A good plot twist isn’t the only element of a thriller movie that makes the genre so iconic, but the most outlandish twist endings often are what audiences best remember. Plot twists require foreshadowing, and when a story incorporates a narrative turn at the end of the story, it must make the audience question the truth of the rest of the movie. To achieve the drama and shock factor that a final act twist requires, it’s no wonder that so many thrillers push the narrative to the absolute limit, exploring the extreme conclusions that leave the audience astounded.
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Many of the best movie plot twists are in thrillers because the genre lends itself to unexpected events and creates tension and stakes by keeping the audience guessing. Many of these films touch upon questions of identity, destiny, and the nature of reality. Cinema is a great place to explore these philosophical discussions safely. Overwhelmingly, the actors in these projects give stand-out performances, as it rests upon their shoulders to make the viewer care about the characters and hypothesize about potential endings without giving the twist away.
10 The Prestige (2006)
Directed by Christopher Nolan
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7.5/10 The Prestige PG-13 Sci-FiMysteryThrillerDrama
Written and directed by Christopher Nolan, The Prestige follows the lives of two stage magicians in Victorian London. Once colleagues, Robert Angier and Alfred Borden become hated rivals after a tragedy involving Angier’s wife tears them apart. The two magicians each go on to have their own lives and careers while competing to see who can pull off a seemingly impossible teleportation trick. Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale star as Angier and Borden.
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*Availability in US Director Christopher Nolan Release Date October 20, 2006 Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Writers Jonathan Nolan , Christopher Nolan Cast Michael Caine , Christian Bale , Hugh Jackman , Scarlett Johansson , Piper Perabo Runtime 130 minutes Expand
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The biggest plot twists in Christopher Nolan’s movies have cemented the director as a beloved contributor to the thriller genre. The Prestige plays with time and perception the same way that his other movies do, but it doesn’t tackle true events as many of Nolan’s recent projects have. However, the fictional narrative allows Nolan to play with the audience’s expectations and make them believe the illusions at the heart of the plot.
The Prestige
‘s twist is not only shocking but also calls all the actions and morality of the characters into question.
Though The Prestige isn’t Nolan’s most critically acclaimed film, it’s one of his most unbelievable and pushes the audience to question their ability to distinguish the difference between fantasy and reality. The Prestige‘s twist is not only shocking but also calls all the actions and morality of the characters into question. Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale make excellent foils as the competing magicians Robert and Alfred, creating explosive chemistry that makes the audience care all the more interested in the truth behind their tricks.
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|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
The Prestige (2006) |
77% |
92% |
9 Vanilla Sky (2001)
Directed by Cameron Crowe
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Vanilla Sky ThrillerSci-Fi
Vanilla Sky is a psychological thriller directed by Cameron Crowe, featuring Tom Cruise as a wealthy publishing magnate named David Aames. Released in 2001, the film explores themes of identity, reality, and the consequences of one’s actions, intertwined with surreal events. Co-starring Penélope Cruz and Cameron Diaz, the film is known for its intricate narrative and engaging performances. Vanilla Sky is a remake of the Spanish film “Open Your Eyes.”
Director Cameron Crowe Release Date December 14, 2001 Studio(s) Cruise/Wagner Productions , Vinyl Films , Sogecine , Summit Entertainment Writers Cameron Crowe Cast Tom Cruise , Penelope Cruz , Kurt Russell , Jason Lee , Noah Taylor , Cameron Diaz Runtime 136 Minutes Expand
The tragic narrative of Vanilla Sky stars Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, and Penélope Cruz form a dangerous love triangle that ends in disaster. It becomes clear fairly quickly in Vanilla Sky that there’s something wrong with David (Cruise) and the world he’s perceiving. However, neither David nor the audience can determine what exactly is happening. As glitches start forming in the idyllic life he’s built, it’s clear that someone or something is altering his world, and the answer will mean the loss of everything he holds dear.
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Related 10 Psychological Thrillers Guaranteed To Mess With Your Head
These thrillers not only create atmospheric tension but also bend reality to make audiences question what’s the truth and what’s imagined.
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Though Vanilla Sky doesn’t include one of Tom Cruise’s movie villain roles, it’s still a refreshing change to see Cruise tackling a complex dramatic role instead of in his typical action-oriented projects. However, there’s still plenty of momentum in Vanilla Sky, as the propulsive narrative might grow confusing, but it’s never boring. Despite the different realities David is experiencing, both he and the other actors are firmly rooted in the story arc and keep the audience dropped into the world.
