40 Of The Most Insane Movie Plot Twists Of All Time, Ranked

We love the movies. From action to romance, sci-fi to period drama, there’s nothing we don’t adore. But we reserve a special place in our collective heart for those movies that mercilessly pull the rug from under you, turning reality on its head and leaving you questioning your very nature. Those insanely good films that make you gasp, your flesh crawl, and your brain leak out of your ear. Here, in our opinion, are 40 of the very finest movie twists of all time. But be warned: spoilers abound. Can you handle the insanity?

40. Arrival (2019)

In a pitch-perfect use of the flash-back that’s actually a flash-forward, Arrival’s quietly powerful twist is as destructive as it is beautiful. Though if visions of a horrible future are what comes with knowing some aliens, we’ll pass thanks. Knowing that her joyful family life will end in tragedy thanks to some extraterrestrial magic, Amy Adam’s character jumps into that future, regardless of the pain she knows is coming. When that truth is finally revealed, the air physically leaves the room. Powerful stuff.

39. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

Is there anything more terrifying for a teenage boy than meeting his age-appropriate girlfriend’s dad? We’re guessing not. But when that dad also happens to be the supervillain current nemesis of said teenage boy’s superhero alter-ego, it dials the terror up to 11. Because no one sees that coming. Not even Spider-Man. Can we say awkward?

38. A Beautiful Mind (2010)

Now, you might think that suspending your disbelief in such a way that allows you to buy Russell Crowe as a genius is the insane plot twist here. You would, surprisingly, be wrong. Because it’s actually the elaborately constructed world his character inhabits – even his niece wasn’t real. Ditto the cushy job in espionage services. Mind-blowing, right?

37. April Fool’s Day (1986)

One of the original and best it’s-all-a-ruse endings in cinematic history. A weekend spent being chased by a homicidal maniac actually turns out to be a full dress rehearsal for one of the weirdest business ideas ever conceived. Yes, come spend a fun-filled couple of days being chased by a completely fictional homicidal maniac. It might look like you died, but you really didn’t. Good times. Back then, it seemed hilarious. We’re pretty sure, though, that every horror weekend ever held is based on this movie.

36. The Sixth Sense (1999)

As notorious for featuring an almost unrecognizable Donnie Wahlberg in his tighty whiteys as for its twist ending, The Sixth Sense set the bar for modern shockers. Bruce Willis is dead! And we’re not just talking about his acting. Yes, despite looking for all the world like America’s most miserable therapist, it turns out he’s actually America’s unhappiest ghost.

35. Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)

What’s that you say? How is a John Candy movie on this list? Well, dear readers, we’re not talking Uncle Buck here. Candy, in addition to his comedic chops, was also capable of the kind of emotional nuance many actors would climb over their nans to get near. And the heart-wrenching twist – he’s actually a homeless widower – makes you rethink the entire movie. It’s absolutely beautiful and superbly acted. And it’ll stay with you for a long time.

34. Planet of the Apes (1968)

On a bleak, dystopian planet, the Statue of Liberty is partially buried by sand. No, it’s not a climate change documentary. It’s Charlton Heston’s most famous freak-out, following the realization that the planet inhabited by intelligent apes that he’s currently held prisoner on is actually Earth. Cos evolution, right? In our opinion, it’s also a comment on how we treat the planet, but that’s by the by.

33. The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Now, 40-something years and a bazillion sequels later, this might seem obvious. But believe us, when it happened, it caused actual waves in the space-time continuum. Darth Vader winning the crappiest dad in the universe award changed the lives of many a small boy, some of whom remain scarred as adults. It also provided the Star Wars-verse with one of its most honest and – let’s face it, crazy – moments. Bravo, George Lucas.

32. Citizen Kane (1941)

Citizen Kane is still considered among the finest films in cinematic history. Orson Welles’ sumptuously shot track through the life of media magnate Charles Foster Kane captured the hearts and minds of audiences way back when. It may seem a tad, ahem, slow these days, but when Rosebud was revealed to be a sled, Welles was hailed a genius. We prefer to reserve judgement. Having said that, a sled? Really? Clearly the standard for genius in the 1940s was a little different.

