ91's rating:

SPOILER ALERT!!!!
TWIST: The beggar woman that Benjamin Barker/Sweeney Todd (Johnny Depp) murdered minutes before killing Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman), is revealed to be his wife Lucy. She never died but she became dangerously disturbed after being raped by Turpin. So when Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter) said she poisoned herself and that "she was gone". So, basically, he killed all those people except Turpin, (mind you, he might not have raped Lucy at all seeing as it was in fact a song and a flashback. So, it could've been a story from Mrs. Lovett or a vision in Sweeney's head) for no reason.
TWIST: The beggar woman that Benjamin Barker/Sweeney Todd (Johnny Depp) murdered minutes before killing Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman), is revealed to be his wife Lucy. She never died but she became dangerously disturbed after being raped by Turpin. So when Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter) said she poisoned herself and that "she was gone". So, basically, he killed all those people except Turpin, (mind you, he might not have raped Lucy at all seeing as it was in fact a song and a flashback. So, it could've been a story from Mrs. Lovett or a vision in Sweeney's head) for no reason.
SJMJ91's rating:

Shutter Island (2010)
SPOILER ALERT!!!!
TWIST: Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) is Andrew Laeddis and Rachel Solando doesn't exist. Daniels/Laeddis has been a patient at Ashcliffe for 2 years! Daniels/Laeddis' wife Dolores Chanal (Michelle Williams) is the woman who committed the crimes that the supposed Solando did, and was the murderer of their childrens.
TWIST: Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) is Andrew Laeddis and Rachel Solando doesn't exist. Daniels/Laeddis has been a patient at Ashcliffe for 2 years! Daniels/Laeddis' wife Dolores Chanal (Michelle Williams) is the woman who committed the crimes that the supposed Solando did, and was the murderer of their childrens.
SJMJ91's rating:

Seven (1995)
SPOILER ALERT!!!!
TWIST: John Doe (Kevin Spacey) directs the two detectives David Mills (Brad Pitt) and Lt. William Somerset (Morgan Freeman) to a remote desert area far from the city. After arriving at the location, a delivery van approaches; the scared driver tells the detectives he was paid to deliver a package precisely at this time and location, and is told to leave after handing it over. Inside the box is the decapitated head of Mills' pregnant wife Tracy (Gwyneth Paltrow).
TWIST: John Doe (Kevin Spacey) directs the two detectives David Mills (Brad Pitt) and Lt. William Somerset (Morgan Freeman) to a remote desert area far from the city. After arriving at the location, a delivery van approaches; the scared driver tells the detectives he was paid to deliver a package precisely at this time and location, and is told to leave after handing it over. Inside the box is the decapitated head of Mills' pregnant wife Tracy (Gwyneth Paltrow).
SJMJ91's rating:

A Clockwork Orange (1971)
SPOILER ALERT!!!!
TWIST: Not that many people noticed this but Alex's face right at the end and the fantasy he had having sex with a woman and saying "I was cured, all right" at the end shows that Alex has returned back to his old self again before his imprisonment.
TWIST: Not that many people noticed this but Alex's face right at the end and the fantasy he had having sex with a woman and saying "I was cured, all right" at the end shows that Alex has returned back to his old self again before his imprisonment.
SJMJ91's rating:

The Usual Suspects (1995)
SPOILER ALERT!!!!
TWIST: Roger "Verbal" Kint (Kevin Spacey) is revealed as Keyser Soze!
TWIST: Roger "Verbal" Kint (Kevin Spacey) is revealed as Keyser Soze!
SJMJ91's rating:

The Others (2001)
SPOILER ALERT!!!!
TWIST: Grace Stewart (Nicole Kidman) and her two children are dead ghosts.
TWIST: Grace Stewart (Nicole Kidman) and her two children are dead ghosts.
SJMJ91's rating:

