Last Updated on August 3, 2021
#1 – THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
There are few lines as misquoted as “No, I am your father” in movie history nor are there any scenes that completely changed the way you look at the film you just watched as well as the previous film in the franchise. The entire STAR WARS saga hinges on those five words which forever changed the world of movies. This is the greatest plot twist of all time.
#2 – THE SIXTH SENSE
How many people had the twist in THE SIXTH SENSE ruined before they got to see the film? M. Night Shyamalan’s blockbuster kicked off his career trying to replicate the power of this twist ending but to no avail. Maybe it was the subtle nature of it or how it was dropped in through the entire film but this will be one of cinema’s most enduring reveals of all time. THE SIXTH SENSE is also the film that ushered in the modern disdain for spoilers.
#3 – PLANET OF THE APES
Another ending that has become bigger than the film itself, PLANET OF THE APES is often overshadowed by the big reveal at the end. It was not until the recent reboot films that the series was finally put into perspective, but this will forever remain one of the greatest surprises in movie history. I wonder if it has anything to do with TWILIGHT ZONE creator Rod Serling having a hand in the screenplay?
#4 – THE USUAL SUSPECTS
The central question of who is Keyser Soze is answered in a brilliantly edited scene where Kevin Spacey slowly reveals himself to be the puppet-master no one saw coming. A marvel of screenwriting excellence, THE USUAL SUSPECTS will forever remain one of the most watchable crime movies of all time and one you cannot wait to see over and over, trying to pick apart any holes in the tightly woven plot.
#5 – SEVEN
Another David Fincher film and another twist that completely shocked audiences. No one expected Kevin Spacey’s serial killer to have saved himself for last. Nor did anyone expect Brad Pitt to pull the trigger. But, I don’t think anyone expected Gwyneth Paltrow’s head to be in the box. All together, these parts make one wholly f*cked up ending to an already f*cked up movie.
#6 – PSYCHO
A film whose twist has become synonymous with the title, PSYCHO is a classic Hitchcockian thriller that really threw audiences for a loop when it first debuted. Now, a cross-dressing killer seems tame compared to some of the things we see on the big screen, but it all stems from the slow burn and the phenomenal acting of Anthony Perkins.
#7 – PRIMAL FEAR
The movie that introduced audiences to Edward Norton, this is another example of a twist that really makes the movie reach another level. Norton’s performance really makes this a cinematic moment to wait for as he pulls off one of the most convincing psychopaths in big screen history.
#8 – FIGHT CLUB
The entirety of FIGHT CLUB rests on the twist as it completely changes the tone and message of the film. Having read the novel first, I was ready for what came at the end of David Fincher’s film, but hearing the audience lose their minds in the theater was well worth the price of admission. An overall great movie that does not lose watchability once you know who Tyler Durden really is.
#9 – SOYLENT GREEN
A great example of science fiction from the 1970s, SOYLENT GREEN can be completely summed up by the iconic line Charlton Heston screams at the end. Basically, once you know the twist there is little reason to watch the entire movie, but you are missing an enjoyable futuristic thriller.
#10 – THE CRYING GAME
Back in 1992, THE CRYING GAME was the movie that everyone was talking about. More specifically, it was the twist that everyone was talking about. Forget the fact that Neil Jordan’s thriller is a brilliant political and psychological drama with great performances from Stephen Rea, Miranda Richardson, and Forrest Whitaker. All that anyone remembers is the woman Rea falls in love with really was a dude the entire time!
Follow the JOBLO MOVIE NETWORK
Follow us on YOUTUBE
Follow ARROW IN THE HEAD
Follow AITH on YOUTUBE