Let’s get real: there’s nothing quite as jolting as a plot twist that just. Sucks. You’re invested, rooting for your favorite characters, and then—BAM—the story makes a move that has you groaning, agog, or perhaps even spewing popcorn. Some twists shock, some tantalize, but when they fail, the letdown is felt. Below are the top 10 most disappointing plot twists in TV and film–buckle up for a rollercoaster ride of fan disappointment.
10. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 – That “Epic Battle” That Never Did Come About
Remember all that buildup over the vampire-werewolf battle of epic dimensions? All a vision. Alice shows Aro what might have been, and ta-da. Something that could have been a flourish of drama instead of an aside on a sheet of paper, leaving fans indignant that the battle they were led to expect never happened.
9. Iron Man 3 – The Mandarin Is an Actor
The fans were primed to watch Tony Stark battle the mighty Mandarin, only to discover that Ben Kingsley’s evil character was Slattery, an actor used as a decoy. Although the twist was supposed to be surprising, the fans felt cheated instead of amazed.
8. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull – Aliens?!
After all those years of Nazis, snakes, and other dangers for Indiana to battle from the ground up, the franchise simply veered into science fiction. The crystal skulls as extraterrestrial artifacts were clumsy and unacceptable, and long-time viewers could be found scratching their heads and saying, “Wait… what?”
7. How I Met Your Mother – The Mother Is Dead
Nine years of setup, and Ted finally meets “the one,” only for the show to murder her off and leave Ted with Robin. The surprise was meant to be an emotional one, but it left audiences feeling like all that build-up over the years was undermined by this turn of events.
6. Game of Thrones – Bran Is Made King
The series was known to surprise the viewer, but making Bran Stark the king was a shocker and unexpected. After all the hundreds of wars, betrayals, and plots, the final decision was mixed feelings of disappointment and perplexity, with memes galore, but satisfaction was limited to a few.
5. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker – Rey Is a Palpatine
Rey’s back story tried to walk the line of the saga, but audiences generally felt it detracted from her character. Instead of making her story solid, Rey’s destiny was just part of Palpatine’s scheme, and audiences wished for something different.
4. Now You See Me – The FBI Agent Was the Mastermind
Mark Ruffalo’s FBI agent, who is tasked with planning the Four Horsemen heist, was supposed to be a surprise left-field move – but to everyone else, it was a disappointment. The twist was botched, and audiences were left scratching their heads as to whether it made sense at all in the film.
3. Glass – The Anti-Climactic Ending
M. Night Shyamalan’s three-part trilogy concluded on a twist that divided fans. A covert society hiding superhumans was an afterthought, and David Dunn’s demise in a puddle was the nadir for a suspenseful series and intrigue.
2. Game of Thrones – Daenerys Burns King’s Landing
Daenerys’ sudden plunge into hot-headed evilness shocked us all, but it was rushed. Years of creating rich characters gave way to one quick-spun moment that left viewers stunned—and not happily so.
1. Lost – Were They Dead the Whole Time?
Few series finales have caused as much controversy as Lost. The flash-sideways was purgatory, but the events on the island occurred for real. Either way, the ending left viewers scratching their heads, arguing, and rewinding scenes repeatedly in an attempt to make sense of it all. Ambiguity was king, earning its place as one of the most infamous TV plot twists of all time.
Plot twists are genius… or infuriatingly frustrating. These moments confirm that while surprises make stories unforgettable, the ultimate twist at times is just how much they make you go “head shake.”