The experience of watching a movie is much better when there are no spoilers about the story. However, some productions are even better when there is almost no information about them, making them more surprising.
Whether it’s because of mysterious plots or unexpected twists, these films completely lose their appeal if specific information ends up being discovered before watching them, which can ruin the surprise.
Below is a list of feature films with plots that will surprise you, as well as where to watch them.
10 Best Surprising Movies of 2024
A couple travels to a remote island to visit a restaurant, unaware of the secrets its menu hides. It stars Anya Taylor-Joy (Furiosa), Ralph Fiennes (The Grand Budapest Hotel) and Nicholas Hoult (Mad Max: Fury Road). It has an 88% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and a 7.2 rating on IMDb.
Where to watch: Disney+
2. Brutal Nights (2022)
Tess (Georgina Campbell) rents a house and is surprised to discover that the place is already occupied by a guest. However, the surprises continue, when strange things begin to happen. The cast includes Georgina Campbell (Black Mirror), Bill Skarsgard (It), Justin Long (Die Hard 4.0) and Richard Brake (Kingsman: The Secret Service). It has a 92% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 7 on IMDb.
Where to watch: Netflix
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3. Malignant (2022)
The film is from renowned horror director James Wan (The Conjuring), and follows the tormented Madison (Annabelle Wallis), who tries to discover what is behind the murderous visions that disturb her. The cast includes names such as Maddie Hasson (Twisted: The Moment of Truth), George Young (A Christmas Crush) and Jacqueline McKenzie (Skinheads). It has a 77% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 6.2 rating on IMDb.
Where to watch: Max
4. Tusk (2014)
The film is based on a story told in the podcast by Kevin Smith, the film’s director. In it, friends Wallace (Justin Long) and Teddy (Haley Joel Osment) host the podcast The Not-See Party, where they have fun reacting to viral videos. The program is interrupted when one of them disappears. The film has a 5.3 rating on IMDb and a 44% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but is seen as a groundbreaking work in its self-criticism and twists.
Where to watch: Max
5. Pearl (2022)
Pearl’s (Mia Goth) biggest dream is to be a world-famous actress, but she has to live with her monotonous routine until stardom arrives. To achieve her goal, she is capable of shocking acts. The film is the second in the trilogy directed by Ti West, which began with X (2022) and ended with MaXXXine, released this year.
The cast includes Mia Goth (Nymphomaniac), David Corenswet (The Town is Ours), Tandi Wright (Waylon’s Story) and Emma Jenkins-Purro (Bygones). The IMDb rating is 7, and it has a 92% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Where to watch: Telecine
6. Rua Cloverfield, 10 (2016)
It is the second film in the science fiction franchise, which features films of different genres within the same universe. In it, a girl suffers an accident and wakes up in an unexpected place. It stars John Goodman (The Flintstones) and Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World). Its rating on Rotten Tomatoes is 91%, and a score of 7.2 on IMDb.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
7. The Handmaiden (2016)
The Korean film is an adaptation of the novel Fingersmith by Sarah Waters and is set during the Japanese occupation of South Korea. The protagonist is a young woman hired to be the maid of a young aristocrat, played by Kim Tae-ri (Mr. Sunshine). The cast also includes Kim Min-Hee (The Day After), and the film is directed by Park Chan-wook (Oldboy). The film has an IMDb score of 8.1, and a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Where to watch: Globoplay
8. From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)
The cult classic follows Seth (George Clooney) and Richard Gecko (Quentin Tarantino), brothers who are wanted by the police and do everything they can to cross the border into Mexico and avoid arrest. They end up taking shelter in a place with many secrets.
The cast includes Harvey Keitel (Reservoir Dogs), George Clooney (Ocean’s Eleven), Quentin Tarantino (director of Pulp Fiction) and Salma Hayek (Black Mirror). Its IMDb rating is 7.2 and its approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes is 63%.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
9. Coherence (2013)
The low-budget film was shot in five days, and constantly challenges the viewer, starting from a simple premise: six friends gather for dinner on the day a comet passes through the Earth’s atmosphere, and they begin to theorize about the effect of the celestial body on their lives.
The cast includes Emily Baldoni (Five Feet Apart), Alex Manugian (OK, Good), Lauren Maher (Girl Play) and Maury Sterling (The Last Card). The film has an 88% Rotten Tomatoes rating and an IMDb score of 7.2.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
10. A Wolf Among Us (2021)
It is based on the game Werewolf Within, telling the story of residents of a quiet town who are trapped in a local inn after a major snowstorm. It is described as a horror comedy with an ideal balance between the two genres.
The cast includes Sam Richardson (Veep), Milana Vayntrub (This is Us), George Basil (Crashing) and Sarah Burns (Barry). It has an IMDb rating of 6, and an 86% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
