The 12 Greatest Movie Plot Twists Ever, Ranked

      Here are the top movie plot twists ever, ranked. As you'll notice, we lean towards twists that transform the narrative rather than merely conclude it. Nonetheless, we appreciate plot twists of all varieties.

      First, however: Many surprises don't quite qualify as twists. A twist fundamentally alters our understanding of the story, while a reveal is merely a surprise.

      We enjoy surprises — for instance, Silence of the Lambs is filled with them, but those surprises don’t fundamentally alter our perception of the preceding plot. The Crying Game also features a well-known reveal, but it doesn't significantly impact the overall story. Citizen Kane includes a famous surprise ending, but it doesn't greatly change the film — it’s more of a subtle touch.

      With that prelude, here are the 12 Best Movie Plot Twists, Ranked. Beware of spoilers ahead. If you'd prefer not to know the twist, just read the "The Plot" section of each entry and skip the rest. We would rather you enjoy these films without any spoilers.

      Number 12: Primal Fear

      Paramount

      The Plot: Ambitious defense attorney Martin Vail (Richard Gere) takes on the case of Aaron Stampler (Ed Norton), a meek altar boy accused of murdering a Catholic archbishop. Vail comes to believe that Aaron suffers from dissociative personality disorder due to years of abuse, including from the archbishop, which caused him to adopt the violent persona of Roy.

      The Plot Twist (Spoiler): In the end, Aaron confesses to the lawyer that he fabricated his dissociative disorder and is actually closer to the violent Roy than the gentle Aaron.

      Why It’s Good: Ed Norton delivers an impressive performance, even if it seems ludicrous on paper. This plot twist ranks lowest on our list because we prefer twists that come earlier in the film, allowing everyone to feel their impact. While twist endings are enjoyable, we favor early or mid-movie twists even more.

      Number 11: Frozen

      The Plot: Princess Elsa (Idina Menzel) accidentally reveals her long-concealed ice powers when she becomes frustrated with her sister Anna (voiced by Kristen Bell) for wanting to marry Prince Hans (voiced by Santino Fontana), a young man she just met.

      The Plot Twist: It is revealed later that Hans doesn’t truly love Anna; he is heartless. Thus, the anticipated kiss that we believe will conclude the story doesn’t occur.

      Why It Works: A well-executed twist in a children's movie is delightful — especially one that cautions kids to be wary of strangers. Frozen effectively sets up the big twist with clever misdirection, highlighted in the catchy musical number “Love is an Open Door,” where Hans and Anna appear to connect (but do they really?).

      Number 10: Chinatown

      Paramount – Credit: C/O

      The Plot: In this neo-noir set in the 1930s, private detective Jake Gittes (Jack Nicholson) investigates a complicated plot involving the Los Angeles water supply at the behest of Evelyn Mulwray (Faye Dunaway).

      The Plot Twist (Spoiler): After being confronted by Gittes, the tragic Evelyn reveals that Cross, her father, raped her when she was 15, resulting in the birth of Katherine, whom she chillingly identifies as “my sister and my daughter.”

      Why It’s Good: This twist dramatically underscores Cross's sinister nature, highlighting the abuses both to the land and his own daughter, and elevates the stakes of what might otherwise be a mundane story about water rights. Most importantly, it occurs early enough to cast a dark shadow over the entire narrative that follows, filling us with anger towards the villain.

      Number 9: Fight Club

      20th Century Fox – Credit: C/O

      The Plot: An unnamed protagonist (Edward Norton), searching for a more meaningful existence, forms a fight club with Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt), a charismatic stranger he meets during his lifeless business trips. Their mischief escalates into an anti-consumerist revolt.

      The Plot Twist (Spoiler): The character played by Norton has been Tyler Durden all along! He’s like a cooler imaginary companion.

      Why It’s Good: If you didn’t see it coming (and I certainly didn’t when I watched Fight Club in theaters in 1999), it felt like a complete knockout. Yes, it arrived somewhat late in the film, but it landed perfectly. Once you realized it, the first rule of Fight Club was to keep the twist a secret.

      Number 8: The Wizard of Oz

      MGM – Credit: C/O

      The Plot: After a tornado transports Dorothy (Judy Garland) and her puppy Toto from Kansas to Oz, she teams up with the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion on an enchanting journey along the Yellow Brick Road to meet the Wizard, hoping he will grant their wishes.

      The Plot Twist (Spo