A Plot twist is a literary technique that introduces a radical change in the direction or expected outcome of the plot in a work of fiction. When it happens near the end of a story, it is known as a twist or surprise ending. It may change the audience's perception of the preceding events, or introduce a new conflict that places it in a different context. A plot twist may be foreshadowed, to prepare the audience to accept it. There are a variety of methods used to execute a plot twist, such as withholding information from the audience or misleading it with ambiguous or false information.
Revealing a plot twist to readers or viewers in advance is commonly regarded as a "spoiler", since the effectiveness of a plot twist usually relies on the audience's not having expected it. Even revealing the fact that a work contains plot twists – especially at the ending – can also be controversial, as it changes the audience's expectations. However, at least one study suggests that this does not affect the enjoyment of a work.
Listed here are scenes in Disney films, shows, video games, etc., where plot twists are occurred.
Films[]
Disney Canon[]
Pinocchio[]
- Stromboli betrays and locks up Pinocchio to get rich with his performances.
- The kids on Pleasure Island suddenly transform into donkeys and get enslaved by the coachman.
Dumbo[]
- Dumbo is able to fly with his oversized ears.
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad[]
- Mr. Winky betrays Mr. Toad to get his estate.
- The Headless Horseman reveals himself to Ichabod Crane, proving that he is not just a legend.
Sleeping Beauty[]
- Maleficent tries to stop Prince Phillip from reaching Aurora's tower by changing into a dragon.
One Hundred and One Dalmatians[]
- Cruella De Vil is revealed of having kidnapped the Dalmatian puppies.
The Sword in the Stone[]
Robin Hood[]
- Robin Hood wins at the archery tournament by splitting the Sheriff's arrow in half.
The Black Cauldron[]
The Little Mermaid[]
- Ursula transforms into a beautiful woman and steals Prince Eric's heart by using Ariel's voice.
- Ursula transforms into a giant after her moray eels are killed.
Hercules[]
- Megara conspires with Hades against Hercules.
- Megara sacrifices herself to save Hercules from a collapsing column.
Tarzan[]
- Clayton betrays Tarzan, Jane, and Archimedes and kills Kerchak before capturing the other gorillas.
The Emperor's New Groove[]
- Yzma gets the wrong bottle and turns into a kitten after drinking it.
Atlantis: The Lost Empire[]
- The expedition team turn out to be merchants that only want to steal the "Heart of Atlantis".
- Commander Rourke betrays Helga Sinclair.
The Princess and the Frog[]
Tangled[]
- Flynn Rider cuts Rapunzel's magic hair off, while pulling her in for a kiss.
Wreck-It Ralph[]
- Sour Bill tells Wreck-It Ralph that King Candy actually tried to destroy Vanellope's code and destroyed her memories.
- King Candy proves that he has infiltrated Sugar Rush and is actually the envious, long lost racing game character Turbo.
Frozen[]
- Prince Hans reveals that he only wanted to marry Anna to reign over a kingdom and that he wanted to kill Elsa.
Big Hero 6[]
Zootopia[]
- Dawn Bellwether reveals herself as the mastermind behind a prey-supremacist conspiracy, rather than Mayor Lionheart.
- Nick pretends to go savage and kill Judy, before revealing that he was only shot with blueberries instead of the serum.
Moana[]
- Te Ka transforms into Te Fiti.
Encanto[]
- Bruno isn't a villain, but only demonized by his family because of a misunderstanding.
Pixar films[]
Toy Story 2[]
- Stinky Pete is revealed as the main antagonist wanting to force Woody, Jessie, and Bullseye to Tokyo because of his hate against humans.
Monsters, Inc.[]
- Henry J. Waternoose III betrays Sully and Mike.
Cars[]
- Although he could win the Piston Cup, Lightning McQueen decides to help Strip Weathers over the finish line after Weathers was rammed by Chick Hicks.
Ratatouille[]
Up[]
- Charles F. Muntz turns out to be evil, only wanting to capture Kevin.
Toy Story 3[]
- Lots-o' is revealed being the toy dictator of the daycare.
Cars 2[]
- Miles Axlerod is revealed as the mastermind behind the actions of Zündapp and the Lemons.
Brave[]
- After eating the cake, Elinor and Merida's brothers transform into bears.
Cars 3[]
- Lightning McQueen lets Cruz Ramirez win the race for him against Jackson Storm.
Coco[]
- Ernesto de la Cruz is revealed of having killed Miguel's great-great-grandfather, Héctor and of having stolen his songs.
Incredibles 2[]
- Evelyn Deavor is revealed of being the identity behind Screenslaver.
Toy Story 4[]
Lightyear[]
- Zurg is revealed as being an older version of Buzz Lightyear.
Marvel films[]
Captain America: The Winter Soldier[]
- Arnim Zola's mind reveals that HYDRA infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D.
- The Winter Soldier is revealed as the long presumed dead Bucky Barnes.
- Nick Fury seems to die of the wounds that he received in his fight with the Winter Soldier, but later reveals that he actually faked his death to investigate the infiltration of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Guardians of the Galaxy[]
- Groot sacrifices himself for his friends. Later, in a post-credit scene, it is revealed that he grows back from the stick his best friend Rocket took as a memento.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2[]
- Ego reveals that, with the help of Peter Quill, he wanted to destroy many worlds, that Yondu Udonta saved Peter from Ego's wrath and that he killed Peter's mother. When Peter rejects his offer, Ego betrays him and tries to kill Peter and the other Guardians of the Galaxy.
- Yondu sacrifices himself for Peter Quill, demonstrating that he saw Peter as his son.
Thor: Ragnarok[]
- Odin reveals to be the shapeshifting Loki.
- Thor's opponent in his gladiator battle on Sakaar turns out to be Hulk. While Thor is relieved, because they know each other, Hulk attacks Thor.
Avengers: Infinity War[]
- To get the soul stone, Thanos has to sacrifice his daughter, Gamora, which he regrets deeply, proving that he has a heart and really feels like a father.
Star Wars films[]
Star Wars: The Force Awakens[]
- Kylo Ren is revealed being Ben Solo, the son of Han Solo and Leia Organa.
- Ren kills his father after pretending to come with him and hand over his lightsaber.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story[]
- All protagonists die during the battle of Scarif.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi[]
- After Rey handed over the lightsaber to Luke Skywalker, he throws it away.
- Kylo Ren kills Supreme Leader Snoke, wanting to reign the galaxy together with Rey.
- DJ betrays Finn and Rose and sells information about the Resistance to the First Order.
- Luke does not get killed neither by the AT-ATs of the First Order nor by Ren's lightsaber.
Solo: A Star Wars Story[]
- Maul reveals himself as the real leader of Crimson Dawn.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker[]
- Palpatine reveals himself to be alive and in power of a huge fleet of superweapons.
- Snoke is seen being a clone of Palpatine.
- General Hux presents himself as the spy that supplied the Resistance with information about Palpatine's plans.
- Palpatine explains that Rey is the daughter of one of Palpatine's clones and that he considers her as his successor of being the Dark Lord of the Sith.
- Palpatine drains out the vital force of Rey and Ben Solo, before knocking them out both and destroying the fleet of the Resistance with the help of gigantic force lightnings.
- Rey travels to the Lars' farm on Tatooine and introduces herself as "Rey Skywalker" to a resident.