A good twist is more than just surprising the audience. Too many films put in cheap, unbelievable twists just to surprise the audience. Even if that twist ultimately makes no sense and nullifies or destroys everything that has gone before. A good twist adds a new layer that illuminates the rest of the story and makes the scene before it more meaningful.

While it is understandable to avoid spoilers, the best movies with twists are worth watching even if you know what's coming next. A good twist will make you want to watch the movie again right away to experience the story and characters in a new light. Here are seven of the best movies with a twist that are perfect for discovering for the first time or revisiting with a new understanding.

The first rule of "Flight Club" is to not talk about "Fight Club." But David Fincher's darkly funny depiction of the consequences of toxic masculinity is very much worth talking about now, nearly 25 years after its release. Based on Chuck Palahniuk's 1996 novel, Fincher's film is a scathing satire of modern consumerism through the eyes of its unnamed protagonist (Edward Norton) and his erratic friend Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt). [As these two start underground fight clubs in various locations, which seamlessly transition into terrorist organizations, the film anticipates the kind of violent outpourings of misogyny and anti-establishmentarianism that would fester on the Internet in later years. This twist builds on the unique characters created by Palahniuk and Fincher, while making their connection more pronounced.

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M. Night Shyamalan's "The Sixth Sense" may have the most famous twist ending of all time. But whether you've seen "The Sixth Sense" for the first time or the twentieth time, Shyamalan's storytelling is as elegant and impressive as ever. The film goes far beyond the well-known twist, and the climactic exposition deepens character development and emotional resonance as much as it provides shock value.

Bruce Willis gives a sensitive and memorable performance as the brooding psychologist who takes on a troubled child patient played by Haley Joel Osment. Osment's character, Cole Sear, confesses that he "sees dead people," which is only the first step in Shyamalan's exploration of trauma and healing.

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Christopher Nolan's films are full of notable twists and turns, all of which can be traced back to his breakthrough film, this innovatively structured thriller starring Guy Pearce as a man with anterograde amnesia Nolan's breakthrough film, this innovatively structured thriller starring Guy Pearce as a man with anterograde amnesia. Nolan tells the story backwards, and Pearce's character, Leonard Shelby, is unable to form new short-term memories. Thus, every scene reveals something Leonard knew but forgot, often replaced by deliberate misinformation.

There is still one major twist that explains the origin of Leonard's quest for revenge, which ties in with Nolan's themes about personal responsibility and the lies people tell to spare their loved ones from being hurt. While it is rewarding to see all the pieces of the plot finally come together, "Memento" can be thrilling to watch even when the facts remain unclear.

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When Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho" was released in theaters in 1960, it was the policy that no one take their seats after the film began in order to leave many surprises. Hitchcock's showmanship succeeded in selling "Psycho" as a film full of unexpected shocks, and the unpredictability of the plot remains a selling point decades later. Audiences who have never seen "Psycho" may recognize iconic scenes like the shower scene, but the way they come together is still powerful.

Anthony Perkins' creepy motel owner Norman Bates is one of cinema's great villains, and the twisted reason for his violent tendencies is revealed in the final big twist of Psycho. The little twists and turns are scattered throughout the film, drawn with the skill and artistry of one of cinema's greatest suspense masters.

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Director Denis Villeneuve and screenwriter Eric Heisserer have added quite a few plot elements to develop Ted Chang's short story "Story of Your Life" into a major science fiction feature film, but Chang's central plot device is maintained. When a mysterious alien arrives on Earth with an unknown purpose, linguist Louise Banks (Amy Adams) is put in charge of figuring out how to communicate with the intergalactic visitors.

The process of learning the alien's language has a fundamental effect on Louise and leads to the film's beautiful and devastating ending. Director Villeneuve captures the lyrical qualities of Chen's understated short story while adding tension and danger. Looking more broadly, Arrival focuses on personal relationships, the twist of which affects the intimate relationship between Louise and a fellow scientist (Jeremy Renner) as much as the fate of the planet.

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Renee Zellweger gives one of the best performances of her career in this underrated romantic comedy. The centerpiece is an epic monologue that provides a jaw-dropping twist on the background and motivations of her character, self-help author Barbara Novak. Before that bombshell, the film, directed by Peyton Reed, is a delightful pastiche of 1960s romantic comedy, with brilliant production, costume design, and witty, sparkling dialogue.

Zellweger plays the author of a book that made the women of 1962 abandon the concept of romance and play in the fields like men. Her intended target, magazine writer Catcher Block (Ewan McGregor), devises a meticulous plan to make her fall in love with him and expose her as a fraud. His elaborate plan turns out to be nothing compared to Barbara's own elaborate plan, which is revealed in one of the funniest moments in this hilarious and subversive film.

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This con man drama is an unusual film for director Ridley Scott, which may be why it has gone unnoticed. Scott proves adept at balancing lighthearted criminal investigations with moving interpersonal dramas, which come to fruition in the film's big third act twist. Nicolas Cage delivers his signature romp in the role of a pharmacy mellow, but most of his performance is charmingly subdued.

Cage plays a neurotic crook whose life is upended by the appearance of a teenage daughter he never knew he had. Alison Lohman gives an excellent performance as a young woman who is pleased to learn that her father is a petty criminal, but seems to have secrets of her own. The twist in "Matchstick Men" is as satisfying and heartbreaking as this hidden gem of a film.

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