Posted on Feb 24, 2020

People Shared What They Believe Are Award-Worthy Movie Plot Twists, And My Mind Is Blown

"And the award goes to...wow, plot twist!" —Me, presenting these plot twists with their fake award.

Allie Hayes

BuzzFeed Staff

We recently asked members of our BuzzFeed Community, "If there were an Academy Award for 'Best Movie Plot Twist,' which films would have DEFINITELY won?" and their amazing answers sparked even more brilliant responses! So here are some more plot twists that would like to thank the Academy:

Also, WARNING: Given the nature of this post, several of the entries contain SPOILERS for their respective films, so please proceed with caution!!!

1. The Others (2001)

"The entire film, you believe that the mother and her two children are being haunted by a family...only to find out that THEY themselves are the ghosts. I never saw that plot twist coming at all! The whole movie was confusing, but then it all made sense with the twist."—lemmylou4328 — Warner Sogefilms / Via youtube.com

"The entire film, you believe that the mother and her two children are being haunted by a family...only to find out that THEY themselves are the ghosts. I never saw that plot twist coming at all! The whole movie was confusing, but then it all made sense with the twist."
—lemmylou4328

Warner Sogefilms / Via youtube.com

"The entire film, you believe that the mother and her two children are being haunted by a family...only to find out that THEY themselves are the ghosts. I never saw that plot twist coming at all! The whole movie was confusing, but then it all made sense with the twist."
—lemmylou4328

2. The Mist (2007)

"After all he'd gone through, only for help to be right around the corner...that one physically hurt to watch."—katiec4dd0fbac3 — MGM Distribution Co. / Via youtube.com

"After all he'd gone through, only for help to be right around the corner...that one physically hurt to watch."
—katiec4dd0fbac3

MGM Distribution Co. / Via youtube.com

"After all he'd gone through, only for help to be right around the corner...that one physically hurt to watch."
—katiec4dd0fbac3

3. Now You See Me (2013)

"When you find out that Dylan was the fifth Horseman the entire time! It's so well-executed and I did not see it coming."—meganrussell2907 — Summit Entertainment / Via youtube.com

"When you find out that Dylan was the fifth Horseman the entire time! It's so well-executed and I did not see it coming."
—meganrussell2907

Summit Entertainment / Via youtube.com

"When you find out that Dylan was the fifth Horseman the entire time! It's so well-executed and I did not see it coming."
—meganrussell2907

4. The Final Destination (2009)

"The fifth Final Destination movie actually has a great twist that — when you watch it a second time — makes you really appreciate all of the details and foreshadowing leading up to the ending."—actoranon — Warner Bros. Pictures / Via youtube.com

"The fifth Final Destination movie actually has a great twist that — when you watch it a second time — makes you really appreciate all of the details and foreshadowing leading up to the ending."
—actoranon

Warner Bros. Pictures / Via youtube.com

"The fifth Final Destination movie actually has a great twist that — when you watch it a second time — makes you really appreciate all of the details and foreshadowing leading up to the ending."
—actoranon

5. Scream (1996)

"Not only when you find out that two of Sidney's friends are the killers...but also when you find out that they are also the ones who killed Sidney’s mother! The first three Scream movies really did have mind-fuck plot twists for my teenage brain."—kimm4de8f31fc — Dimension Films / Via youtube.com

"Not only when you find out that two of Sidney's friends are the killers...but also when you find out that they are also the ones who killed Sidney’s mother! The first three Scream movies really did have mind-fuck plot twists for my teenage brain."
—kimm4de8f31fc

Dimension Films / Via youtube.com

"Not only when you find out that two of Sidney's friends are the killers...but also when you find out that they are also the ones who killed Sidney’s mother! The first three Scream movies really did have mind-fuck plot twists for my teenage brain."
—kimm4de8f31fc

6. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008)

"The ending twist in this movie is so unexpected, it is guaranteed to leave you in tears."—alexj439d0d03e — Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / Via youtube.com

"The ending twist in this movie is so unexpected, it is guaranteed to leave you in tears."
—alexj439d0d03e

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / Via youtube.com

"The ending twist in this movie is so unexpected, it is guaranteed to leave you in tears."
—alexj439d0d03e

7. No Way Out (1987)

"It's one of Kevin Costner's better movies. It has a really great cast and a what-the-actual-hell ending."—mandya7 — Orion Pictures / Via youtube.com

"It's one of Kevin Costner's better movies. It has a really great cast and a what-the-actual-hell ending."
—mandya7

Orion Pictures / Via youtube.com

"It's one of Kevin Costner's better movies. It has a really great cast and a what-the-actual-hell ending."
—mandya7

8. Psycho (1960)

"When it's revealed that Norman Bates is also Norma Bates and he has a split personality...it's just one of the biggest plot twists in cinematic history. It basically invented the plot twist."—regans4ed8c0404 — Paramount Pictures / Via youtube.com

"When it's revealed that Norman Bates is also Norma Bates and he has a split personality...it's just one of the biggest plot twists in cinematic history. It basically invented the plot twist."
—regans4ed8c0404

