The logic of film marketing suggests we need to know everything about a movie before we’ll pony up for a movie ticket—but that doesn’t mean that’s the right way to see every movie. There’s a lot of competition for our attention these days, meaning many of us do a lot of vetting before we actually sit down to watch something. But trailers too often telegraph a film’s entire plot, even as social media discourse memes its cleverest moments to death before you get a chance to buy a ticket (or open up Netflix).
The spoiler debate can get annoying, sure, but some movies simply seem designed to be watched with as little foreknowledge as is possible. Some of them feature twist endings, but sometimes even knowing the premise is a spoiler. (In the spirit of the piece, you’ll forgive me if I don’t say much about the plots of these movies, and the trailers are included only for illustrative purposes. Yes, this is a little weird; use your best judgement.)
Barbarian (2022)
In the opening minutes of this twisty thriller, Tess (Georgina Campbell) arrives at her Airbnb-esque rental house in a sketchy neighborhood, only to find it’s been double-booked by Bill Skarsgård. When she feels bad and lets him in, you’re pretty sure you know what kind of horror movie you’ve stepped into. Nope!
Where to stream: Amazon
Sorry to Bother You (2018)
The story of a Black telemarketer who pretends to be white, Boots Riley’s directorial debut plays, at first, like a strictly social satire before veering into territory both more biting and way more fucked up.
Where to stream: Amazon
The Cabin in the Woods (2012)
There have been countless “cabin in the wood”-style horror movies, with every possible variation of the many associated tropes done to…death; Sam Raimi was already parodying and subverting the genre with his Evil Dead movies way back in the 1980s. We know these movies, and we know how they’re meant to work. While it initially looks like Cabin in the Woods is a Scream-style deconstruction of the subgenre, it soon reveals itself to be something far more ambitious. While the trailer makes it clear that something weird is going on, the biggest twists are far from predictable.
Where to stream: Peacock, Amazon
Parasite (2019)
Bong Joon-Ho’s unlikely and deserving Best Picture Oscar winner starts out like a darkly humorous satire, the kind of sharply pointed comedy of manners and social class that South Korean filmmakers often do so well. Then it nimbly shifts gears, and spends the rest of its runtime careering into much darker territory.
Where to stream: Max, Amazon
Django Unchained (2012)
The number one question that people ask about Django Unchained on Google is “is Django Unchained historically accurate?” Which suggests that fewer people have seen a Quentin Tarantino movie than one might suspect. Every Tarantino film of the past decade+ has taken place in some sort of real-life historical context, then tossed history out the window in often rather satisfying ways, as happens here. Save your internet deep dive for after you’ve watched it.
Where to stream: Starz, Amazon
10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
The first and third Cloverfield movies are sci-fi action spectacles, and the only thing I can really say about 10 Cloverfield Lane is that it’s not. A woman (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) gets into a car accident and is rescued by an older man (John Goodman), but rescued might not be the right word. I’ve already said enough.
Where to stream: Amazon
Oldboy (2003)
Even protagonist Oh Dae-su (Choi Min-sik) comes into Oldboy with no idea what’s going on. Bad and confusing things happen to him, he has no idea why, and his subsequent quest for vengeance (and answers…but mostly vengeance) goes to truly wild places.
Where to stream: Netflix, Amazon
Memento (2000)
The movie that put Christopher Nolan on the map was a genuinely original mind-blower back in 2000, and still retains much of its power to surprise (and confuse) two decades later. If you can watch it without knowing the premise, do so immediately.
Where to stream: Peacock, Freevee, Amazon Prime
The Prestige (2006)
Another mind-bender from the brothers Nolan, The Prestige takes a story inspired by real-life warring magicians and performs some slight of hand of its own, deftly blending genres and taking a hard left turn from its initial straightforward period piece trappings.
Where to stream: Amazon
The Lighthouse (2019)
Come for Robert Pattinson in an old-timey mustache, stay for the gallery wall-worthy cinematography, subversion of vintage movie-making techniques, an all-time weird Willem Dafoe performance, and a plot that goes places.
Where to stream: Max, Amazon
Triangle of Sadness (2022)
One of the darkest comedies of recent memory, Ruben Östlund’s surprising Oscar frontrunner feels like at least three movies in one, with narratives that take sharp right turns at unexpected moments, taking potshots at greed and capitalism all the way. Best watched in ignorance, and on an empty stomach.
Where to stream: Hulu, Amazon
Beau is Afraid (2023)
The anxious fever dream that is Beau Is Afraid isn’t going to be for everyone, but there’s really no point in trying to figure out if it’s going to work for you without diving right in—and certainly if you’ve seen director Ari Aster’s earlier films Hereditary and Midsommar, you can understand why you want to go in knowing as little as possible. (It was my favorite movie of 2023, but at least as many hated it as loved it.)
