The Best Movie Plot Twists That Still Shock Us Even After A Rewatch
Plot twists are the lifeblood of entertainment because they shake up the things that initially seemed to make sense.
People love them because of the unexpected “What just happened?” moment that turns a movie upside down and changes how we view the characters we’ve become so invested in. But the best plot twists never get old, and even after a rewatch, it’s like you’re experiencing it for the first time.
Psycho (1960)
Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho is one of the most iconic thrillers of all time, and its twist is the perfect example of cinematic genius. The unexpected reveal changes everything we thought we knew about the story. Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) is the obvious protagonist until she gets killed about halfway through the film. What follows is an unsettling dive into Norman Bates’ (Anthony Perkins) fractured psyche. When we eventually learn that Norman has been impersonating his mother the entire time, the shocking revelation reshapes the entire narrative. It’s a brilliant commentary on identity and deception, and even after multiple viewings, it sort of stays with you in a super creepy way.
Planet of the Apes (1968)
The twist in Planet of the Apes is basically a masterclass in subversive storytelling. What initially seems like a straightforward sci-fi movie about astronauts landing in a world dominated by apes takes a stunning turn when protagonist Taylor (Charlton Heston) realizes that the planet he stumbled upon is actually Earth. For an added dose of shock value, viewers get to see the ruined Statue of Liberty in a very un-New York setting. This plot twist is essentially a commentary on human nature/society and makes a huge statement about the dangers of arrogance and the cyclical nature of history.
The Sixth Sense (1999)
Filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan’s The Sixth Sense features one of the most unexpected twists in the history of movies. The story follows Dr. Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis), a child psychologist trying to help a young boy named Cole Sear (Haley Joel Osment) who claims to see dead people. Dr. Crowe, who is determined to help the child, develops a close emotional connection with him. After studying a similar case, Crowe eventually realizes that he has been dead the entire time. This twist completely recontextualizes every interaction Crowe has with other characters, including his wife, which makes the reveal extremely heartbreaking.
Fight Club (1999)
David Fincher’s Fight Club delivers a mind-bending twist that still holds up as one of the best in film. Edward Norton stars as an unnamed character who narrates the story while struggling with insomnia and an overall unhappiness with consumer culture. When he meets the charismatic Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt), their friendship leads to the creation of an underground fight club. Only when it is revealed that Tyler is actually the narrator’s alter ego do viewers realize that the film is an exploration of identity, mental illness, and self-destruction. Even after knowing the twist, Fight Club makes us ponder the nature of reality.
The Others (2001)
The Others is a supernatural thriller that keeps its twist well hidden until the very end. Nicole Kidman stars as Grace, a woman living with her two children in a dark, isolated mansion. The children suffer from a rare light sensitivity, and Grace begins to suspect that the house may be haunted. When the twist reveals that Grace and her children are the ghosts of the house, the film is transformed from a ghost story into a haunting exploration of grief and denial. Meanwhile, the people Grace thought were haunting her family are actually the new inhabitants of the house. After a rewatch, the reveal is actually quite sad.
Saw (2004)
James Wan’s Saw introduced the world to the sinister mind of the Jigsaw Killer, who tests his victim’s will to live. The story follows Adam (Leigh Whannell) and Dr. Lawrence Gordon (Cary Elwes), who wake up chained in a dilapidated bathroom with a dead body between them. A tape reveals they’re part of a twisted game set up by Jigsaw. Gordon must kill Adam by 6 am, or his family dies. A panicked Gordon eventually saws off his own foot and shoots Adam. Just when it seems like the ordeal is over, the corpse stands up and reveals himself to be Jigsaw, who locks Adam inside and leaves him to die. Even after seeing it multiple times, its clever construction leaves viewers with a slightly disturbed feeling.
