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The Greatest Plot Twists in Cinema History

The Greatest Plot Twists in Cinema History

Updated: by

Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

50. Upstream Color (2013)

Source: Courtesy of erbp

49. Lost Highway (1997)

Source: Courtesy of October Films

48. Shutter Island (2010)

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

47. Videodrome (1983)

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

46. Jacob's Ladder (1990)

Source: Courtesy of TriStar Pictures

45. Angel Heart (1987)

Source: Courtesy of TriStar Pictures

44. Stranger than Fiction (2006)

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

43. Predestination (2014)

Source: Courtesy of Stage 6 Films

42. Total Recall (1990)

Source: Courtesy of TriStar Pictures

41. The Others (2001)

Source: Courtesy of Dimension Films

40. The Machinist (2004)

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Classics

39. The Game (1997)

Source: Courtesy of Polygram Filmed Entertainment

38. The Hours (2002)

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

37. Coherence (2013)

Source: Courtesy of Oscilloscope

36. Atonement (2007)

Source: Courtesy of Focus Features

35. 21 Grams (2003)

Source: Courtesy of Focus Features

34. 2046 (2005)

Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

33. Eraserhead (1977)

Source: Courtesy of Libra Films

32. Take Shelter (2011)

Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

31. Donnie Darko (2001)

Source: Courtesy of Arrow Films

30. House of Games (1987)

Source: Courtesy of Orion Pictures

29. Looper (2012)

Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing

28. Source Code (2011)

Source: Courtesy of Summit Distribution

27. Mulholland Dr. (2001)

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

26. Life of Pi (2012)

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

25. Black Swan (2010)

Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures

24. Perfect Blue (1997)

Courtesy of GKIDS

23. You Only Live Once (1937)

Courtesy of United Artists

22. Intolerance (1916)

Courtesy of Triangle Distributing

21. Magnolia (1999)

Courtesy of New Line Cinema

20. The Prestige (2006)

Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

19. Arrival (2016)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

18. Moon (2009)

Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

17. 12 Monkeys (1995)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

16. The Sixth Sense (1999)

Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

15. Being John Malkovich (1999)

Courtesy of USA Films

14. Short Cuts (1993)

Courtesy of Fine Line Features

13. Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

12. The Shining (1980)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

11. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

10. Fight Club (1999)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

9. In the Mood for Love (2001)

Courtesy of USA Films

8. Sleuth (1972)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

7. Inception (2010)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

6. Amores Perros (2001)

Courtesy of Lionsgate Films

5. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

Courtesy of Focus Features

4. The Usual Suspects (1995)

Courtesy of Gramercy Pictures (I)

3. Vertigo (1958)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

2. Memento (2000)

Courtesy of Newmarket Films

1. Pulp Fiction (1994)

Courtesy of Miramax

50. Upstream Color (2013)
49. Lost Highway (1997)
48. Shutter Island (2010)
47. Videodrome (1983)
46. Jacob's Ladder (1990)
45. Angel Heart (1987)
44. Stranger than Fiction (2006)
43. Predestination (2014)
42. Total Recall (1990)
41. The Others (2001)
40. The Machinist (2004)
39. The Game (1997)
38. The Hours (2002)
37. Coherence (2013)
36. Atonement (2007)
35. 21 Grams (2003)
34. 2046 (2005)
33. Eraserhead (1977)
32. Take Shelter (2011)
31. Donnie Darko (2001)
30. House of Games (1987)
29. Looper (2012)
28. Source Code (2011)
27. Mulholland Dr. (2001)
26. Life of Pi (2012)
25. Black Swan (2010)
24. Perfect Blue (1997)
23. You Only Live Once (1937)
22. Intolerance (1916)
21. Magnolia (1999)
20. The Prestige (2006)
19. Arrival (2016)
18. Moon (2009)
17. 12 Monkeys (1995)
16. The Sixth Sense (1999)
15. Being John Malkovich (1999)
14. Short Cuts (1993)
13. Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
12. The Shining (1980)
11. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
10. Fight Club (1999)
9. In the Mood for Love (2001)
8. Sleuth (1972)
7. Inception (2010)
6. Amores Perros (2001)
5. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
4. The Usual Suspects (1995)
3. Vertigo (1958)
2. Memento (2000)
1. Pulp Fiction (1994)

Movies with plot twists or surprise endings have been rather popular for quite some time. Perhaps it's the way these films engage audiences with the twists and turns of the storyline, leaving viewers guessing almost until the end. Or maybe it's the way they allow us to play detective, trying to piece any clues together so we can solve the mystery. Regardless of how the story plays out, in the end, these films had the greatest plot twists in cinema history that left us stunned.

To determine the greatest puzzle movies in cinema history, 24/7 Tempo developed an index 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 May 2024, weighting all ratings equally. Documentaries were not considered. Director information is from IMDb. (If you like movies with unexpected twists, read our article on 15 movies with the most unexpected and heartbreaking endings.)

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