Where to stream: Paramount+, Amazon
Shutter Island (2010)
The elements of noir are solidly in place in Martin Scorsese’s adaptation of the Dennis Lehane novel, right down to Leonardo DiCaprio’s rumpled suit and period Boston accent. Then the tone quickly shifts, leaving us guessing as to what genre of film we’re in, exactly.
Where to stream: Amazon
The Red Shoes (1948)
Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger’s deliriously colorful spin on the Hans Christian Anderson legend only looks like a romantic fairytale fantasia.
Where to stream: Max, Tubi, Freevee, Amazon Prime
Holy Trinity (2019)
Director Molly Hewitt’s colorful directorial debut didn’t make a huge splash, but it’s surely destined for cult status. The upbeat sex-and-king-positive film involves a dominatrix who can communicate with the dead, and I’ll leave it there.
Where to stream: VHX TV
Dark City (1998)
It doesn’t take long for Dark City to reveal itself as something other than the highly stylized neo-noir that it sets out as, but the plot twists and nimble blending of genres make it consistently surprising. The superior director’s cut (available for rental via Prime Video) fleshes out the world while doing a lot less hand-holding, so it’s even better if you’re looking for surprises.
Where to stream: Tubi, Amazon
Coherence (2013)
What could possibly be surprising in a low-budget relationship drama set over the course of a dinner party? And what’s up with that comet?
Where to stream: Peacock, Tubi, Amazon Prime
Triangle (2009)
Is it sci-fi? Is it horror? I’m not telling. For fans of all things trippy and mindbending, it works on just about every level.
Where to stream: Peacock, Tubi, Freevee, Crackle, Amazon Prime
Us (2019)
The contours of Jordan Peele’s followup to Get Out don’t become clear until the final act, but the film never feels like it’s waiting on a big reveal or a twist (though there are a few). The surprises are littered throughout.
Where to stream: Amazon
Nope (2022)
Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer star as the sibling caretakers of a rural California horse ranch, who find themselves beset by…something? Wildly original, if frequently vexing, the tagline calling it a “neo-Western science fiction horror film” tells you all you need to know.
Where to stream: Starz, Amazon
Dicks: The Musical (2023)
Larry Charles directs this jaw-dropingly crude and goofy musical, written by stars Aaron Jackson and Josh Sharp, who play separated at birth twin siblings, but you’ll know this definitely isn’t The Parent Trap. long before the sewer boys appear onscreen. If you need additional convincing, the supporting cast includes Nathan Lane, Megan Mullally, and Megan Thee Stallion.
Where to stream: Max, Amazon
Split (2016)
One of our most interesting, wildly inconsistent filmmakers, M. Night Shyalaman managed the closest thing he’s had to a slam-dunk in years with Split, a horror thriller anchored by a brilliant (if, problematic) performance from James McAvoy. Though there are surprises right up until the end, the director eschews his traditional reliance on a twist ending in favor of something more like a twist beginning.
Where to stream: Netflix, Amazon
Suddenly, Last Summer (1959)
This Elizabeth Taylor vehicle with co-stars Katherine Hepburn and Montgomery Clift may be quite a bit talkier than many of the other movies here, but its impressive weirdness (drawn from the Tennessee Williams play) piles up throughout its runtime. By the end, you’ll almost certainly be wondering how this ever could have possibly been made, with this cast, in 1959.
Where to stream: The Criterion Channel, Amazon
Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
In genre terms, IMDb considers Big Trouble in Little China a fantasy martial arts action-comedy (that began life as a western), and that’s probably more than enough information to tell you if it’s for you. By quite a stretch it’s the weirdest of the great John Carpenter/Kurt Russell collaborations of the 1980s.
Where to stream: Amazon
Slack Bay (2016)
As absurd as film gets, led by a fabulous performance from Juliette Binoche, I’m not sure I could spoil Slack Bay if I wanted to. As much as any film here, it defies even the most rigorous attempt at summary.
Where to stream: Amazon
The Invisible Man (2020)
Finally: a Universal monster reboot done right. This one that takes the bare bones premise of H.G. Wells novel (and James Whale’s excellent 1933 film version) and by shifting its focus, creates something new and interesting.
Where to stream: Freevee, Amazon
Malignant (2021)
I make no guarantees, as this seems to be very much a love it/hate it affair…but I’m personally team Malignant. Its genuinely batshit plot twists are just this side of silly, and, when blended with some over-the-top horror, all add up to a good time at the movies.
Where to stream: Max, Amazon
Starship Troopers (1997)
Though slightly less common in 1997, when digital effects were expensive and streaming services weren’t desperate for genre content, this type of space-marines-fighting-aliens movie was still the kind of thing that we’d seen a million times. Or so we thought. Professional provocateur Paul Verhoeven clearly had little interest in something so straight-down-the-middle, opting for a film that satirizes the book it’s based on rather than adapts it.
