10 Worst Sci-fi Movie Twists I Still Think About

Science fiction movies have continually expanded the horizons of cinematic storytelling, captivating audiences with imaginative universes and unexpected plots. Yet, everyone acknowledges that not every plot twist carries equal weight. On one hand, some twists can propel a brilliant narrative to even greater heights; on the other, others can squander what initially appeared as an impressive film. Many of us have encountered this scenario: eagerly anticipating a movie, becoming engrossed in it, and ultimately having the ending spoil the entire viewing experience. It’s disheartening when it happens, but it’s particularly vexing when it occurs in science fiction tales, leaving an indelible mark on our memories. This is why we continue to reflect on those unsatisfying conclusions.

In every high point, there’s a corresponding low, and likewise, a low often precedes a high. Science fiction narratives have left lasting impressions on us with shocking twists such as the climactic revelation in The Planet of the Apes or Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, moments that remain etched in our minds. The following 10 films have proven their sci-fi mettle, and it’s clear that countless other productions sought to replicate this formula, but with varying success.

10) Terminator: Genisys

To put it simply, the Terminator series is one of the most cherished science fiction franchises out there. Fans have a soft spot for the initial movies, while later instalments tend to elicit a range of reactions from enthusiasts. One such addition, released in 2015, is Terminator: Genisys. This film boasted an impressive ensemble cast, uniting the talents of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jason Clarke (from Zero Dark Thirty), Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones), Jai Courtney (Suicide Squad), J. K. Simmons (Red One), and Lee Byung-hun (known for KPop Demon Hunters)).

In Terminator: Genisys, the story commences with a journey through time, where Kyle Reese hurries back to the past to safeguard Sarah Connor and ensure their future survival. Yet, he encounters an unexpected version of the past; here, Sarah was brought up by a Terminator who had been modified to prepare her for this role.

Despite all the changes made in the Terminator series, some adjustments were easier for fans to accept. However, the twist where John Connor gets infected by nanomachines and becomes evil, transforming into a T-3000 Terminator, remains a confusing and unsettling development that has left many fans puzzled even today.

Terminator: Genisys is available to stream on Paramount+ and The Roku Channel.

9) Lucy

The film ‘Lucy’ from 2014 was built around a theory that’s been debunked – the notion that people only utilize 10% of their brain. However, this misconception has led to some entertaining movies and series in the past. Fans might be willing to disregard scientific inaccuracies for the sake of enjoyment.

The movie features Scarlett Johansson, Morgan Freeman, and Choi Min-sik as its main cast. The storyline commences with the character named Lucy being unwittingly subjected to an excessive amount of a synthetic substance. Surprisingly, instead of causing her demise, this substance triggers the complete utilization of her cognitive abilities.

Instead of the central plot, it’s the unconventional conclusion in the movie Lucy that leaves audiences puzzled, surprisingly. Lucy, rather than simply becoming smarter as the film progresses, develops superhuman abilities and ultimately transcends to a higher plane. The transformation from unlocking her brain to merging with the universe isn’t fully explained, but it sparks curiosity about the untapped potential of the human mind in viewers.

Lucy is available to stream on Peacock.

8) Signs

A list of surprising movie plot twists wouldn’t be whole without featuring an M. Night Shyamalan film, so let’s discuss the twist in “Signs” (2002) as a prime example. This film was particularly influential upon its release and featured Mel Gibson, Joaquin Phoenix, Cherry Jones, Rory Culkin, and Abigail Breslin in leading roles.

The narrative centers around a family residing on a farm, who find themselves witnessing the emergence of the first crop circles. Soon enough, similar formations start showing up globally. I’m sure you recall the events that ensued as these mysterious patterns seemed to summon extraterrestrial visitors hot on their trail.

The foundation and development of Signs is richly atmospheric, subtly eerie, and quite emotional, but these elements take a surprising turn when it’s disclosed that the invading aliens are weakened by water, which seems incongruous given they attacked a planet primarily covered with water. It’s an intriguing contradiction, to say the least.

