13 Most Shocking Comic Book Movie Twists Of All Time
2. Odin Is Loki - Thor: The Dark World
The Thor sequel might be a particularly disappointing low point for the MCU - mostly because of poor execution and a fatal dullness that makes it feel like an ordeal - but it does have a delightful twist at its climax that promised a superior sequel even when it was far from assured that we'd actually get one.
One of the only emotionally authentic moments in the entire film comes when Loki (characteristically excellent even in the face of terrible material) sacrifices himself to help Thor take down Malekith. The exchange between the brothers as he dies is genuinely enough to bring a tear to the most cynical of eyes. It clearly touches Thor enough to pass the news of his heroic sacrifice on to Odin, presumably absolving Loki of his villainy in Thor's eyes. How very touching.
And then it all changes, as it turns out - somewhat confusingly - that the Odin sitting on the throne is in fact Loki in disguise (the same trick he pulled on Selvig in the first film). It's a revelation dropped from a great height that would come to have huge consequences, and it arguably grew in stature precisely because the film's failure pushed a sequel to the brink of the abyss.