43 Movies You Should Watch Without Knowing Anything About Them
Movie marketing logic suggests that we need to know everything about a movie before spending money on a movie ticket, but that doesn’t mean it’s the right way to watch every movie. There’s a lot of competition for our attention these days, which means many of us do a lot of research before actually sitting down to watch something. But trailers too often give away the film’s entire plot, even as social media discourse transcribes its smartest moments to death before you even get a chance to buy a ticket (or open Netflix).
Spoiler debates can be annoying, sure, but some movies just seem designed to be watched with as little foresight as possible. Some of them have an unexpected ending, but sometimes even knowledge of the plot turns out to be a spoiler. (In the spirit of the article, you will forgive me if I don’t say much about the plots of these films, and the trailers are included for illustrative purposes only. Yes, it is a little strange, judge at your own discretion.)
Barbarian (2022)
In the opening minutes of this twisted thriller, Tess (Georgina Campbell) arrives at her Airbnb-style rental home in a dodgy neighborhood to discover it’s been double-booked by Bill Skarsgård. When she’s feeling bad and she lets him in, you’re pretty sure you know what kind of horror movie you’re in. Nope!
Where to stream: Amazon
Sorry to Bother You (2018)
Boots Riley’s directorial debut, the story of a black telemarketer who pretends to be white, starts out as strictly social satire before moving into edgier and much more screwed-up territory.
Where to stream: Amazon
Cabin in the Woods (2012)
There have been countless “cabin in the woods” style horror films made, with every possible variation of the many tropes associated with them, executed… to death; Sam Raimi had already parodied and subverted the genre in his Evil Dead films back in the 1980s. We know these films and we know how they should work. While The Cabin in the Woods initially appears to be a Scream- style deconstruction of the subgenre, it soon reveals itself to be something much more ambitious. While the trailer makes it clear that something strange is going on, the biggest twists are far from predictable.
Where to stream: Peacock, Amazon.
Parasite (2019)
A surprise and deserving Best Picture Oscar winner, Bong Joon-ho’s film starts out as a darkly humorous satire, the kind of biting comedy about manners and social class that South Korean directors often do so well. He then deftly switches gears and spends the rest of his time moving into much darker territory.
Where to stream: Max, Amazon
Django Unchained (2012)
The number one question people ask about Django Unchained on Google is: “Is Django Unchained historically accurate?” This suggests that fewer people saw Quentin Tarantino’s film than might be expected. Every Tarantino film over the past decade has taken place in some sort of real historical context and then thrown history out the window, often in very satisfying ways, as it does here. Save your internet deep dive for later, after you’ve watched it.
Where to stream: Starz, Amazon.
10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
The first and third Cloverfield films are sci-fi action films, and the only thing I can say about 10 Cloverfield Lane is that they are not. A woman (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) gets into a car accident and is rescued by an older man (John Goodman), but rescue is not the right word. I’ve already said enough.
Where to stream: Amazon
Oldboy (2003)
Even the main character Oh Dae-soo (Choi Min-sik) comes to Oldboy without understanding what is going on. Bad and messy things happen to him, he has no idea why, and his subsequent quest for revenge (and answers… but mostly revenge) heads to some truly wild places.
Where to watch: Netflix, Amazon.
Souvenir (2000)
The film that put Christopher Nolan on the map was a truly original stunner back in 2000, and still retains much of its ability to surprise (and baffle) two decades later. If you can watch it without knowing the plot, do so immediately.
Where to watch: Peacock, Freevee, Amazon Prime.
Prestige (2006)
Another head-scratching film from the Nolan brothers, The Prestige takes a story inspired by real-life warring wizards and displays its own sleight of hand, deftly blending genres and taking a sharp left turn from its original simple period piece trappings.
Where to stream: Amazon
Lighthouse (2019)
Come for Robert Pattinson with an old-fashioned mustache, stay for the gallery wall-worthy cinematography, subversion of vintage filmmaking techniques, Willem Dafoe’s timeless weird performance and a plot that goes anywhere.
Where to stream: Max, Amazon
Triangle of Sadness (2022)
One of the darkest comedies of recent times, Ruben Östlund’s surprising Oscar contender is like at least three films in one, with narratives that take sharp right turns at unexpected moments, striking at greed and capitalism along the way. It is best to watch in ignorance and on an empty stomach.
Where to stream: Hulu, Amazon.
Bo’s Afraid (2023)
The suspenseful fever dream of Bo Is Afraid won’t be for everyone, but there’s really no point in trying to figure out if it will work for you without diving straight into it—and that’s if you’ve seen the film directed by Ari Aster, that is. In the earlier films Legacy and Midsommar, you can understand why you want to know as little as possible. (This was my favorite movie of 2023, but it was hated at least as much as it was loved.)