31. Crazy, Stupid Love (2011)

Don’t you just hate it when your daughter’s dating a guy you know? But that’s so, so much worse when the guy dating your daughter just happens to be the man teaching you how manipulate women, right? Right. With a twist that can never, ever have happened in real life, Crazy, Stupid Love still shattered the lives of middle-aged men everywhere. Yes, men dating your daughter are still men. Soz, dads.

30. Blade Runner (1982)

Now, we aren’t talking the studio cut in which Deckard and Rachael finally escape the city and all’s well. We’re talking the final cut – the director’s edition that makes the happy finale look a lot less happy. And a lot less like an ending. Yes, the real deal it seems is that Deckard could, maybe, possibly, actually have been a Replicant all along. Oh, what a complex robotic web we weave…

29. Dark City (1998)

Perhaps one of the lesser-known movies on the list, but its presence here proves the you’ll-be-thinking-about-this-for-days power of the twist. A city run by shadowy forces with the ability to embed memories and who knows what else turns out to be a giant, space-floating ship. What the actual what? A genius piece played to perfection by all involved, it’s a sci-fi classic that deserves far more recognition.

28. Matchstick Men (2003)

Yes, believe it or not, a Nicholas Cage movie actually made the list. And, we have to admit, it’s a good one. A Ridley Scott movie with nary an alien in sight, Matchstick Men instead concentrates on the twisty con to end all cons. Yup, no daughter, no injury, no money, no nothing. The look on Cage’s face as the realization dawns is the best acting he’s ever produced. Ever. A well-deserved place for, in our opinion, a criminally underrated classic.

27. Atonement (2007)

Just because a movie dresses itself up as a love story doesn’t mean it can’t absolutely destroy you. And Atonement is absolutely one of those movies. Lulling you into a period-drama sense of cozy familiarity’s all part of the twisty fun. Because, in the same vein as Matchstick Men, when the actual reveal comes – it’s ALL a lie – it’s like being kicked in the gut. And that’s the beauty of this particular twist. Even seemingly trustworthy types can be liars, and there’s no way you can tell…

26. Rosemary’s Baby (1968)

In which the real twist has nothing to do with the eponymous infant being the Devil’s actual spawn. No, the real shocker here is all contained within Rosemary’s steadfast refusal to quickly dispatch of the son of Lucifer. Because the rest of the world can get stuffed if it thinks she’s going to save it by losing her kid. Thanks, mommy dearest.

25. Coco (2017)

Who said kids’ films had to be super sentimental and syrupy sweet? Not the team behind Coco, that’s for sure. Given that the movie mostly takes place in the afterlife, though, perhaps we shouldn’t have been so surprised at some of the darker themes explored here. Family intrigue and a murder mystery are just the half of it. And even though there’s something of a happy-ish ending, it doesn’t detract from the gut-punch that is discovering lost soul Hector lost his life thanks to Ernesto. A modern classic that’ll most likely feature on best-of lists for years to come.

24. Us (2019)

In a true we-did-not-see-that-coming moment, the revelation that Adelaide’s clone had been living above ground for years actually made our jaws drop. Us is a movie that oozes confidence and bursts at the seams with amazing performances long before the twist comes along. But when it does, it’s the shocking, I’ll-never-forget-where-I-was cherry on top of a $1,000 dessert.

23. Fight Club (1999)

Believe it or not, there are Brad Pitt movies on this list. He appears to have a knack for choosing great twists. Because the big reveal at the end of brutal macho-fest Fight Club is breath-taking. Ed Norton’s mild-mannered insurance worker IS the often shirtless ball of violent chaos otherwise known as Tyler Durden. “You met me at a very strange time in my life”? You got that right.

22. The Usual Suspects (1995)

Yes, it’s a Kevin Spacey movie. He used to be very good at psychos and whatnot apparently. Also criminal masterminds who throw together a story just from looking at various and sundry items pinned to a board. The look on Chazz Palminteri’s face as he finally realizes he’s been spun a yarn is, frankly, Oscar-worthy. As twisty endings go, The Usual Suspects sticks it in and breaks it off. Incredible.