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|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Vanilla Sky (2001) |
42% |
72% |
8 Predestination (2015)
Directed by Michael Spierig & Peter Spierig
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8/10 Predestination RThrillerSci-Fi
Predestination follows a Temporal Agent on an intricate series of time-travel missions to prevent catastrophic crimes. As he embarks on his final assignment, he faces the elusive criminal he has pursued through time, aiming to avert a devastating attack threatening thousands of lives.
Director Michael Spierig , Peter Spierig Release Date January 9, 2015 Studio(s) Screen Queensland , Screen Australia , Blacklab Entertainment , Wolfhound Pictures Writers Michael Spierig , Peter Spierig Cast Ethan Hawke , Sarah Snook , Noah Taylor , Christopher Kirby , Madeleine West , Jim Knobeloch , Freya Stafford , Elise Jansen , Tyler Coppin , Christopher Stollery , Christopher Sommers , Kuni Hashimoto , Sara El-Yafi , Paul Moder , Grant Piro , Christopher Bunworth , Jamie Gleeson , Christina Tan , Dennis Coard , Milla Simmonds , Ruby Simmonds , Cate Wolfe , Ben Prendergast , Carmen Warrington , Sharon Kershaw Runtime 97 minutes Expand
After the first plot twist in Predestination, it seems that there can’t be any more shocking reveals before the end of the story. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth, as every piece of Predestination is meticulously planned and unfolds according to the same careful foreshadowing the characters experience. It’s because of this that it feels as if there’s no way to stop the events that unfold, as they were always meant to happen this way and always will. Much like its name, Predestination believes in destiny.
Sarah Snook joins Ethan Hawke as the lead of
Predestination
, with each actor playing off each other and building their characters together.
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Sarah Snook joins Ethan Hawke as the lead of Predestination, with each actor playing off each other and building their characters together. Predestination is a classic example of a sci-fi thriller that audiences are still confused about, as time travel and the paradoxical nature of fate are at the forefront of the narrative. Though Predestination drops hints about the story’s opinion, the narrative turn leaves it up to the audience to decide if they, too, will try and combat the inevitability of fate.
|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Predestination (2015) |
84% |
75% |
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7 Now You See Me (2013)
Directed by Louis Leterrier
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Now You See Me PG-13MysteryThrillerCrime
In the 2013 heist movie Now You See Me, a group of magicians known as “The Four Horsemen” perform elaborate heists during their shows. Meanwhile, FBI agent Dylan Rhodes (Mark Ruffalo) and Interpol detective Alma Drey (Mélanie Laurent) track them down to stop them from pulling off their biggest crime yet. Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, and Dave Franco star as the criminals, while Morgan Freeman plays an expert magician and Michael Caine portrays the team’s sponsor.
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*Availability in US Director Louis Leterrier Release Date May 31, 2013 Studio(s) Lionsgate Writers Ed Solomon , Edward Ricourt , Boaz Yakin Cast Woody Harrelson , Mélanie Laurent , Jesse Eisenberg , Michael Caine , Dave Franco , Morgan Freeman , Common , Isla Fisher , Mark Ruffalo Runtime 115 minutes Expand
The beloved crime thriller franchise Now You See Me began in 2013 with the original movie that executes the story’s formula perfectly. Though Now You See Me didn’t receive the utmost praise from critics, it holds plenty of surprises and incorporates a twist that will compel every viewer. Made up of a fantastic ensemble cast, Now You See Me cleverly uses one of its most unassuming characters to pull the strings from behind the scenes, embodying the themes of misdirection that are so important to Now You See Me.
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The true motivations behind the actions of the antagonists in the movie are convoluted and made murky until the final moments of Now You See Me. In an iconic flashback montage, Now You See Me does the one thing a good magician should never do: it reveals its secrets. However, this doesn’t change the fact that Now You See Me is a fun thrill ride that seems to have an endless supply of secrets up its sleeve. As the magicians follow their orders and evade the international police, the cat-and-mouse game heats up at a lightning-fast pace.
|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Now You See Me (2013) |
51% |
70% |
6 Mr. Nobody (2009)
Directed by Jaco Van Dormael
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Before the popularity of multiverse narratives took the film industry by storm, Mr. Nobody tackled the darkest parts of what lies on the path not taken. The protagonist of Mr. Nobody, Nemo (Jared Leto), reflects on the many avenues his life could’ve taken on his deathbed, letting the audience wonder what decisions he made in the past. Since each of his diverging futures holds some level of tragedy and loss, it’s impossible to say what Nemo should’ve done, as Mr. Nobody demonstrates the fickle nature of human history.
It’s difficult to understand the ending of
Mr. Nobody
, which takes the nonlinear structure of the narrative and pushes it to the extreme.
