Our team compiled the best plot twist movies and here is what they came up with
Plot twists have become an integral part of the movie industry. They keep us captivated and guessing until the very end. Whether it’s a surprise ending, a shocking reveal, or a clever twist, a great plot twist can make a movie memorable. With that in mind, here are the 30 best plot twist movies of all time.
Here are the 21 best plot twist movies to check out on the streaming service.
1. The Sixth Sense (1999)
The Sixth Sense (1999) – MPAA rating: PG-13 – Box office: $293 million – Year of release: 1999 – Why it was appreciated: The Sixth Sense shocked audiences with its powerful and unexpected twist ending. Written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, the film follows a troubled child psychologist (Bruce Willis) as he tries to help a young boy (Haley Joel Osment) who claims to see dead people. Though the twist ending has been parodied and referenced countless times, it still retains its power to surprise and shock.
2. Fight Club (1999)
Fight Club (1999) – MPAA rating: R – Box office: $100 million – Year of release: 1999 – Why it was appreciated: Fight Club was one of the most controversial films of its time, and also one of the most clever. The film follows a depressed insomniac (Edward Norton) who meets an enigmatic soap salesman (Brad Pitt) and starts an underground fight club. But the real twist is revealed near the end, when the viewer learns that the two characters are actually the same person.
3. The Usual Suspects (1995)
The Usual Suspects (1995) – MPAA rating: R – Box office: $23 million – Year of release: 1995 – Why it was appreciated: The Usual Suspects is a neo-noir crime thriller that follows five criminals who are brought together to plan a heist. The film boasts a truly shocking twist ending that has become one of the most iconic in cinematic history.
4. Shutter Island (2010)
Shutter Island (2010) – MPAA rating: R – Box office: $294 million – Year of release: 2010 – Why it was appreciated: Shutter Island is a psychological thriller directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio. The film follows a U.S. Marshal (DiCaprio) who is investigating a mysterious disappearance on a remote island. The film’s shocking twist ending is sure to leave viewers’ minds spinning.
5. Memento (2000)
Memento (2000) – MPAA rating: R – Box office: $25 million – Year of release: 2000 – Why it was appreciated: Memento is a neo-noir psychological thriller written and directed by Christopher Nolan. The film follows a man (Guy Pearce) with short-term memory loss as he searches for the man who killed his wife. The film’s narrative structure and unexpected twist ending make it a must-see for fans of Nolan’s work.
6. The Prestige (2006)
The Prestige (2006) – MPAA rating: PG-13 – Box office: $109 million – Year of release: 2006 – Why it was appreciated: The Prestige is a period drama directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale. The film is set in late 19th century London and follows two magicians as they compete to create the greatest illusion. The film has a clever and unexpected twist ending that keeps viewers guessing until the very end.
7. Primal Fear (1996)
Primal Fear (1996) – MPAA rating: R – Box office: $52 million – Year of release: 1996 – Why it was appreciated: Primal Fear is a legal drama directed by Gregory Hoblit and starring Richard Gere and Edward Norton. The film follows a defense attorney (Gere) who takes on a case involving a young man (Norton) accused of murdering an archbishop. The film’s shocking twist ending will leave viewers guessing until the very end.
8. The Village (2004)
The Village (2004) – MPAA rating: PG-13 – Box office: $256 million – Year of release: 2004 – Why it was appreciated: The Village is a psychological horror film written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan. The film follows a group of villagers who live in a remote settlement in the late 19th century. The film’s unexpected twist ending has become one of the most iconic in cinematic history.
9. The Game (1997)
The Game (1997) – MPAA rating: R – Box office: $48 million – Year of release: 1997 – Why it was appreciated: The Game is a psychological thriller directed by David Fincher and starring Michael Douglas. The film follows a wealthy banker (Douglas) who is drawn into a complex and dangerous game by a mysterious organization. The film’s twist ending is sure to keep viewers guessing until the very end.
10. Oldboy (2003)
Oldboy (2003) – MPAA rating: R – Box office: $4.9 million – Year of release: 2003 – Why it was appreciated: Oldboy is a South Korean neo-noir action thriller directed by Park Chan-wook. The film follows a man (Choi Min-sik) who is mysteriously released from captivity after being held for 15 years. The film’s unexpected twist ending is sure to leave viewers’ jaws on the floor.
