15 movie plot twists that still have us talking 

Nothing beats a good plot twist, especially one that leaves a lasting impression on viewers. You know that jolt that makes it feel like the rug has been pulled from under your feet and everything you thought you had going has now completely flipped upside down. There's a thrill to that effect that never grows stale, and certain movies can manufacture it brilliantly. From psychological thrillers with hauntings, to behemoths in the arena of sci-fi, these 15 movie plot twists will stand the test of time and are a major part of pop culture history. Here's a list of 15 movie plot twists that still have us talking!

15) Scream (1996)

This 1996 movie starring David Arquette, Courtney Cox and Drew Barrymore among others, was directed by Wes Carven and is somewhat of a satirical film when it comes to slasher movies. Just when you think you have a grip on who the killer is, boom! The scene is turned upside down. The charming boyfriend, Billy Loomis, and the goofy friend, Stu Macher, are revealed to be the murderers in a shocking plot twist that adds that extra bit of wit to the classic status of Scream.

14) The Usual Suspects (1995)

A crime thriller film, directed by Bryan Singer in 1995 and starring Kevin Spacey, Benicio Del Toro, and Gabriel Byrne, has now become a classic. The film tells the tale of a police investigation into a massacre attributed to a drug lord, Keyser Soze, with the only person surviving - a con artist. In the police department, they are convinced that they know who Soze is, and thus, they let the crook leave the station premises. Just after, a fax comes through with a photo of Soze; it is, unfortunately, the same man he just had in custody.

13) Malignant (2021)

James Wan's horror movie, Malignant delivers a plot twist that's both, disturbing and fascinating. The main character, Madison, played by Madison Wallis discovers that she's connected to her evil doppelganger, Gabriel, who is voiced by Ray Chase and portrayed by Marina Mazepa in physical performance, through a traumatic childhood experience. The twist is a commentary on the horrors of trauma and the blurring between reality and fantasy.

12) Coco (2017)

The twist in Pixar's animated masterpiece Coco is not only shocking, but also utterly heartwarming. Miguel, the protagonist, comes to know that Ernesto de la Cruz, the idol he so long revered, is a murderer who stole music from Héctor. However, the most heartwarming twist is that Héctor turns out to be Miguel's great-great-grandfather. Migue's family is banned from music, but this twist and revelation lifts that ban after they expose Ernesto at one of his concerts. The twist is a beautiful exploration of family, legacy, and the power of music.

11) Arrival (2016)

Denis Villeneuve's 2016 sci-fi epic Arrival has a twist that's both, mind-bending and emotional. The main character, Louise Banks, a linguist, played by Amy Adams finds out that she is actually experiencing events in a non-linear manner, with her receiving the knowledge of a future event of her daughter's death before the moment has actually arrived. The twist is a profound exploration of time, memory, and the human experience.

10) Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)

A standalone sequel to 2019 movie Knives Out, this movie has a plot twist that's both clever and socially conscious. The film's twist revolves around the complex layers of deception among the characters. The reveal that Miles Bron, portrayed by Edwar Norton, the charming tech billionaire, is behind the murder to cover up his unethical practices adds an unexpected depth to the seemingly straightforward mystery.

9) Atonement (2007)

An adaptation of Ian McEwan's novel, Atonement by Joe Wright is devastating, yet stimulating in some way. The movie firmly distorts the happy ending between Robbie and Cecilia. The twist is that this turns out to be a figment of Briony's imagination. Briony is a novelist and an artist who seeks atonement for the blunders of her childhood, by way of writing. In reality, both lovers died during the war, leaving Briony's written atonement as her only means of seeking forgiveness.

8) Fight Club(1999)

The film Fight Club by David Fincher - is an adaptation of a novel of the same name written by Chuck Palahniuk. One of the most dark and certainly shocking among David Fincher's works has an equally shocking plot twist. The narrator, Edward Norton, discovers that he is, in fact, not one but two - himself and Tyler Durden, his imaginary alter ego. This mind-bending revelation also distorts normal perceptions about reality and identity.

7) Knives Out (2019)

Rian Johnson's whodunit has a plot twist that's both clever and surprising. It is initially believed that Marta Cerbera, played by Ana De Armas, the kind-hearted nurse of Harlan Thrombey(Christopher Plummer), is the killer. However, just like every other murder mystery, it is revealed that Hugh Ransom Drysdale, the character played by Chris Evans, is actually the killer who conspired to kill Harlan and frame Marta for his murder. But, that's not the case at all. The simple answer to the question as to who murdered Harlan Thrombey is that he murdered himself by slitting his throat.

6) Get Out (2017)

A psychological horror film scripted and directed by none other than Jordan Peele and released in 2017, Get Out has a spine-tingling plot twist. The protagonist Chris Washington, masterfully played by Oscar-winner Daniel Kaluuya, discovers that his girlfriend Rose Armitage's family - hypnotizes black people before erase their minds and taking possession of their bodies. This revelation leads to an epic plot twist.

5) The Prestige (2006)

Directed by Christopher Nolan, this mystery drama has a shocking and heart-wrenching plot twist in it. The struggle between two magicians, Angier and Borden, played by Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale, is actually about obsession and sacrifice. The twist exposes that Borden's secret to his magic is living a double life with his twin brother - a double life that is being lived to perfect their illusion. A series of calamitous events are brought about by Angier's obsession with finding out Borden's trick, which leads him to use Tesla's cloning machine.

4) Gone Girl (2014)

David Fincher's 2014 thriller Gone Girl unravels quite a shocking and disturbing plot twist. The happiest of all is Amy Dunne, played by Rosamund Pike who is alive and has staged her own disappearance in order to accuse her husband Nicholas Dunne, of her murder. Dunne is played by Ben Afflect. The twist is a commentary on the dark and murky side of marriage and the unreliability of appearances.

3) Shutter Island (2010)

This Martin Scorsese psychological thriller reveals a tragic plot twist at the end of the movie. Teddy Daniels, the protagonist, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, comes to realize that he has, in fact, always been a patient in the same mental hospital that he is trying to investigate. His memories turn out to be false. The actual scene of the realization is epic and showcases the profound impact of trauma and memory loss.

2) Parasite (2019)

The plot of Bong Joon-ho's Oscar-winning movie is rather ironic in a twisted way. The Kim family scam their way into the rich Park family's life. However, the twist is that it is not just the Kim family that are keeping secrets. The biggest surprise of all, however, is the reveal that the rich Park family has a basement in their house, where the former housekeeper's husband had been living all this time, unknown to anyone. The most catastrophic and violent confrontation between the two families is set into motion by this suspenseful revelation.

1) The Sixth Sense (1999)

The Sixth Sense, M. Night Shyamalan's thriller movie, came in the year 1999. It has one of the most unforgettable, yet painful plot twists that is spoken about to this day. Cole Sear, the main protagonist, played by a young Haley Joel Osment, can communicate with spirits, but the twist is the fact that his psychologist Malcolm Crowe, a character played by Bruce Willis, is one of those spirits. This twist is one monumental therapeutic exploration into grief, trauma, and an imaginative deepdive into what could be the other side of life.