No movie seems to stir up contentious debate faster than one with a trick ending the viewer didn't see coming (unless it's one of those ambiguous "make up your own ending" type movies.) I suppose we all like to think we can't be had or that we're seasoned movie veterans who've seen it all. Regardless, Hollywood still manages to get us from time to time, and we've listed them below.

Some are better than others, and many on one person's "best" list will fall squarely at the top of someone else's "worst" list. {googleads}

Crying Game

The Crying Game (1992) - Check your manhood at the door. This intelligently written shocker caused quite the scene at many a theater back in its day.


The Sixth Sense

The Sixth Sense (1990) - Besides having one of the biggest twists of all time, it also distinguishes itself as Shyamalan's only great film.


Soylent Green

Soylent Green (1974) - It's people! (Can it be a spoiler some 30 odd years later?)


Fight Club

Fight Club (1997) - A stylish, sophisticated depiction of how to sell women their own fat. Oh, it's also a pretty good look at violent anti-social behavior too.


Primal Fear

Primal Fear (1996) - Besides casting even more darkness on Catholic altar boys, it also propelled a young Edward Norton onto the Hollywood scene. {googleads}


Arlington Road

Arlington Road (1999) - Proof positive that a terrorist doesn't always look like a terrorist.


Oldboy

Oldboy (2003) - A great one to watch with your mom, or better yet, your sister.


The Usual Suspects

The Usual Suspects (1995) - Besides featuring one of the best villain names of all time (Kaiser Soze), it also dropped one of the biggest twists in cinematic history.


The Usual Suspects

Match Point (2005) - Was that really a Woody Allen piture? Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Rhys Meyers star.


Psycho

Psycho (1960) - Often emulated, but never duplicated, this one goes in the history books as not only having one of the biggest twists, but also one of the scariest movie scenes ever.


 

Planet of the Apes

The Planet of the Apes (1968) - Charlton Heston vs. Roddy McDowell. May the best man, er ape, win!


Funny Games

Funny Games (2007) - A near-frame-by-frame American remake of an Austrian movie about two psychotic young men who take a mother, father, and son hostage in their vacation cabin and force them to play sadistic "games" with one another for their own amusement. Both versions are as equally frustrating.


Chinatown

Chinatown (1974) - In addition to finding itself amongst movies with the biggest twists, it is also frequently seen on many "Best Movie Ever" lists.


Atonement

Atonement (2007) - Say what you will about whether or not it is a good film, but that it belongs on this list can't be denied.


The Wizard of Oz

The Wizard of Oz (1939) - One of only a handful of films with a dream sequence that ever actually worked. Uh oh, hope we didn't spoil anything for you!


The Departed

The Departed (2006) - Scorcese gets an Oscar for this twisty, turn-y gem. And a well deserved one, we might add.


The Empire Strikes Back

The Empire Strikes Back (1980) - Come on, everyone knows Darth Vader is Luke's father and Princess Leia is his sister, but not so many know where Chewbacca falls in the family tree.


Memento

Memento (2000) - The story could have been revealed in 18 minutes, but as it's told, it's 113 minutes of a twisted good time.


The Swimmign Pool

Swimming Pool (2003) - The ending of this erotic thriller will leave you wanting to watch the whole thing over again. But unfortunately, you'll need to watch it even a third time.


Frailty

Frailty (2001) - Bill Paxton's directorial debut puts religion in its cross-hairs. One of the few axe murder films that effectively excludes tons of gore and blood.


The Others

The Others (2001) - Nicole Kidman stars in this intelligent horror film that proves buckets of blood and gross-out effects aren't necessary to tell a scary story. Oh, and of course there's that twist thing.


 

Identity

Identity (2003) - A la Psycho (1960), the cheap roadside motel on a stormy night is the setting of James Mangold's retelling of the ten little indians story in which no one is who they seem and relationships continually shift.


Saw

Saw (2004) - Say what you will about this entry, but even if you guess who the killer is, you'll still be thinking past the final reel.


Citizen Kane

Citizen Kane (1941) - Even if you know the meaning behind his final utterance, the greatness of this film can't be denied as it has held up to analysis and criticism for over 60 years.


Seven

Se7en (1995) - Wonder if FedEx would really make that delivery?


The Prestige

The Prestige (2006) - From Christopher Nolan's brilliant mind. Many little twists within twists that are better revealed with multiple viewings.


Shutter Island

Shutter Island (2010) - Scorcese and DiCaprio team up to investigate the disappearance of a murderess who escaped from a hospital for the criminally insane and is presumed to be hiding on the remote Shutter Island. Insane asylum movies are always tons of juicy fun!


the Sting

The Sting (1973) - We close the list with the granddaddy of them all. Bet'cha didn't see that one coming! Robert Redford and Paul Newman star.


 

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