11. Se7en (1995)
Se7en (1995) – MPAA rating: R – Box office: $327 million – Year of release: 1995 – Why it was appreciated: Se7en is a neo-noir crime thriller directed by David Fincher and starring Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt. The film follows two detectives (Freeman and Pitt) as they hunt for a serial killer who bases his crimes on the seven deadly sins. The film’s shocking twist ending is sure to leave viewers stunned.
12. The Others (2001)
The Others (2001) – MPAA rating: PG-13 – Box office: $209 million – Year of release: 2001 – Why it was appreciated: The Others is a psychological horror film written and directed by Alejandro Amenábar and starring Nicole Kidman. The film follows a woman (Kidman) living in a remote mansion who begins to suspect that her home is haunted. The film’s twist ending is sure to leave viewers shocked.
13. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
The Shawshank Redemption (1994) – MPAA rating: R – Box office: $58 million – Year of release: 1994 – Why it was appreciated: The Shawshank Redemption is a drama directed by Frank Darabont and starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman. The film follows a man (Robbins) who is wrongfully convicted of murder and sent to a prison run by a cruel warden (Freeman). The film’s unexpected twist ending is sure to leave viewers in tears.
14. The Crying Game (1992)
The Crying Game (1992) – MPAA rating: R – Box office: $62 million – Year of release: 1992 – Why it was appreciated: The Crying Game is a psychological thriller directed by Neil Jordan and starring Stephen Rea and Forest Whitaker. The film follows a British soldier (Rea) who is held captive by an Irish Republican Army member (Whitaker). The film’s twist ending is sure to leave viewers stunned.
15. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
The Silence of the Lambs (1991) – MPAA rating: R – Box office: $272 million – Year of release: 1991 – Why it was appreciated: The Silence of the Lambs is a psychological horror-thriller directed by Jonathan Demme and starring Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins. The film follows an FBI trainee (Foster) as she attempts to catch a serial killer (Hopkins) with the help of another imprisoned killer. The film’s twist ending is sure to leave viewers speechless.
16. The Bone Collector (1999)
The Bone Collector (1999) – MPAA rating: R – Box office: $151 million – Year of release: 1999 – Why it was appreciated: The Bone Collector is a psychological thriller directed by Phillip Noyce and starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie. The film follows a detective (Washington) who is paralyzed and must work with a criminal profiler (Jolie) to catch a serial killer. The film’s unexpected twist ending is sure to leave viewers guessing until the very end.
17. Psycho (1960)
Psycho (1960) – MPAA rating: R – Box office: $50 million – Year of release: 1960 – Why it was appreciated: Psycho is a horror-thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh. The film follows a young woman (Leigh) who is on the run from the law and checks into a motel run by a disturbed man (Perkins). The film’s shocking twist ending is sure to leave viewers stunned.
18. The Others (2003)
The Others (2003) – MPAA rating: PG-13 – Box office: $209 million – Year of release: 2003 – Why it was appreciated: The Others is a psychological horror film written and directed by Alejandro Amenábar and starring Nicole Kidman. The film follows a woman (Kidman) living in a remote mansion who begins to suspect that her home is haunted. The film’s twist ending is sure to leave viewers shocked.
19. Gone Girl (2014)
Gone Girl (2014) – MPAA rating: R – Box office: $369 million – Year of release: 2014 – Why it was appreciated: Gone Girl is a psychological thriller directed by David Fincher and starring Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike. The film follows a man (Affleck) whose wife (Pike) has gone missing and is the prime suspect in her disappearance. The film’s twist ending is sure to leave viewers guessing until the very end.
20. The Machinist (2004)
The Machinist (2004) – MPAA rating: R – Box office: $1.2 million – Year of release: 2004 – Why it was appreciated: The Machinist is a psychological thriller directed by Brad Anderson and starring Christian Bale. The film follows a factory worker (Bale) who begins to suffer from insomnia and loses a great deal of weight. The film’s twist ending is sure to leave viewers shocked.
21. The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) – MPAA rating: R – Box office: $81 million – Year of release: 1999 – Why it was appreciated: The Talented Mr. Ripley is a psychological thriller directed by Anthony Minghella and starring Matt Damon and Jude Law. The film follows a con artist (Damon) who is hired to bring a young man (Law) back to the United States. The film’s unexpected twist ending is sure to leave viewers stunned.
As can be seen, movies with the best plot twists are varied, spanning genres and decades. From psychological thrillers to neo-noirs to period dramas, these films have captivated and shocked audiences since their release. Whether it’s a shocking reveal, a surprise ending, or a clever twist, these films have stood the test of time, and are sure to leave viewers breathless until the very end.