Top 20 Worst Movie Plot Twists Ranked

Plot twists are common in movies, meant to change how you understand the story and leave a memorable impact. When done well, a surprising reveal can turn a so-so film into something great, especially for viewers who have been paying close attention. But sometimes, twists fall flat – they don’t make sense, create plot holes, or simply disappoint instead of excite. This list looks at twenty films where the final twist didn’t work and actually damaged the story.

‘Safe Haven’ (2013)

A woman escapes an abusive marriage and starts over in a quiet town, where she falls in love with a kind store owner. She finds a friend and mentor in a supportive neighbor named Jo, who helps her adjust to her new life. The story takes an unexpected turn when it’s revealed that Jo is the ghost of the store owner’s deceased wife, secretly looking out for him and his family. This sudden introduction of a supernatural twist feels jarring because it wasn’t hinted at earlier in the otherwise realistic romance.

‘The Forgotten’ (2004)

A mother desperately tries to prove her son was real after everyone forgets he ever existed. She joins forces with a father facing the same strange situation – no one remembers his daughter either. The story unfolds as a tense psychological thriller, hinting at either a government cover-up or a shared mental breakdown, until the shocking truth is revealed: aliens are behind the disappearances, conducting a large-scale experiment to study the strength of parent-child connections.

‘Perfect Stranger’ (2007)

Okay, so I just finished watching this thriller, and honestly, I’m a little frustrated. It follows Rowena Price, a journalist who goes deep undercover, convinced a wealthy guy offed her friend. The whole movie is this intense cat-and-mouse game, a lot of seduction and lies as she tries to get to the truth. But then… the ending. It turns out Rowena was the one who killed her friend, trying to cover her own tracks! It completely throws everything that happened before into question. Seriously, all her investigating, all the risks she took… it makes absolutely no sense if she was the killer all along. It’s a twist, sure, but it feels like it undoes the entire film and leaves you wondering why you even bothered watching.

‘Hide and Seek’ (2005)

After losing his wife, a man and his troubled daughter move to upstate New York. The daughter creates an imaginary friend named Charlie, and soon after, unsettling and frightening things start happening around their home. The father believes these events are linked to his daughter’s emotional state. However, the truth is far more shocking: the father himself suffers from a split personality, and he is Charlie. While this twist is similar to those found in other thrillers, the story doesn’t offer many hints leading up to the reveal.

‘The Number 23’ (2007)

Walter Sparrow becomes fixated on a novel that strangely reflects his own life, particularly the number 23. As he investigates a murder that seems linked to the book, his paranoia increases. Ultimately, it’s revealed that Walter actually wrote the novel himself, years ago, while suffering from amnesia. The story depends a lot on this convenient memory loss to explain why he doesn’t realize he’s connected to the events.

‘Spectre’ (2015)

James Bond journeys around the world to destroy a secret organization and discovers hidden truths about his own history. The story culminates in a showdown with the enigmatic Franz Oberhauser, who is ultimately revealed to be Ernst Stavro Blofeld – and Bond’s childhood foster brother. However, this personal connection between Bond and the villain felt contrived and made the overall story seem smaller in scope.

‘Glass’ (2019)

David Dunn, Kevin Wendell Crumb, and Elijah Price are all held in a mental institution. A psychiatrist attempts to convince them that their powers aren’t real, believing they are suffering from delusions. The movie concludes with the surprising reveal that this psychiatrist is actually part of a secret group whose purpose is to control or eliminate people with superpowers. This discovery feels like an underwhelming ending to a story that had been developing over almost twenty years.

‘Savages’ (2012)

The movie centers on two marijuana farmers whose girlfriend is kidnapped by a Mexican drug cartel. Initially, the film portrays a dramatic and deadly shootout where the farmers appear to sacrifice themselves heroically. However, it’s then revealed this intense scene was actually a story the girlfriend wrote in her journal. The film then flashes back to show the characters resolving their issues without violence and enjoying a happy life together.

‘Hancock’ (2008)

A superhero who’s lost his memory and isn’t known for being careful tries to improve his reputation with the help of a publicist. He soon learns the publicist’s wife is also a superhero, and that they’re meant to be together. However, an ancient story reveals they were both created as gods, and being close to each other causes them to lose their powers. This surprising origin story shifts the focus from a funny, critical look at superheroes to a heartbreaking love story.

