Five Must-Watch Movies Whose Endings Will Blow Your Mind
- Apr 16, 2018
- 3 min read
Everyone loves a good mystery movie. We all enjoy watching as each new piece of evidence emerges, trying to figure out the culprit or the next plot twist as quickly as possible. However, what I think we like even more than figuring out the ending is having it surprise us. There's just something delectable about a movie with an ending that comes out of nowhere, throwing the audience for a loop.
Below are my top five favorite movies that have successfully accomplished this. The ones listed have what I believe are the most shocking endings and are the most cleverly written. Note that all of the descriptions below are spoiler-free (and therefore rather brief), and that most of these movies are not intended for younger audiences.
1. The Usual Suspects
MPAA Rating: R
Release Date: 1995
The Usual Suspects is a crime and mystery film starring Kevin Spacey and Benicio Del Toro, among others. It depicts the story of five men who are brought together in a police station, and the crime they then plan together.
2. Memento
MPAA Rating: R
Release Date: 2000
Memento is a mystery/thriller movie directed by the brilliant Christopher Nolan. It tells the story of a man seeking revenge on his wife's killer. However, this is not your typical revenge film for a couple of reasons. First, the man has short-term memory loss, preventing him from remembering anything for more than a few minutes. The second and more brilliant difference is that the movie is told backwards. Yes, it will make your brain hurt (you though Inception was confusing?), but it will be worth it.
3. The Sixth Sense
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Release Date: 1999
The Sixth Sense, a drama and mystery film, contains perhaps the most famous plot twist of all time, so if you've made it this long without anyone spoiling it, go watch it now before that happens. The story centers around a troubled boy and his relationship with a child psychologist.
4. The Village
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Release Date: 2004
The Village, a drama/thriller, shows the life of (surprisingly) a group of people living in a village, and the terror that lives in the outlying woods. It, like The Sixth Sense, was directed by M. Night Shyamalan, master of the surprise-ending film. Both of these movies (and really, all of the ones in this list) demand a re-watch, to catch all of the Easter eggs that hint at the mind-blowing revelation at the end.
5. Primal Fear
MPAA Rating: R
Release Date: 1996
Primal Fear is a mystery/crime film about an alter boy accused of murder, and the lawyer tasked with defending him. Watch as both you and the characters in the film struggle to figure out the truth. This movie differentiates itself from the rest in a brilliant way, that unfortunately would be a spoiler in it of itself to name. This movie stars Richard Gere alongside a young Edward Norton, who gives perhaps the best performance of his career.
As I was finishing up this list I unsuspectingly began watching a psychological thriller film with my family when suddenly-- surprise ending! This film has so-so special effects and cheesy acting at times, but as the writing was smart I have decided to include it as an extra to this list.
Bonus: Identity
MPAA Rating: R
Release Date: 2003
Identity, starring John Cusack, is a film about ten people stranded in a motel during a violent storm. One by one, they begin to be murdered. This film includes elements of horror to push you through the simple, Agatha Christie-esque plot. This movie will have both the characters and audience frantically trying to figure out who the killer is before all ten of their victims are dead.
Honorable Mentions: Interstellar, The Visit, Signs, Get Out, The Others, Bernie, Murder on the Orient Express, The Prestige
All images, rating, & release date information from imdb.com
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