A close-up of Detective Mills (Brad Pitt) crying while holding a gun in Se7en.
Image via New Line Cinema
By
Robert Lee III
Published 13 minutes ago
Writing from the Chicagoland area in Illinois, Robert is an avid movie watcher and will take just about any excuse to find time to go to his local movie theaters. Robert graduated from Bradley University with degrees in Journalism and Game Design with a minor in Film Studies. Robert tries his best to keep up with all the latest movie releases, from those released in theaters to those released on streaming. While he doesn't always keep up with the latest TV shows, he makes it a goal to watch nearly every major new release possible. He has been honing his craft and following any and all movie news all his life, leading up to now, where he has a vast knowledge of film and film history. He also logs every movie that he watches on his Letterboxd page, and has hosted a weekly online movie night with his closest friends for over 6 years.
Sign in to your Collider account
Summary
Generate a summary of this story
follow
Follow
followed
Followed
Like
Like
Thread
Log in
Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents:
Try something different:
Show me the facts
Explain it like I’m 5
Give me a lighthearted recap
Few things can make an audience more deeply invested in a film while making the film itself that much more memorable than a dynamic, well-timed, and brilliantly crafted twist. Whether it be a shocking twist ending that recontextualizes the entire film or a mid-film twist that lingers throughout the rest of the runtime, a well-crafted twist can make all the difference in terms of a film's icon status. While twists have been a part of film since the very beginning, the '90s especially stand out as one of the best decades when it came to well-crafted twists.
It stands out as the definitive era when it comes to twists, elevating the film as a whole, with several of the iconic twists of the '90s not just being some of the most iconic twists of all time, but several all-time classic films whose most iconic part is their twist. The various twists of the '90s have continued to have impact and significance throughout wider pop culture and the filmmaking industry, having an undeniable strength that persisted throughout the entire decade and beyond.
10 Dr. Lester is secretly immortal and targeting Malkovich
'Being John Malkovich' (1999)
John Malkovich crouches down and peers into a portal to his own mind in Being John Malkovich, 1999.Image via USA Films
Being John Malkovich is already one of the most outside-the-box '90s comedy movies, so it would only make sense that the film would feature a prominent twist that is as surreal and chaotic. The baseline premise is already intricate and wild to follow, yet the twist does an effective job of not only bringing a sense of clarity and understanding to the premise but also adding to the overall insanity of it all. It's the type of twist that makes the film that much more memorable, not necessarily defining the experience, but adding a nice bow and angle on its manic execution.
The main twist revolves around the character of Dr. Lester (Orson Bean), the eccentric boss whose old age and strange dynamics had previously made him a confusing addition in the film. However, after the characters enter his home and discover a room dedicated to John Malkovich, Lotte learns that Dr. Lester is in fact a 1800s ship captain named Captain James Mertin who has attained a sort of immortality by swapping into new bodies near his time of death. He had been observing Malkovich for his entire life, waiting for the right moment to enter his body alongside a myriad of his friends so they could continue life through Malkovich's body.
9 Aaron Stampler is faking his disorder
'Primal Fear' (1996)
Edward Norton smiling in 'Primal Fear'Image via Paramount Pictures
While Primal Fear is often overlooked when it comes to the widely celebrated crime thrillers that make up the '90s, one specific area where the film is continuously celebrated is that of its impactful twist. For a film that centers on truth, lies, and the justice system, it seemed almost inevitable that there would be a critical twist that shook up the entire film as a whole. The twist specifically has a massive overarching impact on the perspective and weight of the performances in the film, as well as the film's psychological themes of sociopathy and multiple personalities.
The main premise of the film follows defense attorney Martin Vail (Richard Gere) having to defend 19-year-old altar boy Aaron Stampler (Edward Norton), who was seen fleeing a murder scene covered in blood. His primary defense comes from the fact that Aaron suffers from amnesia, seemingly having multiple personalities that could have been responsible for the murder. However, after a film of investigation and insight into Aaron's psyche and past, a shocking twist ending shows that Aaron has been faking having multiple personalities all this time, being fully aware of his actions in murdering his victim.
8 Rumi is the true killer posing as Mima
'Perfect Blue' (1997)
A distressed woman with blood on her faceImage via Rex Entertainment
Perfect Blue is often celebrated as one of the greatest animated thrillers of all time, with its unsettling and powerful psychological themes and thrills leaving a massive impact, much like many live-action R-rated thrillers. While many different attributes have helped amplify the film's effective thrills and overall legacy, the defining twist in its final act is a major shock to the system that exemplifies the entire experience. In a story all about self-image, imposter syndrome, and toxic, parasocial fanbases, the twist brings everything together into one shocking reveal.