SPOILER ALERT!!!!
TWIST: There are quite a lot of plot twists in this one. Three of them involved in one scene (within the memories of Severus Snape) and another toward the end just after defeating Lord Voldemort.
So, in the memories of Snape, it was revealed that:
1. Dumbledore's death at the hands of Severus Snape in Half-Blood Prince wasn't murder. It was planned between them due to the fact that Dumbledore was dying anyway from a curse on Marvolo Gaunt's ring.
2. Snape loved Harry's mother Lily from childhood to after many years since her death, and vowed to protect Harry out of his love for her despite hating Harry's father James.
3. Harry finds out that he (specifically his scar) is a Horcrux and that he must die in order to destroy the piece of Voldemort within him.
As for the plot twist towards the end, Harry finds out and tells Ron and Hermione that Harry is the new master of the Elder Wand after disarming Draco Malfoy, who in turn disarmed it's previous owner: Albus Dumbledore in the Astronomy Tower in Half-Blood Prince.
TWIST: There are quite a lot of plot twists in this one. Three of them involved in one scene (within the memories of Severus Snape) and another toward the end just after defeating Lord Voldemort.
So, in the memories of Snape, it was revealed that:
1. Dumbledore's death at the hands of Severus Snape in Half-Blood Prince wasn't murder. It was planned between them due to the fact that Dumbledore was dying anyway from a curse on Marvolo Gaunt's ring.
2. Snape loved Harry's mother Lily from childhood to after many years since her death, and vowed to protect Harry out of his love for her despite hating Harry's father James.
3. Harry finds out that he (specifically his scar) is a Horcrux and that he must die in order to destroy the piece of Voldemort within him.
As for the plot twist towards the end, Harry finds out and tells Ron and Hermione that Harry is the new master of the Elder Wand after disarming Draco Malfoy, who in turn disarmed it's previous owner: Albus Dumbledore in the Astronomy Tower in Half-Blood Prince.
SJMJ91's rating:

SPOILER ALERT!!!!
TWIST: We originally thought that Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban to avenge Voldemort by killing Harry, but it turned out that Black was in fact framed for his alleged crimes by Peter Pettigrew. Black was after revenge against Pettigrew, not Harry.
TWIST: We originally thought that Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban to avenge Voldemort by killing Harry, but it turned out that Black was in fact framed for his alleged crimes by Peter Pettigrew. Black was after revenge against Pettigrew, not Harry.
SJMJ91's rating:

Hot Fuzz (2007)
SPOILER ALERT!!!!
TWIST: The entire NWA are the killers of some of the villagers of Sandford over the past 20 years. The inspector of the police Frank Butterman (Jim Broadbent) is the leader and tells it all began since his late wife Irene's suicide when Danny previously described her death as a "traffic collusion".
TWIST: The entire NWA are the killers of some of the villagers of Sandford over the past 20 years. The inspector of the police Frank Butterman (Jim Broadbent) is the leader and tells it all began since his late wife Irene's suicide when Danny previously described her death as a "traffic collusion".
SJMJ91's rating:

The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
SPOILER ALERT!!!!
TWIST: Mid-way through the film, the audience had learned that Bane is supposedly the son of Ra's al Ghul, but it is later revealed that Miranda Tate (a member of Wayne Enterprises executive board and Bruce's love interest) is in fact Talia al Ghul - Ra's daughter. Her mother had given birth to her in a prison and Bane, another prisoner, served as her protector and life-long friend.
TWIST: Mid-way through the film, the audience had learned that Bane is supposedly the son of Ra's al Ghul, but it is later revealed that Miranda Tate (a member of Wayne Enterprises executive board and Bruce's love interest) is in fact Talia al Ghul - Ra's daughter. Her mother had given birth to her in a prison and Bane, another prisoner, served as her protector and life-long friend.
SJMJ91's rating:

Black Swan (2010)
SPOILER ALERT!!!!
TWIST: When Nina thought she killed Lily because she thought she was the reason behind why Nina is feeling the way she is feeling seeing as she was the Black Swan before, it reveals that Nina didn't stab Lily. She stabbed herself and after her performance on-stage she collapses and her survival remains unknown.
TWIST: When Nina thought she killed Lily because she thought she was the reason behind why Nina is feeling the way she is feeling seeing as she was the Black Swan before, it reveals that Nina didn't stab Lily. She stabbed herself and after her performance on-stage she collapses and her survival remains unknown.
SJMJ91's rating:

Vertigo (1958)
SPOILER ALERT!!!!
TWIST: Madeline Elster and Judy Barton (Kim Novak) are revealed as the same person.
TWIST: Madeline Elster and Judy Barton (Kim Novak) are revealed as the same person.
SJMJ91's rating:

SPOILER ALERT!!!!
TWIST: Elektra King, the young woman who's father Sir Robert King was killed just after she was kidnapped was revealed as the one who caused King's death and the one who made terrorist Renard become a terrorist. So, she was like the leader of the group. Also, it was revealed that she was never kidnapped. She only did that to blackmail her father.
TWIST: Elektra King, the young woman who's father Sir Robert King was killed just after she was kidnapped was revealed as the one who caused King's death and the one who made terrorist Renard become a terrorist. So, she was like the leader of the group. Also, it was revealed that she was never kidnapped. She only did that to blackmail her father.
SJMJ91's rating:

Mystic River (2003)
SPOILER ALERT!!!!
TWIST: Dave (Tim Robbins) was not the actual killer of Katie Markum (Emmy Rossum) even though he said he admitted that he did do it. Dave did kill someone though: a child molester after catching him having sex with a child prostitute. Dave did this because he was a sexual abuse victim as a child. That didn't save Dave because his old friend Jimmy Markum (Sean Penn) who is Katie's father murdered Dave even though he was innocent.
TWIST: Dave (Tim Robbins) was not the actual killer of Katie Markum (Emmy Rossum) even though he said he admitted that he did do it. Dave did kill someone though: a child molester after catching him having sex with a child prostitute. Dave did this because he was a sexual abuse victim as a child. That didn't save Dave because his old friend Jimmy Markum (Sean Penn) who is Katie's father murdered Dave even though he was innocent.
SJMJ91's rating:

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
SPOILER ALERT!!!!
TWIST: Grandpa Hoover dies of a drug overdose and the chemistry between all of the characters becomes more civil.
TWIST: Grandpa Hoover dies of a drug overdose and the chemistry between all of the characters becomes more civil.
SJMJ91's rating:

SPOILER ALERT!!!!
TWIST: Tom Riddle, a malevolent memory in the mysterious diary, turns out to be Lord Voldemort as a teenager and the Heir of Slytherin and, therefore, the one who ordered the Basilisk to attack the Muggle-borns.
TWIST: Tom Riddle, a malevolent memory in the mysterious diary, turns out to be Lord Voldemort as a teenager and the Heir of Slytherin and, therefore, the one who ordered the Basilisk to attack the Muggle-borns.
SJMJ91's rating:

American Psycho (2000)
SPOILER ALERT!!!!
TWIST: All of those murders that Patrick committed were all supposedly revealed to have been in his imagination.
TWIST: All of those murders that Patrick committed were all supposedly revealed to have been in his imagination.
SJMJ91's rating:

SPOILER ALERT!!!!
TWIST: The suspect to steal the Philosopher's Stone was, in fact, the stuttering Professor Quirrell, when Harry and his friends suspected it was Severus Snape. Also, Quirrell became until the possessive control of Lord Voldemort, who wanted a full body of his own, which the Stone's power can give him.
TWIST: The suspect to steal the Philosopher's Stone was, in fact, the stuttering Professor Quirrell, when Harry and his friends suspected it was Severus Snape. Also, Quirrell became until the possessive control of Lord Voldemort, who wanted a full body of his own, which the Stone's power can give him.
SJMJ91's rating:

Match Point (2005)
SPOILER ALERT!!!!
TWIST: Chris Wilton (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers) shot his pregnant mistress Nola (Scarlett Johansson) to hide the affair he had behind his pregnant wife's (Emily Mortimer) back.
TWIST: Chris Wilton (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers) shot his pregnant mistress Nola (Scarlett Johansson) to hide the affair he had behind his pregnant wife's (Emily Mortimer) back.
SJMJ91's rating:

SPOILER ALERT!!!!
TWIST: Just after James Bond and Tracy Di Vicenzo get married and the film is coming to an end, they are under attack but when they survive it, Bond discovers that his new wife has just been shot in the head.
TWIST: Just after James Bond and Tracy Di Vicenzo get married and the film is coming to an end, they are under attack but when they survive it, Bond discovers that his new wife has just been shot in the head.
SJMJ91's rating:

The Departed (2006)
SPOILER ALERT!!!!
TWIST: After Billy (Leonardo DiCaprio) finds our the truth about who Costello's rat is, he arrests Colin (Matt Damon) and they go down in a lift and out of nowhere, Billy is suddenly shot in the head and killed by cop Barrigan (James Badge Dale) who reveals himself to be Costello's (Jack Nicholson) second mole in the police.
TWIST: After Billy (Leonardo DiCaprio) finds our the truth about who Costello's rat is, he arrests Colin (Matt Damon) and they go down in a lift and out of nowhere, Billy is suddenly shot in the head and killed by cop Barrigan (James Badge Dale) who reveals himself to be Costello's (Jack Nicholson) second mole in the police.
SJMJ91's rating:

Inception (2010)
SPOILER ALERT!!!!
TWIST: Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) reunites with his children. He spins his totem to test reality. The top spins without fault for a long period of time, but begins to wobble just as the screen smash cuts to black, leaving the audience to determine whether Cobb is actually in a dream or in reality.
TWIST: Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) reunites with his children. He spins his totem to test reality. The top spins without fault for a long period of time, but begins to wobble just as the screen smash cuts to black, leaving the audience to determine whether Cobb is actually in a dream or in reality.
SJMJ91's rating:

SPOILER ALERT!!!!
TWIST: After Harry returns from that graveyard with Cedric's corpse, teacher Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody is revealed to have been the cause of Harry's involvement in the Triwizard Tournament. And another twist: it isn't really Alastor Moody! The real person behind him was Death Eater Barty Crouch Jr. and we realise that he himself murdered his father Barty Crouch Sr. but under someone else's body.
TWIST: After Harry returns from that graveyard with Cedric's corpse, teacher Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody is revealed to have been the cause of Harry's involvement in the Triwizard Tournament. And another twist: it isn't really Alastor Moody! The real person behind him was Death Eater Barty Crouch Jr. and we realise that he himself murdered his father Barty Crouch Sr. but under someone else's body.
SJMJ91's rating:

Being John Malkovich (1999)
SPOILER ALERT!!!!
TWIST: Craig Schwartz (John Cusack) ends up watching Maxine (Catherine Keener) and Lotte (Cameron Diaz) through the eyes of their young child just like he could with John Malkovich.
TWIST: Craig Schwartz (John Cusack) ends up watching Maxine (Catherine Keener) and Lotte (Cameron Diaz) through the eyes of their young child just like he could with John Malkovich.
SJMJ91's rating:

People who voted for this also voted for
Movie journal - July 2011
Watched in 2011 pt. 2
Best movies of 1988
My 1994 Favorites
Monthly Movie Journal: July 2011
Best movies of 1981
September Movie Journal - Xanadon't
Monthly Movie Journal: December 2011
[Cue hilarious skeleton]
Best Films of 1988
My 2009 favorites
Favorite films of 2014
Best albums of 2000
Favorite scary movies
Best albums of the 00s lists v.2.0
More lists from SJMJ91
Most anticipating films of 2011...
Best threequals..
Best remakes.
Films that were in my possession in Italy.
Director: Woody Allen
1998 In Film.
2004 In Film - Best To Worst.