Signs is available to rent through Amazon Prime Video.

7) Passengers

Travelers infused elements of science fiction, space exploration, and romance into their journey, adding unexpected turns as they went. Yet, it was the ultimate plot twist that left an unpleasant aftertaste.

The movie “Passengers” features Jennifer Lawrence, Chris Pratt, Michael Sheen, Laurence Fishburne, and Andy García in its cast. This spacecraft journey is aboard the Avalaon, venturing deep into the universe to discover a new habitable planet. Due to their long journey, it’s only logical that they would employ hibernation to preserve the passengers until their destination. However, a mishap prematurely awakens one passenger by 90 years, leaving him with no option to return to his slumber.

It’s quite evident that the 2016 film “Passengers” explores themes of solitude and sorrow, but it takes an unexpected turn when one character, Jim, awakens another passenger, Aurora, mainly due to his desire for companionship. Even after she learns about his deed, they develop feelings for each other and spend their remaining days together. In essence, the movie portrays a man infringing upon a woman’s autonomy solely based on her appearance, and then receives her affection as a result – a concept that leaves many viewers perplexed. In short, “Passengers” can be criticized for romanticizing an act of stripping a woman of her agency for physical attractiveness.

Passengers is available to rent through Amazon Prime Video.

6) A.I. Artificial Intelligence

2001’s science fiction movie “Artificial Intelligence: A.I.” significantly reshaped our perspective on the genre. Generally somber in tone, the film might not be so unsettling except for its finale. This captivating production was adapted from Brian Aldiss’ short story, “Supertoys Last All Summer Long”. The notable cast includes Haley Joel Osment, Jude Law, Frances O’Connor, Brendan Gleeson, and William Hurt.

In the future, when sophisticated robotics has transcended what was once thought impossible, we find ourselves introduced to David (Osment), a highly advanced robotic child. This child is programmed in a way that allows him to experience love without boundaries. Sadly, his creators, a family, later abandon him.

In essence, A.I. Artificial Intelligence succeeded in making an impactful movie that sparked deep thoughts among viewers. It delved into meaningful topics such as consciousness, our treatment of beings, and even hinted at the issues of wastefulness and consumerism. Nevertheless, the conclusion puzzled many, as a highly intelligent species ultimately reunited David with his superiors. Interestingly, they also restored his human mother, albeit temporarily, but the mechanics behind this event remain uncertain. The reasons for these actions are left unanswered, leaving viewers to speculate.

A.I. Artificial Intelligence is available to stream on Paramount+ + and The Roku Channel.

5) I Am Legend

2007’s film “I Am Legend” is a post-apocalyptic movie with immense promise. It’s adapted from Richard Matheson’s novel and features performances by Will Smith, Alice Braga, and Dash Mihok. Regardless of its ultimate outcome, it’s acknowledged for its moody atmosphere and showcases some of Will Smith’s finest acting moments.

The story primarily focuses on Neville (played by Will Smith), who is the lone human navigating the desolate streets of New York City. Although there are numerous night-dwelling mutants present, they pose more of a menacing danger rather than offering friendly companionship.

The entire movie revolves around Robert Neville’s relentless pursuit of a cure for infected humans, similar to the novel. However, I Am Legend departs unexpectedly towards the end when Robert succumbs to despair, gives up, and destroys his lab along with himself. This grim ending, criticized as disappointing, even spawned an alternate version for home releases. Yet, these efforts failed to mitigate the negative reception.

I Am Legend is available to rent through Amazon Prime Video.

4) Life (2017)

The 2017 sci-fi horror film titled ‘Life’ explores the potential danger that extraterrestrial life might present to human beings. Although this theme has been touched upon previously in other films, it remains a topic of ongoing interest due to its relevance. The star-studded cast of ‘Life’ includes Jake Gyllenhaal, Rebecca Ferguson, Ryan Reynolds, Hiroyuki Sanada, Ariyon Bakare, and Olga Dihovichnaya.