21. American Psycho (2000)

Yes, despite the general violent dislike of anyone who isn’t him, it turns out Patrick Bateman isn’t a psycho at all. No, he’s just a dreamer in a really expensive suit. Because that’s what happens when you care more about the glasses you could be wearing or business card you didn’t get than other human beings. You lose your mind. Providing you had it in the first place… and we’re not altogether sure that Bateman ever did.

20. Romeo + Juliet (1996)

Now, let’s remember that no one’s born with the knowledge of how this so-called love story actually ends. Everyone has to see it for the first time. And, if you’re lucky, your first experience of this tale of teen-angst-turns-into-tragedy will be courtesy of Baz Lurhmann’s incredible imagination. But even when you know the twist, namely that teenagers have always been incredibly dramatic, the end will always be a shock. Add in the beautiful scenery and incredible performances, and this movie packs a punch that’s eternal in its power. Stunning.

19. The Others (2001)

While this particular revelation wasn’t as well hidden as you may have thought, it’s still a fantastic way to close a great movie. Yes, Nicole Kidman was a ghost all along. But so were the kids. And basically everyone else. But the fact that Kidman’s character ended the lives of her own children sent chills down the spine of every single person who watched it.

18. Psycho (1960)

Responsible for perhaps cinema’s first famously shocking twist, Psycho’s titular maniac takes psychopathy all the way to 11. Not content with being a murderous nightmare of a motel manager, Anthony Perkins’ Norman Bates set the standard for movie madness. Because dressing like your mom to kill women is one thing. Dressing like your mom to kill women while keeping her decomposing body in your home’s something else.

17. Scream (1996)

The original spoof-that’s-better-than-the-original, Scream’s reveal of its villains is among cinema’s perfect twists. There are TWO killers? But wait, Sydney knows them both? And one of them is actually her boyfriend? Despite all the in-jokes and references, Wes Craven’s masterpiece manages to pull off a whodunit Agatha Christie wishes she’d written. Scream? We nearly cried.

16. Get Out (2017)

Has there been a finer reversal of expectation than in the Oscar-winning Get Out? Daniel Kaluuya’s girlfriend seems so perfect, so sweet and well-mannered, there’s no way she could be…. Holy God! She knew all along! What the what?! Yup, in a twist that can only be described as terrifying, she’s isn’t just in on the whole cultish scheme, she’s the bait. Talk about blindsided…

15. The Descent (2005)

Yes, it seems that even horror movies aren’t above a good old fashioned Dallas ending. And this one was a doozy. Managing to escape the clutches of a bunch of hole-dwelling maniacs, it looks as though the Final Girl has actually made it to the end. But has she? Brains can do weird things under duress, including fabricating entire escape sequences, only to have reality come crashing in. Because, not every horror movie has to have a final girl, right?

14. Friday the 13th (1980)

The original and most likely best of the franchise’s horror twists, Friday the 13th set the standard for shocking endings for years to come. And we’re not just talking about Kevin Bacon’s hair. What are we talking about? Well, back in the dark times we now call The Eighties, women just weren’t allowed to be homicidal maniacs. Progress has to start somewhere, you know? Any why not? Women have spent years being horror’s hapless victims. And to be honest, just through sheer numbers, one of them was going to have homicidal tendencies.

13. Shutter Island (2010)

It’s fair to say that Leonardo DiCaprio has a history of playing, shall we say, rather unhinged types. Remember Howard Hughes? So perhaps it should have been less of a shock when it turned out that he had, in fact, very much done it. But that’s how good this movie is – DiCaprio had us all fooled from the start. Talk about blindsided. 

12. Murder on the Orient Express (1974)

In a twist that goes all the way back to Caesar, everyonedunit! And despite the presence of Hercule Poirot’s little gray cells, the posh criminals get away with it because the crime’s too complicated for the local police to understand. So the Belgian detective decides to blame it on the Mafia. We never said it was gritty realism. It is, though, a slick and thoroughly enjoyable ensemble piece with some great performances.

11. Sleepaway Camp (1983)

It’s always the quiet ones, right? Because in the horror world, they’re the ones most likely to be homicidal/raised as girls when they’re boys/camp-averse. Clearly made before these supposedly more enlightened times, Sleepaway Camp completely embodies the low-budget horror philosophy of the decade: pile ’em high and don’t worry too much about anyone’s feelings. Still good for schlocky laughs and a wave of relief that the 1980s are over.

