"I hate when movies have a twist ending," said no one ever, and you'll fine some of the best movies with surprising conclusions on Netflix. There's something deeply unsatisfying about movies with a predictable conclusion (even if you're a sucker for happily ever afters). From The Wicker Man to Ex Machina to Taxi Driver, we think it's safe to say movies with wild, WTF endings that will leave you scratching your head and debating the meaning long after the credits roll. Whether you're into sci-fi flicks [1], thrillers [2], or horrors [3], these 16 films on Netflix will leave you saying, "Um, I did not see that coming." Check out the gallery for some of the best.
Fractured
In this thriller, Sam Worthington [5] plays Ray, a father who rushes his daughter to the hospital after she breaks her arm during a road trip, only to wake up in the waiting room (where he is sleeping while his daughter and wife complete the girl's MRI) to find that no one in the hospital has any recollection of his family ever having checked in. Even Alfred Hitchcock would appreciate Fractured's totally twisty ending.
Watch Fractured on Netflix. [6]
The Wicker Man
Inspired by David Pinner's novel Ritual, this slow-burning 1970s cult classic revolves around a police sergeant who visits a remote island in search of a missing girl. On the island, the sergeant (who is also a devout Christian) is horrified to discover the inhabitants have abandoned Christianity for a strange form of paganism, and let's just say that things don't end well for Sergeant Howie.
Watch The Wicker Man on Netflix [7].
Ex Machina
In Ex Machina, programmer Caleb is thrilled when he wins a one-week stay at the luxurious home of his company's CEO, where he'll get the chance to test out the capabilities of Ava, a female humanoid robot. Caleb soon learns that Ava is more sentient than anyone realised, and it becomes clear that she's willing to go to great lengths to escape. Think Westworld, but even freakier.
Watch Ex Machina on Netflix [8].
The Invitation
This wildly underrated movie tells the story of Will, a man accepts an unexpected invitation to a dinner party hosted by his ex-wife (whom he divorced after the accidental death of their child) and her new husband in their Hollywood Hills home. As the evening progresses, Will begins to question the motive behind his wife's invitation, and spoiler alert: the dinner party takes a weird turn.
Watch The Invitation on Netflix [9].
Eli
This thrilling drama follows a young boy who's plagued by a mysterious and totally debilitating illness and his parents, who turn to a doctor who claims she can cure their son. The titular Eli is taken to a secluded medical facility in a creepy old house, and as it turns out, both the facility and Eli's disease are far more sinister than his parents expected.
Watch Eli on Netflix [10].
The Boy
When an American moves to England for a nannying job, she never expects that her new charge will be a porcelain doll named Brahms, which the eccentric old couple who hired her treat like their son. As it turns out, the real Brahms died in a fire on his eighth birthday 20 years before, and the creepy doll may just be inhabited by his spirit. Things get even weirder from there, believe it or not.
Watch The Boy on Netflix [11].
Enemy
Loosely based on José Saramago's novel The Double, Jake Gyllenhaal [12] stars in this psychological thriller as Adam, a low-key college history professor who — while watching a movie one night — is startled to spot an actor who bears a striking resemblance to himself. Adam then becomes obsessed with finding the look-alike actor, and the lives of the two men end up becoming inextricably intertwined. The ending is unexpectedly bizarre in the best kind of way.
Watch Enemy on Netflix [13].
The Invisible Guest
What happens when you wake up in a locked hotel room next to the dead body of your lover? You get yourself a lawyer and figure out what the heck happened, which is exactly what happens in this eerie Spanish thriller. This movie is a wild ride filled with twists and turns, and the ending is sure to make your jaw drop.
Watch The Invisible Guest on Netflix [14].
Cam
This psychological horror film is set in the world of webcam pornography, starring Madeline Brewer as an erotic cam girl who finds her popular channel hijacked by a look-alike. We don't know what's better: the fact that Cam doesn't glamorize, glorify, or romanticize sex workers, or the fact that the ending delivers major Black Mirror vibes.
Watch Cam on Netflix [16].
The Gift
Starring Jason Bateman [17] and Rebecca Hall [18], this creepy chiller tells the story of married couple Simon and Robyn who randomly run into Simon's former high school classmate, Gordo, while out shopping one day. After the encounter, Gordo begins making unexpected visits and delivering mysterious gifts, and when a horrible secret comes to light, Robyn questions just how well she knows her husband. Critics are pretty divided about The Gift's shocking conclusion, but there's no denying that it's got quite the twist.
Watch The Gift on Netflix [19].
The Perfection
Allison Williams stars in this intense thriller as a cello prodigy who is forced to abandon music after a family tragedy, only to return to performing years later with the help of a rising new star, played by Logan Browning. Nothing can prepare you for The Perfection's ending [20], but we guarantee you'll be thinking about this one long after you finish it.
Watch The Perfection on Netflix [21].
Taxi Driver
In this Martin Scorsese-directed thriller from the 1970s, Robert De Niro [22] stars as Travis, an unstable war vet who takes a job as a night shift taxi driver in an attempt to cope with his insomnia. As he spends his nights driving around NYC, Travis becomes increasingly detached from reality, making plans to clean up the city, rescue a young prostitute, and even assassinate the president. Taxi Driver is seriously intense, and it pays off in a big way.
Watch Taxi Driver on Netflix [23].
Million Dollar Baby
Hilary Swank [24] stars in this sports drama as Maggie, a waitress from the Ozarks who moves to LA to fulfil her dream of becoming a professional boxer. With the help of a cranky old boxing coach (played by Clint Eastwood [25]), Maggie works hard and eventually secures a $1 million title match in Las Vegas. Million Dollar Baby has one of the most devastating twists of any movie out there, and while it's not exactly uplifting, it's definitely worth a watch.
Watch Million Dollar Baby on Netflix [26].
Cloud Atlas
Based on David Mitchell's epic sci-fi novel of the same name, this ambitious film requires your undivided attention, as it features multiple plot lines occurring during six different eras in time, with its cast (including Tom Hanks [27], Halle Berry [28], and Jim Broadbent) each playing several different characters. The movie revolves around the idea that individual lives have the ability to impact one another in the past, present, and future, and the ending is a total head-scratcher.
Watch Cloud Atlas on Netflix [29].
Velvet Buzzsaw
This quirky horror-thriller tells the story of a series of paintings by an unknown artist, which — after they are discovered — release a supernatural force that exacts revenge on those who value profit over art for art's sake. Velvet Buzzsaw's ending [30] is a little confusing, but once you figure it out, you'll realise that it's pretty brilliant.
Watch Velvet Buzzsaw on Netflix [31].
Jacob's Ladder
Jacob's Ladder revolves around the titular Jacob, a Vietnam vet whose experiences during the war continue to haunt him in the form of weird dreams and hallucinations long after he returns home. If you've already seen the 1990 version of the film, don't worry, the 2019 remake on Netflix delivers a totally different twist ending than the original.
Watch Jacob's Ladder on Netflix [32].