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10 movie plot twists we didn’t see coming

Think you’ve seen it all? Think again. These are the jaw-dropping movie twists that flipped entire plots on their heads, left us speechless on the sofa and had us instantly reaching for the rewind button

By Virgin Media Edit

Published
28 November 2025

Mind-bending movies that keep you guessing

If you’re all about big cinematic surprises and films with a twist that knocks you sideways, you’re in the right place. These films don’t rely on cheap tricks or predictable reveals. They serve up the kind of clever, slow-burn shocks that stay with you long after the credits roll.

You don’t need jump scares to feel the adrenaline, just grab the snacks, dim the lights and get ready for storytelling that’ll keep you guessing until the very last second.


What makes a good plot twist?

A plot twist is that brilliant bit of storytelling that lures you in, keeps you guessing and then hits you with a reveal you absolutely didn’t see coming. It’s the moment that flips everything on its head and leaves you rethinking the entire story in the best way.

While you might think you have outsmarted the director and guessed what will happen, a plot twist takes this guess and throws it away. A successful plot twist keeps you guessing throughout the duration of a film, but there are three common plot twists that you find in movies.

Think about your classic ‘whodunnit’ moments, where the villain is revealed to the viewer in all their glory.

Usually changes the direction of a story, which can include a midway revelation or cliff hanger.

The curveballs thrown at you when you weren’t expecting it. You’ll be taken aback and try to think back at any possible clues you might have missed throughout the film.

10 Movie Plot Twists

If you love films that keep you guessing and feel like playing detective from the comfort of your sofa, you’re in the right place. The best plot twist movies don’t spell everything out; they lure you in with smart storytelling and a sense that something big is brewing just out of sight.

From mind-bending finales to reveals that make you rethink everything you’ve just watched, we’ve rounded up ten of the best plot twists in movies, perfect for your next solo duvet day or a movie night with your favourite film fans.

The Sixth Sense (1999)

Available to stream on Disney+, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Sky Store

M. Night Shyamalan’s masterpiece delivered one of the greatest cinematic mic-drops of the ’90s, pulling audiences into its eerie, slow-burn mystery without giving away a single clue too soon. For most of the film, you’re right there with Bruce Willis, convinced you understand exactly what’s unfolding, until the reveal hits. Suddenly everything snaps into place, every earlier scene takes on a new meaning, and you find yourself mentally rewinding the entire movie with a glorious, stunned “OH.”

Fight Club (1999)

Available to stream on Disney+, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Sky Store

We all know the first rule of fight club, and we have definitely broken that rule since. For most of the story, Tyler Durden storms through the narrative as the chaotic, unfiltered antidote to modern life, and we’re right there buying into every word. Then the twist drops, and suddenly the entire film reframes itself in a single, disorienting moment. By the time those final 20 minutes play out, the truth hits with the force of a sledgehammer, leaving you replaying every interaction, every clue and every frenzied monologue you missed the first time around.

The Usual Suspects (1995)

Available to stream on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Sky Store

A slow-burn thriller that takes its time building tension, The Usual Suspects rewards your patience with one of the most iconic reveals in cinema. For the entire film, the question “Who is Keyser Söze?” hangs over every conversation, every clue and every unreliable detail. And when the answer finally drops, it reshapes everything you’ve seen throughout the film, prompting an immediate mental rewind as you piece together the truth hidden in plain sight.

Shutter Island (2010)

Available to stream on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Sky Store

Scorsese cranks up the psychological tension from the very start, expertly leading us down a path that feels solid — right until it isn’t. Just when you think you’ve got Teddy Daniels’ investigation figured out, the story veers sharply into full “wait… what?” territory. The twist doesn’t just surprise you; it forces you to rethink everything you thought you understood about the island, the case and Teddy himself.

Parasite (2019)

Available to stream on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Sky Store

A masterclass in genre-bending, Parasite shifts effortlessly from sharp, clever comedy to pitch-black chaos without ever letting you catch your breath. Just when you think you know exactly where the story is heading, the film rips the floor out from under you, literally. The plot twist in this Oscar-winning blockbuster unveils a hidden layer that changes everything, sending the story spiralling in a direction you never saw coming.

Oldboy (2003)

Available to stream on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Sky Store, NOW TV

A revenge thriller that drags you into its dark, dizzying world and then takes you to places your brain is absolutely not prepared for, Oldboy builds tension with every step. When the truth about Oh Dae-su’s captivity finally comes crashing in, it doesn’t just land - it hits like a full-force sledgehammer to the senses, leaving you stunned, speechless and desperate to reassemble the emotional wreckage the film leaves behind.

Gone Girl (2014)

Available to stream on Disney+, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Sky Store

David Fincher’s razor-sharp thriller keeps you confidently guessing right up until the moment it pulls the rug out from under you and proves you spectacularly wrong. Just when you think you’ve cracked the mystery, the film reveals that Amy Dunne has been several steps ahead the entire time, manipulating every move, every narrative and every person in her orbit. It’s a twist that flips the whole story on its head and cements Amy as one of cinema’s most unforgettable masterminds.

Saw (2004)

Available to stream on Amazon Prime, ITVX, Apple TV, Sky Store

Before it launched into a full-blown franchise, the original Saw stunned audiences with a twist that horror film fans still talk about to this day. What starts as a gritty, low-budget thriller steadily builds to one of the most memorable finales in the genre, and when that final Jigsaw reveal hits, it’s nothing short of elite cinema. It’s the kind of ending that sends a jolt through the room and leaves you staring at the screen in disbelief.

Arrival (2016)

Available to stream on NOW TV, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Sky Store

A sci-fi drama with heart, brains and a time-bending narrative, Arrival draws you in long before you realise what it’s truly doing. Every scene feels purposeful, every detail carefully placed, and then the twist hits. The moment you understand what Louise’s visions actually mean is utterly breathtaking, transforming the entire story into something far more emotional, profound and unforgettable than you ever expected.

The Prestige (2006)

Available to stream on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Sky Store

Christopher Nolan being… well, Christopher Nolan, The Prestige weaves a story that’s as meticulous as it is mesmerising. What begins as a rivalry between two magicians slowly builds into an intricate puzzle of obsession, sacrifice and illusion. And then comes the twist - one impossible trick and a final reveal that instantly reframes every scene you’ve watched so far, leaving you marvelling at how cleverly the pieces were hidden in plain sight.


Be there for all the twists and turns with Virgin TV

Whether you're craving a mind-bending classic or a modern twist-filled thriller, you can dive into all your film favourites from the comfort of your sofa with Virgin TV.

The best bit? Every one of our TV bundles comes with Netflix Standard with ads at no extra cost, so you can stream surprise-packed stories, jaw-dropping reveals and all the cinematic shocks you can handle, to your heart’s content.

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