10. Black Swan (2010)

In a life-reflecting-art sort of way, Natalie Portman’s character in Black Swan actually expires twice. Once in the dance and then at the same time for real. It’s a two-for-one deal in a film full of insane psychological twists and turns. Though quite how she didn’t notice which body part she’d so badly damaged is beyond us. The moral: don’t mess with serious ballerinas. Apparently, you’ll be fine. It’s the dancer who might have a problem.

9. The Wicker Man (1973)

And no, we don’t mean the ill-advised 2006 Nicholas Cage remake in which his cheap wig was the scariest thing on screen for two hours. We’re talking about the classic British original, full of fantastical “local” color and the strangest handicrafts this side of Burning Man. Fictional missing children used to lure unsuspecting cops into the clutches of homicidal cult members? Yes, please. And thank you, Britain.

8. The Prestige (2006)

If ever proof was needed that magicians are deeply unwell, The Prestige is it. Forcing clones of yourself to perish during a fake magic trick is all very Rick and Morty. But it’s also one heck of a twist. And one that we have no trouble imagining magicians everywhere seriously contemplating on a regular basis. Shudder.

7. Saw (2004)

The movie that spawned a thousand imitations and almost as many sequels includes one of the best twists in horror history. While the body-comes-back-to-life trope’s a genre staple, Saw does things a little differently. Taking hiding in plain sight to new levels, the reveal that he was never dead at all – and is in fact the killer himself – is probably one of the reasons the movie continues to be so popular. Everyone wants to be shocked like that at the movies. Everyone.

6. Gone Girl (2014)

Admit it, when you found out that Rosamund Pike’s character faked her own murder, down to the most intricate detail, you weren’t just shocked. You were also a little bit impressed. And we don’t blame you. As movie rug-pulls go, this is way, way up there with the best of them. How easy it was to believe the diary entries and little crumbs strewn around, months in advance of the actual event. Incredible and absolutely terrifying in equal measure.

5. Soylent Green (1973)

Charlton Heston’s final line in Soylent Green has to be up there with the greats. Altogether now: it’s people! Yes, the movie that turned cannibalism into capitalism actually makes a great point about allowing one or two big companies to control everything – right, Amazon? Not that we’re saying any company promotes cannibalism in reality, of course. But in the Soylent Green world, it’s all they’ve got left. So why the secrecy? Anyhoops, it’s a 1970s twist that still packs a punch.

4. The Cabin in the Woods (2011)

In which the fact that a Hemsworth didn’t make to the final reel should’ve been the biggest clue that something weird was happening in those woods. No mentally unstable, weapon-wielding maniacs here. Just an elaborate sacrificial rite, involving the demise of a Breakfast Club set of teens that initially seemed straightforward. But it seems the gods didn’t take into account the self-absorption of modern-day college students. Bye-bye world.

3. The Shining (1980)

The thing about The Shining is, there’s a bunch of twists that could all be very good reasons for adding it to this list. There are the homicidal tendencies of author-caretaker Jack Torrance, the unexpected night in the snow, the appearance of any number of creepy children. But the real twist comes right at the end: the cut-away to a black and white picture of Jack at a party in 1921. Because, reincarnated former guests apparently can’t help themselves. Incredible.

2. Orphan (2009)

As movie shockers go, Orphan’s up there. Like, way up there. The nine-year-old girl is actually a 33-year-old woman with a growth condition? What the actual WHAT? Add in the homicidal tendencies and what you’ve got is a twist of the very highest order. Also, it’s absolutely terrifying. No, really. Kids are even scarier when they’re actually grown women and no one can tell…

1. Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood (2019)

Aside from the fact that Quentin Tarantino somehow persuaded Leonardo DiCaprio to wear some of the worst outfits we’ve ever seen, the twist here actually wanders into the territory of what if? You spend the whole movie steeling yourself for what you think you know is coming. Regardless of what DiCaprio’s getting up to, the Manson Family and Sharon Tate in close proximity can only mean one thing. Or can it? Because in Tarantino’s world, Ms Tate and the Mansons never meet. Simple – and hugely effective.