Despite all the buzz, nobody really knew how the final film in Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy, "The Dark Knight Rises," would end. That is, until David Letterman spoiled it. At least, we think he did. The "Late Night with David Letterman" host might have been joking when he let it slip during an interview with Anne Hathaway that Batman dies in the end. But if that is the case, the "Dark Knight" twist wouldn't be the first to shock audiences. (Warning: Spoilers ahead!)
'The Dark Knight Rises' —
Despite all the buzz, nobody really knew how the final film in Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy, "The Dark Knight Rises," would end. That is, until David Letterman spoiled it. At least, we think he did. The "Late Night with David Letterman" host might have been joking when he let it slip during an interview with Anne Hathaway that Batman dies in the end. But if that is the case, the "Dark Knight" twist wouldn't be the first to shock audiences. (Warning: Spoilers ahead!)
Warner Bros. Pictures
Forming a friendship with captured British soldier Jody (Forest Whitaker), Irish Republican Army foot soldier Fergus (Stephen Rea) promises to check in on Jody's girlfriend Dil (Jaye Davidson) after the prisoner's death. When Fergus finally meets Dil, he is enchanted, and gradually the two fall in love. But Fergus soon learns that Dil isn't who he thinks she is — she is actually a he. Despite the gender mix-up, Fergus cares for Dil and protects her while an assassination attempt is being carried on around them.
'The Crying Game' —
Forming a friendship with captured British soldier Jody (Forest Whitaker), Irish Republican Army foot soldier Fergus (Stephen Rea) promises to check in on Jody's girlfriend Dil (Jaye Davidson) after the prisoner's death. When Fergus finally meets Dil, he is enchanted, and gradually the two fall in love. But Fergus soon learns that Dil isn't who he thinks she is — she is actually a he. Despite the gender mix-up, Fergus cares for Dil and protects her while an assassination attempt is being carried on around them.
Miramax Films
This thriller stars Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt as detectives William Somerset and David Mills, who are on the hunt for a serial killer. The pair narrows in on John Doe (Kevin Spacey) as the man responsible for the series of murders, which are each related to one of the seven deadly sins. Doe soon offers himself up for arrest, agreeing to lead the detectives to the last two bodies and confess to the murders. But instead of finding the bodies of the final victims, Somerset and Mills are horrified to find a box containing just the head of Mills' wife Tracy. Doe reveals this murder was "Envy" — he killed Tracy because he was envious of Mills' normal life. In the end, Mills turns from investigator to murder. Killing Doe in outrage, Pitt's character becomes the embodiment of the final deadly sin: "Wrath."
'Se7en' —
This thriller stars Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt as detectives William Somerset and David Mills, who are on the hunt for a serial killer. The pair narrows in on John Doe (Kevin Spacey) as the man responsible for the series of murders, which are each related to one of the seven deadly sins. Doe soon offers himself up for arrest, agreeing to lead the detectives to the last two bodies and confess to the murders. But instead of finding the bodies of the final victims, Somerset and Mills are horrified to find a box containing just the head of Mills' wife Tracy. Doe reveals this murder was "Envy" — he killed Tracy because he was envious of Mills' normal life. In the end, Mills turns from investigator to murder. Killing Doe in outrage, Pitt's character becomes the embodiment of the final deadly sin: "Wrath."
New Line Cinema
When it comes to mind-blowing plot twists, this M. Night Shyamalan psychological horror film is a classic. "The Six Sense" tells the story of child psychologist Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis), who takes on an 8-year-old patient (Haley Joel Osment) who claims to "see dead people." Instead of being afraid of these ghosts, Crowe suggests the boy communicate with the spirits and help them with their unfinished business on Earth. Osment's character is able to provide some ghosts with the closure they need, and Crowe is happy to see the boy find a purpose for his gift. But viewers soon learn that Crowe is not only a satisfied spectator; Crowe is a ghost himself.
'The Sixth Sense' —
When it comes to mind-blowing plot twists, this M. Night Shyamalan psychological horror film is a classic. "The Six Sense" tells the story of child psychologist Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis), who takes on an 8-year-old patient (Haley Joel Osment) who claims to "see dead people." Instead of being afraid of these ghosts, Crowe suggests the boy communicate with the spirits and help them with their unfinished business on Earth. Osment's character is able to provide some ghosts with the closure they need, and Crowe is happy to see the boy find a purpose for his gift. But viewers soon learn that Crowe is not only a satisfied spectator; Crowe is a ghost himself.
