10 Iconic Movie Twists Literally Everyone Knows (Even If They’ve Never Watched It)

Many movies attempt to deceive viewers with unexpected twists. Directors like Alfred Hitchcock, M. Night Shyamalan, and James Wan have consistently used this technique throughout film history. While some twists fall flat – examples include films like The Devil Inside, Hancock, Serenity, The Village, The Happening, the Planet of the Apes remake, and a scene from The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 – many others brilliantly enhance an already strong film by adding a surprising new dimension.

As a movie buff, I’ve noticed there are some twists that are just famous – even if you haven’t seen the film, you probably know what’s coming. I get why that might make you avoid a movie, but honestly? You should still watch these ten films. Knowing the twist doesn’t ruin the experience – they’re all fantastic rides worth taking.

10) “Teddy” Is Actually a Patient on Shutter Island

For most of Shutter Island, I really thought I was watching U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, and his partner Chuck Aule investigate a patient who’d disappeared from a mental hospital. It was a total shock to find out the entire thing was a setup, a carefully planned illusion!

Edward Daniels is actually Andrew Laeddis, a patient at the island’s asylum, not a recent arrival. He was once a U.S. Marshal who tragically killed his wife after their three children drowned. “Edward Daniels” is a fabricated identity he created to escape the painful memories and overwhelming guilt connected to this event.

Stream Shutter Island on Paramount+.

9) Norman Bates, Not His Mother, Was the Killer in Psycho

There are two incredibly famous plot twists in the movie Psycho. The first is that Janet Leigh’s character, Marion Crane, who we initially believe is the main character, is actually killed about halfway through the film – in the famous shower scene at the Bates Motel.

The biggest surprise is the identity of the attacker. Initially, we think it’s Norman Bates’ mother, but it’s revealed she’s been dead for a long time. Norman has been pretending to be her. He’s developed a split personality, essentially becoming his mother in his mind, as a way to cope with the guilt he feels for having killed her when he discovered she was having an affair.

Stream Psycho on TCM.

8) The Contents of the Box in Seven

Most people are familiar with the ending of the film Se7en because the line “What’s in the box?!” is so well-known. Even just hearing the line brings to mind the different ways Brad Pitt, as Detective David Mills, delivers it.

The scene is particularly unforgettable because the answer to his question is shockingly dreadful. As Kevin Spacey’s character, John Doe, reveals, it’s the head of Mills’ wife.

7) There Were Two Killers in Scream

The original Scream remains the strongest entry in the series, largely because of its well-developed characters. We quickly become invested in them, even knowing one will ultimately be revealed as the killer.

The movie actually has two killers wearing the masks and wielding the knives: Billy Loomis, who the film initially leads you to believe is the sole killer, and Stu Macher, played by Matthew Lillard. Their relationship is a fascinating part of the movie. Billy is clearly the leader, and Stu follows his lead, seemingly without empathy or a good sense of danger. While Billy is motivated by revenge – and initially came up with the plan – Stu just helps him carry it out. It’s clear Billy intends to frame Stu for everything, even though Stu genuinely cares about their friendship. (This gets even more complicated with a surprising reveal in Scream 3.)

Stream Scream on Paramount+.

6) The Narrator Is Tyler Durden in Fight Club

The Narrator, played by Edward Norton in Fight Club, remains nameless throughout the film. However, Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) is constantly on everyone’s lips – people can’t stop talking about him.

The Narrator and Tyler start Fight Club as a way for men to let off steam, but Tyler quickly transforms it into something dangerous and destructive. The shocking truth is that Tyler isn’t a separate person – he’s a creation of the Narrator’s own mind, a way to escape the crushing monotony of his everyday life.

5) Jason’s Mom Was the Killer in Friday the 13th

It’s understandable that audiences who first saw Friday the 13th in 1980 wouldn’t suspect Mrs. Voorhees as the killer. The movie doesn’t even establish her as a living character until much later. Surprisingly, despite not following typical mystery movie rules, the reveal still manages to be effective.

While Jason Voorhees is the most famous part of the Friday the 13th films, his mother, Mrs. Voorhees, was actually the more compelling character. Unlike Jason, whose motives are unclear, Mrs. Voorhees had a clear reason for her actions: she sought revenge for the accidental death of her son. This makes her story particularly memorable, and it’s also famously referenced in the opening scene of the movie Scream.

Stream Friday the 13th for free on Kanopy.

4) Verbal Kint Was Keyser Söze in The Usual Suspects

Framing the story of The Usual Suspects as a confession from a shy man to a customs agent was a brilliant move. It effectively convinces us that Verbal Kint is just a small, insignificant player in a much larger crime.

Throughout the entire story, he’s completely making things up. He’s managed to deceive not just the detective questioning him, but the audience as well. The dangerous criminal he describes, the “Keyser Söze” of his tale, is actually the man doing the interrogating. It’s only after he leaves the room that we realize his limp vanishes, and the formerly shy man transforms into a self-assured individual, casually smoking a cigarette.

Stream The Usual Suspects on fuboTV.

3) The Planet of the Apes Is Actually Earth in the Future

In Planet of the Apes, the movie leads us to believe the astronauts, like Charlton Heston’s character George Taylor, have traveled to a distant planet. The presence of intelligent, talking apes who walk upright strongly suggests they’ve landed somewhere far beyond Earth.

However, it turns out they haven’t left Earth, but have traveled far into the future. Apes have evolved and now dominate the planet, having reduced humans to a silent, enslaved state.

Stream Planet of the Apes on IndieFlix.

2) Darth Vader Is Luke Skywalker’s Father in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

The revelation that Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker’s father is the most significant plot point in the original Star Wars trilogy, and is famously known by most fans. For nearly two movies, we’ve seen Vader portrayed as a ruthless villain, only to discover his connection to the hero we’ve been rooting for.

The “Mandela Effect” also plays a role. Many people strongly remember the famous line as “Luke, I am your father,” even though the actual line is “No, I am your father.” This misremembering actually strengthens how closely people associate that phrase with Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker, whether they’re fans of Star Wars or not.

Stream Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back on Disney+.

1) Bruce Willis Was a Ghost the Whole Time in The Sixth Sense

Some argue that the ending of The Sixth Sense makes it less enjoyable to rewatch. Because it’s such a famous twist, it might even discourage newer audiences from watching the film in the first place.

It would be a real loss if people stopped watching this film, as it remains a powerful and moving story – easily the highlight of M. Night Shyamalan’s career. The acting is also exceptional, with particularly strong performances from Haley Joel Osment, Toni Collette, and Bruce Willis.

Stream The Sixth Sense on Hulu.

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2025-12-10 00:16