Paramount Pictures / Via youtube.com

"When it's revealed that Norman Bates is also Norma Bates and he has a split personality...it's just one of the biggest plot twists in cinematic history. It basically invented the plot twist."
—regans4ed8c0404

9. V for Vendetta (2006)

"Halfway through the film, Evey believes that she's in prison, getting tortured, and communicating with someone...then poof, it's revealed to all be a set-up lie. It's wild."—katiem4ab0be32b — Warner Bros. Pictures / Via youtube.com

"Halfway through the film, Evey believes that she's in prison, getting tortured, and communicating with someone...then poof, it's revealed to all be a set-up lie. It's wild."
—katiem4ab0be32b

Warner Bros. Pictures / Via youtube.com

"Halfway through the film, Evey believes that she's in prison, getting tortured, and communicating with someone...then poof, it's revealed to all be a set-up lie. It's wild."
—katiem4ab0be32b

10. Predestination (2014)

"This deserves a spot on this list. You're welcome."—ellemnida1994 — Pinnacle Films / Via youtube.com

"This deserves a spot on this list. You're welcome."
—ellemnida1994

Pinnacle Films / Via youtube.com

"This deserves a spot on this list. You're welcome."
—ellemnida1994

11. Saw (2004)

"When you find out that the 'dead body' on the floor of the room was John Kramer/Jigsaw the whole time. I wish I could watch this movie for the first time all over again just for that twist!"—meeks34 — Lions Gate Films / Via youtube.com

"When you find out that the 'dead body' on the floor of the room was John Kramer/Jigsaw the whole time. I wish I could watch this movie for the first time all over again just for that twist!"
—meeks34

Lions Gate Films / Via youtube.com

"When you find out that the 'dead body' on the floor of the room was John Kramer/Jigsaw the whole time. I wish I could watch this movie for the first time all over again just for that twist!"
—meeks34

12. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

"While it's well-known now, this is one of — if not THE — biggest plot twists of all time. It literally shocked all of pop culture and changed one of the biggest franchises of all time."—anthonym4fe54dbed — LucasFilm Ltd. / Via youtube.com

"While it's well-known now, this is one of — if not THE — biggest plot twists of all time. It literally shocked all of pop culture and changed one of the biggest franchises of all time."
—anthonym4fe54dbed

LucasFilm Ltd. / Via youtube.com

"While it's well-known now, this is one of — if not THE — biggest plot twists of all time. It literally shocked all of pop culture and changed one of the biggest franchises of all time."
—anthonym4fe54dbed

13. A Beautiful Mind (2001)

"When they start revealing that John Nash has schizophrenia and everything he experienced was a delusion...it's incredible and out of nowhere."—jroberts0113 — Universal Pictures / Via youtube.com

"When they start revealing that John Nash has schizophrenia and everything he experienced was a delusion...it's incredible and out of nowhere."
—jroberts0113

Universal Pictures / Via youtube.com

"When they start revealing that John Nash has schizophrenia and everything he experienced was a delusion...it's incredible and out of nowhere."
—jroberts0113

14. Gone Baby Gone (2007)

"The ending of this one really had me questioning my morals."—lizizzz — Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / Via youtube.com

"The ending of this one really had me questioning my morals."
—lizizzz

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / Via youtube.com

"The ending of this one really had me questioning my morals."
—lizizzz

15. The Illusionist (2006)

"My favorite plot twist is the end of this one. The inspector's face when he pieces it all together is perfection."—cassandras43100c5b2 — Yari Film Group Releasing / Via youtube.com

"My favorite plot twist is the end of this one. The inspector's face when he pieces it all together is perfection."
—cassandras43100c5b2

Yari Film Group Releasing / Via youtube.com

"My favorite plot twist is the end of this one. The inspector's face when he pieces it all together is perfection."
—cassandras43100c5b2

16. Moon (2009)

"When Sam Bell has a quintessentially personal encounter toward the end of his three-year stint on the moon...I couldn't stop thinking about it."—danny_1952 — Sony Pictures Classics / Via youtube.com

"When Sam Bell has a quintessentially personal encounter toward the end of his three-year stint on the moon...I couldn't stop thinking about it."
—danny_1952

Sony Pictures Classics / Via youtube.com

"When Sam Bell has a quintessentially personal encounter toward the end of his three-year stint on the moon...I couldn't stop thinking about it."
—danny_1952

17. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

"When Peter Parker finds out that his date's dad is the villain, The Vulture. It was something I didn't see coming at all."—varga040 — Marvel Studios / Via youtube.com

"When Peter Parker finds out that his date's dad is the villain, The Vulture. It was something I didn't see coming at all."
—varga040

Marvel Studios / Via youtube.com

"When Peter Parker finds out that his date's dad is the villain, The Vulture. It was something I didn't see coming at all."
—varga040

Now it's your turn! What movie plot twist do YOU believe would be honored with the coveted (and completely made up) "Best Movie Plot Twist" Oscar? Share your pick in the comments below, and be sure to follow the BuzzFeed Community for a chance to be featured in an upcoming post and/or video!

Some entries have been edited for length and/or clarity.

Share This Article

TV and Movies

Get all the best moments in pop culture & entertainment delivered to your inbox.