Buena Vista Pictures
When the insomniatic narrator (Edward Norton) meets soap salesman Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) at a bar, he engages him not only in conversation about consumerism but also in a fistfight. The two become become friends and roommates, continuing to brawl and soon forming a "fight club" that acts as a sort of therapy for the many men who join the rogue organization. But Tyler isn't who the audience thinks he is: he and the narrator are actually the same person — dissociated personalities in the same body. To stop his mental projection, the narrator eventually shoots himself in the mouth, putting an end to Tyler and his anti-material schemes.
'Fight Club' —
When the insomniatic narrator (Edward Norton) meets soap salesman Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) at a bar, he engages him not only in conversation about consumerism but also in a fistfight. The two become become friends and roommates, continuing to brawl and soon forming a "fight club" that acts as a sort of therapy for the many men who join the rogue organization. But Tyler isn't who the audience thinks he is: he and the narrator are actually the same person — dissociated personalities in the same body. To stop his mental projection, the narrator eventually shoots himself in the mouth, putting an end to Tyler and his anti-material schemes.
Twentieth Century Fox
After a ship in San Pedro Bay goes up in flames, leaving 27 people dead, an investigation begins. One of the survivors, crippled con-artist Roger "Verbal" Kint (Kevin Spacey), testifies about the incident, telling a tale that started six weeks earlier: When five men, including Verbal, are dragged into a New York police station and questioned about a truck hijacking simply because they are the usual suspects. The criminals decide to get together for an act of revenge. But their plan becomes complicated as they find themselves being blackmailed by an elusive criminal mastermind named Keyser Söze. Although Verbal is able to convince a U.S. agent of his innocence, viewers soon realize it's really Verbal who is criminal mastermind Söze.
'The Usual Suspects' —
After a ship in San Pedro Bay goes up in flames, leaving 27 people dead, an investigation begins. One of the survivors, crippled con-artist Roger "Verbal" Kint (Kevin Spacey), testifies about the incident, telling a tale that started six weeks earlier: When five men, including Verbal, are dragged into a New York police station and questioned about a truck hijacking simply because they are the usual suspects. The criminals decide to get together for an act of revenge. But their plan becomes complicated as they find themselves being blackmailed by an elusive criminal mastermind named Keyser Söze. Although Verbal is able to convince a U.S. agent of his innocence, viewers soon realize it's really Verbal who is criminal mastermind Söze.
Gramercy Pictures
This 1941 Orson Welles drama begins with a death: Lying in bed, wealthy publishing tycoon Charles Foster Kane (Welles), who has spent the last few years living alone on his Florida estate, utters his last word — "Rosebud..." — as a snow globe slips from his dying hand and smashes on the ground. The death of Kane becomes a sensational story, and one reporter (William Alland) decides he must find out the meaning behind that final utterance. The journalist uncovers information about Kane's childhood of poverty, rise to media mogul and dysfunctional marriages, but concludes he will never be able to solve the mystery of "Rosebud." In the end, viewers learn the impossible answer: "Rosebud" was the name of Kane's childhood sled. Although the sled is nothing but junk to those surviving Kane, to him, it represented the only time in his life he was truly happy.
'Citizen Kane' —
This 1941 Orson Welles drama begins with a death: Lying in bed, wealthy publishing tycoon Charles Foster Kane (Welles), who has spent the last few years living alone on his Florida estate, utters his last word — "Rosebud..." — as a snow globe slips from his dying hand and smashes on the ground. The death of Kane becomes a sensational story, and one reporter (William Alland) decides he must find out the meaning behind that final utterance. The journalist uncovers information about Kane's childhood of poverty, rise to media mogul and dysfunctional marriages, but concludes he will never be able to solve the mystery of "Rosebud." In the end, viewers learn the impossible answer: "Rosebud" was the name of Kane's childhood sled. Although the sled is nothing but junk to those surviving Kane, to him, it represented the only time in his life he was truly happy.
RKO Radio Pictures