Let’s be really clear: a bad twist in the storyline is probably the most off-the-wall thing that could happen. You follow the story, root for the heroes, and suddenly—BAM—the plot is changed so drastically that you can’t help but groan, gape, or perhaps even throw your popcorn. Some plot twists only leave you speechless, while others lure you. But if they do not succeed, the sorrow is quite deep. We have put together the 10 biggest letdown moments with plot twists from TV and film for you to go through a fan disappointment roller coaster.
10. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 – That “Epic Battle” That Never Did Come About
Recall the whole hype about the vampire-werewolf battle of epic proportions? It was just a dream. Alice presents to Aro the hypothetical scenario, and there you have it. A pretty cool dramatic flourish could have been the battle raging offscreen on a piece of paper, thus leaving the fans mad that the fight they were expecting didn’t take place.
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.”