The twist centers around the identity of the main villain and serial killer of the film. For the majority of the film, the audience is led to believe that the killer is "Me-Mania", a fan of Mima who has gone crazy following her departure from an idol group. However, after Mima escapes Me-Mamia's attempt to rape and murder her, Mima soon realizes that the real culprit behind the murders is her manager, Rumi Hidaka, who has developed an alternate personality and believes herself to be the "real Mima". As such, she has begun murdering people who have wronged Mima since her shift to acting, culminating in an attempted murder of Mima herself to take her place.
7 The "game" is an elaborate birthday setup
'The Game' (1997)
Michael Douglas sits in a chair and looks contemplative in The Game.Image via PolyGram Films
David Fincher's various thrillers are some of the most iconic films of not just the '90s, when it comes to their various twists, but easily some of the first films that people think of when considering all-time iconic twists. While the director's more overtly well-known films will be appearing later on in the list, one such twist of his career that goes largely overlooked and undervalued by audiences is the twist-ending reveal of The Game. The film almost feels like one wild twist after another, as the main character is constantly questioning anything and everything around him as he plays this unexpected birthday game.
By the end of the film, Nicholas (Michael Douglas) is in a state of pure panic, having lost all his money and now holding a woman hostage, as he shoots the first person who walks through the door of the rooftop, which happens to be his brother Conrad. In pure horror of having murdered his brother, Nicholas attempts to end his own life by jumping off the building, only to land on a giant air cushion, as everything in the film, including his own suicide, has been a prepared prank made by his brother, who is still alive. It's a wild twist that, while several people believe ruins the movie, others believe acts as a brilliant final blurring of the lines of reality and fiction.
6 Ghostface is revealed to be two killers
'Scream' (1996)
Roger L. Jackson as Ghostface in 'Scream' (1996), holding a knifeImage via Dimension Films
It's ingrained within the DNA of whodunit slashers to have an impactful, shocking killer reveal during the final act, as a previously believed to be innocent character is shown to be the evil culprit behind the murders. However, for a self-aware meta slasher like Scream, which builds itself around the conventions and clichés of slasher films, it would only make sense for its killer reveal to similarly defy expectations and conventions. While its twist may seem relatively simple nowadays, it made for a massive impact at the time, leaving a legacy across not just the franchise but slasher films in general.
The killer reveal of Billy Loomis (Skeet Ulrich) and Stu Macher (Matthew Lillard) as the dual identity of Ghostface comes with a number of different attributes that make this reveal so unexpected and impactful. These include the fact that Billy was previously presumed to be killed, the very notion of having two killers in the first place instead of one, and the fact that Billy bounced in and out of being the primary suspect throughout the entire film. This twist wouldn't be nearly as impactful if Billy and Stu weren't great characters both before and after the reveal, easily standing as the best and scariest Ghostface killers in the series.
5 Andy escapes through a tunnel hidden for years
'The Shawshank Redemption' (1994)
Andy sitting and looking ahead in The Shawshank RedemptionImage via Columbia Pictures
Often celebrated as one of the greatest films of all time, The Shawshank Redemption's beautiful story of perseverance and humanity in the face of pain and the difficulties of prison life has made it the go-to dramatic masterpiece of the '90s. The primary twist of the film and the method of Andy Dufresne's escape is an interesting case, as it's something that is always alluded to throughout the film, with a lot of this twist's impact coming from the exceptional filmmaking surrounding the scene.
The film does a great job of not only hiding Andy's plan but also allowing this twist to recontextualize his entire character as a ploy for this masterful escape plan. When Andy is randomly discovered not to be in his cell one day, the warden shockingly reveals that he has been digging a tunnel through his cell wall behind his beloved poster for 19 years, crawling through 500 yards of sewage to finally earn his freedom.
4 John Doe completes his plan through Mills
'Se7en' (1995)
Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman in Se7en (1995)Image via New Line Cinema
One of the all-time legendary thriller endings that stands as the go-to aspect of the film that people think of first, the twist ending of Se7en is distinctly different from what one would expect of a crime thriller, being not a culprit reveal but a culmination of a long-rooted plan enacted to perfection. Even without the larger context of the twist and its overarching impact as a whole, the singular reaction and pain of this reveal to the characters has made this reveal iconic in itself, creating a bleak ending of unrelenting pain.
The reveal centers around the serial killer, John Doe (Kevin Spacey), and his specific methodology of inspiring his murders by the seven deadly sins, with the culmination of his plan not coming to fruition until his showdown with Detective David Mills (Brad Pitt). It is at this point that Doe reveals that he himself embodies envy, being envious of Mills's beautiful home life, and has murdered Mills's wife and left her severed head in the box to reveal to Mills. He then eggs Mills on to take his revenge upon him, becoming wrath and murdering him to act as the final murder in his plan.
3 Verbal Kint is actually Keyser Söze
'The Usual Suspects' (1995)
Verbal Kint smoking a cigarette in front of a parked car in The Usual Suspects.Image via Gramercy Pictures
Similarly to that of Se7en, The Usual Suspects, as a film, has created a monumental legacy for itself as one of the best crime thrillers of the '90s, thanks to its iconic, all-encompassing twist ending. The twist makes the absolute most out of a wide variety of different hints and buildup, creating a shocking reveal that completely recontextualizes the entire film and has the audience question everything they've seen up until that point.
