Movies with shocking twists are appealing to audiences because no one wants to be bored. Movies are supposed to transport viewers to a new world of mystique and wonder. They’re supposed to be thoroughly entertaining. When films are way too predictable and lackluster, they leave audiences disappointed. A few flicks with highly predictable endings include “The Notebook,” “Maid in Manhattan,” and “Taken.” Although all of these movies did well at the box office, no one can deny how predictable each of the endings were.
Movies with jaw-dropping plot twists will always be a little more impressive since a well-written plot twist requires a well-thought-out script. Brilliant scriptwriters, directors, and movie producers link up to create movie magic with endings that are impossible to guess. There have even been instances in movie history where cast and crew members were kept in the dark about how their movie was going to end. They were only given bits and pieces of the script storyline along the way. Producers who are willing to enforce these rules want to make sure nothing gets spoiled or released to the press.
An iconic movie in cinematic history with a twist ending was “The Sixth Sense” from 1999. It fit perfectly into the horror-thriller category, starring Haley Joel Osment and Bruce Willis in the leading roles. Until viewers reach the final scene of “The Sixth Sense,” they remain completely bewildered. Another massive twist occurred in “Fight Club,” which also premiered in 1999. Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, and Helena Bonham Carter filmed the epic thriller-action movie as a dynamic trio. Based on the way each scene effortlessly flowed together, it was impossible for viewers to guess how the story was going to end. (On the topic of noteworthy movies, click here to find out more about the most controversial films ever made.)
To determine the best movies with twist endings, 24/7 Tempo developed an index of movies using average ratings on IMDb, an online movie database owned by Amazon, and a combination of audience scores and Tomatometer scores on Rotten Tomatoes, an online movie and TV review aggregator, as of March 2024, weighting all ratings equally. We considered only movies with at least 2,500 audience votes on either IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes. Documentaries were not considered. Directorial credits are from IMDb.
Here is the list of the best movies with the most twist endings:
50. Prisoners (2013)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (637,815 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (87 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 81% (253 reviews)
- Directed by: Denis Villeneuve
49. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1999)
Source: Courtesy of Gramercy Pictures
N/A
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (599,885 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (93 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 75% (67 reviews)
- Directed by: Guy Ritchie
48. A Beautiful Mind (2001)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (936,399 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (93 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 74% (213 reviews)
- Directed by: Ron Howard
47. Snatch (2000)
Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing
N/A
- IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (811,774 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (93 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 74% (142 reviews)
- Directed by: Guy Ritchie
46. Hodejegerne (2012)
Source: Courtesy of Magnolia Pictures
N/A
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (104,972 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (85 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (100 reviews)
- Directed by: Morten Tyldum
45. Magnolia (1999)
Source: Courtesy of HBO Max
- IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (299,737 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (89 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 83% (148 reviews)
- Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson
44. High Plains Drifter (1973)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (52,462 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (86 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (29 reviews)
- Directed by: Clint Eastwood
43. Planet of the Apes (1968)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
- IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (172,247 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (87 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 86% (59 reviews)
- Directed by: Franklin J. Schaffner
42. The Wailing (2016)
Source: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (59,362 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (81 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 99% (83 reviews)
- Directed by: Hong-jin Na
41. The Prestige (2006)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 8.5/10 (1,245,319 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (92 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 76% (203 reviews)
- Directed by: Christopher Nolan
40. Arrival (2016)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (633,887 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82% (82 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (434 reviews)
- Directed by: Denis Villeneuve
39. Gone Baby Gone (2007)
Source: Courtesy of Miramax
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (262,239 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (86 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (181 reviews)
- Directed by: Ben Affleck
38. Barton Fink (1991)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (117,023 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (89 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (61 reviews)
- Directed by: Joel & Ethan Coen
37. Gone Girl (2014)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (908,882 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (87 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 87% (365 reviews)
- Directed by: David Fincher
36. Mystic River (2003)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (436,927 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (89 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (206 reviews)
- Directed by: Clint Eastwood
35. Requiem for a Dream (2000)
Source: Courtesy of Artisan Entertainment
- IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (795,904 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (93 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 79% (138 reviews)
- Directed by: Darren Aronofsky
34. Moon (2009)
Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics
- IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (345,533 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (89 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (194 reviews)
- Directed by: Duncan Jones
33. Kiss Me Deadly (1955)
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (19,637 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (84 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (43 reviews)
- Directed by: Robert Aldrich
32. 12 Monkeys (1995)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
N/A
- IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (595,919 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (88 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (72 reviews)
- Directed by: Terry Gilliam
31. The Sixth Sense (1999)
Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (942,340 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (90 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 86% (158 reviews)
- Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan
30. Nightcrawler (2014)
Source: Courtesy of Open Road Films
- IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (495,525 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (86 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (274 reviews)