It’s difficult to understand the ending of Mr. Nobody, which takes the nonlinear structure of the narrative and pushes it to the extreme. Though Nemo is plagued by the ramifications of his choices throughout Mr. Nobody, the film’s conclusion posits that the infinite possibilities and chaos of the universe make these attempts at controlling the future futile. When it comes to thrillers, this is a rather bleak and layered philosophy for the narrative to take, but it simultaneously frees Nemo from the terror of choosing the wrong path.
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|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Mr. Nobody (2013) |
66% |
76% |
5 The Cabin In The Woods (2011)
Directed by Drew Goddard
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8.2/10 The Cabin in the Woods RHorrorComedy
The Cabin in the Woods strictly follows the traditional slasher movie dynamic: a group of teens heads to a remote location for the weekend only to find themselves beset by monsters. However, what they don’t know is that the inevitable horrors they will face have all been arranged by a mysterious team watching from a facility deep underground.
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*Availability in US Director Drew Goddard Release Date April 13, 2012 Studio(s) Lionsgate Writers Drew Goddard , Joss Whedon Cast Richard Jenkins , Fran Kranz , Chris Hemsworth , Bradley Whitford , Kristen Connolly Runtime 95 minutes Expand
Poking fun at the horror and thriller genres, The Cabin in the Woods takes the familiar tropes of classic scary movies and the archetypal characters they include. Implementing sci-fi and plenty of comedic moments, The Cabin in the Woods allows its characters to become self-aware and question the horrible monsters and questionable circumstances that plague them. The truth behind why this group of friends is being targeted takes a broader look at why audiences like to consume horror and enjoy witnessing violence onscreen.
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The fate of humanity and the protagonists remains a mystery at the end of The Cabin in the Woods, but both the viewer and audience are floored to discover who’s been pulling the strings and why. Considered a worthy addition to each genre it touches upon, The Cabin in the Woods is a contemporary favorite and was influential in the increase of metatextual references in mainstream media. While the plot twist might not be plausible, it’s funny and sharp, cementing the brilliant tone of the project.
|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
The Cabin in the Woods (2011) |
92% |
74% |
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4 I Care A Lot (2020)
Directed by J Blakeson
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I Care A Lot RThrillerCrimeComedy
I Care A Lot stars Rosamund Pike as Marla Grayson, a con artist who makes money by becoming a court-appointed guardian for elderly people she claims can’t take care of themselves, and then stealing their life’s savings. But things don’t go according to plan when she tries to do the same thing to a mother of a dangerous mob boss.
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*Availability in US Director J Blakeson Release Date February 19, 2021 Studio(s) Netflix , Amazon Studios Writers J Blakeson Cast Macon Blair , Alicia Witt , Damian Young , Dianne Wiest , Peter Dinklage , Eiza Gonzalez , with Isiah Whitlock Jr. , Rosamund Pike , Chris Messina Runtime 118 minutes Expand
Rosamund Pike plays the morally repugnant Marla in I Care a Lot, a protagonist that the audience is not inclined to root for. Watching Marla scam the elderly and steal their assets allows the viewer to sit back and enjoy as many people come after her to disrupt her criminal enterprise. However, they’re only disappointed when even the most self-righteous characters prove to be as selfish as Marla. For most of I Care a Lot, it seems Marla will get away with everything, and the audience will be left with an upsetting conclusion.
Though
I Care a Lot
isn’t as well remembered as some of Pike’s other thrillers, it’s still a worthy addition, thanks to her performance.
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As much as the viewer might want to see Marla get what she deserves, this isn’t exactly what the ending delivers. The twist brings back a small element of Marla’s past and demonstrates that sometimes, it’s the smallest, most insignificant threats that can do the most damage. Both Marla and the audience have almost forgotten about this single plot thread that remains open-ended and is what costs Marla everything. Though I Care a Lot isn’t as well remembered as some of Pike’s other thrillers, it’s still a worthy addition, thanks to her performance.
|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
I Care A Lot (2020) |
79% |
36% |
3 Sorry To Bother You (2018)
Directed by Boots Riley
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8/10 Sorry to Bother You RComedyFantasy Sci-Fi
Written and directed by Boots Riley, Sorry to Bother You is a Comedy and Surrealist film released in 2018. Starring Danny Glover, Terry Crews, Patton Oswalt, and LaKeith Stanfield. The film follows a young man that gets a new job which he initially struggles with, only to begin excelling with practice. Once he finds out what the company is involved in, things get more complicated.