The iconic twist ending sees Verbal Kint (Kevin Spacey) leaving the L.A. interrogation room, having relayed his recollection of events, and with Agent Kujan (Chazz Palminteri) concluding that the culprit of the crime and identity of Keyser Söze is Dean Keaton (Gabriel Byrne). However, just as Verbal is released and leaves, Kujan realizes that Verbal has been fabricating the entire story, improvising on the spot by piecing together details from the various objects in Kujan's room. Having put on a facade as the true identity of Keyser Söze, Verbal now walks free, even having fabricated his limp and disabled hand.
2 The Narrator and Tyler are the same person
'Fight Club' (1999)
Brad Pitt as Tyler Durden in Fight ClubImage via 20th Century Studios
Fight Club is an icon of '90s thrillers for good reason, as its dynamic filmmaking style, polarizing messaging, and dynamic layered performances have made it one of the most acclaimed and recognizable cult classics of all time. However, even amidst all the film's strengths and great moments, its masterful plot twist stands as one of the most iconic aspects of the film, still widely being considered one of the greatest plot twists of all time. The twist shifts the entire perspective of the film on its head, unraveling a whole notion of new meanings and messages behind its story of conformity and identity under corporatism.
The twist revolves around the dynamic and relationship between its two lead characters, the Narrator (Edward Norton) and his unassuming, chaotic best friend, Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt). As their relationship begins to divide itself more and more across the film, with the Narrator growing more weary and scared of Tyler's plans, his attempts to get to the bottom of Project Mayhem come with a shocking reveal. He soon learns that he and Tyler are split personalities, with Tyler taking full control during his insomnia episodes, and that they are, in fact, the same person.
1 Malcolm Crowe is dead the whole time
'The Sixth Sense' (1999)
Haley Joel Osment speaking to Bruce Willis in The Sixth Sense.Image via Buena Vista Pictures
When the very concept of impactful, widely acclaimed movie twists comes to mind, The Sixth Sense constantly comes to mind as one of the most widely celebrated and acclaimed movie twists of all time. It's a twist that single-handedly placed writer/director M. Night Shyamalan on the map as the definitive modern filmmaker for films with wild twists, with it still standing the test of time 25 years later as an all-time perfect twist ending.
The shocking twist sees Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis) realizing that he did not survive his gunshot wound from Vincent Grey, and that he himself is in fact one of the many ghosts that have been seen by Cole Sear (Haley Joel Osment). It acts as a simple yet powerful ending that falls in line with the mysterious tone and philosophical weight of what preceded it, as well as providing new context and insight into many of the intricacies that the film set forth. While the "dead all along" twist may seem overplayed nowadays, this concept is seen at its absolute best in The Sixth Sense.
Like
Follow
Followed
The Sixth Sense
PG-13
Mystery
Thriller
Drama
Release Date
August 6, 1999
Runtime
107 minutes
Director
M. Night Shyamalan
Writers
M. Night Shyamalan
Cast
See All-
Bruce Willis
Malcolm Crowe
-
Haley Joel Osment
Cole Sear
Expand
Collapse
-
Movie
-
The Sixth Sense
-
Scream
We want to hear from you! Share your opinions in the thread below and remember to keep it respectful.
Be the first to post Images Attachment(s) Please respect our community guidelines. No links, inappropriate language, or spam.Your comment has not been saved
Send confirmation emailThis thread is open for discussion.
Be the first to post your thoughts.
- Terms
- Privacy
- Feedback
Aug 31, 2025
The 10 Best Movie Twists of the 2020s So Far, Ranked
4 days ago
The 10 Greatest Soft Sci-Fi Movies of the 21st Century, Ranked
6 hours ago
Before ‘Wicked,’ Disney Had a Long, Strange, and Twisty History With ‘The Wizard of Oz’
5 hours ago
Following a 100% RT Season 9, ABC's Top Procedural Rockets Up the Streaming Charts
More from our brands
The 55 Best Movies of All Time, Ranked
50 Best New TV Shows to Stream Right Now
Dexter: Best Villains In The Series, Ranked
The Best Free Movies On Amazon Prime (April 2025)
10 Best Twist Villains In Movie History
50 Best New Movies on Streaming to Watch Right Now
Se7en Ending Explained (In Detail)
What To Watch
July 20, 2025
The 72 Best Movies on Netflix Right Now
Trending Now
‘Supernatural’ Fans Are Hit with Another Huge Blow Regarding Potential Sequel Series
A 'Friends' Star's Forgotten $200 Million Rom-Com Is a Surprise Streaming Hit
This Curmudgeonly Comedy Classic From the 1990s Is a Free Streaming Success