The plot revolves around a team of astronauts on the International Space Station. As you might expect, given the unexpected twist in the tale, something malfunctions. They encounter an alien life form, referred to as “Calvin,” which develops at an extraordinary rate. This find is truly revolutionary, and it’s a significant understatement. However, it also poses the greatest danger that mankind has ever faced.

The film’s visual effects are breathtakingly incredible, bordering on otherworldly. Yet, its predictable twist conclusion feels more like an anticlimax rather than a thrilling surprise. In contrast to saving humanity by sending Calvin far from Earth’s orbit, it’s Calvin’s pod that miraculously lands on Earth, while our main character is tragically left stranded in space. This leaves the audience puzzling over the rest of the storyline, but the ending ultimately falls flat and lacks the desired impact.

Life is available to stream on Paramount+ and Amazon Prime Video.

3) Terminator: Salvation (2009)

Absolutely, “Terminator: Salvation” is the second movie on our list that falls under the “Terminator” series. Although it’s the fourth film in the franchise, it’s often considered less popular among fans. The production team took a significant risk, but when the original ending was leaked online, they chose to alter it. It’s unique within the Terminator films as Arnold Schwarzenegger does not appear in this one, which might have influenced its reception.

In Terminator: Salvation, Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Anton Yelchin, Moon Bloodgood, Bryce Dallas Howard, Common, Michael Ironside, and Helena Bonham Carter starred. This movie primarily explores John Connor’s struggle leading the Resistance in both current times and the future, offering a fresh perspective on the franchise.

Initially, the intention was to eliminate John Connor at the final act, adding some dramatic touches for effect. However, this didn’t sit well with many, so the ending was altered. Unfortunately, even the revised ending fell flat, as Marcus, a cyborg prototype, sacrifices his human heart to save John Connor in a scene that seemed underwhelming and lacking emotional depth.

Terminator: Salvation is available to stream on Hulu.

2) Hancock (2008)

The movie Hancock, featuring stars like Will Smith, Charlize Theron, Jason Bateman, and Eddie Marsan, was expected to offer a unique take on the superhero genre, sparking great enthusiasm among fans. However, while three-quarters of the film fulfilled this promise, the ending veered into unusual territory, to say the least.

The narrative commences with Hancock (portrayed by Will Smith), a disenchanted superhuman, who once held the power to save the day but now prefers creating chaos while under the influence. His actions certainly don’t align with the conventional superhero narrative. Bateman assumes the role of a corporate PR consultant, married to Theron, who embarks on a mission to improve Hancock’s public image, only to encounter numerous obstacles along the way.

Towards the end of the movie, it is unveiled that Bateman’s spouse, Mary (portrayed by Theron), shares a past with Hancock and possesses superpowers. However, their closeness poses a danger for both, as their bond causes them to lose their powers and immortality when they are near each other. This unexpected turn left numerous viewers puzzled, leading them to believe that the story’s conclusion was not effectively planned.

Hancock is available to stream on Hulu.

1) Alien: Covenant (2017)

Over time, the Alien series has experienced tremendous growth, with some spin-offs being well-received by fans while others have raised questions about the franchise’s lore. This leads us to Alien: Covenant, a film that took on a challenging role as it was intended to serve as a sequel to both Prometheus and Alien. Given this dual task, it’s understandable that opinions on Alien: Covenant may vary. The movie featured notable actors like Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup, Danny McBride, and Demián Bichir.

In the film titled “Alien: Covenant,” we find ourselves accompanying a crew on their voyage aboard the USCSS Covenant, a spaceship en route to investigate an unexplained distress signal. As history has shown in the Alien series, such a beginning rarely bodes well, and indeed, events begin to unfold in a manner consistent with the franchise’s reputation for chaos and danger.

Essentially, Alien: Covenant’s major issue was its overexplanation, leading to an unintended increase in confusion. Instead of providing clarity about the Xenomorphs, it generated more questions than solutions. Additionally, the android identity swaps added to the film’s complexity and weren’t entirely successful either.

Alien: Covenant is available to stream on Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max.

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2025-09-12 03:14