When people think of great plot twists, action movies probably don’t immediately spring to mind, although there are some action movies that are as shocking as any genre. Many of the best movie twists ever come from genres like horror, sci-fi and psychological thrillers. An action movie doesn’t necessarily need a surprising plot reversal, but it can work brilliantly in certain situations.

Action movie twists can often get lost in the discourse, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be just as exciting. Other genres can facilitate movies that revolve around a twist, meaning that the twist is the main element that people talk about. This is rarely the case for action movies, since people usually prefer talking about stunts, fight scenes and characters. Good twists can make all of these things more interesting, though.

10

GoldenEye (1995)

James Bond Plot Twists Don’t Always Work Well

Across the 25 official Eon movies, there have been plenty of twists in the James Bond franchise, although not all of them have been popular among fans. The reveal that Blofeld is Bond’s adoptive brother in Spectre is one of the most controversial moments in the franchise’s history, while other twists like Dr. Kananga being Mr. Big are a little unexciting. There have been one or two brilliant James Bond plot twists, however, with GoldenEye standing out as one of the best examples.

Sean Bean’s Alec Trevelyan is one of the best James Bond villains, partly because of the shocking twist that reveals his true nature. Trevelyan is a 00 agent who previously worked with Bond, but he fakes his own death as part of an elaborate plot to seek revenge on the British government for betraying his family. This twist creates the rare kind of Bond villain who has a personal connection to 007.

9

Kill Bill (2003)

Quentin Tarantino’s Twists Usually Work Brilliantly

Kill Bill isn’t the only one of Quentin Tarantino’s movies that has a memorable plot twist. Reservoir Dogs, Jackie Brown and The Hateful Eight all revolve around brilliant twists, but Kill Bill arguably takes the cake. The plot twist right at the end of Kill Bill is the perfect way to get audiences excited and bridge the gap to Volume 2. Tarantino has always said that he sees Kill Bill as one movie split into two volumes, so the twist acts as a way to ensure continuity.

Kill Bill starts with the Bride being left for ᴅᴇᴀᴅ after a mᴀssacre at her wedding, and she wakes up later in the hospital to find that she is no longer pregnant. Although she is told that the baby didn’t survive, the ending of Kill Bill reveals that the baby is alive after all. Crucially, Tarantino reveals this information to the audience without revealing it to the Bride, setting up a thrilling second volume.

8

Oldboy (2003)

Oldboy’s Twist Contributes To Its Lasting Appeal

Oldboy still doesn’t have the kind of audience it deserves in some countries, although true action fans have recognized it as a classic. Park Chan-wook’s thriller follows a man who is kidnapped and held captive by an unknown ᴀssailant for several years, and then released years later with no explanation. This intriguing premise sets up a mystery that continues throughout the movie, but the resolution is completely unpredictable.

Oh Dae-su eventually discovers the real reason for his kidnapping, and it’s shocking enough to pay off the entire mystery that runs throughout the movie. It’s the kind of twist that should be witnessed without hearing any spoilers first, but it’s still enjoyable on a rewatch, when the audience knows the horror that’s on the way. Without its twist, Oldboy would still be a fantastic action movie, but the big reveal puts it over the top.

7

Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade (1989)

Elsa’s Villain Twist Shakes Up The Entire Franchise

After The Temple of Doom showed Indy on a darker, stranger adventure before the Second World War, The Last Crusade brought the Indiana Jones trilogy full circle. Although the setting and some elements of the story are similar to Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Last Crusade does a lot to set itself apart, with more humor, a great supporting performance from Sean Connery, and a more inventive approach to its villains.

Elsa Schneider initially seems like Indy’s new love interest, just like Marion and Willie in the first two movies, but she soon reveals that she’s actually a Nazi collaborator who stays close to Indy and his father to gather information on their pursuit of the Holy Grail. This twist sets up a thrilling final act, and it works especially well because Elsa is a different type of villain and a different type of female character from anything the franchise had before.

6

H๏τ Fuzz (2007)

H๏τ Fuzz’s Murder Mystery Is Full Of Surprises

Each movie in Edgar Wright’s Cornetto trilogy satirizes a different movie genre, but H๏τ Fuzz delivers genuine thrills while poking fun at the excesses of action movies. Simon Pegg plays a London-based police officer who gets reᴀssigned to the sleepy village of Sandford, and he soon stumbles onto an evil conspiracy more overblown and outrageous than any of the action movies he talks about with his new partner.

