The Best Plot Twists in Movie History That We Never Saw Coming

A good plot twist is, ideally, one you never see coming. But that’s also such a narrow way to think about twists in film. Realistically, a good twist isn’t that dissimilar from a good roller coaster: even if you see it coming, you’re filled with anxiety and fear and excitement knowing what’s to come. For this list, there’s a mix of the two—the blindsides and the slow burns. No matter what your taste is, there’s a film around to whet your appetite. When putting together a collection like this, you have to find a balance.

With every honor you bestow the Hitchcockian genius of Psycho, there’s a need to nod a hat to the big end film twists like Us. As you wade through the great movies on this list, it’s clear to see how the trope has evolved and how filmmakers have stepped up to reinvent what has already been done. But never forget: you’d never have a twist like the one in Parasite without the genius of those who came before.

Oh, and just in case we didn't imply it already? Big spoilers ahead.