8 Greatest Movies That Make Every Twist Count

Twists Across Film Genres

Movies with more than one plot twist are uncommon, but the strongest examples use surprises to serve the story. Their revelations may deepen a central mystery or mislead viewers along the way.

The films discussed here range from a courtroom drama to a horror classic and a mystery thriller. Each uses twists in a distinct way.

Witness for the Prosecution

Billy Wilder’s courtroom drama is based on Agatha Christie’s short story and stage play. Leonard Vole, played by Tyrone Power, stands trial for murdering a wealthy widow, while senior barrister Robarts, played by Charles Laughton, leads his defense.

Vole’s wife Christine, portrayed by Marlene Dietrich, testifies against him, and the trial gradually exposes more secrets. Wilder and the studio reportedly withheld the screenplay’s final ten pages from the cast until the day of shooting, while the film’s ending urged audiences not to reveal the surprise.

Psycho’s Genre-Shifting Reveals

Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho follows secretary Marion Crane, played by Janet Leigh, after she steals thousands of dollars from work and goes on the run. At the Bates Motel, she meets its proprietor, Norman Bates, portrayed by Anthony Perkins.

Marion’s murder in the shower shifts the film into horror, and viewers are led to suspect Norman’s mother. A later revelation shows that Norman has kept his mother mummified in the cellar; the film’s twists remain central to its enduring impact.

Sleuth’s Game of Deception

Joseph L. Mankiewicz directed Sleuth, based on Anthony Shaffer’s Tony Award-winning play. The two leading performers, Michael Caine and Laurence Olivier, both received Academy Award nominations. Olivier plays crime writer Andrew Wyke, who invites his wife’s lover, hairdresser Milo Tindle, played by Caine, to his country home. Andrew’s proposal is a ruse that humiliates Milo and begins a deadly game of wits, while the opening credits list non-existent actors to help keep the surprises hidden.