H๏τ Fuzz is filled with hilarious quotes and even more jokes which are crammed into the background, but there are a couple of scenes when the humor disappears. The reveal about the series of murders in Sandford is one such scene, and it allows H๏τ Fuzz to deliver a blistering finale. It helps that Timothy Dalton seems to be having the time of his life playing a supermarket owner who leads a murderous cult.

5

The Fugitive (1993)

Richard Kimble’s Investigation Is A Murder Mystery With A Ticking Clock

The Fugitive stars Harrison Ford as a doctor wrongly accused of murdering his wife, and he seizes on an opportunity to escape so that he can clear his name. While The Fugitive features plenty of thrilling chase scenes with Tommy Lee Jones’ gruff US Marshal on the opposite side of the law, it also follows Richard Kimble’s amateur investigation. Eventually, he finds the one-armed man he’s after, but he also discovers the deeper truth behind his wife’s death.

The Fugitive‘s investigation leads Richard Kimble to discover that he was the intended target on the night that his wife was murdered, and that one of his close friends had been the one to orchestrate the hit. Delivering this twist is far more satisfying than it would be to see Richard solve the case without much of a personal connection, and it raises the stakes for the final confrontation.

4

Tenet (2020)

Christopher Nolan Often Uses Twists In His Movies

Christopher Nolan’s movies are known for their unique concepts and mind-bending logic, but Tenet can be difficult to grasp even by his standards. Nolan’s non-linear storytelling takes on a completely new form in Tenet, thanks to a peculiar sci-fi premise that facilitates backwards time travel. This makes the exact timeline a little hard to pin down, but a final twist slots everything into place.

Immediately after the climactic battle, the Protagonist sees Neil carrying a red token, which identifies him as a soldier who the Protagonist previously witnessed dying. There are many revelations in the last few minutes of Tenet, but this one may be the most surprising, and it’s exactly the kind of twist that urges Nolan’s audience to watch the entire movie again with more attention on Neil. Nolan always seems to know how to end his movies in style.

3

The Fall Guy (2024)

The Fall Guy Combines Action With A Compelling Mystery

The Fall Guy may have been a commercial disappointment, but it’s a fun popcorn flick that showcases some jaw-dropping stunts. Between its big action scenes and its charming humor, The Fall Guy follows a strange mystery, as Ryan Gosling’s jaded stunt performer is tasked with tracking down the missing actor derailing a blockbuster film shoot. Ultimately, his investigation ends with a huge twist.

After some suggestions that Tom Ryder might be ᴅᴇᴀᴅ, Colt Seavers eventually finds him alive and well, lying low while he and the movie’s producer try to frame Colt for murder. This twist puts Colt in more danger than ever, and it also provides two solid villains for the final showdown. The Fall Guy‘s twisty investigation is one of its biggest strengths, and the surprise ending delivers a ton of payoff.

2

Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse (2018)

The Twist About The Prowler Raises The Stakes For Miles

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is one of the best animated action movies ever, bringing a real kineticism to a medium that often lacks the vibrancy and immersive feeling necessary to make powerful action scenes work. While the unique patchwork of different artistic styles is key to the movie’s success, it also succeeds with a compelling story that makes yet another Spider-Man origin story feel fresh and exciting.

Part of what makes Miles Morales’ story different from Peter Parker’s is his connection with his family, especially his uncle Aaron, so it’s a great dramatic twist when Aaron is revealed to be the Prowler. Aaron’s subsequent death is a big turning point for Miles, and it wouldn’t have been quite as impactful without the twist. This moment shows that Miles has already fallen deep into a dangerous world that he barely understands, but there are real consequences for him and his loved ones.

1

Mission: Impossible (1996)

Mission: Impossible Immediately Sets Itself Apart From The TV Series

The first Mission: Impossible movie makes a few bold changes to the TV show that inspired it. One of the biggest was the decision to pull focus away from Jim Phelps, the hero of the TV series, and make Ethan Hunt the protagonist, an original character. This has given the whole franchise a different complexion, since Jim is the man in charge, while Ethan is just one of many IMF agents.

Mission: Impossible separated itself further from the TV series by revealing that Jim is the mole that Ethan spends the entire movie searching for. This is a great twist for anyone who hasn’t seen the TV series, but it was controversial among diehard fans at the time. There have been many more twists and turns in the franchise, and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning will look to finish things off with a bang.