Where to stream: Paramount+, Amazon.
Shutter Island (2010)
Elements of noir are firmly present in Martin Scorsese’s adaptation of Dennis Lehane’s novel, right down to Leonardo DiCaprio’s rumpled suit and vintage Boston accent. The tone then quickly changes, leaving us guessing exactly what genre of film we’re in.
Where to stream: Amazon
Red Shoes (1948)
Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger’s wildly colorful account of the Hans Christian Anderson legend reads like nothing more than a romantic fairytale fantasy.
Where to watch: Max, Tubi, Freevee, Amazon Prime
Holy Trinity (2019)
Molly Hewitt’s colorful directorial debut didn’t make much of a splash, but it’s definitely destined for cult status. The upbeat movie about sex and the king features a dominatrix who can communicate with the dead, and I’ll leave it at that.
Where to watch: VHX TV.
Dark City (1998)
It doesn’t take long for Dark City to reveal itself as something other than the highly stylized neo-noir it’s billed as, but the plot twists and deft blending of genres make it consistently surprising. The excellent director’s cut (available to rent through Prime Video) fleshes out the world with far less effort, so it’s even better if you’re looking for surprises.
Where to stream: Tube, Amazon.
Consistency (2013)
What’s so surprising about a low-budget relationship drama set at a dinner party? And what’s with this comet?
Where to stream: Peacock, Tubi, Amazon Prime.
Triangle (2009)
Is this science fiction? That’s horrible? I do not speak. For lovers of all things unusual and mind-blowing, this works on almost every level.
Where to watch: Peacock, Tubi, Freevee, Crackle, Amazon Prime.
We (2019)
The outlines of Jordan Peele’s sequel Get Out don’t become clear until the final act, but the film never feels like it’s waiting for a big reveal or twist (though there are some). Surprises are scattered everywhere.
Where to stream: Amazon
No (2022)
Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer play sibling caretakers of a rural California horse ranch who are surrounded by… something? The wildly original, if often annoying, tagline calling it a “neo-Western sci-fi horror film” will tell you everything you need to know.
Where to stream: Starz, Amazon.
Dicks: The Musical (2023)
Larry Charles directs this stunningly crude and silly musical written by stars Aaron Jackson and Josh Sharp, who play twin brothers separated at birth, but you’ll find that this is definitely not The Parent Trap . long before the sewer boys appeared on screen. If you need some extra convincing, the supporting cast includes Nathan Lane, Megan Mullally and Megan Thee Stallion.
Where to stream: Max, Amazon
Split (2016)
One of our most interesting but wildly inconsistent directors, M. Night Shyalaman, managed to achieve his greatest success in years with Split , a horror thriller based on a brilliant (if problematic) performance from James McAvoy. Although there are surprises right up to the end, the director eschews his traditional reliance on a surprise ending in favor of something more akin to a twist.
Where to watch: Netflix, Amazon.
Suddenly Last Summer (1959)
This Elizabeth Taylor vehicle with co-stars Katharine Hepburn and Montgomery Clift is perhaps a little more talky than many of the other films here, but its impressive strangeness (taken from the Tennessee Williams play) builds throughout its running time. By the end, you’ll almost certainly be wondering how this could have even been done with such a cast in 1959.
Where to watch: The Criterion Channel, Amazon.
Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
In terms of genre, IMDb lists Big Trouble in Little China as a martial arts fantasy comedy (which started out as a Western), and that’s probably more than enough information to know if it’s right for you. It’s hardly the strangest of the great John Carpenter-Kurt Russell collaborations of the 1980s.
Where to stream: Amazon
Slack Bay (2016)
As absurd as the film is, led by Juliette Binoche’s superb performance, I’m not sure I could ruin Slack Bay if I wanted to. Like every other film here, it defies even the most rigorous attempt to sum it up.
Where to stream: Amazon
The Invisible Man (2020)
Finally: the Universal Monster reboot done right. This film takes the basic idea of H. G. Wells’ novel (and James Whale’s excellent 1933 film version) and, by shifting its focus, creates something new and interesting.
Where to stream: Freevee, Amazon.
Malignant (2021)
I’m making no guarantees as this seems to be a very love/hate affair… but personally I’m Team Malignant . Its truly cool plot twists are just plain silly, and when mixed with some over-the-top horror, it all adds up to a good time at the movies.
Where to stream: Max, Amazon
Starship Troopers (1997)
While these kinds of movies about space marines fighting aliens were a little less common in 1997, when digital effects were expensive and streaming services didn’t need genre content, they were still something we’d seen a million times. Or so we thought. Professional provocateur Paul Verhoeven clearly had no interest in something so straightforward, choosing a film that satirizes the book it’s based on rather than adapting it.
