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Top 10 Movie Plot Twists That Changed EVERYTHING
WatchMojo
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8/27/2024
These plot twists still make our heads spin. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most significant plot twists that immediately changed the tone of a movie and raised the stakes considerably.
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00:00
You must be Peter. Yeah. I'm Liz's dad. Put her there.
00:06
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most significant plot
00:10
twists that immediately changed the tone of a movie and raised the stakes considerably.
00:14
It should go without saying, but there are spoilers ahead.
00:17
Who cares if there's a few little details you'd rather not remember?
00:22
Number 10. The characters are personalities. Identity. If you recall this 2000s thriller,
00:27
you probably remember its all-star cast. The movie puts them all at a motel where
00:31
a sinister mystery unravels. The plot really flies off a cliff when it's revealed that they're all
00:47
personalities within a convict's brain. From that point on, this insane story spirals as the guests
00:52
keep dying off. The film's unpredictable narrative gives viewers a strange twist
00:56
that alters reality. It might be outrageous, but it's also an ambitious idea that pushes
01:08
the boundaries of storytelling. The tale of Malcolm River's mind continues to surprise the
01:13
audience as his violent personality takes over. Number 9. Flashback. Jacob's Ladder.
01:31
After returning from Vietnam, Jacob Singer suffers through visions that make him question reality.
01:36
He later learns that he was exposed to an experimental drug that had horrific consequences.
01:44
If that isn't enough, this horror film takes one more terrifying trip to the past. Singer
01:53
finds himself heading towards a light and taken back to 1971. The hero becomes a soldier once
01:59
more, appearing to have died from his combat wounds years ago. It's an incredible way to play
02:18
with space, time, and viewer expectations. This examination of PTSD doesn't hold back,
02:23
culminating in a heartbreaking climax. Number 8. Circle of Time. Arrival. This sci-fi film
02:38
seeks to answer existential questions as linguist Louise Banks communicates with extraterrestrials.
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She comes to learn about the future, but it's not all that she hoped it would be.
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It turns out that Banks will have a daughter who will fall terminally ill.
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We also learn that Jeremy Renner's character is the father, but he won't be sticking around.
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It's a surprising development in a movie that doesn't have easy answers to life's
03:07
most important questions. Ultimately, the entire concept of time comes into question
03:23
as the film reaches its dramatic conclusion. With a new understanding of the past and the future,
03:28
the movie leaves you with a mind-bending concept to ponder.
03:46
Number 7. Who is Tyler Durden? Fight Club. Starting from somewhat humble beginnings,
03:51
the narrator and Tyler Durden grow their club into a dangerous organization.
03:55
The main character then comes to realize that he's been working overtime.
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It turns out that Durden is actually his alter-ego, meaning that he's been doing
04:14
everything by himself. This revelation puts the entire plot into a new context.
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Not only do you have to watch the film again, but it also leaves you with questions about identity
04:35
that will have your head spinning. It's fair to say that this twist only makes the explosive
04:40
finale more disturbing and unexpected. Number 6. Occult is Behind Everything. Hereditary.
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Throughout this horror film, the Graham family are plagued by endless tragedy and bad luck.
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The eeriness of it all is because of a demonic cult that's been influencing everyone. Ari Aster's
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horror masterwork doesn't shy away from this disturbing revelation, making viewers consider
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the full weight of this dark twist. It also doesn't make the beheadings or fires any less
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horrifying. Peter later becomes king in a creepy ceremony that changes his future,
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calling into question how much farther the coven will go. Aster's tale of family ties and grief
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keeps you wondering and worrying until the very last second. Number 5. Sister and Daughter. Chinatown.
05:56
Evelyn Mulray plays a key and tragic role in the plot of Chinatown. Detective Jake Giddes
06:08
comes to understand the bitter truth. Mulray's sister, Catherine, is also her daughter. Giddes
06:13
learns the truth in a scene that's as heartbreaking as it is surprising.
06:26
Only after we learn this information do we fully understand the depth of Noah Cross
06:30
and his evil. Mulray and her daughter try to escape with help from the hero, but this isn't
06:34
a fairy tale. The ending is even more tragic because of this twist, adding to the bitter
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reality of the plot. Number 4. The Basement Dweller. Parasite. Oscar winner Parasite is
06:47
a fun thriller that intensifies until it subverts your expectations. Director Bong Joon-Ho
07:05
finds a way to make you laugh and terrify you with his sudden surprise, letting the truth come
07:09
out in a rainstorm. It turns out that the rich family's house has a secret lurking beneath the
07:13
main floor. The former maid's husband is staying in the bunker, giving a new meaning to the film's
07:18
title. Not only do the Kims have to deal with their ongoing operation, they also have to consider
07:36
how this news will affect their future. It's easy to see why the writers earned an Academy Award for
07:40
such brilliant screenwriting. Number 3. Darth Vader's Identity. Star Wars Episode V,
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The Empire Strikes Back. Darth Vader remains one of the most imposing,
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feared characters in the first Star Wars universe. By the end of the sequel,
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The Empire Strikes Back, he finally corners the hero Luke Skywalker in dramatic fashion.
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The Jedi then learns the truth in an earth-shattering moment. Not only that,
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Vader's incredible voice, courtesy of James Earl Jones, really sells the intense scene.
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It's among the most memorable, shocking, and iconic twists in any film. The news set a course
08:37
for the climactic return of the Jedi, while also inspiring a prequel series to explain the
08:41
antagonist's troubled origins. Number 2. Leonard Killed His Wife, Memento.
09:07
Throughout the course of Christopher Nolan's inventive thriller,
09:12
Leonard Shelby tries to solve a mystery despite his condition. All sorts of people take advantage
09:17
of his amnesia until he realizes the truth. While someone did attack his wife, she survived,
09:22
and it was Shelby who accidentally killed her. He also realizes that he has been searching for
09:26
a man that he's already found. Nolan finds a way to play with your expectations while
09:30
also delivering an emotional gut wrench. In the end, the main character comes out of it a morally
09:49
conflicted person. Things only get worse as he decides to keep going, ensuring that he can keep
09:54
hunting people for as long as he wants to. Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel
10:07
and ring the bell to get notified about our latest videos. You have the option to be notified for
10:12
occasional videos or all of them. If you're on your phone, make sure you go into your settings
10:17
and switch on notifications. Number 1. Marion's Abrupt End, Psycho. Marion Crane skips town with
10:25
some stolen cash, but she stops off at the Bates Motel. This initiates one of the wildest twists
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in film history. Alfred Hitchcock puts Crane in a shower, letting Norman Bates take her out in
10:34
brutal fashion. It completely changes the course of the narrative by getting rid of the main
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heroine. Once we realize that even the lead character can die, we're on the edge of our seats
10:47
until the dramatic finale. The surprises don't end there, as we later discover Bates' split
11:01
personality and his mother's influence from beyond the grave. Many movies have tried to be as bold,
11:06
but nothing beats the rapid shift of this groundbreaking change.
11:19
Did we forget another plot twist that completely altered a film? Let us know in the comments below.
11:27
Did you enjoy this video? Check out these other clips from WatchMojo,
11:31
and be sure to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos.
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