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*Availability in US Release Date July 13, 2018 Studio(s) Universal Pictures Writers Boots Riley Cast Omari Hardwick , Steven Yeun , Tessa Thompson , Michael X. Sommers , Armie Hammer , Jermaine Fowler , Kate Berlant , Forest Whitaker , LaKeith Stanfield , Terry Crews , Danny Glover , Robert Longstreet Runtime 112 Minutes
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The underrated sci-fi thriller Sorry to Bother You stars LaKeith Stanfield as Cash, a telemarketer who finds sudden success when he starts using his “white voice” on calls. However, this satirical premise that carefully deconstructs and critiques the issues of racism and prejudice in the U.S. is only the tip of the iceberg. It doesn’t take long for Cash to get swept up in the larger forces at work behind the scenes at his job, which have to be seen to be believed.
Sorry to Bother You takes its themes of anti-capitalism and its comments on the limitless nature of corporate greed to the next level with its plot twist. The company Cash works for doesn’t just want to suppress the union but has more sinister intentions for its workers that Cash quickly attempts to reveal to the public. Though it seems that Cash is winning the fight against them, Sorry to Bother You ends with a reminder that the fight is never over.
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|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Sorry to Bother You (2018) |
93% |
70% |
2 Moon (2009)
Directed by Duncan Jones
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Moon RMysteryDrama Sci-Fi
Duncan Jones presents Moon, a sci-fi mystery drama that follows Astronaut Sam Bell, who has spent the last three years working at a lunar mine in isolation and is coming up at the end of his shift. However, as Sam prepares to return home to his family and meet his daughter for the first time, he begins to experience vivid hallucinations of a younger version of himself and begins to experience hazardous events. Before Lunar Industries arrives to relieve him of duty, he must uncover the reason for his recent psychosis and free himself of his mental prison.
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*Availability in US Director Duncan Jones Release Date July 10, 2009 Studio(s) Sony Writers Nathan Parker Cast Sam Rockwell , Kevin Spacey , Kaya Scodelario , Benedict Wong , Dominique McElligott Runtime 97 minutes Expand
The complexities of identity and time are explored in Moon, the sci-fi thriller that features Sam Rockwell as a man working in isolation on the moon in the future. Though there are a few other characters in Moon, Rockwell spends most of the story interacting with himself. This is quite literal, as Moon grapples with the ethics of cloning and identity, as the protagonist, Sam, must work with himself to stop the cycle of servitude and violence he’s undergoing.
It’s thanks to Rockwell that the audience is intrigued by Sam’s plans to fool the corporation that sent him to the moon and ultimately outwits them.
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Rockwell’s turn in Moon is a career-best, and the intricacies of the plot and unforgettable twist rely on his ability to deliver a compelling performance. It’s thanks to Rockwell that the audience is intrigued by Sam’s plans to fool the corporation that sent him to the moon and ultimately outwits them. Each part of the story in Moon lends itself to the lonely life that Sam leads and makes the audience long for the life on Earth he believes is waiting for him.
|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Moon (2009) |
90% |
89% |
Related 10 Must-See Sci-Fi Movies That Don’t Rely On Impressive Special Effects
While big-budget sci-fi films often headline the box office, there are many that make the most with much less and have become must-watch movies.
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1 Under The Silver Lake (2018)
Directed by David Robert Mitchell
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Under the Silver Lake RCrimeDramaMystery
Written and directed by David Robert Mitchell, Under the Silver Lake is a mystery comedy-drama released in 2018. A thirty-something conspiracy theorist’s life experiences a shake-up when his new neighbor becomes a brief love interest, only to disappear, leaving behind a mystery that dives deeply into a dangerous conspiracy.
Director David Robert Mitchell Release Date May 15, 2018 Studio(s) Vendian Entertainment , Stay Gold Features , Good Fear , Michael De Luca Productions , Pastel Productions Writers David Robert Mitchell Cast Andrew Garfield , Riley Keough , Topher Grace Runtime 139 Minutes Expand
Though Andrew Garfield is well known for his starring role as Peter Park in The Amazing Spider-Man movies and his latest turn as the romantic lead in We Live In Time, he’s also been in plenty of chilling thrillers. Under the Silver Lake is a polarizing but mesmerizing addition to the genre, helmed by the director, David Robert Mitchell, whose experience in horror with It Follows helped create the eerie atmosphere of Under the Silver Lake. Blending classic film noir and surrealist elements, Under the Silver Lake keeps the audience off balance.
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For cinephiles or Los Angeles residents, Under the Silver Lake holds plenty of Easter eggs and references to the city’s storied history with the film industry. As Garfield’s character, Sam goes on an odyssey around LA looking for a young woman he crosses paths with, he’s sucked deeper into increasingly bizarre and uncanny situations. The final moments of Under the Silver Lake bring the mysterious story full circle, with Sam surprisingly resigned to his inability to help others and the inevitability of his circumstances. The truth behind what lies under the eponymous reservoir is the biggest twist of the narrative.
|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Under the Silver Lake (2018) |
58% |
59% |
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Category: Entertainment