10 Recent Plot Twists That Changed Movie Franchises Forever

The last minute reveal of The Sixth Sense was so shocking, people still talk about it decades later. The reason why plot twists like this have such a lasting effect on us is simple - we genuinely didn't see them coming. Films like Fight Club, Chinatown, The Usual Suspects have become legendary due to their mind-blowing "Gotcha!" moments.

However, these sort of bombshells are more shocking when they take place in a long-running franchise. When Darth Vader revealed he was Luke Skywalker's father, it wasn't just unexpected - this revelation reverberated across the Star Wars series, drastically changing the characters' relationships and story arcs in future instalments. Forty years after learning Vader's true identity, its effects still resonate with us.

In recent years, plot twists have been employed more often, usually to shake up a recognised series. To avoid the demographic getting bored by another Batman reboot or Terminator sequel, the filmmakers will throw in a curveball to catch us off-guard. These moments are shocking, not just because they were unanticipated, but because their ramifications are destined to change the franchise forever.

Of course, expect huge spoilers ahead for all movies, including the Scream (2022).

The Fast and the Furious franchise follows a group of carjackers-turned-secret agents. (Somehow, the movies are more ridiculous than that premise.) The gang's leader, Dom Toretto, has been stealing and racing cars since he could walk. On his missions, he's gone head-to-head with hackers, terrorists, and would-be conquerors.

But because he's made many enemies, it's not surprising that his friends have got caught in the crossfire. When Deckard Shaw's brother was gravely wounded by Dom, he seemingly killed Dom's friend, Han, in retaliation in the third Fast and Furious movie.

But in F9, Han showed up, live and well. As surprising as this was, we must remember Dom's sister, Letty, also seemingly died but returned later in the series without a scratch on her - if there's a series where death isn't permanent, it's this one.

Because of these apparent resurrections, fans wonder if there are any other characters who've cheated death. Although Gal Gadot's character Gisele met her maker in Fast and the Furious 6, no one would bat an eyelid if she popped up in Fast 10. If Letty and Han can rise from the grave, it's not too far-fetched to believe other allegedly deceased characters will return in the future.