‘Signs’ (2002)

When aliens invade Earth, a former priest must defend his family on their farm. As the creatures break into their home, the danger intensifies. The family makes a surprising discovery: ordinary tap water burns the aliens like acid. This leads them to wonder why such an advanced race would attack a planet with so much of its weakness.

‘High Tension’ (2003)

A woman and her friend are terrorized at a farmhouse by a violent attacker, who abducts her friend. Determined to rescue her, the woman gives chase. However, the shocking ending reveals she is the actual killer, and the man who seemed to be attacking them was a creation of her mind. This twist creates inconsistencies in the story, as scenes show the woman and the attacker in separate locations at the same time.

‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ (2019)

The last movie in the sequel series continues the story of Rey and the Resistance as they battle the First Order. The film reveals that Emperor Palpatine is alive and has been secretly controlling things all along. Rey learns she’s Palpatine’s granddaughter, which contradicts what the previous movie implied about her origins. Many fans and critics felt bringing back the original villain so suddenly was a step backward in the storytelling.

‘The Village’ (2004)

A hidden community, stuck in the 1800s, lives in constant fear of strange creatures in the nearby woods. The village leaders have forbidden anyone from leaving, hoping to keep everyone safe. But one blind woman defies them, entering the forest and stumbling upon a surprising sight: a modern-day park ranger’s vehicle beyond an old wall. The truth is revealed: the village isn’t what it seems – it’s actually part of a social experiment taking place within a present-day wildlife preserve.

‘Identity’ (2003)

A group of ten strangers are trapped at a remote motel during a storm, and they start being killed off one by one. Throughout the film, these events are shown alongside a legal hearing about whether a convicted killer is insane. The shocking truth is revealed at the end: the people at the motel aren’t real – they are different parts of the killer’s broken mind, fighting for control.

‘The Happening’ (2008)

Okay, so picture this: it’s a total nightmare unfolding across the Northeast. People are just… dropping, committing mass suicide, and nobody knows why. It turns out this weird neurotoxin is the culprit, but it’s invisible, so it’s spreading fast. My friends and I, we ditch the city, trying to get away from it all. The really crazy part? Scientists figure out it’s coming from the plants – like, trees and stuff are releasing this toxin as a way to fight back against humans. But the weirdest thing of all? It just… stops. The plants seemingly decide they’re done attacking, and everyone who’s left is just… stunned. It’s a seriously messed up premise, but totally gripping!

‘Planet of the Apes’ (2001)

Astronaut Leo Davidson journeys through a wormhole and finds himself on a planet where intelligent apes are in charge. He helps lead a fightback by humans and manages to escape back to Earth through the same wormhole. However, when he arrives in Washington D.C., he’s shocked to find the Lincoln Memorial has been replaced with a statue honoring an ape leader. Ape police quickly surround him, making it clear that something has drastically changed in Earth’s history.

‘The Devil Inside’ (2012)

A documentary team explores the case of an Italian woman who killed three priests while performing an exorcism. As they investigate, the crew experiences frightening supernatural occurrences and possessions that build to a shocking car accident. The film ends suddenly, leaving the story unfinished, and directs viewers to a website for the conclusion.

‘Now You See Me’ (2013)

A group of four skilled illusionists pull off daring robberies, all while being chased by FBI agent Dylan Rhodes. The story centers around the clever tactics of the magicians and the attempts of law enforcement to stop them. However, the film takes a surprising turn when it’s revealed that Rhodes was actually the one planning the heists all along. This creates a strange situation, as he was essentially chasing himself throughout the movie, with no one aware of his double life.

‘Remember Me’ (2010)

Tyler Hawkins is a young man dealing with family issues and a new relationship in New York City. The movie follows a typical romantic drama arc, focusing on overcoming personal struggles and healing from past trauma. However, the final scene reveals Tyler is standing in the North Tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, unexpectedly using this historical tragedy as a key plot point.

‘Serenity’ (2019)

Captain Baker Dill is a fisherman consumed by the pursuit of a massive tuna. His life is further complicated when his ex-wife appears with a shocking request: she wants him to murder her new, abusive husband and dispose of the body by feeding it to sharks. However, this gritty story takes an unexpected turn when it’s revealed that Dill isn’t a real person at all, but a character in a video game. The entire narrative is a simulation created by his son, who is using the game to cope with a deeply painful experience in his own life.

Tell us which movie plot twist disappointed you the most in the comments.

2025-11-22 00:46