Where to watch: Netflix, Amazon.
Werewolves Within (2021)
It is lighter, like in werewolf-themed horror films, and this is to its credit. It’s quite a charming (but often gruesome) mystery with some impressive twists and turns.
Where to watch: Hulu, Shudder, Amazon.
Kaboom (2010)
Kaboom may not be new queer cinema titan Gregg Araki’s best film, but it’s certainly his most fun, colorful, and fast-paced. While having sex, a group of college students face the potential end of the world.
Where to stream: AMC+, Amazon.
Sisu (2022)
Do you like to see Nais get what’s coming to them? This movie gives the Nazis what they’re looking for in the most satisfying way possible.
Where to stream: Starz, Amazon.
Carnival of Souls (1962)
This ultra-low-budget indie game preceded and inspired Night of the Living Dead , and its completely unique style and tone still impresses today. Mary Henry (Candace Hilligoss) emerges from a car accident and ends up at a creepy, completely mysterious abandoned carnival, but you can probably tell it from the title. Anything more is a spoiler.
Where to watch: Max, AMC+, The Criterion Channel, Tubi, Crackle, Shudder, Freevee, Amazon Prime.
Swiss Army (2016)
Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, who later went on to direct Everything Everywhere At Once , made Swiss Arm Man waaay back in 2016, cementing their reputation as masters of emotionally gripping weirdness… and thankfully didn’t doom their careers. If it wasn’t already clear, this is also the film in which Daniel Radcliffe proved that he is truly ready to step out of Harry Potter’s long shadow.
Where to stream: Max, Amazon
Birdman (2014)
One of the almost, but in this case, undeservedly forgotten Best Picture Oscar winners, Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s very dark comedy surprises both with its directorial style (the closest thing to a stunt here) and the way the jokes keep piling on. up. Iñárritu is known for more overtly dramatic films ( The Revenant , 21 Grams, etc.), but here he directs all his energy to making Michael Keaton’s life hell. It features a great performance from Keaton in his once and future role as Batman.
Where to stream: Amazon
Don’t Look Now (1973)
Many supernatural thrillers strive for a deeper resonance, and many of them deal with grief. Few do this as deftly as Nicolas Roeg’s classic, set in beautiful but bleak Venice, starring Julie Christie alongside Donald Sutherland doing the best work of her career.
Where to watch: The Criterion Channel, Amazon.
Palm Springs (2020)
Cristin Milioti, Andy Samberg and J.K. Simmons star in this romantic comedy that quickly delves into sci-fi—a good example of a movie with a plot twist that comes at the beginning rather than the end that continues to surprise throughout film.
Where to watch: Hulu
Annette (2021)
I love imagining the faces of non-art house movie theatergoers after accidentally stumbling across Annette while browsing Amazon Prime. “Oooh, Adam Driver! I love him!” they think as they press play, completely unprepared for what French director Leos Carax and alien musicians Sparks have created.
Where to stream: Amazon Prime
Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar (2021)
An example of a movie with a trailer that effectively makes it seem far less clever than it actually is, Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar only looks like a Kristen Wiig SNL sketch stretched to its absolute limit. It’s actually pretty damn weird.
Where to stream: Amazon
Serenity (2019)
Don’t let anyone ruin the stupidity of Serenity for you.
Where to stream: Tubi, Freevee
Unusual (2019)
Extra Ordinary pays homage to those cheesy horror movies you used to rent from the video store based solely on the quirky cover. It’s actually very, very good though. It starts out as a parody and gets weirder as it goes; Will Forte’s presence is both a distraction and his secret weapon.
Where to stream: Tubi, AMC+, Amazon
Menu (2022)
A foodie couple (Anya Taylor-Joy and Nicholas Hoult) have booked a coveted reservation at an exclusive restaurant on a secluded island. They eat a delicious meal, post rave reviews on social media, and go home happy and full. J.K.
Where to stream: Amazon
Pearl (2022)
A prequel to Ti West’s X , co-written by star Mia Goth. You’d think you’d know what to expect if you’d seen the first part, which naturally shows how it’s all going to turn out. Not so much.
Where to stream: Amazon Prime
Psycho (1960)
Psycho did its job too, too well, and as a result, few of the film’s fans were left surprised by its central twist. However, if you only know Psycho as a famous game, there are more surprises (and shifts in perspective) than showers. Many copies, but never surpassed in shocking the audience: that’s how it’s done. But given that you’ve probably seen it, check out the surprisingly effective Psycho II , which does almost as good a job of keeping audiences guessing.
Where to stream: Amazon Prime