Where to stream: Netflix, Amazon
Werewolves Within (2021)
It’s on the lighter side, as werewolf-themed horror movies go, and that’s to its credit. It’s a rather charming (but often grisly) mystery with impressive twists, turns, and misdirects.
Where to stream: Hulu, Shudder, Amazon
Kaboom (2010)
Kaboom probably isn’t New Queer Cinema titan Gregg Araki’s best, but it’s certainly his most fun, colorful, and fast-paced. While having a fair bit of sex, a bunch of college students face the potential end of the world.
Where to stream: AMC+, Amazon
Sisu (2022)
Do you like seeing Nais get what’s coming to them? This movie gives the Nazis what’s coming to them in the most satisfying ways.
Where to stream: Starz, Amazon
Carnival of Souls (1962)
This ultra-low-budget indie preceded and inspired Night of the Living Dead, and its thoroughly unique style and tone still impresses today. Mary Henry (Candace Hilligoss) emerges from a car accident and stumbles into a creepy, entirely mysterious abandoned carnival, but you could probably figure out that from the title. Anything more is a spoiler.
Where to stream: Max, AMC+, The Criterion Channel, Tubi, Crackle, Shudder, Freevee, Amazon Prime
Swiss Army Man (2016)
Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, who later went on to direct Everything Everywhere All at Once, made Swiss Arm Man waaay back in 2016, cementing their reputation as masters of emotionally engaging weirdness…and, fortunately, didn’t doom their careers. If it weren’t already clear, this is also the movie in which Daniel Radcliffe proved that he was well and truly ready to step out of Harry Potter’s long shadow.
Where to stream: Max, Amazon
Birdman (2014)
One of those nearly, but in this case unfairly, forgotten Best Picture Oscar winners, Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s very dark comedy is surprising both in its directorial style (the closest thing to a gimmick here), and in the ways that the jokes keep piling up. Iñárritu is known for more overtly dramatic movies (The Revenant, 21 Grams, etc.), but here directs all of that energy at making Michael Keaton’s life a living hell. It features a great performance from Keaton, playing off his once-and-future Batman role.
Where to stream: Amazon
Don’t Look Now (1973)
Many supernatural thrillers aspire to deeper resonance, and very many of those deal with grief. Few do so as cannily as Nicholas Roeg’s classic, set in a beautiful, but somber, Venice and starring Julie Christie alongside Donald Sutherland doing the best work of his career.
Where to stream: The Criterion Channel, Amazon
Palm Springs (2020)
Cristin Milioti, Andy Samberg and J.K. Simmons star in this romantic comedy that takes a quick lurch into science fiction—a good case of a film with a plot twist that comes at the beginning, rather than the end, and that keeps surprising throughout.
Where to stream: Hulu
Annette (2021)
I love to imagine the faces of the non-art house cinema crowd after haplessly happening upon Annette while scrolling through Amazon Prime. “Oooh, Adam Driver! I love him!” they think, clicking play, wholly unprepared for what French director Leos Carax and extraterrestrial musicians Sparks hath wrought.
Where to stream: Amazon Prime
Barb and Star Go to Vista del Mar (2021)
An example of a movie with a trailer that is effective for making it seem much less clever than it is, Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar only looks like a Kristen Wiig SNL sketch stretched to its absolute limit. It’s actually way fucking weirder.
Where to stream: Amazon
Serenity (2019)
Don’t let anyone spoil the stupidity of Serenity for you.
Where to stream: Tubi, Freevee
Extra Ordinary (2019)
Extra Ordinary pays homage to those crappy horror films you used to rent from the video store based only on the freaky box art. Except it’s actually really, really good. It starts like a parody and gets weirder as it goes; the presence of Will Forte is both a red herring and its secret weapon.
Where to stream: Tubi, AMC+, Amazon
The Menu (2022)
A couple of foodies (Anya Taylor-Joy and Nicholas Hoult) secured a coveted reservation to an exclusive restaurant on a secluded island. They have a delicious meal, post glowing reviews on social media, and go home happy and full. JK.
Where to stream: Amazon
Pearl (2022)
A prequel to Ti West’s X co-written by star Mia Goth. You’d think you’d know what to expect if you’ve seen the first installment, which naturally reveals how it all turns out. Not so much.
Where to stream: Amazon Prime
Psycho (1960)
Psycho did its job much, much too well, and, as a result, the number of film fans left to be surprised by its central twist are few. Still, if you only know Psycho as a famous title, there are more to its surprises (and shifts in perspective) than showers. Much copied, but never bested for shocking its audience: This is, quite simply, how it’s done. But, given that you’ve probably seen this one, check out the surprisingly effective Psycho II, which does nearly as good a job at keeping its audience guessing.
Where to stream: Amazon Prime
