Common Plot Twists That FOiled You

Plot twists are one of the most thrilling and memorable aspects of a movie experience. They keep audiences guessing and invested in the story. However, sometimes those twists are so predictable that they do nothing but leave a sour taste in your mouth. In this article, we’ll explore some of the most common and easily predictable plot twists in popular series and movies. Whether you missed them or saw them coming a mile away, we have a selection of plot twists that even seasoned viewers can easily guess.

The Housewives of Stepford

One of the most famous and easily predictable twists in recent years is from the 1975 movie The Stepford Wives. Much to the shock of critics and viewers, the twist that all the neighborhood wives are actually robots was unexpected. However, for those who read science fiction stories regularly, this plot point is a trope that has been seen countless times before. A subplot in an Star Trek episode, and even a memorable episode of Star Trek: The Original Series itself, featured a similar plot twist where Captain Kirk was replaced by an android. The eerie and stilted behavior of the wives in the movie gave away the identity of potential suspects, as their movements and facial expressions were unnatural, hinting at a possible robotic or brainwashed origin.

The Lost Boys and the Saberhagen Fan

The Lost Boys is a classic 1987 horror film where the twist that Max, one of the head vampires, was actually named after a character from a book by Fred Saberhagen, Thorn, was another predictable plot point. The moment Max calls his dog “Thorn,” it signals to the audience that this is a homage to Saberhagen's work, making the twist evident to anyone familiar with the source material. This plot device is a common way for filmmakers to pay homage to beloved series, but it can still serve to make a story more intriguing for dedicated fans.

The Prestige: The Mind-Blowing Mind-Blinder

Another movie where the ending was so spectacular and brilliant that it reignited discussion and analysis is The Prestige. While the film is a masterpiece, the plot twist where Borden has a secret twin brother adds an extra layer of complexity and intrigue. For many viewers, the film's opening scene where Borden performs a magic trick that seems impossible set the stage for a mind-bending ending. However, even with these hints, some audiences still manage to guess the twist early on, such as the author’s wife who caught the clue in the dialogue about the bird and the boy’s brother.

20th Century Boys: A Familiar Twist

The identity of Friend in the manga and anime series 20th Century Boys is another plot twist that was surprisingly predictable, especially for fans of the series. While the answer was revealed at the end of the 11th volume, the clues leading up to the twist were subtle and easily picked up by readers who pay attention to character motivations and relationships. The most significant clue often comes from observing which character fitting the role could create the most dramatic irony within the plot.

While plot twists are meant to surprise and delight us, it’s not uncommon for them to be anticipated, especially for fans of the genre or series. These examples show that sometimes, the most glaring clues are the ones right in front of us, waiting to take us by surprise or provoke a groan of disappointment.