- Directed by: Dan Gilroy
29. The Guilty (2018)
Source: Courtesy of Nordisk Film Distribution
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (60,880 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (87 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (122 reviews)
- Directed by: Gustav Möller
28. Dial M for Murder (1954)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (166,706 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (92 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (47 reviews)
- Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
27. The Man from Earth (2007)
Source: Courtesy of Anchor Bay Entertainment
- IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (180,871 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (85 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (5 reviews)
- Directed by: Richard Schenkman
26. American Beauty (1999)
Source: Courtesy of DreamWorks Distribution
- IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (1,104,561 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (93 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 87% (190 reviews)
- Directed by: Sam Mendes
25. Se7en (1995)
Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema
- IMDb user rating: 8.6/10 (1,517,067 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (95 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 82% (82 reviews)
- Directed by: David Fincher
24. El secreto de sus ojos (2010)
Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics
N/A
- IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (216,007 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (93 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (141 reviews)
- Directed by: Juan Jose Campanella
23. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (629,868 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (89 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (113 reviews)
- Directed by: Stanley Kubrick
22. Fight Club (1999)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
- IMDb user rating: 8.8/10 (1,940,882 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 96% (96 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 79% (179 reviews)
- Directed by: David Fincher
21. The Truman Show (1998)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (989,294 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (89 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (133 reviews)
- Directed by: Peter Weir
20. Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (72,757 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (91 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (43 reviews)
- Directed by: Mike Nichols
19. Incendies (2010)
Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics
N/A
- IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (187,357 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (92 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (125 reviews)
- Directed by: Denis Villeneuve
18. Sleuth (1972)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
N/A
- IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (46,421 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (91 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (25 reviews)
- Directed by: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
17. Wild Tales (2014)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
N/A
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (196,455 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (92 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (157 reviews)
- Directed by: Damián Szifron
16. Knives Out (2019)
Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate Films
- IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (528,467 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (92 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (466 reviews)
- Directed by: Rian Johnson
15. Inception (2010)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 8.8/10 (2,171,143 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (91 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 87% (361 reviews)
- Directed by: Christopher Nolan
14. Reservoir Dogs (1992)
Source: Courtesy of Miramax
- IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (958,136 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (94 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (71 reviews)
- Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
13. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Source: Courtesy of Focus Features
- IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (948,653 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (94 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (250 reviews)
- Directed by: Michel Gondry
12. The Usual Suspects (1995)
Source: Courtesy of Gramercy Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.5/10 (1,028,997 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 96% (96 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (77 reviews)
- Directed by: Bryan Singer
11. The Departed (2006)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 8.5/10 (1,241,061 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (94 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (283 reviews)
- Directed by: Martin Scorsese
10. Vertigo (1958)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (382,223 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (93 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (83 reviews)
- Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
9. Memento (2000)
Source: Courtesy of Newmarket Films
- IMDb user rating: 8.4/10 (1,169,429 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (94 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (181 reviews)
- Directed by: Christopher Nolan
8. The Sting (1973)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (250,672 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (95 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (63 reviews)
- Directed by: George Roy Hill
7. The Third Man (1950)
Source: Courtesy of Selznick Releasing Organization
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (176,811 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (93 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 99% (90 reviews)
- Directed by: Carol Reed
6. Whiplash (2014)
Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics
- IMDb user rating: 8.5/10 (763,755 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (94 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (297 reviews)
- Directed by: Damien Chazelle
5. Chinatown (1974)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (309,557 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (93 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 99% (76 reviews)
- Directed by: Roman Polanski
4. Parasite (2019)
Source: Courtesy of Neon
N/A
- IMDb user rating: 8.5/10 (810,722 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (90 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 99% (475 reviews)
- Directed by: Bong Joon Ho
3. L.A. Confidential (1997)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (551,824 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (94 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 99% (115 reviews)
- Directed by: Curtis Hanson
2. Psycho (1960)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.5/10 (630,728 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (95 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (104 reviews)
- Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
1. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Source: Courtesy of Orion Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.6/10 (1,332,128 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (95 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (104 reviews)
- Directed by: Jonathan Demme