3 Potentially Great Sci-Fi Movies That Were Ruined by a Single Twist

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While not all great science fiction films rely on surprising twists, many become classics because of them. The original *Planet of the Apes* is a fantastic film, but its ending is what truly made it iconic. Similarly, Denis Villeneuve’s *Arrival* is one of his best, and its final twist adds an extra layer of brilliance. Even Stanley Kubrick’s *2001: A Space Odyssey* benefits from a clever reveal – not the star child, but the fact that HAL-9000 can lip-read the astronauts when they think they’re hidden.

While some movies in this genre deliver shocking twists that truly impress, others fall flat. Many build suspense and keep you hooked, only to have the big reveal feel disappointing and anticlimactic—like a letdown at a birthday party. It’s frustrating because some of these films could be considered classics if they hadn’t relied on a predictable or poorly executed surprise. Be warned: the following discussion contains spoilers.

3) The Gorge

From the beginning, the movie *The Gorge* sets up a curious situation: soldiers from opposing sides are positioned across a huge gorge, told simply to stand guard. This immediately raises questions—guard against what? However, as the film unfolds, it becomes apparent that the connection between the lead actors, Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy, is far more compelling than the mystery surrounding their mission.

Honestly, when the movie got to its halfway point and they finally went down into the gorge to find answers, it just fell flat. The big reveal – that the creatures are the result of messed-up WWII experiments, a weird mix of human, plant, and animal DNA – totally sucked the air out of the room. I actually think the mystery was way more compelling when we were just getting little hints and pieces of the puzzle. Then, to top it off, they revealed that Teller’s character actually *survived* and reunited with Taylor-Joy’s doctor! It wasn’t a terrible twist, but after all that explaining, a really shocking ending could have saved the whole thing.

2) Hancock

Released in the same year as the first *Iron Man* movie, which launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and alongside the critically acclaimed *The Dark Knight*, *Hancock* was a surprisingly forward-thinking superhero film. While it was a financial success, earning over $600 million worldwide, most viewers agree the movie shines brightest in its first hour, before a major plot twist changes everything.

Will Smith plays the lead role as Hancock, a troubled superhero with a drinking problem and a strained relationship with the public. The premise itself is interesting, but the movie introduces a particularly weak plot twist: both Hancock and Charlize Theron’s character, Mary, are actually immortal beings with superpowers, once worshipped as gods or angels. They were even in a romantic relationship for thousands of years before Hancock lost his memory. Strangely, their powers diminish as they get closer to each other.

Before the popular show *The Boys* challenged the superhero genre, the movie *Hancock* took similar aim. However, *Hancock* ultimately fell short of its potential because it overexplained the story. While it was important for the main character to develop, the film sacrificed its impact by revealing too much and ultimately damaging the narrative.

1) Signs

The movie *Signs* depicts an alien invasion, but unlike films like *War of the Worlds* or *Mars Attacks*, it focuses on a single family in rural Pennsylvania. The story is a personal one, exploring how a fractured family reconnects and heals. However, the film’s ending reveals a surprising weakness of the aliens: they’re vulnerable to water. This twist is hinted at throughout the movie with scattered glasses of water, which become dangerous traps. But the idea that aliens would be defeated by water on a planet that’s mostly water raises questions and feels a bit illogical.

The impact of the twist in *Signs* wasn’t necessarily tied to the twist itself – almost any surprising reveal could have had a similar effect on audiences. At that point in his career, director M. Night Shyamalan had become known for his third-act twists. While audiences expected a surprise, the twist in *Signs* didn’t improve the movie; instead, it caused viewers to overanalyze the plot and question the film’s overall coherence and every decision made within it.

If *Signs* hadn’t focused so much on its surprising twist and instead stayed true to its original idea of being a small, personal story about a family dealing with a difficult situation, it could have been a truly unforgettable film. Even as it stands, it’s still a very good movie within its genre, but the confusing twist ultimately detracts from the overall experience.

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2025-10-11 00:11